RUSSJONES.US

I am here at home wondering why I feel like a Mac truck hit me? Then I remembered that I had a kidney stone yesterday. Well we think that's what it is - it hasn't "officially" arrived yet. Then to top it off, Anneka got a high fever yesterday. Tylenol, Motrin and an ice cold shower (that didn't make her day) and we finally got it back down. God answered prayer on that one. I was so tried last night I fell asleep in my recliner - and that's where I woke up this morning. I can't remember the last time I did that. So how are we doing? Well every time I stand up the room starts spinning. So I sit and nap a lot. Anneka wakes up just to go to sleep. That's good for her. Betty has been a Florence Nightingale through all of this. She is tired though. So rest and plenty of liquids are the plan for today. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Well, according to news reports, it is a distinct possibility. My answer to that is - so what? Casey was tried and found not guilty last year in the death of her daughter. A jury of her peers simply couldn't convict her of the crime she was accused of. I found it interesting that after the fact, legal analysts all agreed that there was no way a jury could convict her - anyhow. Casey was also tried in the court of public opinion. That one didn't go so well for her. With journalists dispensing biased opinions and the public coming to their own conclusions - Casey was found guilty by many people. So while she will not have to do time in prison - she will pay in public. Now, if she has found refuge at a local church here in Palm City, that would be a story I would like to hear. What events took place that led her to this point? What connections were made? Why? Some people may think that the church and it's leadership have lost its mind. I would have to suppose that t

Tomorrow is part 2 of FFWC vision for 2012. I am really excited about this part. Why? I always get stoked about God's power in your life. I heard a pastor one time talk about The God Factor. Do we factor God into the equation of our life. Career + God = What? Marriage + God = What? Get the picture. So if we take FFWC + God = what can we imagine. Ephesians 3:20 - Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine , according to his power that is at work within us, What can we imagine tomorrow? Life Group at 9:30 a.m., Morning Worship at 10:30 a.m.

No we're not in a drought. But in the Old Testament we find that rain is a VERY important part of the Israelites daily life. So much so that they would worship false idols for it. They believed that rain would fall from heaven because of these false idols. Rain was as good as money. Because it was a agri society - no rain meant no crops. No crops meant no money. No money - BAD! Let's fast forward a few thousand years. What do people worship today for money? Just like the Israelites, when times our tough we look to God for provision. But are we worshipping God or god. Now here is where we can get messed up. The Israelites still worshipped the Lord God Jehovah while worshipping the other false idols. Here was their thinking. They worshipped the false idols for the rain and then worshipped God for everything else. See where I am going here? Do we do the same thing today? We come to church and ask God to help us - then Monday - Saturday what will we do to make a dol

One of the things that REALLY bugs me about pastors and churches is sheep stealing. That's when a church moves into the area and "suddenly" they are running in the hundreds, sometimes thousands. How did they do that? They stole sheep. Now don't get me wrong. Do I believe that God is birthing new churches everyday? - YES! I support it and encourage it. But here is where I start getting ticked off. How are you going to grow that church? I hear new pastors tell me - "We're going to offer a SUPER kids ministry. An AWESOME youth ministry. A GREAT worship service." That's great, but why? Their answer is usually, "We're going to offer something better." This is where I get off this train. Better shouldn't be the goal. Why? Churches who suddenly grow do so because they offer a "better" ministry or church. Then when people who are active in other churches see that this church is doing a "better" job than

So we are praying and fasting is week! We want to see a move of God in our lives, our homes and in our church community. But why is it so hard? Well first of all. The devil doesn't want you to do to it. It's that simple. Prayer and fasting empowers you - destroys his plans against you - make you the winner and him the loser. So he will attack where ever he can. In e last eight years my family has never been sick at the same time. What's even weirder - none of have the same thing. Hmmmmm. Secondly, you don't want to do it. It requires sacrifice. I know, tough. But we don't like it. But sacrifice is still the one thing we need to embrace. We don't like discomfort - but there are more important things than being comfortable. What will I gain out of this. Prayer and fasting has an incredible impact on the inner man. Why do you want to do this? Whatever God wants to do in your life - it's going to start there. Reread that last sentence. It

This morning was AWESOME!! Breakfast was great! Thanks to everyone who helped make it happen. If we do that again, I think we might try to put a omelet station in. Worship was really, really good. We got some really good video of the service this morning. Will be posting some of it to our website soon. Jesus made belonging first. This is important. Family Matters!! It's all about People!!! Somebody say AMEN!! Prayer and Fasting WILL change this church! 2012 is going to be a great year to do great things for Jesus!!

In follow up to yesterdays post. I stated, "When you have a God given vision, a God given calling, a God given mission - you will succeed! You cannot fail, unless . . . One of the words I am know for around here is "FOCUS"! Of course, that coming from someone who probably has A.D.D. can be seen more as ironic rather than being helpful. But I say it anyway. When you set out on a God given goal, a God given calling, a God given vision to fulfill a purpose in your life - you have to stay the course. FOCUS!! A while back I read a little book about chasing rabbits. If you chase every rabbit in your life, you will get led down trails that will lead you nowhere. For example: - There are logistical rabbits. These are time stealers. Inefficient systems, out of date technology, poor communication skills. These will always lead you down a path that you have to fight your way out of. What can you do today that can solve or even eliminate some of these rabbits? - There are

The older we get, the more expensive things are. Sure prices go up but that isn't what I am talking about. Whether it is a new years resolution or a vision statement - a person goal or a life challenging need, we need to count the cost. That's where our success of failure is determined. That in the worst case scenario, you will not quit or give up. If you are going to lose those unwanted pounds, will you give up if you gain a few more? If you are going change your career, will you give up if you get some doors slammed in your face? If you are going to do something that will change the lives of others for good - will you quit if no one else helps you? Here is something that might help. We assume that the greater the risk, the greater potential failure. Oh sure, you might go out in a flame of glory! But failure is just failure. There are no "degrees" of failure. I've watched GOP candidates, one by one pull out of the presidential race - did they fail? How

We all have defining moments in our live. A birthday - marriage - career change. Some moments are not so positive. Death - divorce or betrayal are a few I can think of. Churches have defining moments too. For the last 16 years I can track some VERY defining moments for FFWC. Church fire - 4 hurricanes - economic struggles, just to name a few. I can also see where there were specific Sunday's when God did something unique. Something different. Something that changed us. A few were spontaneous - miraculous. Others were planned and specific. This Sunday - I believe - is one of those defining moments for FFWC. God is doing a new thing in our hearts and lives. He is redefining, for us, our purpose and our calling. The action you see happening around us isn't by accident or through some program. It is purposeful and practical to your life. 8:30 a.m. this Sunday - BREAKFAST for the whole family! 9:30 a.m. - Join our new class in ELEVATE - 101 - 410 light. 10:30 a.m. -

I took last week off from blogging, quite honestly - Christmas wore me out! Got through New Years unscathed and now - back to work! Is 2012 going to be a great year? Well, I don't know. I suppose it depends on your definition of great! If great is that you're going to live a stress free life with no worries - then I don't think your year is going to be great. But if great is experiencing God's purpose and will in and through your life - then I think you're going to have a great year! There are some great things that God is doing and is going to do. Get on board with what He is doing and have a great year!!