It was a beautiful Tuesday morning and the surf was up. My son Stevie and I had plans to go surfing, and we went through our usual pre-surf routine — wetsuits on, sunscreen applied. I reached for my wax, ready to prep my board, when I realized… I had forgotten the most important thing — my surfboard! Stevie couldn’t believe it.

For surfers, the board is essential — without it, you’re not surfing. The mix-up made me think about what’s essential in the Christian life. It may not be just one thing, but it’s definitely not a long list either…

In Romans 8:15-39, Paul reminds us of the incredible blessings we have in Christ — freedom from fear, adoption into God’s family, and an eternal inheritance. The “Romans Road to Salvation” lays out the simple, powerful truth of the gospel and why following Jesus is life-changing. Even when we face suffering, we can endure with hope, knowing that our present trials are nothing compared to the glory ahead. The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness, interceding for us when we don’t know what to pray. And nothing — not hardship, death, or even the powers of hell — can separate us from God’s love.

Have you ever prayed with all your heart, only to feel like your words disappeared into the sky? We’ve all had moments when it seemed like heaven was silent. But what if God was doing something behind the scenes that you couldn’t see?

The Bible tells us there’s a “holy conspiracy” happening every time we pray — one that involves more power and love than we realize. And sometimes, the answers don’t come the way we expect… yet they turn out to be more miraculous than we imagined.

In Romans 8, Paul delivers one of the most powerful truths in all of Scripture: “There is now no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” After acknowledging his personal struggle with sin in chapter 7, he shows us the hope and freedom found in Christ. We are no longer bound by guilt or shame—Jesus has already done the heavy lifting. With the Spirit living in us, we’re free to live with peace, purpose, and power. Pastor Steve encouraged us to be mindful of what we allow into our hearts and minds, inviting the Holy Spirit into every part of our lives.

Have you ever burned a relational bridge only to realize you might need it later? The story of Jephthah in Judges 11 is a powerful reminder of that. After being rejected by his half-brothers because of his mother’s past, Jephthah fled and built a new life, even gaining a reputation as a strong warrior. But when Israel was under attack, those same brothers came back asking him for help. Swallowing their pride wasn’t easy—but it was necessary. At first, Jephthah was hesitant, but after setting new boundaries, he agreed and led them to victory. Sometimes, the very bridges we’ve burned are the ones we’ll need to cross again.

In Part 7 of our When In Romans series, Paul gets honest about his inner battle with sin—something we can all relate to. Even he admits, “I want to do what is right, but I don’t.” This message, The Struggle Is Real, reminds us that while the law reveals our sin, only Jesus can free us from its power. The fight between flesh and spirit is real, but we are not condemned. Join us this Sunday as we continue with Romans 8, a chapter full of hope and freedom.

I did a Google search and discovered that the phrases “Fear not” or “Be not afraid” are recorded 70 times in the Bible. Fear can be a healthy emotion if it keeps us safe from danger. However, all too often fear inhibits us from living the courageous lives God has called us to live. In fact, if we give in to fear, it can make our world very small and ultimately put a lid on reaching our potential.

A pastor friend of mine—some of you know him—Carter Moss, gave out a bunch of what is called, "Pocket Jesus" to his congregation. My wife Karen put one in her van. The way she drives, I’m not sure if even Pocket Jesus would be safe! My admin, Maki Hagan, got a hold of a few of them and decided to strategically place them in different spaces in our church offices. I never know where Pocket Jesus is going to show up. Sometimes I get surprise attacks!

I think the big idea behind Pocket Jesus is to remind us that Jesus is always with us.

This week in When In Romans: Part 5, we finally arrived at something we’ve all been craving—relief. After weeks of hard truths about sin, the law, and human nature, Romans 5 reminds us that we are made right with God by faith, not works. Even in our suffering, there is purpose. Christ rescued us when we were utterly helpless—and now we live in the land of grace. What a beautiful relief to know that God is not our enemy… He’s our friend.

Looking back on my life, there have been many times when God met a significant need for me, our family, or our church. Sometimes God meets the need — and sometimes God shows off. It shouldn’t surprise us when God goes above and beyond in addressing our needs. Ephesians 3:20 (NIV) says, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…” Sometimes we don’t think big enough because we underestimate the power of God and the generosity of God.

What do you do when you’re in God’s waiting room? In Part 4 of our When In Romans series, we look at Abraham’s story of imperfect faith — the kind of faith that struggles, stumbles, and keeps moving anyway. Discover how God honors honest, enduring faith and how His promises are worth the wait.

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.