Posts with the tag “pastor-jim-cecy”

I am Italian through and through. As such, it has been ingrained in me to greet anyone who crosses my path—on the street, in a store, and especially in the church gathering. It has been four years sin...  Read More

In the early years of my Christian life, my prayers had a ring of the “too familiar,” even bordering on being monotonous. In His Sermon on the Mount Jesus warned us about using many hollow words and v...  Read More

I was in the Chicago area, teaching a community-wide leadership conference. During one of the sessions, a distraught woman approached me and asked, “Dr. Cecy, can you recommend a book for me? My life ...  Read More

God has a way of reminding me how human I am. I call them pastor-bloopers. Let me share one of many:It had been a very long day of travel home from the Philippines. I arrived at Los Angeles Airport, e...  Read More

My family has always known they have immediate access to me no how busy I am. When they were young my secretaries were told to inform me whenever they stepped into the office. No matter what I was doi...  Read More

I love the story of the man, walking by a blind man and noticing he had only a  few coins in his cup. He dropped in more coins and, without asking for permission, took the sign and re-wrote it. He ret...  Read More

As I reflect on these verses my mind rushes to a special memory of John Fischer, singing a song he wrote when we were both starting in the ministry. It is called the “All-Day Song.” Perhaps you rememb...  Read More

I was in the Chicago area, teaching a community-wide conference. During one of the sessions, a distraught woman approached me and asked, “Dr. Cecy, can you recommend a book for me? My life is falling ...  Read More

In my travels I have visited several ancient ruins, including the Flavian Amphitheater in Rome, more commonly known as the Colosseum. During those ancient battles, the gladiators would sometimes fight...  Read More

As I reflect on these verses my mind rushes to a special memory of John Fischer, singing a song he wrote when we were both starting in the ministry. It is called the All-Day Song. Perhaps you remember...  Read More

I was in the Chicago area, teaching a community-wide conference. During one of the sessions, a distraught woman approached me and asked, “Dr. Cecy, can you recommend a book for me? My life is falling ...  Read More

 I once read, “He who smiles rather than rages is always stronger.” This became dramatically clear when, as a newlywed college student, I was working in the photo department of a popular drugstore.An ...  Read More

We homeschooled two of our children through high school. I took the time to teach one of my daughters Greek, the language of the New Testament. She did very well her first semester, easily earning an ...  Read More

I was blessed to have an apartment-dwelling mother who knew nothing about growing fruit and everything about enjoying it. So, it was not unusual for me, a week after her death, to plant an apple tree ...  Read More

While serving in the U.S. Navy, I embarked on a nine-month WestPac (Western Pacific) Cruise, ultimately to Vietnam. There was one grueling stretch of time during which we did not see land for fifty-se...  Read More

I have a large aquarium next to where I sit every morning reading my bible and praying. Most of my grandkids have picked their favorite of the two dozen fish. Every morning, those little creatures com...  Read More

I started out not being prepared—for anything, especially emergencies—that is, until I got married and had a family. My family and I going through some tough times certainly got my attention. For exam...  Read More

As our girls were growing up, I enjoyed pretending to be the “king of my castle.” I would sit on my throne (i.e., my easy chair) and bark orders to my “subjects.” One day I shouted to my pre-teen daug...  Read More

I was raised in a California coastal community called Santa Cruz, a town that was nicknamed Surf City U.S.A. (along with Huntington Beach). I spent many of my days, body surfing at the river mouth of ...  Read More

 Like many of my youthful peers, I had my share of visions of grandeur. I grew up wanting to become a famous this or a world-renowned that. Later in life, I met some people “at the top of the heap”—th...  Read More

June 8, 2023 is the 9th anniversary of our merge with Palm Avenue Community Church. Here is the story:Many years ago I became aware of a small local church in our area that was standing alone against ...  Read More

It is not uncommon for loved ones to save boxes of some of the most seemingly worthless things:A tattered baby blanket with the smooth edges worn off.Hand-crafted greeting cards with silhouettes of to...  Read More

Even as a child I struggled with the question, “Why am I here?” I remember one “dark night of the soul” at the age of nine when I was afraid I was going to die. I wept before God: “Lord, what do you w...  Read More

There was a time in my life when I thought I was surrounded by death: My father died young, one of many in his family.I was in a war zone at the age of twenty.Four of our babies died in miscarriages.A...  Read More

One rainy night, when I was a teenager, I was alone on the night shift at a fast-food restaurant. A customer rushed in and asked to use our restroom. I politely informed him we were not permitted to a...  Read More

What do you call three brothers, three sisters, one half-sister and one half-brother—all with the same father? A brood? Blood relatives? The Cecy family! Here are some of my personal observations of g...  Read More

As a young believer I was intrigued with a plaque on a pastor’s wall. It was a rubber kitchen glove. The words below read: “Beware of phony Christians.” Soon after I hear this same pastor say, “Don’t ...  Read More

This is my 72nd Easter celebration—my 32nd in Fresno. For many years we held sunrise services at Woodward Park in North Fresno. On some of those early morning services it was so cold that I could bare...  Read More

I am one of those people who, on most days, wakes up early without an alarm clock. But, then again, there are those days when I grumble, “Good Lord, it’s morning” rather than “Good morning, Lord.” I l...  Read More

My friend called to announce he was going to take me fishing. I reminded him that I am, in my opinion, the worst fisherman I know. He responded, “I know that, too but I’ve got you covered.” We drove t...  Read More

The high fever and convulsion came on quickly. In the emergency room I was admitted quickly and soon was in a room being cared for by a host of nurses and technicians. I was to learn that I had become...  Read More

As you walk into my office at the church, you are immediately faced with what is obviously a former sailor’s décor. A ship’s bell hangs by the door. Models of masted ships sit on shelves around the ro...  Read More

The day after Christmas is known as Boxing Day, a secular holiday celebrated in parts of the British Commonwealth, including Canada, the country of my birth. Boxing Day was traditionally a day off for...  Read More

On November 17,1971 (exactly 51 years ago to the day) I prayed to receive Christ as my Lord and Savior. My prayer was simple and heart-felt: “Lord Jesus…come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior.” ...  Read More

I grew up in a Roman Catholic home and attended Saint Matthew’s Church (as well as it’s elementary school through the 6th grade). I prayed often to Saint Christopher and a host of other “halo-ed” peop...  Read More

Although the word accountability has grown in popularity in recent years, I am told the first known use of the English word was in the later part of the 18th century. Having taught the subject through...  Read More

I was at the Los Angeles airport talking to the agent at the check-in counter. A tall gentleman behind me interrupted, “Are you Dr. Cecy?” I turned and responded, “Well, yes, I am.” He continued, “I r...  Read More

Permit me to share another reading that has changed my thinking over the years. I hope it helps you as much as it continues to help me. It is entitled: “Dying to Self”.• When you are forgiven or negle...  Read More

Rather than write a fresh devotional, I want to share with you something I read many years ago that quite literally changed my way of thinking. It still does:If God has called you to be really like Je...  Read More

How familiar the conversations among family and friends have been recently: What would you do if you won…or inherited…millions of dollars?” Their answers were no surprise: “Look what I could do…where ...  Read More