Stepping out of my comfort zone...Into the faithful unknown!

It is with great amazement and joy that I find myself writing this today, almost two years. I truly believed that I had contributed my all and would not return to add to it. As time would tell here I am one more time, giving truth to the title for Today :Stepping out of my comfort zone...Into the faithful unknown. Living, Loving and Serving in Chicago is indeed amazing and as awarding as it is challenging. Nevermore so than the recent weeks filled with rallies, protest, firings and some positions being left void because of morality and elected officials doing the right thing. (prayerfully) All of the above mentioned supports the title for today's blog. Amid the chaos of this wonderful blue collar driven city, I find myself being driven/ forced out of my comfort zone, both emotionally and spiritually. Not knowing positively where I am being pushed to I have resigned to go with the flow faithfully into the unknown, trusting that God through the Spirit has already aligned all I need to positively effect change, evoke peace, and provide comfort to a city on the brink and a country reeling in despair. I have prayed for God to give me a proactive plan, coupled with a strategic agenda to combat the social and negative (isms) that affect our society. I remain steadfastly faithful that God will do just that  enabling all who will hear to fight head on against the evils in Chicago and our nation. I believe that Peter and the 11 were given a glimpse of the unlimited power all believers possess in this passage of scripture as they too were forced out of their comfort zones into a place of trusting in God through Jesus not knowing the extent of God's ability.

Jesus Walks on the Water

Matthew 14:22-34 (NIV) 

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,”they said, and cried out in fear.

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,”he said, “why did you doubt?”

32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36 and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

Thank you God, for the encouragement that I have received today, through your scripture. Reminding me that when I step out of my comfort zone (the boat of daily routine) and trust in you, the winds of life (negative people /situations) will not prevail but allow me to be abler to reach many on your behalf offering healing to the individual, the community and indeed all who will hear and believe. Thank you lord,  for being the guiding example. Amen 

The Honest Christian

Luke 19

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Jesus and Zacchaeus

19 He entered Jericho and was passing through it. ² A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. ³ He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. ⁴ So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. ⁵ When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” ⁶ So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. ⁷ All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” ⁸ Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” ⁹ Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰ For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”

In today's text the people of Jericho had the nerve to become angry with Jesus decision to stay at Zacchaeus home, because most of them were "good" Hebrews and followers of Jehovah who would never be caught PUBLICLY in the company of a sinner like a lowly tax collector. 

Today being a tax collector or working for the IRS is not frowned upon unless it's after April 15th. However in Jesus time Hebrew followers of God did not have to pay tax for religious reasons unless it was forced upon them which was considered horrible and sinful against God.

However as we continue to read the passage we see a truly eye-opening revelation. It's revealed that Zacchaeus, the presumed  tax collector sinner was actually more righteous and honest of a person than the rest of the citizens of Jericho. Zacchaeus was so thirsty just to see Jesus that he climbed a tree, he was so eager to fellowship with Jesus that he welcomed Christ and his whole group into his home. Zacchaeus was so solicitous for a relationship with Jesus and a life change that he immediately gave an offering of half of all that he owned to the marginalized. 

Wait and there's more,  the truest revelation comes next when Zacchaeus reveals that he has not defrauded anyone and if he have ever cheated anyone out of anything let them come forward and he will pay them four times more. WOW! Because of all of this he is offered salvation and a chance to become a believer, the one whom people thought was dishonest was indeed the honest Believer/Christian.

As Christians this type of  passage should inspire us to stop and think especially about those whom we judge and place labels on, we might be judging a Zacchaeus, we might be labeling the honest Christian. What would that say about us? Would we then be like the citizens of Jericho?

Dear God, thank you for challenging us and inspiring us to be better servants of you. Encourage us to inspire others. Amen.

Be Well, Love  Pastor Sirchester

Let others see the difference in you...

Let Others See The Difference In You...

1 Peter 1:22 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

²² Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart.

Can I just be real....? Thanks I will. Over my life I have been hurt and have even had my heart broken by many peoples actions, painful words, gossip and hatred. The awful truth is that in most cases these were people who called themselves faithful Christians, family members and close friends. Sometimes the people that hurt you the most are the people closest to you. After being truly crushed a few years ago I decided that I would never hurt anyone and it became one of my life long endeavors to love and heal, so that no one else would have to feel hurt like I experienced. Therefore it tears me apart inside to this day when I see others hurting loved ones, family members and Kingdom members.

Today's verse taken from Peters first letter to the Church reminds us to Let Others See The Difference In You. Since we are believers and we have been forgiven and reconciled through Jesus, we must let our obedience be shown true by our love for one another. We should be loving deeply from the heart, not the usual surface I love you out of convenience or because of what I aim to gain.

I have boldly decided to love deeply with a radical and in-accusatory love, a non-judgmental love, a you are deserving of it love and a I love you because of your divine connection to God love. Are you able, are you willing to join in and let the difference be seen in you? Coach  John Wooden reminds us that our character is of ultimate importance, "Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."

Awesome Creator, please continually inspire your followers to let your true love be seen in us daily. Let us love unashamedly and forgive unapologetic-ally knowing whom we are and how you have called us to live?

Making the request in the right way!

<sup>John 14:11-14 (The Message)

11-14</sup> “Believe me: I am in my Father and my Father is in me. If you can’t believe that, believe what you see—these works. The person who trusts me will not only do what I’m doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I’ve been doing. You can count on it. From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I’ll do it. That’s how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I’ll do.


This morning I am requesting some things from God, things for my life, my wife, our family and our ministry. As I pray and reflected this morning, I was reminded to make the right request and make them in the right way. Many times preachers and teachers twist the scriptures and the words of Jesus found in John 14:14. Where Jesus instructs the believers then and now that anything we ask in his name we will receive. While this is 100% true, we must ask for things that are in accordance to God's will, this is what I call making the right request. Then when we ask for things according to God's will we are invited to ask in Jesus name, this is what i call making the request in the right way. Family trust that God wants to bless each one of us, but take time and focus on what God really want's to give you and then make your request known to the Lord. Remember God is not a genie who grants unlimited wishes, but our awesome creator who wants us to live out our created purpose.

Be Well, Pastor Jackson

Reach for your True Blessing

Today I am sending you encouragement, and the blue print to being truly blessed. Psalm one is the blueprint.
 1) Be careful who you surround yourself with. 
2) Be careful of what you let rent space in your mind.
 3)Be sure to gauge your production. 
4) Be sure not to waste time on unlike minded people. This is the key to unlocking a truly blessed life.

New International Version (NIV)

BOOK I

Psalms 1–41

Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of theLord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.

4 Not so the wicked!
    They are like chaff
    that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
    nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

Be well, Love P.J.

A Loving Reminder

Titus 31-11

The Message (MSG)

He Put Our Lives Together

3 ^1-2 Remind the people to respect the government and be law-abiding, always ready to lend a helping hand. No insults, no fights. God’s people should be bighearted and courteous.

^3-8 It wasn’t so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God’s gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there’s more life to come—an eternity of life! You can count on this.
^8-11 I want you to put your foot down. Take a firm stand on these matters so that those who have put their trust in God will concentrate on the essentials that are good for everyone. Stay away from mindless, pointless quarreling over genealogies and fine print in the law code. That gets you nowhere. Warn a quarrelsome person once or twice, but then be done with him. It’s obvious that such a person is out of line, rebellious against God. By persisting in divisiveness he cuts himself off.

Greetings in the name of God our awesome creator. Today's text from the epistle to Titus is a loving reminder from the Apostle Paul with final instructions to people of faith and the way. It was important then and is still important now that we take time often to stop and remind ourselves of who we are, where we have come from and what God has done in our lives. So that when we step out each day we will be lovingly patient and wise enough to cutoff situations and people who are hellbent on negativity and chaos.

So today take time to reflect and remember the person and mindset that you used to have. Then praise God for the person and mindset that currently occupies you now. Finally live out your love and understanding so that it may be contagious to others you encounter today.


Be Well, Pastor Sirchester Jackson 

Why Are You Studying, What Are You Studying?

John 5:31-40 (NIV)

Testimonies About Jesus

31 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true.

33 “You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. 

37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 

38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 

39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 

40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

Today's text reminds us just to stay focused! We study the bible because the bible points to God through Jesus. Through Jesus we live forever.

Love Pastor Sirchester, Be Well