Fly Fishing Nor Cal
I specialize in fly fishing from a drift boat on the Lower Sacramento or wading the Upper Sacramento RiverNorthern California has some of the best fly fishing in the United States without the crowds that many of the rivers in Montana, Colorado, and Alaska attract. With year-round fisheries for trout, steelhead, striper, and more, it’s hard to imagine a better location for those who love fly fishing!
If you want to get out, you can book me through Confluence Outfitters.
The Response of Worship
Clarence Benson writes, "True worship creates response in the worshiper. As the face of Moses shone after his communion with God (Exod. 34:29–30), so the radiance of heaven will be manifest in the life of the true worshiper. In fact, there is no higher, deeper, or...
Practicing Affirmation, by Sam Crabtree
When I'm providing pastoral counseling for married couples, I generally spend some time talking about the "emotional bank account" that many have found helpful. The illustration is that every human heart is like a bank account. And as with every other bank account, it...
The Sovereign “Heart-Opening” and the Human Response
I've had my share of theological discussions about the sovereignty of God and human responsibility, or the debate on whether one is a Calvinist or an Arminian. Everyone has their verses that they bring to the table and their perspective and opinion and experiences and...
Idolatry in the Heart of Nazi Germany: The Contrast Between Bonhoeffer and Hitler
As I've been reflecting more and more on the contrast between worship and idolatry, I'm convinced that those two concepts are most certainly two of the most fascinating motifs in Scripture. Worship is ascribed to the Lord; idolatry is ascribed to all else. If Christ...
Why am I driving to Joplin, MO to help tornado victims?
So in the past two days I went from minding my own business and watching the news about the devastation that occurred in Joplin, MO due to a tornado to sitting in a van headed there. What happened? Why am I going there? Well, the story is somewhat fascinating because...
“Pastor, Don’t Shepherd Problems, Shepherd People!”
While I'm sure that one's gifting and training plays a role in what is more difficult or easy, I think all would agree that counseling can be one of the most difficult aspects of being a pastor. Seminary and books simply can not prepare you for some of the things that...
Oaths, Manipulation, Promises, Intentions, & Character
For as long as I can remember, Matthew 5:33-37 has been extremely difficult for me to wrap my mind around. Well, it’s not so much difficult to understand, because Jesus’ is pretty clear. He says what He means and He means what He says, but I’ve struggled with how this...
Whose Image Will You Become Like?: Idolatry & Christ Conformity
Have you ever heard the statement, "we become like what we worship"? I know that I have said it many times and I'll probably say it many more times. But we often either hear things or say things without fully comprehending what is being stated. So is the connection...
The Three Types of People Who Are Afraid of Fellowship
I've got five years of raw data on this subject because I've been pastoring for that many years now. Wait, I've got far more than five years worth of data. Scratch that. Let's start over. I've been in Evangelical churches for the vast majority of my life and I've...
The Nazi German Concept of a “National Reich Church”
As I've been reading through Metaxas' Bonhoeffer, I've been increasingly intrigued by the "mob mentality" that seemed to be sweeping through Germany shortly after Hitler was made Führer (a German concept for supreme leader). Hitler's ambition was to eventually rid...
