Hello Pacific Life Church family.

I am so thankful for all those who have supported Pacific Life Church financially and with your time and energy. We could not do all the things we do without you. From time to time, I think it’s important for everyone to see where things stand financially for our church. Last Sunday, I took a few minutes to talk about our basic expenses.

In Part 3 of our When In Romans series, we unpack one of the most important truths of the Christian faith: justification by faith alone. Through Romans chapter 3, the Apostle Paul reminds us that no one can earn God’s favor through religious rituals or good deeds — but the good news is, salvation is freely given to all who place their faith in Jesus. Explore how grace changes everything and why it’s the only way to be made right with God.

I was 28 years old and I was not feeling very thankful. In fact, I was feeling resentful and angry. I was having the biggest pity party you could imagine. Looking back, I realize I had a lot going for me but I couldn’t see it then. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT) it says, “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 

I love vacations. I think most people do — but not everyone. I was listening to a podcast of a mega church pastor who I really respect. He was talking about how he has a hard time enjoying vacations. He went on to say that it’s difficult for him to get his mind off his job. Frankly, I think that’s really sad. He has a large family. I wonder how they feel about that?

Religion can be a beautiful thing when it connects people to God’s grace. But sometimes, it can take a dark turn — when it slips into judgmentalism, hypocrisy, and entitlement. In Romans 2, the Apostle Paul shines a light on the dangers of religion without humility, reminding both believers and skeptics what matters most to God.

About once a week I do a 12 mile bike ride. I start about 4 miles away from Fiesta Island, do the 4 mile loop around the island, and head back to my starting point. One of the things I look forward to is experiencing the wind at my back at different points along the ride. Last week I did my usual ride — and it was different. The wind was swirling a bit. On the way to Fiesta Island, the wind was against me. I knew instinctively that somewhere on the 4 mile loop, relief would come. But it didn’t. The wind was literally against me the entire time — including the 4 miles back to my starting point. My weekly ride isn’t just a casual joy ride. I push hard so that I can get a cardio workout. Man, did I get a workout! Although I was tired, the endorphins kicked in and I experienced a feeling of bliss. Have you ever felt like the winds of life are against you? You keep hoping for favorable winds, but the winds are working against you.

This past Sunday, we kicked off a brand-new sermon series called “When In Romans”—an in-depth journey through one of the most powerful and challenging books in the Bible. In Part 1, Pastor Steve unpacked Romans 1 and reminded us how ignoring God sets humanity on a downward spiral, and how desperately we need to hold on to the good news of the Gospel.

Have you ever known someone who had amazing potential to excel in life but they couldn’t see it? They couldn’t see what was so obvious to everyone else because they believed something about themselves that wasn’t true.
In the Old Testament book of Numbers, Moses is leading the children of Israel towards the promised land. Moses is doing everything he can to convince the Israelites they are no longer slaves and that they have value beyond being good brick makers. It’s a daunting task because if people can’t see themselves the way God sees them, their identity gets distorted. The Israelites were free, but they didn't act free. They lived in fear. They had a scarcity mentality.

Anger is something every one of us deals with. It affects our relationships, our health, and our hearts. In this final message of our Those Red Letters series, we look at what Jesus said about anger and how we can manage it in a way that honors God and brings peace into our lives. This isn’t just about avoiding outbursts — it’s about taking responsibility, repairing broken relationships, and learning how to live unoffendable.

Have you ever heard the expression, “Hope is not a strategy?” I looked up the word hope in the Bible and discovered it’s mentioned 129 times in the (NIV) translation and 167 times in the (KJV). I guess if you need more hope, the King James Version is the way to go. Everyone needs hope, but hope often lets people down. When I was in high school, I learned this the hard way during a track meet I’ll never forget. In that moment, what felt like my greatest feat quickly turned into one of my most humbling lessons about chasing the wrong kind of hope. It made me realize something we all need to ask ourselves: What is the object of our hope?

In this week’s message from our Those Red Letters series, we explored one of Jesus’ most surprising parables — the story of the workers in the vineyard. It’s a powerful reminder that God’s Kingdom runs on grace, not fairness. Whether you come early, late, or at the last moment, the reward is the same: forgiveness, purpose, and eternal life. We unpacked what it means to trust God’s generosity, resist the trap of comparison, and celebrate the blessing of serving in His Kingdom. This message invites us to reflect on our place in the vineyard and God’s invitation for all. If you’ve ever wondered if it’s too late or if you’re missing out, this one’s for you.

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” (James 1:2 NLT) I’ll be honest — that’s not my first reaction when challenges show up. Lately, our church has faced a few of those, including the news that we’ll have to move out of our newly renovated auditorium for a couple of months this summer. It’s not exactly the plan we had in mind, but it’s another chance to grow our endurance and trust God in the middle of it. The good news is, better days are coming.

In this week’s message, we continued our Those Red Letters series — taking a deeper look at the words of Jesus recorded in the New Testament. In Part 6: Be Neighborly, we unpacked one of the most famous teachings of Christ: the story of the Good Samaritan.

I never gave college much thought. No one in my family had gone, and it just wasn’t part of the conversation growing up. That changed the day some college coaches started showing interest in me for track. I walked into my high school counselor’s office full of hope — and walked out carrying something entirely different. Ever had a moment when someone’s words made you question your worth? Yeah, me too.

In John 3, Jesus tells Nicodemus that being born again isn’t about religion, but a spiritual rebirth. It’s a life-changing experience that gives us a new identity, a God-given purpose, and the promise of eternity. This message reminds us that knowing about God isn’t the same as knowing Him personally. Join us as we continue our Those Red Letters series and discover what it means to truly live.

When we experience traumatic, hurtful events in our lives, it takes a while to shake it off and get our lives back on track. We are all wired differently, and so naturally, some people find it easier to move forward with their lives than others. Most traumatic experiences are caused by people. People are the greatest source of joy — and unfortunately, the greatest source of pain — in our lives.

This past Sunday at Pacific Life Church, guest speaker Pastor Matt Perry shared a heartfelt message titled “For God So Loved You.” Focusing on John 3:16, he reminded us that God’s love isn’t just for the world — it’s for you personally. Pastor Matt encouraged us to move beyond knowing about God’s love and start truly receiving it. He spoke about how God’s love is a decision, a sacrifice, and an open invitation to eternal life. If you’ve ever doubted whether you matter to God, this message is for you. Join us this Sunday as Pastor Steve continues our series “Those Red Letters.”

I was listening to John Maxwell, a Christian leadership guru, a while back and he said something that strongly resonated with me. He said “Do you bring value to the people around you? Do you bring value to a room when you walk into it? Do you bring value to the daily situations you encounter?” Not only did I find those questions thought-provoking, I felt some degree of Holy Spirit conviction.

If I’m being honest, sometimes I care more about how people perceive me than I do about bringing value to them. I don’t think I’m the only one who struggles with this. It’s hard not to catch the selfie virus. We put pictures of ourselves on social media that make us look our very best.

We follow Jesus as He crosses cultural and social barriers to meet a woman carrying deep soul-thirst. At a simple well in Samaria, He offers her what no one else could — living water that satisfies forever. This story reminds us that no matter our past or reputation, Jesus meets us where we are with compassion and truth. Only He can fill the emptiness we so often try to satisfy with temporary things. Discover how one encounter with Jesus changed an entire village, and how it can change us too.

Got any pet peeves? I know I do. I was reading through the Sermon on the Mount recently where Jesus says, “Do not judge others and you will not be judged.” One of the major indictments against the Church—or Christians in general—is that they are judgmental. In other words, at least from the perspective of those who stand outside of faith, we are not safe people to be around. I get it. Because even though I am a Christian and I represent the Church, I have been severely judged at times. It’s an awful feeling to be judged.