31 Jul

Posted at 08:00h in Joy Church

Jobs!  The economy!  Our country’s bond credit rating!  The national debt!  The 2012 election!  Gas prices!  Gas prices!  Gas prices!  If you let it, there is a lot to worry about.  However, I say there is a lot to be thankful about!  It all depends on your focus. Psalm 3:3 tells us God is the glory and lifter of our head.  When God lifts your head, He wants to change your perspective.  You see, what gets your attention, gets you!  What you continually mind, you’ll eventually find!  The children of Israel saw Goliath and said, “He’s too big!”  David saw Goliath...

24 Jul

Posted at 08:00h in Joy Church

I am a shark fisherman!  I have held this hobby for well over a decade now.  Three times a year I get out my 14-foot pole and shark catching equipment, and sharks all across the Atlantic Ocean begin to run for cover!  As long as I can remember, people have always been worried about me and my hobby.  I will tell you what I will tell them.  Statistically, you have a greater chance of being hurt by your own toilet than being bit by a shark!  Please stop worrying about me…go home and remove your toilet! Over the last number of...

17 Jul

Posted at 08:00h in Joy Church

Between Iran, the national debt and rising gas prices, there is plenty to worry about if I let it…I just don’t let it!  More than a few times as I have pumped expensive gas, I will do so while I am quoting Philippians 4:19, “My God shall supply all of my needs according to His riches in glory.”  I have found that complainers are not obtainers!  Excusers are losers!  Moaners are loaners!  Whiners are not winners!  Gripers get the vipers and pitiful is not powerful!  Simply hating your present does not qualify you for a better tomorrow.  No more than...

10 Jul

Posted at 08:00h in Joy Church

Please allow me to ask you some vital questions.  As I do, please be completely honest in your assessment as honesty locates us, but dishonesty stagnates us: 1)     Are you truly happy with your life? 2)     Do you truly love your spouse and family? 3)     Do you truly enjoy your job? 4)     Do you truly enjoy your average day? Now, please allow me to give you some simple lists about your life that will help you give much more positive answers to the above questions: “I hate” list                                     ...

03 Jul

Posted at 08:00h in Joy Church

The Bible tells us, “So now arise, go out and speak kindly and encouragingly to your servants; for I swear by the Lord, if you do not go, not a man will remain with you this night; and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has befallen you from your youth until now” (II Sam. 19:7 Amp).   Do you know there are two ways to lead…love and loyalty, or fear and intimidation.  As we discovered in the aforementioned verse, if you don’t speak kindly and in an encouraging fashion to people, they will eventually leave you!  Leaders,...

26 Jun

Posted at 08:32h in Joy Church

The Bible tells us, “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace and things wherewith one may edify (or build up) another” (Rom. 14:19).   The Greek word for “follow” in the aforementioned verse is “dioko”.  “Dioko” literally means to “pursue to persecute”.  Why would God use such a word in conjunction with building one another up?!  You could paraphrase this word this way:  “...

19 Jun

Posted at 08:00h in Joy Church

There are a lot of crazy things occurring in this culture!  The Bible tells us in the last days there will come a culture that calls good, evil…and evil, good (see Isaiah 5:20)! Recently I saw a prime example of this.  To my chagrin, I discovered that a private Catholic college was being sued because a group of Muslims had no place to “worship” at this private Catholic college.  In the lawsuit, they complained that they had no place to go without having to see Christian imagery (such as the cross and pictures of Jesus) in this private Catholic college.  Once...

12 Jun

Posted at 08:00h in Family, Joy Church

Over the almost 50 years of my life, I have seen a lot of crazy things in this culture!  Of course just when I thought I had seen it all, I was flabbergasted as I watched a story of a mother who was giving her eight-year-old girl botox injections so she could compete successfully in a beauty pageant!  As they interviewed the mother she was completely convinced this was not only acceptable but the best thing for her daughter!  We live in crazy culture! Over the last number of weeks I’ve shared with you our key scriptures from Ephesians 6:1-4: “Children, obey your...

05 Jun

Posted at 08:00h in Family, Joy Church

We live in a crazy culture!  If you don’t believe me, I have one word for you… “Snooky!”  Only in a crazy culture can “Snooky” from the reality show “JerseyShore” become a cultural icon! Last month I shared with you our key scripture in Ephesians 6:1-4:  “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.  Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise: That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.  And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition...

29 May

Posted at 08:00h in Family, Joy Church

If you don’t believe this culture is crazy, I have three words that will change your mind…Lady Ga-Ga!  If you don’t know who she is, you are not missing anything but if you do, you know this culture is crazy! Last week we shared with you our text scriptures from Ephesians 6:1-4: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.  Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise: That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.  And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them...