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Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." Jesus said these words to His Sermon on the Mount.  In my opinion the most famous sermon of all time.  Here Jesus redefined faith in action.  My people believe in God, but they didn't know how to practice their faith.  The Judaistic leaders of that day had warped the Law of Moses to serve themselves.  That's why Jesus called them a pit full of snakes. Matthew 7:7 isn't a golden credit card from God that says, "Whatever you ask for you will get."  It is a spiritual principle that says God loves us.  That He will show His love through His provision in our lives.  That going to Him with our needs will not be a fruitless endeavor.  That if we want to be in the presence of God, we can be in the presence of God. What do you expect from people? Often times people come to me with their complaints about how someone isn't meeting their expectation

Here are a few things that I know about patience and stress.  Having patience will help relieve some stress.  Trying to find patience will cause stress.  If you are patient, you will find what you are looking for.  If you are in a hurry, you will find stress easily.  True, some people will test your patience.  Remember, your patience will test others.   People who are impatient will be aggravated by your patience.  Patience is the ability to wait for knowledge and wisdom to do their job.   Being patient with yourself is tough.  Being patient with a team is tougher.  The reward for being patient is better than the reward you receive from being in a hurry.   Mark 6:7  And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. When I think about teamwork and patience, I always think about Jesus (being patient) and the 12 disciples (His team).  For around 3 years Jesus patiently worked with the 12.

Yes, I forgot to blog yesterday.  I got so busy I forgot.  It happens to all of us but still . . . Sorry. As I write this blog I stink, I am filthy, I'm exhausted, and my feet hurt. But I spent the day working with some people here at church.  We are working on a project that in the end will be a massive blessing to future generations of people. That's what vision does to you.  It has a way to drive you to give a little more and work a little harder.  Vision separates the committed from the convenient. Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law. Keep your eye on the ball.  If you lose vision, you will lose passion.  Your efforts will begin to fade away.  Your joy will be soured and what once put a smile on your face will only cause grief.  Vision puts pressure on your life.  Under pressure, the real you is revealed.  You may not like who you see.  See yourself honestly and deal with it. 

In the past few years, the local government has been installing round-a-bouts in our community.  People hate them.  Yes, they are more efficient, but people hate them.  Why?  Because of a place named Confusion Corner.  It's one of the worst round-a-bouts ever.   Engineers and government don't understand that they have no credibility when it comes to round-a-bouts.  After driving through Confusion Corner, you don't want to drive through a round-a-bout ever again.  People don't like them because on more than one occasion someone has tried to drive into them.  Round-a-bouts are stress making intersections.  People don't want stress.  People don't like round-a-bouts.  So do you create stress or not? Nehemiah faced the fact that some of the locals were going to resist his efforts to rebuild the wall.  There was no credibility with Sanballat and Tobiah.   (Nehemiah 4: 1 - 3) Nehemiah faces the fact that some of his own people were not going to support h

Some might say, "Well, Pastor that was then.  What does Nehemiah have to do with me?" One of the great strengths of Nehemiah's leadership was his ability to embrace and understand the culture.  He was a Jew working in Persian culture.  He understood how things worked. Neh 2:5 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it.” Nehemiah understood the king.  He says, "If it pleases the king,..."  Nehemiah wasn't going to rebel against his master.  He knew that the key to his future was in securing the king's permission.   Neh 2:13 I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. Nehemiah understood the first problem.  The walls are busted.  He knew that it was goin

Prayer changes lives.  Prayer is the most powerful act of faith that one can express.  Prayer works.   I have prayed for more people than I can remember.  I have seen lives changed, drug users become model citizens, the sick healed, broken hearts mended.  I have seen the impossible.  All of it was in the name of Jesus and to the glory of God.   So, how do you pray?  Do you pray for change?  Do you pray dangerous prayers?  Do you pray?  I want us to look at Nehemiah's prayer.  See some of the significant things about this great leader.   Nehemiah 1 "4 As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven." Nehemiah didn't just, "feel bad" about what was happening.  It allowed it to touch him deeply and personally.  When we pray, do we pray out of a sense of desperation?  Do we pray from great passion and emotion?  Or do we avoid those emotions so we don'

This month, in Sunday services, I have been speaking about the vision of a man named Nehemiah.  You could learn so much about this man, but insufficient time to do it in. Nehemiah 1:11 Now I was cupbearer to the king. Nehemiah is one of the greatest leadership stories you will find in the Bible.  He was the cup bearer to King Artaxerxes, King of Persia and the most powerful man in the world.  Being a cup bearer wasn't a menial job.  It was a position of honor.  Because poison was a favored method of assassination, the cup bearer had to be a person whom the king trusted.  He would have been well paid for his loyalty. Nehemiah learns of the condition of his homeland, and his heart is broken. (Neh 1:1-3) He has serious concerns about this, so he prays and intercedes on behalf of his countrymen and Jerusalem. Along the line though, a burden became a calling. God asks him to go and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. How do you go from being a cup bearer to a governor in a day?  W

This was the first blog I wrote in 2008. "If 20 years ago you would have told me I would be posting my first blog. I would have thought you were speaking a foreign language. (Or at least, as a Pentecostal, I would have prayed for the interpretation) Then again if you would have said I would be the parent of a 3-year-old, pastoring in Palm City, managing the church website, driving a Korean car and loving all of it, I would have been forced to have you committed.  40 years ago I was 3 (just like my daughter is today) and the Summer of Love was in full swing. Times were changing. Those who changed with those times did well. Those who did not adapt, well . . . So here I am, adapting. Not as easy as it looks, but it will happen. So as you read these blogs and it seems that I am trying to find my way through this, please forgive me. But keep coming back. This will get better and my prayer is, that it will bless you." Sometimes it is good to remember your roots. I underst

Hen. 10:25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. What do you expect from church? Matt. 9: 29 “According to your faith be it done to you.” If you go to church tomorrow and get nothing out of it, you might have missed the point. If you are depending on the music to usher you into the presence of God, you might be waiting a long time.  If you are thinking that the sermon will somehow revolutionize your life, you may get disappointed.  Dont’t get me wrong the worship, the service and their sermon are important.  But they are parts of a bigger picture. How can you change tomorrow? Don’t depend on men.  Depend on the Holy Spirit. Don't come to church with a “What’s in it for me?” attitude.  Come with a “What can I give today?” Come by faith expecting God to do something great today. Give it your all because you will reap what you sow. PRAY: Dear Jesus, I will come to Your h

Since the school shooting on Valentines Day fear has become very apparent. Parents keeping their kids home from school. Kids having nightmares about going to school. False social media threats against high schools. Media sources fearmongering recent events. The list goes on and on. 2 Timothy 1:7   For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Psalm 56:3   When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. Philippians 4:6-7   Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. We live in a violent world, and we have always lived in a violent world.  Genesis 6: 5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Before the flood, mankind was so evil that God s

17 dead. 14 wounded. Gunman captured without incident. A community devastated. For the record.  I pastored in Coral Spring/Parkland for 6 years.  I drove by that school last Saturday on the way to an appointment in south Broward. People are asking why? The shooter's motives are still a secret to us.  I am confident that the shooter's motives will be debated for some time.   People are asking how? As far as I can tell, the school wasn't lax in their security.  But no security system is perfect. People are asking, what's next? Anger? Mourning?  Debate?  Healing?  This is a complicated process that will take time.  Patience and diligence to rise above the evil will be paramount. What happened was evil. Motive aside, it was evil.  The Bible talks about evil frequently.  It can refer to anything that is morally wrong or anything without a moral depth.  It can be used to describe anything which is against the holiness of God or to describe any kind of disas

So how did Betty and I start off our Valentines Day?  Having an argument? It wasn't a big one or a serious one, but it was an argument nonetheless. Later that day she brought me a Valentines Day card.  When she left for work, we kissed.  My daughter saw it and said, "Oh stop it."  Of course, for all of you parents that have teenagers, that's all the reason you need to keep on kissing.  :) Betty and I have been married nearly 34 years. We've been friends for nearly 37 years. We have worked together, side by side for nearly 29 years. Sometimes love is the only thing that kept us from killing each other. We've gone through our ups and downs.  Year three wasn't fun at all.  Years 5 and 6 was tough on us personally.  Years 7 through 13 tested our resolve. Years 15 through 17 were a serious transition. Years 18 and 19 was a significant loss in our lives. Year 20 was an incredible year of rejoicing. Year 27 broke our hearts. Ephesians 4:2-3: “With al

This blog is going to be one part devotional and one part motivational.  Hey, all of us can use some motivation, right? EI is more important than IQ Philippians 2:4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. EI or Emotional Intelligence has been around forever.  Do any of you remember the part of your report card that said, "plays well with others?"  Well, that's EI.  How you get along with people is more important than your IQ.   Years ago I knew someone who was the best at what he did.  Problem was, no one could work with him.  He didn't like people and they were gracious enough to return the favor.   Teamwork is more important than perfection.  Mark 6:7-13   The disciples were to work together not produce perfection.  Many times we will say, "If you want a job done right, do it yourself."  That may be true, but that doesn't make it correct.  God has surrounded you with people who

Gen 3:17 ....cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; It's Monday, and everyone is excited to go to work today.  Not.   According to cleverpedia.com - We expect Monday to be awful.  Researchers in Australia found that people remembered feeling the worst on Monday, even though when they actually rated their feelings day to day they found no difference between any of the days of the week.  - Most of us don’t crack a smile until 11:16am. - You will spend 12 minutes just complaining that it’s Monday. - If you are between the ages of 45 and 54, you complain the most. - Half of us are late for work. - We’ll only get 3.5 hours of work done anyway. http://www.cleverpedia.com/statistics-behind-mondays-awful/ Adam and Eve were in the garden of Eden. Most people think that everything was handed to them and that they didn't have to do anything. That's not true. They did work. But after they ate from the tree God said that t

Years ago, when I trained teachers for Christian Education, I would talk about the "Ah Ha" moment.  That moment when the lightbulb goes off in the students' mind, and they get it! You've discovered those moments.  Sometimes the "Ah Ha" is followed by a "Eureka!"  Sometimes its followed by a "Doh!" Either way, you get it. John 8:31-32 “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Learning is all about discovering the truth.  The old saying that, "ignorance is bliss" really isn't true. The old saying  "ignorance is expensive" is more accurate.   The world will try to teach you its brand of truth.  You've heard these sayings, "the ends justify the means," "there is no right or wrong," "all paths go to heaven," and "be a good person and God will l

Yesterday was a blur. I left early to go teach a ministers class in Broward County. Came back to church around 5 pm. Then I left church around 7:30 pm and went home. Sounds simple but after 150 miles of driving and 8 hours of teaching.  I was done. Today, Life Groups begin at 9:15 am, morning worship at 10:15 am.  Will go see my daughter dance at 1 pm.  Back to church to enjoy our Family Fun Day, Olympic Edition at 4 pm.  Shut down / clean up around 8 pm and home to be home before midnight. I'm getting tired just writing about it. What do you do when life is moving at such a fast pace? “That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in Him and in Moses his servant.” – Exodus 14:30 What does the Israelites deliverance from the Egyptians have to do with your fa

When was the last time you sat down and counted your blessings?  Named them one by one. When was the last time you listed 50 things you are grateful for? When was the last time you really took stock with what God has given you? Doing these things is good.  I would suggest no less than annually.  But quarterly would be fine too. I want to give thanks for my wife.  The crazy redhead that she is.  She is a loving mother, wife, and leader.  She is tough and resourceful.  She is creative and committed to her life. I want to give thanks for my daughter.  She is just as sarcastic as me.  (Sorry about that.) She is smart, talented and committed to her faith in Jesus. I want to give thanks for the church I pastor.  It is a privilege to be a pastor.  It is a joy when you have a group of people who work together to accomplish something great for the Kingdom of God. I want to give thanks for my mom.  Without her, I wouldn't be here.  She trusted God with my life, and her faithful

My daughter is waiting, a lot lately. She tries out for summer dance intensives and then has to wait days, even weeks to learn if she has been accepted. She is waiting for a cast list to come out for her June performance. She doesn't do waiting well.  But that's ok, you don't either. Isaiah 40:31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Waiting serves a purpose. It forces you to focus your life on what is really important. It makes you rely on God to meet your needs, especially during tough times. It requires you to exercise self-discipline.  Don't give into that instant gratification temptation. It keeps your emotions from running your life. Waiting is good. When you find yourself in a place where waiting is required, make good use of the time.  There is a reason for it. PRAY:  Dear Jesus, patience isn't my thing.  But

Later this week I am going to teach a class for up and coming ministers.  It's called Synoptic Gospels, and it uses words like consubstantiation, grammatico-historical, and critical analysis.  Those words don't make my brain hurt, finding new ways to challenge people to engage with the Bible do. Notice I didn't say, "read" or "study" the Bible. Jer 15:16 Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts. This morning I was reading the book of James.  I didn't read the whole book.  I didn't even read a chapter.  I read three verses.  That's because something jumped out at me that I have never seen before.  James 3: 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. Wisdom comes from above.  That means wisdom is a supernatural gift/miracle fro

But how? Each of us has certain gifts.  God told us so! 1 Peter 4:10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: There is no limit to the number of skills that you can learn.  But beyond that, it says that God has given us certain gifts.   Romans 12:6 - 81  Prophecy, Serving. Teaching, Exhortation, Giving, Leadership, Mercy, Helps 1 Corinthians 12:8 - 10 Word of wisdom, Word of knowledge, Faith, Gifts of healings, Miracles, Prophecy, Distinguishing between spirits, Tongues, Interpretation of tongues Ephesians 4:11  Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher Now all of these could use some explanation.  But that would require more than a blog post to address.  My point is this.  God created you and He gifted you for a purpose.  But what is that purpose?  THE BIG PICTURE:  To build the Kingdom of God.  Or in other words, to help people discover Jesus, accept Him into their lives and begin living their lives i

It is the day after the Eagles defeated the Patriots in Superbowl LII. The Patriots are in mourning. The Eagles are elated, and the managed not to burn their city down. Everyone else is analyzing every play and action of the game explaining how it all happened. Reviewing the past isn't a bad thing, living in the past is.   Reviewing the past is called an after action review (AAR).  It is a structured review process that explains what happened, why it happened, and how it can be done better next time.  Its purpose is simple.  Don't make the same mistake twice.  When you live in the past, you force yourself to make your present reality a carbon copy of your past. Most often it is associated with anything abusive, bad or damaging from your past.   Ecclesiastes 7:10   Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this. Solomon, who wrote this, was the wisest man in the world.  He makes it very clear that wisdom doesn&

Years ago I had an organizational meeting with a hand full of contractors that attended my church.  The plan was to raise the monies needed to remodel the educational wing of the church, an area around 2,000 square feet.  We drew up some ideas and agreed to begin creating a cost analysis for the project. A few days later I came to church to find a group of pickups in the parking lot.  My Administrative Assistant meets me at the door and says, "I've got to go run an errand."  She hurries out the door and gets in her car.  Then I hear hammering at the other end of the church.  I walk over to discover that one of the contractors had taken upon himself to demolish the educational area. To say that that I was shocked is putting it mildly.  We had no money, no time and no plan. Luke 14:28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? I took said contractor aside and asked him what was goi

1.35 billion (that's with a B) chicken wings will be consumed over the course of the weekend. 139 million pounds of avocados will be consumed during the Super Bowl. In 2017, Nielsen reported that Americans would spend $277 million on Potato chips $225 million on Tortilla chips $58 million on Deli sandwiches $42 million on Salty snack dips $23 million on Deli platters $13 million on Vegetable trays $1.2 billion would be spent on beer $594 million on wine $503 million on hard liquor http://woodtv.com/2018/01/30/we-eat-how-much-super-bowl-food-by-the-numbers/ 14 million workers will to not show up to work on Monday.  Here are some excuses some people have used to call in sick. The employee was bitten by a duck.  (Man, that was some duck!) The employee said her roots were showing and she had to keep her hair appointment because she looked like a mess.  (That might be true.) The employee was experiencing traumatic stress from a large spider found in her home. She had to stay

I just looked to see how many people checked out yesterdays blog.  Apparently, a number of you are Patriots fans, because you didn't read it.   Oops. But that's ok.  Emotions are running high for this years Superbowl.  Eagle fans are hopeful and Patriots fans are, well, Patriot fans. Romans 12:11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  (NIV) I am sure that the fans of both teams will give it their all.  In fact, watching them may be more interesting than watching the game.   FACT: They greased the light poles in Philly to keep the fans from climbing them?  What kind of passion do you have when it comes to your faith in Christ?  I am not implying that you should climb a greased light pole, but honestly, I've seen people do crazier things for their faith.  This week I was privileged to hear a story about a young person who is serving in a country that cannot be named.  Their witness for Christ drives them to do all they

The Superbowl is this weekend.  Patriots vs. the Eagles.  Even though I am not a Pats fan, this isn't a blog bashing them. I'm meeting real Eagles fan all over the place.  I'm not talking about the anti-Pats type of fan.  The fan that roots for any team that is playing against the Pats.  I mean life long, true blue, crazy Eagles fans. Two moms at the dance studio are lifelong faithful Eagles fans, who knew?  The person who I have been working with for the last 2 days is a lifelong Eagles fan.   Eagles fans are all over the place. Have you ever noticed that after you buy a car, you will see every car like yours? Have you ever contracted a particular ailment then meet 5 people who suffered from the same thing? What you look for you will find! Matthew 7:7-8 7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. T