Have you ever had people who you thought you could count on simply abandon you in the midst of a difficult time? I remember when I was just a teenager long before I gave my life to Jesus. We had a rival high school called Copley High. I would go to the football games not to watch football, but to look for fights. I remember one such game when my five so called buddies and I were roaming around the stadium grounds looking for Copley boys to fight. We came upon another group of six guys of our rivals. Since I was the leader of our...

  A much higher level of Christianity is when we respond not out of consequence or necessity, but out of a loving committed relationship.  In other words, I change because I “get to” not because I “have to.” Over the last few weeks we began this new series and Through this teaching session, my goal is to teach all of us to change proactively instead of reactively!  The Bible tells us in Psalm 55:19, “Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.”  Now please don’t be taken aback by the word “fear.”   In the Hebrew language it’s not talking...

  Over the last few weeks we began this new series and Through this teaching session, my goal is to teach all of us to change proactively instead of reactively!  The Bible tells us in Psalm 55:19, “Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.”  Now please don’t be taken aback by the word “fear.”   In the Hebrew language it’s not talking about “fright” but reverence or respect for God.  In other words, the reason we don’t change is we don’t truly respect God enough.   Let's start by reviewing our “10 Channels of Change”:  1. Most people change just enough...

  One of my favorite scriptures can be found in Genesis 39:9, “There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” This verse is found in context of Potiphar’s wife trying to seduce Joseph.  I love Joseph’s response.  Notice he did not say, “How can I commit this great wickedness against Potiphar.”  Joseph did not want to offend God.  Joseph was different.  He was responding to the goodness of God, not consequence or necessity.  Most...

About 30 years ago I almost died! God dealt with me in many areas.  First, He wanted me to eat much better and take vitamins.  At that time, I was on a steady diet of Reese’s cups and Mountain Dew.  Not good!  He also dealt with me on taking a Sabbath day of rest.  Not legally, as in the Old Covenant, but regularly in principle because we are in the New Covenant.  Lastly, God clearly dealt with me about taking regular vacations.   For 30 years I have adhered to all of these in a very disciplined way (I must admit the easiest...

    This week we take a quick break from our series to encourage you with Thanksgiving!  Did you know that you can receive an encouraging message directly sent to your phone each morning? When you download the Joy Church APP you will receive daily wisdom notifications like these...

  Last week we began this new series and Through this teaching session, my goal is to teach all of us to change proactively instead of reactively!  The Bible tells us in Psalm 55:19, “Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.”  Now please don’t be taken aback by the word “fear.”   In the Hebrew language it’s not talking about “fright” but reverence or respect for God.  In other words, the reason we don’t change is we don’t truly respect God enough.   Please allow me to share with you “10 Channels of Change”:  1. Most people change just enough to...

  About 30 years ago I almost died!  Most of you know the story.  I had very severe cardiovascular challenges.  I could barely walk and I could barely talk.  I experienced shooting pains down my left arm and tachycardia on a frequent basis!  Something HAD to change! Now I believe in divine healing.  However, things were not getting better…they were getting worse!  At that time the Lord began to deal with me very clearly about issues I needed to change in my life.  He could give me divine healing all day long, but if I had spiritual “holes in my pocket” the...