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A Letter from Pastor Trent to Valley Creek Church.

December 6, 2011 in Personal with 0 Comments

Hi Valley Creek Church, eight things I want to share with you today…

#1 — Sunday was powerful! We dove into the second week of our series “I Believe in You.”

  • We get so wrapped up in our own lives that we forget we are commanded by God to share our lives with each other.
  • Having someone pour into you is great… But the privilege of investing your life into someone else is amazing.

#2 — Our welcome team hit it out of the park last Sunday.

  • I was talking to a senior citizen in our church. She told me how she has been bragging about you to everyone she meets. She told me that every Sunday a greeter rushes out to her car to personally escort her into church…
  • Thank you Valley Creek. You are always looking for ways to express God’s love in practical ways.

#3 — Eight Eleven kids in KidsCreek made first time decisions to follow Jesus!

  • I love what God is doing! One of the adults working with pastor Charity said “God’s presence was so real during the service you could feel it.”
  • KidsCreek is NOT CHILD CARE! KidsCreek is providing age appropriate ministry that partners with parents to make a difference in the lives of every elementary student.

#4 — Creeks Edge had their first event Sunday afternoon for 5th graders.

  • I can’t believe my daughter is already getting ready for the transition to VCStudent in June!
  • Thanks to the Middle School team leaders who made the Video Scavenger Hunt at the Mall of America a success!

#5 — We have an impromptu group of people Christmas caroling at a retirement home this Sunday night. Love it when people see an opportunity to share God’s love and do something about it.

#6 — Can’t wait for this Sunday.

  • I get to talk about one of my favorite verses: “Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.” (Psalms 71:17–18 NIV)
  • You make a huge difference on the next generation!

#7 — INVITE SOMEONE to our Thursday Night “Christmas at the Park.”

  • Our creative arts team is planning a special night of Christmas music and revealing Christ in Christmas.
  • Add this date to your cell phone now. 7pm, Thursday December 15, at the Indoor amphitheater of Central Park attached to the Library in Woodbury (where our church used to meet a couple years ago).

#8 — I am pumped about 2012! Our new series will make an impact on your life. More details to come.

–Pastor Trent

White Space

May 20, 2011 in Leadership, Personal with 0 Comments

Last week I sat down in a comfy reclining chair and looked out the window at a picture perfect nature preserve.  The trees were budding, the soft music was playing.  It felt like just a taste of heaven… until I heard the dentist drill revving up.  Four novocain shots and a temporary crown later I was on my way back to the office. I could hardly move my tongue.  If you called me on my cell you know why I didn’t answer.  I didn’t walk away more rested.  In fact in the end I was more tense (especially after every zing I felt on my tooth).  I usually think I am too busy to take some down time.  My to do list is just as long as yours.  Sometimes I buy into the lie that says I can do more in 24 hours than Jack Bower. The antidote to busyness is MARGIN.

When we don’t have margin we have stress.  Designers know the value of “White Space.” We fill up every square inch of the page because we think I have a little extra, why not cram more in.   Most high end brands understand the importance of simplicity.  We try to add just a little bit more… that is all that I need.  Psalm 23 says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need.”    When we fill the void with more stuff we become more distracted, cluttered, and busy. What we are looking for is not another “thing” it is Him.

Don’t get me wrong, I am all about “Carpe Diem.”  I want to get the most out of the moment.  But to get the most out of life I must let there be room for white space.

The Bible promises that our Good Shepherd will “make us lie down in green pastures and lead us beside still waters.”  Get over the guilt of having some margin. He is ready to quench your spiritual thirst.

Welcome To Our World

September 4, 2007 in Personal with 1 Comment

Elisha David Jay was born August 29 at 8:59 a.m. It has been an awesome week connecting with him and seeing our family grow from 2 kids to 3 kids. Everything is going great! Melinda is recovering well from her c-section and Rylie and Joel love their new baby brother. Thank you so much for all the cards and meals!

July 4th

July 5, 2007 in Personal with 0 Comments


I am ending my blogging sabbatical.  Ok, I didn’t really intend to have a sabbatical.  It is amazing how easy it is to let a blog slide. My family is on vacation in North Dakota.  Last night we watched fireworks on the capitol mall in Bismarck.  It is always great to spend time with family.

So much has happened over the past few months.  I have plenty to blog about. You’ll see more in the upcoming days.

Counting Calories

March 17, 2007 in Personal, Resource with 1 Comment


Ok, I never thought I would do this… but I recently came across a program for Mac or PC called, “Calorie King: Nutrition and Exercise Manager.” You can download this program for free and try it out for seven days. It is amazing to learn what I have been eating! Every major restaurant I look up is in there. They have a massive database that covers everything you can think of… Starbucks, Caribou, Taco Bell, Panera Bread, Milio’s. They help you figure out what your BMI (Body Mass Index) is and what you should be aiming for. I learned that my Double Decker Taco Supreme I ate yesterday at Taco Bell had 380 calories and 18 grams of fat. My caloric intake (can’t believe I just wrote that) seems fine… my fat intake is double what is should be. Today I took a big step… 2% milk with my coffee instead of half and half. Don’t know if I can handle this or not, we’ll see. I’m glad I drink coffee (12 calories) instead of a mochas (493 calories). If I drank as many mochas as I drank coffee I would be trying to lose 150 lbs instead of 15 lbs. I’ll see if I last beyond the 7 day trial.

Pregnancy No No’s…

March 12, 2007 in Personal with 0 Comments

Melinda and I are expecting our third baby the beginning of September! I have learned a few things from our past pregnancies… I need to remember some things. I was reminded of some of them from Perry Noble’s blog.

Four things you cannot say to your pregnant wife.

1) Didn’t we eat here five times this week already.
2) What is taking you so long?
3) I cleaned out your dishwasher for you.
4) No you can’t have a bite.

ND Snow Angels

February 17, 2007 in Personal with 0 Comments


If you look really close at this picture you might see my nephew, my mom and my dad. They took part in a world record setting event on the capitol mall in Bismarck, ND. What was this event you ask? Almost 9000 people came out to make snow angels! They plowed through the previous record of 3,784. And people say nothing ever happens in North Dakota… Please don’t send any North Dakota jokes. I am proud to be from there.

From Miami

February 3, 2007 in Personal with 0 Comments

I am busy reviewing notes, drinking coffee, and listening to David Wilcox on my iPod while heading to Miami. This morning as I left for the airport at 3:30 AM the wind-chill was -35. Haiti’s forecast is for 87 and sunny. It will get a bit chilly tonight at 75.
I arrive in Haiti around 5 pm tonight and it sounds like I’ll have a 2.5 to 4 hour drive to go around 30 miles to the hotel.

Haiti is not known for its road system. I hope to have some form of internet at the hotel. If we do I’ll do my best to keep you updated on this blog.

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We just had some great Cuban food at La Carreta in the Miami airport. Thanks for all your prayers. I’m excited about being able to share with other pastors in Haiti about God’s purposes for His church.

Running for the creative edge

April 28, 2006 in Personal with 0 Comments

I decided I need some more creative juices flowing in my life. Here is a quote from a running website.

Just as important, running — like many forms of exercise — is a great cure for stress, emotional strain, even mild depression. You’ll likely find yourself with fewer headaches and more energy, patience, humor and creativity. www.coolrunning.com

Most of my best ideas have come when I used to work out or hanging out in the sauna. I think it’s time to get back in the game. Melinda is trying this running thing too. In fact, she is the one who brought this whole idea up. I’ll let you know how it goes. I found a plan online that we’re using, ‘couch-to-5-K running plan’. It says it will take two months. Now I’ve got to find a 5-K to enter after June 28th. Ok I just looked online. This looks like a race for me on Saturday, August 12! The Lake Elmo Lions Huff-n-Puff 5K Run. Maybe Melinda will join me for this one!

Turkish Coffee

March 18, 2006 in Personal with 1 Comment

Technology is amazing. I feel like I could still be in Woodbury even though I am at Caffe Appassionato on top of Queen Anne hill in Seattle. With wifi and my isight camera I was able to touch base with Mike our youth pastor and get caught up on all the latest news and blogs. I came across this coffee shop that claims to have the best turkish coffee in Seattle. I’m enjoying it… thick, rich, full of flavor. Wouldn’t the life of a coffee shop reviewer be great?


Melinda and I have found our favorite coffee shop in seattle, Caffe Ladro. The people have been great and we’re amazed at the God connections we’ve had while here.

One other highlight was from Pete’s Pizza: The Calzone King. I remember having a number of calzones here back in 1993. It is still the same unique place. It took a little bit to talk Melinda into going there, but I think she loved it as much as me.

It looks like I’ll have a chance to connect with a couple of church planters at Harbor Christians Center in Gig Harbor. God is doing great things there! They are reaching out to over 900 people. They started in 1995. I interned with Gino, Rick and Steve back in 1993. I hope to share some photos later this week.

I’m thankful for a great staff at Valley Creek Church that lets me leave for a week and not have any worries. It is hard to stay away, so many great things are happening! More updates to come. What have been some of your best vacation moments?

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