Are Men Happier Than Women?

We recently celebrated Mother’s Day. Right around the corner is Father’s Day (June 17). I thought I would share something funny with you about men. Thanks Marcus for passing this onto me...


“Men Are Just Happier People -- What do you expect from such simple creatures?

Your last name stays put. The garage is all yours. Wedding plans take care of themselves. Chocolate is just another snack. You can never be pregnant. You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park. You can wear NO shirt to a water park. You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky. Wrinkles add character. Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental-$100. New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet. Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat. You know stuff about tanks. A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase. You can open all your own jars. You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness. If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend. Three pairs of shoes are more than enough. You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes. The same hairstyle lasts for years, even decades. You only have to shave your face and neck. You can play with toys all your life. One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons. You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.”


Laugh a little today and thank God for the men in your life!


Loving and Leading,


Jeff Powell

Small Things Can Lead To Large Things

I recently read a book about the Butterfly Effect. The idea is that theoretically the flap of a butterfly’s wings has the potential to create such movement in the air that a hurricane could be formed from the effect of the butterfly’s wings. The idea is about cause and effect. The slightest move that we as humans make, has the potential to make a difference in our lives. It ultimately is all about decisions. A decision to drive down a particular road could determine the difference between safety and death. A decision to engage in a simple conversation or not to engage with a person of the opposite sex could determine your marital status. A decision to eat a certain kind of food could potentially determine a life of health or sickness. A decision to accept Jesus or not to accept Him determines eternity in Heaven or Hell. So what can we do to make better decisions? 1) Be Mindful - God has given you a mind and the ability to think. He has also given each one of us this thing we call a conscience. If we are honest, most of the time we KNOW deep down the decisions we need to make. 2) Pray - Ask God’s perspective. The life He envisioned for us was one of constant communion with Him - that is why the Bible says, “pray without ceasing.” It is more of an attitude and mindset that remains connected to God. 3) Live and Learn - No one gets is right all the time. Some decisions will be good, others not so good. No one can change the past. All we can do is live AND learn from our living so that we make better decisions in the future!
Loving and Leading,
Jeff Powell

Real Encounter Lessons

Two weeks after the Real Encounter BMX team was here, I am still amazed at the stunts and tricks that were done. As I watched these professionals do their stunts, I was in awe of their gravity defying abilities and balance.

Here are some of my take-aways from that event two weeks ago... 1) FOCUS - Those guys were incredibly focused on what to do and what not to do. You think life would be a little better if we focused more on the essentials and less on the non-essentials? I think so. 2) BALANCE - Regardless of if it was a bike (with brakes or without) or a motorcycle, those guys had incredible balance of their body and the bike or motorcycle they were on. How about your life? Is it balanced? What do you need to let go of or what do you need to embrace to be more balanced in life? 3) MOTIVATION - Each person on that team really enjoyed what they were doing and it was this enjoyment that in part motivated them to do what they did. It is no different with us. What are the ways that God has uniquely made you? What are your interests? What moves you to action? 4) PURPOSE - They do not do what they do just for fun. They don’t do it for money. They don’t do it for the applause of the crowd. They do what they do so that they will have the opportunity to share the love of Jesus with others. The stunts, speed, and tricks serve a much greater purpose - to let Jesus shine! Guess what? It is no different with us. God wants to use everything in our lives as a platform to share the love of Jesus with others.

How has God been using your platform lately?

Loving and Leading,
Jeff Powell

Having FUN!

Jeff Hessinger from the Florida Baptist Convention was welcoming 100+ students in our worship center. He said something to the affect of “this day has never been and when it is over it will never be again.” He then prayed that we would embrace what God had for us that day. WOW! I absolutely love that perspective. Today is a new day that has never been and will never be again.

What does that mean? It means that there will be new opportunities and experiences that have never been before. It also means that when the day is over, it is over. The joys, sorrows, trials, tribulations, or triumphs of this day; when it is over, it is over, never to be repeated again!

Last Sunday, Jane and I took the kids out on our boat on the Suwannee River. We made our way up to Troy Springs. Midway up the spring, there is a rock ledge that the water flows over. Underneath the water and rock ledge is a tunnel that goes about 12 feet from one end to the other. Tyler and Austin decided to make a go for it. They had such FUN holding their breath and swimming through this tunnel and then being shot out the other side by the force of the water. Well that was not good enough. Tyler decided that I needed to do it. After much prodding, I decided “why not?” Besides this day has never been and it will never be again. So I took the plunge and made it through the tunnel. Jane saw all of this and decided to take the plunge through the tunnel. Later in the boat Jane said “that was exhilarating!” I could only agree and reflect on the fact that this day had never been and never would be again.

Do something new today that you have never done before. You just might like it!

Loving and Leading,
Jeff Powell

Digging Holes

Creativity runs my home, especially among my 4 children. Several weeks ago, Austin (age 8) decided to dig a really large hole in a part of our backyard. I must say, I was impressed with the size and depth of the hole he dug. Big brother, Tyler (age 15) then got involved and had the idea of digging a tunnel into the wall of one side of the hole. Both Austin and Tyler were a good ways in when I got involved. I added to the tunnel idea and gave them the idea of creating a cavern at the base of the tunnel. The three of us had such fun digging and when it was all done, I could crawl down the tunnel and sit in the cavern we had created. Jane was not too impressed! For days this provided much SUPERVISED fun for Austin. Finally we collapsed the tunnel and cavern leaving a giant hole in the ground. This then remained for several more weeks until we decided to fill the hole back in. What a job - it took 3 of us to do it!

Later that night I was reflecting on Austin’s hole in the ground and an analogy came to me. Austin dug the hole with relative ease all by himself, but filling the hole required the help of others. In the same way, we can “dig” ourselves into holes by the things we do and say without much effort. The hard part is filling in the holes we have created. Think about sin for a moment. It is relatively easy to dig a big hole of sin in our lives, but we can never fill it back in without the help of Jesus.

What holes have you dug recently in your life? Are you trying to fill them back in by yourself? Do you need to allow Jesus or one of His children to help? Just food for thought!

Loving and Leading,
Jeff Powell