Interview With Bobby Valentine
April 3rd, 2007 at 9:07 am by Dee O'Neil Andrews
This week's interview is with Bobby Valentine of "Stoned-Campbell Disciple" and co-author, along with Professor John Mark Hicks of Lipscomb University in Nashville, of "Kingdom Come: The Spiritual Legacy of David Lipscomb and James Harding." Bobby is a minister who recently moved from the vast hinterlands of Milwaukee, Wisconsin to the warmer climes of Tucson, Arizona. He is a prolific and studious blogger and writer and also lots of fun, as you will see below, although that's not how he refers to himself.
Enjoy Bobby's interview and leave him comments to encourage him. He obviously needs them as you will see by his final remarks!
Cheers & Blessings to you all today! Dee
Part I - Basic Interview Questions
1. What's your favorite scripture.
Psalm 107 & Rev 5
2. Vital Statistics: - Month, Day, (Year Optional) & Place you were born
August 25, 1968 ... Smithtown, NY (Long Island)
3. Names of spouse & Children:
Pamella (wife), Talya (10) and Rachael (11)
4. What brought you to where (the location) you are now?â€
I believe the Lord led us to this location (Tucson, Palo Verde Church of Christ) for ministry
5. Where all have you lived in your life?
I have lived in NY, Fl, Alabama, Louisana, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Arizona
6. What kind of work do you do?
Full time husband and daddy and part time minister
7. What do you love most about your work?
the joy of being used by God to enable them to know his great love better
8. What do you like least about your work?
funerals
9. Who has been the most influential person in your life & briefly why:
Probably my Dad. He cultivated a love for God and his word. One of my earliest memories is seeing my dad sitting next to his bed studying his Bible.
He took me "door knocking" and to various "gospel" meetings. Left a incredible impression on me.
10. Any hidden talents:
Love to snowboard
11. Little known fact about me:
I like classic art ... very little known fact!!
Part 2 - Favorite Things
1. Favorite Book (other than the Bible):
The Confessions of St. Augustine
2. Favorite Movie:
Star Wars
3. Favorite Food:
Italian
4. Favorite Kind of Music:
Classic Rock
5. Favorite musical group or performer:
Beatles
6. Favorite song:
Pretty Woman ... for my Woman
7. Favorite junk food:
Cheesecake
8. Favorite childhood memory:
Thanksgiving meals
Part 3 - Thought Questions
1. What is the best meal you have ever eaten?
It was the best in terms of the quality of the food. Pamella and I had just married and on our "honeymoon" we stopped at a Pizza Hut. We were full of awe for each other and just staring and oogling each other.
We did not have a whole lot of money. But out of the blue a couple, whose name we never found out, came up and congratulated us on our wedding. Then they announced that
this meal was "on us." It was an incredible and unexpected gesture. I was a great moment and made a lasting impression.
2. Where would you most like to visit that you have never been to before?
I would love to walk the trail from Galilee to Jerusalem just as Jesus did in the Gospels. That region has a pull on my psyche that I cannot explain.
3. What is your proudest moment?
My proudest moment was either when Pamella said "I do" and became my beloved wife OR when Rachael and Talya "popped" into the world. On each of these occasions I had a grin so big I looked foolish. But nothing even comes close to these moments in my life.
4. What do you most regret?
I most regret how a ministry of mine (and my family) came to a screeching halt in a certain Southern state. Psalm 55.13-14 is a text that Pamella shared with me just this past Sunday that struck her about that horrid event. And I have to admit it hit too close to home for comfort.
It reads, "If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God."
Oh, yes what I regret most is that experience ... an explanation that I have neither rhyme or reason for. Darkness clouds that spot like some forbidding monster.
5. If money, health, etc. were no concern, what would you do with your time?
Travel and visit with missionaries in Africa
6. What is your favorite book in the Bible and why?
Psalms. Because it has saved my relationship with God on more than one occasion. God in his wisdom ... and grace ... has given me a "voice" to express things I dared not at one time.
There you have it ... I am BORING!!
not BY A LONG SHOT ARE YA BORING!!!!
I like what ya said, when asked what ya would do if ya had the money , and other stuff
about going to Africa,
have a great day!
oh Hi DEE, sorry I havn’t been leaving any comments!
HUGGS
Bobby, you are certainly not boring. I’m sorry our “fair state” (if it was Florida) treated you badly. Ps.55:13-14 is an interesting verse.
Not boring to me, either. It is a pleasure to get to know you—we all felt like we already did–thanks to your blog and the nice comments on ours.
Peace
neva
Dee
Thank you so much for doing these—they are so encouraging and helpful
Love
Neva
Didn’t find it all boring. It is interesting, though, how many of us in ministry have that dark night somewhere in our experience. I would love to make that holy land walk, too. But people think since I’m from Alabama I’ve already been to the holy land! Not many people think that, but I’d like to think at least a few did!
Well I try not to be too boring. Janice when I finally get to go to Africa perhaps we can hit the continent together. What an adventure that would be. Cecil it was not Fl was the source of that darkness, rather it was a state north of New Orleans and south of Memphis. The Psalm text was used by a brother during a Lord’s Supper mediation and it was like someone took the wind right out of our sails. Neva you are kind. I am really the life of the party,
Greg we should just do it one day you know. Back in 2001 I had a trip planned to Israel but something happened that changed our plans … I wonder what that was.
Blessings,
Bobby V
Great interview! Thanks
that would be very cool, Bobby!
oh and Greg, how’s the bump on your head ?
I can attest to the fact that Bobby is far from boring. I was so tired Sunday morning after driving two hours from Phoenix to get back in time for church - and to hear Bobby preach. I did miss his Sunday School class -which is the “Gospel According to Moses” He is the most interesting teacher/preacher I have ever had. I did fine until the closing prayer which lasted twenty minutes (not led by Bobby). I knew I was nodding off but when Tom started telling me at lunch all the things that were mentioned in the prayer I realized that I had actually gone to sleep. But I was awake for the sermon. I am glad the Lord led him to us.
Great post, Dee. I love the interview format and it was very interesting. Could there be more of these posts in the future . . . I can think of several people I would like to hear from . . . how about Pat Summitt who just won her seventh national championship??? Or maybe some exciting fellow bloggers like E-Cecil or Greg “Chipper” England.
You are an excellent writer and always keep our attention.
Peace to you sister. Are you attending Pepperdine this year?
Bobby - I’m glad our “Championship,” I mean fair State was not the source but it wouldn’t have surprised me either.
Steve - I must apologized to Dee for she asked me sometime ago to “reveal” myself in the blog kind of way I haven’t yet. Sorry Dee. I’ll try to get on it.
Dee: If he’ll be himself, Steve Puckett would be a good candidate to “interview” … if he’s going to be that boring old preacher from Melbourne which is actually in Palm Bay, then don’t bother!
Steve: Dee not interviewed me, she interviewed Chipper as well. Check the archives.
Thanks Dee for allowing me to learn a little more about a friend.
Hey Bobby, I did not know you snow boarded! I don’t board, but I love to ski. We should get together on the slopes sometime.
Dee,
Interesting. Bobby’s a great guy! Are you doing a series of interviews with different folks? It would be interesting reading about the people behind the blogs/ministries/etc. I’m going to poke you into my list of blogs. I think the two or three folks who actually read my blog would find your cite interesting. : )
Enjoy Easter!
Great interview! I’m enjoying getting to know Bobby through his own site, and your interview tells us some things he might not mention on his own. Thanks for sharing, Bobby!
Dee,
Another great interview! I love these interviews.
And, Bobby, it was wonderful learning more about you.
Dee:
Love your site, and especially the interviews with Christians that you have done. I hope you don’t mind that I linked you in a roundup of Christian blogs I was doing this afternoon as an Easter special.
Happy Easter.
Jay (F.deSales)
Bobby,
You may not remember me, but we had some exchanges via e-mail about one year ago. I lost my e-mail address book a couple of months ago, and with it, your e-mail address.
I used to be a Church of Christ minister (graduated from Sunset School of Preaching in 1988), but I was received into the Catholic Church in 1995 (got into a bit of trouble trying to convert Catholics).
Anyway, I mentioned to you that I was writing a book on my spiritual journey (the “Hows” and “Whys”), and you indicated that you would like to know when it would be available. Well, it finally came out last week. It is called “Christ in His Fullness” and can be obtained on Amazon (searche for “Bruce Sullivan”).
Anyway, I simply wanted to get back in touch with you in order to pass on that tid bit.
Peace, brother.
Bruce Sullivan
Kentucky
Bruce thanks for reaching out. I would like to read your book indeed. If you read this you can contact me at through email at Bobby.Valentine@paloverdechurch.org
Would love to hear from you.
Shalom,
Bobby Valentine