Usually giving birth is thought of as a good thing with a few notable exceptions (remember that Bill Cosby episode where he dreamed he was giving birth to a giant sub sandwich?). One of those exceptions is listed in James 1 when it talks about giving birth to sin. James 1:14-15New American Standard Bible (NASB)14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed...

Often Pastor Skip makes a joke about one of his sons "suffering for Jesus" in Hawaii, the joke obviously being ironic to use the words Hawaii and suffering in the same sentence. The same can be said for any of us who live here in America compared to almost every other country. The question I have is would I really be willing to suffer for Jesus? The Church that I grew up ...

When I was a kid I looked forward to when our church (big church, where the grown ups went) would have communion, which I think was about once a month. Now, that might sound good like wow he was really spiritual as a kid, well sorry to disappoint but, I looked forward to it because it meant we got a little snack in the middle of sitting still in a pew for about 2 hours. Lu...

There are many things that I have learned or been taught by my parents, like a taste for old country music (Roger Miller anybody??) or burnt toast is better then regular toast. Parents teach many things intentionally, but often its the things that they/we end up just doing that is caught. My dad was one of those guys that was up early for work (in fact one time my brother ...

At wvBc we have all kinds of slogans and sayings, one of them is CPR Cultivate, Plant, Reap which really is a farming analogy (in the Bible as well) of cultivating/tilling the soil, planting the seed, and reaping the crop. Now this doesn't always have to be a linear thing, we can call people to repentance the moment we meet them, it all really is a led by the Spirit thing....

Galatians 5:16-25New American Standard Bible (NASB)16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under t...

Matthew 6:19-21New American Standard Bible (NASB)19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. For mos...

We all know the Matthew 28 passage (make disciples) and the Matthew 22 passage (love the Lord with all your heart....and your neighbor as yourself) and so when I am in my right frame of mind I pray for opportunities to love people, to tell them about Jesus. Well many times I find my self frustrated at not getting the results that I wanted, whether its a conversation that n...

A few days ago I wrote about the passage from Luke 9:24 For whoever wishes to save his [n]life will lose it, but whoever loses his [o]life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. Talking about the cost of being a follower of Jesus, which is tough enough to swallow, then today I read Acts 5:40-4240 They [a]took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogg...

Part of my reading includes reading a Proverbs a day, well on the 7th I was reading, go figure, Proverbs 7, and if you have read this chapter then you know its full of verses blasting warnings to run like your hair is on fire (or your clothes if you're bald) from the dreaded harlot, verses like: 12 She is now in the streets, now in the squares, And lurks by every corner.2...

My 6 year old son and I like to watch channels like the Discovery channel and National Geographic (can't beat Shark Week), well there is a show called the Dog Whisperer where Ceasar takes what seems like crazy out of control dogs and turns them into the most obedient house pet. Ceasar spends time training the dogs but also a good amount of time training and spewing his wis...

Recently my wife and I found ourselves going through a bout of what really are minor inconveniences/disappointments/changes including having our daughters little pre-school close down. Things that got us frustrated and even wondering what is God doing, is He really doing anything, why isn't He answering us, hello McFly (well didn't really say that one, but felt that way). ...

Mark 14:43-5243 Immediately while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs, who were from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 Now he who was betraying Him had given them a signal, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him and lead Him away under guard." 45 After coming, Judas immediately...

Well not sure what kind of lottery everyone won to get to read thoughts from me but my advice is stop playing that lottery! So for better or worse tell December comes you get to read about what God is doing in my life and hopefully by reading about how God beats me over the head encourages you to spend more time with Him. Quick background, my wife Sarah and I have 4 kids, ...