Harvard University just concluded an 80 year study revealing the "secret" to long-term happiness. It was called the Study of Adult Development. According to the director of the research project, "The clearest message that we get from this eighty-year study is this: GOOD RELATIONSHIPS keep us happier and healthier Period." Then he clarifies, "It's the quality of your close relationships that matters. Not the [...]

Yesterday, Pastor Phil began a brand new series on the book of Habakkuk. Before I begin the process of unpacking a book of or passage of Scripture I find it effectual to read the passage several times seeking the big picture. Those of you who know me understand that I "ain't too bright" so I [...]

Well....Happy New Year to you and yours! I had a good friend ask me last week if I had a personal mission statement. He felt compelled to bring clarity to his own, and was curious if I had ever developed such a statement, and how it played out in my daily life.  I do believe [...]

Happy post Christmas 2021. I trust you had a blessed time with family and friends and this note finds you excited about what the Lord is going to do in 2022. I believe we would all agree...it will be unexpected. INTENTIONAL men of God will stay on mission regardless! Of course Christmas is a celebration of life, [...]

The theme of restoration saturates the Bible.  In truth...restoration is the entire plot of the Scriptures. William Jessup University Professor, Mark Moore, Ph.D. writes: "The pain of paradise lost is soothed with the hope of a savior. An olive branch carried by a dove gave evidence of dry land. In light of the devastation of [...]

Advent is the season in which the Church celebrates the coming of the Messiah into the world, an event that was prophesied for over 4,000 years prior to the birth of Jesus Christ. INTENTIONAL men of God know that there is an apologetic to everything and we must be prepared to speak into every conversation with a Biblical Christian [...]

The first recorded words of our God in the Scriptures were "Let there be light!" (Genesis 1:3). The resulting action of those words are found in the very next verse (v.4), "God saw that the light was good" as it dispelled the darkness (v. 2). God created light because God loves light. Unfortunately, Jesus affirmed that "men love darkness more than [...]

"WARNING: NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY." I know, it seems to be an odd piece of signage to be thinking about at the end of November, but it is one of those signs that everyone understands, especially as you recall the last phrase: "SWIM AT YOUR OWN RISK." A sign like this states an obvious reality, one that swimmers are [...]

Well it is almost Thanksgiving and we are once again presented with another opportunity to express our gratitude to the One from whom all blessings flow (Love that familiar Doxology). We discover in Psalm 100 the Power of Worship when directed to our Heavenly Father and how it relates to gratitude. Let's break it down: 1. (V. 1) Make a joyful [...]

There are so many voices in our world. News media, social media, family, friends, neighbors, teachers, employers; not to mention the voices you have in your head and heart from your past. Do you still hear the encouraging voice of your mom or dad, a teacher or coach, a pastor or youth leader, maybe someone who discipled [...]