I had lunch today with a man who has incurable brain cancer. He looks like a blonde-haired Jesus. In fact, he looks like a picture of health. He was beaming with joy. His name is Matt Henry. Matt was living his best life at 36 years old when brain cancer struck. They gave him three years to live. That was nine years ago. I won’t go into all the details because he’s coming to our church to share his story in January.

As I listened to Matt’s story over some good Mexican food, I was struck by his love for life. Matt takes it day by day, knowing any day could be his last day. I think that’s a great way to live—but most of us don’t, including me. I mean, I try, but all too often I get bogged down by the pressures of life.

What happens when life doesn’t turn out the way we hoped and we find ourselves frustrated with God? Jonah was angry that God showed mercy to people he thought didn’t deserve it, reminding us that His grace often offends our sense of fairness. Pastor Steve shared that real faith begins when we let God be God and invite Him into our disappointment instead of running from Him. God can handle our honesty, confusion, and even anger—He just wants to meet us in it. Jonah’s story challenges us to see others through God’s eyes and to extend the same mercy we’ve freely received.

I think I can safely say most people care a lot about their image. Some people—usually high-profile people—have an image consultant. Most of us are our own image consultants. Of course, if you’re married or have a significant other, you might get some help managing your image.

Did you know that God has an image? Jesus modeled His Father’s image throughout His life. Jesus said in John 14:9 (NLT), “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” If the goal is to align our image with Jesus—and if you are a Christian, that should be the goal—what does that mean concerning how we manage our image?

In Jonah – Part 3: Second Chance, Pastor Steve shared how God’s grace gives us opportunities to begin again, even after disobedience. Jonah finally obeyed God’s call, and his second chance led to revival in one of the most corrupt cities in history. Pastor Steve reminded us that God’s discipline isn’t punishment—it’s His way of steering us back on course. When we stop being stubborn and start obeying without delay, God brings blessing and purpose into our lives. No one is beyond His reach, and His kindness is always meant to lead us toward repentance and renewal.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be? I would love to be able to make myself invisible. I’d like to think that I would use my superpower for good—but knowing myself, I’m sure that occasionally I might have some fun with it.

You know what’s not fun? Being invisible when you want to be visible. You want to be seen, but people look past you as if you don’t exist. What if we had the superpower to make invisible people visible? Actually, we don’t need a superpower to make that happen. There are invisible people all around us. If we open our eyes, we might actually see them.

In Jonah – Part 2: God Doesn’t Run Away from Runaways, Pastor Steve reminded us that even when we run from God, He never runs from us. From inside the fish, Jonah discovered that no place is too dark or too far for God to hear our prayers. Pastor Steve shared that prayer doesn’t require fancy words or perfect settings — it just needs honesty and humility. When we stop blaming others and submit to God’s rescue plan, He brings forgiveness and new beginnings. God’s grace is deeper than our rebellion and always ready to pull us back to shore.

I’ve always loved fruit, especially the kind that comes with summer. Back when Karen and I lived in Northern California, we were surrounded by fresh fruit stands, and the flavor was unforgettable. The Bible also uses fruit as a metaphor in powerful ways, describing qualities that reflect Christ’s character. When I think about those qualities, I sometimes imagine them shifting and changing, almost like something you might track or measure. Some seem strong one day but weaker the next, while others quietly grow in the background. It makes me wonder what it looks like to keep an eye on those changes in daily life.

We launched our new Jonah series with Pastor Steve teaching from chapter 1—a powerful reminder that running from God always costs more than we expect. Jonah fled in the opposite direction of God’s call, only to face a violent storm and three days inside a great fish. Pastor Steve explained that when we drift, we silence God’s voice, strain relationships, and pay a higher price than planned. Yet God relentlessly pursues us with mercy, sending storms and people who speak truth to bring us back. If you sense a storm in your life, consider where God might be calling you to return.

My wife Karen and I just celebrated 45 years of marriage. I still remember the day I met her like it was yesterday. She was wearing a sundress. She had a great tan and her hair was long and beautiful. The first time I saw her was on my college graduation day. I was making my way to the auditorium where the ceremony was taking place. From a distance I saw a couple of friends talking to this creature of beauty. I made a beeline toward them to get a closer look.

Guest pastor Logan Mabe closed our When in Romans series with a powerful reminder from Romans 15: it’s all about Jesus. He highlighted four key truths: Jesus is our example to follow, He is for all people, He unifies the church, and He alone gives real hope, joy, and peace. Logan urged us to keep the essentials central, hold differences with grace, and treat preferences lightly. True unity comes from Christ, not culture or style. As you reflect this week, ask where you need to lean into His example and His peace.

Last week was very emotional for me. I was sad that someone I respected, Charlie Kirk, was assassinated. However, the response to his murder hit me even harder. People celebrating his death and saying horrible things about him made me question our common humanity.

A friend of mine put into words what I wanted to say but was too emotionally exhausted to say. His words accurately reflect my thoughts and feelings. Please read the words of my friend, James R. Braddy.

Jesus prayed that His followers “may be one” (John 17:22-23), yet the church has struggled with division since the first century. In Romans 14–15, Paul calls believers to stop judging one another and to honor God even when convictions differ. Some ate only vegetables, others enjoyed all foods; some observed special days, others treated every day alike—each seeking to please the Lord. Pastor Steve reminded us that where Scripture is silent, we follow our own conscience but never use freedom to cause another believer to stumble. Modern debates—music, tattoos, alcohol, parenting, politics—mirror those ancient tensions. Unity, not uniformity, shows the world Christ’s love and invites us to build each other up in peace.

Back in the 1960s there was a show called The Time Tunnel, about a man who built a machine to travel back in time—though he never knew where he would end up. One day he might find himself in the middle of the French Revolution, the next at a 1920s party suddenly raided because of prohibition.

That show made me wonder: what if prayer could be a kind of time travel? Most of us move so quickly through life that we rarely pause to appreciate what God has already done.

Time tunnel prayers aren’t about wishing for the “good old days.” They’re about remembering how God has been present in every season of our lives, even when we didn’t realize it.

What might you discover if you took your own trip through the time tunnel?

In Romans 13, Paul challenges us with the principle of respecting governing authorities. All authority ultimately comes from God, and while we may not always agree with leaders, we are called to honor their role in maintaining order. Paul reminds us that the government’s role is to protect society, and even paying taxes is part of being a good citizen. Yet, when human laws conflict with God’s higher law, Scripture gives examples of faithful disobedience. Above all, we are urged to pray for our leaders so that we may live peaceful and godly lives. As Christians, we are called to be the salt and light of the world, engaging society with honor and faith.

Over the last few years, I’ve become painfully aware of inflation. Almost everything from groceries to real estate has gone up in price.

But one thing hasn’t: encouragement. Proverbs 12:25 says, “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.”

Many people carry heavy burdens, and your words of encouragement might be what helps them through a tough stretch of life.

In Part 11 of our When In Romans series, Pastor Steve shared how we are called to be the light in a world full of darkness. From Romans 12, Paul gives us practical ways to shine: offer our bodies as living sacrifices, renew our minds daily, and live securely in our God-given identity. He reminds us that the church is like a body—unified, diverse, and stronger when every part is working together. Paul also lays out what love looks like in action: sincere, generous, patient, and peace-seeking. When we live this way, we don’t just talk about light—we become it.

At 27 years old, I was working at a church in Northern California, and it wasn’t going well. When the church eventually let me go, I was almost relieved. My wife and I moved to Santa Cruz, where she quickly found work, and I started collecting unemployment. We lived near one of my favorite surf breaks, and soon I was surfing every day, sometimes twice a day. At first, it felt like living the dream—coffee, waves, naps, and long surf sessions. But after several months, my happiness began to fade. I discovered something unexpected about all play and no work…

This past Sunday, we welcomed Pastor Darrel Larson, founder of Give Clean Water. He reminded us through Mark 6 that God can do extraordinary things when we simply offer what we have—just as Jesus fed thousands with five loaves and two fish. Darrel also shared the story of how Give Clean Water began in Fiji and has now provided access to clean drinking water for over 29 million people worldwide. Through Pacific Life Church’s support, two villages in Fiji experienced life-changing results: improved health, reduced medical costs, and children back in school. The challenge for us is clear: use what we have, love our neighbors, and live as part of “Team Sheep” (Matthew 25). Join us this Sunday as we resume our series When In Romans.

Costa Rica has long been a favorite destination for our family. On one trip, after helping a pastor with a mission project, we returned from dinner to find our rental car broken into — and our surfboards stolen. The pastor told us we’d never see them again, but I chose to pray with my son Stevie, asking God to do what seemed impossible.

The next morning, as we were leaving town, Stevie suddenly spotted something on the road that made us turn the car around. What followed was an unforgettable series of events that left no doubt in our minds that God sees us, cares for us, and still works miracles today.

In Romans 9–11, Paul walks us through Israel’s past, present, and future, showing that even when people are unfaithful, God remains faithful. He reminds us that salvation doesn’t come by heritage or works but through faith in Christ alone. While many in Israel stumbled over Jesus as the Messiah, God extended His promise to the Gentiles as well. Paul assures us that God has not abandoned Israel—His promises are unshakable, and His call can never be withdrawn. These chapters remind us to trust God’s faithfulness, share the Good News, and continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.