As a believer attending a Bible church, it’s quite likely your immediate answer to the question, “Is the Bible sufficient?” is a resounding “Yes!” And that’s to the good! But if I add the phrase “for counseling,” suddenly many of us aren’t so sure. I have had the privilege the...
If we haven’t heard the cliché recited to us personally, we’ve certainly witnessed it in one of the myriad films that continue to repeat the line. Suspended on a rope over a chasm, crossing a dangerous bridge far above a cataract, or navigating a ropes course at a summer camp,...
This last week I had the privilege of sharing some of both my story and my wife Amanda’s story with those who attended our adult Sunday School hour. I had shared that story before in other contexts, and I had often reflected on the various ways God has worked through...
The mission of VBC Bridge Ministry is to equip and minister to God’s people by skillfully applying the word of God to the difficulties of life. I am passionate about that work because I have become convinced that out of all the possible options, the Bible has better answers to...
Easter is past, but the hope of the resurrection does not fade. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation of our faith. It offers a hope that transcends the difficulties and darkness of this world. As the Apostle Paul said, “... that I may know Him and the power...
Heart change. What does that mean? We frequently use this term to differentiate between genuine actions from those that are not. For instance, we all want our children to obey, but we want them to obey with a sincere heart. How can you tell the difference? Sometimes it’s obvious, but...
“We have such a high priest.” These words were the central meditation of our time in Hebrews 8:1-6. I know I was freshly impressed with all that it means for us today to have Christ seated at the right hand of the Father, ministering on our behalf. At the close...
Editor’s note: This quarterly "Good to Know" column is meant to provide timely and clear communication to the VBC church body. If you have a suggestion for items you would like to see in this column in the future, please email amanda@spokanevbc.org. To see a printed summary of March 16's...
Since 2022, scammers have been targeting Valley Bible Church members through email scams. These attacks involve impersonation of Pastor Ben Orchard, attempting to solicit money from church attendees. While VBC cannot prevent these scams outright, we aim to protect our church community by keeping everyone informed. This form of attack,...
The anchor was a popular symbol of the Christian faith in the early Church. It symbolized Hope for all believers, and the early church "latched on to it." Much like the cross, the anchor portrays our Hope in Christ. The catacombs in Rome are adorned with the anchor. In fact,...
Studying Hebrews 6:4-8 is difficult. In fact, when comparing the many (many) views on this passage, the only element in common to all of them is that this passage is unsettling. It shows us in stark frankness the spiritual disaster of tolerated sin and committed immaturity. It is a loud...
From time to time, I recall an incident in my life—something I did, something I said—and upon replaying it in my mind, I do a cringeworthy facepalm at the thought of my incredible immaturity at the time. How could I have done that? How could I have said that? What...
A baby will put anything in its mouth. Every parent has endured that stage of infancy, constantly fishing anything and everything from little baby’s mouth: marbles, coins, rocks, sand, wood chips, food on the floor, and many things that are just totally disgusting. A baby does what is instinctive, and...
Since the early days of our marriage, we have used a prayer journal as a means of ordering our prayers. When our first son was a toddler, we prayed with him and did our best to teach him how to pray. As is often the case, our example as parents...
Editor’s note: As we persevere to provide timely and clear communication to the church body, I thought it would be helpful to have a quarterly “Good to Know” column that includes information about our church that we don’t necessarily talk about every Sunday morning. I hope this is a helpful...
One of my children's favorite questions is, "What is your favorite color?" For a long time, my daughter's answer was "black." But when I asked her today what her favorite color was, she said it had changed to white! I was taken aback just for a moment, because she had...
December is a stressful time. It's not just the hustle and bustle of cramming everything we need to get done into a few weeks, but for some, it's when broken relationships and pain and suffering seem to be amplified and magnified. It might be that you're lonely, dealing with a...
We’ve all seen someone who is completely lost in a moment of carefree happiness. The person dancing to the music while driving down the road, or a young child laughing so hard they roll on the floor heaving and snorting. It is the kind of moment that many of our...
Rest is a one-syllable word. Yet, when it comes to understanding our rest in God, its meaning is manifold. The idea of entering into God's rest, as taught in Hebrews, cannot be easily defined. C.H. Spurgeon began a sermon on rest with these words, "REST! A dainty word indeed! Too...
As we prepare for the busyness of the holiday season, Thanksgiving seems to get closer and closer to Christmas each year. I have driven by a few homes in the area with blow-up turkeys in their yards. The funny twist on this decoration is that the turkey is sitting on...