Strong Coffee

We've all heard that before. Like most wise sayings...their's  a reason why they stick. When you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ the meaning and purpose of life becomes clearer. He doesn't hide His will from us; but it is enveloped within His presence. Walking with Him daily is about knowing Him and doing His will...with my life vessel or instrument that He's created...in me. One day...His work on earth for me will be done.  My day, my moment under the sun, my time on the stage of life is NOW. When the curtain falls and the lights grow dim...I will exit this life.  Death is all that separates me from my immortal-heavenly dwelling. Isn't it awesome to have the fullness of Christ; in this life. Daily I must be confident of His work being done in and through me. My present mortal life, just as my imperishable eternity, rests in His hands. Every day...every moment counts. Imagine a what if with me...Suppose an angel o...

1 Timothy 4:14  Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. You have a gift. It is a unique gift that no other person on earth has. This talent is exclusive because YOU are special. The gifts of God are distributed among His children but just as you are unique...so is your gift. Talents of encouragement or service; gifts of teaching or giving; physical talents from singing to athletics; from healing arts to photography every believer has one...or several...God given gifts and ..."to whom much is given, much is required." Let me encourage you to fan your gifts into flame; hone your craft and refine your talents for the blessing and benefit of others. Sharing your gift(s) is the most Christlike thing you can do. 2 Corinthians 9:15  Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! It was to the joy of Jesus Christ to share with all the ultimate gift of eternal life...to all who believe in H...

About that indecision problem we talked about the other day; how do you tolerate this embarrassing trait that I have? Because you have that Abraham thing working for you. What thing? You know, the whole you go left, then I will go right, if you go right, then I'll go... ...Oh, the Abraham & Lot story. Yeah, that's it. I recall Abraham struggling all night about this. He wrestled with his indecision. Should he take his family left towards Sodom or right toward the mountains. Left, right, left, right...all night long. Now, when I read that passage Abraham didn't make a decision. He left the decision up to Lot. In fact, it reads... Genesis 13:9 Is not the whole land before you? Let's part company. If you go to the left, I'll go to the right; if you go to the right, I'll go to the left. 10 Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt. (This wa...

2 Corinthians 4:15   "...more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise." (MSG) The GROVE fellowship started when a few brothers and sisters approached me & Angie to consider starting a new church plant. She and I have prayed for years for God to reveal to us how we could effectively minister our testimony of grace and healing. Our friends (thank God for spiritual encouragers) urged us to step up to the plate. Gary & Anita Keaton reminded me that..."the lost; the young and old, soldiers, students, families, are groping in darkness all around us. The time to act is now John. They need to hear your testimony and message of HOPE. We'll help you...and others will too!!! Our first target was young soldiers and families in the Oak Grove area. After counsel, study, and research, the leadership (which by now had grown to 16 members) determined that sustaining a healthy congregation, based and operated in the Grove area, would be shaky, (due t...

Luke 18:40-42   Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him,   41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. 42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your  sight; your faith has healed you.” Of all biblical commentaries; theological statements; suppositions and theories; what remains as the simple yet most profound truth of all is this:   The LORD asked..."what do you want me to do for you." A message that should always remain central and never denied or ignored. The great physician, and a practicioner of your earthly, spiritual, and eternal need asked... What can I do for you?  Our Lord's work is to transform. If only we could extend the message clearly. If only we could amplify it so that all could hear; fitly spoken, leaving no misunderstanding...  Christ came to save, renew, revive, restore the broken and release the captives. Its that simple.  Theological ...

Some of you are wondering about all the blogs I have written on  Matthew 16:24  "  if anyone would come after me they must first deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." It all started with a few chapters from Thomas A Kempis 13th century book titled " The Imitation of Christ ". The first time through it, I thought to myself, "this guys nuts." A week or two later I read it again, in particular the chapter: " the Royal Road of the Holy Cross ". This time it intrigued me. A few weeks later, during Passover week, I watched The Passion of the Christ. Needless to say I wept during the entire movie. The portrayal of the suffering and punishment our Lord endured for our sake overwhelmed my spirit. That night, I read  the Royal Road of the Holy Cross  again. As I read, with the eyes of my heart opened, the tears began to flow. I was humbled and broken. The message pierced my heart with crystal clarity. It was a moment of divine inspirati...