Have you ever felt forgotten? Abandoned? Neglected? That no one cares? We have "friends" but they have not called, texted or Facebooked us. We've had few "likes" on our Facebook or Instagram posts and none from those who mean the most to us. We've all probably been there a few times in our lives. We find ourselves self absorbed. Life has become all about us. Our narcissism has risen to a whole new unhealthy level. One of the greatest tools of Satan is to serve up a pity party pill. He loves to have us become consumed with our own... Continue reading

God is always on the move! He is constantly desiring to bring all of his children into a greater knowledge and deeper relationship with him. And so he challenges and directs the lives of all of us to bring about his greatest purpose...for us to know him. By knowing him God wishes for us to fall more deeply in love with him. As I am reading through the first two books of the Bible this past week, the stories God has left behind for us are a reminder of the trouble we have in knowing God and in trusting him.... Continue reading

I continue to be amazed at what God does. Almost everyday I notice a few things (God does many things everyday that I do not notice...my fault, not God's) that God performs to wake me up to His awesomeness. One such occurrence happened a few weeks ago and I continue to be astonished. As many of you know, the church members of Hidden Valley Church, voted on October 8th, to dissolve their congregation as an entity, and to join the vision and mission of New Vintage Church. They also chose to give NVC their debt-free building and assets. Wow! Everyone... Continue reading

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Last evening I heard those terrible words "my husband died." My heart sank. I was afraid that was the message I would hear, but the message still stung. She was my back yard neighbor. Her husband of almost 31 years had ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease and suddenly took a turn for the worse about a week ago. My wife encountered our back yard neighbor a few weeks ago. The neighbor had been shooting her BB gun in an attempt to kill or scare ground squirrels that were digging holes in her backyard. The reason my wife encountered her was... Continue reading

I'm watching the TV shows that replay the details of September 11, 2001. It is amazing the information that is now available as broadcasts have prepared for the 10 year anniversay. I continue to be shocked at what our country went through on that day. The planning. The preparation. The evil to destroy lives. It is a day that I'll never forget. Where I was. What I saw. The feelings I can't even describe. And I was 3000 miles away. I've been through enough of my own tragedies and difficulties, but nothing like what those in Pennsylvania, New York and... Continue reading

Each fall season brings a change in weather patterns around the globe as the sun slips southward. Cooler temperatures take shape in most areas of the country and storms begin to form in the waters from Africa to America. The East coast saw it's first major storm of the year last weekend as Irene moved northward and more storms are forming. Some reach land and others fall of into the sea from which they began. I am not a meteorologist nor know much about weather, but always love to watch the power of the world's forces God has made. God... Continue reading

Can your church change? I've been a part of a few churches in my life. Some as a child, teen, college and as an adult. Some people have been only a part of a single church. They were born in that church and have never or rarely left. Some churches change preachers, elders, praise team or song leaders. Some churches rearrange the seats, stage, lighting, sound equipment and lobby. Some sell their building and move to new locations. But when I ask the question about change, what I'm referring to is real change. Repentance kind of change. I've been heading... Continue reading

Everyday life begins as newborn babies come into God's world, and each day, others breath their last breath...hearts stop. Life ends. As each life begins, history begins to be made. Pictures are taken. Memories are made. Soon language begins to take shape and as a child grows independence begins to occur. The years pass quickly as soon the child becomes a teen and then an adult. Adults most often meet a spouse-to-be, marry and begin the process again as a baby is born. As life goes on we grow older towards leaving this life to begin a new life either... Continue reading

How big is YOUR God? Is he big enough to stop cancer? Big enough to shut down horrible rebel leaders? Big enough to stabilize the stock market? Big enough to give you a better job? Big enough to heal your broken marriage? Big enough to raise your children? Big enough to save your company? Big enough to save your church? For me, and the God I read about in the Bible, my God is able to do all those things and much more. The God of the Bible is the creator of the Universe...the world...my life. The God of the... Continue reading

When I was in 9th grade I was running track as a freshman at Middletown High School in Middletown, R.I. We did not have that many runners and so many of us had to run or participate in various races. I competed in the high jump, 220 yard dash and mile. I was not a long distance runner. I hated to run any kind of long distance. My dad was an everyday mile runner. He’d come home after work, change clothes and run his mile through the island neighborhood. My brother and I would often get on our bikes and... Continue reading

Fear can capture a heart and mind and cause a person to see and hear things that are not true. Fear can stop a person from engaging in life. Fear can keep a person from going out of their home or from wanting to overcome life threatening problems or issues. Fear can bring about severe OCD issues. The mind is a powerful tool God gave each of us and fear can bring about deadly destruction. God does not want us to be afraid of many things he has made. God does want us to be aware of things that can... Continue reading

Stick-to-it-evness! A word I hear often. A word most people would like to be called. A word we like when it is used of us and a word we hate when it is in an area where we do not excel. A word each of us has at least one area where it cannot be used. Another word like it is perseverance. Perseverance is a word we each like used about us and feel good about and hate in other personal areas. Each of us have areas in which we excel and others in which we struggle. NO ONE has... Continue reading

What? The dow is below 11,000 now! I watched it drop below 12,000 last week. Wow! What is going on? Why is there so much fear? Is it a Republican problem? Democratic? Tea Party? Presidential? Is it a global fear over what is happening in Iraq or Afghanistan? Is it a worry about the fighting going on in Egypt or Syria? I do not have the answer, but regardless of the worries and fears with investors around the world, life does go on. Students still go to school. Those in the work force still go to their jobs. Those who... Continue reading

In the next few days, classmates from Reynoldsburg High School in Reynoldsburg, OH will gather to remember the old and catch up on 35 years of the new. I will not be able to attend, but many of my classmates will drive and fly many hours to be a part of this scene. Many hugs, kisses, and pictures will be passed around as memories fly. I spent the last 3 years of my high school life in Reynoldsburg with many wonderful memories. Later this month, classmates from Middletown High School in Middletown, RI will gather as well to do the... Continue reading

The drama going on in Washington as I write, is the taking of the vote to pass a resolution to raise the national debt ceiling. My fellow countrymen and women are taking sides as to if this is a good resolution. We Americans are tired of irrational spending and taxes. We are exhausted over the spending until it comes to something we value. Most of us don't like others deciding how to spend our money. So what can I do about it? I can make calls, send emails, and basically let my representatives know what I believe in. And so... Continue reading

I love to receive forgiveness, but often am reluctant to give it. When I have created a blunder in a relationship I hate the debt I've created. There is an ache in my soul that reminds me I have fallen short, sinned, created a hurt feeling in another person. Depending on the situation, I may stiffen my neck initially, but then move towards a softened heart. Offering forgiveness is a whole other matter. Again, depending on my relationship with the offender, my forgiveness barometer will vary. If I have a deep affection for the person I will usually drop the... Continue reading

15 years ago today I married the woman of my dreams. I still live in la la land everyday. I still am thrilled when she comes home or when she walks out of the bedroom in the morning. I love reaching over in the middle of the night to touch her skin. I love it when she cuddles next to me on the couch or holds my hand while we walk down the street. I love to watch her while she is working on a project or making coffee. I am in love. It is a feeling. It is logical.... Continue reading

Save my child! The mother cries out to doctors and nurses as her son is rushed into the hospital..."save my child!" "I don't understand what you're telling me, just save my child." Most parents never want to see their child in pain or agony. Most parents would do anything to keep their child from pain. Many of the new laws with playground equipment and bike helmets come because a child was hurt while playing. We tend to go about our days providing and taking care of those entrusted to us. We get them up or they get us up. We... Continue reading

One of the most disturbing situations in life is to see a child being abused, hurt or taken advantage of. We despise child molesters and those who intentionally hurt defenseless children. We cringe reading stories of Mothers who drown her children or Father's who verbally abuse his sons and daughters. God does too! He has a special warning in scripture for those who would hurt a child..."it would be better for him if he had a milestone tied around his neck and dropped into the sea." It appears that hell will have a special torture chamber for those who curse... Continue reading

Casey Anthony will walk from a prison cell on July 13, 2011 after having served her time for lying to police authorities on several matters. Her 2 year old daughter is dead and the killer is still free. I do not know whether Casey killed her daughter. I do not know who killed her daughter, but when you look at the pieces of evidence, I do know the family dynamic helped create a system of lies and deceit. We are all products of our upbringing. No parent is perfect, but all do affect their children's lives. In most family units,... Continue reading

I'm going to be a university teacher! I have cleared all of the hurdles to become a teacher at the University of Phoenix and begin certification training in a couple of weeks. It is a part-time teaching role while I continue my full-time job as Executive and Growth Group Minister at New Vintage Church. I'll be begin teaching classes on Management and Organization as that is the area of my Master's Degree. The process includes a background check, 5 hour interview process that includes teaching a class for 15 minutes, essay and many other processes. A good friend of mine,... Continue reading

Want to quit? Ready to give up? Would you love to walk in Monday morning and resign? Would you like to come home and tell your spouse off? Would you like to tell your children they are ungrateful? Would you like to tell your church, get off my back? Discouragement! It is a reality. It is not about just thinking good thoughts or putting on a smile. Living a positive life is not about reading self-help books or just looking beyond the problems. Discouragement can take it's toll on people. And it may not manifest itself in leaving or saying... Continue reading

What is the best way to deal with relational pain? All of us have people who have hurt us. All of us have close friends and family who have said things or done acts that have affected our emotional equilibrium. We have felt out of balance. Those memories have affected sleep. Even the thought of the person who brought hurt makes our heart pound and quickens our breath. A few months ago, a good friend of mine asked me to write about this matter. I've thought often about this issue as it is a matter every person deals with. All... Continue reading

Happy Father's Day! At New Vintage Church we've been preparing to honor Dad's in some special ways. My oldest son, Matt has been doing video production for a couple of years and did this video for NVC. It is the best I've ever seen (not prejudice at all). Watch and enjoy. Continue reading