Valley Shepherd

There have been a few nights the past two weeks when there has been incredible thunder and lightning storms. I love watching the lightning and hearing the rain and thunder from the comfort of my home. Last night as I watched the flashes of lightning and heard the following deep cracking sound of thunder I [...]

Father’s day is this weekend. Believe it or not I can still remember, quite vividly, the day I became a father. The memory is fresh due to the fact that my first born child, Emily, graduated just a couple weeks ago. Now that I think about it a bit – maybe a better way to [...]

AN INTERESTING DAY… I had an interesting experience this afternoon. I suppose it was more than just “interesting”…in fact, I don’t think it a stretch to say it was a “holy” experience… “holy” in the sense that I saw the mysterious yet marvelous ways of the Lord in it. It began with stepping into the [...]

Remembering To Forget One of the great examples of someone in the Bible who had a wonderful “forgetter”, is Joseph. He did not have dementia or any other mental impairment, but was able, by the power of God , not to hold grudges. This is all the more amazing when you realize that his brothers [...]

Pick me, pick me! I have learned growing up (and in children’s ministry) that everyone loves to get picked. Whether it is getting picked to win a door prize, picked in a game, or even something totally embarrassing, most of us enjoy being picked. It’s the same thing at recess when kids pick for their [...]

Missed Opportunities “One of the disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came.” John 20:24 Can you imagine what Thomas must have felt when the disciples came to Him full of joy, having seen the risen Lord? The Christian journey is one that is full of opportunity and joy. All [...]

I was thinking about my father on my drive in to work today. Some of my fondest memories are of listening to my dad preach. I don’t remember being fond of it at the time – but knowing what I know now I look back and smile. One message in particular popped into my head [...]

REDEEMED I am currently in the process of applying for some additional life insurance—simply one aspect of the personal finance assessment coming out of my wife and my participation recently in Financial Peace University (a great program which I recommend, by the way!). So, in applying for this additional life insurance, I had to submit [...]

Now what? Now that our Upward Sports league is over, a lot of people have asked me what I have been doing with all my extra time. My thought is “well let’s see, there is Easter, VBS, Boys Camp, or other summer activities,” but I end up saying, “not a whole lot!” Now that I [...]

Have you ever had one of those days when you feel like everything is going against you? When all of your efforts are falling short and your cries for help are falling on deaf ears? When you turn to God, whether it’s your first instinct or last resort, and you feel as though He is [...]