Author Archives: pastorjeffsneighborhood

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, 2024 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Of course it didn’t take long for opposition to arise. When God is at work, the enemy does what he can to cause confusion, division and frustration. No exception here. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged babylonian exile, Cyrus, eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth, Ezra, God watching over his people, prophets | Leave a comment

Nursery Duty

Posted on August 6, 2024 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

It’s not terribly surprising that a consumer culture produces so many spoiled spiritual babes, but it is sad. Growing up requires taking up the cross and dying to our selfish immaturity, moving beyond our comfort zone and our need to always have it our way. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged babes in Christ, moving on toward maturity, nursery duty, Spiritual growth, spiritual maturity | Leave a comment

The Foolishness of Brilliance

Posted on August 5, 2024 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

We will never be able to completely comprehend the brilliance of God’s plan—his wisdom is beyond ours. But what we do know is that God loves foolish people like you and me and seems to delight in transforming the foolish, to frustrate the wisdom of this world. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged brilliance, Foolishness, God's plan, message of the cross, over my head | Leave a comment

Plastic Prayers

Posted on August 4, 2024 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Open up your heart to God, just like David did. Get it all “out on the table,” then allow God to deal with the questions, the fears, the pain, the problems, the doubts. He patiently waits on us to clean out the closets of our heart. He delights in meeting with us when we do. Honesty is the road to transformation. We trade in our plastic religiosity to become authentic Christ followers. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged authenticity, honesty, lay everything on the table, Open your heart, plastic prayers, pour out your heart to God | Leave a comment

Amazing Grace!

Posted on August 3, 2024 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Grace truly is amazing. If it can find and change a man like Manasseh, there might be hope yet for you and me. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged amazing grace, evil king, humbled himself, Manasseh, The Lord got his attention | Leave a comment

The Mountaintop

Posted on August 2, 2024 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

The blessings of the mountaintop are wonderful, but can become a temptation to pride. That is one foothold that you don’t want to even try—it leads to a quick and devastating slide to the bottom. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged attack of the enemy, criticism, good kings of Israel, Hezekiah, mountaintop, pride goes before a fall | Leave a comment

Blessing Instead of Bleeping

Posted on August 1, 2024 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Instead of blessing people with encouraging, helpful words, we are so quick to demean and criticize. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged angry words, Blessing, contempt, curse, gossip, hate-filled words, judgmental | Leave a comment

Thank God For Broccoli

Posted on July 31, 2024 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Our freedom in Christ may lead to differing convictions on some issues. These should not be a source of disunity in the body of Christ. Flaunting our freedom before someone with differing convictions would also be wrong. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged broccoli, easily offended, imposing your convictions on others, stumbling block, violate your conscience, weaker brother | Leave a comment

Starting and Finishing Well

Posted on July 30, 2024 by pastorjeffsneighborhood

Lofty thoughts of God led to his success. Lofty thoughts about himself led to his downfall. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional Thoughts | Tagged crash and burn, fear of the LORD, finishing well, lofty thoughts about God, pride goes before a fall, starting well | Leave a comment