Will Vaus

" It was the right hook that got him. Pastor Waite might have stood in front of the Communion table trading punches with head deacon Ray Bryson all morning had not Ray’s fist caught him on the chin two minutes and fifteen seconds into the fight. Waite went down for the count at the altar where most members of Emmanuel Baptist had first declared their commitment to Christ. "Donald Waite’s navy blue, three-piece worsted was almost impossible to wrinkle, but two of his front teeth were so loose that he would have trouble with corn on the cob for the next three summers. Ray Bryson’s hand was broken in two places. Some of the townspeople dubbed him Sugar Ray after that Sunday, but never to his face… "The fight ended when the police arrived on the scene. They restored order, took down names for the report they would file, and recommended that some of the men seek medical attention… "The following Wednesday each of the deacons received a notice to appear at the Newton Cour...

The story is told of a British commuter who got on a train in London. He told the conductor that he wanted to get off at Doncaster. The conductor said, “We don’t stop at Doncaster on Wednesday, but we slow down to go through the junction. I’ll open the doors, and you hop off. But mind you, we’re going fast, so hit the ground running.”  The man did as he was told. The train slowed. He jumped off and hit the ground running. In fact, he was running so fast he caught up with the car ahead. Another conductor saw him, opened the door, and pulled him in. “You’re mighty lucky,” the conductor said, “This train doesn’t stop at Doncaster on Wednesdays.” … Doesn’t that story just sound like life? It raises for me the question: How do we press on in the Christian life and not get caught up and taken in the wrong direction again? That’s the issue that Paul addresses in this next section of his letter to the Philippians. Listen for God’s word to you from Philippians 3:12-4:1… Not that I have alre...

My friend Luis Palau used to tell this story about his grandfather… When his grandfather lay dying in a Buenos Aires hospital, Luis sat by his bedside, urging him to trust in Jesus for eternal life. But Luis’ grandfather always put him off saying, “Don’t worry about me, Sonny. I’m alright. After all, I’m Scotch Presbyterian.” And whenever he told this story, Luis would add, “But my grandfather definitely preferred Scotch to Presbyterian!” What are you rejoicing in today? Your heritage? Your church background? The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the church at Philippi, urges us to rejoice  in the Lord , nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. Listen for God’s word to you from Philippians 3:1-11… Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again,   and it is a safeguard for you.   Watch out for those dogs,   those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh.   For it is we who are the circumcision, ...