Dr. Larry Walker, Pastor

06/18/2026

Oswald Chambers has always been one of my favorite authors. I'm particularly fond of his daily devotional, "My Utmost for His Highest." Each daily devotional is available for free on this website.

Today's devotional is hard-hitting (the way I like it) and reminds me of what's true in life. It also reminds me of what I need to be prepared to do each and every day as I respond to the Holy Spirit's leading in my life. May this bless you as well!

The wind was wild and the waves were high, but at first Peter didn’t notice. Fixing his eyes on Jesus, he stepped out in recognition of his Lord and walked on the ...

06/14/2026

It's good to focus on what is true in life.

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

Ephesians 2:1-3

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%202%3A1-3&version=NIV

06/01/2026

Courage is just fear that has said it’s prayers.

05/08/2026

I was reading through the 10 Commandments this morning (Exodus 20). Most of us are at least familiar with them. As I read Exodus 20:5-6, I thought about what it means.

How does God punish children for the sins of their parents and other ancestors. Why does He do that? How does He punish them?

To put it simply, this passage isn't about God being "mean" to innocent kids. It’s about two main things: consequences and mercy.

1. The "Ripple Effect"

Think of sin like a toxic habit or an addiction. If a father chooses a destructive path, the children grow up in that environment. They often pick up those same bad habits.

The "punishment" is often the natural consequence of growing up in a home that rejects good values.

It lasts "three or four generations" because that was the size of a full family living together back then. The choices of the head of the house affected everyone under his roof.

2. Breaking the Cycle
The punishment only sticks to those who continue to "hate Him." If a son sees his father's mistakes and decides to live differently, the "cycle" is broken. God doesn't hold the grandfather's specific sins against a grandson who chooses to do what is right.

3. Mercy Wins
The most important part of the verse is the math: Consequences last for 3 or 4 generations. Love and Mercy last for 1,000 generations.

God is saying that while our bad choices have a "ripple effect" on our kids, His desire to be kind and bless people is thousands of times stronger than His need to punish.

The “Bottom Line”:

Our choices matter. If I go down a dark path, it makes life harder for my kids and grandkids. But God is much more interested in showing mercy than He is in holding a grudge.

Any questions?

05/06/2026

I’ve recently shared how I’ve appreciated a testimony of author & speaker Joni Erickson Tada. She’s been paralyzed from the neck down for most of her life. Tada has experienced periods of immense, excruciating pain. She testifies that Jesus meets her at the deepest points of her pain.

Scripture points to the same truths shared in Joni’s testimony. Consider, for example, the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel, Chapter 3:1-30. Nebuchadnezzar had ordered them to be thrown into the hottest fiery furnace to be burned alive. But instead of being incinerated, they encountered Jesus at the depth of their crisis. He stepped into their circumstances just in time. They emerged with not a singed hair or clothing fiber. The depth of the firey furnace couldn’t harm them in the presence of Jesus.

It’s true that Jesus meets you and me in the depth of our pain, in our most dire of circumstances. When He does, there can be no question as to who it is. He makes Himself known.

A few years ago, some in our church were reciting popular Serenity Prayer. I've always been uncomfortable with that prayer because it says we should "accept the things we cannot change." I don’t believe that’s Biblical. Indeed, we may very well be called to struggle or stand against things we cannot change. I began to look for Biblical truth that could replace this cultural prayer.

The Holy Spirit took me to Psalm 90, where I saw basically the same context as is found in the traditional Serenity Prayer. Here's what the Lord led me to write and teach from that passage of Scripture:

BIBLICAL PRAYER FOR SERENITY
(Based on Psalm 90)

Dear Lord,

You have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.

Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the whole world, You were God and forever You will be God.

You created us from dust and to dust we’ll return. A thousand years in Your sight are like a single day.

We have set our hurts, habits and hangups before You, our secret sins are in the light of Your presence.

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Have compassion on Your servants, Lord. Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

Make us grateful for trials You allow in our lives, for even they have Your purposes to serve.

May Your will be shown to Your servants, and Your splendor to even our children.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; making our efforts to live for You successful.

We pray these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and our Savior.

Amen.

Note that line, “Make us grateful for trials You allow in our lives, for even they have Your purposes to serve.” We can be sure that in the depths of our pain, we’ll find Jesus Christ. Moreover, we can be certain that the Lord allowed each of those trials to enter our lives and that they “have His purposes to serve.”

Feel free to teach this to your congregation! 😊

03/27/2026

https://research.lifeway.com/2026/03/26/how-to-start-a-mens-ministry-in-your-church/?omhide=true&emid=om:em:260326%7Csub%7Cna%7Cresearch%7Cinsights%7C2874440%7Cthursday:20260326:na&utm_campaign=fy26_research_general_insights-newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=subscription_2874440_20260326&

03/03/2026

I've recently had some pastors and other church leaders asking about churches and politics, especially here in the U.S.

The United States is currently in the most politically charged society I've ever lived in. It's divisive, angry, unyielding. It's more than polarized - and neither side is much interested in listening.

Our government specificallly has said that churches and politics are not allowed to mix. Political activity, especially with money, is supposed to threaten the tax-exempt status of an individual church.

Nevertheless, we see churches pushing those boundaries. They do it through parachurch ministries. But they also do it from the pulpit, usually with comments and prayer requests instead of outright sermons or campaigning. Larger churches often have libraries - which can include political materials that sometimes are angry, unloving, and divisive.

So here's the question, if a church seems to favor one political viewpoint over another, but it's not the one you yourself favor - does that make you feel unsafe? Unloved? Could it make you want to leave that particular church?

03/03/2026

Our Sunday School teacher shared this quote this week. I think it most accurately reflects my own sentiment. I'd like to "slide into home base" dirty and battered, but exhilerated for having lived the life God called me to! 😎

02/28/2026

I’ve taught, coached, and mentored pastors from Africa to India, Pakistan, and elsewhere. It seems many watch these mega churches & are envious of their apparent riches. Listen to this pastor’s thoughts about how they often raise that money.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16SuQfobtZ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

02/26/2026

I'm a student of religion. I'm curious about and interested in how other people and cultures observe religion. What god(s) do they worship? How do they worship? What are some of their traditions?

Islam is of course one of the largest religions in the world. For my of my life it's fair to say that Islam seemed vastly different and strange. But as I've studied I've seen Islam in a new light - literally.

It happened a couple years ago in my own neighborhood. There a few of my neighbors whom I've known were Muslims. They're great neighbors and they're raising great kids. A couple years ago I was surprised to see lighted holiday decorations on their lawns (which looked familiar ... similar to our traditional Christmas decorations.

My Muslim neighbors had inflatables that looked like an Islamic mosque and other symbols of that religion. They lights strung on their houses and trees were beautiful. Of course Ramadan typically occurs in a different season than Christmas, so our neighbohood is getting treated to these fun and beautiful holiday displays for both Christmas and Ramadan seasons.

I didn't realize this was a thing - the "Christmasization of Islam." However, I noticed an article this morning that talks about how it is becoming more common - that Muslims embrace one of the deep, deep traditions of Christianity (i.e., decorating with lights, inflatables, etc. for Ramadan. Here's a link to that article if you'd like to read it for yourself

Outdoor displays once reserved almost exclusively for Christmas are now lighting up lawns during the Islamic month of fasting.