JTalkin'

If the Kingdom of God in the Old Testament and the Four Gospels was primarily about a physical, literal kingdom upon the earth with a restored Israel at its center, and the earth restored to its Eden-like beginnings, then how does the Apostle Paul tell us in his epistles that we the Church are a part of this Kingdom?  Something doesn't "compute".... or does it?  

John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Apostles all told people to get ready for something called "the Kingdom of God."  But what was it?  Some new thing starting with John the Baptist's preaching?  No.  It was predicted in the Old Testament for centuries.  Come with me for a brief journey through the Old Testament to see what God predicted for Israel and the nations, and how this fits wi...

As Christians we either go back to Peter and Pentecost and a program that is not for us today (and wind up in frustration and failure), or we go on to the later revelation from Paul for the Church today.  Please listen to why we need to listen to what God revealed to the Apostle Paul to the other apostles in Ephesians 3.  This revelation from Jesus Christ, contained in Paul's epistles, is our...

Why Paul?  God couldn't get it done with the 12 apostles?  Why is he the author of half the New Testament?  How is he the "missing piece of the puzzle" that explains what happened to Israel in the New Testament?  Once we see that Paul is raised up as a new apostle with a new message for a new assembly with a new destiny, a lot of the confusion in the Bible will clear up.  Listen in...

I have heard a lot about the so-called "New Apostolic Reformation" and self-proclaimed apostles walking around and giving out new revelation and performing miracles.  But do they measure up to what the Bible says?  Stick around and find out from Dr. J today!

Some people think of themselves as victims, as prisoners, as hopeless waifs.  Change the metaphor in your life.  Instead of thinking of yourself as a slave or peasant or tyrant, think of yourself as a freeman.  Dr. J breaks down for us what it means to be a freeman in today's culture.  

Remember the true story of Jim Jones and how his 900 followers drank cyanide-laced grape Kool-aid?  If his followers had only seen in the Bible how to spot false prophets, they may have escaped.  The Bible gives us clear direction on how to detect these hucksters...by what they say...and by what they do.  Tune in so you can see through these counterfeits!

On the way to ballet, my ten year old wanted me to tell her a story.  Of course I only told her true stories of great courage and determination.  The Battle of Midway is one of those stories to remind us all that it is always too soon to give up, and to never doubt that there is a God.  

Have you ever been betrayed?  I have.  Several times in fact!  How do you deal with the pain of betrayal?  There is a way forward.  I hope you are encouraged by my story today.  

I grew up in a household of screaming and yelling, chaos and addictions.  It was not "Leave It to Beaver" or "Father Knows Best."  But God used two things to motivate me to change my life at a young age:  pain and hatred.  (Later he added two other emotions:  love and gratitude, but we'll talk about that later.)  He can take the pain and the hatred you feel today to make a...

I was talking to a young man (he's in the fourth grade) and he asked me what I thought about George Washington.  Here are five things I think he could learn from the Father of Our Country:  courage, ambition, seriousness, self-control, and integrity.  In our self-made "crisis of masculinity" these days, George Washington is still a wonderful real man for boys to imitate!

"Stand your ground, don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here."  The immortal words of American patriot, Captain John Parker as he stood on Lexington green that morning that heard "the shot heard 'round the world."  What lessons do we learn from this clash between the might of the British Crown, and American farmers?  Plenty!  Tun...

I encountered a young mom with a snarling four year old hellion who was running around a McDonalds and refusing to put on his jacket.  She was exhausted, clueless as to what to do, and pleading with her little child to cooperate.  Raising children doesn't have to end up with out of control brats running your life.  She asked me what to do, and I offered her the following advice...

If you or your family member or any innocent person is being physically assaulted, what is the righteous, godly thing to do?  Does God want us to be totally pacifistic?  Or can we use violence to stop the attack?  How should we handle "thou shalt not kill" and "turn the other cheek" in a deadly and evil fallen world?  

What do you do when you are in your late 50s, lost your home, lost your income, lost the fight you've been in for the last four years, and you still have to take care of your arthritic wife who is wheel-chair bound?  Listen to this true and encouraging story of courage, compassion, mercy, reconciliation, and wisdom from American history.  

I've gone to several evangelical Protestant churches in the past year, mostly because I am searching for one to attend regularly.  Here are a few observations about what I've found recently.  

In the past year I have heard a number of pastors preach sermons.  Some really connect with their flock and leave a message that impacts the heart.  Others don't.  What is a "missing ingredient" in some of these messages?  Here are just a few musings from a retired preacher.

The amazing life of Chamberlain continues to the trenches around Petersburg.  What would you do if you were shot through both hips while leading a charge of thousands of men?  Listen to what Chamberlain did, and be inspired!  

I really believe in giving our kids real flesh and blood heroes.  Here is an American hero we can all be proud of.  When the chips were down, and no one was coming to rescue them, Chamberlain did the right thing, the courageous thing. 

How well do you know George Washington?  He was not the "marble man" staring at you from the one dollar bill.  He was a man of enormous courage, faith, and perseverance.  Listen to these two episodes from his life in 1776, and be encouraged by lessons we can learn from his life!

What do 2 Chronicles 20:12 and the Story of Dunkirk have in common?  Tune in and find out (and be encouraged today)!

If you want to challenge your thinking, strengthen your mind, expand your vocabulary and your horizons, read widely!  Here is a good list of some good reads to feed and train your brain!!

To feed your mind great thoughts, we really need to know the great thoughts of the Reformation and the Enlightenment era...whether we agree with them or not.  Enjoy this short list of great literature (which still effects our world today).  

 Do you take care of your body?  I hope so!  Well, we need to take care of our mind too!  Just like we feed and exercise our body, we need to do the same for our mind.  Read widely.  Learn from the amazing facts and fiction of ancient literature.  You might be surprised at how exciting and thoughtful and encouraging people in the ancient world were.  And you'll be the richer for reading some...

Western Civilization did not just pop up out of the ground one day 200 years ago.  The seeds were germinating in the 1000 year period between the fall of Rome and the beginnings of America.  Dr. J provides a short reading list to understand what people were experiencing and thinking back then, and how their thoughts are still impacting us today!