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 with what Jesus and the Apostles later preached.  

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 "blueprint" for the Church today.  

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 to this series on the unique calling and apostleship of Paul!   

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!

When I look at Medieval society (500 AD to c.1400 AD) I see four basic classes of people.  I see the same classes of people today.  Who are they, and what are their characteristics?  

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 good and lasting change in your life, just like he did for me.  Stay tuned; there is more than just one episode in this story.