vancerains.com

  • Restored Fortunes – the fourth sermon in a series called “Restoration,” preached on March 26, 2017 at First Church Coral Springs.

    Restored Fortunes – the fourth sermon in a series called “Restoration,” preached on March 26, 2017 at First Church Coral Springs.

    This is the fourth sermon in a series called, “Restoration.”  The basic premise of the series is that God can take what is broken, worn-out, and seemingly beyond repair, and restore the broken pieces and parts into something new and beautiful.  So far, we have talked about God restoring our…

  • You are What You Love…

    You are What You Love…

    I started a new book yesterday, You are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit, by James K.A. Smith. I am what I love? I certainly love my wife, kids, and family. I love my friends. I love to travel, ride my motorcycle, read books, grow bonsai trees. I love…

  • Doing the Right Things for the Wrong Reasons…

    Doing the Right Things for the Wrong Reasons…

    I’ve been thinking a lot about motives lately – my motives, specifically. Sometimes, I do things because I’m paid to do them.  It’s my job. Sometimes, I do things because I have to – like paying taxes Sometimes (too often), I do things out of selfish desires. Sometimes, I act on…

  • Waiting for Signs of Growth

    Waiting for Signs of Growth

    I grow bonsai trees. In South Florida, some kinds of trees grow year round.  Some never lose their leaves or foliage.  But, some, need an annual period of dormancy – typically, the winter (though, we don’t get much of a winter in South Florida!). During the holidays, I visited a…

  • Halfway – Give or Take

    Halfway – Give or Take

    Today, more or less, is the mid-point of Lent.  Ash Wednesday was three weeks ago.  Three weeks from tomorrow is Maundy Thursday.  We’ve had three Sundays in Lent, so far, and, we have three more to go before Easter. At the start of this Lenten Season, I made the following…

  • Character

    Character

    I’ve been reading through the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel recently.  1 Samuel tells the story of the rise and fall of King Saul, and the rise of David to take his place. By Chapter 24, it was obvious to King Saul that David was a threat to his…

  • Unconscious Implicit Bias

    Unconscious Implicit Bias

    To the best of my knowledge, my ancestry is predominantly British and Polish.  I’m sure a DNA a test might reveal more diversity than that.  But, I’m not aware of what that might be. I’ve been tempted to take a DNA test to find out.  I’d love to discover that…

  • Relationship Restoration (Part 3 of a sermon series called “Restoration” at First Church Coral Spring on March 19, 2017)

    Relationship Restoration (Part 3 of a sermon series called “Restoration” at First Church Coral Spring on March 19, 2017)

    Let me tell you about a relationship in my life that’s been broken for some time, but has recently been restored… We had been very close – enjoying lots of time together, traveling together.  We’d had highs and lows before, but we’d always managed to fix them – or at…

  • Learning to Listen…

    Learning to Listen…

    My Harley  Davidson (2000 FLHRC) came with an electronic fuel injection system, that has always caused me problems.  At least annually, the fuel injectors have gotten out-a-whack (that’s a technical term), requiring weeks in the repair shop.  Every time, the mechanics have explained that there were problems with the EFI used…

  • The Feast Day of St. Patrick

    The Feast Day of St. Patrick

    A prayer for the Feast Day of St. Patrick… God our Father, you sent Saint Patrick to preach your glory to the people of Ireland. By the help of his prayers, may all Christians proclaim your love to all men. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who…