According to a recent article published by The Blaze, Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is no Romeo. The journal entry spoke of his proposal to Kristin Cavallari in all its non-flattering “splendor.” The two were engaged for the first time in April of 2011. That particular engagement was called off after three months passed. How did he propose the second time? This life-changing question was posed through a text message which read, “Oh, shall we get married?” The response came as, “Yeah, OK.” And then the ring was sent in the mail. The lucky lass went on record as saying, “I actually had my ring sitting at home for a couple of weeks before I put it on.”

When reading about this incident, I immediately began to think of the potential responses from both men and women. There is no doubt that some male members of our society would fail to understand why this is such a poor choice in method. Typically, most women would be repulsed by his failure to “go the extra mile” and create a romantic atmosphere for this special occasion. While we are all extremely familiar with the female’s desire for romance and the male’s discomfort with it all, I wonder how many of us have taken the time to realize that we treat our relationship with God in shockingly similar ways.

Most men would drastically improve their relationships with their wives by taking some time to emphasize how thankful and grateful they are to have such a woman in their lives. While men tend to be goal-oriented, women by and large are focused more on relationships than getting a particular task completed. In the same way, believers around the world show up 1 to 3 times a week to complete the task at hand. All the while God is simply looking for meaningful relationship and connection.

In Psalm 63, David opens up his heart to God and exposes his sincere desire to connect with Him relationally. He says, “O God, You are my God. I earnestly search for You. My soul thirsts for You. My whole body longs for You in this parched and weary land where there is no water. I have seen You in Your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise You! I will praise You as long as I live, lifting up my hands to You in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise You with songs of joy. I lie awake thinking of You, meditating on You through the night.”

David knew the importance of “investing” in his relationship with God. Because of this, he received great benefit throughout his life. He enjoyed God’s presence, His protection, His favor and His anointing. There is a great deal that we could learn from his life and example. Instead of coming into a worship service wondering what God could do for us, what would happen if we came in with no agenda but to praise and worship Him for who He is? Instead of treating our time in worship as a task to be completed, what would God do if we came in with a heart that is content just resting in His presence? Instead of attempting to check off attendance on our spiritual to do list, what would happen in our lives if we developed an addiction to worshipping Him with other believers?

It is not my intention to cheapen our relationship with God or lessen the sacred nature of our connection with Him through inappropriate parallels or tawdry comparisons. Nevertheless, the Word of God teaches that Christ is our Bride-Groom and we are His bride. There is a traditional conflict, known by many, that places the husband in a desperate position to spend intimate time with his bride as she complains of a headache and pushes him away. I wonder how similar our relationship with our Bride-Groom is as He calls out to us desiring to spend quality time with us. Is it possible that our busy schedules, endless distractions and pre-conceived notions of what worship ought to be have transformed themselves into the spiritual “headache” that shuts down every possibility of intimacy with Christ?

It’s time focus once again on what matters most. It’s time to return to our first Love and embrace His purpose for our lives. It’s time to light the fire of romance and passion within the church. Perhaps, when the headaches are gone, we might actually enjoy the relationship that was meant for us in the beginning. One complaint among women is the ridiculously disrespectful actions of men who refuse to look them in the eyes but continue to look up and down their bodies. The same could be said of God. We need to start seeking His face in order to make a relational connection with Him instead of simply seeking His hand and what He can do for us. When we do this we’ll see the promises of His Word come alive. The engagement ring has been given. The real question is when will we put it on?

Last Thursday, most of us took some time to be thankful for the blessings in our lives.  Toward the end of the day and into the next, most of us lost our minds.  Like many respectable Americans, my wife and I ventured into Wal-Mart for the first annual 8:00 release of certain products that were marked down considerably.  As we expected, the store was already in chaos and the masses were preparing for war.  What I didn’t expect was the wave of emotion that overwhelmed me when the clock struck 8:00.

When the time had come to gather the spoils, those that assembled themselves around the electronics that I hoped to purchase began to push, shove, disrespectfully raise their voices and abandon all reason as their made their greed their god and placed merchandise above maturity on their priority list.  And I quote…”The only way you’re going to get through this crowd is push!”  Seriously?  At the risk of sounding Glenn Beckish…I was amazed and disappointed at the conduct of those in the store and wondered how we wound up in this pit of selfishness and lack of concern for our neighbor.

Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold”.  This verse was obviously forgotten on Thanksgiving…rather Black Thursday/Friday.  I purposely chose not to involve myself in the ridiculous display of selfishness.  Instead, I stood back and literally felt the tears well up as I realized we are no longer the America we used to be.  On this two-day shopping spree, America spent money that she doesn’t have (credit) to buy things she wouldn’t want for people she doesn’t even like.  Then we have the audacity to call it Christmas.  This is not right.  Something must change.  Something will change.  But only if we change it.

I promised myself that I would not sink to childish “you stole my toy” type of attitudes.  I waited and when the rush was over, in less than two minutes, I respectfully made my way to the scene of the “accident” and began to search for the video game I had in mind.  Yes, I still play video games…but respectable ones.  Let’s all take a moment and ponder the wonder that is Madden NFL in High Definition!  I love to win World Series’, Super Bowls and National Championships on my Playstation simply because I’m too old, too fat, too slow and not talented enough to win the real thing.  But I digress.

I really didn’t expect to find the game that I wanted given the fact that it is still one of the most popular games available and priced a good bit cheaper than normal on this shopping day.  I was right.  I walked away empty-handed and, if I’m being honest, experienced a temptation to buy into the theory that nice guys do in fact finish last.  Little did I know, that theory would be proven wrong just moments later.

We continued to shop for a bit and took in the sights of shoppers who had their carts filled to the brim with stuff they probably won’t even remember that they bought this time next year.  Just before leaving this war-zone,  I decided to return to the greusome wreck site called electronics and try one more time to fish out the one I went to catch in the beginning.  As I made my way through the mess, a gentleman called out to the crowd as he held up the number one item on my list.  It was, to my knowledge, the only one left.  He said, “Does anybody want this?”  To which I responded, “Yes sir!”  He tossed it to me and in that moment the prevailing opinion of mainstream America was defeated.  You simply don’t have to act like a fool to get what you want.  Here’s the funny thing…my wife had pretty much the same experience in the home decor department with towels.  I know…it’s hard to believe that people would abuse their neighbor for a peice of white linen that’s designed to dry our backsides after a shower.  But they were and, like myself, my wife refused to join in the fight.

Proverbs 11:4 says, “Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death”.  It’s time for our nation to wake up and realize that the stuff we have doesn’t really matter in the end.  The Word of God teaches us that our day-to-day conduct will be judged when we stand before the Lord.  How we treat our families matters…how we treat our neighbors matters…how we shop on Black Friday matters.  My wife got her towels and, just last night, Conner and I sat down and led the Atlanta Falcons to victory over the Baltimore Ravens in the first game of a season that will log many hours of enjoyment and quality time with the two most awesome kids on the planet.  What’s even better than that is when we play that game and use those towels, we have peace of mind.  We know that we didn’t lose our self-respect over merchandise on a shelf or in a bin.  We know that we honored God and His kingdom and He honored us by giving us the desires of our heart.  While many shoppers fought with all of their might to become victorious, we simply put the kingdom and it’s principles of love and respect first.  For that, we didn’t have to wrestle with shame and embarrassment after the fact.  This was our experience on Black Friday.  Black Friday…if we don’t return to the basics of biblical living, the other 364 days of each year will begin to darken as well.

The picture above was taken on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.  The date?  September 16, 1989.  I was ten years old and the time had come, so my parents thought, to introduce me to the basic rite of every child born in the state of Georgia…Bulldog football between the hedges.  There is absolutely nothing in all the world that substantiates college football season in the south like the cool breeze that blows through the hills of that beautiful campus in Athens.  I was completely mesmerized.  I remember vividly the sound of the famed Redcoats as we took in their pre-game rehearsal on the tennis courts.  And then the Dogs took the field.  I was overwhelmed as I studied relentlessly so that I could impersonate those players who seemed to stand ten feet tall on my own football field at home.  Nothing had ever captured my attention and my heart like the sights and sounds I took in that day.

That all seems like a million years ago now.  I’m now thirty-three years old and I’ve just finished packing my bag to take in another Bulldog contest between the hedges on the same campus in the same city this weekend.  But somehow things will be vastly different this Saturday.  I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to enjoy the day with my beautiful wife and sister-in-law.  But when the curtain is lifted and the Dogs take the field, I’ll think of my Mom and Dad.  I can almost guarantee that I’ll speak with my dad just before kickoff.  At that moment, I’ll consider myself a fortunate man to have been blessed with such great parents.  I’ll forever be thankful for the time that I’ve had with them both.

Unfortunately, in today’s society, too many people are distracted from the simple things in life.  They focus their thoughts on what is wrong with their lives instead of what is right.  They zero in on their problems instead of thanking God for their blessings.  That is a shame.

Since August 8, 2010, I’ve lived a very different life.  I must confess that, before that date, I took way too many people and situations for granted.  That one single day changed everything.  Since losing my mom, I’ve come to understand that life is much too short to sweat the small stuff.  As a young man, I now see other guys my age allow the opinions of their mom and dad to push them to frustration rather than realize that, despite what some believe, most moms and dads just love us and want the best for who they will always consider to be “their babies”.

I’ve come to understand that old cliches have more meaning than most people would like to admit.  You really don’t know what you have until it’s gone.  God has shown me over the last couple of years how important it is to stop and smell the roses.  They fade way too quickly.  The opportunity to enjoy the beauty that God allows to grow on our path must be seized before the winter mercilessly fades those petals into nothing.

Some would view my thoughts as depressing, maybe even hopeless.  But, contrary to that line of thinking, I hope it challenges every reader to step back from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and learn to appreciate the things that we all expect to be there when we wake up and when we lie down.  What’s important in this world is not how much money you make, how many hours you spend in overtime, what others think of you or what accomplishments you acheive.  The most important things in life are fulfilling the plan of God for our lives, serving our spouses as the spouse God has called each of us to be, raising our kids with love and affirmation according to the Word of God and one day reaching the end of our journey, knowing that we’ve done the best that we can possibly do.

I once had a wise Pastor share with me that it’s important to “enjoy wherever you are in life because you may never pass this way again”.  So true!

The picture above brings back great memories for me.  I can’t think of any happier moment than the moment captured in that photo.  As a die-hard Georgia fan, even today, there is no sound quite like the Redcoats.  I’m convinced that the two greatest hot dogs on earth can be purchased at Turner Field and Sanford Stadium (I’m pretty sure it has more to do with atmosphere than food quality).  The Dogs won that day.  They beat Baylor 15-3.  But more than the Redcoats, the refreshments and the win, what meant most that day was the company.

Whatever your differences are with family and friends, I hope that you’ll believe me when I tell you that it doesn’t matter.  It doesn’t matter when you can’t call someone anymore.  It doesn’t matter when you can’t take a family member or a friend to lunch anymore.  It doesn’t matter when your Christmas list is shortened one by one.  It’s time to put differences aside and love each other in action the way that we love each other in word.  When all is said and done, our petty arguments just don’t matter.

In just a matter of hours, we’ll enjoy kickoff in Athens.  But I’ll be thinking of that first experience.  I encourage you, no matter where you’re at this weekend, enjoy the view.  One day a picture may be all you have.

Just a few days ago my family and I had finished our grocery shopping and decided to grab some ice cream before returning home.  After parking our car we headed toward the ice cream shop when we noticed that a woman had thrown her car into park, jumped out and threw a bag that contained her incorrect order back at the front door of the restaurant that mistakenly given her the wrong food.  As the bag hit the glass and fell to the ground, she got back into her car, slammed her door and sped out of the parking lot.

This is a testament to how angry our society has become.  In our world, we’ve become surrounded with gadgets that promised to make our lives easier and afford us the opportunity to get things done quicker.  Ironically, we have now become a people who constantly complain of uneasing stress and less time than ever before.  Who could have imagined that one day we would hold in our hands an electronic device that would put us in touch with all of our family, friends and even the rest of the world in a split second?  Who could have imagined that one day we would have, what we now take for granted in the form of microwaves and toaster ovens, a system that gives us delicious food in a matter of minutes?

We have truly become spoiled by the convenience of drive-thru windows.  If you were to take on the challenge of preparing a Big Mac combo from McDonald’s in your home, it would easily take at least an hour.  The buns must be prepared, the meat seasoned and cooked, the lettuce shredded, the special sauce made, the cheese melted, the fries cut, seasoned and fried and the drink poured.  Isn’t it interesting that, what would take at least an hour in our home, sends us into a rage if we have to wait more than 3 minutes in a drive-thru without having to do any of the prep-work ourselves.

I must admit that I’m not the most patient person in the world.  I like what I want when I want it just like the next guy.  It’s something that lives inside of us since we screamed mercilessly at our mothers when we wanted our bottle.  But there comes a time when we must grow up and realize that this world is not all about us.  There are situations that will arise in which you will disagree with someone.  That’s ok.  It doesn’t mean you have to stop loving them or praying for them.  The Word of God is clear.  Romans 12:10 commands us to, “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another”.  Love is not something that God takes lightly.

In our society today, there is a great deal of division and hatred.  As Christians, we must lead the way when it comes to loving our fellow-man…even when we disagree.  As believers, we know that the Word of God is the ultimate standard for living and the blueprint for receiving God’s blessings into our lives.  But, like Jesus, we must always remember to speak the truth of God’s Word with a heart that’s filled with love for the listener.  The parents who explain to their daughter why it’s wrong to engage in sexual activity prior to marriage must do so with a heart who seeks to teach, not condemn.  The pastor who deals with a conflict in his or her congregation must seek to repair, not destroy.  The believer who attempts to teach an unbeliever about the importance of serving Christ before His return must seek to compel, not place a cloud of unworthiness over the listener.

There are many disagreements taking place today.  From marriages, to families, to friendships, to churches, to workplaces, to the election coming up in November.  But through all of our differences, we must remember to love.  We must be reminded that, even though our husband or wife doesn’t fulfill our expectations every time, they are still our husband or wife.  We must be reminded that, even though our families are strained with conflict and our friendships are on thin ice, family is family and that will never change.  Friendships usually begin because of some positive that two individuals found that they had in common.  That simply cannot be forgotten.  The churches we attend are part of a bigger plan than our desire to be coddled and babysat.  Our workplaces are designed to accomplish a goal depending on the type of business that it is…not making sure that everything goes our way.

Probably one of the most heated debates in our country at this point is political in nature.  As American citizens, we must remember that it’s our right to speak up on issues and let our voice be heard.  But that voice must never be based on hatred.  There are people who have come to despise our current President and all those who support him.  This is not pleasing to God.  How can we be kindly affectioned toward our fellow man and speak hateful things about them at the same time?  James said that bitter water and sweet water cannot come from the same fountain.  I will admit that there are issues on which I disagree with our President.  However, he is still our President and should be respected as such.  I realize that this is not a popular viewpoint but I do believe that it’s Biblical.

The Apostle Paul said in Romans 13:1-2, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.  Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.”  In the book of Daniel, the Bible says that it is God who raises up kings and God who brings them down.  Ultimately, despite which way our election swings, it is God who will place the right person in positions of leadership.  So, instead of tearing our President down, we must understand the importance of supporting him where we can and respectfully disagreeing with him where we differ.  It is extremely important that we, as believers, pray for our President, his family, Mitt Romney, his family and our nation as a whole.  Together we will see a brighter future as we depend on God’s direction.

Love must always rule in our hearts.  Despite our disagreements, we must remember that all people are made in the image and likeness of God.  That fact alone should determine how the people in our lives should be treated…with respect and honor.  Otherwise, we’re pointlessly throwing food at glass doors.

As parents, my wife and I have come to understand that my children won’t always understand why we make the decisions that we do.  For example, Cayden and Conner don’t understand why they can’t skip the meat and vegetables on their dinner plate and go straight to the bowl of ice cream.  They can’t seem to grasp why it’s so important to clean the house after it’s been mercilessly littered with toys.  We can’t seem to help them see the wisdom in getting plenty of rest so that the next day is not hindered by exhaustion.  I’m sure every parent can understand this never-ending battle.

It’s not possible for anyone on this earth to love those two kids more than Christy and myself.  In light of this fact, I must confess that it’s extremely hard to say no at times.  There are certain looks and certain words they can say to melt your heart.  Nevertheless, their best interest is most important.  God did not call us, as parents, to be their friend.  He commissioned us to raise them in a way that’s pleasing to Him so that one day they will contribute to society through excellence.

Unfortunately, the American church has become eerily similar to the American child.  As believers, we have come to expect the kingdom of God to cater to our every whim and desire.  Like a toddler who sees a forbidden cookie, we launch ourselves into full-blown temper tantrums anytime the truth of God’s Word prevents us from having something we want or having something go the way that we want.  What a sad condition many churches and believers are in!

When local churches, pastors and leaders dare to take a stand for righteousness and true holiness, more often than not, chaos will ensue.  Most people have come to believe that no one has the right to say anything about how they live their lives or how they make their decisions.  But the Word of God proves otherwise.

For example, in John 2, the Bible speaks of Jesus cleaning up the temple.  John 2:13-16 says, “And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:and when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; and said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.  And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.”  In Luke 16, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees hypocrisy and scolded them for justifying themselves in the eyes of God.  In Matthew 19, Jesus exposed the heart of the rich young ruler who cared more about his money than serving God.  John rebuked Herod for his incestuous affair and the Apostle Paul dealt with many sinful situations in the church at Corinth.

The distinction between standing up for righteousness and attempting to serve as heaven’s high sheriff must be clear.  God has not commissioned us to scour the lives of other believers and seek to magnify every mistake and expose every personal sin.  However, we should never allow political correctness or our consideration for other’s feelings to silence the voice of God’s Word as we seek to share the Gospel with the world.  In today’s society, it’s not only encouraged but expected for believers to keep their mouth shut when it comes to issues.  This is not the life that Jesus led and it’s not the life He expects us to lead.

Romans 10:14-15 says, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”  As believers, we must understand that, while the truth will initially make some miserable, it will ultimately set them free.  Richard Baxter said it best…”If their houses were on fire, thou wouldst run and help them; and wilt thou not help them when their souls are almost at the fire of hell?”

I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve made many mistakes in my life.  I am thankful that God has surrounded me with loving family, friends and believers who have supported me through those mistakes.  However, I’m also thankful that those same individuals did not support the mistakes.  I’ve been extremely fortunate in my life to have people who are not afraid to help me when I might be traveling down a wrong road.  We must not ever think that God has employed us as harsh, judgmental critics of each other.  But we must also remember to help each other as we move from day to day, knowing that God has a grand design for our lives.  Only when we walk in truth, will we ever be able to walk in freedom.

We’ve all made mistakes and God sees us through eyes of mercy.  But we must never take advantage of that mercy and forget that God expects us to live lives of holiness.  We must return to the basics of our faith and fulfill our destiny as kingdom people.  There will be times when we feel as if God is being a little too harsh on us.  But, like my children, we will one day see that the vegetables kept us healthy, the house was much more enjoyable when it was clean and we’re only here because we weren’t allowed to play in the street.

Pastor Jeremy

It’s been said that “we could learn a lot from crayons; some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, while others bright, some have weird names, but they all have learned to live together in the same box.”

Time and time again, we see that the Word of God stresses the importance of unity.  It also paints for us a clear picture of the dangers that rise when unity is not present.  Going all the way back to the third chapter of Genesis, we see that a lack of unity between Adam and Eve opened a door for the enemy.  They lost their spiritual standing with God and tossed all of mankind into a sea of suffering.  The effects are seen even today.  It continued in the lives of their sons as we read that Cain rose up against his brother, Abel, and killed him.

Further down the line, we see that unity among mankind was at an all-time high.  It was so profound that God Himself took notice.  Genesis 11:1 speaks of a time when the whole world spoke one language and shared a common speech.  The Bible says that they all purposed together to move in the same direction.  They traveled east and found a plain in Shinar.  There they settled.  It wasn’t long before their unity sparked a vision to be involved in something much bigger than themselves.  In verse 3, the Bible says that they reasoned together and spoke these words: “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.  Let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”

It must be noted here that, while their efforts are commendable, their reasoning was wrong.  The Scriptures go on to say that God came down to see the city and the tower that they were building and spoke these words: “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.”  The method was extraordinary but their purpose simply missed the mark.  Most people know how the story ends.  God confused their languages, they were scattered around the world and their ill-conceived project came to an end.

The narrative I’ve just shared with you serves as a remarkable paradox to the modern church that you and I love so much.  It seems that more congregations are divided over issues, talking points, decisions, finances and other things than ever before.  This is an obvious fact.  Even individuals with minimal knowledge of church life and Christian circles will readily cite their own awareness of how the Christian church seems to devour itself through fights and disagreements.

I believe that there are several different reasons that we are suffering from this self-destructive behavior.  But before I share those reasons with you, I must describe for you a commitment that I made to the Lord when He called me into ministry in 1998.  I resolved at a young age to never preach the truth of God’s Word to those who make up His Church without first allowing that same Word to purge and prune my own life.  I am not a person who foolishly believes that I have arrived and somehow earned the right to cast stones at everyone else.  The Word of God is a hard, unrelenting, ofttimes misunderstood resource that offends a great number of people.  Knowing this, I will begin my thoughts with those who operate in the capacity of ministry.

A recent article published by Charisma Magazine cited that many Christians have now given up on church because leaders have failed.  The article speaks of an anonymous person, referred to as “Bob”, who attended a church that was closed within two years after the pastor was caught stealing money from the church.  He then joined a second church in which he was pressured by leaders to attend a two-week membership class.  When he elected not to do so he was labeled as rebellious.  This is becoming an all-too-familiar occurrence.

One of the reasons that so many people have “given up on church” is because they’re tired of putting their faith in leaders who turn out to be hirelings and swindlers who are interested in nothing more than wiping out church accounts, controlling those who sit under their leadership and grooming female members into mistresses.  This is not the church that Christ died for and it’s not the church that will successfully reach the world for the kingdom of God.  1 Peter 4:17 says, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God.”

If we are going to make a lasting impact on this generation, we must understand that God and His Word will have to be the foundation upon which that work is built.  God has not called those who serve in leadership to be popular, comfortable, rich, liked or catered to.  We must restore the integrity that God intended to resonate within His house and His kingdom.  Without it we will never convince anyone that our words are worth hearing or our character is worth their trust.

The second reason that many have given up on being involved in local congregations is because so-called mature believers allow themselves to be entangled with trivial issues that won’t matter in two weeks, let alone ten years.  At this point in the article, I’d like to refer you to the last four paragraphs in the event that either Satan or your own thinking tempts you to believe that I’m simply lashing out at the laity of today’s church.

Over the last fourteen years, I’ve seen some of the most ridiculous issues arise among people who are supposed to function as the very body of Christ.  Let me name just a few…there was the great mirror-picture war in which two women came pathetically close to physically fighting because one wanted a picture hung in the foyer of the church while another felt that a mirror would better serve those attending.  Then, there’s those talent-saturated individuals who feel that God’s purpose for the earth depends on whether or not they sing a special.  Let’s not forget about those who feel that, because they didn’t think of it themselves, the new idea launched by the pastor will never work.  There’s always those who feel that if they’re not in charge it simply won’t work, those who believe it has to be done the way it was done fifty years ago or it will launch a premature Armageddon and those who childishly pout when they’re not visited enough, bottle-fed or placed upon a laity pedestal in which they are told that God’s church simply cannot function without them.

It’s time to wake up, America!  We are better than this.  What these types of Christians don’t understand is that the single mom who wanders in, hoping in her heart that a timely word from God will be spoken into her life, as she struggles to make ends meet and raise her kids in the right way, simply couldn’t care less if you hang a picture, a mirror or a pinata in the foyer.  Those unchurched individuals who know they need God in their lives don’t care who sings a special or preaches the Word.  They simply want to hear from God.  They’re not worried about who comes up with the idea that makes a difference in the lives of their kids as long as the difference is made.  They’re not concerned with who gets the credit, whether or not it’s done today like it was in 1960, or how much someone may feel that the ministry of the local church revolves around them.  All they know is that they need the power and presence of God in their lives.  That’s all that matters to them and it should be all that matters to us.

To those who have given up on the local churches down the street and in their town, I would ask of you, “Please, give us another chance to prove to you that there are still men and women of God who seek to do nothing more or less than the perfect will of God.  Give us another opportunity to show you that we’re not after your money or your presence in order to brag on our week’s statistics to our peers.  Give us one more shot to prove that there are still individuals who love God and His kingdom and seek to reach the world with a message of hope and freedom.”

To those ministers and members who make up the church of Jesus Christ, I say, “Let’s return to the Lord and rediscover the principles that God’s great church was founded on.  Let’s restore integrity to our pulpits and clean the clutter out of our pews.  Let’s show America that the church has not faded away.  Let’s show them unity, love, power and purpose.  Let’s do church God’s way and make a difference in this world.”

The problem with those who attempted to build the tower was that they were unified for the wrong purpose.  These “crayons” unified themselves for the wrong reason.  Can you imagine what would happen if all the multi-colored, multi-shaped, crayons in God’s kingdom decided to join themselves together and live in the box He created for us?  It’s called the church and until we come together for the right reasons, the box will continue to be empty and our purpose will fail.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a parent, it is to be careful what you tell your children.  For example, Christy and I have come to understand that if we share with Cayden and Conner that we’ll be at the beach, the waterpark or some other fun event soon, we’ll be bombarded with questions about that event until we arrive.  “How many more days until…?  Who’s gonna be there?  How long will we stay?  Are we there yet?”

I’m sure that there are some who don’t understand why I focus a good bit of my preaching and teaching on prophetic subjects such as the end of days, the rapture of the Church, Christ’s Second Coming and His reign on earth.  I’ve heard some argue that the Church needs a “right-now” word to strengthen believers and encourage them through the various difficulties that are faced on this earth.  Because of this belief, many reject the discussion of future things, supposing that we must have hope and encouragement for our present struggles.

It is true that the Word of God is relevant for each phase of our lives.  Without the truth of the Bible, there is no hope for the forgiveness of our past sins.  Without that same truth, there is no hope for the joy and peace we need to make it through the valley we’re currently in.  But I’d also like to add that the Word of God has a great deal to do with our future as well.

What is hope but the expectation that things are going to get better in the future?  A careful study of prophetic things reveals that our future is going to improve drastically…at least for believers who follow and serve Christ.  I am 33 years of age and I’ve spent most of my life hearing about the appearance of Christ in the clouds as He reunites the souls and spirits of those who have died believing in Him with the clouds of dust that now rest in the graves.  I’ve heard the Word of God quoted from 1 Thessalonians 4 where the Bible teaches that those believers who are living during this time will be “caught up” to meet the Lord in the air.  Even now, I can say without a doubt that I believe these things to be true and more clear than ever before.

In Matthew 24, Jesus spoke with His disciples about the nature of the world just prior to His return.  From His words, it is absolutely unmistakable that we are living in the last days.  Jesus informed His disciples, in verses 4 and 5, that spiritual deception would play a great role in the last days.  Never before has the church endured the hardships of so-called leaders and ministers who are playing the part without living the life and its had an effect.  More than ever, people all across the nation have become bitter and calloused because of spiritual leaders who have turned out to be wolves in sheep’s clothing.  The primary reason that unchurched individuals provide when asked why they don’t attend church is the lack of spiritual truth and genuine believers living out the Word of God.

He then shared with His followers that those living in the last days would hear of wars and rumors of wars.  World headlines are saturated with threats from Iran daily as they continue to attack Israel and their way of life.  Contrary to the opinions of some, the war on terror that began on September 11, 2001 is not over.  Jesus encouraged us not to be troubled but assured us that these things must come to pass before His return.  He then spoke of nation rising against nation, kingdom against kingdom, famines, pestilences and earthquakes, all of which He described as the beginning of sorrows.

His conversation then turned to the personal lives of believers when He described how we would be delivered up to be afflicted, killed and hated by all nations because of Him.  Thankfully, we’ve not seen widespread martyrdom here in America.  But around the world countless lives have been lost all because of their allegiance to Christ.  In my opinion, most would agree that Christians are hated in most secular circles and considered to be hypocritical, better-than-thou types who seek to judge the sins and failures of the evil world in which we live.  While that may be true for some, the true Church is comprised of people who understand that our mission includes seeking out those who need to be saved and experience the love of Christ.

Verse 10 begins with a sign of the times that most people forget.  Jesus said, “And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.”  Having served in full-time ministry since 1998, I’ve come to understand that the primary problem in the local church is the fact that a great portion of believers fail to handle conflict like the Word of God instructs us to.  Instead of talking through issues with our Pastors, Student Pastors, brothers and sisters, we gather our spiritual posse and create a firestorm of criticism and hatred.  When this happens, the mission of the church is strangled out and the enemy prevails as the community is never reached with the Gospel.  Now is the time for true believers to stand up as men and women of God, rise above our emotions and embrace the proper way to handle conflict when it arises.  The “New Pastor – New Church” mentality doesn’t solve our problems.  Immature Christians who can’t seem to work through problems with their church family, only prove to create similar difficulties after a Pastoral change or they select a new congregation to join.

Jesus continued to speak of the false prophets that would rise and deceive many, the iniquity that would abound and how the love of many would wax cold.  But, in verse 13, He gives a promise that has been held close to the heart of every believer since they rolled off the lips of the world’s Savior.  He simply said, “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

One of the reasons I feel a strong compelling in my heart to preach about the soon rapture of the Church is because the events of our world scream that Christ is preparing now to take His Bride.  We must not ignore the warning signs.  It’s time to turn our hearts back to God, embrace the truth of His Word, learn to love our leadership and our brothers and sisters and allow the blood of Christ to cleanse our garments so that we will be counted worthy when He comes.

At this point, I would fail to cast the entire burden of my heart if I did not acknowledge the fact that I have many loved ones who have gone home to be with the Lord.  I have grandparents, great-grandparents, an aunt and an uncle that are at home with the Father waiting on the day when we can all be together again.  To this day, the most difficult experience of my life was coming to grips with the fact that my mom had passed from this world into eternity.  Not one day goes by that I don’t long to speak with her one more time.  But I’m thankful that, because of conversations we had and prayers I know that she prayed, she is with Jesus and I will see her again.  With every passing day, I rejoice that our reunion is one day closer.

I believe that Jesus is alive.  I believe that He’s returning soon.  And I believe it is every Christian’s responsibility to share that news with everyone we encounter.  Today is the day of salvation!

I believe that people are looking forward to a time when the life we live will improve.  People all around the world are searching for better opportunities and better lifestyles.  The good news is that a better life is waiting, but only for those who make their preparations now.  What a day that will be when we’re taken by the BrideGroom to enjoy the marriage supper of the Lamb!  How wonderful it will be when Christ returns to set up His kingdom on earth!

The next time Cayden and Conner bombard us with questions about some future event that has filled them with excitement, I believe I’ll try to be a bit more patient.  After all, I know exactly how they feel.

Pastor Jeremy

Wedding Day

Lately I’ve been thinking as I look all around me
I see by the signs that we’re soon gonna be leaving
The Bride-Groom is coming to take us all away
May be tomorrow but I pray that it’s today

And we will fly away in the twinkling of an eye
Leaving all our heartaches and telling them all goodbye
And we will fly away when He hears His Father say
Jesus, go and get Your Bride, today’s Your wedding day

Now, when we see the Bride-Groom on the clouds in the sky
Will He be telling you hello or telling you goodbye?
Oh, be sure and be ready to meet Him face to face
We’ve got to fight the good fight, we’ve got to keep our faith

And we will fly away in the twinkling of an eye
Leaving all our heartaches and telling them all goodbye
And we will fly away when He hears His Father say
Jesus go and get your Bride, today’s Your wedding day

The last week has been pretty interesting for our daughter, Cayden.  Her ears were pierced nearly six months ago and the piercings are doing great.  However, she then developed an infected hair follicle behind her left lobe, which caused her ear to swell and retain fluid.  After several trips to the doctor, her ear is now responding well to an antibiotic ointment and is on its way to perfect health.  Still, the dressing of the wound is quite eventful.  As we clean the wound and apply the ointment, you’d think that we were sawing her ear off with a rusty knife.  By her own admission, it doesn’t necessarily hurt but she just doesn’t like the application.

I’ve been fortunate to spend the last 15 years of my life in full-time pastoral ministry.  Having been a Student Pastor and a Senior Pastor, I’ve come to understand that there are basically two different groups in the modern-day church.  There are those who appreciate the unfiltered Word of God and desire to hear it preached without compromise.  Unfortunately, there is another group that simply tolerates the truth of God until it makes them uncomfortable on a personal level.

This fact should come as no surprise.  The Apostle Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:3, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”  Paul was warning Timothy that the church would one day reach a point in which error and deception would infiltrate the hearts and minds of God’s people thereby corrupting the lives of believers.

Our society is bathed in compromise and tolerance.  Many people have determined in their heart that there are ways to improve on the Word of God and the truth that was revealed to the writers of Scripture by the Holy Spirit.  Paul was clear that the deceptive teachers would not be sent by God but would be invented by those who seek a personalized gospel.  The margin between the truth of God and this custom message is apparent.

All across this nation, we are now hearing reports of so-called ministers declaring to their congregations that the once-forbidden act of consuming alcohol held by former saints was extreme at best and ridiculous in its context.  Shacking up (living together before marriage) is now widely accepted as an economic alternative between friends.  America not only tolerates homosexuality but takes great pride in the approval of individuals who live this lifestyle and encourages them to be married, raise adopted children and even serve as spiritual role models in a pulpit.  We now hear assumed men of God promote a lazy Christianity in which the believer is rarely required to take inventory of their life and allow the Holy Spirit to remove certain behaviors and attitudes.

But the margin is not always so gaping and wide.  Sometimes it’s “the little foxes that spoil the vine” (Song of Solomon 2:15).  The modern-day church has been overtaken with individuals who feel that the gospel of Jesus Christ should be reduced to an all-tolerant message of mercy that overlooks the dangerous operations of demonic spirits in the church.  Let me explain.  The Bible teaches that the works of the flesh are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness (unbridled sensuality / excess), idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance (contention / strife), emulations (jealousy), wrath, strife, seditions (uproar / dissension), heresies (false doctrine), envyings, murders, drunkenness, and revellings (excessive pleasure or delight).  Paul said in Galatians 5 that “they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:21).

I’m sure that somewhere along the way, someone has concluded that I preach too hard.  But what most people don’t understand is that, without the true Word of God being applied to our lives, families, churches and communities, there is no blessing, no favor, and no hope of ever being what God has destined each of us to be.  No one can deny that the Word of God is sharp and can be tough to swallow.  But the fact remains that we absolutely must have the medicine if we want to be healed.

I believe that God desires to send His glory back to the church.  But, as we see in Galatians 5, we must embrace the Word of God and accept the Holy Spirit’s diagnosis if we seek to be healthy.  According to Paul’s words, we have to stop talking about each other.  We must refrain from allowing our hearts to be filled with anger and jealousy against our brothers and sisters.  It’s the only way.

I remember my entrance interview in 1998 as I began my ministry.  I was asked by a member of our State Licensing Board why I wanted to be a minister.  I first gave the obvious answer as I shared with him the unavoidable call that God had placed on my life.  But I then said something that surprises me to this day.  At 19 years of age, I provided a stern answer to this all-important question.  I simply said, “I feel that God has called me to minister to the American church because people come to service multiple times each week thinking they’re ok…when in reality, they’re on their way to hell.”  I’ll never forget that moment.

In Revelation 3, Jesus is dictating the words that will be placed in a letter by John and sent to the church at Laodicea.  This is that letter…

“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Revelation 3:14-22)

As Jesus stated in the letter, the preaching of the truth is not meant to create open wounds of hurt feelings and condemnation.  The truth is sent to heal, to restore and renew.  The Psalmist said, “He sent his word, and healed them.”  Jesus simply wanted to apply the eyesalve so that those who were blind might see.  It’s interesting that so many people feel that the preaching of God’s Word brings harm and damage when, in reality, the Holy Spirit is simply trying to dry up our infections.  Could it be possible that the Word of God doesn’t hurt as much as we think it does?  It might just be that we simply don’t like the application.

Pastor Jeremy

My name is Jeremy DeLoach.  I am 33 years old and I’ve been happily married to Christy Sikes DeLoach since the Summer of 2000.  We have two beautiful children, Cayden (6) and Conner (3).  We currently serve as the Senior Pastors of the Townsend Church of God in Townsend, Georgia.

It’s been storming here today and, while we’ve received some much needed rain, Conner is not at all pleased about the thunder.  While I never want him to be afraid, it does warm my heart when his eyes automatically scan for me when he’s frightened by the sound that shakes the walls of our home.  Thankfully, his heart is eased when he sees that I’m here and everything’s ok.

In the same way, it seems that the practice of blogging has taken our society by storm over the last several years.  Everyone has something to say.  In our technological times, using a blog to share your thoughts about an issue or a topic has become contagious.  It’s proven to be an ingenius method that many have used to ensure that their voice is heard.

In the same way, I also feel that there is something within my heart that I would like to share with those who will take the time to read and ponder the thoughts that are placed on this blog.

I was saved at a very young age and was, thankfully, raised by a family who understood and appreciated the power of God that operated in the lives of people.  I’ve been extremely fortunate to live the life that I’ve lived.  I’m thankful for every opportunity that God has placed in front of me and I can truly say that between my wife, my children, my family, my friends and my ministry, I’m truly living out my dream.

I have not forgotten the information that was passed on to me as a child.  I believe that the God of the Bible is real.  I believe that Jesus Christ is His Son.  I believe in the person and power of the Holy Spirit.  I also believe that God has a plan for every human being on the planet.  This plan involves being cleansed from and forgiven of our sins, sanctified and set apart to be holy unto God, and prepared for service by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.  It is then up to each individual to depend on the wisdom and knowledge of God as we seek to complete His mission for our lives.

It doesn’t take a genius to understand that the world we live in is quickly worsening.  This should not come as a surprise to those who have been taught the Word of God.  Jesus told us that what we’re experiencing now would happen just before His return.  He is coming soon and we must be ready.

I’m careful and determined not to let this blog become just another voice in the sea of voices sharing their opinions.  Instead, I will seek to share insight from the Bible in hopes of turning a few hearts back to God, challenging a few lukewarm churchgoers and encouraging those who seek the face of the One who has promised to return.

I encourage everyone who reads this blog to post your own comments.  I would love to talk with you about the various topics we’ll discuss.  Prayerfully, with the power of the Holy Spirit, we can make a difference and help the rest of the world to see that, even though the storm is raging and the thunder we hear shakes the foundation of everything we’ve ever known to be true and trustworthy, the Father is still here with us and that makes all the difference in the world.