Tag: Nondenominational

Giving Thanks

Ed Jones We live in a time when giving thanks has been replaced with protesting perceived ills or loss of entitlement. The proverbial “squeaky wheel” is evident in media, academia, industry, religion, and politics. It’s not my intent to comment on the validity of cause or sincerity of those protesting. I merely wish to point…

Tyranny of the Urgent

Ed Jones “Now!” “Now!” is the demand of the urgent. Like your phone ringing. The dishes in the sink. Clothes to be washed. The yard that needs to be mowed. One more thing to finish at the office before heading home. “Now!” To which a lot of us dutifully respond with a “Yes!” Recently, I…

Fellowship at the Ranch

Ed Jones, Pastor It’s my anniversary! However, it’s not what most would think. On Sept. 4, 2016, I delivered my first sermon as pastor of Fellowship At The Ranch Church. To say that the years have flown by would be an understatement. Allow me to recall the sequence of events that brought us to this…

How Long?

Ed Jones We recently lost one of our own. The agony of that loss reminded me of what a friend of mine wrote at the death of his wife of more than 30 years: The words of the writer of this Psalm become our words: “How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How…

The Power of the Tongue

Ed Jones The tongue is used both literally and metaphorically in the Bible. James 3:5 reminds us that it is a “small part of the body,” yet Proverbs 18:21 warns that “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” The death mentioned is trifold, being spiritual, physical, and emotional. First, spiritual, for it…

What Is a Church?

Ed Jones Growing up, I always thought of a church as a huge building with soaring arches and stained-glass windows. The interior boasted marble columns, finely crafted pews, a marble altar, and statuary that would be the envy of the finest Greco-Roman museum. As I grew older, my concept of “church” evolved into that of…

Fellowship At The Ranch: Celebrate the New Year

Ed Jones Again, another new year has rolled around, and many of us are awestruck by just how long we have traversed this planet. The very word “new” causes many of us to attempt to change whatever it is that wants us to start over. We make resolutions: Quitting smoking, starting a diet, or purchasing…