Pastor’s Message (Page 4)
When I was in elementary school, I was what you might call “skinny.” As I’ve shared before, my nickname was “Bones Jones” for a very good reason. Thankfully, now we have anti-bullying measures, but back then it was not uncommon to get picked on for something like that. I, however, was not afraid of these…
Dear friends, I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to this weekend! My friend and ministry partner Dave Carlsen is preaching. Dave was on our Valley Church staff for 10 years before we planted Neighborhood Bible Church in South San Jose 17 years ago and he’s been there ever since! This Sunday we’ll…
Recently at Valley Church we hosted a training seminar called, “Listening for Heaven’s Sake.” Among other things, participants learned how to cultivate authentic relationships by increasing their ability to convey genuine caring and interest, overcome barrier-inducing habits and show understanding of the other person. I’ve been thinking about what it means to apply those same…
Hey Family, I met with my friend Andy Wu a couple of weeks ago for coffee. I get there before he does and so I’m getting some work done when he strides in, drops off his computer bag and walks to the counter. I look at his bag and think, “That’s it. That’s EXACTLY what…
Play fair. Don’t hit people. Clean up your own mess. Don’t take things that aren’t yours. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you. Take a nap. Share. Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody. If these tidbits of wisdom sound familiar, it’s probably because they were taught to you at a young age.…
I remember holding our beautiful newborn baby and hearing the nurse say, “You can take her home…” I thought, “NOW what?” Fortunately, Valorie was more prepared than I was, but the adventure of parenting had begun! To be sure, there is nothing that could produce more joy than this little kid! But to be honest,…
Several years ago, a group of us from Valley Church, along with other friends, participated in an event called a “Spartan Race.” It’s basically a 13.2-mile run, but with one added bonus. Along the way there are 26 “obstacles” – barriers that intentionally challenge the runners to overcome. These include a rope climb, a 100-pound…
Dear Runners, When I was 3 years old my left knee started to swell, and swell, and swell! My father and mother took me to doctors, but they were unable to diagnosis the cause. Finally, they took me to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The surgeon said, “Mr. and Mrs. Miller, we are going…
As a kid I remember seeing a show on TV called, “Let’s Make a Deal.” The basic premise of the show is that the host offers guests something of value who are then given the choice of keeping the item or exchanging it for something else. The “deal” is that the other item is kept…
Dear Disciples, Are you and I “real” disciples of the Lord Jesus in word and deed? Do others see Jesus in us? How do you spot an authentic “Christ follower?” It is not a trivial matter! If you were with us last Sunday we started our time in God’s Word with this verse, “David, after…