The Pacific Southwest Conference is offering a discount for couples who register for "Weekend to Remember." Please use the discount code PSWC when registering and receive $100 off. The marriage retreat will be in Phoenix June 16-18....
Of all the emotions that a human can feel, fear is possibly the most impactful. Fear can seamlessly compel a person to act in ways that are not beneficial to their well-being. Fear is of the enemy......
It‘s true we often suffer some great disappointments, some expectations or plans we might have not always materialized. We may even feel like God’s left us hanging and that an illness or injury has taken him away from us. But remember, He is faithful. And the real upside of this is if we remain faithful we will live eternally with Him someday. ...
Love isn’t just for Valentines Day -- it’s what gets me up everyday. Love isn’t just for that one special someone -- it’s for everyone. The chance to care for and encourage those around me is an honor. Measure all things in your life by the “Rule of Love”. What would God have you do? What does love require? What breaks your heart, and what one thing can you do to help?...
Truth be told, I am not an elite athlete. When I was in kindergarten, I flunked “skip” (not sure how my self-esteem survived that report card, but that is another story). While early on, I was too uncoordinated to skip, I did play baseball, soccer, real football, and basketball when I was growing up. However, I was never endowed with the physical gifts to become what I call an elite athlete. What I do know though, is that God equipped me with the gifts to enjoy those sports and become the best athlete I could ever be....
There are many differences between God, as the Bible describes Him, and the Force of Star Wars but there’s a line from Han Solo in the new movie that sums it up. One of the new characters talks about how he’s going to do something that seems impossible and Han asks him how. The young man says, “I’ll use the Force,” and runs off. Han yells after him, “That’s not how the Force works, kid!” That’s not how a personal, caring God works either....
The plans of man will always fail, but the plan of God has already won its battle. If Christians are to actually make an impact in the world then they must collectively turn to the truths found in scripture alone. They must become engulfed in the transformative power of God through His word provided in the bible......
I hunger for simplicity. I want to approach God in childlike faith, wonder, and awe. I long for more than just spiritual life but spiritual health ...
On Sunday, Bruce and Stacey Heimkes shared with us about Paul Carlson, a Covenant medical missionary who was martyred in DR Congo 50 years ago. In today's article Gary Walter shares with us several lessons he has learned from Paul's widow, Lois. Click here to read the article:...
Keep ReadingOver the past few days I have been trying to keep tabs on the story of Brittany Maynard. Many are aware that this 29-year-old woman with brain cancer said she would end her life through physician-assisted suicide on November 1. Sadly she did....
Keep ReadingI came across this wonderful devotional by Max Lucado the other day. It just spoke to me and I wanted to pass it on to all of you. Most of you knew me well enough that I struggle with what I call the "Martha syndrome." You know, ‘work, work, work, ‘til you get it’, right? I loved what Max Lucado says about Mary: "She has identified the problem, brought i...
Keep ReadingQuestion: Who should be Hope’s #1 ministry priority? Adults? Teens? Children? The politician in me wants to give equal emphasis to all the different age groups. It seems only fair to divide up the resource pie into three equal slices. But after reading pollster George Barna’s book, Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions, I have to change my answer. W...
Keep Reading2009 was off the charts! In August, my oldest daughter Adeline was born. Then, several months before that I went on the trip of a lifetime. I visited Jordan, Syria, Israel, Egypt and Greece with 30 seminary students, 10 lay women and men, and 3 top-notch bible scholars and archeologist. After returning home, I published an article about this trip called, "Life-Changing V...
Keep ReadingRecently, I came across this short video on empathy. It served as an excellent reminder of the differences between empathy and sympathy. Watching this video convicted me how often my ministry with youth has often been sympathetic instead of empathetic. ...
Keep ReadingGod has built a relational need into each of us. So He also provides opportunities for personal interaction. Consider Mary, the mother of Jesus. A young virgin, who suddenly finds herself unmarried and pregnant with a miracle baby, is clued in by the angel that her cousin, Elizabeth, is six months into her own miracle pregnancy. What better place for a young girl to go for...
Keep ReadingThe summer after my sophomore year of high school, my world was rocked at summer camp. My best friend spoke to our youth group and encouraged all of us to start figuring out what WE believe and quit living out our parent’s faith. I returned from camp having decided I was ready to put my stake in the ground and own my faith; read and learn about other religions and h...
Keep ReadingLast Saturday, a group of volunteers from Hope got together to go "on the move" and be the light of Christ for those less fortunate in our community. The New Leaf Men's Center (formerly East Mesa Men's Center) is located just north of the Loop 202 on Country Club Drive and offers men who have fallen on hard times a place to come and rest, while they work on their physical,...
Keep ReadingThe question of existence – why am I alive? This is not exactly a new question. It was asked thousands of years ago. In fact, Jeremiah asked it in Jeremiah 10:18. It says: “Why was I born? Was it only to have trouble and sorrow, to end my life in disgrace?†Have you ever felt that way? ...
Keep Reading