We live in one of the most prosperous nations on the planet.  And in the midst of it, many in America are broken and broke.  To much was extended on houses, loans, and credit have caused the balloon of bankruptcy to pop.  Now, millions of Americans are feeling the pain of poverty.  The inner city is being hit hard.  Places... Continue Reading

Amazed.  An article ran in the Christian Post, and it was only moments when senseless arguments started bantering back and forth.  I was a great article and after reflecting on it, neither Jason nor I could find anything that could be misconstrued.  I was wrong. Within hours of it going up, the arguing begins.  Pause for a... Continue Reading

For more than a year, Craig and I have worked on the JLY Project.  As he stated yesterday, it’s all starting to come together.  With the tour launching in the heart of America on Saturday, we are excited and ready.  We will confront hate with love.  With such a bold approach, we believe that America will embrace the hope... Continue Reading

I am perplexed with dilemma.  How do you love someone who only understands hate?  How can love be viewed when some people view life with loathing optics? In three days my flight takes off to the first stop of the Jesus Loves You This I Know Tour.  Jason and I will connect up in Kansas City and then make the drive over to... Continue Reading

We just uploaded a video over on XXXchurch that talks about the Jesus Loves You project. I posted the video below here. The best place to buy the book is on AMAZON. We start the tour this Sunday in Topeka, Kansas with the folks from Westborro Baptist Church. Lots of stuff planned for the tour. I have posted all the tour information below.... Continue Reading

I find it amazing at how quick a situation can melt down.  It starts with a thought and leads to an action.  In moments, it can parlay into an interaction with a family member or co-worker.  Words fly.  Emotion flares.  Relationships bruised.  Add to it a weakened economy, a melted down investment, and a personal... Continue Reading

This morning I spoke at an incredible church in Atlanta.  The momentum and synergy that is coming from the content of the book is encouraging.  People were hungry to get a copy at the end of service.  Teams of people are being formed to partner with us in getting the word out.  If you have read it, help us to make it... Continue Reading

As the word of our book gets out, the chatter starts to crackles.  Thankfully, the ones who have posted on Amazon and Barnes and Nobles website have been gracious, constructive, and kind.  More than 50 comments have lit up the Amazon board moving into the Top 50,000 [Out of 500,000] titles before it has even been released.  Layered... Continue Reading

I look at the life of Jesus and some times I am flat out perplexed.  I see a man.  I see God.  I see someone who is tender and someone who is tough.  Regardless of where he lands on a person’s radar, Jesus adds value and makes the world a better place.  The toughest agnostic or the most skeptical atheist hardly would... Continue Reading

As the Folsom Prison stop on our book tour approaches, thoughts of past prison visits flood my mind.  I have been invited and spoken in numerous prisons.  My memory of these events serves me well.  They are as planning points; navigational points to know what to do and what not to do.  When I go into a prison I have to sign a... Continue Reading

I am a dad.  Both of my kids mean the world to me.  I’ve driven all night just to be present just to coach a soccer game.  I’d do anything to show my kids my love and God’s love for them.  Living in Vegas causes me to reflect on this often; mostly because of what we do in our attempt to communicate God’s... Continue Reading

Today, I strolled into a 3:00 PM meeting I was excited to attend.  A friend and I needed to connect.  I had looked forward to this meeting because it mattered.  JOHN* who is difficult to figure out spiritually, was coming to my office to have a chat about some God stuff.  Last week, knowing that he is highly cynical of... Continue Reading

For years within churchanity, I have seen how there are two missions; reach the unchurched and disciple the churched.  But after hearing the results of a recent study, I have seen a need for a third mission to emerge for a third, yet unnoticed group.  The Study A study was done among those that attended church faithfully as far back... Continue Reading

Craig’s post from yesterday, August 14, hits close to home today.  Currently, I am on a flight from Tampa, Florida in route to Houston, then onto Sacramento.   I arrived in Florida yesterday and I am on my way home.  I don’t make it a habit of traveling coast to coast for a few hours.  But this is... Continue Reading

I once heard it said, “If you want a friend, be a friend.”  Sounds profound, but to really apply it can be harder.   Today it’s sad.  I know of so many people who can go to church each week and never really connect with anyone.  They slip in after the first song and slip out during the closing... Continue Reading

As a little boy I loved playing with cars.  I loved it when I saved enough money, usually around 12 bucks, and I could buy a model car.  There were two types; ‘snap together’ and ‘glue together.’  I never got any good at the glue type because I was a messy kid.  I would open the glue and start putting... Continue Reading

Burnt. betrayed, let down, disillusioned; Ever been there?  I have.  Over time, engage in any interpersonal friendship and one of the previous words will introduce itself to you.  It just happens.  People are human.  Within faith circles, many feel duped.  With the economy, many are broke.  Within employment,... Continue Reading

Last month my church honored my wife and I for 15 years of pastoral service.  I did not realize the significance until many of my friends from around the country started calling and saying, “Congrats.”  After the third or fourth call I figured it out when one questioned rhetorically, “Who stays at a church for more than... Continue Reading

Sometimes people look at it with an odd, unexplainable stare.  Completely wrapped with Jesus Loves Sin City graphics, our bus tootles down the Vegas Strip.  Captain Rose, AKA Stephen, has the personality to pitch fun, humor, and inclusion to anyone who wants or needs a ride.  It’s free.  But people don’t get... Continue Reading

The heat of the desert caused the site of the road in the distance to blur.  Heat waves radiated upward off the sun scorched pavement.  I had just finished a tour at the Laughlin River Run.  A few years back this gathering of motorcycle enthusiasts made national news when two outlaw biker gangs began to riot in one of the riverbank... Continue Reading

I think some people will be shocked when they read the chapter in the book called Jesus Loves Crooks.  Not because they don’t believe that his love can reach them, but that we had such a front row seat to Eddie’s* transformation.  As the book tour unfolds, we will head into Folsom Prison to continue to tell the story of... Continue Reading

I remember when it hit me the hardest.  I was sitting in a coffee shop with a group of city pastors in Sacramento.  We had gathered for prayer and then for breakfast.  As we all stirred our coffee, one of the pastors quieted the table to gain everyone’s attention.  With silence gained, he directed his question to... Continue Reading

Some of the most awkward moments I have ever had while leading XXXChurch is during Q & A time at a venue.  Sometimes it is a men’s event like Porn and Pancakes and sometimes it is at the Porn Debate.  At the Porn and Pancakes event, the church crowd is usually too embarrassed to ask the tough questions.  At times, we even... Continue Reading

The light on my laptop started to flicker in a quickly attempted reboot.  A few moments ago I was sitting in a Pennsylvania airport trying to get an email off before this early morning flight took off….now I am an hour and a half into the flight and I am just starting to breathe calmly again. Having cleared TSA Security at the... Continue Reading

I heard it recently said that hurt people, hurt people.  A backpack of broken dreams, relationships and derailed goals is enough to stop the strongest in their tracks.  I never liked pottery.  In fact, it was way too messy and when working clay on the spinning wheel, I could never get the clay perfectly centered. ... Continue Reading

I was in the first grade, but it still stings.  I always was a talker and my first grade teacher asked me to stand outside because I was talking while she was talking.  It was early in the day and I had already ticked her off. Obediently, I stood outside and purposed to stand away from the window, because as a little obnoxious... Continue Reading

I just returned from a week’s vacation with my family.  I totally disconnected.  No laptop.   Just Jeanette and the kids.  We hopped on a Nickelodeon chartered cruise ship and enjoyed a much needed family get-away.  The kids loved Slime Time, Sponge Bob and a whole cast of characters from their favorite... Continue Reading

Some authors do a blog tour, some do a speaking tour, some do absolutely nothing and still sell a ton of book. For my last book Starving Jesus, we did a 40 day tour across the country in an RV while fasting. What will we do this time? Taking place from August 30th-November 1st the tour will include six stops across the country: August 30, 2009... Continue Reading

The church challenge page is now online HERE. This is something we put together for leaders and churches. The zip file contains sermon ideas, video promo, graphics, slides, power point, banners, small group questions and so much more. It is free. Download by clicking the image below.   Continue Reading

The book is set to come out September 1st. Next week, we will put up on the site a trailer of the films that are coming out as well. Both items are available as pre-sale on the links on this site. We have free materials for church leaders that want to take their church through the Jesus Loves You series. Email stephen@jesuslovesyou.net for more... Continue Reading