John Avant

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)--I just read one of the great evangelistic books of our day -- “Letters to a Christian Nation” by Sam Harris. It is an evangelistic masterpiece.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)--I reached my hotel room some time ago and called my wife as I always do. We were having a very nice, normal conversation when suddenly she broke out in a blood-curdling scream and dropped the phone.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)--I am in the process of reading one of the most exciting books I have read in a long time. The author does a fine job of describing the incredible impact that movements of God have had on our country. She shows her readers how the entire culture of a nation can be changed through a great spiritual awakening. And then she takes a look at what is happening in America right now –- particularly among young people who are beginning to reject the hopelessness of relativism and secularism. She boldly predicts that we are now on the edge of the next Great Awakening that will radically change every part of the life and culture of our country.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)--I enjoy flying. Sometimes I don’t enjoy the fact that it takes me away from home, but I always enjoy the flight. I think of it this way: When I get on the plane, I know it is one of the few places I go where something good is always going to happen (providing the plane doesn’t crash, but even then there is heaven!)

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)--Close your eyes and dream with me for a moment. Imagine that everything begins to change in our country. Imagine that the wind of the Spirit of God begins to blow like never before. It begins not with preachers but with businessmen and women praying. It starts in one city but soon it cannot be stopped. People are drawn together supernaturally to pray, to repent and to seek God. God responds and His power is unleashed!

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)--It seems like there is always a new study coming out these days with more bad news for evangelicals. Now, I think that these studies are important and necessary. We can’t fix our problems until we know what is broken and why.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)--Well, I have taken more than a month off from these columns and have enjoyed some vacation and some time to get my writing juices flowing again. I am glad to be back with you moving into this new year as we share together the incredible privilege of taking the best news of history to everyone.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)--Not all great things are large things. The Christmas story, for instance, is filled with small things. Jesus was born as a small baby in a small manger in a small town, to a mother who seemed small and insignificant. God loves to show Himself through small things.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)--If we are honest, there are times when we get spiritually dry, times when God just seems distant to us. We all walk through those times. But then there are those other times when God’s presence is so powerful and His work so personal that we can hardly imagine it getting any better. I had one of those times recently.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)--I had so much to be thankful for at Thanksgiving it was just ridiculous. I gathered around a table full of great food, in a comfortable house in a free country surrounded by a great family and great friends. Then I was as lazy as I could possibly be and watched all the football I could squeeze into one day.