Prayer Deters Gossip

We never pray for folks we gossip about, and we never gossip about the folk for whom we pray!

—Evangelist Leonard Ravenhill (1907–1994)

Old Man Regains Hearing

An elderly man had serious hearing problems for a number of years. His family tried again and again to convince him to get a hearing aid. Finally he relented. ...

Slander Destroys Churches

About 20 years ago, I said something impromptu to the new members standing in a row across the front of the church. As we received them, the Holy Spirit ...

Cascade of Conflict

A family in our church recently had their basement finished by a contractor. The process ended up being one of those construction nightmare stories. I ...

A Saving Rebuke

One time, twenty or so years ago, I was in Japan on a speaking tour with a close personal friend. He was a number of years older than I was. As we walked ...

How to Handle Criticism

The best way to handle criticism is to respond quickly, directly, and sensitively.

Of Specks and Beams

Gladly we desire to make other men perfect but we will not amend our own fault.

Away with Gossip

I once formed a mutual encouragement fellowship at a time of stress in one of my pastorates. The members subscribed to a simple formula applied before ...

Table-Talk Forbidden

Augustine encouraged conversation at meals--but with a strictly enforced rule that the character of an absent person should never be negatively discussed. ...

Slander a Sign of Youthful Arrogance

It is a sign of youthful arrogance to try to build up a reputation by assailing prominent figures.