EVER since I wrote By the Still Waters, while a country pastor, I have longed to write more in the same vein. Friends who say they were blessed by those rustic sketches have encouraged me to write a companion volume, but a city pastorate of five years and many preaching journeys over the land have not provided a suitable setting for rural reflections. One cannot write of these things in a hotel room. It has become possible through circumstances, evidently the Lord's leading, to spend a few autumn weeks in the old home in the hills. No sooner had this opportunity opened before me than I felt impressed to return to my first love and resume the trail of reflections I left in the Carolina lowlands. Then it was the low country, and now it is the hills, but both are Carolina and both are "countrified" and I trust the theme in both cases is common to hearts everywhere. A few of these sketches were published with some changes in the Charlotte (N. C.) Observer, and grateful acknowledgement is hereby made for permission to reprint them. But all of them are FOREWORD A skin, and in these simple matters that abide time makes little difference. They are sent forth to the glory of our Lord Who spoke the colorful language of the outdoors and Who bade His disciples of old, "Come ye yourselves apart and rest awhile." V. H. Greensboro, N. C.

In attempting to write a history of the Baptists no one is more aware of the embarrassments surrounding the subject than the author. These embarrassments arise from many sources. We are far removed from many of the circumstances under survey; the representations of the Baptists were often made by enemies who did not scruple, when such a course suited their purpose, to blacken character; and hence the testimony from such sources must be received with discrimination and much allowance made for many statements; in some instances vigilant and sustained attempts were made to destroy every document relating to these people; the material that remains is scattered through many libraries and archives, in many lands and not always readily accessible; often, on account of persecutions, the Baptists were far more interested in hiding than they were in giving an account of themselves or their whereabouts; they were scattered through many countries, in city and cave, as they could find a place of concealment; and frequently they were called by different names by their enemies, which is confusing. Yet it is a right royal history they have. It is well worth the telling and the preserving.

Title: LIVING IN THE PRESENCE AND PRINCIPLES OF CHRIST As believers, we have a responsibility to set the example for Kingdom living here on earth. God created us in His image so that we could live in harmony with His plan for our life's journey. As you probably know, His first creation failed the obedience test. Are we going to make the same mistake? The world would not have an "identity crisis" if we returned to Christ, our redeemer. It is not enough to just exist in His presence; we have to live by his principles also if we desire to enjoy an abundant life. The essential premise of this book is to enlighten and encourage believers and non-believers to have confidence in the truth that we are deeply loved, highly valued, and totally significant to God. When we recognize whose we are, then we will accept who we are as children of God. 1 John 4:17 says," Love has been perfected among us in this: as He is so are we in this world." My desire is to empower and compel the body of Christ to advance to the next realm of their Kingdom assignment. First, we have to receive the revelation that we are loved and highly favored before we can live effectively in the manifestation of His promises and principles. My hope is to saturate you with the love of the Lord so that the enemy will have no place. Our spirit was transformed when we were born again, but our soul (mind, will, and emotions) constantly need renewing to keep us from returning to the "old man" again. These inspirational pages will increase your desire to have a Spirit-filled encounter with Jesus. You will have an unquenchable thirst to be made whole in every area of your life-spirit, soul, and body. Hopefully, you will live the highest level of life possible as you learn to truly appreciate living in His presence while being guided by His principles. Dr. Bell has written this profound book of empowerment to enlighten and encourage you to recapture the place of prominence that God intended for you. The idea is for you to regain the greatness that has been overlooked due to the world's view of who you are. After reading this inspiring and personal tribute about living each day in God's loving presence, you will have greater appreciation and a desire to live by His principles also. In this book you will discover: Why God Designed you in His Image Your Predestined Life of Victory Reborn to Reign Blessed by Abundance

A delightful description of a dedicated God-fearing family as missionaries on full-time deputation, through the eyes of a child It's not all fun...and this little girl portrays her experiences with a humble, matter-of-fact manner. Adorable Enjoy

The writer believes that the three-fold feature of this book is not arbitrarily introduced. He began its study with no thought whatever of reducing the book to any numerical basis. The divisions were, in every case, the result of careful investigation. He commits this volume to the reading public in the hope of making the epistle to the Ephesians as attractive to students as it has seemed instructive and inspiring to recent auditors

IN these sermons on the times, the reader will discover that I am not entering into the intricacies of interpreting prophecy. Rather, these awful days through which we are passing are viewed in the light of those Scriptures which reveal the broad, general trend of God's purposes as revealed in His Word. The main burden of the book is God's call to revival among His people.

God's Word says, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:15). Rightly dividing or being able to understand God's Word will require study. This book is designed to assist you in studying God's Word. Fifty-two major doctrines of the Bible are outlined in four separate books. Each chapter examines a different Bible doctrine. The chapters are written in such a way to help you thoroughly understand the doctrines--without needing a seminary degree. If you want to be an approved workman unto God, this book will help you accomplish that goal The thirteen chapters of Book Three covers: Hell, Trinity, God the Father, God the Son (2), God the Holy Spirit (2), The Gift of Tongues, Bible Memorization, Sanctification, Angels (2), and The Second Coming of Christ.

This is an excellent set for the preacher who aspires to be true to the Word and who wishes to enrich his preaching ministry. It is an invaluable aid for the teacher who seeks to guide his class to a deeper knowledge and appreciation of God's Revelation to us. It is an ideal set for any student of the Bible who desires to hear what God has to say to him. This is more than a commentary. It is rightly called an interpretation.

"Timeless or trendy? Malls are trendy. Church should be timeless." The opening words of the popular campaign "Still Church" serve as the launch point for the e-book A CASE FOR BEING TIMELESS. Change sweeps across every aspect of life. Church should be a place where people can come and not feel tossed around by every new current in culture. Church should be anchored. It should stand firm. Some churches fail because they never change, but they never explain to the next generation why. Some churches fail because they DO change. We choose to not change. On purpose. With reason. We like the old paths, and we have no reason to leave them. In fact, we have every reason to remain true to them. A CASE FOR BEING TIMELESS is a 3-part book that makes a case for churches remaining on the old, fundamental paths on which they began rather than constantly changing in order to keep up with fads. The three parts (What, Why, and How) to the book make a compelling case for why our generation of youth should choose to be passionate about the old paths.

Spurgeon Classic Series Volume 1

According to Promise

In, "According to Promise," Spurgeon teaches the biblical method for claiming the promises of God. Learn who you are in Christ Jesus, the "Seed" to whom the promise was made.

Learn what to expect from God, and how to approach Him in prayer with your promises in hand, to respectfully remind Him of His word.

Also included is a topical reference containing hundreds of promises for you to mediate, memorize and claim as your own in prayer. Promises of God is your faith. It gives you substance to stand upon, fully knowing that what God promised He will perform.

Our heavenly Father is not our personal genie who grants ever greedy wish we request. But, He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him in prayer. Be prepared to energize your prayer life like never before. Start receiving from God today.

What makes a Baptist a Baptist? Shurden chisels a Baptist profile by identifying four freedoms commonly found in Baptist sermons, addresses, and confessions of faith -- Bible freedom, soul freedom, church freedom and religious freedom.

God's Word says, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:15). Rightly dividing or being able to understand God's Word will require study. This book is designed to assist you in studying God's Word. Fifty-two major doctrines of the Bible are outlined in four separate books. Each chapter examines a different Bible doctrine. The chapters are written in such a way to help you thoroughly understand the doctrines--without needing a seminary degree. If you want to be an approved workman unto God, this book will help you accomplish that goal The thirteen chapters of Book Two covers: Repentance, Sin, Giving, Witnessing, The Local Church (History, Distinctives, Officers, and Growth), The Bible (Inspiration and King James Version), Man, Satan, and Heaven.

God's Word says, Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). Rightly dividing or being able to understand God's Word will require study. This Student Edition for Books One & Two is designed to enhance your study in God's Word. Fifty-two major doctrines of the Bible are outlined in four separate books. Each chapter examines a different Bible doctrine. The chapters are written in such a way to help you thoroughly understand the doctrines -- without needing a seminary degree. If you want to be an approved workman unto God, this book will help you accomplish that goal

"A superb study of Primitive Baptist belief and practice in a specific region of the South. Expands our knowledge of an often neglected group."--Bill Leonard, Dean, School of Divinity, Wake Forest University Between 1819 and 1848, Primitive Baptists emerged as a distinct, dominant religious group in the area of the deepest South known as the Wiregrass country. John Crowley, a historian and former Primitive minister, chronicles their origins and expansion into South Georgia and Florida, documenting one of the strongest aspects of the inner life of the local piney-woods culture. Crowley begins by examining Old Baptist worship and discipline and then addressing Primitive Baptist reaction to the Civil War, Reconstruction, Populism, Progressivism, the Depression, and finally the ferment of the 1960s and present decline of the denomination. Intensely conservative, with a strong belief in predestination, Old Baptists opposed modernizing trends sweeping their denomination in the early 19th century. Crowley describes their separation from Southern Baptists and the many internal schisms on issues such as the saving role of the gospel, the Two Seed Doctrine, and absolute as opposed to limited predestination. Going beyond doctrine, he discusses contention among Old Baptists over music, divorce, membership in secret societies, sacraments administered by heretics, and rituals such as the washing of feet. Writing with insight and sensitivity, he navigates the history of this denomination through the 20th century and the emergence of at least twenty mutually exclusive factions of Primitive Baptists in this specific region of the Deep South. John G. Crowley is associate professor of history at Valdosta State University.

Memoirs of Walker L. Knight, who has served God in religious journalism with Baptists for five decades. As a Baptist journalist, he calmly articulated a message of missions ministry that focused on grace, compassion, inclusion, and reconciliation. When he saw racism and other troubling issues at play in Baptist life, he addressed them. Walker set a new standard for denominational journalism by repeatedly devoting entire editions of Home Missions magazine to specific issues that impacted the context for missions. Walker advanced civil rights without belligerence.

The Baptist convention of Malawi (BACOMA) grew out of the Baptist Mission in Malawi's work that began almost 50 years ago as a result of plans by the Central African (Southern Baptist Convention) Mission to expand their works from Zimbabwe to Malawi. Although BACOMA owes much of their tradition to the white Southern Baptists of the US, they are typically a Malawian expression of the Church. In five chapters the author, a long standing Principle of the Baptist Theological Seminary of Malawi, offers a history of the Baptist convention of Malawi. The five themes being: BACOMA's Polygenetic Nature; Evangelistic Zeal and the Deveopment of BACOMA 1970-1989; Women and Youth in Evangelism and the Development of BACOMA; Separation and Cooperation: A "Loose" Partnership and The People.

This work gives a detailed history and defense of the Advent Movement of the 1840's known as Millerism, the movement from which the Seventh-day Adventist denomination sprang. The book is based on original sources, William Miller's correspondence, contemporaneous books, pamphlets, journals, newspapers. The first half is devoted to the history of the movement, and the second half to an examination of charges made against the Advent believers, such as that they wore ascension robes, that the Millerite preaching filled the asylums, and so forth.

For both the historian and the genealogist, the Seventh Day Baptist Church of Newport, Rhode Island is unique. Founded in 1671 from Baptist roots, its members were deeply involved in the formative years of our nation in religious, political and educational development. Their descendants were a part of the westward migrations. The church records are an important source of historical and family history covering more than three centuries. This Newport history is recorded in three parts. Part I, "Entering Into Covenant," is a documented history of the church itself, including its founding, its meeting house, which still stands as a part of the Newport Historical Society property, and the impact of its members on the life of colonial America. Part II, "Membership Records," contains a list of members of the First Baptists of Newport from 1671 until 1884, when the church ceased to exist. The repetition of names on lists of different time periods may help to delineate family connections of some of the church members. A portion of the membership records of the First Baptist Church is included to show the names of those who separated to form the Seventh Day Baptist Church. Part III, "Mother Hubbard's Cupboard Is Not Bare," is a genealogical study of the descendants of Samuel and Tacy Hubbard, the most prominent family of their time, and active members of the First Baptist Church in Newport. The listings of these families were compiled from records and genealogies within the archives of the Seventh Day Baptist Historical Society. A surname index adds to the value of this work.

A pungent book of messages deliberately designed to motivate Christians to increased prayer and obedience.

An instruction manual for people that have recently been saved.

The membership of River Road Church, Baptist, includes a wide spectrum of persons of varying educational attainments, wide economic levels, and all ages from children to seniors. They represent a variety of careers including merchants, trades, professions, community leaders, and educational faculty in the local schools, colleges, graduate schools, and seminaries. No matter the educational level of the membership, the church sought a highly educated clergy. The pastors called to serve River Road Church came with advanced graduate studies and earned doctor's degrees. The five preachers in this volume span almost seven decades. Each stayed a length of time to accomplish the challenges he faced in the building up of the congregation and the enhancement of the spiritual life of the membership. Each preacher brought different gifts of preaching, management styles, craftsmanship, and vision.