As a minister I believe the only true way to study is to look at verses in the context of which they were written. These HJD messages and the scriptures are done for that purpose. Each verse listed is a link to the whole chapter. Simply click on the verse and you will be taken to the whole chapter for further reading. I chose the translation “The Message” as it is in the language of today so we can relate. I encourage you to study with passion each verse in many translations. Enjoy and I pray this blesses you over and over.
Love, Perry
March 1st, 2026
Happy Jesus Day!
A Covenant of Compassion!
We were discussing scripture and the rules as she perceives them. Her comment to me was: “If going to church and doing good deeds does not insure a place in heaven, then why do it”? Is the ultimate goal heaven? Or is the ultimate goal to love Jesus with all of your life? Are you doing things out of love and respect for him or are you doing them simply to save yourself? Did he not intend for us to live an abundant life here on earth? Salvation theology reinforces the notion that religion is a transaction rather than a covenant of compassion. Jesus has done something for me and the rewards belong to me. For others to reap the same rewards they must convert to my way of thinking. Jesus point was to not be complacent in this life. To work at bearing good fruit NOW! Don’t just say and do the right things for personal gain but live out his teachings. By doing so you may have abundance in this life. Matthew Chapter 7. Good Stuff! Nothing in the gospels is of greater importance than the teaching Jesus did in sermon on the mount. Being more concerned with the fruits of the spirit in this life. Don’t lose sleep over worrying about heaven. Live his teachings because it is what he instructed that will bring joy and abundance. Jesus doesn’t instruct you on what to think. Instead he teaches you how to think. Our lives are a sum of our thoughts. Your life is the outer expression of your inner thoughts. Make them about love and compassion.
I Love You! – Perry
My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality.
“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”
That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not to be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for many who are held hostage.”
I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.
Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!
“I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love.
But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything. They spread their ideas through the empty traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings.
And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.
February 22nd, 2026
Happy Jesus Day!
Grace For Everyone!
Over so many years I have relished… taken solace, in the words that Jesus spoke from the cross. His final words, during such suffering, bare our deep consideration as to their meaning. When Jesus announced from the cross “Father forgive them they know not what they are doing” He was forgiving EVERYONE! He didn’t look out thru the crowd and say forgive the jews… or forgive the gentiles… or forgive the samaritans, he simply said forgive them all, because they are confused and they deserve our love… Titus 3. Forgiveness is such a daunting task for humans. We simply can’t forget and offer unwarranted grace as Jesus did. Grace is offered free without asking or earning. Just an extension of his heart and his goodness. Grace is never induced by morality or piety or even law. It comes like the best and worse of our tears. Usually uninvited, uncreated, unchosen, and unexpected, a pure creation out of nothing. Ask my family… crying comes from my heart without warning. As Jesus offered forgiveness from the cross it was for all people… for all time. We have to face the fact that we simply do not know what we are doing. Many people think they do, to no avail. Scripture can be interpreted in so many ways, and trying to earn grace from Jesus by following rules is foolish at best. There are 47,000 christian religions world wide. Each one thinking they are the correct way when in fact according to Jesus “they know not what they are doing”. Grace – so unbelievable. It belongs to everyone. No matter who… no matter where!
I Love You – Perry
Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them; they don’t know what they’re doing.”
When he served as a sacrifice for our sins, he solved the sin problem for good—not only ours, but the whole world’s. Here’s how we can be sure that we know God in the right way: Keep his commandments.
And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.
God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it, He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out.
God told Moses, “I’m in charge of mercy. I’m in charge of compassion.” Compassion doesn’t originate in our bleeding hearts or moral sweat, but in God’s mercy.
They’re holding on, not because of what they think they’re going to get out of it, but because they’re convinced of God’s grace and purpose in choosing them. If they were only thinking of their own immediate self-interest, they would have left long ago.
February 15th, 2026
Happy Jesus Day!
Only Love Can Save!
Church? Almost daily I hear the question. What church do you go to? As if our identity is tied to a certain church. Our identity should always be only in Christ. I am struggling with church and its character. I do go from time to time, but I sit and listen to a sermon and I can’t help but think “there is so much more”. Most pastors only touch the surface when in fact Jesus asked us to look deeper. Jesus mostly answered a question with another question. Christ was saying test everything… question everything… listen to the holy spirit not some guy simply because he has a Ph.D. in theology. Be open to new ideas. To new angles on old traditions. When you wear shirts like I do… that bare the name of our Savior… you get questions. In recent times the question that plaques me is “I don’t attend a church because there is way to much judgement!” I agree! “Why can’t Christians meet people where they are at, instead of thinking everyone needs to adhere to their set of standards?” I agree! We thought church was to be a place of healing not judgement” I agree! In the beginning following God was experiential. Now we argue over the trinity, the true identity of the beast in revelation, and the exact number of people who will make it to heaven. Christians who once learned by following the teachings of Jesus, to become true believers, now confuse certainty with faith. Certainty produces control. Faith says LOVE will win, and nothing but LOVE will save.
I Love You! Perry
Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life emerges! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other.
Jesus responded, “First let me ask you a question. You answer my question and I’ll answer yours. About the baptism of John—who authorized it: heaven or humans?”
They were on the spot and knew it. They pulled back into a huddle and whispered, “If we say ‘heaven,’ he’ll ask us why we didn’t believe him; if we say ‘humans,’ we’re up against it with the people because they all hold John up as a prophet.”
But when the Friend comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth there is. He won’t draw attention to himself, but will make sense out of what is about to happen and, indeed, out of all that I have done and said. He will honor me; he will take from me and deliver it to you.
“I’m telling you these things while I’m still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.
My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit.
Jesus, overhearing, shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting the sin-sick, not the spiritually-fit.”
Jesus once again addressed them: “I am the world’s Light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in.”
Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.
February 8th, 2026
Happy Jesus Day!
The Leadership Of Jesus!
People are so hungry for leadership that they will crawl thru the desert toward a mirage… and when they discover its not water they will drink the sand. True leadership does not exist outside of God. If the leaders of any organization do not follow the heart of Jesus, than it is false leadership. We live in a world of such judgement. Jesus never had an ounce of judgement in his heart. Only the religious leaders brought judgement and condemnation from him. The common people were the center of his life and his affection. The sick, the immigrant, the refugee, the outcast, the least of these. There is a word I love that should be a part of our everyday conversation. The word is egalitarianism. It means the concept that all of Gods Children are created equal. This word is used not only for the life of Christ but is a concept in our country’s constitution… and in God’s word. This concept should represent the whole of all organizations in the world. Is that not what Christ’s intentions were? That everyone would live in harmony. Is that not what will happen when he returns? Christ welcomed everyone. Everyone was welcomed at his table. I pray daily that all people will wake up to the heart of Christ. That everyone will be welcomed and love will rule even for those we consider to be enemies. After much contemplation I came to following conclusion. They don’t drink the sand because their thirsty… they drink the sand because they don’t know the difference. I Love You! – Perry
My dear friends, don’t believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God. There are a lot of lying preachers loose in the world.
With Christ as my witness, it’s a point of honor with me, and I’m not going to keep it quiet just to protect you from what the neighbors will think. It’s not that I don’t love you; God knows I do. I’m just trying to keep things open and honest between us.
And I’m not changing my position on this. I’d die before taking your money. I’m giving nobody grounds for lumping me in with those money-grubbing “preachers,” vaunting themselves as something special. They’re a sorry bunch—pseudo-apostles, lying preachers, crooked workers—posing as Christ’s agents but sham to the core. And no wonder! Satan does it all the time, dressing up as a beautiful angel of light. So it shouldn’t surprise us when his servants masquerade as servants of God. But they’re not getting by with anything. They’ll pay for it in the end.
Jesus said, “Today is salvation day in this home! Here he is: Zacchaeus, son of Abraham! For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost.”
Jesus, overhearing, shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting the sin-sick, not the spiritually-fit.”
Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.
I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.
Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.
February 1st, 2026
Happy Jesus Day!
The Lords Prayer!
Each morning, as I lie in bed, before I put my feet on the ground I start my prayer with the beginning of the Lord’s Prayer. “Our Father who art in heaven hollowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
As Jesus prayed that prayer, and directed us to as well, he was showing us the heart of his father. He was revealing to us his very own heart.
The first part of his prayer was not only showing us the glory of God but he was asking us to live on this earth with the same heart as is in heaven. As if heaven and earth were as one. This prayer created a glimpse as to the humility and righteousness that is found in Gods presence. Where all humans are created equal with humility. It is embedding in us the thought that all people and things are righteous in Gods eyes. This prayer was showing us God’s word to humanity is not primarily the word spoken in a book, in sacred literature, but it is a word that is incarnate, not only as a human being, but present as an element in all beings, in all created things. So many days we simply recite these words without understanding the depth and meaning behind its pronouncement. Our Savior is asking us, thru this simple prayer, to bring the ideas and ways of God to this earth and its people. To live with purpose and humility. To offer justice too everyone and everything.
How different things would be if everyone could heed these words.
I Love You! – Perry
In Christ’s family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal. That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ. Also, since you are Christ’s family, then you are Abraham’s famous “descendant,” heirs according to the covenant promises.
God pays no attention to what others say (or what you think) about you. He makes up his own mind.
The Royal Rule of Love
My dear friends, don’t let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith. If a man enters your church wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes in right after him, and you say to the man in the suit, “Sit here, sir; this is the best seat in the house!” and either ignore the street person or say, “Better sit here in the back row,” haven’t you segregated God’s children and proved that you are judges who can’t be trusted?
God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open.
It’s exactly the same no matter what a person’s religious background may be: the same God for all of us, acting the same incredibly generous way to everyone who calls out for help.
Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.
God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.
January 18th, 2026
Happy Jesus Day!
What Is Christianity?
For as long as I can remember churches and the ones I have attended were focused mostly on how many can we baptize. How many can we convince to buy “fire insurance”.
When you shrink the gospel of Jesus down to just about getting into heaven… it becomes joyless. The Gospel of Jesus is about thriving in this amazing world he gave us. It’s about stillness… peace… and the feeling that your soul is at rest. It’s also about asking things… learning things… creating things… and sharing it all with others, so they can find the same joy in this world. When you allow Jesus to create joy in this life…. in this world… his light will shine for others to see. They will begin to ask who is this Jesus? How can he bring so much joy to MY life? Christianity should be more about heaven in this life, and less about the ever after. Christianity has become more about what doctrine to believe as opposed to what kind of life to live. The sermon on the mount, the most important lessons Jesus ever taught, said nothing about what to believe… but was focused on what to do. Internal righteousness over rules… humility… justice… reliance on God not wealth… to live a transformed life of compassion and integrity that reflects Gods character. Above all of this was a theme of unrelenting love for God/Jesus… others… and mostly our enemies. A tall order for us as his followers but the only way to bring complete joy. The only way to bring peace, stillness, and a soul at rest. I Love You! – Perry
John 14:27; Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
John 16:33; I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
1 Peter 5:7; Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
John 10:10; The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Luke 6:38; Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Matthew 25:35-40; For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ …
Galatians 5:13-14; For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Romans 15:13; “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
January 11th, 2026
Happy Jesus Day!
Zacchaeus!
He must have been short and his appearance was that of a little man. When I think of Zacchaeus, I picture someone like Danny Devito. Small but with moxie. Zacchaeus was the lowest of the low in society. Someone who cheated, and abused people in the name of making a dollar. He had heard of this Jesus and wanted so much to see him. Alias, the crowd was to big so he climbed a tree to get a better look. That is when Jesus spotted him and asked if they could dine together. I think of that often these days. We place so much importance on our status in life. On living a orderly life of integrity, in an effort to impress our Savior, and earn a place by his side. We place judgement on those that live a life we consider to be dishonest or different. But then we focus on Zacchaeus. At that time there had to have been many “good” people and religious leaders there to see Jesus but Jesus noticed Zacchaeus. Why? During Jesus’s ministry he preached almost daily about looking to least of these. Telling us “the first will be last and the last will be first”. His message was… that the very people we chose to judge are the ones he came to save. Zacchaeus did not have to do anything… simply accept Jesus’s amazing grace. In turn he gained a new understanding. Maybe we should simply give ALL people a large measure of grace and watch what our Lord can do with it.
I Love You! – Perry
Then Jesus entered and walked through Jericho. There was a man there, his name Zacchaeus, the head tax man and quite rich. He wanted desperately to see Jesus, but the crowd was in his way—he was a short man and couldn’t see over the crowd. So he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus when he came by.
When Jesus got to the tree, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry down. Today is my day to be a guest in your home.” Zacchaeus scrambled out of the tree, hardly believing his good luck, delighted to take Jesus home with him. Everyone who saw the incident was indignant and grumped, “What business does he have getting cozy with this crook?”
Zacchaeus just stood there, a little stunned. He stammered apologetically, “Master, I give away half my income to the poor—and if I’m caught cheating, I pay four times the damages.”
Jesus said, “Today is salvation day in this home! Here he is: Zacchaeus, son of Abraham! For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost.”
Jesus, overhearing, shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy, not religion.’ I’m here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders.”
In Christ’s family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal. That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ. Also, since you are Christ’s family, then you are Abraham’s famous “descendant,” heirs according to the covenant promises.
When the ten others heard about this, they lost their tempers, thoroughly disgusted with the two brothers. So Jesus got them together to settle things down. He said, “You’ve observed how godless rulers throw their weight around, how quickly a little power goes to their heads. It’s not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage.”
Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.
What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.
January 4th, 2026
Happy Jesus Day!
The Mission Of Love!
When she asked me about Happy Jesus Day tears filled my eyes, and a lump formed in my throat. As she hugged me she said “I didn’t mean to upset you”. I explained the burden that weighs on me. The burden that comes with this mission. A mission that others have felt, which weighed heavy on them as well. To teach LOVE. Pure… unfiltered…compassionate… love. Not just to those around us, but to the world. To teach the true meaning of the heart of Jesus. A heart that loved everyone without judgement. A heart that saw more potential in a prostitute, than in a religious leader. A spirit that looked past the behavior and saw the heart. I think of all the hatred I see daily. Hatred for the gay community. Hatred for differing political parties. Hatred for those that may be of a different race. Hatred for anyone that believes different than we do. We live in a world were everyone is more concerned with themselves, than with others. A world where we have bombs pointed at the next guy, with bombs. A world where everyone carries a gun, with the thought of having to kill another soul. The message of our Savior is more about love… than about being right. To learn the heart of Christ, means to learn to put our hatred and weapons down and become as one. One with each other. One with the world around us. One with the spirit of God. You may say I’m a dreamer. So be it! I will be happy to carry that burden!
I Love You!
Perry
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own.
You didn’t think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard? Or did you think that because he’s such a nice God, he’d let you off the hook? Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but he’s not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change.
If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both.
Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.
If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care—then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.