Growing up Easter....

The chocolate bunny and you had to eat the ears first.....the marshmallow chicks and bunnies that I know had to  be healthy..and eating hard boiled eggs that had been in the sun for hours. For you younger people ...yes we used to not remove the inside before coloring and yes some people did eat them. And yet we are still alive. Easter was all about the show...the big dresses and hats..polyester suits for the cool dudes back in the day. The only evidence I have that my dad went to church is an old Easter photo of us in Houston. The pastel green suit for dad and the powder blue one on me....wow what a sight. Like Christmas our culture has removed the meaning of Easter. Today Easter is all about the show as well. The fact that we can show people the real meaning of Christ's resurrection and how that is the cause for celebration.
Peace and Love
Jeff

Who Do You Think You Are ?

Who am I?  Alcoholic…Addict…Worthless…Lost…Afraid...Selfish…Self-centered…Judgmental…Fault Finding... Critical…Un-Loved…Un-Worthy…Un-Holy…A Fallin’ Angel…You’ll never amount to anything…What’s wrong with you…Un-grateful…Womanizer…Useless piece of trash…Destructive…Hopeless…I knew your father what happened to you? Bound to fail….Eternally damned….   NO    NO   NO Not Who am I?     It’s        WHO I AM.    It's not a question mark...It's a period

Sober…Clean…Worthy…Found…Courageous… Giving…Compassionate… Merciful…Graceful... Loved…Worthy…Holy…Chosen…Something… Confident …Grateful…Joyfully Married…Useful… Encouraging…Faithful...I know my real Father… Destined to Succeed…Eternally Saved…..That’s

Who I am   Period.  

Peace and Love
Jeff

Thermometer or Thermostat

Cool.....I like this blog topic. It is based on a quote by Martin Luther King while in jail in Birmingham. He uses the word "early" when describing when the church was powerful. Isn't' that rue of our relationship's as well.....If we would pursue our wives like we did when we were dating our marriages would be more fulfilling If we pursued God as we did when we were first saved our relationship with Him would be incredible..Now to thermometer and thermostat....Luther describes the early church as a thermostat and today's church as a thermometer....Understanding thermal unit's (BTU's) and how heat transfers is important when working with A/C and heating units....I did this for years...so this one is simple...a thermometer measures and a thermostat changes....As a church we should be the ones actually changing our world instead of measuring what is happening and just talking about the way it should be.... Peace and Love Jeff

Parking Spaces

Tempting parking spaces...??hmmm.....Yep, I can remember being on an awesome worship team at a comfortable church where I was feed at least three time a week with a spiritual uplifting service or home group.....but......that was it, there was no giving back...no getting my hands dirty...no outreach. That was a soft comfy parking space,close to the front.....not a lot of work involved. In my marriage I can get "parked" by letting my wife do for me because I deserve it so much....HA...the old martyr trap. Being tempted to be still or get sidetracked is an old trick and is never going to go away. The key for me is to have ministry goals set with accountability to get them accomplished....family goals...financial goals...they all fall under this logic. Peace and Love Jeff

That Thing You Do

We were asked, why do we do what we do ?......my first thought was..... that's a lot of do....LOL.....I can hear myself say to people "That's why we do what we do." There are many selfish reasons I am a recovery pastor. Number one is it keeps me sober. Helping others with their struggles and addictions keeps me out of mine. It is a blessing beyond words to see an addict or alcoholic's life restored. By the way alcoholic or addict....it's all the same thing and same answer. To see families transformed and lives renewed, to see that light bulb finally come on and witness first hand peace and serenity in the lives of others,maybe for the first time in their lives, it's indescribable. The true friendship's and the brotherhood of ministry is a powerful truth. Allowing people in our hearts and learning to trust again is spiritual. I could go on and on about the blessings of ministry. Just this week we experienced the sadness of ministry as well. A close friend lost his wife this week after a long illness. They were together over 50 years...true soul mates still in love after all those years. We watched as a gray haired grown man wept uncontrollably at the heartache and realization of going on without her. We helped in all aspects of the service, we provided The Mission for them to have the memorial service. Clinton has been at our house two times this week for dinner and just to hang out. My wife is taking him to the roller derby tonight so he will have something to do...the funeral was today. Clinton and I have had a couple of good talks this week about spiritual qualities...... life and such...We don't have words to make it all better....we are here to walk with people through life....good and bad....all to glorify Jesus.....and that is why we do what we do.
Peace and Love
Jeff

Percentages...

What percentage is my part in ministry...? I do my part God does the rest.... Random thoughts along this same line of thinking are numerous. What really is my part or percentage ? I don't know much but what I do know I really know and believe with my whole heart. When asked what was the most important law or to sum up the law Jesus said to Love God with all we are and to love others.Those two things, no matter how they look or how we perceive them , are all we can do. It's a comfort and a peace I have obtained later in life that allows me to have faith and not worry. I have control over two things....what I say and what I do. Outside of that I am powerless...but I know the One who has all power. I do my part He does His. As far as those we try to help and walk with through life, they have their part..... We merely give loving suggestions.......thing is, if you don't follow the suggestions we can refund your misery !!!!!
Doing my part.......
Peace and Love
Jeff

Fisher of Men or Keeper of the Aquarium ?

Being the owner of several large and small fish tanks I have way over thought this blog entry ! Somebody has to take care of the aquarium or the fish die. If it wasn't for the fishermen we would have no fish to keep alive, so it's a balance. I see myself as both. If you think about it all fishers of men SHOULD be keepers of the aquarium as well. I look at this as discipleship. Being a keeper of the aquarium is a requirement of a fisherman. We are called to disciple not just to "catch." There is way more to owning a large aquarium than most people think. Just like there is way more to ministry than most people think. I like this thought process...think of all the parallels we can draw from this visual. Certain fish can only live with certain fish. We have separate classes for different people as well....and so on !! Some aquarium owners just throw in a little food every now and then. Their tanks may look good at first but its only a matter of time and the water gets murky then the whole aquarium dies !!! I could go on but I will let you think of some more.....
Peace and Love
Jeff