Links of the Week:

George Fox Evangelical Seminary

God's Penman

The writing ministry of James Snyder.  You may have read his biography of A.W. Tozer (if not, you should)! Here you can find some of his other writings and books

God's Penman

The Internet Archive
An archive of the internet as it used to be.  Check out www.pastorjeff.com and see the webpage as it used to be (or any other website).

The Internet Archive

Past Links of the Week:

fusemagazine.net

Where art and faith intersect

servantevangelism.com

Touch your community with the love of Christ.

Renovare

Richard Foster's Ministry Calling Us to Deepen Our Walk with Christ through Spiritual Disciplines

Dallas Willard
One of my Favorite Authors.  Read, think deeply and be challenged to a deeper life with Christ.

DickStaub.com
Cultural analysis, quotes, interviews and other good stuff.

Other Websites that have won the prestigious honor of being Pastor Jeff's Link of the Week

Other Links Worth Checking Out



 





Welcome to Pastor Jeff's Neighborhood

Today's Devotional:
I'm Bored

Today’s Scripture Readings:
Psalms 97:7-12
Ecclesiastes 1:1 – 3:22
2 Corinthians 6:1-13
Proverbs 22:15


Today’s Scripture Focus: Ecclesiastes 1:1 -- 3:22

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher “Utterly Meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”  “All things are wearisome; more than one can say, The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing.” (Eccl. 1:2,8)


The Teacher (Who sounds a lot like Solomon in the life situation presented) is bored.  “Everything is meaningless (literally: a puff of wind)”  “All things are wearisome.”  He’s tried stimulating every one of his senses with the best life could offer.  Where did it take him? Nowhere.  He was bored.

In these chapters, he describes a search for meaning in life through education, money and possessions, power, position, relationships (hundreds of them—the most beautiful women of all the earth), and the pursuit of pleasure.  He had it all, by the world’s standards, and still he felt that he was coming up short.

Somehow, he knew that there must be more to life than hedonism and materialism.  Ecclesiastes is about that pursuit for life’s meaning and purpose.  It’s about the dead end of trying to live life “under the sun”—in the pursuit of money, pleasure and things.  If it seems a little hopeless at times, perhaps that is because life lived that way is hopeless, meaningless and indeed, boring.

But the Teacher points us to another way of life—a way worth pursuing: “To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness,” (2:26).  Where is purpose and meaning in life to be found? Pleasing God.  All other pursuits only lead to a dead end.  Pleasing God brings wisdom, knowledge and happiness.

Many of us (even Christians who should know better) live as the Teacher did, pursuing life’s meaning and purpose through the pursuit of money, pleasure and things.  Perhaps we haven’t gone done that road far enough yet to realize that it is a path that goes nowhere.  But the Teacher had tried it and found it a journey that leads to meaningless and hopelessness.  We do well to heed his words and seek the wisdom, knowledge and happiness of pleasing God.

With Joy,
Pastor Jeff

Tomorrow’s Scripture Readings:
Psalm 98:1-9
Ecclesiastes 4:1 – 6:12
2 Corinthians 6:14- 7:7
Proverbs 22:16



Copyright 2003 by Jeffrey R. Syverson.  Feel free to share with others but give credit where it is due.

Devotionals Copyright 2003-2006 and edited 2006 by Jeffrey R. Syverson.  Feel free to share with others but give credit where it is due.


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Won't You Be My Neighbor?

Quote of the Week:


"God did not give us the Scriptures to increase our knowledge, but to change our lives."
 

--D.L. Moody--

More Quotes

A.W. Tozer Quote of the Week:

"I want the presence of God Himself, or I don't want anything at all to do with religion...I want all that God has or I don't want any." 

The Counselor, 40.

More Tozer Quotes

Armin Gesswein Quote:

“Prayer is not only the shortest distance to God’s mighty throne, it is the only way in.”

More Quotes by Armin Gesswein

Philippines

Pictures from Pastor Jeff's Trips to the Philippines

Pictures from Pastor Jeff and Malou's Engagement Party in the Philippines (April 2003)engagemeny party

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Websites of Some of my Neighbors.  These are places you must visit (and say hi from Pastor Jeff while you are there):

New Hope Ministries
sackcloth2joy
Kim Hager
Chilly World
Senior Square
Heart of the City
College of Prayer at Beulah Beach

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This Week's Neighborhood News:

Pastor Jeff marries Malou at Faith Alliance Church April 3, 2004

Wedding

More Pictures Coming Soon

More Neighborhood News



Spirit And Sky 
Leading Site Award 2004

Drama Share's Exceptional Christian Website Award (8/25/2000) 
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Remarkable Site of the Moment August 1999



Our Statement of Purpose:

"The church is bursting at the seams with rationality, decency, order, dignity, and predictability.  What it needs is the holy intoxications of foolishness, humor, craziness, outrageousness, creative disorder, and passion."
Leonard Sweet, Soul Tsunami, 82



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