Life Blog

Last week, on Valentine’s Day, most of us were forced to think about love one way or another. The advertisements and sitcoms were hard to miss as everything around us turned red. Few western traditions have crossed other cultural divides around the world like ... [ more ]

This Word was given on October 16, 2011 at the end of the meeting with our guest and friend Shawn Bolz. We really feel that the timing of this word is now, and we wanted to highlight it in the lifeblog. Please take a ... [ more ]

In the suburbs of Sacramento, the unmistakable sound of ‘Pop Goes the Weasel’ and ‘The Entertainer’ filters through the air, as three little girls excitedly clamor out of their white Spanish style house in much anticipation of seeing the music truck pass by.  They ... [ more ]

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law (Galatians. 5:22 & 23). First and foremost change comes through studying God’s word and implementing it into our lives through prayer and walking in the spirit. Below are some ... [ more ]

Have you ever received the perfect Christmas gift without ever asking for it? When I was 8 years old, I woke up on Christmas morning and found a brand new red Schwinn bicycle. I had outgrown my first kiddie bicycle, and my knees would ... [ more ]

“God is Good…All the Time!” Isaac Munene No doubt we have all heard someone say, “If God is good, why would he allow this tragedy or difficulty to happen?” We all go through seasons when our faith in the goodness of God is challenged ... [ more ]

Have you ever lost your keys? Keys are something that we take for granted until they’re missing and we’re stuck. Rachel and I have a very similar set of keys, and sometimes one of us will mistakenly leave the house with both sets. If ... [ more ]

A Second Touch (Mark 8:22-26) In the gospel of Mark, a blind man from Bethsaida is brought to Jesus for healing.  There is no record of this blind man having an expectation or desire for this. Others asked on his behalf, and Jesus responded by ... [ more ]

I was thinking this week about all the different things you could do and programs you could implement to grow a church. But now that I’ve been a youth pastor for almost two years, I realize Jesus is really into numbers and that every ... [ more ]

Fire has been called the foundation of human civilization, and there are few things more vital than starting and maintaining one when you’re in a survival situation. I believe there is a similar truth in the spirit. The Fire of the Holy Spirit is ... [ more ]

In the Middle East, grudges last not for years, but for generations. For example, the Crusades are still remembered with intensity by some groups, although they occurred long ago. What about you and me? How long are we willing to hang on to past ... [ more ]

A few years ago while taking a trip to Brazil, we got delayed in the security line and missed our flight, but our luggage did make the plane. The next flight did not leave until early the following day, so I had a lot ... [ more ]

Teenagers Experiencing True Freedom May 4, 2012 – By Milt Hodges, Student Ministry Pastor @New Life Can teenagers heading in the wrong direction find true freedom through Jesus and be transformed in a moment? Yesterday, I was reflecting on a teenage girl who attends ... [ more ]

Now, Now, Now! That’s what the Lord has been emphasizing to us over the past two weeks. The events of the last 12-15 days have left me convinced that there is a fresh move of God coming to the San Francisco Bay Area and ... [ more ]

In the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Tanzanian runner John Stephen Ahkwari was the last runner in the marathon. He finished about an hour and a half after the winner, practically carrying his leg, as it was so bloodied and bandaged.  He was asked ... [ more ]

Our culture’s thinking about sex has changed. “Hooking up” is the norm, and virgins are viewed as freaks. It’s common to hear people talk about the need to discover whether they are sexually compatible before making a long-term commitment. People have bought-in to the ... [ more ]

An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.0 shook the San Francisco Bay Area at 5:33 a.m. on Monday, March 5, 2012. Thankfully, no damages or injuries have been reported. One resident tweeted, “All of San Francisco just woke up, tweeted, and are now going ... [ more ]

Who You Follow Impacts Who Follows You With Twitter you can have followers, and be a follower. The same is true about life. It brings up several important questions: Who are you following? Who is following you? Where are the people you’are following leading ... [ more ]

When I was a child, my family would take many road trips for our  summer vacations.  One vacation that I remember clearly was a visit to Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California.  I was impressed by the opulence of Hearst Castle.  It boasts of ... [ more ]

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere I go….”, the television ads, the malls packed with shoppers, Christmas lights everywhere, fir trees tied on top of cars, etc. Yes, it’s that time of the year again. When little kids are making wishes ... [ more ]