19 Jul

Posted at 08:00h in Uncategorized

Over the last couple of months we discussed:  “Three Leaving Lessons”: We have to be able to leave our preferences. Now in order to understand this better, please allow me to share “6 Preference Principles”: Never compromise on principle.  Frequently compromise on preference. Never compromise on conviction.  Always extend compassion. Never change the message.  Frequently change the methods. Resist the system with courage.  Reach the souls with compassion. We must do everything we can to reach the lost…except compromise. This week let's continue our series with...

12 Jul

Posted at 08:00h in Uncategorized

  About three decades ago I was a youth pastor.  I remember we were hosting a minister’s luncheon at our church.  Because I was a part of the hosting church I was invited to sit at the head table.  This was where some of the big name ministers were sitting and so I felt a little bit out of place.   At first I was excited and honored to be sitting there, but eventually I couldn’t wait to leave.  You see, some of the big name ministers were gossiping about another big name minister in another state.  I was just a youth pastor...

05 Jul

Posted at 08:00h in Uncategorized

    The first of each month we share - First Tuesday's Teaching Tips These are teaching nuggets from over thirty years in ministry. This month let's take a page from Wisdom 365 book (A Daily Dose of Wisdom) Teaching Nugget: First 5 daily devotional wisdom nuggets from July  Limitations breed innovation Learn to be a problem solver, not a problem pointer If you see a problem, solve a problem Sometimes age and wisdom come together. Sometimes age comes all by itself Anger internalized will produce wrath that is verbalized Reference verses: Proverbs 16:26-27 and 16:31-32 ~from Wisdom 365  (available for purchase in the Joy Store at Joy Church, Mt. Juliet, TN) Come...

28 Jun

Posted at 08:00h in Uncategorized

  Over the last few weeks we began sharing three “Three Leaving Lessons”: We have to be able to leave our preferences. Then we began to understand this better with our “6 Preference Principles”: Never compromise on principle.  Frequently compromise on preference. Never compromise on conviction.  Always extend compassion. Never change the message.  Frequently change the methods. Last week we began sharing….      4. Resist the system with courage.  Reach the souls with compassion. The Bible gives us two verses that at face value they almost appear to contradict one another.  When in reality, they very much complement one another: James 4:4  “Ye adulterers and...

21 Jun

Posted at 08:00h in Uncategorized

  The Bible tells us in I Corinthians 9:19-23:  “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might win the more.  And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.  To the weak became...

14 Jun

Posted at 08:00h in Uncategorized

  I don’t like snobs!  You know the type…we all have met them.  Stuck up, snooty and snobby!  Now I’m going to ask your forgiveness in advance as I recount this story for you as this occurred before I met Jesus. Most of you know before I got saved, I was an alcoholic checking ID’s at a bar.  However, during the day this same bar was a pretty nice place to eat lunch.  When I would work during the day I was simply a maître d and would greet and seat customers as they came in.  One day this very snobby middle-aged...

07 Jun

Posted at 12:54h in Uncategorized

    The first of each month we share - First Tuesday's Teaching Tips These are teaching nuggets from over thirty years in ministry. This month let's take a page from Winning with Wisdom Volume 2 book (Pearls of Wisdom for Your Next Right Decision) Teaching Nugget: Life Choices Whatever is first in your life will determine your decisions You will never change your life until you change something that you do daily You choose your choices. Your choices choose your consequences. We must make decisions that will create an awesome future instead of an acceptable present  ~from Winning with Wisdom Volume 2 (available for purchase in the Joy Store at...

17 May

Posted at 08:00h in Uncategorized

The Bible says in I Corinthians 9:19-23, “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.  And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; to them that are without law, as without law (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ) that I might gain them that are without law.  To the weak became I...

10 May

Posted at 08:00h in Uncategorized

Have you ever met a snob?  You know the type of person I am talking about.  Someone whose nose is turned upside down and if it ever rained…they would drown! Many years ago my wife and I were in Tulsa.  My father-in-law invited us to eat at a very fancy buffet in their country club.  Now my father-in-law is a very good man and is anything but a snob.  However there were many snobs present in the very high dollar country club.  There were many employees of the country club behind this buffet and I noticed that the people in line...