Random Thoughts...

In the New Testament book of Romans, chapter 8 there is a statement that says that “(Jesus) is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us .” I bet that is a different view of God then you normally have.   We see God as the judge, the old man with white hair and a big hammer. But in fact, he is sticking up for us. The picture here is of a child going to school and a bully picking on them, but then someone comes in and takes the attention off of the one being bullied, and takes it on themselves.   They stick up for someone who cannot defend themselves. That is what Jesus is doing for us right now.   If you surrender your life to his plan and purpose, he will stick up for you, he will defend you, he will always have your back.   King Solomon says in Proverbs that “he will be a friend that sticks closer then you own brother.” To find out more about this topic or Encounter Church, visit us online at encounterchurch.tv toda

Have you ever asked the question, “What If?”   What if I had said something?   What if I took that job, or married that girl?   What if I had gone to college.   “What If” can be a powerful statement to motivate us, but it can also be a statement that brings regret and even self-judgment. But, what if we had someone who understood all of our what if moments, loved and accepted us anyway, and gave us new opportunities to live again?   What if we turned the script from living with our regrets to living today?   What if we stopped beating ourselves up over missed opportunities and looked for new ones today? The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah said that God’s mercies are new every morning.   That means today is a new day, you are given new dreams to reach for, and essentially a “do over” every day. To find out more about God’s “do-overs” for your life or Encounter Church, visit us online at encounterchurch.tv today.   There you will find information

Have you ever felt like everyone is against you?   Like the entire world is conspiring to see you fail? Especially this early in the morning, maybe you are on your way to work, and you just cannot see a future…   Well, I want to remind you of something very important today.   Something that we don’t usually think about.   God is on your side.   He is for you and not against you.   Jeremiah 29:11 say that “ God has a plan for your life, a future and a purpose .”   What Jeremiah was saying centuries ago, is that God has a dream for YOU.   Think about that for a second, just as you dream for your kids, or even for yourself, God also dreams for you.   So when you feel tired, or at the end of your rope, stop, quiet yourself, and listen.   Listen for God’s dream for your life.

I am writing this monologue because I believe we are coming very quickly to a slippery slope that will hurl us toward a third world war.   This war, though, is not going to be one with defined battle lines and enemies dressed in clearly distinguished uniforms.   The enemy in this war will look just like everyone else.   They will be in our schools, on our jobs, and even in our churches and places of worship. Let me begin by saying I am thankful for our religious freedoms.   I feel that what makes America great is the fact that Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and Atheists can all live together in peace.   The diversity of our country is the source of our strength. With that said, we are not dealing with a religious issue, we are dealing with an ideology, a social and economical viewpoint that is the same as Nazi Germany in World War II, as well as every other regime that was ever sought world domination.   I am speaking of “Islamic Extremists”.   Those who have used the guis

THROWBACK BLOG from 2010…   From my favorite book, In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson.   Today is my brother, Tommy's, birthday.  Our conversation brought this memory back to my mind. After thinking about it, I wanted to re-share it with you.  This was a milestone for Deidre and I as we took a huge leap of faith a few years ago.   The result has been one miracle after another, all laced with trials and hurdles along the way, but crowned with God’s mercy and grace.   My hope is that this flashback helps you today to take the step God is calling you to! I am writing my first ever blog right now. I am sitting at my desk texting my wife, Deidre, and counting the minutes to be able to go home to see my family. I have a wonderful life, some challenges, like everyone else, you know, balancing time, work, ministry, family and the ever present finances. But overall I am blessed more than I deserve. We are standing at another precipice in life today, a cross r