If you’ve got a gym membership and are actively using it, the question we may have is, “Is this working? I’m spending a lot of money. Am I controlling my weight? Am I feeling healthier?” When we begin a medical treatment we ask the doctor, “Will this fix or cure whatever is wrong?” When our young adult chooses a college major every parent wonders, “Will this degree help them get a good job in the future?” Many of us approach God and His Church in a similar fashion. We have legitimate questions. We need more information. We may wonder if the time and resources invested in a regular gathering ..read more

Connie and I have been watching an amazing Springtime story of birth and life unfold for weeks. Just outside our living room window a big momma Robin (dad helped) built her nest (again). This tree has become a regular nesting place for Robins each Spring. We watched mom and dad Robin fly back and forth, finding mud, sticks, and straw, shaping their nest. Soon after the nest was completed, five (we think) blue Robin eggs were tucked safely inside.    Five eggs is our best guess. We’re not absolutely certain how many eggs were in the nest. Momma Robin is very protective. Now, al ..read more

Are you the person who reads the instructions inside the box before fixing something? Building something? My wife is a classic example. She likes to do the homework. Before beginning the job she’ll read it, research it, Google it, and YouTube video it. She just watched a bunch of YouTube video about “How to replace the surge valve on a 2013 Ford Fusion.” For several weeks she’s been on a mission to find a “fix” for a mechanical problem with her car. She took her car to a couple local mechanic shops. They could never identify the problem. Like going to a dentist for a toothache. We get there ..read more

Connie and I lived in the Permian Basin oil fields of West Texas for twenty one years. Our church family were nearly all, transplanted, temporary residents in Midland, Texas. Just like Connie and I and three kids. Their careers in the oil industry brought them to the city. Youth Ministry brought Connie and I there. With our many new friends we met, unlike Kentucky, where our families lived for generations, the people we met moved a lot. Their oil career promotions would take them to larger cities every 3-4 years. Then families often returned to Midland, two or three times, with higher level ..read more

Do not let go of your God-sized dreams. Gather new courage, wisdom, and energy before running out of steam. God promises to resupply our spiritual energy when our tank runs low. If you are a parent or grandparent you probably need a couple days each month to catch your breath. Raising healthy, happy, thriving children is a full-time gig! Family life, happy life, even when terrific is often exhausting. What’s your plan for refueling? In addition to taking short naps and short trips, finding places to retreat, here’s a key part of every good plan for renewal. Search out the Bible for a few goo ..read more

As I type a few words for this blog today my goal is to encourage with wise words. I just got off a conversation with a friend living out of state. They have been longtime supporters of my ministry and our mission at Journey Community Christian Church. I’ve helped them as pastor and friend during several life changing events. Today I learned, my friend is seeking a job change. They are hoping to find a more satisfying employment with a healthier workplace environment. This search has been months going on for months. The piece which seems to be missing in their current job is positive reinfor ..read more

What do you believe? How do you make important decisions? What might you tell someone else the “secret sauce” in life is about? I would say to others the single greatest factor for being more effective in our dreams, ambitions, and career choices is having God at the center of it all. Does this sound too simple? What if joy, happiness and peace is not so complicated after all?    I am a minster/pastor; you would expect me to say something like this. What if it really is true? You don’t have to be a professional clergy to find Truth. I BELIEVE Jesus changes everything. Mor ..read more

Are you planning to join a worship gathering for Easter this weekend? Many people have penciled this in on their calendar for weeks now. I just spoke to one of my friends who said they were scheduled for work this weekend but asked to take the day off. Other people I know are traveling this Easter to be with family and friends; some far away. What about you?     If you are local and nearby to Journey Community Christian Church in Cynthiana we would love to host you as our guest for Easter 2024. We’ve spent weeks trying to prepare for your arrival. We are hoping to make your Easter e ..read more

This is our week before Easter and the excitement has begun. On the calendar it is called Palm Sunday weekend. The 1st century Jerusalem was also filled with the excitement and buzz of Jesus coming to town. Much like people today, people were making plans for family and friends to be together. Many people in Jesus day were unclear who He actually was. This continues to be a reality in our modern world. Have you made your plans and decisions about Easter 2024? Are you a committed follower of Jesus? Are you inviting family and friends to join you for worship and celebration of Jesus Resurrectio ..read more

Do you find yourself pulling for the underdog in a good TV drama or feature film on Netflix? Are you a sucker for feel-good motion pictures at the theater?  Do you cheer for the character who overcomes obstacles? There is something about rooting for the come-back-kid. Ever since Sylvester Stallone ran up those steps triumphantly in Philadelphia in the 1976 original “Rocky” film, people are cheering for the underdog in the boxing world. The Bible is filled with those kind of stories where the unexpected happens to the most unexpecting person. If you’ve felt like you were listening to a le ..read more