Well I’ve just finished my third fabulous weekend at Celebration Church in Green Bay, WI by preaching a red hot message. Man was it good, or at least I thought so. The message was titled How to Beat the Blues? So how do you beat the blues? Any way possible… here are three.

1. Sing the Right Song – praise changes everything. Gratitude will keep you healthy read the article “How Faith Can Heal” 2/23 Time Magazine

2. How To Beat the Blues – “Talk to Yourself” I know some of you do this already but do you do it right? Many people talk to themselves in a negative way STOP IT. Start building yourself up instead of tearing yourself down.

3. How To Beat the Blues – “Be Content, 1Tim. 6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

Get started…. and beat those blue away….RIGHT NOW…

I did three concerts yesterday two in prison one last night a Cup O Joy in Green Bay, preached twice today and now I’m flying home to hang with Sherri, tomorrow is her birthday. Been gone since 2/13 either in Green Bay or Winnipeg doing TV needless to say I’m looking forward to being home.

Peace,
Jimmie

I’m in Green Bay, WI the next two weekends helping my friend Mark Gungor with a series of messages titled “How to Beat the Blues”. This week I’ll be doing a couple of tunes and next week I’ll be preaching and I want your help.

So, How do YOU beat the blues?

Make some comments and if I use you’re I’ll send you some free stuff!!!

Jimmie

Love Marriage & Stinking Thinking debuts on TBN today and Dish Network Tuesday!  Jimmie wrote all the music and he and the band perform LIVE on all the episodes. Hosted by pastor, marriage and relationship expert– and very funny guy–Mark Gungor.  Throughout the series, Mark exposes the true source of marriage problems and the flawed notions -or stinking thinking- that shape our expectations of marriage.

Co-Hosted by actress, author Nancy Stafford who engages Mark in a lively discussion from a woman’s perspective.

Jimmie leads a killer house band.  Mark answers the question so many have, “why do you have a blues band on a show about marriage?” the answer “Because it’s a show about marriage”

So tune in every week, and get ready to Laugh and Love your way to a better marriage!

***Set your DVR to record the show every week!***
TBN
Thursdays
9:30pm PST
11:30 PM CST
12:30am EST

Sky Angel 2 on
Dish Network [266]
Tuesdays & Thursdays
7:00pm EST
8:00 PM CST
4:00pm PST

We just got the word that our TV show “Love, Marriage & Stinking Thinking” will be airing on TBN starting in January every Thursday evening at 9:30 PST. Not the greatest time slot for folks in central and eastern but you can set your DVR and catch the show, it is worth watching, you will enjoy it. Talks are also happening with other networks as well.

The show is hosted by my friend Mark Gungor. Mark is a pastor in Green Bay, WI and does relationship seminars as well. The show co-hosted by actress and author Nancy Stafford. We were there as the house band and I wrote all the music used during the show. Here is a few minutes of one of the shows click here. I will put some more clips up soon as possible.

Enjoy,

Jimmie

Tell them So! During this holiday season we are all going to be with friends and family and that means conflicts. It’s just part of life, we all get on each others nerves, we all have times of making someone else mad, saying things in the heat of the moment that we really don’t mean. This will happen, but be ready to get past this. “Tell them So”.

What do you mean “Tell the So”? I am in Kentucky at this moment where we played one of the concerts on this years Christmas tour. The highlight of the evening for me was playing the song “1941”. It is a memorial to my parents Pete & Marge and their generation that some call, the greatest generation. They were depression era kids and when the call came for them to fight and sacrifice for the cause of freedom they rose to the call.

The first verse of the song says this “Just a boy from the farm, he left the plow and took up arms, Pete was just seventeen. December 7th gripped his soul, December 8th he swore an oath to fight and die if that’s what it took, 1941”. I think about my Dad at seventeen my grandparents giving their permission for him to go fight our enemies. I realize that the young that fight our wars’, are our most precious and valuable resources, that we ask to risk the most and we must be forever grateful.

When I talk about this song I talk about it in two lights, one honor and the other regret. Honor is obvious, all who have fought for us deserve our respect and esteem. But regret? Yes, my personal regret for things I should have told my folks, “Tell them So”. Words that I wish I had taken the time to say to my Mom and Dad, words of honor, words of respect, words of the deep love that I have for them. But I was silent, I kept my words to myself and now that my folks are gone my words have no value expect regret.

Sure, my folks knew I loved them but I could have done a much better job in telling them so. I remember the moments that we were together, I had the time, you know just a passing alone moment in the kitchen with my Mother at a family dinner, just a moment alone with my Dad to look them in the eyes and “TELL THEM SO”. Say the words that need to be said.

So this holiday season, take the time to tell those you love that you love them. Take, or make the time in your busy holiday schedule to take just a few minutes to tell them about the love and respect that you have for them.

Here is a copy of my song “1941” my way of saying thanks to very great man and woman who has fought for our nation and as my folks for being the greatest Mom and Dad in the history of the planet. Of course I am sure you say, “no it’s your folks” who are the greatest and all I have to say to that is well “TELL THEM SO”?

So from our house to yours we love you and are thankful for your love and friendship.

Peace & Merry Christmas,
Jimmie & Sherri

“REMEMBER”
Creating a Complaint Free Zone (CFZ) for the Holidays #2
Monday, November 26, 2008

Sherri and I did something a few days ago that amazed us both. It hit me square in the chest and knocked me to my knees. What? We dug out a box of old pictures from our past and just “REMEMBERED” how blessed we are and have been.

I know the Bible tells us that we are to “forget those things which are behind” but it also says, “But recall the former days” Hebrews 10:32

We are preparing for our 32nd Anniversary and I decided to bore everyone with a slide show of pictures from our past.  As we dug in that box of old images we discovered this overwhelming appreciation “THANKS” for the faithfulness and the mercy of Jesus, that HE has given us, we “REMEMBERED”. There aren’t a boat load of pictures just a few images that grabbed me by the heart and made me lift my hands and worship Jesus for saving us from sin and ourselves.

I know that this experience will change the way that I celebrate and worship during the holidays this year and maybe for the rest of my life. I sure hope so.

I think we should never under estimate the power of remembering and “Thanksgiving.” It is a key element of our worship and should be a key of character as well. I know how easy it is to get caught up in all the trouble that life throws at us. You know trouble comes and it captures all of your attention and focus. But the thing that keeps us stable is “REMEMBERING” and being thankful for all the good things that Jesus has done for us. Israel had the stones on the Canaan side of the Jordan taken from the river, they were set up as a memorial so they could REMEMBER and give thanks. So I guess I can have some pictures.

I think this picture says it all. I am going to make everyone in my family who comes by for Thanksgiving, before they do anything else, take a look at “the goodness and mercy” that has been following us and if that doesn’t make us thankful, then I guess a big stick is in order. Just Kidding about the Stick!!

We hope you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving !!! REMEMBER and be Thankful.

Jimmie

Imagine a family holiday gathering and nobody is complaining? That would be some kind of a miracle right? Well, I don’t think so; I think it should be the normal. Here are a few tips that we use to create a complaint fee zone.

1. It all starts with you,
It all begins with your attitude, your attitude. WE must realize that our attitude is the driving force of our environment and will assist in the creation of a CFZ for the holidays. You are in control of your attitude or at least you should be and it is really the only one (attitude) that you are responsible for. So don’t let it get out of your control. Have a great attitude!!!  Work on it.

2. Have Fun, too many times we get to uptight and take things too seriously. Lighten up, for crying out loud. Have some fun, tell some jokes, do something stupid. That will be what your kids and grand kids will remember.

3. Clean Up the Stinky,
What do you do when someone comes by with a rotten stinky attitude? You know it ruins it for everyone. Some how that one person takes control of the house, man I hate that. So what can you do? Over take the stinky with what is sweet. Thanksgiving and praise has a way of being infectious and can take over a room when it is present. Try starting some conversations that everyone is thankful about. Go back to a wonderful memory and start taking about that. Sing quietly, whistle, that’s one thing I remember about my Dad, he was always whistling and my Mom always was singing or humming a sweet melody. It is hard for “el stinko” to survive when someone is thankful and really that is what the holidays are suppose to be about.

4. Say What?
Look out that conversation is going to drag you down, you better shut up it’s going to get ugly. Ever feel that way? There are some topics at a family gathering that should not be talked about; something’s you better leave alone or take control of. I had this happen just a few days ago. Some friends of mine were talking about another friend of ours and not talking about him in a very good light. I was in the other room and was overhearing their conversation. One of them asked me if I was “hearing the conversation” and my answer shut them down, I said “I am trying not to hear your conversation”. That was all it took, I wasn’t mean I didn’t say “Hay! Shut up!” although I have been known to do that. But really you can guide people with your words, inspire them to talk about good things, after all there is plenty of time in the right setting, to talk about the problems.

5. Not Everybody Gets a Back Stage Pass
A friend of mine has been on the road with a BIG TIME rock star and they were coming to KC and I called on my friend for some free tickets and back stage passes. He said, “pick up your tickets at the door but “The ROCK STAR” doesn’t let anyone back stage”. What? Little old me? Not allowed why? Because he was in control of his environment it was that simple. Don’t give everyone a back stage pass, don’t allow the trouble makers to take control, you have to control access. There are some folks that you shouldn’t invite and there are some folks that should come a little later in the day. Don’t be controlling but at the same time be in control.

Most of all be deliberate, take some time to pray and prepare and not just the meal. Great times, memorable times can happen spontaneously and but often they are planned and there is nothing wrong with that.  Choose some topics to discuss, find some old pictures or videos anything to help guide you to a great event.