Stephen De La Vega

Many of us fail to honor and respect those who hold positions of authority.  We are sometimes more interested in how they and their organizations might serve us, rather than how we might sacrifice in the name of honor and respect.  We cry, “Injustice!,” and often decry our parents, our bosses, our schools, our safety net, our government…even each other when our allegiances don’t match.  We can fight for the oppressed, yet disintegrate the cause because we don’t honor those with the authority to improve the situation.  We can rally against discrimination, and discriminate in the process.  And, at a more basic level, we can defy our parents when all we really want is their support.  Do we cry for peace and justice while raising a fist at government, at those who disagree with us, and even at innocent bystanders? [NOTE: This post and it's follow up clarification posted on 10/29/17 has been rewritten into 3 new posts beginning with this one .] If...

True forgiveness cannot happen until we move the nurturing off of ourselves and onto those who offend us. Forgiveness is really about the offender, not the offended. Failing to forgive can even be a form of bullying because, when it comes to making amends, the one who is offended often holds the power. And forgiveness is necessary because, when we are wronged, there's always more harm than can be fixed. Jesus illustrated this with a story about a servant with a ridiculously large monetary debt. When Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, how often do I have to forgive a believer who wrongs me?,” he was probably concerned mostly about himself. Maybe he had specific people in mind, people who had offended him multiple times. So, when Peter suggested “seven times” as a good measure of forgiveness, he may have already met that quota and was ready to offload the burden of making amends onto the offender.  Have you considered that maybe Peter wanted to dismiss himself of his responsibility...

Have you ever tried fasting?  I mean fasting as an intentional step toward a deeper relationship with God or greater dependence on Him.  I understand there are many reasons to intentionally fast – some spiritual in nature and others legitimately not spiritual, like for the purposes of medical lab work.  This blog post is about my experience with an intentional fast for the purpose of depending more on God.  I imagine our experiences will differ, so this blog is not a lesson as much as it is an account.  It is also not a commentary or exegesis of Bible passages about fasting.  It is an expression of my own personal experience and results. So why did I fast?  I led a study on fasting.  It was the closing session of a series on a healthy spiritual diet.  So, on one hand, I did what a leader should do.  I led by example.  (Leaders:  Our message is superficial if we don’t lead by example.  Enough said.  Different...

“I didn’t do anything that any of my co-workers wouldn’t have done.” That’s what the Bridge Tender said about his act of heroism when he prevented a man from committing suicide. He held the man in his arms and didn’t let go until he knew he was safe. What you are about to read is a story of everyday heroism. Everyday, but not mundane or insignificant. Heroes are selfless and sacrificial. You will also read about an act of heroism that occurred over 2,000 years ago. In this post, you will read about Jesus, the ancient hero who remains the hero people unwittingly crave today, and who will prove to be a hero for all eternity. And you will read about God, His Father, the one whose arms never tire and never let go.  God’s embrace follows up Jesus’ sacrifice.  It offers the surety that the salvation we receive through faith in Jesus will not fade, but is secured from history past thru eternity future. (What follows can be read aloud to a group. It is a Gospel presentatio...

That’s my son with me in the picture. My hope for him is that he will continually: 1. Dig deeper into the study of God's Word 2. Draw nearer to God with more understanding 3. Grow fonder of God as you see His truth unfold Dig deeper.  Draw nearer.  Grow fonder. That’s my slogan.  It is my aim and my writing will reflect that.  Why?  It is the path God designed for me.   As a small group Bible study leader, my role is to lead people to increasingly grow fond of God.  We grow fonder when we understand Him and realize how much He is involved in our lives. Dig Deeper.   It goes without saying:  the more our heart is in it (Bible study), the more we gain.  How much we learn and understand depends on how deep we dig.  I read the Bible nearly every day.  Regular Bible reading is necessary for spiritual growth, and doing so daily offers an invaluable collection of knowledge and insight.  Add to th...

Its garbage day but I hardly noticed when I left the house this morning. A rainbow overshadowed the trash bins. It was a delightful rainbow against an otherwise dreary sky. When we see rainbows, we probably remember that God will never flood the world again. But did you know rainbows are reminders for God Himself? He actually designed these colorful displays so He Himself would remember His promise to us and all animals. That’s right. When water is in the air, God remembers that He will never again use it to destroy all life (see Genesis 9:14-15 ). That’s how much he cares about us.  No matter how much garbage is in our lives, God loves us. God spoke this promise directly to Noah and his sons – the first generation to walk the earth after the worldwide flood. But it didn’t take long for Noah’s descendants to turn away from God and begin to generate the garbage of sin. We are people characterized by sin. Even what is surely good in our eyes is considered filth by ...