Ready Fire Aim

Posted on April 27, 2024 by pastorpstephens


“Ready. Fire. Aim.”  Those three words are some of the best advice my dad ever gave me.  Typically, that phrase was uttered at some point in a Little League baseball game after I struck out.  My dad was big on reminding me that many times in a game, things are not going to go as we have planned.  In the aftermath of striking out, my dad would encourage me not to become frustrated by what just happened but rather, to see what I could learn from what just happened.  Was I slow in shifting my weight?  Was I too far up or too far back in the batter’s box?  What can I learn that will impact my next attempt at bat?  Ready.  Fire.  Aim.

I have found that piece of advice to be helpful not only in sporting events, but to be helpful in life in general.  When something does not go as planned, we can allow ourselves to be frustrated or educated by what just happened.  And when we choose to learn, when we choose to positively reflect on what has just happened, we are in a better position to influence what happens next.

Posted in can't go on, chaplaincy, Do not dwell on the past, Do Your Best, Don't stop, inspirational | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Posted on March 2, 2024 by pastorpstephens

I was chatting with someone in a parking lot the other day, just exchanging pleasantries about the weather. As we wrapped up our casual conversation, I asked them if I could pray for them. This person replied, “No, that’s not necessary. I’m doing okay.” Somebody who was walking by at the time, stopped, and said, “You can pray for me. I’m doing okay today too, but you never know what’s waiting around the corner!” The person I asked initially then said, “They’re right. Count me in!” So, we had a little prayer meeting right there in the parking lot.

After they both left, another person who heard our prayer came up to me and said, “Thank you for reminding me about the importance and the power of prayer.” This person then went on to share a testimony of a difficult and tragic time they had experienced years ago. They said, “I was in a dark and discouraging place until an old friend called me out of the blue just to say hello and let me know that they had been praying for me. I asked them to keep on praying, and I know they did!” They went on to say how encouraging it was just knowing that someone was praying for them. It strengthened them in the midst of a difficult time and helped them press on.  It was a beautiful and touching testimony. No wonder we are instructed throughout God’s word to pray for one another and encourage one another. It truly makes a difference. I like the exhortation about prayer found in Colossians 4:2

Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving…

I hope that you have a great week.   I pray that you and the people you love will experience  God’s peace, grace, mercy, and strength every single day. I pray that you will know how much He loves you.

Until next time, stay strong in the faith.

Posted in Christianity, Colossians 4:2, Don't give up, Draw close to God, faith, Faith during hard times, God loves you, God will help you, prayer, Praying for Others | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Walking in Unity

Posted on February 16, 2024 by pastorpstephens

This week I am preaching on the last part of the High Priestly Prayer in John 17; the part in which Jesus prays for you and me. I am always amazed that on the night that He would be betrayed, beaten, and abandoned by those closest to Him, Jesus prayed for me. As Jesus closes His prayer for everyone throughout the ages who will come to know Him as Lord, He prays that we will walk in the unity of His love. As David said in Psalm 133:1 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!” As I was reflecting this week on what a blessing it is to walk in unity with other believers, I was reminded of a very special occasion. Last fall when Marta and I visited Italy, we saw a lot of beautiful and historical sites. We saw paintings, sculptures, tapestries, and beautiful chapels which glorified the Lord. It was overwhelming in many ways.

And as beautiful as everything was, my favorite memory was a visit to Saint Mark’s Basilica in Venice. What made that experience the most memorable was not the golden décor and exquisite paintings. The most special moment in the whole trip for me was one I spent in front of a simple wooden table adorned with prayer candles. Although I don’t light candles when I pray, I stopped at that table to pray. Several others also stopped. People from different countries, people who spoke other languages, and people from backgrounds totally different than mine stood alongside of me, and we lifted up our petitions, supplications, and prayers to our Father in heaven. The presence of the Lord was heavy in that place. As we stood there and prayed our separate prayers, I experienced a unity of Spirit that was strong and right and good. I still get a lump in my throat and goose bumps on my arms just reminiscing about it. As I prepare for my sermon this week, I pray that the church will honor the prayer of Christ that we find in John chapter 17. I pray that we would preserve the unity of the Spirit as we walk in His love, in His truth, and in His grace.

Posted in Christianity, Church, Draw close to God, Encouraging words, family, John 17:20-21, Psalm 133:1, walk in unity | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Posted on February 9, 2024 by pastorpstephens


This week in chapel, we talked about a passage of scripture from Philippians chapter 4. Paul is writing to the church and he gives Christians a couple of very important exhortations, “Rejoice always… and don’t worry.” I find it interesting that Paul is writing these verses from prison. Paul has been beaten, persecuted, and placed in prison for the sake of the gospel. Yet, despite his circumstances, Paul is content and joyful. He is not overwhelmed with anxiety and worry. Paul knows he is in the hands of the Lord and Paul knows he can do all things through Christ, who strengthens him. That includes living with an attitude of joy, and not being consumed by worry – even during difficult times.

In this chapter, Paul not only gives us these exhortations, he also provides instruction on how to live a life of joy and not be overwhelmed with worry, no matter what situation or circumstance we may find ourselves in. We are to pray. We are to talk to the Lord about what we are experiencing, what we are feeling, and what we are thinking. And certainly, God already knows all those things; we aren’t bringing Him any new information. But by going to Him with our prayers and supplications, we are reminded of His sovereignty. We are reminded that He is able to comfort us, strengthen us, lead us, and guide us in every situation and circumstance. By going to the Lord in prayer, we are able to make an exchange. As we place our problems in His hands, He places His peace in our hearts. And that my friend, is a wonderful reason to rejoice.

Posted in A prayer for Peace, can't go on, Don't give up, faith, God Answers Prayer, God's Peace, God's Strength, Philippians 4:4, prayer | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Right Perspective

Posted on January 19, 2024 by pastorpstephens


This week in our chapel group we talked about dealing with the stresses and struggles that we all encounter in life. Our discussion centered around Bible passages that people find helpful during such times. Whenever I have stressful times or talk with someone who is in the midst of a storm, I like to read the psalms. This week, I kept meditating on verse one of Psalm 123:1. The psalmist writes:

Psalm 123:1 To You I lift up my eyes, O You who are enthroned in the heavens!

This psalm is one of the psalms which is called a “Song of Ascents.” It is a song which was written to be sung by God’s faithful as they journeyed to the temple in Jerusalem to worship the Lord at one of the appointed feast times. The song was meant to help people prepare their hearts and their minds for worship by having the right perspective. “To You, I lift up my eyes, O You who are enthroned in the heavens!”

I love this verse because it reminds me of our need to maintain a right and healthy perspective. Too often as we journey through life, we can become overwhelmed by stressful situations and difficult circumstances. During such times, it can be far too easy to allow our situations and circumstances to command all of our focus, attention, and energy in an unhealthy way and cause us to lose a proper perspective. And certainly, some things are urgent and should command our attention, but we should never let our circumstance cause us to take our eyes off of our Savior. This verse, and others like it, always remind me of the importance of having the right perspective, and looking to the Lord no matter what situation or circumstance we may find ourselves in.

I pray that this week, you (and me!) will keep our eyes on the Lord – despite any circumstance or situation that might tempt us to lose the proper perspective.

Posted in Christianity, Count Your Blessings, Don't give up, Draw close to God, Faith during hard times, the right perspective | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Looking to Serve

Posted on January 6, 2024 by pastorpstephens


This week I was honored to speak at a memorial service for a faithful member of our church who passed at the age of 99 years old named Alice. Alice was saved at age 14 and from that point forward, she always looked for ways to honor the Lord and serve Him in  some form or capacity. She served as a teacher, a missionary, and helped with many things over the years. A few years ago, while Alice was still able to attend church, she made coffee and folded bulletins for the service. Alice liked her coffee strong. Her recipe involved at least 6 – 8 scoops of coffee. People did not fall asleep during my sermons when Alice made the coffee!

I got to church extra early one Sunday and since I was early, I went ahead and folded the bulletins. When Alice arrived, she was genuinely disappointed that the bulletins were already folded. I told her, “It’s okay, I did them for you.” Alice then firmly but gracefully told me, “Pastor, I cannot do everything I used to do. I cannot see well enough to read the lesson so, I can’t teach, and I feel too weak to sing. But I can still pray, make coffee, and fold bulletins. Please do not hinder me in my service. When you do, you rob me of a blessing.” Oh, what a wonderful lady, what a wonderful perspective! All of us have the capacity to serve in God’s kingdom and glorify Him in some way. The Bible says in 1 Peter 4:10

1 Peter 4:10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

All of us have the capacity to serve. And we need to recognize that sometimes, our capacity to serve changes with time. But just because we cannot do what we used to do, does not mean that we cannot do anything. Find out what you can do and get busy. Make some strong coffee! Fold some bulletins! And whatever you do, do it for the glory of God! Honor the Lord, serve Him to best of your ability, whatever that ability is, and do not let anybody rob you of that blessing. I grateful for the lesson of loving service  I learned from Alice over the years. May the Lord strengthen and comfort her family. And may we all learn from her example.

Posted in 1 Peter 4:10, Abundant life, Christianity, faith, God has a plan for you, ministry work, religion | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Loving Life

Posted on December 16, 2023 by pastorpstephens

I was talking with someone this week about a mutual friend of ours who has gone on to be with the Lord. This person was, still is, and will always be very dear to us. We laughed and smiled as we shared some stories and fond memories of our friend. If I had to describe my friend to you, I would say that they loved life. And as I write that, I have to point out that saying someone “loved life” is much different than saying someone “loved their life.” Some people are blessed with lives of earthly comfort and earthly wealth, lives which others might describe as “living on easy street.” From a worldly perspective, such a life does seem like it would be easy to love. But there is a big difference between “loving your life” and “loving life.”

My friend did not always walk on easy street. They did not always enjoy earthly comfort or earthly wealth. They experienced their fair share of trials, tribulations, stress, and struggle. And yet, they loved life. They viewed every day as a gift from God; a gift to be received and cherished. That is not always easy to do. In fact, some days it is downright difficult. I think that is what Paul is reminding us of in Philippians 4:13. In that chapter Paul says he has learned to be content in times of abundance and times of scarcity. On good days and bad days, Paul would tell you, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Our friend knew and embraced that great truth. And that, dear friend, is the secret to loving life.

Posted in Christianity, Don't give up, Draw close to God, Encouragement, Faith during hard times, God will help you, Philippians 4:13 | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Weeping with Those Who Weep

Posted on December 1, 2023 by pastorpstephens

Over the years, many people have asked me for suggestions on what to say when they offer support and condolences to others in a time of loss. And while I do have some thoughts and suggestions on what is helpful and what is not helpful in such situations, I have found that when I am hurting, it is not what I hear, but who is near, that comforts me the most in those times of grief and sorrow. Here are a few more of my thoughts on the matter, written down in verse.

Weeping with Those Who Weep

Someone recently lost a loved one,
And they’re struggling with saying goodbye.
You’re not sure what you should say,
As you see them sit and cry.

Your heart aches as you see their sorrow,
As they wrestle to understand.
So, you quietly sit beside them,
And let them take your hand.

Words of comfort seem to fail you,
You can think of nothing profound to say.
So, you just sit with them in silence,
As the time slowly ticks away.

Your friend offers you a fleeting smile,
And whispers “thank you” when you arise to go.
Your presence as you sat with them,
Spoke louder than you will ever know.

There is a healing that begins,
When we weep with those who weep.
Our presence can bring comfort to some places,
That our words could never reach.

Posted in chaplaincy, encouraging others, faith, Grieving Together, love one another, ministry work, Poem, poetry, Sharing God's Love | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“I Am Your Ticket”

Posted on November 18, 2023 by pastorpstephens


Marta and I went to Italy for 10 days for an early celebration of our 39th wedding anniversary.  It was an awesome experience being in the large, grand, beautiful churches which have been built in Rome and throughout Italy. Below are some of my notes from our visit to the Vatican City.

“Today I want to show you some beautiful and great things. I have your ticket. To enter, you must follow me.” Those were the words of our tour guide as we prepared to visit the Vatican Museum, Saint Peter’s Basilica, and the Sistine Chapel. He continued, “You have your passports, your money, and many things, but I am your ticket! Stay close, do not wander off with the crowd, or lose sight of me. Without me you cannot enter in.”

Our guide led us through each of these beautiful, historic places. Following our guide was not always easy with all the hustle and bustle around us. There were times when I became distracted, fell behind and had to try and catch up. But our guide kept an eye out for us, waived his banner in the air regularly making us aware of his presence. As he led us through the crowd, he shared information and insight on the various paintings, tapestries, sculptures, and mosaics. The closer I stayed to our guide, the more I learned. The back stories only served to enhance the beauty of all that we saw. It was a beautiful and blessed day.

At the end of the day, I rested my feet and reflected on the overwhelming amount of beauty we witnessed that day. The scenes from the Bible that were retold and brought to life by the hands of great artists who lived long ago flooded my mind. But what stuck with me the most were the words of our guide. “Today I want to show you some beautiful and great things. I have your ticket. To enter, you must follow me.” His words reminded of the words of Christ.

Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me.” Jesus lived a sinless life and willingly laid down His life on the cross. He paid the penalty for our sin. He died in our place and rose again. He is the Savior. He desires to forgive us of our sins and reconcile us to God the Father. When we pass from this life into the next, He desires to lead us into heaven. But we can only enter, if we follow Him. And if we follow Him, although the journey may not always be easy, we will see some truly beautiful and great things.

Posted in Being Blessed, Christianity, faith, following Christ, John 14:6 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

On the Path

Posted on October 29, 2023 by pastorpstephens


This week in chapel our scripture came from Proverbs 3. This psalm includes one of the very first bible verses that I ever memorized – Proverbs 3:5-6.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.

That is a great verse to memorize and an even better one to live by. We discussed how beneficial it is for us and what a blessing it is to us when we trust in God and look to Him for guidance and direction. We also to took time to acknowledge that it can be easy to take our eyes off of the Lord and go our own direction. As we talked, many in the group shared about some of “the briars and brambles” that entangled them when they wandered away from God’s path. Some very tough but powerful testimonies were shared.

Some spoke of pain they caused, some spoke of pain they experienced, and many spoke of both. But without fail, each one gave thanks to the Lord for His grace and the loving way He has helped them to get back on the right path. Not only was it a time of testimony, but it was also a time of blessing. What an awesome God we serve.

Posted in All the right moves, Being Blessed, Christianity, Church, Don't give up, Draw close to God, faith, Proverbs 3:5-6 | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment