Someone came up to me and said, “Hey Pastor Rod. My friend who doesn’t attend New Hope but knows of you, said he saw you running and you were smiling. What’s so fun about running – does he always smile?” “I told him…yeah, he’s always smiling at church!”Wrong answer! No, I’m not always smiling – [...]

Here’s a DEFINITION: Refusing to change one’s ideas, behavior, etc.; stubborn; obstinate.
“You cannot be a pervicacious leader Rod, and expect to be an effective team player!”
When sitting amongst a round table of great leaders in the Midwest, I had to learn to be more tolerant of “Dumb” ideas. What was dumb to me was an [...]

Developing Strength in GOD
Ephesians 5
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
O
In his closing remarks to the disciples of Ephesus, Paul writes of specific ways to live successfully as Christians. He parallels dressing with armor for war with spiritual armor because he realizes that as Christ followers, we are all in [...]

Hard Head – Hard Heart
Romans 2
5But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.
O
There were flailing Christians who exchanged their fatih for their “fleshly” sinful cravings. They are reminded that there’s a bigger picture [...]

It’s incredible how much we can accomplish and do, with productive and fruitful results when we are healthy.
There’s no magic potion or pill you can take to handle and do more in life.
In my life, I’m learning to:
• Live out my God given passions.
• Discipline my spiritual, emotional, mental and physical health.
• [...]