In Revelation 4 we see a picture of heaven and the worship around the throne of God. There are some intense displays of creativity and passion. One particular aspect I want to bring attention to is the example set by the Elders seated around the throne of God. It says they are sitting on thrones themselves, dressed in white with … Read More
The View from the Top – John Bidaurreta
I recently got back from a camping trip; my guy-friends and I snowshoed up to a backcountry cabin near Lake Tahoe. It took us four hours to make it up to the mountain cabin with all our gear and supplies. It was a brutal task that tested us both physically and mentally. There were several times when I thought to myself, “why did I agree … Read More
Choices That Matter – Dustin Box
It’s 6:00 am, your alarm goes off, and your first thought is “another day of the same.” You get up, get yourself ready, perhaps you have kids you need to get ready and out the door to school. Maybe you need to walk the dog before you leave for work. Perhaps you have some bills that need to be … Read More
Forgiven to Forgive – Andrev Baltazar
Christmas is a time of giving for most families. Parents work hard to get extra money for the gifts that they expect to give their kids. Spouses struggle to think of a worthy gift for their loved one that also fits their budget, without sacrificing quality. Kids, well, they open the gifts given by the parents/adults. Christmas is really the … Read More
Just Wondering – Caleb Klinge
If there’s anything that causes wonder, it’s the birth of a newborn baby. I was there for the birth of both of my children and it’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen. I think that’s why birth announcements are so special. Luke 1 is the Birth Announcement chapter. Normally, when a couple is pregnant, they get the honors of … Read More
Let the Fire Fall – Rachel Klinge
During summer evenings for many decades, visitors would gather on the Yosemite Valley floor and cry out, “Is the fire ready?” An answer would then be shouted down from the top of Glacier point, towering 3,200 feet above the valley floor, “The fire is ready!” In turn the spectators would cry, “Let the Fire Fall!” Which was then followed by, … Read More
Jesus & Fun – Dustin Box
Marked by the annual release of the Pumpkin Spice Latte, the holidays are officially here…at least for me anyway. This is my favorite time of the year. The best food, dinners, desserts, parties, warm clothes, fireplaces – the list goes on. Sometimes we forget that God created us with a capacity and desire for FUN. This looks different for everyone, … Read More
Disciples – Andrev Baltazar
Recently, I have been wondering how Peter, a disciple of Jesus, would have fared in this generation in terms of effectiveness. Would Peter or John be wearing skinny jeans, sporting a tailored beard, and preaching with iPads? With the current outcry for the church to adapt to the changing world, we have seen the churches getting “edgy and professionalized” so … Read More
Alignment by John Bidaurreta
Have you ever hit a nasty pothole with your car by accident? You did not see it coming or did not have time to swerve around it, and you ended up hitting it dead on. The whole car catch’s air and, as result, there is a loud boom sound upon impact. This recently happened to my wife, Katia, while she was driving on the freeway. Thankfully she … Read More
You Will Be Like a Watered Garden – Caleb Klinge
When we first moved into our house here in Novato in 2003, we inherited at least 8 mature fruit trees. Our favorite trees are the two Golden Delicious apples trees in our front yard. Aside from annual pruning, we’ve never really done much to them. They’ve just been fruitful, year after year, producing lots of apples that are, well, delicious. … Read More