New Year’s resolutions are easy to make but hard to keep. According to Forbes magazine, 40% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions. That is more people than watch the Super Bowl each year. University of Scranton research revealed that only 8% of those making resolutions actually follow through. Most of us make good resolutions. Think Continue reading

This morning I encountered a birth announcement that spurred my thinking. From the Andalusia Star News: “Summer and Steven Steele of Andalusia announce the birth of their daughter, Krimson Tyde Steele. She weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces and was 20 inches long when she made her appearance at Andalusia Regional Hospital. Her maternal grandparents are Continue reading

Our church does not traditionally have a Christmas Eve service. We have encouraged families to find time to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. With that in mind, I want to share with you a simple family Christmas Eve devotion that you can use. Depending on whether you have children at home or not, you Continue reading

The story of Jesus’ birth most fully revealed in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. John takes a more theological approach which would reach both a Greek and Hebrew audience. When we read Mark’s gospel, however, it appears that he has simply glossed over the whole thing. There is nothing of Mary, Joseph or Bethlehem, Continue reading

It seems both perfect and far-fetched. An article from National Journal talked about a developing technology that would allow naval vessels to refuel at sea. “There’s nothing new about that,” you might say. “Tankers have pulled alongside ships for refueling for decades.” That’s true, but this article revealed that this new breed of ships would Continue reading

Growing up, I was a fat kid with horn-rimmed glasses. In other words, I was picked on, called names, and invited to fight more than once. I had teachers I liked and some I didn’t like very much at all. I also grew up with access to guns and ammo. The key to the gun Continue reading

Sometime during this Christmas season you’ll probably hear the story of the shepherds and the angels recorded in Luke 2. The story begins like this: “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Continue reading

The following is the text (not the transcript) of the message preached by Pastor Jimmy A. Long at Grace Fellowship in Greensboro, Georgia, on Sunday, December 1, 2013. I’ve never been to Hawaii. It has been described as a paradise, and the pictures certainly make it look like one. Near the middle of the Hawaiian Continue reading