Focus '17 - Momentum - Entry #10

Hi Friends!

I am grateful for this season set-apart to celebrate the birth of Jesus and my hope is this will be "A December to Remember" through the ministry of Connections Christian Church.

Each week we will look to forgo three meals (fast) and use those opportunities to focus on the humanity, glory, grace and truth of our Savior.

With each of those opportunities we will look to individually and collectively leverage 12 ways of Christmas into our communities and throughout the world.

See our "upcoming events" page for seasonal themed times of worship and service as we look forward to hosting your families, friends, and guests.

Jesus made His dwelling among us in the flesh, glorifying God in His Spirit, exemplified by the fullness of His grace and truth.

We hope to model Jesus' ministry and make this "A December to Remember" with 12 ways of Christmas promoting peace on earth and goodwill to all mankind.

God's Peace and Merry Christmas,
Jeff

Focus '17 - Momentum - Entry # 9

Hi Friends!

Fall is in full-bloom with fields ripe for the harvest, even as challenges to civility continue to compound daily, in a culture of relativism. So think of this for a moment if you would?

Imagine a world in which a kaleidoscope of  neighborhoods and nations, blended as naturally as the variable foliage of a diverse forest, splashed with rays of sunlight by day and moonlight by night.

Would you agree, that nothing on earth would be more beautiful than the brilliant diversity of all humanity, united harmoniously in absolute civility?

If so, consider again or perhaps for some anew, that Christ died for the sins of all people so that all people may live together with Him.  

Christ is absolute civility.

I recently saw a corporate ad centered around The Golden Rule, yet it is Christ who said, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" (Luke 6:31). 

Christ is the person who wrote The Golden Rule perfectly, writing it in red for all humanity.

Christ shed His crimson blood on the cross of Calvary, to allow brilliantly colored people in all neighborhoods and nations to be saved from the penalty of sin, which is eternal death.

Christ is the only person who gives eternal life to all people.

Join me in giving thanks to Christ for sharing His vision, mission, and values with all humanity. Purpose to bring absolute civility to culture with Christ's brilliantly diverse family portrait in mind.

God's Peace and My Prayers,

Jeff

Focus '17 - Momentum - Entry # 8

Hi Friends!

Our new sermon series centers around taking the teachings of the Bible and turning them loose in the daily circumstances of our lives - for the word of God is alive and active - the Bible not only allows us to survive in the storms of life but thrive in all seasons of life as well.

The generosity of CCC to assist people in need through partnership with Life Forward, Hands Against Hunger, Matthew 25 Ministries, and City Gospel Mission is compelling - living to love and bless others in the name of Jesus is a high calling - thank you for answering the call.

Continue to pray for people with physical and emotional and spiritual needs - pray to be salt and light and to continue to love others unconditionally by sharing the truth of Jesus inclusively with all people - remembering it is truly a greater blessing to give than to receive.

Thanks be to God for the indescribable gift of Jesus - a great gift to receive and a greater gift to give!

God's Peace,
Jeff

Focus 17' - Momentum - Entry # 7

Hi Friends!

Imagine a work day where every colleague cared for one another with unconditional love? Imagine if every work day was fueled by compassion for one another? Imagine a week where the first concerns of all were for the welfare of others?

OK, pinch yourself and wake-up! Some people in the world actually live to advance their personal agenda at the expense of anyone in their path. Some people are only concerned with self-gain at all costs, even the cost of personal relationships.

But GOD! Yes GOD is greater than all our sins and His love never fails because at least ONE, God's only begotten Son,  never failed to have any debt but love. Question is will you be another? Will you be like Jesus and bring the unimaginable into reality?

Will you be one who loves even should others despise your integrity, mock your character, and look to cause you personal harm? That's a snapshot of what Jesus did on the cross for us and that is what He calls us to do for others.

Will you be one who loves your neighbors and co-workers as Jesus does?

God's Peace,
Jeff

Focus ' 17 Momentum - Entry # 6

Hi Friends!

With Summer in full season I want to thank the leadership of the church for a sabbatical of refreshing and renewal with the preaching ministry of the church! While my engagement in ministry continues to be filled with moments of service and praise, the opportunity to soak in some sermons from guest ministers and missionaries is a blessing for all!

It is amazing how the Lord works through the church to bring PEACE to All People in the world who choose to accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord! The Bible describes this PEACE to be beyond our human understanding and that it is only available in the Person of Christ Jesus! It is a PEACE that reconciles All People with God and with one another!

• Read Philippians 4 and "Rejoice in Jesus Always"

• I'll say it again "Rejoice in Jesus Always"

• And pray for our Guest Speakers to continue to bring PEACE to All People in Jesus

God's Peace and My Prayers,

Jeff

Focus '17 - Momentum - Entry # 5

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

Hi Friends!

One of the things I prepare for each day is my daily-to-do-list and I often revise it two to three times to better prioritize the possibilities of each day. I look to check items off the list and often have some sense of accomplishment as I do believing that most of those things make some kind of positive difference for others as well as myself. As I look to turn the page on a new month I also do a monthly review of goals and time-lines and opportunities and the like.

 

In reflecting upon the above verses earlier this morning I reviewed my to-do-list an extra-time today and revised it yet again. I took another pass at the month of June as well. Admittedly I realized anew that in light of the Lord’s pending return that some things on my daily-to-do-list and monthly-to-do-list are much more important than others. I even added a couple items to the “top 10” things to do on my list.

 

That exercise made me wonder how different the world might be if I were more faithful to use the filter of the Lord’s pending return to better prioritize each of my thoughts and my actions of each and every one of my days? And what might the church look like in the world if every member of the church took a moment to review and possibly rewrite their daily-to-do-list and monthly-to-do-list using the Lord’s pending return as their priority filter?

 

Think of it like this: when asked, Jesus said about His return “Watch and be ready.” 

My thought is that using the filter of the Lord’s pending return more faithfully in putting together our daily-to-do-lists is something that would serve to grow the church in the world? At a minimum I found that it caused me to grow in the Lord today and as such I hope if you participate in the same exercise it might do much the same for each of you and more than we can ask, think, or imagine in the world as His church.

Final thought - something that is on my list and will stay on my list as a result of reflecting upon this is to remember to  honor daily those who sacrificially have and do provide the freedom for us to even have and prioritize to-do-lists - one being our Savior and Lord Jesus who died on the cross for our sins to give us the freedom to live eternally in Him and others being the men and women in our armed services who guard and protect that freedom as their daily priority.

 

God’s Peace,

Jeff

Focus ' 17 - Momentum - Entry # 4

Hi Friends!

Imagine a world where The Rhythm of Life is Mercy? 

The Bible tells us the Lord's mercies are new each day (Lamentations 3:23) and that those who are merciful will be shown mercy (Matthew 5:7). 

That's the focus of our current sermon series at Connections Christian Church. 

I encourage you to pray about that, check out the video message below, and commit or re-commit yourself to The Rhythm of Mercy.

God's Peace and My Prayers,

Jeff

Focus '17 - Momentum - Entry # 3

Hi Friends!

It's been said that we live in "a dog eat dog world" - but the Bible assures us there is a healthy alternative to participating in grumbling and growling with one another - the Bible says we can choose to be "patient" with one another (see James 5:7-12).

Job is referenced in the above passage as a man who exemplified "patience" even in the face of adversity and significant life challenges - most people are familiar to some degree with Job's story and the axiom "he or she has the patience of Job" - which leads to my thoughts below.

Job 23: 10-11

¹⁰ But he knows the way that I take;

    when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
¹¹ My feet have closely followed his steps;
    I have kept to his way without turning aside.

Job is one who suffered immensely for righteousness sake - but consistently told the truth and seldom lost his "patience" and never lost his way with God - we would be wise to pray for and aim for the same in our relationships with one another, Amen?

Here's a concluding thought - the name Job and the job you are tasked to do each day are spelled the same way - look to make "patience" a pillar of your work life and look to bring "patience" home much like your paycheck and share it abundantly to strengthen your family.

God’s Peace and My Prayers,

Jeff

Focus ' 17 - Momentum - Entry # 2

Psalm 33:4-5

4 For the word of the Lord is right and true;
    he is faithful in all he does.
5 The Lord loves righteousness and justice;
    the earth is full of his unfailing love.

The above verses say so much about our LORD and HIS WORD - as I read and reflect and respond to them I am most grateful that on the last day of January 2017, a month in which we celebrate the Sanctity of Life - that we were blessed with a Supreme Court Nominee in our nation who historically has honored GOD and HIS WORD by advocating and advancing that which is faithful, right, and true.

I pray the church is rejoicing with humble and grateful hearts as the earth is full of GOD’S unfailing love for that which HIS WORD tells us HE loves...righteousness and justice for all human beings.

Lord, I thank you,

In Jesus Name I thank you,
Amen.

God’s Peace,
Jeff

Focus '17 - MOMENTUM - Guaranteed Steps to Sieze IT and Keep IT

Hi Friends!

With each New Year comes New Resolutions - but as experience has taught me and I am thinking some of you as well - sometimes our best intentions quickly become burdens of frustration littered by a trail of shattered dreams and broken promises.

So what's a person to do? Read another book, attend another webinar, perhaps join another accountability group? Any or all of the above may help you? But what if there was a step that would guarantee your success?

This year I am challenging myself to take a step that admittedly is easier to read than to respond to - that said I guarantee it is the only step anyone needs to take - in order to align all your other steps to fulfill your dreams and keep your promises in the New Year.

So what is it? What step can a person take that will allow you to Seize and Keep MOMENTUM in the New Year? Is it a revolutionary and revitalizing diet? Is it an on-line course that teaches how to mend relationships or start a new career with less hours and an abundance of cash?

No it's none of those things and I'm not saying all of those things are wrong or inappropriate...

This step is so simple - that if or when you might miss it you can instantly recalibrate the cracks in your dreams and compromises in your promises simply by retaking it - to take the step is simply a matter of prioritizing your life to make it your first step with each new day.

James 1:22 says "Do not merely listen to the word (of God), and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." Can you believe it? That's all a person with faith in Jesus Christ empowered by the Holy Spirit needs to do to Seize and Keep MOMENTUM in the New Year?

That's really all there is to IT (no small print) - this single step is guaranteed to align your will and ways to the Word of God which endures forever - I hope you will join me and millions in the church throughout the world that are looking to take that step daily in the New Year.

God's Peace and Momentum,

Jeff