This past week has been phenomenal in the ministry of Sweetwater River Church. We did two performances of “The Runaway”, an urban re-telling of the story of the Prodigal Son. Thursday night was our second Tenebrae Service, observing the rejection and pain that Jesus went through on the night he was arrested. It has become [...]
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Like millions of other people, I can be found on Facebook. I joined over a year ago and have watched my friends grow in number as I have spent hours online at my wall. I’m a pastor and I thought social networking would be a good way to keep in touch with people in my [...]
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At our staff meeting yesterday I shared the three areas that every ministry leader must grow in: Spiritual Formation- This is what you do to grow your relationship with God. Nothing grows your relationship with God like spending time with God. Ministry Development- This is what you do to grow your ministry. Thre are more [...]
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While most of our everyday conversations can deal with minor topics, we can still have the opportunity to make an investment when we talk. It can be as simple as a genuine compliment, an offer to pray on the spot if they share a need, or just letting the other person know you value them. [...]
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A life that is comfortable is easily mistaken for a life that is rewarding. Comfortable is what we try to make for our lives by avoiding challenges and conflicts. When we reach this state we even have a term to describe it- being in the comfort zone. Rewarding is what God makes for our lives and it [...]
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The antidote to stress is supposed to be the balanced life. If you can get all the demands on your time and energy “balanced out”, you’ll find harmony. But it is never that easy. You can only keep things balanced until someone (your boss or a family member for example) places a new request on [...]
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I going to be in Bakersfield tomorrow night for a San Diego Hope dessert. I’m sharing the vision with some people I’ve known for years about what we are doing in the urban core of San Diego. As we plant churches and increase our outreaches in this multi-ethnic and spiritually diverse area, we need additional [...]
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Today is the first day of Lent, a season that I have come to value more and more. The whole concept of giving up something you enjoy during Lent is to practice self denial. This year I’m giving up snacks…it is now 2:30 pm and there is chocolate in the next room calling to me. [...]
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Thank you to all who have been reading my blog. Since November, traffic has doubled. Also a thank you to Kurt Warner, retiring quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals. Kurt put God and family before fame. At an age when most quarterbacks have either made it or are backups, Kurt became a star. God gave him [...]
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Because I’m on Facebook, I see a lot of posts towards the end of the work week about people looking forward to the weekend. I understand the desire for Saturday to roll around…a time to sleep in, be with family, do something fun, etc. But I think that deep down, there is a disappointment with [...]
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