September 12, 2021
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Hope
| Tags: hope, Biblical hope, God's promises
Biblical hope is the joyful, confident anticipation and expectation of something that is certain; specifically, the joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation. In other words, God wants us to live with confident certainty that He is going to keep his promise to us. ...
Keep Reading
September 12, 2021
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Hope
| Tags: hope, Biblical hope, priest, an anchor
The picture of an anchor points to something that gives stability in times of shaking or trouble. To anchor the soul means that our souls – our heart, our minds, our emotions – have a source of stability. And that source of stability is the hope we have. And this is where we get into the content of that hope: it is a hope that enters into the inner place behind the cur...
Keep Reading
September 12, 2021
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Living Hope
| Tags: joy, living hope, christian faith
The ability to keep your eye on the prize and live in JOY through the midst of trials is an indicator of the purity and the quality of your faith. ...
Keep Reading
September 12, 2021
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Living Hope
| Tags: Christianity, hope, living hope, Salvation
Our salvation is not "manufactured by man" but by God. And the same thing is true of the hope we’re talking about. I’m not encouraging you to start thinking optimistic thoughts; I’m inviting you to step into something GOD has created....
Keep Reading
September 12, 2021
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Living Hope
| Tags: hope, future, living hope, heaven
Another way living hope is described is as a guaranteed future. He points to two dimensions of the guarantee – He keeps an inheritance safe for us, and He protects us so that we can receive the inheritance He has for us....
Keep Reading
January 1, 2021
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: New Year, 2020, 2021, New thinking, new things.
2020 was a hard year. Will 2021 be better? The prophets teach us how to think about the new year. ...
Keep Reading
September 9, 2020
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: Equipping, 2012, Provision, David, resources, Abraham, rescue, more than enough, the God who provides, Jehovah Jireh, YHWH
Feeling beset by enemies inside and out, David reminds us in Psalm 144 that God is the God of all provision, the God of more than enough, the God who provides everything we need to not only survive - but thrive - and to enjoy his blessing....
Keep Reading
September 9, 2020
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: faith, 2012, Win, Joshua, future, advance, strength, courage, forward, Jericho, Moses is dead
We live in an unprecedented time of change; in Joshua 1 we learn principles for moving forward in God's purpose even when the future is uncertain....
Keep Reading
July 1, 2020
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: 2012, Jesus, discipleship, word of God, Mary, Martha, priorities
Mary teaches us by example, and Jesus by his words, of the priority of listening to God....
Keep Reading
July 1, 2020
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Racism
It is not a political statement to affirm that there is no room for racism; this is a non-negotiable tenet of God's kingdom....
Keep Reading
March 24, 2020
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: 2012, Jesus, trials, follow, trust, traps, Good Shepherd, coronavirus, Covid-19
Following Jesus in times of turbulence draws us to trust God more....
Keep Reading
March 5, 2020
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Grace
| Tags: Gospel, 2012, Jesus, Justification, grace, Salvation, God is good
The gospel is more than justification, but it is never less than God's declaration of 'not guilty' to sinners who repent and believe....
Keep Reading
March 5, 2020
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
School of Ministry
| Tags: leaders, training, Equipping, 2020 vision, gospel advance, Europe, Evangelism, Church Planting,
We continue to equip people from across Europe with theological foundations and practical ministry skills to be effective leaders for God's harvest in Europe....
Keep Reading
March 5, 2020
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Grace
To live a life of significance and pleasing to God, Grace is the best coach you will ever have....
Keep Reading
March 5, 2020
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: giving, Generosity, 2012, grace, over-the-top abundance
God gives grace for generous giving....
Keep Reading
March 5, 2020
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: 2012, grace, darkness, goodness, difficulty, challenge, obstacles, pain, God's provision
God's grace not only takes us to the mountain peaks but sustains through times of darkness and difficulty....
Keep Reading
March 5, 2020
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: dream, Church, vision, Destiny, Destined for the throne,
Seeing the dream is the first step to living the dream God has for us....
Keep Reading
March 5, 2020
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: 2012, Jesus, Jerusalem, apostolic Christianity, early church, patterns for today
As Christ's body, we share a vital life-link with Jesus, our head. It is through the gospel and by his Spirit that we come to share in his life....
Keep Reading
January 15, 2020
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: vision, faith, 2012, Perspective, Joshua, 2020, seeing, New Testament Church
As we launch into a new year and a new decade, the Lord offers vision correction to help us see from his perspective....
Keep Reading
January 15, 2020
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: 2012, Power, winning, grace, Good News, new identity
God's grace is more than amazing, more than beautiful, and more than sufficient to accomplish all the good God intends to bring into our lives. It's much, much more than you realised....
Keep Reading
December 12, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: 2012, Christmas, Charles Wesley, Hark the herald angels sing, Christmas carols, reconciliation
This beautiful and familiar hymn by Charles Wesley, amended by George Whitefield, is packed with solid truth to enrich our understanding of Christmas....
Keep Reading
December 11, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: 2012, Jesus, Kingdom, seed, word of God, soil, sower
God's kingdom grows in our lives as his word takes root and bears fruit....
Keep Reading
December 11, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: light, sound, God's worth, truth, freedom, discipleship,
Jesus uses the metaphor of light explain the impact in our lives of hearing God's word well...
Keep Reading
December 11, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: faith, 2012, Jesus, Salvation, storms, invitation, surviving, thriving
Jesus doesn't leave us alone, and he doesn't leave us where we are. He has purpose, destiny, and intention for our lives, but to get there, we have to go through storms....
Keep Reading
December 11, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: faith, 2012, Jesus, Power, restoration, healing, barriers, breakthrough, initiative, proactivity
God invites us to breakthrough the barriers that prevent us from experiencing all the blessing he has for us....
Keep Reading
December 11, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: Ministry, 2012, Jesus, darkness, demons, encounter, mountain top, high, experience, valley
An up and down emotional life can be unhealthy, but there is a kind of up and down rhythm to following Jesus important for living life well....
Keep Reading
December 11, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: 2012, Christ, Messiah, Prophecy, Come thou long-expected Jesus, waiting, Old Testament, fulfilment
God's promises are worth waiting for, but waiting can be hard work. Keeping our eye on the prize makes it easier....
Keep Reading
December 11, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: 2012, Jesus, Lord at his birth, Silent Night, This is Christ the King, the freedom of submission
If we can recognise the identity of the baby born in Bethlehem, we can be rightly aligned to God by enthroning Jesus as our Lord and King....
Keep Reading
October 13, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: faith, 2012, Ukraine, Joshua, future, Ternopil, 25 Years, Promised Land
Like God's people giving thanks for deliverance from Egypt and turning to enter the promised land, we celebrate what God has done but extend our faith for the future God has for us....
Keep Reading
September 25, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: 2012, Jesus, discipleship, poor, beatitudes, happy, hungry, weeping, proud, full, blessed
Jesus inducts his followers into apprenticeship by teaching them to live with eternal perspective....
Keep Reading
September 25, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: 2012, Jesus, discipleship, mercy, Blessing, golden rule, love your enemy, character
Jesus invites us to invite the ways of the kingdom as we represent God to the world....
Keep Reading
September 25, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: 2012, Jesus, love, kindness, mercy, Judging, forgiveness, condemning
Jesus invites us to a beautiful life by understanding the power of reciprocity: what we throw at others comes back to hit us on the head....
Keep Reading
September 25, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: Teaching, hearing, word, obeying, Fruit, doing, Lordship,
Jesus teaches us how to build strong lives that, like well-built structures, don't collapse when storms rage against them....
Keep Reading
September 25, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: faith, 2012, authority, centurion, sickness, servant, healing, marvel
We all like being praised for our accomplishments; Jesus offers us a unique kind of commendation....
Keep Reading
September 25, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: 2012, John the Baptist, demons, gluttony, drunkards, response, Who is Jesus?
It is impossible to have a neutral attitude towards Jesus: either we remain the managing director of our own life, or we recognise him for who he is, and submit to him - the King of kings and the Lord of lords....
Keep Reading
August 14, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: Father, Jesus, sent, Power, holy spirit,
In giving us a mission to go to the ends of the earth with the gospel, Jesus hasn't left us alone: the Holy Spirit empowers us to complete the Father's mission....
Keep Reading
August 14, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: giving, 2012, Father, God, Christ, gift
In a world marked by pain and suffering, God has given us the greatest gift; in Christ, God answers our most fundamental issue....
Keep Reading
August 14, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: Father, party, pharisees, searching, lost, sheep, coin, prodigal son, welcome
God is a father who loves us enough to search until he finds us. And when he finds us, he throws a really big party....
Keep Reading
July 3, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: mission, Outreach, 2012, Jesus, party, pharisees, Levi
It may come as a surprise, but Jesus made a point of going to parties. We may think of Jesus as an emaciated desert wanderer who spoke in chapter and verse, but in truth, he was the hot ticket item in the Galilee social scene. This meant he got party invitations, but when he showed up, it was a party with a difference....
Keep Reading
May 15, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: mission, Go, 2012, Jesus, clarity, identity, crystal clear
To hit the target, we need to know the target. If we listen to Jesus, he's crystal clear on what that target is....
Keep Reading
May 15, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: story, faith, 2012, Destiny, Jesus, Resurrection, God, narrative, belief, easter
When we believe the story of His Son we step into the destiny God created for us....
Keep Reading
May 15, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: 2012, Jesus, Father, Jerusalem, Temple, God, Mary, Joseph, 1st Corinthians
When Jesus finally speaks in Luke's gospel, his first words teach us about his identity....
Keep Reading
May 15, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: 2012, Jesus, John the Baptist, fire, judgement, baptism, repent, repentance, vipers
We can run, but we can't hide; we will all have an encounter with God, and he invites us to get ready....
Keep Reading
April 17, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: Worship, 2012, Jesus, Jerusalem, Palm Sunday
Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem drew praise from his disciples and reminds us that He is worthy of all the praise we can give him...
Keep Reading
April 17, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: mission, 2012, Jesus, Resurrection, easter
The resurrection of Jesus marks the launch of his mission to the world. ...
Keep Reading
April 17, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: 2012, Jesus, Jerusalem, Temple, future, Mary, Joseph, Anna, Simeon
By building our lives on the promises of God we are positioned for the future - whatever it brings....
Keep Reading
April 17, 2019
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Christmas
The manger of Jesus' birth illustrates the extremes God went to for our salvation: He identified with our poverty that we might share his glory....
Keep Reading
April 17, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: 2012, Zechariah, John the Baptist, Prophecy, Dedication
Word's spoken by John's father at his dedication give us insight into an amazing destiny - both his and ours...
Keep Reading
April 17, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: Mary, Elizabeth, faith, Destiny, Gratitude,
The fellowship of faith sparks songs of faith that empower a life of faith....
Keep Reading
March 13, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: Jesus, Mary, faith, believe, God, the Holy Spirit,
Jesus teaches us that 'all things are possible for him who believes'; the circumstances surrounding his birth illustrate this...
Keep Reading
March 13, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: faith, 2012, Destiny, Jesus, John, Gabriel, Zechariah
Zechariah and Elizabeth were both faithful and fruitless; God fulfilled their personal dreams for his big picture purposes....
Keep Reading
March 13, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: faith, Gospel, 2012, Jesus, Luke, trust, confidence, doubt, reliable
We live in an age in which skepticism is applauded; the Lord invites us to trust him fully....
Keep Reading
February 20, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: mission, faith, 2012, Destiny, purpose, Abraham
From Abraham we learn that we can trust God even when we don't know how things are going to turn out....
Keep Reading
February 20, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: faith, 2012, Jesus, Life, details, Walking, mundane, Enoch
How do we walk with God on a daily basis? Lessons from Adam, Enoch, and Jesus help us enjoy the Lord in the mundane details of life....
Keep Reading
February 20, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: faith, 2012, perseverance, faithfulness, Noah, culture, society
The life of faith is not just floating downstream, it is a swim of destiny against a cultural flow perpetually pushing against us. But it's worth it....
Keep Reading
February 20, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: Eternity, substance, Abraham, faith, God's promise,
Abraham's life was rooted in God's promise even when we lived as man without roots; by inhabiting God's promises, our lives become marked with the substance of eternity....
Keep Reading
February 20, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: faith, 2012, Jesus, Eternity, faithfulness, promises, heroes, others, eyes on the prize
Faith and faithfulness in following Jesus produces more than victorious outcomes, it also sustains us victoriously through moments of darkness and challenging circumstances....
Keep Reading
January 13, 2019
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Vision
In Revelation 21:1-4, we read about God's ultimate vision for the universe: there will be new heaven, a new earth, and most beautifully, death will be abolished. That is, Christ will destroy all the destruction unleashed by Adam and Eve. It is the plan, the mission of Jesus to accomplish a full restoration of reality to God's original intention.
A vision is a statement of...
Keep Reading
January 13, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: faith, 2012, Jesus, patience, God, trust, endurance, confidence
By keeping our eyes on Jesus, we can endure the difficulties of life and thrive in faith....
Keep Reading
January 13, 2019
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: faith, purpose, Destiny, future, 2019,
God invites us to extend faith to experience his presence and walk in his purposes in 2019....
Keep Reading
December 19, 2018
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: 2012, Jesus, faithful, Christmas, Son of David, Son of Abraham, Promises of God
God in Christ gave a gift that not only answered the need of those alive when he was born, but a gift that had been promised many centuries before, a gift we need today more than ever before....
Keep Reading
December 19, 2018
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: 2012, Jesus, 14, fourteen, Christmas, Matthew, Son of David, math
Mathew's introduction to the Christmas story makes one big point: it all adds up to Christ....
Keep Reading
December 19, 2018
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: 2012, Jesus, Sin, Ruth, David, Christmas, Tamar, Rahab, Bathsheba, Mary, party
Matthew intentionally places women in the genealogy of Jesus to highlight the fact that everyone is invited to God's BIG BIG Party....
Keep Reading
December 19, 2018
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: 2012, Jesus, Immanuel, Mary, Joseph, Virgin, birth, God with us, presence of God
God has always been with his people; in Christ, God is with us in a unique, personal way....
Keep Reading
November 12, 2018
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: 2012, building, get it done, ministry training centre, touching Europe with the gospel
The Lord uses the proactive participation of his people to build his purposes on planet earth....
Keep Reading
November 12, 2018
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: mission, Paul, Refreshing, 2012, holy spirit, Europe, Spain, encouragement, God's people, Spirit of the Lord
Our Lord promises to restore our souls with green pastures and still waters: He also refreshes us with his people....
Keep Reading
November 12, 2018
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: mission, Italy, gospel advance, Ukraine, Mestre, Venice,
The Lord is moving across Europe - out of Ukraine!...
Keep Reading
October 24, 2018
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: prophesy, discouragement, encouragement, Power, 2012
Few forces are as powerful for the human soul as encouragement. We need encouragement because we are highly susceptible to discouragement. How can we win the battle over discouragement?...
Keep Reading
October 24, 2018
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: friendship, Jesus, Salvation, word of God, people of God, mission of God,
What does it mean to be a friend of God? Thankfully, Jesus doesn't leave us in the dark; he explains in clear detail all that's involved in friendship with him....
Keep Reading
October 24, 2018
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: 2012, Destiny, darkness, purpose, esther, intention
Do you ever feel like you're caught up in circumstances way too big for you? That's when we need to remember that God has wrapped our lives with purpose and destiny....
Keep Reading
September 12, 2018
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: renewing the mind, post-Christian, Daniel, Babylon, thoughts, United States, 2012
How does our thought life determine our destiny? How do we live faithfully as God's people in a society whose reality excludes his relevance? Daniel's example in Babylon teaches us how to think correctly and live faithfully in a society increasingly out of step with God's Word....
Keep Reading
September 12, 2018
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: God's faithfulness, God's presence, trouble, difficulty, fiery trials, Abednego, Meshach, Shadrach, Nebuchadnezzar, 2012
When we walk through fiery tests and trials, we're not alone - the Lord is right there with us....
Keep Reading
September 12, 2018
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: return of Christ, end times, end, Salvation, Kingdom of God, 2012
As we look at the world without and the world within, we often have the feeling that things are not as they should be. The good news is that God promises to fix it all, abolish evil, and establish righteousness....
Keep Reading
August 16, 2018
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: mission, vision, Team, 2012, Victory, Calling, purpose, championship
God builds us together into a championship team to fulfil his purpose on the earth today....
Keep Reading
August 16, 2018
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: mission, Praise, 2012, purpose, prosperity, flourishing, connection, God's people
God wants you to prosper. But what does that look like? What does it take? The Lord invites us to a life of flourishing, planted in his house with his people...
Keep Reading
July 26, 2018
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: 2012, Ukraine, Europe, missions, small beginnings, Lviv, Dean Simpson, Dnister hotel
God excels in accomplishing big things from small beginnings. What began with a tiny outreach in L'viv is now bearing fruit all over Europe....
Keep Reading
May 30, 2018
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: Spirit, 2012, Power, Promise, calamity, Joel, goodness
God's promise to Joel that he would pour out his Spirit was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost in powerful way....
Keep Reading
May 23, 2018
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: mission, 2012, peace, Kingdom of God, anxiety, worry, trust
What would it look like to be filled with an abundance of peace? Jesus invites us to live anxiety-free lives while pursuing the kingdom of God....
Keep Reading
May 23, 2018
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: 2012, Kingdom, talent, faithfulness, stewardship, resources
We all have something, and if we use what we've got, we feel fulfilled, but more importantly, the kingdom of God advances....
Keep Reading
May 7, 2018
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: Israel, 2012, Palestine, Jews, secularism, diversity, spiritual need
CBU just had an amazing 10 days of Bible study and spiritual refreshment in Israel. If we are wiling to leave the tourist trail, we discover that Israel is not a monolithic bloc of orthodox Jews but a diverse nation in need of spiritual awakening....
Keep Reading
March 18, 2018
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: Jesus, Resurrection, guarantee, victory.
It's one thing to guarantee a victory in football. It's another thing to guarantee a resurrection. ...
Keep Reading
March 14, 2018
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: 2012, fear, Elijah, Jezebel, failure, caves
Kings 17 and 18 tells the story of Elijah's confrontation with Ahab. When Elijah announced, 'it's not going to rain until I say so, he wasn't simply making weather predictions; he was asserting God's authority, declaring that God is really God, and reminding the Israelites that wannabe-false-pretender-not really god they were worshipping wasn't. Elijah's victory, however,...
Keep Reading
February 14, 2018
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: 2012, Jesus, Church, building, house, great
When the Queen of Sheba visited Solomon and saw his house, she thought, 'Solomon's great!' When people encounter us, we want them to think, 'God's great!'...
Keep Reading
December 13, 2017
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: Paul, 2012, Jesus, David, Messiah, Christmas, Matthew, Son of David
The gratitude of Thanksgiving quickly turns to the anticipation of Christmas; as we approach the celebration of the Incarnation, deep appreciation for God’s incredible mercy fills our hearts. I have been reflecting on the introduction to the Christmas story in Matthew, with Acts, and 2nd Samuel informing this text....
Keep Reading
December 13, 2017
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: 2012, Jesus, Kingdom, David, Messiah, throne, Mathew, Maths, 14, fourteen
Mathew's introduction to the Christmas story makes one big point: it all adds up to Christ....
Keep Reading
December 13, 2017
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: 2012, Jesus, present, Immanuel, Watchmaker, Christmas, coming, presence
In one of her biggest hit songs, Bette Midler sings that God is watching us from a distance. It's a beautiful song, except that it's not true. God's not watching from a distance; he is personally engaged in the details of our lives....
Keep Reading
November 13, 2017
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: mission, Gospel, 2012, Jesus, future, past, present, transfiguration
As the nights grow from cool to cold we bask in the glory of our great God. I'm so excited about what the Lord is doing with and through CBU, and I am so encouraged by our partnership together. We just had an amazing time together at our November Gathering in Ridgecrest; when we get together, we generate a world-changing faith. For those of you missed our November Gatherin...
Keep Reading
November 7, 2017
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: foundations, follow, faithful, CBU, Jesus, 2012, focus
Faithfully following Jesus means faithfully passing on to others what he has entrusted to us....
Keep Reading
November 7, 2017
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: mission, 2012, Jesus, Peter, purpose, Elijah, Moses, the Father, James, John, tabernacles, listen
By unveiling the glory of Jesus, the Father got the attention of the disciples so they would listen to him....
Keep Reading
October 18, 2017
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: 2012, Christ, identity, raised with him, eagles, turkeys
God seats us in Christ in the heavenly places, but we often forget who we are and spend our time pecking around with an earth-based perspective....
Keep Reading
July 15, 2017
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: Jesus, glory, God, harvest, labour, mission,
Jesus came to show us the remarkable glory of God....
Keep Reading
June 14, 2017
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Following Jesus
| Tags: faith, 2012, Jesus, discipleship, follow, believe, start, being a Christian
Someone exploring the Christian faith recently asked me: 'What does it mean to follow Jesus - practically - on a day to day basis?' That's a great question - and here's my answer....
Keep Reading
June 14, 2017
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Harvest
| Tags: mission, 2012, Jesus, Salvation, harvest, God's purpose, work
Jesus is continually inviting us to partner with Him in the Father's harvest, even when it doesn't seem like it is the opportune time....
Keep Reading
May 17, 2017
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Faith
| Tags: mission, faith, 2012, Joshua, strength, courage, fear, intimidation, encouragement
Have you ever faced a moment of genuine intimidation? Have you ever been gripped with fear to the degree that you were paralysed - unable to move? This is what Joshua felt as he stood at the threshold of his moment of destiny....
Keep Reading
April 26, 2017
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
wedding
| Tags: Gospel, 2012, Julia Jackson, Kazuyoshi Matsumoto, Nagoya, Japan, wedding, marriage, father of the bride
Weddings happen all over the world, every day. But it's not every day that my own daughter gets married. We just returned from Nagoya, Japan, where my oldest daughter Julia married Kazuyoshi Matsumoto. Here's the story behind the story, followed by some reflections from a fatherly perspective. ...
Keep Reading
March 27, 2017
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Easter
| Tags: mission, 2012, Victory, Jesus, Resurrection, Life, Europe, easter, ascension, Brexit
It’s that time of year when we get to hit the pause button from everything else going on ...
Keep Reading
March 22, 2017
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Update
| Tags: Gospel, 2012, Ukraine, Europe, curriculum, leadership training
A common response to the question, 'How's it going?' is 'Busy!'. And while it's true that we can be too busy, I often respond by saying, 'Better busy than bored!'. And while that's also true, there is something that's even better than being busy - and that is being blessed. In reflecting on what we've been up to, we've been busy ... but we're blessed!...
Keep Reading
March 22, 2017
by Tom Jackson
| Tags: holy spirit, Power, hope, March, Wind, Gospel, Europe,
The active presence of the Holy Spirit is not something God intended to be limited to the early church; this is also our inheritance in Christ....
Keep Reading
February 22, 2017
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Theology
Recently an episode in Scotland reminded us about the need to be clear: there is only one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ...
Keep Reading
February 22, 2017
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Ukraine
Who pastors the pastors? I was recently meeting with our pastors in Ukraine, encouraging them in their rewarding but demanding task of gospel ministry in Ukraine....
Keep Reading
January 18, 2017
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Mission
As great as the past was, God is calling us forward to the future. But the future God has for us is rooted in what he has already done as described in the Bible....
Keep Reading
December 15, 2016
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Year End Review
| Tags: mission, vision, faith, Scotland, Nations, 2012, Ukraine, Provision, future, 2016, 2017, past, thanks, copenhagen
Imagine a generous husband who gets a big bonus and decides to buy his wife a diamond ring for Christmas. It comes in small package, and when she opens it, she admires it, thanks him, but then sets it to the side. In the midst of all the Christmas-day chaos, the small but valuable diamond ring gets knocked off the end table, covered in Christmas paper, and lost.
...
Keep Reading
December 15, 2016
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Vision
| Tags: vision, faith, 2012, New Year, 2017
As we prepare to enter the New Year, our focus on being faithful with the gospel is more important than ever. I was recently chatting with my dad about the impact CBU has had over the decades since our first conference in 1974. Thousands have been touched, but it has been for a purpose. ...
Keep Reading
November 15, 2016
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Current Events
| Tags: Gospel, 2012, God, election, Trump, Donald Trump, Hillary, America, United States, White House, Government, Jesus Christ, Lord
Our nation is still processing the results of the recent election. As Christians, it is important to allow the Bible to frame not only how we think about this election, but how we position ourselves in a nation that desperately needs healing. For believers, the mission of God has to be the over-riding concern that governs our lives. ...
Keep Reading
September 29, 2016
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Vision
| Tags: 2012, Jesus, God, election, transition, change, turmoil, solid, permanent, strong, faithful
We live in turbulent times of significant transition. How do we navigate these moments?...
Keep Reading
June 17, 2015
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Vision
| Tags: Gospel, 2012, Church Planting, Ukraine, Growth, Spain, seed
Sometimes a small seed planted grows into something big - and grows into unexpected places....
Keep Reading
June 10, 2015
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Vision
| Tags: people, 2012, Destiny, Provision, CBU, Jordan, future, place, purpose
Every generation has the 'cross the Jordan' to enter the place, purpose, and provision God has for it....
Keep Reading
August 28, 2013
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Wednesday Meditation
| Tags: faith, vision, future, work of God, restoration.
Restoration is a hard thing to believe. Can the future be better than the past? That's what God's people in Jerusalem were wondering. ...
Keep Reading
May 8, 2013
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Tom's Take
| Tags: faith, 2012, Provision, God, storms, trials, perseverance, safety
How do we navigate the storms that hit us as we follow Jesus? Several stories in the Bible point us in the right direction....
Keep Reading
January 10, 2012
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Tom's Take
| Tags: Growth, Maturity, Christian, Believers, Gospel, Father, 2012
What does maturity look like? How do we grow up in Christ? There are a few power verses that give us an answer. ...
Keep Reading
January 7, 2012
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Tom's Take
| Tags: Power, Pentecost, Prayer, Proclamation, Preaching, Church Planting, Ukraine, Soviet Union, Russia, Baptist, 2012
God gives us the power of the Holy Spirit to make us effective witnesses. The compelling story of Ivan Vornaev show's God's power in action. ...
Keep Reading
January 5, 2012
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Tom's Take
| Tags: Prayer, Power, Proclamation, Promise, Progress, Gospel, Jesus, Acts, Apostles, 2012
The Book of Acts describes an Apostolic Paradigm for Gospel Progress. We need the Power of the Holy Spirit - And More....
Keep Reading
January 3, 2012
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Tom's Take
| Tags: Seeking God, Worshipping Jesus, Wise Men, faith, 2012
A Power Promise: Enjoy the reward of Seeking God in 2012...
Keep Reading
January 1, 2012
by Tom Jackson
|
Category:
Tom's Take
| Tags: NewYear, 2012, Victory, faith, BestisYettoCome, vision, mission, Calling, Destiny
As we start a new year, we start with the faith that God has great things in store for us....
Keep Reading