Outta Here!

“Outta Here!”

The improper title to the Kenny Chesney hit sometimes has special meaning for those believers who have to deal with the world! Persecution has finally made its way to the Bible belt! I am hearing stories almost daily from believers who feel they are being persecuted for their faith! Our tendency is to run from the problems! Often we find it much easier to get “Outta Here” and blend in to society! Can I tell you this morning that God calls us beyond! In Matthews’s gospel we find “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, because the Kingdom of heaven is theirs.” Can you believe this? Do you feel blessed when you are persecuted? Truth is, we don’t. To many believers today feel overwhelmed and defeated. When the going gets tough, the tough get Outta here! Matthew is reminding us that when we stand for Jesus, the Kingdom of heaven is ours! Jesus tells us in John chapter 15 “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you…” If we truly follow Jesus we are to expect persecution! He told us it would be this way! We are not above our Savior and Master and He endured immense persecution during His ministry! Anytime that you are persecuted for the truth or doing the right thing brings glory to the One who saved us! We cannot run! We have to face the world with the truth of the gospel of Jesus! Stop running and stand for Jesus! I love you all!

Where would I be if not for your grace...

Daniel sang this song at the wonderful concert last night and after he posed the question through this song I could not help but think of anything else. Where would I be…where would you be without the grace of God. I shutter at the thought! My life has been bought and paid for with a price. It cost my Lord everything! Where would I be? I can tell you…I would be separated from a Holy God. My life would be without purpose…I would be doomed! So many people think they are experiencing life! But apart from Christ, true life can never be experienced. Without Jesus, all you have is a temporary existence. The word of God teaches us “For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift…” Jesus paid it all! He gave us and is offering you the greatest gift ever offered. He loves and cares for you! If it were not for the grace, we would have nothing! The Bible teaches that if we simply “confess with our mouth, “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” It also teaches “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!” Where would you be…if not for His unmerited grace? My prayer for you today is that you have a real relationship with the giver of grace. I love you all! <><

I will sing of the mercies of my Lord forever...

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever…

I will sing! Have you ever been walking along and find your self just bursting out in song, singing praises to our great God? I do all the time! I just can’t help my self! Sometimes people look at me funny, sometimes they gather their stuff and depart quickly, and sometimes they join in song! Our God is such an awesome God we should gladly lift our voices to Him in song! Even if you are not a good singer, He still loves to hear from you. Psalm 100:1 says “Make a joyful shout to the Lord all you lands.” I want you to notice what it doesn’t say. It doesn’t say that you need to make a perfect pitch melody to the Lord all of those people gifted in voice and music. It says make a joyful shout! I don’t know about you, but I believe that I can shout for my Jesus! Make a joyful shout today! I love you all!

Bro. J <><

loving life

Loving life…

When I was in my twenties, I remember wondering what it would be like to be older…Now that I am closing in on fifty I cannot believe how I am totally enjoying my life. God has been very good to me. I am married to my best friend and I have the greatest job on the planet! I love ministering with students. I believe this generation that I am ministering to is the best and the brightest! I love Ministry. I want to impact this generation with the greatest message ever given! The gospel still matters. Sheila and I have had the opportunity to become a part of the lives of some incredible people! I am loving life! I have two great sons-in-law, and I have three awesome grand children! I am truly a blessed individual! I am looking forward to the next fifty years of ministry! I love you all <><

Off the Florida keys...

Off the Florida Keys…a little place called Cocomo

Have you ever heard of Cocomo, a wonderful and magical place where you can go “to get away from it all?” Have you ever wanted to go to a place like this? To be in a place where you don’t have to worry about what people are doing or saying. A place where you can simply relax and enjoy? In typing the word Cocomo, it became very obvious to me that my computer does not understand my spelling of the word! I could stress over the mis-spelling, and frantically search my atlas for the correct spelling of this little place that the beach boys made famous but it would be a fruitless search! You see Cocomo is a made up place. A mythical place where stress and mental anguish do not exist, a place where everyone is wearing shorts and a tee shirt, everyone has a sun tan, everyone is relaxed! Don’t you wish there were a place like this? I am convinced that American believers have too much stress in their lives! Our Lord and Savior calls us to “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Rest comes in a genuine relationship with Jesus! There truly is a quiet place…it is in the arms of Jesus. Spend some quality time with Him today! I love you all!

Blinded by the lighjt

Blinded by the light…

“As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him.” Acts 9:3 HCSB

A little bit of light goes along way! Think about it, from 37,000 feet above the earth (around 7 miles), which by the way is around the altitude commercial aircraft travel you can see light! I love to fly at night! A little bit of light, car head lights, a front porch light, a bonfire can be seen seven miles above the earth! I often think about the song “This little light of mine.” You may find that kind of weird that I think about that song, but think about it! If I let my little light shine, and you let your little light shine, and all of our friends let their little lights shine! There would be a whole lot of light! In John’s gospel we see that “The light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it.” Other translations say, “The darkness did not understand or comprehend.” The fact is, that the light of Jesus has never blinded many people! Jesus is the light of the world! Paul experience with the light changed him forever! My experience with the Light made me different! What about you! Do you know the Light of the world? Personally? I pray that you do and I surly do love you all! Now, go and let your light shine!

Approval

Approval…

Galatians 1:10 “For am I now trying to win the approval of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.”

What do you have to prove? We live in a society were we are always out trying to “pull something off” and get ahead. Many are trying to climb a ladder; trying to make something out of our self. Don’t get me wrong, I believe that God wants us to accomplish certain things, but I also believe many choices we make in life are by our own volition. Many times we fail to go before the Lord in our decision-making process! Have you ever considered what happens when we do this? I guess a better question would be have you ever considered what may not have happened when we do this? Many times we take the creator of the universe out of our decision making process. We feel so strongly about things, so we make decisions never wondering what God would have us to do! In the 21st Century Church we have relegated God into a position that is worthy of our worship, but not worthy to help us with the problems we face day to day. Many times these decisions greatly impact our lives. Some would argue that it comes down to spiritual maturity. What is spiritual maturity? Part of it is caring less and less about what people think about you and caring more about who they see in control of your life. Spiritual maturity comes from having God’s approval. God has to be in the center of our decision making process. He should be the first we go too! I am concerned at the decision making process that takes place in many Christian families. Many times our children do not see us agonize over issues that affect our families and that we take before the Lord. We live in a society where we have made big problems for our selves and we have and a little God! We fail to see the awesomeness of God because we cannot see past our problems or what people might think of us. So many Christians are afraid to risk looking foolish so we internalize and deal with problems without the aid of a loving and caring and BIG God! I want you to consider whose approval you are trying to garner? If it truly is God, our life will reflect it. Think about what problems or challenges you are dealing with. God help you? You had better believe that He still can! He is God and He loves you! Please Him! Look to Him! Don’t worry about what people might think because in the end they will let you down anyway! Besides, they cannot save you! Only God can do that! So go after God’s approval…and do it today! I love you all! <><

The "Flats"

What a day…

Sitting here today, safely back in civilization, I cannot help but reflect on my day yesterday fishing “the flats” with some great friends. I am not really a fisherman, but I do enjoy being outside and I really enjoy getting away from it all! Riding the air-boat away from the ramp reminded me what it must have been like in old Florida. Twisting and turning through the salt marsh, black needle rush grass and deeper pools beyond the oyster shoals are around every turn. With the air boat gliding across the oyster bars with ease as the sun was coming up across the horizon. Out there, in the salt marsh, the sun does not merely come up in the east; it comes up in the eastern horizon. The colors fill the sky and envelop you…even the western dark horizon is overwhelmed by the warming and colorful lights that a sunrise brings out on the flats. Being out here brings stimulates thoughts of simpler times, when the weight of the world and job seemed not to exist. The flats, and a day spent fishing is therapeutic! It wrestles the troubles right out of your grip! What more could you ask for? A day like this helps you to re-focus and realign your thoughts! What a day…I am very much looking forward to the next time I get to go! I love you all <><

Boldly go...

Boldly go…

I can remember many a night sitting in front of a 19” black and white television and hearing the words “Space…the final frontier…these are the voyages of the starship enterprise…” Wow, what memories, these guys were boldly going where no man had ever gone before! I can remember wanting to be like these guys, well most of them any way I don’t recall ever wanting to look like Spock or the Klingons! But I did want to Boldly Go… I have realized that in the 21st century I can boldly go where very few have gone! I can boldly take the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ out into a dark and dying world. St. Francis of Assisi says Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words. We are to boldly go proclaiming Jesus with our lives! Paul prayed for boldness, in his letter to the Ephesians’ he said, “…Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should.” How do we become bold enough in Him? By spending time with Him! A relationship works best when you spend time developing it and learning more about Him! Be bold! Remember, Christ Jesus is in you so be bold and go where very few have gone! Tell people about HIM! I love you all!

P.S. While writing this I found this kind of funny. When I typed the word Klingons it came up as a misspelled word, so when I looked at spelling suggestions the very first suggestion was Clinton! I just thought that this was kind of ironic!

Making the life connection

Making the life Connection


“In Him was life…” John 1:4

In the culture in which we live today, people are searching for life! American’s are by nature adrenaline junkies, always looking for something faster and more thrilling! We are constantly looking for opportunities to experience the moment! I have found that a close walk with Jesus puts you on the edge! Some Christ followers may think that Jesus is the safe way, I have found that by walking with Jesus puts you right out there on the ragged edge. Life comes from my relationship with Jesus. I love what author and pastor Mark Batterson says; In his book In a pit with a lion on a snowy day he says “Our destiny is determined by whether or not we seize the God ordained opportunities presented to us." God is going to present us little challenges and opportunities along the way in preparation for those huge blessings that He has for us! If we are not faithful in the small things, the bigger opportunities never come! Are you struggling with life? Turn to Jesus! Remember no matter what He has for you it is awesome! Make the real life connection. Turn to Jesus <><.

Just a closer walk with thee

Just a closer walk with thee…

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; (10) that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Colossians 1:9-10

I am finding, as I get older, my desire to be closer to Jesus increases every day! I want to be close to Him! I want to do the things that He wants me to do! I want my walk to be His walk! I have an overwhelming urgency to pray for people, to lift up the names of students before the Lord! I have a desire to share Christ with all that I come into contact with! Have you ever considered the cost of a closer walk? I have! I have decided that walking with Jesus is the only walk! It will cost you everything! Sometimes there will appear nothing to show for it! But the knowledge that your walk and life are pleasing the one who created you should excite you and knowing that your knowledge of God increases should also be a plus! Are you walking with Jesus today? An old pastor friend used to tell me all the time that if you are not meeting Satan every step of the way, you are probably going the same way he is! Walk with Jesus…it will change your life forever! I love you all!

I can't hear you

I can’t hear you!

T.S. Eliot said, "For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning."

What will you say in 2009? Will you use your voice to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ? I am convinced that many CHRIST followers play it safe. Many Christians are afraid to live, afraid to take a chance on Jesus! We have become so comfortable in lives we have carved out and many times are afraid to take a chance on living and sharing our faith with those whom we come into contact with everyday. We need to take the chance, live life, experience the excitement! Don’t be afraid to share the gospel! Count on God to give you the words! Practice with other believers, I like to play role playing role playing games with friends who believe because it helps me in real life situations. Develop a plan, think about people who need the gospel, and count on God. Someone once said, “God does not care about your ability as much as He cares about your availability! Be available and tell people about Jesus. Think about people whom you are going to share with! Get some training and share the greatest news ever delivered! I love you all! <><


BTW! Our Church (Madison Street Baptist Church) is offering evangelism training on March 21, 2009, Make your plans on attending now!

Happy New Year (Strength and Honor)

strength and Honor

Strength and honor…this is something that I strive for and try and model to all of the people that I come into contact with. When I meet in public one of the young men that I minister to, I greet them with strength and honor. As I sit here at my desk on the eve of a New Year I think about all of the changes that are going to take place! I think about the people that I am ministering to. I wonder how the New Year is going to effect them! I think about resolutions…and decide that I am going to pray so much more in the New Year, I am going to study God’s word much harder. I am going to love unfalteringly. I am going to strengthen relationships and boldly proclaim my savior. My desire is to show strength and honor in every situation and circumstance. I want to live as transparent and real life as possible and truly want to bless people with the love of Jesus. I am not going to worry about the things I have no control over! God, already has it figured out I am just going to be faithful and obedient. I am also going to offer a greeting of strength and honor to the young ladies in my ministry. If you look in Proverbs 31:25 we see the woman (wife) of virtue is clothed with strength and honor! All of us should strive for strength and honor. Happy New Year, may God truly bless you and remember, I love you with the love of the Lord! <><