The parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37 is very familiar to Christians and non-Christians alike. For most people this is a story about being kind to people around you or being a nice person. Even among secular people, someone who does good to strangers is called a “Good Samaritan”. In California “The Good…
Church Blog (Page 4)
Dear Family, Do you remember bedtime stories from your childhood? I would have to go back to the “dark ages” to recall those that my parents, grandparents, and my two older sisters read or told to me. I am quite sure that you remember stories better than a sermon on a particular passage. That is…
Have you ever had an “epiphany?” The dictionary defines “epiphany” as “a manifestation of a divine or supernatural being.” I think if you did, it would make a profound impact on you! The Biblical accounts paint a picture of people overwhelmed by the beauty, power, radiance, and glory of God. (I know a couple of…
Think of how confused John was. He’s baptizing people in the Jordan river and who should walk up to GET baptized but Jesus! John has already identified Jesus as “the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29) and he knows that he’s not even “worthy to carry his sandals”…
In 2002 we taught our kids how to ride bikes. Many experiences happen all at the same time when you have four kids less than two years apart. Someone at Valley Church had given us a couple of kids-sized bikes their children had outgrown, and somewhere I picked up enough parts and pieces to cobble…
Dear Friends, What did you sign up for when you entered the Christian race! But I am getting ahead of myself because I should have asked you how you qualified to get in this marathon race in the first place. Could it be that your qualification was not based on your own merits, but rather…
How many of you are fond of spiders? Don’t all raise your hands at once! Some people are so fearful of them that they scream everytime they see one. Ok, there are some posionous ones but have you ever wondered why God created them? Spiders provide numerous benefits to the ecosystem and even to human…
Dear Valley Family, Do you remember who gave you your name? Your parents, or your grandparents? Do you know the meaning of your name? Are you living up to your name? I believe that you can answer all these questions easily. My next question is, what is the name of our God? In Exodus Chapter…
Hey Family, I was sitting in church a few weeks ago thinking about this upcoming message from Ephesians 4 in our grace series. I had a sense of what the Lord wanted me to focus on: GOD’S VICTORY through his Son over all dark powers. Then, I got an unexpected confirmation. As I walked out,…
My grandfather was a musician. In fact, at one point in time he had his own band called “Tommy and the Tom Cats”. I know this because of the stories I’ve heard from my dad, the pictures I’ve seen, and a few musical instruments we still have of the many that he owned and played.…