It is a good thing to allow other people to shine- to allow others to receive the accolades and praise that could easily have been your own. In rural Alaska, to go home with a moose is a BIG deal. It is cause for celebration. I wanted him to experience that. It is for this same reason that Jesus gives us the privilege of laboring in his harvest field.

You may be too self-focused to laugh. You may be too self-absorbed to laugh. Carrying stress and worry is a CHOICE. Having a positive mental attitude is a CHOICE. Perhaps you need to do a websearch for Christian comedians twice a day, just so that you can laugh for 5 or 10 minutes. You will notice the positive change immediately.

This is even more important in spiritual matters. There are not only false religions (like Mormonism and Jehovah's Witnesses), there are FALSE TEACHERS inside Christ's church. They  themselves are led by deceiving spirits and teach things that are utterly untrue. There are also many WRONG TEACHERS- men who are genuinely saved, but who are in error on important matters. On top of all of this, there are men who are charismatic and able to draw crowds but do not have the SPIRITUAL MATURITY to lead others. Be careful who you follow.

How do you know if you are on the right track? The Bible says that a group of new Christians in the Greek city of Berea "were more noble than their brothers, because they tested everything they heard against the Scriptures to see if it was true." Follow those who follow Christ, and you will be blessed! -Pastor Brad

If I lived in Seward, I might have a boat. If I lived rural on a landing strip, I might have a Supercub. If I was a mechanic with a BIG pickup and trailer, I might have heavy equipment and a track rig. For my life as it is now, any of those things would simply be adding work and headaches to my life. Life is all about choices, isn't it? Instead of all of those things, Laura and I have chosen to invest in Christian school tuition for our kids, building a church and supporting missions around the world. From our perspective, it was an easy choice.
Yes, I have more than enough 'stuff.'

So let me tell you what home SHOULD be. It should be a place of REFUGE, of PEACE, and of LAUGHTER. It should be the place where others are always excited to see you, where meals and memories are about being together, and where you can share one another's joys and burdens.

Written on June 23, 2026

Jesus told us that in the same way that he was hated and persecuted for speaking the truth about God, we also would be hated and persecuted for speaking that truth. In fact, he said that he was sending us out like sheep among wolves. You see, a lost and dying world doesn't live inside my circle of comfort.

Written on June 22, 2026

The allusion to fishing intrigued James and John and Peter and Andrew, and they decided to follow Jesus. But the comparison to fishing could only go so far. Rather than casting their nets, these fishermen begin casting THE TRUTH. What they offered their family and friends and neighbors and strangers on the street was LIFE. It's true that they never knew how a person would respond to the good news.
Son David with the State Record for tiniest fish caught on a fly in the Kenai River.

We all have different gifts. We all have different talents. The same thing is true spiritually. Every Christian, at the moment of salvation, receives a special gift from the Holy Spirit. Preaching, teaching and evangelism are a few. Others include mercy, encouragement, giving, serving and administration.

Written on June 20, 2026

What made that caribou hunt with my dad so memorable is that WE WERE TOGETHER. But here's the thing- shared experience requires SACRIFICE. It requires TIME and EFFORT and often (at least for Alaskans) a significant amount of money! We can all be miserly and self-centered and alone, or we can INVEST in relationships.
A day to remember with my dad, John Rud

We had two choices: 1) Quit; or, 2) Drop all the way into the valley behind this mountain and begin climbing again. I left the decision up to my dad, and he wanted to keep climbing. Here's the thing so many people never stop to consider- when you persevere you continue to have a chance of success. When you become discouraged and quit, your chance of success is ZERO. This is why God talks so much about the importance of persevering.
My dad, John Rud, packing a huge bull off the mountain.

There is only one person in this marriage you have the ability to change, and that is YOU. First, become your best self spiritually, physically and emotionally. Get up early in the morning when the house is quiet to spend time with the Lord. Pray fervently for your spouse and your marriage. Read the passages about joy and peace.

He would ask, "Have you loved your spouse today the way that you PROMISED me you would?" You might want to list your spouse's shortcomings and poor behaviors to Jesus, but I think he would just wave that off and say, "I'll speak to your spouse about that. What I want to know from you is, have you LOVED your spouse today the way that you PROMISED me you would?" Love is a choice. CHOOSE to love. Men, she desires to be treasured- to know that she is the one who captivates your heart. A small gift, flowers, date nights- these are things that actively demonstrate your love for her.
Laura and me (more than a few) years ago.

1) Loneliness. Being single is massively energy consuming for those who wish to be married. People get tired- emotionally exhausted- from waiting.2) Fixation on personal appearance. He's not tall enough. She's not thin enough. He's not athletic enough. She doesn't look like the actresses on TV. Christians in the last 50 years, especially in the last 20 years, have become so fixated on personal appearance that they walk right past dozens of great potential spouses because they don't fit the idea of the 'perfect man or woman' in their minds.

But when seeking a spouse, why not imitate God's method of determining suitability? He says, "God does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart." Look at the heart! Does he love the Lord? Is he committed to being a provider? Does she love the Lord? Is she eager to be a wife and mother? Again, CHOOSE WISELY, and you WILL be blessed! -Pastor Brad

Finally, don't spend your energy seeking the perfect spouse. Spend it BECOMING the kind of man or woman who will BE an excellent spouse. It's true that there are no guarantees. It's true that those who choose well are sometimes abandoned. Even so, those who CHOOSE WELL and FORGIVE QUICKLY have a FAR better chance of BEING and STAYING happily married! -Be blessed! -Pastor Brad

I had to work much harder with Sandy for lesser results. I learned that I wasn't such a great trainer after all, but rather that Tucker was a great dog. In the same way, every child is different. Some are naturally compliant and eager to please. They have a gentle nature and make parenting a joy. Others are difficult from the very beginning. They require boatloads of energy and constant discipline. Think about this- if I hadn't spent a moment to train either of my dogs, they would have been wild and disobedient. They would have been in a pen, on a chain, or on a leash for much of their lives. They would have had NO freedom.

Find parenting wisdom in the Word of God. Seek godly counsel from Christian parents with well-behaved children. Be humble. Even though you may not see it in the moment, what you are doing IS making a difference in the life of your child! Be blessed! -Pastor Brad

Written on June 14, 2026

Written on June 13, 2026

A: One bite at a time!Large projects can seem daunting up front. When Pastor Robert Chadwick and I, along with a small group of men, decided that we could build 'a church that could seat 1,000' we had about 200 attenders. Our plan was to do it completely ourselves- all volunteer labor. I was in charge of the fundraising pledge drive and much of the design. A small group of men led construction.
Pastor Bob, Don Lofgren, and first steps at our new church.

Most of life's real blessings come with work attached. Having a child, buying a home, and, yes, following Christ.

God calls us to a life of sacrifice. He tells us not only to love others, but to SERVE others. He tells us to be generous givers and to practice hospitality. Only through obedience can we discover the joy and blessing that is attached to work that we do in Jesus's name. Step out in faith, find a place to serve, embrace the work- and you will be blessed! -Pastor Brad

Written on June 11, 2026

Laura was a little hesitant about the meat. This was new for both of us.I had taken a big black bear with a bow and arrow and had kept the meat meticulously clean. Even so, I had to 'bargain' to get her to try it. I said, "We'll put a roast in the crock pot before church, and when we come home, if it smells good, we'll try it. Otherwise, we'll go out for lunch." The possibility of a 'date' was incentive enough. What did we discover? The meat looked like beef, smelled like beef, and tasted like beef. It was great. I was as surprised as she was.

What one or two things have you THOUGHT ABOUT doing to serve Christ, but have never stepped up and actually done them? Teaching sunday school? Leading a small group? Sharing your faith with a family member or a friend? Step up. Stretch and grow your faith. Try something new this week, and you will be blessed! -Pastor Brad

I posted a photo this week of climbing Bear Mountain with our youth group. One of our leaders, Steph Conger, started climbing as a teenager and still climbs every week today. I just found a photo showing her rocking this same climb with a youth group fifteen years ago. Good habits produce a healthy life. Do the right things, and KEEP doing them, and you will be blessed! -Pastor Brad

Written on June 9, 2026

If I tried to stand up from that awkward position, she would be on me before I could get my rifle up. My heartbeat sounded like a beating drum in my ears. My only course of action was to remain completely still and hope she didn't see me. There are times in life when we face things that give no clear course of action- no good options.

Written on June 8, 2026

Not only that, but every baptism in the Bible came AFTER a person put his or her faith in Christ. During those first months, I sensed the Holy Spirit telling me again and again, "You know that you need to do this." And so? I surrendered. I was baptized right here at The Crossing. It was the first time that I had ever publicly taken a stand for Christ. I still remember the beautiful experience to this day. IT'S NOT TOO LATE FOR YOU! Take this step of faith, and you will be blessed! -Pastor Brad

To them, following Christ is the most natural thing in the world... but someone needs to TELL them! We praise God for every child who came to Christ this week, for every family who drew closer because of the excitement of their children, and for every staff member and volunteer who made it happen! Jesus said of children, "The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these." Invest in the spiritual lives of your children, and you (and THEY) will be blessed! -Pastor Brad

A grizzly came in overnight and completely ate the hind quarters right to the bone and half the backstrap. It was a stark reminder that even in the wilderness we are not alone, and that there IS danger in the world. This same thing is true spiritually. We are never alone. Jesus said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you;" and, "Lo, I am with you always, to the very end of the age." But God also tells us, "Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour."

Written on June 5, 2026

Every young person learned a critical lesson yesterday. They learned that the secret to climbing life's mountains is this: DON'T QUIT!! Whatever challenge you are facing in life- continue to MOVE FORWARD, continue to CLIMB, don't QUIT- and you will be blessed! -Pastor Brad

Friends, life can be challenging enough without our adding fuel to every little fire. If you find that your bad choices have caused your life to be upside-down at the moment, what should you do?
2)Take responsibility for your wrong actions.
4) Do the next right thing.

Written on June 2, 2026