It was 1993. Heidi and I had been married for almost nine months. We took a trip to visit my aunt and uncle who live in Bridgeport, Connecticut. My Uncle Bud was having a conversation with my father, myself and my bride, Heidi. We were standing in the backyard...

“In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.” — 1 Peter 5:10 (NLT)...

“Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose...

“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” — Isaiah 43:2 (NLT)...

Over the past five or six weeks I have been speaking about the importance of standing on the rock of Jesus. My writing and articles have been filled with this theme. So, here we are again. It has been a very challenging week. Yet, when studying the scriptures, God keeps reminding me that we will only be as strong as our foundation and that foundation is the Lord Jesus Christ...

What an interesting Bible study we had the other night at First AG VB. Our discussion was on forgiveness and specifically, the kind of forgiveness Jesus wants his church to operate in. My friend Pastor Ed Shirell once told me about a discipleship class he once taught. ...

One of my favorite things I get to do as a pastor is write. From the time I was in elementary school until now I have always enjoyed writing. There are times as a pastor where I can open the Bible and preach. However, I love spending time just writing my thoughts and with excitement and anticipation, I begin to see my thoughts become a journey on the page...

Earlier this week, I went through a Bible study with a few other men from our community. The bible study was based on the 23rd Psalm. The author, Terry Wardle talked about a place in the Outback of Australia that is called “Never, Never.”...

I have struggled with my weight on again and off again since I was 12 years old. It has always been a fight. I have lifted weights most of my life. However, it seems as I have gotten older, right when I get to developing some massive gains, I do something to derail my progress. I either injure myself or busyness becomes my adversary...

It is often said that the Word of God does not return void. I have found this to be very true. Lately, I have come to the realization that everything that is done according to the principles of God will not return void either. Everything that is done for Jesus, prayed to Jesus, and loved like Jesus loves will in his timing, turn into something good. Romans 8:28 promises us this...

Have you ever had a thought from your past just reach out and grab a hold of your mind? You are just going along with your day and all a sudden, a thought from your past just pops into your mind. Maybe it is just me who deals with this, but I doubt it...

We are living in a day and age when news outlets seem like their main reason for existence is to give us reasons to be afraid. Whether it is the six o’ clock news or a story on social media that tries to make us doubt the character of someone we admire, we must not allow for any of that information to fill us full of anxiety...

Tennessee Williams once said; “Life is partly what we make it, and partly what is made by the friends we choose.” What a powerful statement. How important it is to have a good friend. In our culture, we mostly have “buddies.” Buddies are people we call when we need something. ...

The 11th chapter of the Gospel of John has been on my heart and on my heart and in my mind lately. It is an exciting chapter of scripture, yet at the same time it is a little confusing. The 11th chapter of John is where Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. It is a confusing scripture because of all the attitudes in this passage. I am going to focus on John 11:45-50...

Tennessee Williams once said; “Life is partly what we make it, and partly what is made by the friends we choose.” What a powerful statement. How important it is to have a good friend. In our culture, we mostly have “buddies.” Buddies are people we call when we need something. ...

“I know who I believe in, and I am persuaded that he is able.” Those are the words of the Apostle Paul to his spiritual son Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:12. Paul was speaking of his hardships and suffering. In a way, he is promising to young Timothy that he too would go through situations that he would not understand, yet his trust must remain in Jesus...

Last week Heidi and I went to a visitation in another town. We traveled there to give our condolences to some friends of ours who were laying the matriarch of their family to rest. We arrived and greeted our loved ones, who introduced us to other members of their family. ...

1 Peter 1:3 says; “Praise be to the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In his great mercy, he had given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that can never spoil, perish or fade.”...

One of my favorite characters in all of scripture is Joseph. When I say Joseph, you are probably thinking of Joseph from the book of Genesis. “Coat of many colors” Joseph. Jacob’s son Joseph who was favored by his father and resented by his brothers...

I have always believed in intentional fatherhood. From the time my girls were little, I did my best to give them my time and my affection. I learned as a parent at a young age that the best thing I could do for them is give them all the affection I could possibly give them...