The Second Time Around - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

In the book of Haggai, we encounter a powerful message about starting over and rebuilding after devastation. The Jewish people had returned from 70 years of Babylonian exile, but 18 years later, God's temple remained nothing more than a foundation surrounded by rubble. What was holding them back? Holy procrastination—dressing up inaction in spiritual language—and toxic nostalgia that idealized the past while paralyzing the present. Some remembered Solomon's magnificent temple and couldn't accept this humble new beginning, forgetting they had inherited that glory rather than built it themselves. Meanwhile, they invested in their own comfort while God's house lay in ruins. Through Haggai, God cuts through the excuses with a threefold command: be strong, be strong, be strong—and work. Not when conditions are perfect, not when we have another committee meeting, but now. With this command comes a threefold promise: God is with us, God's covenant remains intact, and the glory of this present house will be greater than the former. This isn't about recreating the past; it's about God creating a future that exceeds what came before. Our second time around doesn't have to be a lesser version—with God, our comeback can be greater than our setback, our restoration can exceed the original, and our latter can be greater than our former.

Just A Glimpse - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

This powerful exploration of Luke 19:1-10 invites us into one of Scripture's most transformative encounters—the story of Zacchaeus, the despised tax collector who climbed a tree just to catch a glimpse of Jesus. What makes this passage so compelling is how it strips away our pretenses and asks a penetrating question: How desperate are we to encounter Christ? Zacchaeus was wealthy, powerful, and hated by his community for collaborating with Roman oppressors and exploiting his own people. Yet something stirred in his heart when he heard Jesus was passing through. Despite his status, despite the crowd blocking his view, despite the humiliation of a grown man scrambling up a tree like a child, Zacchaeus was willing to look foolish for just one glimpse of the Savior. The beauty of this story lies in its reversal: Zacchaeus went seeking Jesus, but it was Jesus who sought him. Grace doesn't wait for us to clean up our lives or earn our worthiness—it meets us in our mess, calls us by name, and invites itself into our homes. When Jesus declared that salvation had come to Zacchaeus's house, He wasn't just forgiving a tax collector; He was restoring a son of Abraham to his rightful place in the family of God. This narrative challenges us to examine our own willingness to do something radical, something undignified, something that others might mock, just to get closer to Christ. Are we content to observe Jesus from a safe distance in the crowd, or are we willing to climb our own trees—whatever that means in our unique circumstances? The transformation that follows genuine encounter with Jesus is undeniable: Zacchaeus immediately committed to giving half his possessions to the poor and repaying those he cheated fourfold, going beyond what the law required. When grace shows up, transformation happens. This story reminds us that no one is too far gone, too broken, or too unworthy for Jesus to reach. If the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost, then our past mistakes, our reputations, our shame—none of it can separate us from the love of Christ when we reach out in desperate faith.

It's A God Thing - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

In the brief but powerful book of Joel, we discover a message that speaks directly to our moments of deepest struggle and shame. This prophetic text addresses a community devastated by locusts—whether literal insects or invading armies—and facing complete economic collapse. But the real devastation isn't just material; it's the crushing weight of shame that whispers we've been abandoned by God. Joel's message cuts through this despair with a radical promise: God will restore what the locusts have eaten. This isn't just about getting back what we lost—it's about transformation. The text reveals that while we wait for God's timing (which operates on a divine schedule, not our microwave-society expectations), God is actively working. The promise culminates in one of Scripture's most revolutionary declarations: God will pour out His Spirit on all people—sons, daughters, young, old, servants, men, and women. This democratization of the Spirit means God empowers the powerless and gives voice to the voiceless. When we face both acute crises and chronic struggles simultaneously, we can either focus on the locusts or focus on the promise. The ultimate assurance remains: everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. This isn't about deserving rescue; it's about God's faithfulness to restore, redeem, and pour out His Spirit on all flesh.