The Hand Of God

Making Decisions: What’s God’s Part? What’s Mine?

A verse I discovered during college became my life verse, not only because it was so meaningful back then, but it also ended-up framing my life!

Proverbs 16:9 (NASB95)

The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.

My mom encountered Jesus personally shortly after I was born - BSF

One of my earliest memories is my dad’s grandmother

Preaching on porch? Billy Graham crusades

Around age 4 I accepted the Lord with my mom

Dad worked for Burroughs Computers & we moved to SB when I was 4 1/2

Jacob’s Ladder dream - meaning then & later

Genesis 28:13–16 (NLT)

At the top of the stairway stood the Lord, and he said, “I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants… 14 And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants.

15 What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done everything I have promised you.” 16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!”

I’ll be with you, just as I’ve been with your family before you! I’ll protect you! I’ll never leave you! I’ll accomplish everything I promised you. And, I’ll bless others through you!

Dad got involved in a men’s BSF group and went to Hume Lake on a retreat

Our 1st time as a family was the summer of 1971 - next 20+ years

PK Warkentin/Walter, conference speakers

“Only two eternal things - people & the Word of God!”

Age 12, Sunday School - Keith Green album - around 1976

Keith Green concert - Santa Rosa Fairgrounds - altar call

1984 - Summer staff @ Hume Lake while Bob Phillips was exec. director

Westmont College - RS major 1987

Western Conservative Baptist Seminary - no

Marriage - Denise (August 1987)

Month of total chaos following our honeymoon!

“You can either go to a place where they say, ‘Here’s the answers, go memorize them.’ Or, you can go somewhere they say, ‘Here’s the questions, go find the answers with our help!”

Fuller Seminary - really struggled with decision!

Phil Carlson - “Want to come be my youth pastor?”

Calvary Baptist Church Pasadena

Moved to Walnut Creek early 90’s - worked under Dr. Robert Mounce

Came to Ventura in 1994 as the youth pastor at VMC

CBC - January 2008

Purchase of 5040 Telegraph Road 2014/2015

Costa Rica mission trip - La Montana

Tough departure from CBC 11/2023

**TODAY

Psalm 37:1–7 (NASB95)

Do not fret because of evildoers, Be not envious toward wrongdoers. 2 For they will wither quickly like the grass And fade like the green herb. 3 Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

4 Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. 6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light And your judgment as the noonday. 7 Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.

Trust

Delight

Commit

Rest

Wait