But, Lord, I'm A Southern Baptist

There Has To Be More...

I was spiritually dry. The reason: I had become a very carnal person in recent years. I was successful in ministry by human standards�the church grew, we had good fellowship, the people loved me and allowed me to do what I wanted�but my heart was not right with God. Somewhere along the way I had walked outside of God�s blessings, outside of obedience to Him.

I had begun to live according to my heart�s desires. I went to any kind of movie, watched disgusting things on television and even drank wine on occasion�these things didn�t bother me. I�d fallen into debt and lost most of my convictions. My carnal nature had defeated my Christianity, and I had tried to live with it, but I was growing increasingly unhappy.

The shortcomings in my personal life and the weaknesses of my spiritual life began to crush me like a heavy weight. I knew that I didn�t have the power the Siffords talked about. I knew that I was failing God, and in my despair I cried out, from the depths of my soul,

"THERE HAS TO BE MORE THAN THIS! THIS CANNOT BE THE LIFE THAT JESUS DESIRED FOR ME WHEN HE DIED ON THE CROSS."

I became extremely discouraged. I had nowhere to turn. I didn�t know anyone I could call and ask for help. Most of the pastors I had become acquainted with seemed more interested in bragging about numbers than sharing the power of God. I felt alone.

I had built my whole ministry on intellectualism. I had been engaged in an intellectual pursuit of Christianity. I found my answers by simply "knowing" all that I could know ABOUT God. I thought, "THE MORE I KNOW, THE BETTER I CAN LIVE." My intellectualism was failing. I could not INTELLECTUALLY explain why I was so powerless, and why I knew that I was not right with God. THERE HAS TO BE MORE...