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Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. What is peace?  Not worrying.  I know that some of you are thinking.  Well, I will never have peace.  That isn't true! Then what do I need to do to stop worry?  Trust.  (No one said this stuff was easy.)  We as a culture have trust issues.  Sometimes our trust issues have trust issues. Trust who?  That one is easy.  Jesus! But I trust Jesus!  Really?  Then why are you still worrying?  Hmm. Paul went on to say in Philippians 4:11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. There is the secret sauce to his success.  It's called contentment.  It is almost mystical, isn't it? Well in some ways it is.  You see each of us have a life, but we don't completely understand it.  You and I are made up of body, soul, and spirit.  Another way to put it is, body - psyche and zoe.  The

Each morning I get the privilege to watch this little dance between a squirrel and the neighbor's cat play out on our back porch.  It goes something like this. Cat show up and begs for some food.  He only eats about half of it.  Then he goes and lays down sunning himself on our back porch. The squirrel emerges from the woods next door and sees the leftovers.  He makes a beeline to the food and then at the last minute - WHOA!  CAT!  The squirrel loses it.  He twitches, jumps up and down and chatters to the top of his little lungs.  Then the dance begins. He gets on our roof and makes his way to a tree next to the roof.  He jumps on the tree and then jumps back on the roof.  He jumps on the tree and moves down a little father, then rushes back up to the roof.  He does this until he finally makes it to the cat's food and steals a piece.  At that moment he runs to the corner of the roof and enjoys his meal.  Then he does it all again. What does the cat do?  Nothing.  He co

It is Nov. 28th, and I have already heard every Christmas carol that exists.  Amy Grant has sung Breath of Heaven one too many times.  I have listened to the Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker again and again and again and again and . . .  Well, you get the picture.  I have seen Elsa, Snoopy, Ebenezer, Ralphie and a Red Ryder BB Gun, Santa and his merry little band of elves all promoting Christmas.  Occasionally, I see Jesus in a small nativity here or a Christmas picture there.   See Christmas for what it is.  The birth of our Savior.  The one who would come to sacrifice His life for the forgiveness of our sins.  The birth of our King.  The one who has the last word on everything in the universe and I mean everything!  The birth of our Lord.  The one who cares for our life with great love, mercy, and grace.  When you see Christmas clearly - you can only see Jesus.  As a pastor, I can tell you that most people never see Christmas for what it is.  The holidays are so loud and noisy t

Why do we celebrate Christmas?  Why is it the biggest holiday of them all?  Why do we go to such extremes to honor Jesus?  It's about firsts. Christmas recognizes that God was putting us first by sending His Son to live among us, understand us and give His life for us. Christmas acknowledges that Jesus was putting us first by giving up His place in heaven to be "God with us" here on earth. Christmas reminds us that Jesus is our deliver, our healer, the author of our faith and our future. Christmas is one way that we put Jesus first in our lives.  How?  Because we are proclaiming what is already true.  He is the center, the anchor of our lives.  He is the reason why we can be saved from our sins and have hope for tomorrow.  He is supreme over all.  There is no other name above the name of Jesus.  That includes the names of depression, discouragement, bankruptcy, divorce, cancer and more. Take one minute right now and think about what this Christmas is going to

I forgot to blog Friday.  I'm sorry about that.  The holidays are hitting me a little harder than expected. It is Saturday afternoon, and I am exhausted.  Honestly, I just want to sleep for a month.  We have all felt this way at one time or another.  With Sunday facing us, it is easy to say, "I'm going to sleep in." Or, "I just can't go another step." I have to believe that Jesus felt this way sometimes.  The Gospels record how he would minister to people all day long, then exhausted He would seek some solitude. There are times when completely exhausted I wanted to throw my hands up and quit.  But I didn't, why?  The reward was better than then sacrifice. Going on vacation and tired from traveling.  You press on because your destination is worth it. Going to work and plodding on.  You keep going because you need the money. Starting a project that was harder than you expected.  You keep going because that sense of accomplishment is worth

For some of my readership, it is Thanksgiving Day, or you just celebrated it. I wouldn't have believed you if you told me ten years ago that I would be writing a blog and someone in Australia would be read it.  (Not to mention Europe, South America, China, Africa, India or Russia) So I am grateful that God created me.  No, this isn't an arrogant statement.  Creation is a statement of faith.  I am grateful that God has bigger plans for me than I can imagine. If I believed that I am nothing more than a product of evolution, chance or of my environment, then there is no hope for my life.  Life is nothing more than a gamble.  It isn't. God created me for many reasons.  Some of which have yet to reveal themselves.  That's how God works.  You may think that you are going to do something for the rest of your life.  But I can guarantee that how you did it five years ago isn't the same way you are going to do it today. Give thanks, today that God has a plan for

Ok - on a lighter note. If you are having trouble cooking your turkey, you might try this. (No, not really - but I laughed out loud at this.) Happy Thanksgiving!

Gratefulness requires you to think differently.  Here is what everyone has to do to be grateful.  Recognize that God is the Creator of everything.  When you believe that God is on your side who loves you very much - you will have a reason to be grateful.  Otherwise, your whole life is nothing more than random luck.   Believe that there is always something better.  Gratefulness requires you to see beyond the good in your life and discover what is better.  But remember, you've got to give up good to have better. Refuse to compare yourself to someone else.  Life comparison is fatal.  In fact, comparing anything about yourself to anyone else will always be fatal.  Why?  #1 you never pick someone to compare yourself to that is less fortunate than yourself.  (That would be mean and selfish).  #2 You will pick someone who has what you want.  Being discontent will foster feelings of jealousy, not gratefulness.  So as you count your blessings today, remember.  God loves

Gratefulness doesn't come easily or naturally.  It is hard, and it has to be a choice. Lamentations 3:22 - 23 says, The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  (ESV) Each morning, God's mercies or compassion towards you are new and refreshing.  The question is, are you looking for them? I am grateful that God, in his divine mercy, decides to smile on me and see me through my day.  I am grateful that He chose to answer my prayer of faith and set me free from a life of sin.  I am grateful that each and every day He acknowledges the struggles I go through and provides for my every need. I am grateful that His direction for my life is so much better than anything than I can imagine.  I am grateful that He is the one who sees me for who I am but chooses to love me and embrace me.  I am grateful that He is preparing a place for me in heaven.  I am grateful that He is bigger than the pr

I have seen all these "grateful challenges" going on for the past month.  But let's be honest, we don't' think about being grateful until the holidays arrive. NEWSFLASH!  The holidays are here!!  Merry Christmas! (I know, it feels weird.  But keep saying it, you will get used to it.) What am I grateful for today?  Well, my grateful journal is usually full of entries like, "I am grateful for a loving wife."  "I am grateful for a beautiful daughter."  So let me pick something out of the ordinary. I am grateful for my church. I get the privilege to pastor a wonderful group of people.  Are they perfect?  No.  I thank God that they know that and practice love, acceptance and forgiveness with each other.  That means that #1 they love one another.  Love is the rule of all relationships.  No matter what is happening at the end of it all, they want to love one another.  #2 they accept each other.  No that doesn't mean that they give each o

Am I talking about Sunday or Monday?  Yes! Sunday was a great day at church.  Renee Rowan Basel knocked it out of the park.  Wow!  What an excellent voice and awesome ministry. The Thanksgiving dinner was superb!  The curry chicken was a big hit!  We had a wonderful time together with family and friends. But what about Monday - what is so wonderful about Monday? How you start your week is how you will live your week.  In other words, if you start with a lousy attitude on Monday, it isn't going to improve much through the week.  But if you start your day with the thought that, "Today is going to be a beautiful day!" it can only get better from there. Think of it this way.  If you had to go to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, from where you live.  How long would take?  (For my readers in Europe or South East Asia that would take a while.)  But let's say you lived in Boca Raton, Florida.  Then your trip would take about 15 minutes. How far you go in your day relies

Today is my beautiful wife's birthday.  I can't say enough about her and what she means to me - but let me try. Gritty - She is gritter than me in fact.  She has a passion for seeing things through to the end.  She will not give up.  She will not quit. Passionate - Her love for life is surpassed by no one, in my opinion.  Her desire to be a mom and a wife is unchallenged.  She knows what she wants, and she knows how to get it and defend it. Unique - She sees her world through a set of glasses that are neither rose-colored or blurred.  But it isn't the same way you see it.  She will enjoy life, regardless. Lovely - While she has more mercy than me, and I don't' have a lot.  She is compassionate and kind.  She sees the good in others and believes in them when they cannot believe in themselves. Stubborn - This isn't an insult, but it is a necessity in her life.  She will fight for the underdog.  She will champion for generosity and compassion.  She will

What is peace?  Doesn't that seem to be the holy grail of our emotional needs?  "If I could only be at peace."  "If there wasn't so much turmoil in the world."  "If I could only sleep at night!" Peace is a lot closer to you than you think. First of all, what is peace?  Not worrying.  When you are not worrying, you are at peace.  "Oh great Jones, so all I have to do is stop worrying?"  Yes, and I mean stop it - I do not mean, be in denial of it. Second, learn to be content.  The Apostle Paul, in Philippians 4 said that this was the secret sauce to his success.  That no matter what was going on - He trusted Jesus with his life. Third, Pray like everything depends on God and work like everything depends on you.  You get the best of both worlds this way. No, no one said that this was easy and I am the first to admit that.  But I am also the first to acknowledge that it is possible.  I can do all things through Christ who strengths

For this morning's devotion, I want you to take a few moments and determine what this Christmas season is going to be about for you and your family. For some people, it is about the holidays.  The Christmas lights, shopping, and gift giving.  There is nothing wrong with those things in and of themselves. For some people, it is all about the spiritual meaning of Christmas.  Christ the child, born of a virgin to be the Savior of the World. For some people, it is all about loving your fellow man.  Caring for those who cannot care for themselves and helping others in their time of need. For some people is it all about tradition.  Such as going to see the Nutcracker or having dinner with family on Christmas Eve. Now I am a big fan of remembering the "Reason for the Season."  Worshipping Jesus and thanking Him for coming to live among us. I also love the song "Wonderful Dream" by Crystal Angels.  (You probably know it as the Christmas Coca Cola song.)  I

The Bible gives us lots of examples of being under pressure.  Gideon, Moses, Elijah, Nehemiah and others.  But when I think about being under pressure I like to go to the New Testament.  Jesus, Peter, and Paul are just a few I can name.  But why the New Testament? Nothing against the Old Testament, but we have something that they didn't.  The fulfillment of Christ's Messiahship through His death and resurrection.  The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on every believer and the early churches model for us to embrace. I want you to know that whatever you are facing today has been encountered by a believer before.  The names may have changed, but the pressure hasn't.  Jesus knows what you are facing, and He knows what to do!  So what can you do today? Let's go to Phil 4:6 where it says, "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." #1 Pray.  Prayer changes things!!

I am not a big fan of lemonade.  But I do appreciate it's simplicity.  It's just water, lemons and sugar.  A few years ago I was in a restaurant with a friend of mine who asked for some.  The waitress told him that they didn't have any.  He said, "Thank you; I'll have water with a few lemons."  I knew what he was going to do, but the waitress didn't.  Imagine her surprise when she came back to the table, and with the sugar on the table, made his lemonade. Before he ever arrived at the restaurant, he already knew that one way or another he was going to have lemonade with this pulled pork sandwich.  What does this mean to you? Look at Noah, Moses, Elijah, Peter, Paul and other great people of faith.  That have a lot in common with my lemonade friend. #1 - God will provide everything you need.   Phil 4: 19  My friend didn't know if they had lemonade, but he did know that they had lemons.  What restaurant doesn't?  Everything you need to achie

Some storms of life can be brutal.  I am originally from the Midwest where thunderstorms and tornados were commonplace.  I would watch a sunny day turn into a windy nightmare in less than 15 minutes.   Then I moved to Florida and I have to tell you that the thunderstorms here are different.  That isn't to say that they are not as violent and dangerous as the ones I experienced in the Midwest - but different.  One time while visiting in Tampa a torrential storm hit the area and the lighting was like nothing I had ever see or experienced.  It was as if it was trying to get me like it had some kind of grudge against me personally.  I lost count of the number of strikes I witnessed within a 100 yards of me.  (I was driving in it.  Yikes!)  Life is like that.  Sometimes a storm blows through and sometimes it is as if life is out to get you.  What do you do?  The Psalmist writes in Psalms 107:29 He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.   Psalms

Last Sunday I recalled an adage where I say, "God is Good" and the congregation says "All the time!" To which I say, "And all the time." the people say, "God is Good!"  It serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness to everyone. When we participate in communion, it acts as a reminder of what Jesus did for us on the cross.  It also serves as a reminder that He is coming back for His church soon! In the Old Testament, from time to time, God would have someone build an altar unto Him out of stone.  It was placed there as a monument to remind them of His faithfulness to them.  That way, from generation to generation, people would be reminded of His faithfulness. Many times when we pray and seek God's face we forget to offer our worship and needs to Him on the foundation that He has already provided.  Remember when you asked Jesus into your life?  Remember when a Scripture in the Bible jumped off the page and spoke to you?  Remember whe

Every feel like you missed out on something? All of us have felt like that at one time or another.  But what do you do about it? James, the half-brother of Jesus - Pastor of the church in Jerusalem - writer of the book of James, was someone who missed out.  You see, James wasn't one of Jesus' disciples.  In fact, we read from the Gospels, that he and his siblings tried to have Jesus committed at one point.  Ouch! Apparently, after Jesus' resurrection, James discovered that he had missed out on something.  Very quickly James went from being a doubter to an unbeliever.  That's the thing about missing out.  It motivates you to do something about it.  So what are you missing? It depends on your priorities.  You will always fill like you've missed on what you prioritize in your life.  Think about it.  Is your priority your family? But you are always at work; then you probably resent your job.  If your priority is Jesus, but you missed church this last Sunday, y

How can we go to church and get more out it? Simple. Put more into it. 2 Cor 9:6  The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully  (ESV) Come worshipping.   On our way to church begin to prepare to receive from God.  Many times we arrive at church the same way we arrive at school or work. See oneself giving before receiving. We are consumers in a consumerist culture.  We are wired to think this way.  Well, flip it around.  What can you give to God tomorrow?  Your worship?  Your tithe and offering?  Your praise and thanksgiving? Make someone's day. If we want our experience to be better, then we need to make someone else's experience at church better.  It's linked to the previous suggestion, but it's simple.  Genuinely, smile at someone.  Talk to someone.  Don't get in a rush after church to leave. Pay attention. Our world moves fast.  So quickly we can miss it.  Slow down

Hebrews 11  has been called the Chapter of Faith in the Bible.  It's a who's who list of people who exercised great faith.  If you were to do a character study of each of the people named, you would discover a theme. Their faith was always challenged.  Either by people or through circumstances these people had to make a choice.  Believe in God and follow His ways or do nothing.  While I am sure there were a few that were challenged to renounce their faith, most were challenged just to believe in God and do nothing. The same temptation faces you today.  It is easy to sit by and do nothing and expect someone else's faith to make the difference.  Let your faith have the chance to rise to the challenge.  The initiative is all that God needs - let's see what God can do. The price for faith was always high.  Sometimes we read about these great people of faith and think to ourselves, "Really?"  I believe that there were some of them who thought the same thin

Adversity and the Bible seem to go hand in hand.  Job, Jeremiah, Paul and others. In my devotions this morning I read, “I suppose some could conclude that because Jesus is with us, everything will go well for us. Subtly, some of us might assume that the difference between those who love Jesus and those who don’t is that the people who love him get all the desires of their hearts. So they’ll have cars, and homes, and health, and strength. They will have abundant life because that’s what Jesus promises. Yes, God wants to bless you. Yes, God is for you. He’s for your happiness, he’s for your health, he’s for your finances, and he’s for your success. But without a doubt, bad things happen to good people.” Excerpt From: Judah Smith. “Jesus Is.”  So how do you handle adversity - Like A Boss? #1 - Don't Worry.  We learned this last night we discovered in our Wed. Night Bible Study.  Paul tells us in Philippians 4 that we shouldn't worry.  God has the long-term details of

You've got to admit.  Solomon had the life.  Wisdom - Money - Power and more!  But did he live life like a boss? When I read Proverbs, and Song of Solomon I get the feeling that he did enjoy his life. But when I read Ecceleasties, I do not think that Solomon enjoyed life so much.  Whether Solomon was having a mid-life crisis or suffering from some depression, I don't know. So here is the picture.  A man who is the richest most powerful man in the world goes from enjoying life to wondering what the meaning of life is.  What happened? In Ecclesiastes 1:9 Solomon says, "What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun."  That phrase, "under the sun" is necessary.  Solomon is looking at life from a natural, rationalistic point of view.  Or in other words, what would life be like if you didn't factor God into your life? He discovered that life is without meaning, purpose, and signif

The fear mongers are in overdrive.  Since the election of Donald Trump last night news commentators and political pundits have done all they can do to strike fear into the hearts of Americans.  As soon as the announcement was made, immediately people started to say that the stock market would crash this morning.  As of 11:17 am the stock market hasn't crashed, and it is business as usual. Turn off the political rhetoric and put your faith in God.  The Psalmist said, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” Psalm 56:3.  God is STILL in control. Next, you may be confronted by people, who in this state of fear, will make assumptions about you.  This election cycle involved a lot of name calling from both sides so don't be surprised if you get called something a little unkind.  How do you respond? #1 John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this, all people will know that you a

As I write this post, the polls have not closed.  But I thought that this might be appropriate the day after the election. When David faced Goliath, I don't believe it was joy in his heart that he was experiencing.  However, he wasn't overcome with fear either.  David went out on the battlefield by faith, and he did the right thing.  Joy came after he had been faithful. When Gideon faced the Midianites, he went out by faith and did the right thing.  Joy came after he had been faithful. King Jehoshaphat and Israel faced their enemy army and by faith did the right thing.  Joy came after they had been faithful. Everyone rewards faithfulness and demotes unfaithfulness. Spouses love it when their spouse is faithful and don't cheat on them. Employers love it when their employees are loyal and don't' steal from them. Teachers love it when their students are committed and don't cheat on them. You get the picture. So what giant are you facing that is

Matthew 6:25-33 25  “Therefore I tell you,  do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?   26  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?   27  And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his  span of life?   28  And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,   29  yet I tell you,  even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30  But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you,  O you of little faith?   31  Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’   32  For  the Gentiles seek afte

Did anything significant happen in church? - Nope Were there any new announcements? - No ( But I did forget to mention that Lincoln Brewster will be in concert next Sunday at the Pineapple Festival. We sing some of his music on Sunday's. Go to www.pineapplefestival.info for tickets. ) So what did you miss?  The power of unity When people come together with a common desire to love, accept and forgive - it makes the church unstoppable. Why? Because these things are an extension of God's grace and mercy. While we may disagree or even irritate each other - the desire to express God's love to one another is greater than our desire to be right or to be better. It is these moments that the Holy Spirit capitalizes on to change us as people and as a church. Now take a few moments to think about your home. Your work place. Your circles of friends. What if? What if you were to show love, acceptance and forgiveness to others today? What would change? What would

You've heard those words before.  You've probably said them.  I know I have. "Depressing Isn't It?" It is something that we say when faced with a situation or circumstance that doesn't go well. I read the book of Job this week.  I have, to be honest with you.  It's one of my least favorite books in the Bible.  I don't like watching Job go through all of that.  I like his three, "friends" even less.  Encouraging isn't the word I would use to describe them.  A gang of judgemental, arrogant,  know it alls, with the sensitivity of a brick come to mind. Then again.  Don't we talk to ourselves this way? In the middle of my day today (which has been a little aggravating, to say the least) I got this text. Excellent counsel for Job and myself too. I hung my head in shame as I remembered my devotions this morning.  In the last 2 or 3 chapters of Job, God has a conversation with Job which put things into perspectiv

Next Sunday's series is entitled, "Like A Boss."  It ss all about living your life with joy.  How can you live your life with grace and confidence, authority and finesse?  There is a misnomer among some followers of Jesus that you have to look and act like that you are just "making it." It'ss called a scarcity mentality.  An attitude that says, there isn't enough to go around; therefore, I will never have enough.  It isn't true. First of all, GOD IS YOUR SOURCE God has never, nor will ever, suffer from lack.  Think about it.  He created the heavens and the earth from nothing.  He can make what you need from nothing.  (MIND BLOWN!) Secondly, GOD IS GENEROUS People think that God is stingy because He doesn't give them what they ask.  When my daughter was a small child, she would ask for things that she couldn't have.  Her curiosity wanted to touch the kitchen knife - Dad said no.  God is generous, but he isn't going to give you

So we pushed ourselves over the edge yesterday. Gideons 300 have pursued the Midianite army out of their country and into history.  So what's next? The rules of war were clear.  The winning army receives all the losing armies stuff. Remember that the Midianites were a nomadic people who supported themselves by robbing everyone else.  All those camels that the Israelites couldn't count because there were so many?  Theirs. All the food they stole from them, they got it back.  The tents, the armor, the food, the supplies - all theirs.  Not only did God rid them of their oppressor He also ensured that the nation of Israel was replenished for the winter season.  Seven winters of suffering and starvation were replaced with plenty. What are you looking for in life?  Where is it?  On the other side of your fears.  When you take your faith and face your fears, you will find what you have been looking for the whole time. Why do we like reading about the Patriarchs, the Prophe

You and I live in a world that has taken the adrenaline rush to new extremes.  The riskiest thing I ever did as a kid was to jump off the roof of my house.  Now people jump off cliffs with no parachute. Just so we are clear, I am not advocating either one of these options today.  But I would like for you to do something that may be even riskier. Gideons 300 shouted "A sword for the Lord and for Gideon."  The Midianite camp panic and started to turn on each other.  The 300 went into hot pursuit, and the Midianites ran away.  In fact, the 300 chased them deep into their territory.  I would have loved to have seen that. What are you willing to do today to push your faith over the edge? What had God been talking to you about doing for Him? Maybe God has been asking you to show acts of compassion to others?  The homeless, the single mom or the divorcee. Maybe God has been asking you to invest your life and faith into others?  The Maybe God has been asking you to do