Send us a text I keep breaking things. This time, it was my computer. I have tried and tried with Windows computers, but they all seem to give out after just a few years. So finally, after asking for some help from some computer experts, I made the switch to a Mac - something I had shrugged off for years. My friends, I am NEVER going back! I didn't realize how good it can be, my MacBook Pro is far superior. I just wish I had made the switch sooner. Well...this is not all that different than our ...
May 18, 2022•14 min•Season 2Ep. 44
Send us a text We left putting a fence in this week to the professionals, on account of how rocky and hard our ground is. However, I thought I could manage putting in some bushes. On my last one, I went to lift up and *snap* my shovel split into two pieces. I had gotten underneath an unyielding massive rock, and it was not going to budge. Well...Jesus warns that our hearts can be like this. Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, our hard hearts are unyielding. We don't allow God's Word to...
May 10, 2022•13 min•Season 2Ep. 43
Send us a text I am an old soul. I listen to old music, watch old movies & old shows. There is so much more wholesome content than what is frequently put out today in looking to times past. One of my favorite shows is the Andy Griffith show, and one particular episode made it's way around social media this week. It's where Opie is convinced by a traveling vagabond to skip school an steal. When Andy contronts the man, he thinks Opie should be able to decide for himself how to live. Andy infor...
May 03, 2022•15 min•Season 2Ep. 42
Send us a text What would you do for a Klondike bar? It's such a great slogan, isn't it? Some of the funniest or craziest things have been done all in the name of being given a free Klondike bar in return. "I would hug a cactus" or "I would walk around Times Square like a monkey", and things like this. They've even made a game out of it, which I'm dying to play. Well...I have a different question. What would I do for eternal life? Throughout Jesus' ministry, he continues to ask hard questions, c...
Apr 26, 2022•13 min•Season 2Ep. 41
Send us a text This is a very special episode, but a difficult one. Last episode, I opened up about the state of depression I've found myself in, and the different things we were doing to try and get me back on track. After much counseling, among other things that need to change, I learned that I needed to do some pruning in my life to help me better manage my time. So going forward, we will have some changes to this podcast - tune in the for the special announcement. Oh, and tune in the for our...
Apr 22, 2022•15 min•Season 2Ep. 40
Send us a text It's been a struggle recently for me. I've just not been myself for several weeks. I have all the symptoms of depresssion but not a ton of answers as to why, just a few. Thankfully, as much as I've tried to just deal with it on my own, others have not let me. My wife, for starters, has stepped in to get me back on track. Secondly, some of my closest brothers here that noticed something was off, and are helping to get me back on track. Well...iron sharpens iron. That implies that s...
Apr 21, 2022•16 min•Season 2Ep. 39
Send us a text What is the most valuable thing you possess? I think there is a good argument to be made that it is your time. We all have the same amount of time, yet feel we can't get enough and that we need more. But maybe the problem isn't that we need more time, maybe it's how we are choosing to spend it. Well...God is very interested in how we choose to spend our time. We must learn how valuable it is, and use it wisely and not foolishly. We also must make sure that the things we spend our ...
Apr 20, 2022•15 min•Season 2Ep. 38
Send us a text The value of real estate is so drastically different depending on where you are looking. Today a news article was shared with me about a man in his 80's who bought a home in Pasedena, CA 40 years ago for $155,000. It listed this week for $1.3 million. It sold for $2.5 million cash. How? Why would anyone pay this cost for a 3/1 1900 square foot home? Location. Well...what is it that makes our heavenly home so valuable? Is it actual streets of gold or pearly gates? I believe it has ...
Apr 19, 2022•12 min•Season 2Ep. 37
Send us a text Today is a special day, because it is Jackie Robinson Day. Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball on April 15th, 1947. Depsite much oppression and hardship, through his example and willingness to press on, he paved the way for black atheletes to compete side by side with white men, as it always should have been. To honor him, today all players in the MLB wear his number 42. What was once divided is now brought together, as barriers were broken. Well...Jes...
Apr 16, 2022•12 min•Season 2Ep. 36
Send us a text Dandelions: the bane of my existence. I just finished mowing the grass on Monday, and I have 3-6 inch stems already growing all over my yard as of today! It can be maddening - you cut something down, only to have it pop right back up again. It seems no matter what you do, there is no getting rid of it. Well...temptation is much the same way. It can be maddening, you overcome a temptation one day, only to have Satan right back up in your face the next. How do we overcome? We've got...
Apr 15, 2022•11 min•Season 2Ep. 35
Send us a text We had our 16 week ultrasound appointment today where we find out the gender of the baby. We are so excited to announce we are having another little baby girl! In just 5 months from now, Finley Grace Sipe will be joining this world. While it's been a very challenging pregnancy, and the next 5 months will be hard as well, we both know it will be worth it the day that we get to hold her. Well...Jesus encouraged his disciples in the same way, even using labor & delivery as an ill...
Apr 13, 2022•14 min•Season 2Ep. 34
Send us a text Today we finally got our taxes started and will finish them up in the next day or so. Nothing like waiting till the last minute. Everyone has to do taxes, even though people hate it. Nothing is free, and everything comes at a cost. In fact, even Jesus has something to say about taxes - "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." Well...what is God's? I would suggest it's the same criteria for what belonged to Caesar - it is whatever bears his image. As we were mad...
Apr 12, 2022•11 min•Season 2Ep. 33
Send us a text Today as I was getting the dishes unloaded and loaded, I asked the kids to leave the kitchen. Dane left, but Ava lingered and told me "just a minute". I said now, and she proceeded to return with a "gift" for me - and that is why she couldn't leave yet. It was a great teaching moment to show her if she wants to make me happy, she needs to do what I ask the first time, not what she thinks I might want. Well...we need to learn the same lesson with the Lord. God is not interested in ...
Apr 08, 2022•11 min•Season 2Ep. 32
Send us a text Today was filled with anticipation. We are eager to have Kylie feeling better from the flu, and the kids kept asking about her. I am eager for baseball to start tomorrow, as it's opening day! In the world of golf, people were anxious to hear if after 14 months Tiger would feel well enough to compete in the Master's tournament again. In the music industry, highly awaited albums are getting ready to drop anyday. We anticipate the things we love - we think and talk about them frequen...
Apr 07, 2022•14 min•Season 2Ep. 31
Send us a text Well, we're back to an abnormal schedule again (hence the late drop for the episode). My wife somehow contracted the flu, and prayers on her behalf are appreciated, especially while pregnant. Poor thing is miserable, so I'm back doing full time dad & work duty for this week. Today just wasn't going well, all the small things just weren't going right. That's when the kids came up to me with a toy that records their voices and told me to press the button. "I love you daddy" it p...
Apr 06, 2022•12 min•Season 2Ep. 30
Send us a text April Fool's Day. A day that I both love and hate. A day that I love because I enjoy a great practical joke. A day that I hate because you never know what to take seriously. No matter what you read or hear, it takes extra work to do some digging to discover whether or not it's actually true. Nothing can be taken at face value. Well...maybe that's not such a bad thing, and maybe we need to be doing that more, especially spiritually. We tend to take the words of others that we respe...
Apr 01, 2022•11 min•Season 2Ep. 29
Send us a text Since our family is expanding, we've done a little bit of snooping into the market to see if we could get some more space for our growing family. When purchasing a house, it's important to look at the seller's disclosure, where the owner of a home is obligated to list current or potential problems with the property. If there are extensive fixes and needs, most buyers will back out. Only those who really love the property will purchase it "as is" and make the renovations themselves...
Mar 31, 2022•12 min•Season 2Ep. 28
Send us a text My son did not like the idea that it was naptime today. He kept getting out of bed and we kept having to put him back in. At one point, he ran to his sisters room and got on her bed. As I walked down the hall, Ava yells "Oh, quick, hide!" and they ducked under the covers, as though I wouldn't see them there. After putting him back in bed, this continued, but each time we were aware because we were watching on the monitor. Well...we might laugh at this, but we are just like this wi...
Mar 30, 2022•12 min•Season 2Ep. 27
Send us a text Welcome back after an extended absence! We are so glad to have the podcast up and rolling again. Today, our podcast is inspired by a show I have recently gotten into called, "The Crafstman" centered around a master woodworker named Eric. In an episode, Eric was challenged as to how he could cut a tree down and make something out of it. He responded, "Because we have to. For us to live, something has to die, and we need to make the best of it." Well...if that doens't apply to our s...
Mar 29, 2022•12 min•Season 2Ep. 26
Send us a text As you all now know, we are expecting our third child! We also expected Kylie to be sick again as she has been with her past pregancies, but this one has been harder than we had hoped. As a result, I find myself stretched too thin trying to care for my kids, my wife, and all my other normal responsibilities as I juggle playing full time mom, dad, and evangelist. As a result, we're going to take a temporary break with this podcast to help free up some of my time. Hopefully in the n...
Feb 24, 2022•4 min•Season 2Ep. 25
Send us a text This weekend is an estate sale at the home of my ailing grandmother back in Salem, Oregon. What has generated so much interest is her incredible paintings, as my grandmother is an extraordinarily gifted artist. While at first it made me sad to think of them being dispersed, they are not inteded to be put into storage. They belong displayed in the homes of others, touching the hearts of many she'll never even know. Well...we are God's paintings. He did not transform us from darknes...
Feb 19, 2022•11 min•Season 2Ep. 24
Send us a text Well, if you heard the very special annoucement yesterday, you know by now that my wife and I are expecting our third little baby. We are over the moon excited to bring another child into our family Lord willing in September. Our other two children are excited too, especially our daughter who is hoping for a sister this time around. I feel like such a blessed man, and thank you all for your prayers. Well...our children are not our own, they belong to God. He formed and fashioned t...
Feb 18, 2022•14 min•Season 2Ep. 23
Send us a text Tune in for a very special announcement detailing why the podcast has been a bit more sporadic as of late, as well as what to expect moving forward. The reason things have been so crazy is because...well, you'll just have to listen to find out! #SetYourMindAbovePodcast
Feb 17, 2022•3 min•Season 2Ep. 22
Send us a text Over the weekend my father-in-law and I fixed the temperature & pressure relief valve on my hot water heater. Essentially, it's the most important system of a water heater, because it relieves pressure in the tank to keep it from exploding and ending life as you know it. From time to time, a properly functioning valve will open up and let pressure out. Well...emotions work the same way. We must learn not to bottle things up, or else we'll explode. But this is not just importan...
Feb 16, 2022•11 min•Season 2Ep. 21
Send us a text My kids had a rough morning this morning, as they were not on their best behavior. There was correction and discipline, and they shed some tears. Not long after, I went to walk out the door for work, but they came running into my arms for hugs and kisses saying "Don't go!" You see, even though they made mistakes, they never doubted my love for them! Well...why is it that so many Christians can't understand that about God? They asssume when they sin that God hates them and suddenly...
Feb 11, 2022•12 min•Season 2Ep. 20
Send us a text I listened to a survey where a fellow walked around and asked people this question: "What would you do if you only had 24 hours to live?" I thought about my answer, about spending time with family and reflecting on things that are most important, but I was shocked by the answers given. Family, friends, and faith never came up - most just living by no rules. Well...we are not promised tomorrow. It's not a theoretical question, our last day very well could be today. Are we living it...
Feb 09, 2022•15 min•Season 2Ep. 19
Send us a text I had about an hour to kill between meetings and studies today, so I made some phone calls in a long drive through line at Starbucks. They have been through the ringer - short staffed, shipping issues, menu limitations, it's a mess. I asked how their day was going and tried to encourage some exhausted baristas. When I pulled up to the window, they gave me a drink on the house thanking me for being nice despite the wait & many issues. Apparently, others have not been so underst...
Feb 08, 2022•10 min•Season 2Ep. 18
Send us a text The Winter Olympics started today in Bejiing. As I watched the opening ceremonies, it was fascinating to watch countries that would normally be at odds with one another cheer on their rivals and set aside their differences. However, it won't last, and in many ways is superficial. Once the games are over, it's back to the same fighting between nations. Well...you epect that of the nations of men, but what about the Lord's church? Jesus prayed for us to be one, as he and the Father ...
Feb 05, 2022•12 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Send us a text I had a great conversation with a new friend today Brady Cook, who opperates and runs Diakonos Marketing. They seek to help educate and equip churches to better reach the lost through their online efforts. After some discussion, I told him I wished I was much better with my videos, because they weren't to my standard. He responded, "Done is better than perfect." Well...that's right. Nothing always will yield nothing. This applies in so many ways: to why people never come to Christ...
Feb 04, 2022•12 min•Season 2Ep. 16
Send us a text Today is national signing day in the world of college football. Athletes that have been saught after by different universities now make a full commitment to where they will choose to play ball. While many prior to today have made a verbal commitment, that often means nothing and can change come signing day. But today is official, and they are all in. Well...you are being recruited as well. Both Satan & God want you, but for different reasons. Satan wants to destroy you. God wa...
Feb 03, 2022•11 min•Season 2Ep. 15
