RUSSJONES.US

As I watch the events of Ferguson unfold the last couple of nights, I have to say that I wasn't surprised.  I don't think that it would have mattered which way the grand jury ruled - riots were going to happen.  That's just my opinion. Now before anyone thinks that I am taking sides or speaking on behalf of my race, I'm not.  I'm speaking as a Pastor and as a follower of Christ. I know that many people see this as an isolated incident.  That the reactions are unjustified.  I know that many people see this as a breakdown in the system.  That the reactions are justified. What I see it as is a sin problem. Let me bottom line this for you just in case you're not going to read the rest of this post. Racism is a sin.  It's a sin just as much as murder, theft, lying and gluttony.  Sin is sin in God's eyes.  When sin saturates a culture and it's governing authority - it's going to act like it.  So, none of this surprises me.  In other words,

Today is my wife bday.  She usually doesn't mind me telling people how old she is, but I'm not going to risk it - you ask her if you want to know. Did you know she is a . . . Mom? Well if you know Anneka, you know that Betty is her mom.  But did you know that Betty has to recover from a serious pulmonary event in her 20's in order to be able to carry and deliver a child in her late 30's?  Did you know that she endured 4 miscarriages before Anneka? So when Betty comes off a little overprotective (And what mom doesn't?) I know she earned it. Dance Mom? She didn't see this one coming either.  If Betty and I were to trace our lineage back to Adam and Eve I do believe that you wouldn't find anyone coordinated enough to walk and chew gum at the same time must less dance.  But there you have it and Annekas #1 cheerleader is?  You guessed it. Ordained Minister? - Betty graduated with me in 1985 from Central Bible College in Springfield Missouri with a BA

Lives being changed for the better is always a good thing. A year and a half ago a young lady walked into our church one Sunday with eyes wide open.  I could tell right from the beginning that she hadn't been in a church like ours before.  Everything that we did was strange and different.  While she had been raised in church - it wasn't the same. Well a few weeks later, she gave her heart and life to Christ in a real and wonderful way.  She was excited about this new relationship and what it could bring to her.  Now I would be lying if I said that it's all been smooth sailing.  It hasn't.  But she will tell you that the trip has been worth it all. As a result of her new found faith, her family has been transformed too.  Many of them giving their life to Jesus.  Many of them open to experiencing something new from God. In all my years I have never seen someone's worldview change so quickly.  She no longer looks at her world through her eyes, she looks throu

We haven't officially started the holiday season yet and already the griper's and complainer's are in full swing.  During this season you have people who complain that we shouldn't celebrate Christmas because: - it really isn't Jesus' b-day.  - because Jesus didn't command us to celebrate His b-day.  - because many of the traditions we celebrate are from pagan rituals.  - because Christmas has become so commercialized.  - and so on and so forth.  Now I don't disagree with any of the above statements.  They are all true.  But does that mean that we should abandon the opportunity to help people discover who Jesus is? The celebration of Christmas has been embraced by Christians for generations.  Families would remember the birth of Jesus as the greatest gift that God the Father could give us.  Salvation through His Son, Jesus.   - We give gifts to symbolize that gift.  - We celebrate Jesus' birth as an act of thanksgiving,

When you see someone's life transformed it is a miracle that we like to celebrate. When  Danielle first came to FFWC she was a woman looking for a direction in her life.  She already was an accomplished  barrel racer - deeply in love with her boyfriend and dedicated mom to her two daughters.  She ran her own horse ranch where she taught young people how to ride and barrel race.   But she didn't have a proper focus or purpose for her life.  Jesus was there, but she wasn't letting Him guide her.   In a short period of time, God began to change her heart.  A desire to honor Him with her life became a priority.  People who didn't have a relationship with Jesus became her calling.  She still runs the ranch, talks to people about Jesus all the time, married her boyfriend and became part of our church family.   What a transition in just a short period of time.  I have to say, I am looking forward to what Jesus is going to do through her.  It's just a matter of ti