Light In The Valley

Every year, it seems like the same conversation resurfaces. “Did you watch it?” “I can’t believe you watched that.” “Real Christians wouldn’t…” Suddenly, a halftime show—something that lasts a few minutes and disappears into the noise of the internet—becomes a spiritual measuring stick. Lines are drawn. Motives are assumed. And brothers and sisters in Christ find themselves divided over something that carries no weight in the Kingdom of God. Scripture reminds us just how smal

I passed a road sign the other day with a single verse of Scripture on it. No context. No surrounding truth. Just one isolated line used to make a bold statement about sin. And instead of feeling convicted, encouraged, or drawn closer to Jesus…I felt grieved. Not because Scripture was present. I love seeing God’s Word in public spaces. But because Scripture, when pulled out of its God-given context, can be used in ways God never intended. The Bible is not a collection of st

The news coming out of Minneapolis is heavy. Anger. Grief. Confusion. Fear. Strong opinions flying in every direction. Voices shouting past one another instead of listening. Moments like this remind us how fragile our world really is—and how quickly unrest rises when trust, justice, and peace feel broken. As followers of Jesus, we should never be indifferent to turmoil. Scripture consistently calls us to care about suffering, injustice, and the brokenness of our world. But it

This week a moment caught the public eye—President Trump responding to a heckler with a crude gesture. Depending on where you land politically, you may have laughed, cringed, defended it, or condemned it. But beyond the headlines and hot takes, there’s a deeper reminder we all need. Human leaders— every single one of them —are flawed. They get tired. They get angry. They react instead of respond. Even the strongest, smartest, most confident leaders will eventually reveal thei

Yesterday, for a brief moment, a lot of our world felt… off. A temporary Verizon outage left phones quiet , apps frozen , messages undelivered. People panicked. Businesses slowed. Parents worried. Plans stalled. It was striking how quickly uncertainty set in—not because life stopped, but because our connection did And it made me think We live in a world built on signals—Wi-Fi bars, cell towers, notifications, instant access. When those signals fade, even briefly, we’re remind

The past few days have been filled with intense headlines and louder opinions surrounding Venezuela’s leadership and the reports, disputes, and fallout that have followed. As information circulates—some confirmed, some disputed, some still unfolding—the reactions have been swift and emotional. Social media has become a battleground of certainty, outrage, celebration, and fear. Moments like this test more than our political views—they test our spiritual posture. Scripture remi

As we step into a new year, I find myself reflecting with deep gratitude on the unmistakable hand of God in 2025. This past year has been one of growth, refinement, and blessing. We have seen prayers answered, lives changed, relationships strengthened, and God’s faithfulness displayed in ways both seen and unseen. There were moments of celebration and moments that required perseverance—but through it all, the Lord proved Himself faithful. “This I recall to my mind, therefore

From my family to yours, and from all of us at Rocky Valley Baptist Church, we want to wish you a very Merry Christmas. In the middle of the lights, the gatherings, the meals, and the memories, Christmas invites us to pause and remember why  this season exists at all. Christmas is not just a celebration of tradition—it is the celebration of a Person. It is the reminder that God stepped into our broken world with love, humility, and hope. “For unto us a Child is born, unto us

This week our nation was shaken by the tragic deaths of filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner — a loss that has reverberated far beyond Hollywood and sparked deeply divided responses  online and in the media. Some mourned respectfully. Others turned immediately to political point-making, even in the face of a double homicide that involved their own son.   In a moment when grief should lead us to compassion , we instead too often see division  — reactions th

There are some moments that just make a pastor’s heart swell with gratitude—and Sunday was one of them. Watching our Rocky Valley kids and adults side-by-side, working hard to bring the parade float to life, reminded me once again what it looks like when the church moves. From painting and building, to decorating, organizing, and then walking the route with bright smiles and joyful hearts—every piece of it was a holy labor. And what a response from our community! The smiles,

There’s a noticeable shift every year. The moment Thanksgiving leftovers are packed away, the noise begins to rise. Ads grow louder. Shopping carts grow fuller. Black Friday turns into Cyber Monday, which turns into weeks of scrolling, clicking, comparing, and buying. Our culture tells us that this season is all about anticipation —but most of what we are told to anticipate can be boxed, wrapped, and returned. Yet the very heart of this season was never about the anticipation

There was a time—not that long ago—when coaches, programs, and even entire leagues intentionally avoided scheduling practices and games on Wednesday nights. It wasn’t because they were “church leagues.” It was because there was a shared understanding in our culture that mid-week worship mattered, and that families needed that sacred space. But somewhere along the way, the shift happened. Now many parents are made to feel that Wednesday practices are “mandatory,” that missing

Today we pause to give thanks for the men and women who have worn the uniform of our nation — those who have stood watch so that others could sleep in peace. Their courage, discipline, and willingness to place others before themselves reflect a principle that runs deep through Scripture: sacrificial love. Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:13 Every veteran, every active-duty service member, and every fami

It seems our culture today thrives on disagreement. Scroll through social media or turn on the news and you’ll find passionate people on every side, each convinced that they  are right and anyone who disagrees must be wrong. Somewhere along the way, our desire to stand for truth has been replaced by a desire to win arguments . But truth doesn’t need our temper to defend it — it needs our obedience to live it. In the church, we have to be careful not to let the world’s spirit

Many in our community are experiencing a hard blow right now — the potential interruption or loss of SNAP/EBT benefits amid government shutdowns, budget standoffs, or uncertainty about funding. For those who rely on that assistance to put food on the table for children or aging parents, this is more than a policy issue — it’s a challenge that affects dignity, security, and hope. I want to encourage us, from a place of faith, to stand both firm in the hope we have in Jesus Chr

We live in a world where the highlight reel has become the whole movie. Likes have replaced love. Filters have replaced authenticity. And followers have replaced true fellowship. It’s easy to start believing that our worth is found in how well we perform online — in the picture that gets the most comments, the caption that sounds the deepest, or the post that proves we’re “doing fine.” But behind the perfectly crafted posts, many hearts are quietly asking: “Do I really know w

As the seasons change around us — the leaves turning, the air cooling, the days shortening — we’re reminded that change is woven into the rhythm of life. Yet for many of us, change isn’t always comfortable. Just as the chill of autumn replaces the warmth of summer, we sometimes walk through spiritual or cultural seasons that leave us wondering what God is doing and why things look so different than they used to. But even when everything around us shifts, God never changes. Hi

As we’ve watched headlines about the government shut down, many people have been filled with worry. Yet, for most of us, life has gone on much the same. The lights are still on. The sun still rose this morning. Kids still went to school. Work still called. And while leaders argue and agencies pause, there’s a deeper truth that brings peace to the heart of every believer — God has never once shut down. He doesn’t take a furlough. He doesn’t close His doors. He doesn’t suspend

As the news cycles fill with talk of a government shutdown, many feel uncertainty and even fear. Questions about paychecks, programs, and policies weigh heavy. But as believers, we are reminded of a greater truth: governments may rise and fall, economies may boom and collapse, but the Kingdom of God is unshakable. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “The nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales”  (Isaiah 40:15). That doesn’t mean our government and i

Everywhere we turn, it seems the world is spinning faster and faster out of control. Tragedy and turmoil dominate the headlines, and fear and confusion creep into our hearts if we’re not careful. Yet Jesus told us long ago what our place in this world should be: “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.”  (Matthew 5:13–14) Salt preserves what would otherwise decay. Light shines where shadows threaten to overtake. As believers, we are not called to blend