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Published: June 14, 2018

The most natural thing in the world is a father’s desire to pass his wisdom on to his children, but that’s not the most important thing. Good fathers want to guide their children to success. But that’s not it either. A good father wants to teach his child character and mold his son or daughter into the best person possible. Nope, still not it. The most important thing for a father to do is to love their children unconditionally. 

My father and I have disagreed on many things. I have made many mistakes that I would not have made if I had just listened to my dad. I have also been right about a few things that he never thought would work. But I never doubted, not even once, whether he loved me. That doubt doesn’t exist. It’s the best thing he ever did for my brother and me. Now, I see the same scenario playing out with my own children. The relationship between a father and his child shouldn’t be founded on who is right or wrong but on the unconditional love that a father has for his son or daughter and the unalterable knowledge that no matter what the circumstance, the father’s love is constant. 

Why is this so important? Because fathers, whether they are aware of it or not, model for their sons and daughters this most important trait of God. His love for us is faithful and unchangeable! It’s at the heart of His character. It defines who He is. John said He is love! How can Love not love? It’s impossible. A father should never allow anything to separate him from the love he has for his child. It’s a gift that nothing else can be compared to. The scripture says Love "always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres". No amount of wisdom or guidance can compare to that. 

Lynnae’s dad passed away over two years ago, but the love that he deposited in her heart is as real today as ever and she is constantly reminding me that it's the most important thing. It even lasts beyond the grave! Wow!

If you haven’t had the privilege of a loving father, I would love to introduce you to one.  That’s what this Sunday (Father’s Day) is all about. The love of our Father! The movie theme this week is “I Can Only Imagine”. The movie is amazing and I recommend seeing it!

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Published: June 06, 2018

I was talking with my oldest son Hampton last week about a young man who recently took his life. When you're a parent and hear of something like that, it's very scary. I told Hampton to always remember that no matter how bad things get, or how impossible a situation may seem, it's never too late for a comeback. There is always a way forward.

Jesus said, "I am the way" and He really is. There is one constant for every single person living in the world today. Jesus stands by, ready to step in at the very moment that we call His name. That doesn't mean we get the exact outcome we want every time, but He has our very best interest at heart. Where we think we know best, He really does know what's best for us. He wants to lead us into a life of freedom, joy, and peace. It can start at any time. It can start today, next week, or next year. Why wait?

The sooner you start your journey with God, the further you will go and the more blessed you'll be. So, the best time to start or restart is now. Don't let anything keep you from the future that God offers in a world that is constantly trying to draw us down a dead-end road. If you've gotten off track, the best time to re-engage is now. Most of us have to constantly correct our course and when we get out of bounds, we have to admit it and get back on course. Whatever it takes, our goal should be to possess every gift, every friendship and every blessing that God has purposed to give us.

Get started today. You can always email me, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
We welcome everyone and you'll never be put on the spot. See you Sunday!

- Rob

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Published: June 01, 2018

Have you ever felt out of place? Were you too dressed up or too dressed down? Did you show up without a gift or a dish to a party and you were embarrassed that you were the only one? Is there something that outwardly causes you shame? Are there inward wounds or scars that make you want to hide from all the “normal” people? If so, you are in good company. Jesus said, “If you’ve done it to the least of these, you’ve done it to me."

He is saying that He not only identifies with those who we would consider to be the least, but He is present with them. He is so close to the least, that an act of kindness performed for the one of them is a kindness shown to Him also. Jesus can identify. He was the only one of His kind in the world. No one identified with Him. How could they? He was all alone and away from home.

He knows what it’s like to be out of place and He welcomes all the misfits in the world to join Him at His table. He offers us all a place to call home, a place where there is unconditional love, help and healing from the pain of being ashamed. We can hold our heads up with confidence that even though we don’t deserve the grace God offers, we most certainly have it.

That is our focus this week as we take a look at the blockbuster movie, “The Greatest Showman.” I’m not a fan of musicals but I’m a fan of this one. While it’s not a one hundred percent accurate representation of the real story of PT Barnum, it is certainly a great story of the power of family. It shows what can happen when love is given a chance. Hope, joy and kindness spring forth in the atmosphere of love.

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Published: May 25, 2018

We were completely out of control! We shouldn’t have even gone down the river that day. The water was too high the rapids were too dangerous. It was less than two minutes into the rafting trip when the guide was thrown out of our raft. Two teenage girls from my youth group were also thrown out of the boat. I was the only one who still had a paddle and I was trying desperately to paddle to shore. I managed to get close enough to the bank to grab a limb but I couldn’t hold on. As the current continued to pull us downstream, I could see the rescue crew running down beside us on the bank. A well-trained young man threw me a rope. It was a lifeline - the exact thing needed at that moment to rescue me and four teenagers.

The rope was not the rescuer. It was the instrument that my rescuer used to save us that day. Have you ever been the instrument of someone’s rescue? Jesus is our Savior, but we are His instruments, His body, and hands that pull someone back from the brink. Maybe you’ve never thought about it, but you are the instrument that God will use in a certain place at a certain time to rescue someone.

I would definitely not be here and it’s possible that I wouldn't even be alive if God hadn’t sent a person to hold out the hand of salvation to me. My heart was broken. My life was in peril and it was as if God had scheduled my rescue on that certain day. A person walked into my life and I was saved!

God has never ceased to save me since. He saves me from all things large and small that threaten my soul. He saves me every year, every month and almost every day. He saved me today. I was discouraged and frustrated, and I allowed it to influence the way I dealt with one of my boys. Lynnae said, “I know you are frustrated, but we need to turn this ship around.” God was speaking to me. “Turn it around Rob. This is not the direction I’m leading you.” I apologized and once again, God saved me.

We are a family of lifelines. Sometimes we bring life to someone else and sometimes someone brings life to us. It’s a beautiful thing!