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...

22 May

Posted at 08:00h in Family, Joy Church

Have you ever had an abscessed tooth?  If you have, you know there is almost an unlimited amount of pain!  Conversely, here in the Nashville area, we have a modern dental facility called “Dental Bliss”.  This high-dollar organization makes dental work seem almost like a vacation.  They have a spa and massage on the premises and really the only discomfort is simply keeping your mouth open for an extended period of time. We will all take a little controlled discomfort over unlimited pain!  This principle is truly applicable when it comes to child training!  Remember this example as we rescue our...

15 May

Posted at 08:10h in Joy Church

The Bible tells us, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much” (Luke 16:10).  If I asked all of you how many of you desire a better future than you have today…every single one of you would raise a strong hand of agreement!  However, if you said “yes” to a better future, you must ask yourself this question:  “Am I willing to pay the price to prepare for it?”  You see, many times we desire the results of change without being...

08 May

Posted at 08:13h in Joy Church

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 4:20-23, “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.  Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.  For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.  Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”  Let’s focus in on verse 23, “Guard your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”    Have you ever been somewhere where you had to write a check and the amount you...

01 May

Posted at 08:00h in Joy Church

Seventy five to one hundred dollars to fill up our gas tanks!  Many times when I have pumped gas into one of my vehicles, I will quote, “But my God shall supply all of my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19)!  However, as I have continually said, “God does not need a good economy to bless His kids!”  Once again your Bible tells you, “They shall not be ashamed in the evil time; and in the days of famine (or in modern terms, recession), they shall be satisfied” (Ps. 37:19). Over the last number of...

24 Apr

Posted at 08:00h in Joy Church

God does not need a great economy to bless His children!  Gas prices look like they could be headed to $5 or more!  The jobs and housing market appear to be a long way away from full recovery.  However, the Bible tells us in Psalm 37:19, “They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.”  In other words, the righteous (you!) can flourish right smack dab in the middle of recessionary times! Over the last number of weeks we have shared with you How to Do Adversity Correctly: 1)     Adversity 2)     Insecurity 3)     Discovery 4)    Opportunity 5)    ...

17 Apr

Posted at 08:00h in Joy Church

A pastor who was going through a pivotal building program in his church received some very bad news.  He was told the project had been underestimated and now it would cost $500,000 more than originally planned.  On top of that, his regular organ player was out sick.  This was doubly bad as the pastor had planned on telling his congregation of the increase in the building estimation.  He was very frustrated and while thinking how he was going to break the bad news to his already cash-stripped congregation…in walks a little old lady who was designated as the temporary replacement...

10 Apr

Posted at 08:00h in Joy Church

At times, I can be easily distracted!  For example, if I somehow get roped into shopping with my wife…I can be easily distracted if I see that football is on in the electronic section of the store.  Money can be a sensitive topic so I figured if I can just distract you with puppies, ice cream and football…that maybe we could talk about finances from a biblical perspective.  After all, there are 2,350 scriptures on finances in the Word of God! Don’t be sensitive about the topic…don’t be like the guy who they found stranded on a deserted island for 10...