Most of us have heard the phrase, "Christian education doesn't cost; it pays!" This is not entirely true...there is a cost. Yet, the statement is true in the sense that Christian education pays...it's worth it - it is an investment. From Kindergarten through the tenth...
Christian Life
Liberty and Justice for all…
Yesterday, we celebrated Independence Day. The Red, White, and Blue waved over many households. Fireworks exploded around us. We enjoyed time with family and we had an opportunity to be grateful for God's providence in establishing this great land of America. Whenever...
Raising Children with Nurture and Admonition
Raising daughters to love Jesus in a society that is so secular presents unique challenges. We are blessed to have five daughters who, though not perfect, have a heart for God. We really enjoy spending time together and we have made a lot of fun memories through the...
Connected to His Body
Do you remember the "Mr. Potato Head" from your childhood days? What you thought was simple fun is actually a great illustration of Paul's teaching concerning the church. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul mentions that we are all members of one body. Mr. Potato Head is a...
Marking the Milestones
Living in Southern California, sometimes it is life in the fast lane. We can move from event to event, and at times be guilty of not enjoying the moment, the victory, or the blessing. The Lester Family hit a new milestone on May 26, 2017! Our oldest daughter (we have...
Finding Grace for times of need…
In Hebrews 4, four invitations are provided to the believers to come to a place of victory and maturity. Each invitation begins with the phrase, "Let us..." Hebrews 4.1 - Let us therefore fear... Hebrews 4.11 - Let us labor therefore... Hebrews 4.14 - Let us hold fast...
An Encounter with God’s Holiness…
Isaiah 6.1, In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne... I am thankful for the love and grace of God. Yet, when the cherubim, seraphim, and angels all gather round the throne, this is not the virtue they extol. Rather, they...
Should Christians Integrate Theology and Psychology?
We’ve all heard the judgment made against a non-biblical preacher, “He just offered up pop psychology.” In these types of comments, psychology is cast as either evil or at the very least, antithetical to biblical truth. There is a movement today in counseling that...
Call her blessed…
This weekend we honor mothers. Proverbs 31 mentions how her children will rise up and call her blessed. Pictured above are my Grandpa and Grandma New, both who have recently gone to Heaven. My granddad was a preacher of the gospel and my grandma was a godly Sunday...
Thankful for God’s Word
I have had the great privilege of working at West Coast Baptist College for the last 22 years. I have enjoyed seeing the hand of God at work over the years in the hearts of our student body. As part of our Baptist heritage, we place a great emphasis on the fact that...
The Trustworthiness of the Scriptures
Inerrancy: The events in the biblical record have been recorded accurately. The integrity of the Bible is supported by both manuscript and archaeological evidence. Biblical orthodoxy affirms that the Scriptures, as they were given, were accurate (inerrant) in its...
Help! I’m overwhelmed…
Matthew 26 paints the picture of how Peter spent the evening after being told he was going to deny Jesus three times before the rooster would crow. Jesus has invited Peter, along with James and John, to spend time with Him, watching and praying. He has made the reason...
Too Tired to Pray
In a previous post, "Grace through Prayer," I mentioned that on the night Peter betrayed Jesus, he was invited to spend time in prayer with Christ. On three different occasions, Jesus came back and found Peter (along with James and John) sleeping. Rather than finding...
Grace through Prayer
In Matthew 26, the disciples have had a busy evening. Jesus has shared the Last Supper with them. He has publicly spoken about one who will betray Him. He has also publicly stated that Peter will deny Him three times in front of all the disciples. Then, Jesus invites...