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08/19/2026

Week 26: The Offering

What are you willing to offer up to follow Jesus? That’s a tough question for a lot of us to answer. We start sifting through the things in our lives and we say, “Well this I would offer, and this I would offer, but this I have to keep for myself. I can’t give it up. I can’t part with it.” Sometimes it’s money. Sometimes it’s material possessions. Maybe it’s a relationship or even a job.

Last week we did a Time of Refreshing series, starting on Sunday morning and going through Tuesday night. God really showed up and showed out as only He can. Sunday morning, we did a song called Pour My Oil, and it’s such a great song. It’s still stuck in my head. It’s based off of the story in Luke 7, and it really spoke to me in such a basic but powerful way. I’ll give you the short version of the Bible passage.

There was a Pharisee who asked Jesus to come over to his house and eat with him. Jesus agrees. While He was there, a certain woman of the city, who was known for “being a sinner” was in the midst of all the things going on. Now, we can guess what her sins were and all, but that’s really not the point. This sinful woman sought Jesus out. She knew of the stories of His healings and changing people’s lives, and she wanted what she had heard about. She wanted to change her life. The problem is that she didn’t know where to begin. She didn’t know what to do. So she broke open the only thing she thought she had to offer, an expensive flask of oil and anointed the feet of Jesus. Here she is, a well known sinner, a woman with a reputation, a castaway to those around her pouring oil on His feet while weeping uncontrollably and wiping His feet off with her hair. Take that picture in.

Now, there were a couple of things going on here. That Pharisee was saying to himself, “Boy, that Jesus must not know what kind of woman that is He’s allowing to touch His feet. If He did, He wouldn’t let her do it.” News flash: He knew who she was. Secondly, she was catching a lot of flack for “wasting” expensive oil like that. She should have sold it and taken the money and used the proceeds for good. News flash: she knew the cost, but she did it anyway. For all we know, it could have been all she had to her name, but she offered it anyway.

So often, we count the cost, and we choose not to be obedient. We justify it by telling ourselves we can’t afford it, or we worry about what others would say about us, or we wax poetic about how inconvenient it would be. We focus on everything but Jesus, when there’s nothing else in this world that we should focus on but Jesus.

If you read the rest of the passage, there’s so much more we could get into, but we’ll stop here for now. As you go through the week, examine where you are. Is there something you can offer? What do you need to pour at the feet of Jesus?

“One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.” “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭7‬:‭36‬-‭50‬ ‭ESV‬‬

07/27/2026

Week 25: The Leap

Leaving things behind can be hard. You could be leaving a relationship. You could be leaving the place you’ve grown up. You could be leaving high school. Or, if you’re like me, you could be leaving the known for the unknown.

For the last nineteen years, I have been working at a place where I’ve met a lot of really great people. I’ve made some friends, I’ve grown as a person, I met my wife, and I was able to have an impact in the lives of a few people, at least I hope I did. I had jokingly referred to my time there as a really bad episode of Quantum Leap. The original, not the reboot.

In that show, the main character would jump into a situation in history, and he’d have to right the wrong, and then he could leap out. Hopefully, to finally make his last leap a leap back home. I had leapt in, but never leapt out. Here we are, nineteen years later.

During this time, I felt the constant call to the ministry. I didn’t know what it looked like, I just knew it was happening. At the same time, I had seen others receive their call, and it looked way different than what I was seeing in my life. I had constantly prayed for God to reveal the ministry he had placed me in. For years.

Was it a church plant? No. Was it moving to Texas and finding a church to serve in once we got there? No. Was it moving to area in Florida where my wife had a teaching job that was hers if she wanted it? No. It was none of those things.

Care to guess what it actually was? It was where I had been for the last nineteen years. The only downside was it took a while for me to realize that, but I eventually did. As a result, I was able to minister to people here and there. It wasn’t by preaching a fiery sermon. It wasn’t by playing drums for them in a worship setting. It was as simple as seeing where they were as a person, and encouraging them. Or seeing they had a need and praying for them. Or, even just asking them how they’re doing. Not “work” them, but them as a person. Work aside.

When you start to see people the way that Jesus sees people, you start to have compassion for them. When it moves you emotionally, it will often prompt you to move physically. Is that not The Great Commission? It’s not always fulfilled by all the “big” things that we think of, there are a lot of smaller, more subtle things that have just as big of an impact.

A couple of days ago, we made a new leap. Our company was purchased by another company, and we are now heading into a new adventure. We’re leaving some things behind. The pictures for this week are that of my now former office. Our location was an old bank building. My office was the vault. Yep, a big vault, complete with a gigantic door. Because we are now completely remote, we no longer have an onsite location. I wanted people to see how cool/crazy it was to be working inside a bank vault. Coolest office ever? Maybe so.

Anyway, I’ll end by saying this: you never know where your next leap will take you. You don’t always know what it will look like. You may not even know what to do when you get there. What you can know for sure is that trusting God with your future is always a good thing. I sometimes think the reason we don’t have the whole picture is so that we can’t mess it up trying to be helpful. You ever tried to help God do something better? We’d never do that, right? Not me, no not me. The thing is He doesn’t need our help, we need His. What He needs from us is obedience.

Verses of the week:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

07/18/2026

Week 24: The Storm

About a week ago, we went to the beach for a day trip. It was absolutely amazing. The weather was perfect. The water was beautiful and just the right temperature. We even saw some porpoises out there on the sandbar hunting and jumping out of the water. It was great.

But, the water isn’t always that calm. Sometimes, it can be downright rough, just like life. We’re sailing along, and all of a sudden, we’re in trouble. The waves are crashing down on us and we’re scared out of our minds.

When that happens, we tend to focus on what we see. We see the trouble coming in. We see the wind picking up. We see the waves getting bigger and stronger and they start closing in on us. But we also see that we’re nowhere near land or relief of any kind. So we think.

The disciples went through this very same thing one time. Jesus was like, “Hey, let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” While they were on the way, He went to sleep. While He was asleep, a bad storm rolled in on the lake and it got really bad. The waves were coming up over the side of the boat and they were taking on water. They were afraid that they were going to sink.

It got so bad that they went to Jesus and woke Him up and yelled to Him, “We’re dying out here! Help!” So He got up and calmed the storm. What looked like an out of control situation was at the mercy of the power of Jesus the whole time.

His question has stuck with me since the first time I read the story. It was a simple, yet complex question: “Where is your faith?” The truth is they were never alone. Jesus said, “Let us go…” He was there. He is there, even with us and even when we can’t see Him. He’s there.

What storm are you in today? What are you focused on? What you see, or what you know? The Word of God tells us in Deuteronomy 31:8, “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Trust The One that can speak and calm the storm.

Passage of the week:
“One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭22‬-‭25‬ ‭ESV‬‬

07/09/2026

Week 23: The Broken Hearted

Have you ever had your heart broken? If we were all honest, we would say that we have. It could be the loss of a loved one, the loss of a relationship, or even the loss of a job you’ve had for a long time, etc, etc. All of them hurt and all of them lead to a brokenness that can wreck you.

I was doing some reading in Luke 7, and the story of the widow who had lost her only son just really hit me hard today. It was because it said, “the Lord saw her, and He felt compassion for her.” That stopped me in my tracks. There were two things that really struck out to me.

First, it said He saw her. I think you have to go deeper here when you read that or you can pass right over the meaning there. He didn’t just physically see her from a distance, He saw her. He knew her story. He knew how she was feeling. He saw her n that moment, and He knew exactly the struggle she was going through. That brings me to the next thing.

Not only did He see her, He had compassion. He was moved by her. He knew exactly where she was, what she was thinking, and what she was feeling, and He had compassion. She was broken hearted. Now the text doesn’t specifically say she’s broken hearted, but get the context. She had a sizable crowd from the city with her. She was surrounded by people because they probably felt like she needed the support. To be a widow in those days was one thing, but to not have a son that could help you, it was a tough situation.

The best thing about the story is that He approached her and He said, “Do not weep.” He reached out and stopped the coffin, and He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise!” That dead son sat up and started talking!

It then said that Jesus gave him back to his mother. What does that even mean?! Did He pick him up off the coffin and set him down where he could be embraced by his mother? Did He say something to her as her son stood up and they celebrated his second chance? Or, was it a simple look as to say, “Here you go, what was lost has been returned.” I don’t know, it’s hard to say.

What we do know is her situation moved Jesus. So much so that His compassion led directly to Him taking action. Do we do that? Do we see people? I don’t mean physically, I mean do we really see them? Do we have compassion for them? Does it spark anything in us?

Full disclosure, I just found out yesterday that the job that I’ve had for the last 19 years is closing shop. We’re on borrowed time. As nervous as I am for me, and all that starting over at my age entails, my immediate thought was for those that I have been fortunate enough to work with and teach and coach and pour into. I worry about them. I see them and I have compassion for them, and it moves me. I genuinely love all those people. They’re good people, and I love them. So when you get a moment, please pray for all of us.

I want to leave you with this passage so you can read it for yourself.

“Soon afterwards He went to a city called Nain; and His disciples were going along with Him, accompanied by a large crowd. Now as He approached the gate of the city, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, “Do not weep.” And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother. Fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited His people!” This report concerning Him went out all over Judea and in all the surrounding district.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭7‬:‭11‬-‭17‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

Ask yourself, does what breaks the heart of Jesus break your heart? Are we moved with compassion?

06/23/2026

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Send a message to learn more

06/16/2026

Week 22: Welcome To The Jungle

When I look back on my life, one of the most impactful experiences I ever had was Vacation Bible School, or VBS for those of us in the biz. Some of my fondest memories are of all us kids lining up outside the front door and walking in and sitting with our classes.

There were different jobs you could be selected for. You could be a flag bearer and lean the flag forward during the pledge of allegiance. You could the person holding the Bible for the pledge to the Bible. You could even be a little usher taking up the offering each night at the opening ceremony. Once all those things were done, it was off to class and other activities. There were crafts, games, food, and lessons. I still have a little lighthouse I painted from one of those years so long ago. It takes quite a bit of work to pull it all off.

At TruthPoint this last week or so, there has been a lot of work put into preparing for VBS. It’s actually called Camp Warrior Kidz, but it carries the same energy. You can actually catch it in progress as it’s going on this week. The church usually goes through a complete transformation. In the lobby, you have a swamp, complete with an alligator/crocodile, just waiting for kids to possibly drop some food off the pier. Down the halls you have what can only be described as a jungle, complete with vines, greenery, and monkeys hanging out. In the sanctuary, you have stone monuments, more wild animals of all kinds, and jungle scenery. To top it off, there is a waterfall on top of the drum box! In case you didn’t catch on, there’s a jungle theme going on this time.

The mastermind behind all of this is Brother Jim. I always love getting a chance to speak with him. Earlier in the year, we were talking about his plans and he mentioned the waterfall and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. He gets so excited when it comes to these decorations, as do I. His passion for reaching kids is so infectious. It’s easy for him to be excited, therefore making you excited.

The purpose for all the decorations is not just for the sake of the entertainment value, but it serves another purpose: to reach as many kids and adults as possible for Jesus. It’s that simple. I have had a similar conversation with Dina who is the head of the children’s ministry my home church, The Bridge. We just completed VBS there a couple of weeks ago. What we are all hoping for is that kids come in and see all the decorations and experience Jesus and they get saved and they go home to their parents excited and they say, “You have to come see this place!” And because of the excitement from their child, they show up for church later and their life is impacted in a positive way, and maybe they even meet Jesus and they get saved. Maybe they witness to their neighbors, friends, or family and they get save. But it starts with, “You gotta come see this!” Word of mouth.

It’s no different than back when Jesus was going from place to place. There were healings, physical and spiritual. Demons were cast out. He would teach. He would minister to folks. He fed the masses. He walked on water. He calmed seas with just His words. Everywhere He went He had a tendency to attract people and attention. and it all started with, “You gotta come see this guy.” Word of mouth.

You could ask Jim or Dina if all the work is worth it, and without hesitation they’ll tell you it is. If it yields at least one salvation for someone, then it was worth it. They would also tell you that they didn’t do it alone. They both had a team full of talented volunteers at each place to help carry out the work. But it was worth every minute.

This week’s scripture:

“Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” After laying His hands on them, He departed from there.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭19‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭

06/15/2026

Week 21: Mooford

This week, my niece was in town with her fiancé. They have quite the drive to get back to where they live. I think it’s about 8 hours if you drive straight through, but who likes doing that?

While we were all there, I took some family photos. It was overcast for most of the afternoon, right up until it was time to take the pictures. The light was kind of harsh because of the time of day. We could take the pictures, but we just needed to find the right place.

While I was looking around the yard, I looked over to the field, and that’s when I saw her: Mooford. She was being nosy and watching me, so I went over to see what she was up to. Turns out, it was nothing. Being a redhead must be so exhausting. You just walk around and eat all day.

I ended up finding the right spot to take pictures. We fought through the gnats to complete all the different sets and families. Hopefully, the pictures will be a reminder of the fun times and an unforgettable trip.

You may be wondering, what does taking a picture of a cow have to do with worship? I’m glad you asked. The truth is, it would have been very easy to make excuses for why not to take pictures. It’s hot and I’m melting. The gnats are attacking us with full force and surrounding us with their death cloud. The toddlers are over it and have taken off in different directions. Oh, and did I mention it was hot?

Even with those inconveniences, and some would say annoyances, it was still a chance to serve my family. We often times consider serving others as something we do for everyone but our family. But the reality is that we should find ways to serve them, too. That’s how I saw Mooford and that’s why I took her picture. Austin even mentioned it today in his message. Jesus came to serve, not to be served.

As you’re going through your week, try to find something you can do to serve others. It doesn’t have to be something big, just something. You can make a difference in their life.

“and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.””
‭‭Mark‬ ‭10‬:‭44‬-‭45‬ ‭ESV‬‬

06/06/2026

Week 20: Meditate On The Word

Well, summertime is officially here in South Georgia. It’s hot. The bugs are back in full force. So much so that it’s almost like being in a scary movie. Instead of being attacked by birds, its bugs the size of birds.

With the heat comes the growing grass. As you know, that means it needs to be mowed on consistent basis. Depending on how much rain you get, it can range from biweekly to twice in a week. You just never know. This week’s picture was taken as the yard was being mowed. The dust was floating up, and the sun was shining through the trees. I thought it was a cool sight.

While some people may dread being in the heat, dealing with the bugs, dodging limbs, and in some cases dodging snakes, I kind of enjoy being out there in the solitude of the yard. Believe it or not, it’s a great way to just meditate on things. There’s nothing but you, the mower, and the thoughts in your head to keep you company.

I often times find myself thinking about things that have either happened to me recently, or something I’ve learned from my reading or Bible study. Sometimes I think about questions I would have for God if I could sit Him down and just ask Him things. Not like a judgmental questioning of things, but an inquisitive way. I believe He wants us to ask. To inquire. To seek Him.

What really happens a lot of times is I get a chance to not only ask, but I also get to meditate on what He’s already revealed to me through His Word. When some people hear the word meditate, they often picture sitting on the floor with their legs cris cross applesauce and their eyes closed, holding up their hands and humming. That’s not the connotation here. This isn’t about clearing your mind of all thought, this is about filling your mind with the truth and word of God.

There main Hebrew word that deals with meditation is “hagah.” Hebrew is such a beautiful language to hear. The literal translation is speak quietly under your breath or to mutter or whisper to yourself. It’s really kind of a word picture of letting something roll around in your mind and mentally chewing on it, and then trying to digest it, and just repeating that process over and over throughout the day. Basically, you’re wrestling with it mentally and verbally. Being on the lawnmower allows you the solitude to do just that. We have a sizable yard, so plenty of time to meditate.

I wanted to share this passage in closing.

“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples. You with your arm redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭77‬:‭11‬-‭15‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Meditate on His word this week. Make it a point to think it, speak it, and live it.

05/26/2026

Week 19: Camouflage

Recently I went over to my mom’s house to take her something and check on her and I saw this little guy hiding in a pipe in one of the bushes. Imagine my surprise when I looked at the pipe and saw a little face looking back at me. My initial thought was, “Hey, that’s a bold move!” My next thought was, “That’s probably not the best place for you to be.” Seeing that really sent me down a rabbit hole of different thoughts.

My first thought was, “Just because it makes you comfortable doesn’t mean it’s exactly where you belong.” Comfort in itself is not a bad thing, but it really does a number on us sometimes. It becomes our excuse for not doing what God has called us to do. We just get too comfortable. It turns into, “I’m good right here, God. I don’t need or want any more responsibilities than what I already have. This is safe, and you know I don’t do anything that requires getting out of my comfort zone.”

My second thought was, “He was able to almost completely blend in with his surroundings.” From an animal’s point of view, it’s probably a matter of survival. For me and you, it can be detrimental in some ways. Are you different than others? I don’t mean weird, I mean set apart. God calls us to be unlike the world at large. Do you dare to be different or do you change your appearance to fit in to whichever environment you’re in at the time? Hopefully you choose to be different.

This week’s scripture:

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬-‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Have a great week!

05/14/2026

Week 18: The Breakthrough

One of the perks of working from home is the ability to go walking during my lunch break. I have just enough time to get to the track, walk my two miles, and get back home. The key is keeping a good pace and not giving up in the heat.

As I was walking, I noticed this little patch of grass that appears to have punched its way up through the pavement. It look like it happened so fast that the pavement was left with a permanent exit wound. That seems weird, right? Grass breaking through the pavement. Doesn’t seem like something that could happen. The grass is soft, and the pavement is pretty hard. So how could grass break through? It probably took time, and the grass didn’t give up.

How many times have we gone through something hard and given up? How many things have we let become excuses as to why we didn’t finish what we set out to do? Would we be so quick to give up if we knew that just on the other side of this struggle is sunlight? Since I was at a track, it really made me think about finishing the race.

Hebrews 12: 1-2 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

You know what sticks out when I read that? The power of choice. It’s on us. What weighs, or worries, do we need to lay down? Anxiety. Stress. Deadlines. Bills. All of those things seem to be commonplace for most of us. The problem is not the presence of these things in our lives, the problem often stems from our response to said things. We give up. We fold. We take our eyes off Jesus. What happens when we do this? We miss opportunities and blessings, either for ourselves or for others.

As you go through this week, focus on your eyes on Jesus and run with endurance. Lean on Him when it gets tough. Choose to be the grass that doesn’t give up, but punches through the pavement to get the prize on the other side.