I have noticed over the years that people have asked me about “the secret” to a number of things. One is this question (often by a wanabe), “What’s the secret to making it through SEAL training?” My response is often, “Sorry bud, no such secret.” We live in such an instant society where we juggle […]
My thoughts are focused on the Sanctity of Human Life as it approaches this January 22–which also marks the 39th anniversary of Roe V. Wade. Think about this. It is estimated that 92,000 people died as a result of the earthquake in Haiti a couple years ago. This is the number of children that have […]
It was one of those nights that I will never forget. I had spent the evening with a wife who had lost her husband to a very extended battle with cancer. We sat there next to the body of her husband until the mortuary could come pick up his remains. We prayed, we cried, we […]
Many people don’t like Monday’s because it marks the end of their weekend and the start of a new work week. As a teaching pastor, I have discovered that Monday’s are days where discouragement often strikes. The day to daydream about the 9-5 sort of job. The jobs pastors daydream about are sort of funny. […]
The best odors my sanctuary has ever had! On January 2, 2011, I received a very hard call. A 20 year old female had taken her life the day before. The family was devastated and they wanted my help. I assured them we, the church, would do whatever we could do to help them through […]
As I look across the landscape of our country and that of Europe, I can’t help but to notice the remnant of once thriving churches that are now run down buildings or historical buildings with no life of a church. This breaks my heart. Almost five years ago I came to Valley Center as a […]
I grew up hiking in the backwoods of South Lake Tahoe. One of the first rules I learned about hiking was “To leave only footprints.” The second rule grew from the first, “Leave the the campsite better than you found it.” You may be thinking, “Okay, great. What does this have to do with church […]
***Written a few days after the killing of Bin Laden*** Ten years ago today I was an active duty Navy SEAL deployed to the Middle East, today I am the Senior Pastor of Valley Baptist Church contemplating the death of Osama Bin Laden. Every now and again I have these moments where my two worlds […]
How should Christians handle the question of alcohol consumption? This is a question Christians struggle with and argue over. Seriously, people get passionate discussing this issue. Whenever I begin a blog concerning important issues (this is one) I feel I must give a disclaimer of the quality of work. This format is more of a […]
I didn’t take a vacation for three years after coming to restart Valley Baptist Church. I have no regrets for this. I think there are seasons when sacrifice is required, but in year three I traveled a great deal. I missed two Sundays traveling to Mongolia to visit missionaries in May, two weeks vacation in […]