Friendship is a precious gift, as timeless as the love for the sitcom Friends, which inspired my daughter-in-law Jessica’s wedding theme. Just like the characters on the show, real-life friendships come with ups and downs but enrich our lives immeasurably. As Proverbs reminds us, true friends stick by us through all kinds of weather, making life’s journey sweeter and more meaningful. This new year, take a moment to reflect on your friendships—rekindle, repair, and cherish the bonds that make life brighter.

Click bait is a daily reality for those of us who go online. Everyone is vying for our attention. The algorithms quickly figure us out and give us what we want. Before we know it we are stuck in our own echo chambers viewing the world through a reality that we created. The reason I bring it up is because whether we want to admit it or not we are being influenced by the click bait we respond to. As followers of Jesus we should be on a mission to see the world the way Jesus saw it and still sees it. Jesus was not influenced by the world but rather was on a mission to save the world.

Every December, I take time to pray and ask God for a word to guide me through the upcoming year—a tradition inspired by a friend who shared her experiences with this practice. Over the years, I’ve come to see how these words—like “Believe” in 2020 or “Trust” in 2024—perfectly align with the challenges and blessings I encounter. Writing them down has helped me reflect on God’s faithfulness and wisdom, even when the meaning of the word wasn’t clear at first. And my word of the year for 2025 is, drum roll please…

I want to begin by thanking you for your support in 2024. It was an eventful and challenging year. One thing Karen and I love about this church is your obvious love for people. Whenever we have guest speakers they can’t say enough about how warm and friendly our church is. However it goes beyond that. You guys take it to the next level. Many of you don’t just attend our church but you are the church.

Life is full of plans, but what happens when God's plans differ from ours? In the Bible, Abraham and Luke experienced life-changing shifts when they said yes to God's unexpected call. Similarly, my own carefully crafted life plans took unexpected turns when I chose to follow Jesus. Though the journey hasn't always been easy, God's plans have proven far better than anything I could have imagined.

It is our pleasure to welcome Spencer Elliott as our new Worship Leader to the PLC team. In a recent interview, he shared his professional journey, personal inspirations, and goals for the future.

How thankful are you, really? In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, we’re reminded to be thankful in all circumstances, a practice that requires intentional effort—like building muscle memory. Gratitude not only aligns us with God’s will but also rewires our minds for joy, creativity, and contentment. By training our "thankfulness muscles" daily, we can embrace the blessings we have, resist envy, and live a more fulfilled life.

I’ve been a pastor for 35 years and in that time I’ve done my fair share of funerals and memorials. One of the highlights of such occasions is the eulogy. I’ve often thought to myself as the eulogy is being shared, “I wish the deceased were here to hear all these wonderful things that are being said about them.” Why wait until someone is gone to tell them how much they mean to you? I realized the importance of sharing those heartfelt words now, while our loved ones can hear them. A simple phone call to express gratitude and love can become a precious memory for both you and them. Don’t let the opportunity slip away—pick up the phone and share your “pre-death eulogy” today.

In Luke 10, we find a powerful story of two sisters, Martha and Mary, hosting Jesus in their home. While Martha busies herself with preparations, Mary chooses to sit at Jesus’ feet, soaking in His teaching. When Martha complains, Jesus gently reminds her—and us—that prioritizing His presence over distractions is the better choice. This timeless lesson challenges us to set aside life’s busyness and make room for intentional moments with Jesus, empowering us to navigate life with greater peace and purpose.

If you look at the back of our paper currency it says, “In God We Trust.” Of course a lot of people who live in our country not only do not trust God but many don’t believe in God. I think it’s great that our money says, "In God we Trust" but the bigger question for those of us who claim to have a relationship with Jesus is do we really trust God? In Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV) it says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

I have a friend whose father was a very popular athletic coach at Point Loma High School, the same high school my kids attended. Although I met this coach a couple of times I never had the opportunity to really get to know him. I attended this coach's memorial service at the invitation of his daughter. I was moved by the wonderful things people said about him. One of the things said about him by one of his family members is that whenever someone hurt themselves whether on the athletic field or pretty much anywhere he would say, “walk it off.” There were lots of laughs shared about his walk it off advice but it got me thinking about the wisdom of those words.

The presidential election is next Tuesday. We are going to have a new president. As a church we do not enforce any candidates but if Jesus were running we would endorse him for sure! However our elections go, half the country will be excited about it and half the country will be upset, angry, ambivalent, crushed, or possibly relieved the whole thing is over. The bigger question is are you going to be okay?

There’s something special about the energy and enthusiasm of a college football game, and it reminds me how important it is to have cheerleaders in our lives. My wife, Karen, has always been my personal cheerleader, lifting me up when I’m feeling down. Even when we feel like we're losing, we all need someone to cheer us on, much like Barnabas did for the early church. Whether you're needing encouragement or able to give it, there's always an opportunity to be a cheerleader for someone else.

Tom Petty's song The Waiting perfectly captures the frustration of patience, something I’ve always struggled with. From childhood impatience in the backseat to adult irritation at stoplights, waiting has never been easy for me. Yet, in the kingdom of God, waiting holds deep significance—sometimes God's answer is simply "not now." Isaiah 40:31 reminds us that those who wait on the Lord will find renewed strength, a powerful truth that helps us endure life's delays with faith.

Fear is a natural human response, sometimes necessary to protect us, like when we encounter immediate danger. However, most of our daily fears stem from personal, relational, or global issues, often amplified by constant notifications from our smartphones. While it’s important to stay informed, too much negative input can overshadow even the best of days, elevating stress and anxiety. To combat fear, we need to embrace daily practices like prayer, scripture reading, and limiting distractions, which help us trust in God's love and live more peacefully. 

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is when Jesus invites Andrew and his brother Peter to come and follow him. After Andrew and Peter accept Jesus’s invitation, Jesus walks a little further down the shoreline and invites James and his brother John to follow him. They all readily accept the invitation to follow Jesus and as they say, the rest is history. I wonder how many times those disciples reflected on that moment, the moment that changed everything. Just for a moment think about some of the things you were invited to that you will forever be grateful for.

Last Sunday, my son Stevie married his beautiful bride, Jessica, and I had the privilege of performing the ceremony. Despite my best efforts to stay composed, I made a humorous mistake by asking, "Who gives this man to be married to this woman?" instead of the usual question. Everyone burst into laughter, which helped ease my emotions, and the rest of the ceremony flowed beautifully. The celebration that followed was like a taste of heaven, surrounded by loved ones, delicious food, and joyful moments that reminded me of the eternal wedding feast described in the Bible.

Growing up in church, I often heard the word "sanctified" used in sermons and Sunday School, but it wasn't until later that I fully understood its meaning—being set apart for God's purpose. Jesus emphasizes this in John 17:16-19, where He prays for His followers to be sanctified by truth. Sanctification, however, is not an instant transformation; it's a progressive process that requires the help of the Holy Spirit as we strive to live differently from the world. Throughout my own journey, I’ve experienced the challenges of sanctification, but I’ve also found joy and freedom as I continue growing in Christ.

My oldest son Steve Junior, everyone calls him Stevie, is getting married on September 15th. I could not be more happy for him and our future daughter in law, Jessica. Stevie and I are like best friends. Our love language is surfing, the Padres, and NFL football. We were Charger fans until they moved to LA, now we are 49er fans. Stevie and I have done some traveling together. We have been to Costa Rica several times, Nicaragua, Mexico, three Hawaiian Islands, and more recently Bali. Most of our trips revolved around surfing but we did missions work in Nicaragua, Mexico, and Costa Rica.

When a friend shared her story of sending her teenage daughter to a church youth group, the unexpected conversation about identity left her concerned. In today's culture, identity issues are creating confusion, even within the church. While it's important to celebrate our differences, our primary identity as followers of Christ should remain rooted in Him. As the culture wars intensify, we must remember that our allegiance to Jesus should guide our actions and interactions, especially in challenging times.