Author Archives: pastorjeffsneighborhood

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About pastorjeffsneighborhood

Born and raised in Minnesota, I have served in churches in Minnesota, Ohio, Oregon and California. I am a graduate of Crown College (MN) and George Fox Evangelical Seminary (OR). I have also done additional graduate studies in New Testament Studies at the Center for Advanced Theological Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary (CA). I am also a graduate of the College of Prayer. Having served as the Academic Dean and Program Director at Horizon Institute of Los Angeles for several years, I have returned to the pastorate and serve as Pastor of Big Trees Community Bible Church in Arnold, CA.

The Eye of God

Posted on August 7, 2022 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

God has been watching his people. As they have begun to turn to him, he has turned toward them; he is watching out for them. Continue reading →

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Nursery Duty

Posted on August 6, 2022 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Spiritual infancy is not a matter of age—it’s a matter of maturity (the lack of it). It is quite possible to grow old in the Lord without growing up in the Lord. Continue reading →

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The Foolishness of Brilliance

Posted on August 5, 2022 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Many of the greatest minds of history have found their revolutionary ideas to be rejected initially because they seemed to be foolishness. People just couldn’t understand. Continue reading →

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Plastic Prayers Make Plastic Churchgoers

Posted on August 4, 2022 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Much of what passes for Christianity today does seem “plastic and fake.” But the Bible is not. The pages are filled with very real, human characters. It’s painfully honest about their struggles and failures (and the successes, of course). Continue reading →

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Amazing Grace

Posted on August 3, 2022 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Grace always amazes me—especially when I find it’s sweet sound in unexpected places. This story of Manasseh is more unexpected than most—I’m still amazed by it. Here is one of the most evil Kings of the whole bunch—could grace save a wretch like Manasseh? Continue reading →

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The Mountaintop

Posted on August 2, 2022 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

The crisp, cool air blows through your hair as you as gaze upon the majestic beauty of other mountain peaks. You are above them all. You are on the mountaintop. It’s an exhilarating place to be, a dangerous place. It was quite an adventure to get there and even more difficult to stay there. Continue reading →

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Blessing Instead of Bleeping

Posted on August 1, 2022 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Our social media feeds are filled with it too. Words filled with contempt. Angry words. Slanderous, malicious, untruthful words. Name calling. Words that seek to divide and conquer–to tear down rather than build up. This is not the way of Christ. These things, too, ought not to be so. Continue reading →

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Thank God for Broccoli

Posted on July 31, 2022 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

July 31 Thank God For Broccoli Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 80:8-19 | 2 Chronicles 29:1-36 | Romans 14:1-23 | Proverbs 20:12 Today’s Scripture Focus: Romans 14:1-23 “If you eat meat, eat it to the glory of God and thank God … Continue reading →

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Starting and Finishing Well

Posted on July 30, 2022 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Uzziah was off to a great start. Things were going extremely well, maybe too well. Then he crashed and had a hard time finishing the race. He had good intentions and a great start, but lost his way near the end of the race. Continue reading →

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Medium Rare or Well Done?

Posted on July 29, 2022 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Open your heart to Jesus today, give yourself fully to him—all of you—don’t hold anything back.  Then someday you’ll hear those words we all want to hear: “Well done.” Continue reading →

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