Missions' Team to Urban Hope

Please be in prayer for the 24 individuals who left Valley Grace to minister at Urban Hope this weekend. Please pray for their safety and most of all, that there would be people introduced to our Savior. (You can click on the image for an enlargement)

AWANA Awards Night 2011 wrap up

Thanks to all for a great year in ministry through AWANA. This is one of our best years. Those standing in this picture are individuals who have invested their time in teaching boys and girls for Christ. More pictures HERE.

Youth Spaghetti Dinner & Show

Wanted to thank each person who was involved in the Youth Spaghetti Dinner & Show. It was an excellent event - great food, entertainment and fellowship. Thanks to all who came to help support youth for Youth Conference. From the numbers I received, there were 140+ who were served. The Show was truly enjoyable, from the praise time to the entertainment. More pictures HERE.

A Plan to Live Your Life on Purpose

Do you feel that your life is out of control? That you are running around with a calendar that is filled, and fall into bed wondering if you have accomplished anything that has significance during the day? Most people spend more time planning their vacation than they spend planning their life. Michael Hyatt has written a very helpful ebook with the goal of providing a "step-by-step guide for developing the Life You've always wanted." He outlines how to plan your life with regard to spiritual, family, work, etc., goals and provides worksheets on how to do it. I highly recommend that you grab this free resource while it is available, and invest the time in developing your own life plan -- effective for any and every age. You can go HERE for more information and to download your copy of this resource while it is available.

Virginity Making a Comeback, Report Says

An article in MSNBC indicates that a CDC study has found that virginity is making a comeback in some age groups. According to the report,

Researchers found that between 2006 and 2008, the percentage of 15- to 24-year-old men who had never had any form of sexual contact with another person was 27 percent (up from 22 percent in 2002) while the percentage of 15- to 24-year-old females who had never had any sex whatsoever was 29 percent (up 7 percent points from 22 percent in 2002).

There is a great deal of teaching that needs to be done instructing our young people on the truths of God's gift of intimacy for marriage. If you want to read more of the study, you can do so HERE.

Pastor Tom Nelson tells his story of Clinical Depression

Pastor Tom Nelson tells his story of experiencing clinical depression. He talks about what got him there, what he had to do to begin healing, and steps to take to keep from getting into clinical depression. This is a very insightful and helpful story.

You can watch the video (here) or download the mp3 (here).

If you have been through clinical depression, and would be willing to talk to someone going through it, please contact me. If you think that you are going through clinical depression and want to talk to someone who has been in that "black hole" (as Tom Nelson calls it) and gotten out, I will try to link you up.

Husband's Responsibilities to his Wife in Headship

This past week we looked at God's design for the roles of a Christian husband and wife. We focused primarily on the headship responsibilities of a husband to his wife. Here are seven areas of focus as a reminder:

• Honor her Maritally: not flirting, no wandering eye
• Honor her Physically: she is weaker, don't hit, shove, push or grab
• Honor her Verbally: no nasty nicknames, don't raise voice or threaten
• Honor her Financially: provide for her, pay bills, don't be stingy
• Honor her Practically: maintain the house and car, and other responsibilities
• Honor her Parentally: love your kids, help raise them, spend time with sons & daughters
• Honor her Spiritually: pray with her, read the Bible with her, encourage her spiritual growth.

You can read more as laid out by Mark Driscoll (HERE)