Friendship Blog

Why did Jesus have to die?

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:00:28 GMT

WHY DID JESUS HAVE TO DIE?

April 1, 2026

I have been a Christian for many years, but it wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized every year, as I walked through Passion Week, one question continually bothered me:

Why did Jesus have to die?

Jesus was perfect, and I am a sinner who is unworthy of such a sacrifice. Why should He have to pay for my sins? Couldn’t God have found another way?

As I began to dive deeper into studying Scripture, God, in His infinite grace, gave me a clearer understanding of His character, and this understanding completely wrecked me.

To understand why Jesus had to die, we have to go back to the very beginning.

In the beginning, Adam and Eve had a perfect relationship with God in His presence. When they disobeyed God by eating from the forbidden tree, sin entered the world, and with it came death to man and destruction to man’s relationship with the Lord.

Through the fall of Adam, all of humanity is now subject to sin. Romans 5:12 states, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.”

Every person is born with a sinful nature and is a slave to that nature. Romans 3:23 says that, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

What is the consequence of sin? Romans 6:23 states, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The reality is that we deserve death because of our sin.

This is where God’s attribute of justice comes into play. Because God is perfectly just, sin cannot simply be ignored. It has a penalty, and it must be paid. God will judge all sin and require payment from each person according to their sin.

But this is where the story takes a beautiful turn. If God is just, then sin must be punished. Yet, God is also loving, and He wants to save sinners. The cross is where both justice and love meet. John states God’s promise when he says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

From the beginning, God gave us a glimpse of His plan of salvation for all mankind. In Genesis 3:15, God said that there would be a deep hatred between the serpent’s offspring and the woman’s offspring, and her offspring would bruise the serpent’s head, while the serpent’s offspring would only bruise his heel.

Out of God’s unfathomable love for us, He provided a way for us to be brought back into a right relationship with Him by sacrificing His own Son, Jesus, on our behalf. Jesus’ death and resurrection would declare victory over death once and for all.

Then we might ask ourselves, how did Jesus’ death take the place of our punishment? Again, we can look to the Old Testament for the answer.

In Exodus, God told Moses to go to Pharaoh and demand that God’s people be released from their slavery. Out of his own pride and stubborn rebellion, Pharaoh refused, so God had Moses return with a warning that if he didn’t release God’s people, God would inflict a series of ten plagues on the Egyptian people. After nine plagues, Pharaoh’s heart was still hard, so God inflicted the tenth and final plague – the killing of all the firstborn males and animals.

In order to save the Israelites from this plague, He instructed each household to kill a lamb that was without blemish, that is pure and without defect, and place its blood on the doorposts and lintel. When the Lord passed through to strike the Egyptians, He passed over the houses with blood on the doors, and the Israelites were spared.

This was a foreshadowing of the passing over of our sins through the blood Jesus shed when He died for our sins.

Jesus fulfilled what the Passover lamb symbolized. He alone met the requirements necessary to stand in our place:

• Jesus is without sin. He was the spotless lamb without defect.

• Jesus is fully man. He took on human flesh to give His life for us.

• Jesus is fully God. He is able to bear the full weight of our sin.

• Jesus is all-powerful. In His own power and might, He raised Himself from the dead. Not only are we free from the payment of our sins, but we are also made alive through Jesus’ resurrection and will be in His presence for all eternity.

• Jesus is eternal. He paid for our sins once and for all.

Once I understood the significance of God as a just judge who had to punish sin, yet out of His love for us, He substituted His life for ours so that we could enter into His presence once again, I finally understood why Jesus had to die.

As we approach the Easter season, let us not miss the significance of Jesus' work on the cross. Instead, let us exalt His name and proclaim the good news of salvation to those whom He has placed in our lives.

We Own Nothing

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 16:45:09 GMT

WE OWN NOTHING

March 1, 2026

The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30, ESV, emphasis mine)

¹⁴ “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. ¹⁵ To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. ¹⁶ He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. ¹⁷ So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. ¹⁸ But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. ¹⁹ Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ ²¹ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ ²² And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ ²³ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ ²⁴ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, ²⁵ so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ ²⁶ But his master answered him, ‘ You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? ²⁷ Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. ²⁸ So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. ²⁹ For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. ³⁰ And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

How often have you heard someone say something like, “You’ve been working hard—you deserve that promotion,” or “He didn’t deserve you anyway”? From a nonspiritual perspective, that may be true. Maybe your work did warrant the promotion you didn’t get. Maybe they weren’t a great person and didn’t warrant your time, energy, and devotion. But often we do not stop at the nonspiritual—we begin to think that we deserve something eternal.

The Bible speaks clearly about our condition apart from Christ. The reality is that we deserve only one thing: to be punished for our sins (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1–3), to be eternally separated from the loving presence of the divine Judge, sentenced to eternal damnation. We do not deserve salvation (Titus 3:4–5). We do not deserve a second chance (Genesis 6:5; Romans 8:7; John 14:15). Yet our God, being not only the Judge but also the loving King, gave by grace—which by its very nature means we are not owed what is given—a chance to be reconciled to Him. And when we receive the great gift of reconciliation to the Father, He does not simply leave it there. He reconciles with us for a purpose.

John 15:16 (ESV)

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, He may give it to you.

We are saved to bear fruit—but not just any fruit. We are to bear the fruit of advancing His kingdom here and now on this earth. The Lord does not send out His ambassadors empty-handed; He equips them with the tools needed to cultivate and harvest the fields. We are saved from our depravity for a purpose. We are bought with a price—the blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:19–20)—not to live as we please, but to submit our will to the Father’s. Whatever we have received from the Father, the breath in our lungs, the relationships we enjoy, we are to steward for the purposes for which He gave it (James 1:17). We are ambassadors and stewards, not owners (2 Corinthians 5:20).

We own nothing.

The Father, the King, has the right to all in His kingdom—every bit of fruit produced, every person bought with the blood of His Son—everything (Psalm 24:1). Therefore, be radically obedient with what He has entrusted to you. Take the five talents that belong to our Master and multiply them. Our King can afford the risks—but you cannot afford the risk of inaction. And there is deep joy waiting for those who faithfully use what their Master has entrusted to them.

Take a moment to consider what the Lord has entrusted to you—your time, your abilities, your resources, your relationships, your opportunities. None of these are accidental, and none of them are truly yours. They have been given to you by the Father for His purposes and His glory.

Ask yourself: Am I using what God has given me for His kingdom, or am I burying it in the ground?

Faithfulness is not measured by how much we have, but by what we do with what we have been given. The servants with five and two talents received the same praise because both were faithful.

“He is no fool who gives away what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.”

- Jim Elliot, American Missionary

Happy Ash Wednesday

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 16:01:55 GMT

HAPPY ASH WEDNESDAY!

February 1, 2026

Most people associate February with Valentine’s Day, and honestly, I like that! It helps break up the monotony of winter and invites us to think creatively about how to love others well. February 14th is often the focal point of the month. But just a few days later (at least this year), another significant day appears on the calendar: Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of Lent.

The timing almost feels intentional, doesn’t it? A cultural celebration of love followed closely by a spiritual invitation into the deepest love of all - God’s love.

So… What Is Ash Wednesday?

Glad you asked! Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. Its official name is “The Day of Ashes,” named for the tradition of marking one’s forehead with ashes in the sign of a cross as a symbol of repentance and humility. Since Lent is exactly 40 days long (not counting Sundays), Ash Wednesday will always be - you guessed it on a Wednesday!

While Scripture does not mention Ash Wednesday directly, the Bible frequently describes people placing dust or ashes on themselves as a sign of mourning, repentance, and returning to God. The practice echoes this ancient posture of humility before the Lord.

Ash Wednesday begins a season that invites us to slow down, look inward, and turn our hearts toward God.

And What Is Lent?

Lent is the 40-day journey leading up to Easter Sunday, traditionally marked by fasting, simplicity, and prayer. It’s an intentional season where believers slow down, create space, and grow in spiritual discipline and intimacy with Christ. But at its core, Lent is about repentance—turning from sin and consecrating ourselves to God. It reminds us of our deep need for mercy and our ongoing need to be shaped by God’s love.

Repentance (a change of mind that results in a change of action) matters because, without God, we are helpless to fix the brokenness within us. On our own, we cannot create a clean heart, pure motives, or transformed actions. That kind of renewal only happens through God’s power. Repentance isn’t simply feeling bad for our sins; it’s a sincere change of heart, mind, and direction, an intentional realignment with God’s ways and God’s character. It is turning toward the God who loves us, forgives us, and restores us.

And here’s the beautiful part - Repentance is not the start of a punishment. It is an invitation to freedom in Christ.

Well… What Does This Have to Do With the Season of Love?

Short answer: Everything.

If we have experienced God’s love, then we naturally desire to draw near to Him. If sin is what separates us from God, then repentance becomes the natural, love-driven response.

Repentance is not driven by fear, it is fueled by love.

Because of the Father’s great love, He sent His Son to enter our world and redeem it.

Because of the Son’s great love, He bore our sin and broke the power of death.

Because of the Spirit’s great love, He dwells within us, weeding out the roots of sin and shaping us into Christ’s likeness.

Love initiates redemption.

Love sustains transformation.

Love invites us into repentance.

Only two months ago, we were celebrating Advent , a season of anticipation, waiting, and longing for the arrival of Jesus. Advent reminds us of our deep need for a Savior and the hope that His coming brings. Lent continues that same story.

In Advent, we waited for Christ’s arrival.

In Lent, we walk with Christ toward His sacrifice.

Advent stirred our hope. Lent invites our surrender.

Advent proclaims, “The Light has come into the world.”

Lent invites us to ask, “What in me still needs to be brought into that Light?”

It’s a season that reminds us not only of what God’s loving plan has done, but also of what the Spirit’s loving work is doing in us right now, and of what Christ’s loving victory will do when He comes again.

As we enter the Lenten season, fresh off the heels of Valentine’s Day, and only weeks removed from Advent, we are invited into a fuller picture of God’s love: A love that came down - A love that laid itself down - And a love that will one day come again to make all things new. Let this season remind you that God’s love is not shallow or sentimental; it is deep, costly, and transforming. It invites us to trust Him, surrender to Him, and be shaped by Him.

As Ash Wednesday and a season of preparation for celebrating Christ’s victory over death approach, you and I are invited to consider this challenge.

What in my life needs to be released, surrendered, or repented of so I can better receive and respond to God’s love?

Is it a habit? (Eph 4:22-24, “...to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”)

A fear? (Phil. 4:6-7,” Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”)

A distraction? (Prov. 4:25-27, “Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”)

A sin that needs to be brought into the light? (1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”)

A burden you’ve carried alone? (Matt 11:28-30, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”)

So, as Advent reminds us to wait for Christ, and Lent invites us to walk with Christ, may we let go of what separates us from God. May we lean into His love free from the burden of sin.

And may we move toward Easter, and toward His return, with hearts full of hope, humility, and joy.

Be Happy

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 17:51:17 GMT

BE HAPPY

January 1, 2026

It’s the time of year when many in our culture (and some within our church) set out to make “resolutions” for the new year. Whether it’s diet, exercise, or even spiritual or mental health, many people choose to resolve to pursue specific goals. This practice of New Year’s Resolutions always reminds me of a Puritan theologian by the name of Jonathan Edwards. He compiled for himself a list of 70 resolutions that he would almost daily review and seek to live out. At the start of this calendar year, I’d like to invite you to consider one of these resolutions: be happy.

Now, if you are like me, you may have an eyebrow lifted at this point. Happy? If I am living my life for God, my goal should not simply be happiness, right? That is absolutely true! So, read the whole resolution on happiness: “Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power; might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.”

You see, Edwards was not pursuing happiness in this world but in the other world. The other world, namely, the kingdom of the beloved Son (Colossians 1:13). This resolution takes Psalm 16:11 to heart – “You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” It takes the beatitudes to heart: “Blessed [happy] are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (emphasis added). This resolution also takes Psalm 1 to heart which essentially says, “blessed [happy] is the man who walks not in all of the ways of this world but delights in and is committed to the path of the other world.”

Edwards recognizes one of the key experiential differences between the happiness of this world and the happiness of the other world. The fleeting happiness of this world is easy to come by. But when it comes to the happiness found in the kingdom of the beloved Son, Edwards acknowledges that he will use “all the power; might; vigor; and vehemence; yea violence, [he is] capable of, or can bring [him]self to exert, in any way that can be thought of.” I can’t think of a more vivid way to describe fighting for something. Edwards knows the alluring, fleeting happiness of this world. So, he must resort to violence in his fight against the flesh. Colossians 3:5 says to use extreme violence in our fight against the flesh: “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”

Our world is half-right when it tells us to pursue happiness. Pursuing happiness is good when that happiness is derived from the Lord. But when it is the happiness of this world, it is dead wrong to pursue.

So, I would like to once again encourage you in this new year: pursue happiness of the other world. Here are two tips for how you may go about this:

1. Put to death the things of the flesh. You can reference the language used in Edwards’ resolution or Colossians 3:5 to see this principle. As fallen humans, our tendency is towards that which is easy and comfortable. This disposition must be starved, banished, destroyed – killed. This may mean:

a. Fasting from: a meal or multiple meals on a regular basis; from social media (or deleting the account for good); from streaming services like Netflix; from activities, or hobbies that you have elevated above the Lord.

b. Asking others to pray for you and check in on you.

c. Removing apps and “dumbing” your phone down to combat sins like lust and sloth.

d. Confessing and exposing sin to the Lord and others regularly.

2. Fight for the joy that is yours in Christ Jesus. This may mean:

a. Scheduling – in your calendar – regular time to encounter the Lord through prayer and in His Word. Guard and protect that time.

b. Identifying characteristics like those found in the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5 or character traits to put on in Colossians 3:12; prayerfully seeking the Lord to grow you in those characteristics; intentionally taking steps to grow in those characteristics.

I can all but guarantee that as you find victory in putting to death the things of the flesh, and walking in the newness of life in the things of the Spirit, you will find the “happiness in the other world” that Jonathan Edwards was so resolved to attain.

So, as you begin this year, resolve to be happy… in the Lord.

Hope in the Season

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 15:20:59 GMT

HOPE IN THE SEASON

December 1, 2025

I don’t know about you, but Christmas is probably my favorite time of year! Gatherings with family, decorations placed throughout our home, the fresh blanket of snow that covers the ground (although, I could do without the below zero temperatures that usually come too!). But all these things help signify that Christmas is here! I always think Christmas will be a time where we get to slow down and really enjoy time together. But we’re usually busier during the Christmas season than any other time of year. But somehow the busyness feels different. The days aren’t spent rushing from one meeting to the next, planning the next lesson for Awana or scheduling the next doctor’s appointment for the kids. The days are spent preparing to celebrate Christ’s birth. The arrival of our Savior into the world. There’s an anticipation that comes with the Christmas season that isn’t present in the day-to-day routine. There’s a sense of hope that seems to fill the air.

For some reason this year, the anticipation of Christmas started stirring in my heart much earlier than usual. Once we reached the end of summer, I started pondering Christmas and anticipating its arrival. But why? I couldn’t put my finger on it for quite a while. But then I started to realize why.

We entered 2025 with much joy and anticipation! We were preparing for the arrival of our sweet little guy, Azariah, and shortly after we started the new year, we learned that two of our brothers and their wives were also expecting and were due shortly after us! This only increased the excitement that our families felt as we began to dream about the future with three cousins so close! However, the anticipation we felt quickly turned to heartbreak when we learned that both of our nephews had terminal diagnoses and would not survive outside of the womb. I wrestled so much with why God would allow this. Why didn’t we get to keep Will and Ezekiel here on this earth with us? While I don’t feel like I have perfect answers to this, and maybe never will this side of heaven, I was reminded time and time again of God’s goodness, grace, and faithfulness. I was reminded that God didn’t create our world this way. When sin entered the world, sickness and disease came with it. As a result of our sin and the evil of this world, death is a reality. A very harsh reality. And we don’t always know why.

We also walked through this harsh reality in January this year when Sam’s grandpa passed away and again this fall when we lost my grandma. The death of my grandma, “Gma” as the great grandkids call her, hit Tali (our 4-year-old) especially hard. She knew Gma well and struggled to understand why she wasn’t at her house when we would go over in the days and weeks after she passed away. She asked many, many questions. I learned that you must face grief head-on when you’re also helping a toddler process it! A couple of weeks ago in her Awana Cubbies lesson, she was learning about Eve eating the fruit in the garden. The lesson explained that the consequence of eating the fruit was death and at the end of the lesson it ended with Eve eating the fruit! That’s it. It stopped there. Quite a cliff hanger for a 4-year-old! Tali looked at me when I stopped reading and said, “Mom! Keep reading! What happened to Eve?! Did she die?!” I quickly realized that we weren’t stopping there. So, we talked through the whole Gospel story. How Eve chose to eat the fruit after God told them not to, how the consequence of that sin was that they had to leave the garden and that they were separated from God. BUT that God loved them and sent Jesus to die on the cross for their sins, and ours, and that because Jesus died on the cross for our sins AND rose from the dead, we can live with Him forever in heaven. When I got to the end of my Gospel presentation, she looked at me and said, “Mom! We will be in heaven with Gma then too!” As tears welled in my eyes, I was reminded that amidst the harsh reality of this world, there is HOPE. Hope that transcends everything in this world. Hope that holds true even when there are no answers. Hope even in death.

As I’ve reflected on this reminder of hope over the past few weeks, I have come to realize why the anticipation of Christmas has been on my heart so much this year. Because without it, we have no hope. Christmas is where it all began. It’s where God’s plan for redemption started. It started with a baby in a manger and ended with a man on a cross who conquered death. A man who died and rose again, saving us from our sins. A man who bridged the gap and made a way for us to be in right relationship with our Heavenly Father. Matthew 1:21 says, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins .” That’s why He came. He came to give us hope. The hope of eternity with Him.

Revelation 21:1-4 says, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passwd away.’”

God sent Jesus to be the ultimate sacrifice for our sin. To restore relationship with Him, so that He can dwell among us and be with us. That’s why Christmas matters. That’s why we anxiously anticipate the celebration of His birth. Because without His coming, there is no hope. Because He came, we can anticipate His coming again!

So, as we enter this Christmas season, enjoy the time with family, enjoy the twinkling lights on the tree, the fresh blanket of snow outside, and the delicious food on the table. But also take time to let your heart reflect on the true reason we celebrate Christmas and the ultimate hope of eternity that it brings.

Seasons

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 13:15:09 GMT

Seasons

October 30, 2025

Seasons. We all agree they come and go quickly! As the colors have changed, leaves have fallen, and we move into the “holiday” season, I am led to ponder not only seasons of fall and winter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, but the seasons of life.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us, “For everything there is a season and time for everything under heaven.”

I find myself in a new season of life as I prepare for retirement. And with this age, I have a beautiful view of past seasons in life. I can look back on God’s faithfulness that sustained me through each and every one.

The author of Ecclesiastes was King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived because he asked God for wisdom and God gave him “wisdom and very great insight and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore!” 1 Kings 4:29.

Solomon lists a number of times….to be born/die, plant/harvest, kill/heal, tear down/build, weep/laugh, mourn/dance…the list is lengthy! You can read it for yourself in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. But these times are all ordained by God and they have purpose! I think we all can relate to a few, if not many of the “times” or seasons of life. It is how we maneuver through the tough times and even happy times that can either draw us closer to God or harden our hearts towards Him.

Because all things come from God, we can trust that He will sustain us through them all.

I was encouraged recently as I visited with someone from the Cornerstone Homeschool group that meets at Friendship Church. We were chatting about how quickly the summers go by. And I mentioned that the season I am in, allows me time to slow down, reflect more and be flexible in my schedule for whatever God has for me to do. She shared how she had been on a women’s retreat over the weekend and felt God asking her to lay down her agenda for His. Even in the busiest times of life - whether raising a family, pursuing higher education, a demanding career, or ministries, seeking His will and bowing to it, bears the most fruit for His Kingdom. And that is what she was doing.

Laying down any preconceived ideas of what we want and listening to His voice.

Seasons of life ebb and flow and we may find ourselves in a season of sickness. My dear friend is battling a very aggressive cancer, the same cancer that her sister died from a few years ago. We spoke the other day on the phone, and I was humbled and encouraged by her faith and trust in God. At one point in our conversation, I had tears, and I apologized for them, feeling like I had to be strong for her. Instead, she said tears are good and cleansing! She admits there have been tears shed by her and her family, but since having radiation on her neck, her throat is very sore. Crying actually hurts her throat. She said God assured her that He has her and that there was no need to cry!

Several people from her church had a prayer service for her and even friends who do not pray or have faith, were there. Without skipping a beat, my friend said, “If my cancer brings others to Christ, then bring it on!” A time for sickness and a time to heal. She knows that God is able to completely heal her here on earth. But whether He does this side of heaven or heals her by giving her a new body in heaven, she trusts in His sovereignty. Cancer has brought a new level of dependence on God for my friend and her family.

He promises to never leave us or forsake us. That we can be assured of!

My husband, Brian and I have been in a difficult season….waiting for a prodigal son, who we long to hear from and see, to return. He not only walked away from Jesus, but from all of his family. I often describe this pain as open-ended grief. The last time we saw our son was on Mother’s Day 2020. Nothing can prepare a mother’s heart for this kind of pain. But God experiences this kind of pain when people He loves reject Him. He knows our sorrow.

As the months have turned into years waiting for his return, I have felt the sustaining love of my Heavenly Father. Our LifeGroup is doing a study for parents of prodigals, and it has brought much freedom and hope as I relinquish control to God. I know that I am not able to change this situation at all, but it will be the work of the Holy Spirit to draw our son back. Because God loves him so, I know He will be relentlessly going after our son like a shepherd after the lost sheep.

We pray daily for our son to return to Jesus and his family but until then, we trust in God’s goodness and sovereignty. In the meantime, we are waiting with open arms to lavish our love on our son!

There is a blessing in being at an age to retire from life’s work, but you never retire from the work God has prepared for us to do. God has given me opportunities to pour into women ages of 17-88. I pray they will also see the blessings of the season they find themselves in and embrace it! Pressing into the Father’s side and allowing Him to use them for His glory and our good!

Whether you are in a season of being a youth, single adult, married and growing a family, caring for aging parents, in financial stress or abundance, or any number of seasons, be assured God is in it all with you! Inquire of the Lord how He wants to use you in the day to day. Just as Solomon asked for wisdom, God granted it!

 He’ll guide you in each season to be a blessing to others and you’ll see Him work in powerful ways and sustain you through it all.

That makes EVERY season a reason to celebrate what God has done in and through your life!

Choose Wisely

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 14:01:55 GMT

Choose Wisely

October 1, 2025

Sometimes we are dealt a tough hand in life. We may have had a tough upbringing or have suffered an unexpected loss. There are situations that happen to us that we can’t control, but we can choose how to respond to those tough situations. We can choose the path towards healing by leaning on Jesus in prayer and His Word. Or, at the other end of the spectrum, we can choose to fall into despair and go on a path of destruction, destroying ourselves and our loved ones.

A few months ago, Bev and I traveled to Duluth to help and attend a Celebration of Life for a beloved relative. He led the hard life of a functional alcoholic as he grew up in a one-bar-and-grill town, the kind of town where heavy drinking is the norm. Fortunately, the last few years he was sober, living at a senior residence and was able to help in small ways and reconnected with his siblings. Unfortunately, the previous years had estranged him from his children and ex-wife.

Friday was the usual gathering with barbecue sandwiches, salads, desserts and fellowship with visiting friends and family. Many stories were told, and old times were revisited. Saturday, a few of us from the Celebration gathered at the cemetery to see a small grave had been prepared by the ground keeper to receive the black onyx urn containing his ashes. All commented on how it was done with care and thoughtfulness. Time was spent talking more about the old days while waiting for possibly more to show up. It was not to be. Soon, his sister came to me with tear-filled eyes and asked if I would say a few words. This would be a first for me. I said I would be honored. I touched on the hard life he led, but how he finished well, and ended with a prayer. During the drive home, I mentioned to Bev how sad it was that other family had not shown up for the Celebration or internment. She reminded me of how hard he had made life for them.

This was not the first time someone close to me or my family would die prematurely from substance abuse. A short time ago a friend died at age 57. He had abused his health with alcohol and substance abuse twice in his short life. He spent his late teens and early 20’s following a rock band on tour and living out of cars. He had quit the drugs for several years only to be pulled back into addiction by a back injury. When I first met this friend, he started to work in local missions. He gave his life entirely over to Christ and moved his family out of state to run a mission site. He became an ordained Baptist Minister and he and his family moved back to Minnesota. He was hired as a youth minister of a Presbyterian Church. He started a street ministry to help rescue homeless teens and formed a non-profit board to establish a shelter for these teens. While renovating the building he injured his back and the downward spiral began. The pain meds escalated to heroin.

During this journey his wife and family tried in vain to rescue him. Twice, he went to an addiction rehab facility. Twice his family sprung him from the program early thinking he had been cured because he was an expert on addiction. Sadly, this freedom was shortly lived as friends were noticing missing medication after being visited by him.

Once I visited my friend at the rehab center. He had a gifting of inspiring others and saying what you hoped to hear. Many people there thought he would have such a powerful testimony when he got out. I however questioned; did he realize the damage to his life from this addiction? We talked about the focus of rehab programs. And it was clear to me that he had not created a support group or realized the depth of damage his addiction had caused.

Tragically, his family was torn apart. A few months later my friend came to see me. The visit was the familiar dance of addiction and sobriety. Then he said he was worried he might run out of gas. I told him I would follow him down to the gas station and fill up his tank. He said that he would be asking too much of me, but could I give him some cash. I smiled and shook my head; we both knew the music had ended and the dance was over. That was the last time I saw him alive.

The following is a poem that reflects the story above:

Like flowers that have always been there, taken for granted,

unseen I assumed he would always be there, I for him, he for me

Challenges in life come and go some we survive others not so

There were mountains looming in the distance, and how were we to know

It seemed like a small hill, not hard to climb at all

Just a bump in the road of life, would it matter if he would fall

But it was something in his past that would find its way back

And turned out to be fatal for my friend’s track

Families grow together, joys and pains shared the same,

Time rolls along unnoticed like the sunshine and the rain.

Then I find myself trying to catch a bus speeding away from its stop,

All of my efforts of each falling short, never to reach the top,

of the mountain that has arrived,

one that he would not survive.

You try to love someone, even when their love has turned to something new

And you try to understand why all their decisions only make you feel blue.

So you turn away despite the sadness and longing in their eyes,

You can’t understand the reasons and can’t explain why.

So the elephant in the room starts to crush everyone and everything in sight,

It’s the situation you want to go away, but it’s he that disappears into a long dark night. But the longing and the fear is always there; it never leaves

Nor does the hopes and prayers that one day, he would finally see.

Desperation to cash in on old friendships with obvious schemes and lies

Only cause disappointment while inside our spirit cries.

His isolation is unwanted, but no blame can be placed on those

Who tried so hard to help, not to enable but in the end, had to let go

So I turn with a smile,

my own little lie,

I shake his hand and wish,

My friend good luck and good-bye.

As for me, the first time I quit drinking was in Tech school. I thought the drinking was getting out of hand, so I quit for a few months. The second time I quit while playing in a variety band. The other two members could drink like fish, and I could feel my liver being punished. The pattern became, I start, quit again, start again and escalate from beer and wine to brandy or bourbon. Praise God, I took my last intentional drink at my mother’s birthday party in 2015.

Fast forward to an accidental incident a few years ago. I bought a 15 pack of my favorite non-alcoholic beer, with 0.0%. It was a promotional deal of 15 for the price of 12. I came in from mowing the lawn and grabbed a can from the pack, popped the lid and took a large swallow. I thought it was exceptionally good for NA and took another drink. I thought this has way too much flavor. I looked at the can and realized the beer company in their infinite wisdom was attempting to get regular beer drinkers to taste their NA by offering three of them for free with the purchase of a 12 pack. I stared at the sweating can in my hand and knew I had a choice to make, drink it, or pour it out. My mind reasoned I am already into it now, why not finish it? But I also knew if I did, I would finish another two or more before Bev came home. I dumped it out and gave the rest of the real beer away.

I have been blessed by God and a loving wife who watch over me. I stopped before any real damage happened. Unfortunately, others wait until the fun becomes an addiction, a medication needed to function and later to survive. All praise and glory to God and thank you to my wife Bev.

For it says in the Bible:

1 Peter 5:8

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Titus 2:11-12

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.

Galatians 5:1

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

With whatever tough situation you may be dealing with in life, go to God and trust in Him that He will carry you through. I found hope and new life in Jesus. And you can do the same!

Surround yourself with fellow believers that you trust and can lean on as well. There’s a great program at Friendship Church called Celebrate Recovery that can help with your hurts, habits and hangups. Pray to the Lord and seek out community before it’s too late.

To learn more about Celebrate Recovery, you can visit friendshipmn.org/celebrate

Why the Church Must Sing — and How We Can Sing Better Together

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 14:00:53 GMT

Why the Church Must Sing — and How We Can Sing Better Together

September 1, 2025

Many know that I care deeply for the songs chosen to sing during corporate gatherings. I also care that we are, in fact, actually singing, and that is something I don’t always express. Having sung and being around singing most of my life, it’s something that is rooted in me and not just in worship. Follow me or my family around for an afternoon and you’re sure to hear one of us randomly singing lyrics to a song or even just random things. Really, the number of times my children hear me singing, “Zoey, Zoey, Zoey” or “Ava, Ava, Ava” is probably alarming. The point is – singing is a natural part of my life.

But here’s the thing – what feels so natural to me doesn’t always feel natural to the church today. In fact, over the past 30 years, congregational singing has quietly declined. People are less likely to join in, men are often more reserved, and certain age groups are more hesitant.

That raises big questions:

Why are people singing less?
Is it actually important to sing in church?
How can we help our congregations find their voice again?

The Bible Says We Were Made to Sing

We were made to sing. Songwriters Keith and Kristyn Getty share in their book, Sing! How Worship Transforms Your Life, Family and Church :

“Your ability to sing is fearfully and wonderfully made.

Around the twelve-week mark, the vocal cords of a baby

growing in the womb are in place and have been shown to

work long before the baby is born. We may sound different,

but each of us has the same vocal apparatus—breath flowing

up from our lungs, vibrating through vocal cords in our

throat, and pushing sound out through the articulators of

our mouths, tongues, and lips. Singing is not merely a happy

by-product of God’s real intent of making us creatures who

can speak. It is something we’re designed to be able to do.”

Humans are commanded to sing. There are several references in Scripture to singing.

Psalm 149:1 says:

“Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly!”

Psalm 71:23 reminds us:

“My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you.”

Colossians 3:16 says:

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

God’s command to sing is given to everyone – not just those who can carry a tune. We sing not because we’re musically gifted, but because we were created and commanded to. Our voices, imperfect as they are, are instruments for His glory.

Why People Aren’t Singing Anymore

After looking at research and reflecting on the years I’ve spent leading worship, here are some of the most common barriers:

1. Too many new songs introduced too quickly.

While I was in seminary, the American Church had the appetite to learn 12-18 new congregational songs each year. The average attendance for church goers was also greater during that time. Nowadays, Americans are attending church 1.3 times per month on average. Less time participating in worship gatherings leads to decreased familiarity with songs simply by nature that people are in church less. Gradually, 12-18 new songs each year has decreased to 8-10.

2. Song keys that are too high or low for the average voice.

The rise of Christian Contemporary Music in the last 30 years has significantly impacted the singability of songs. In good and bad ways, the music industry has changed songs created for our worship services. The heart behind songs may be pure and well intending for our churches, but often the music industry’s formulas for success push songs beyond what an average singer can sing, whether it’s too high or low, or even too complicated.

3. Volume issues – too loud or too quiet.

Volume in a church is like porridge in the Three Bears’ home – too loud, too quiet, and just right. People’s perception of just right is subjective, and unfortunately, some may decline to sing if it’s not just right.

4. A cultural decline in group singing outside church.

If you stop to think about the last time you sang outside of church, where do you find yourself? The 7 ^th Inning Stretch at a Twins game? Maybe a concert? A friend’s birthday? Your shower? Singing used to be more communal, especially in school. I don’t know how long budget cuts have impacted The Arts in schools, but I do know that even I had to decide between choir, band, and other options known as “electives” in the 2000s. The point is – there are less opportunities to sing in groups outside of the church.

5. Fear of being heard or of having an “unworthy” voice.

I’m sure this last reason for a decline in singing has always been a reason for some people through the ages. The reality is that when people aren’t confident in something, they usually opt not to do it.

In short: Many people want to sing but need help overcoming obstacles.

The Three Types of Singers in Your Church

Dr. Will Bishop, Associate Professor of Music & Chair of Graduate and Worship Studies at William Carey University, recently concluded a study on congregational singing. In it, he defines three groups of singers found in the American Church.

1. Always Singers – They’ll sing no matter what.

They may be involved in music ministry, feel connected to God through music, and are generally quick at learning songs. These folks hear a room full of music and want to join in.

2. Never Singers – They prefer to listen and may never join in.

They prefer to listen to the people around them and meditate on the words of songs. Many don’t like their voice or musical skill and some don’t feel they connect to God through singing. These folks hear a room full of music and want to listen.

3. Conditional Singers – They’ll sing if the environment helps them feel comfortable.

“Conditional Singers” are folks who may or may not sing based on the conditions around them. They are more likely to sing if they know and like a song, find a song singable, and if people around them are singing and worshiping. Some may even sing if the room has right amount of volume – not too loud or quiet.

I don’t share the three categories above to validate why anyone should or should not sing. It’s simply a reality of how people engage in congregational singing. I should also say – just because someone isn’t singing, doesn’t mean they won’t. It’s important never to make assumptions about how someone is engaged or how God is working in someone’s heart.

However, regardless of where anyone may be among these groups identified by Bishop, Scripture still remains clear that we are created and commanded to sing. And so, the primary task for a worship ministry is to focus on things that will support congregational singing.

How Our Worship Ministry Focuses to Support Congregational Singing

As a worship ministry, our role is not to perform songs – it’s to help our church sing them. That means making intentional choices that prioritize participation, accessibility, and unity. Here’s how we have focused on this and how we will continue to focus moving forward.

1. Choosing Songs with the Congregation in Mind

We select songs with the congregation’s voice in mind – this means, as often as possible, choosing song keys that are singable, melodies that are memorable, and lyrics that are biblically rich. An important question may be: Can the average person in our church sing this with joy and confidence?

2. Keeping a Manageable Song Rotation

Over the years, it’s natural for the number of songs in regular rotation to grow. We will trim down the total number of songs we sing in a year, so that our congregation can really own them. This will help everyone, from our “Always Singers” to our “Conditional Singers,” feel more comfortable and confident joining in. Outside of a primary rotation, we will still include memorable songs from years past along with bringing in new songs or special music during moments of prayer and reflection.

3. Introducing New Songs Intentionally

When we bring a new song, we strive to do so with care. We often share new songs ahead of time, whether it’s via social media, email or weaving it into pre-service music. Additionally, we will continue to repeat new songs more often through the first two months to help it become familiar in our worship services.

4. Balancing Volume for Confidence and Connection

We aim for sound levels that allow people to hear and be encouraged by each other’s voices, while still providing enough support for those who feel self-conscious. We objectively consider factors like safe decibel levels, room size and what’s happening on platform to help maintain a healthy range of volume throughout the entire service.

5. Providing Opportunities to Only Use Our Voices

Songwriters, on occasion, include softer moments in songs to highlight our voices singing together. Sometimes, it’s even A Capella, which essentially means singing without any instrumental support. We will continue to include these moments, and even create them where they don’t exist, so that we can have times during our services where our voices are heard above all else.

6. Rooting Every Song in Scripture

We will continue to take time to connect our songs to the Word, reminding ourselves why we are singing – not just what we are singing. Worship is a response to Truth, and Truth gives us something worth singing about.

Our goal is simple: to help every person in our congregation – whether they’ve been singing for decades or haven’t sung a note in years – find their voice in the presence of God and among His people.

A Call to Sing

Congregational singing isn’t a nostalgic tradition – it’s a biblical command and a spiritual necessity. Singing unites us, teaches us, and declares the Gospel to each other and to the world.

Let’s create spaces where the “Always Singers” keep leading the way, the “Conditional Singers” find their courage, and even the “Never Singers” can’t help but join in.

Not because the band is flawless.
Not because the songs are trendy.
But because the people of God have something worth singing about.

Finding Peace in a Worried World

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 15:00:42 GMT

Finding Peace in a Worried World

August 1, 2025

I confess, I worry way too often, even though I know better.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

In a world that often feels like it's spinning on overdrive, it's no wonder anxious feelings are a common companion for so many of us. From financial pressures and health concerns to tragedies and personal struggles, the "what ifs" can quickly overwhelm our thoughts and steal our peace. But for those who follow Jesus, there's a powerful invitation to lay down our burdens and find true rest.

“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

Jesus' Radical Approach to Worry

What Jesus offers isn't a cure that eliminates all worries, but rather a profound pathway to peace in the midst of them. Even Jesus Himself experienced intense distress in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-39). And how did He respond? Jesus prayed!

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus directly addresses worry, urging His listeners not to be anxious about their lives, what they will eat or drink, or what they will wear. This wasn't just a casual suggestion; it was a radical call to a different way of thinking and living.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2

Look at the Birds (Matthew 6:26): Jesus points to nature as a powerful lesson. The birds don't sow or reap, yet God feeds them. If God cares for these, how much more will He care for us, His beloved children? What a reminder of God's immense provision and love for us!

Worry is a Waste of Time (Matthew 6:27): "Can any one of you, by worrying, add a single hour to your life?" The answer, of course, is a resounding no. Worry is unproductive. It consumes energy, distracts us, and offers no tangible solution.

Seeking First His Kingdom (Matthew 6:33): Instead of focusing on our worries, Jesus instructs us to "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." When our priority is aligning our lives with God's will and purpose, we can trust that He will take care of our needs. It's a shift in focus from our troubles to what God provides and can do.

Living for Today (Matthew 6:34): "Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." This wisdom encourages us to be present, to tackle the challenges of today without ruminating on all the things that could happen in the future.

Practical Steps to Finding Peace in Jesus

So, how can we apply these timeless truths in our anxious moments? By focusing on what God says in the Bible.

Cast Your Cares on Him: As 1 Peter 5:7 says, "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." This isn't a passive act. It's an intentional choice to release our worries to God, who is more than able to handle them. I’ve learned to start and end each day in prayer – which has transformed my outlook on life.
Pray with Thanksgiving: Philippians 4:6-7 encourages us: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Gratitude to God is the antidote to worry.
Remember Truth: When anxious thoughts flood your mind, intentionally fill it with God's promises. Memorize verses like Isaiah 41:10 "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Or John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." Or Matthew 28:20b “I am with you always.” Remember God’s goodness and how many times God has answered your prayers!
Listen to Christian Music: When I’m feeling overwhelmed, I also listen to Christian worship music. Singing God’s praises changes my focus from worry to trust in God. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you says The Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Try listening to Friendship’s worship playlist here or tune into KTIS 98.5 FM .
Seek Community: You don't have to face anxiety alone. Lean on your church family, trusted friends, or a Christian counselor. Sharing your struggles and praying together can bring immense relief and support. Jesus modeled community, and we are designed for it too.
Practice Self-Care (Spiritually and Physically): Bible study, daily prayer, worship services and quiet time with God is imperative for your spiritual health. As is adequate sleep, healthy eating and physical activity for your physical body. God wonderfully created you and it honors Him to take care of yourself.

Worrying is a real and often challenging experience. However, we don’t have to sit in it or let it occupy our thoughts. In Jesus, we find a compassionate Savior who understands our struggles and offers a path to profound, lasting peace. He promises to be with us always, in every little detail, offering comfort, strength, wisdom and unwavering love.

So, the next time a worrisome thought pops into your head, take it captive and release it to God. Be in God’s presence. Let God carry your burdens. Trust Jesus. And live calm and confident in Christ!

Resources:

Learn more about Jesus and God’s gift of salvation on Friendship Church’s website .

We have staff and volunteers that would love to pray for you! Submit prayer requests here .

Friendship Church also provides a free Right Now Media subscription where you can participate in Bible studies and listen to speakers to help you live a life filled with peace through Jesus Christ.

A Declaration of Independence

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 19:01:11 GMT

A Declaration of Independence

July 1, 2025

Why Real Freedom Begins with Total Dependence on Jesus

No matter if you’re new to Jesus or if you’ve walked with Him for a while, the invitation is the same: step deeper into the freedom only Christ can give. And though this message was inspired by Independence Day, its truth applies every day. This is a blog and a guide. Please read it knowing that there will be questions laced through it for you to answer. You can also share this with your friends and family over the 4 ^th of July and discuss this together. Let freedom ring!

The Independence Bell Rings Loudly When You Know What Freedom Really Costs

I love the Fourth of July—the fireworks, the flag, the food. The grill’s hot, kids are darting around barefoot with sticky hands and sparklers, and for a moment, we pause to honor the courage of those who stood up and said, “That’s enough.” They chose liberty over control—freedom over tyranny.

We love this day. And we should. But there’s a deeper war. A more ancient rebellion. And a far greater freedom. Before the ink dried on the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, a cosmic battle had already been won—not for a nation, but for souls. The greatest declaration wasn’t penned with a quill but sealed with blood. Our truest independence is not political—it’s eternal.

Reflection Question : Where have I mistaken independence for freedom?
Family/Mentoring Prompt : What does "freedom in Christ" mean to you personally? How do you see it lived out?

Scripture for Further Study : Galatians 5:1, Psalm 118:5, Romans 6:6-7

The Tyrant No Government Can Touch

Rewind past 1776. The first tyrant didn’t wear a crown—he slithered into a garden and whispered lies. Satan promised freedom, but it came with chains. We believed we’d be better off on our own. But we didn’t find independence. We found bondage.

Jesus didn’t say we might be slaves. He implied that we are slaves without Him (John 8:34). Paul writes that God “has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Colossians 1:13).

Thomas Jefferson once said, “The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time.” True, but we handed that liberty over the moment we chose rebellion over relationship.

Sin doesn’t set you free. It tricks you into thinking you’re in control—then locks the door. Sin keeps us imprisoned.

Reflection Question : What lies have I believed about “doing life on my own?”
Family/Mentoring Prompt : Share a moment when you realized you were in bondage to something. How did Jesus begin setting you free?

Scripture for Further Study : Ephesians 2:1–5, John 8:34–36

Jesus Didn’t Compromise—He Conquered

When Jesus came, He didn’t come to negotiate terms. He came to wage war. He didn’t show up to hand out inspirational teachings. He came to tear down sin and death at the root. The cross wasn’t just a symbol of love, it was Heaven’s dynamite against hell.

What of the empty tomb? That was heaven's flag planted on hell’s soil. As if God said, “Where you, oh Grave, thought there was death, I give life!” Our spiritual Independence Day didn’t start with a pen in Philly. It started with a stone rolled away in Jerusalem.

Reflection Question : How does the resurrection change how I face daily struggles?
Family/Mentoring Prompt : Why is the resurrection essential to the freedom we have in Christ?

Scripture for Further Study : Romans 8:1–2, 1 Corinthians 15:55–57, Colossians 2:13–15

What Real Freedom Actually Looks Like

Here’s the truth: freedom isn’t doing whatever we want. It’s finally being able to do what we were created for. Jesus didn’t set us free so we could drift, He set us free so we could walk in purpose and joy… we could walk in Him.

Therefore, obedience isn’t oppression. It’s alignment. It's breathing in sync with the Spirit.

“You were bought with a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:20)

That’s not slavery. That’s freedom with purpose.

Reflection Question : In what areas have I confused obedience with restriction?
Family/Mentoring Prompt : What’s one area where God is calling you to deeper surrender?

Scripture for Further Study : Romans 6:18, Galatians 2:20, John 10:10

Fireworks Are Great. But They’re Not the Brightest Light.

John Adams wrote to his wife about celebrating Independence Day and stated, “It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty.”

I believe he was onto something. The fireworks are beautiful. But they’re not brighter than the glory that burst from the tomb. The cookout is sweet. But not sweeter than the mercy of Jesus. Celebrate Independence Day, but don’t miss the greater Light! Jesus has come and set the captives free, and if the Son has set you free, then you are free indeed!

As believers, we can’t celebrate the Fourth of July without celebrating the One who has given us the ultimate freedom!

Reflection Question : How can I celebrate biblical freedom with the same passion as national freedom?
Family/Mentoring Prompt : How can holidays become spiritual mile-markers in our home?

Scripture for Further Study : Psalm 27:1, Isaiah 9:2, John 1:4–5

Five Ways to Live Like You’re Free

Here are five clear, practical ways to walk in the freedom Christ died to give:

1. Name the Chains and Break ’Em Daily

Ask: “What’s trying to reclaim ground Jesus already won?”
Scripture : Colossians 3:5

2. Start Every Day in Prayer

Before the to-do list, say: “Lord, I’m Yours again today.”
Scripture : Psalm 5:3

3. Let Truth Do the Talking

Let Scripture anchor your identity.
Scripture : John 8:32, Romans 12:2

4. Use Your Freedom to Lift Others

You were set free to serve.
Scripture : Galatians 5:13; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

5. Speak Up and Shine Bright

Your story of how Jesus set you free is powerful. Let it fly.
Scripture : Revelation 12:11

Reflection Question : What’s one step I can take this week to live as one who is truly free?
Family/Mentoring Prompt : Who needs to hear our story of freedom this week?

Final Thought: Crown Over Flag

I love this country. My dad served in the Army; my son served in the Marines and many of the men and women I worship with weekly have served this country in the armed forces. I’m thankful for the freedoms given in the USA. But the freedom that truly changed my life didn’t come from a government. That freedom came from a King.

He didn’t show up waving a flag. He came crowned in thorns—and now reigns in glory. So wave Old Glory, but lift your hands to God. Grill burgers, but feast on His Word. Watch fireworks, but worship the Light that never fades.

Because Jesus didn’t just free us from death—He called us into life.

“If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” — John 8:36

Who needs to hear this today?
Don’t let this message stop with you.
Share it. Live it. Let freedom ring.

The Word of the Lord is Alive and Active

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 11:00:06 GMT

The Word of the Lord is Alive and Active

June 1, 2025

When I found out I could go on the 7 Churches of Revelation trip, I was excited to visit the places where the apostles had walked and where the early churches were established. In preparation for the trip, Pastor Kenny asked us to pray that the Lord would reveal something unique for each of us. I was thankful that he encouraged us to pray this way because it reminded me to look for what God would show me. Throughout the trip, God showed me how His Word was intimate, alive, and active.

The letters to the seven churches in Asia Minor can be found in Revelation chapters 1 through 3 . One of the first things that John saw in his vision was the risen, incarnate Son of Man. In Revelation 1:12-13 , it says, “Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.”

Revelation 2:1 says, “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.’”

As we know from the beginning of Revelation, the lampstands were the churches, and in these verses, we see Jesus in the midst of the churches and walking among them. The trip showed me that Jesus was clearly walking among them because the commendations and warnings He gave were precisely the issues they faced. Jesus could speak words of truth to the churches because He had intimate knowledge of them and their situation.

For example, in His letter to the church in Ephesus, the Lord commended them for their hard work and rejection of false apostles ( Revelation 2:2 ). As we walked through Ephesus, we saw how large the city was and the commanding presence of pagan gods all around. For the early Christians, there was a constant battle against Rome and the Ephesians' pagan beliefs, but in the midst of this battle, they had lost their first love ( Revelation 2:4 ).

In Smyrna, Satanic occults were prevalent, and we saw multiple sites that could have been considered “the throne of Satan”. These cults brought intense persecution to Christians, and the Lord knew what was to come. He encouraged them not to fear what they were about to suffer or to grow weary ( Revelation 2:10 ).

Thyatira had trade guilds unlike any other city. On our tour, we learned that these trade guilds required the worship of pagan gods and participation in their celebrations, which included acts of sexual immorality. If you were a believer and in a trade, you had to choose whether you were going to bow down to the pagan gods and keep your job, or be obedient to the Lord and not have any other gods before Him ( Exodus 20:3 ). Under this immense pressure, many believers compromised their faith. Therefore, Jesus commanded them to repent ( Revelation 2:22 ). Jesus had an intimate knowledge of the situations that the believers faced in each of the churches.

Another thing I found fascinating was the way Jesus described their faith or His attributes, which directly correlated to geology, culture, or customs. For example, Jesus said the Laodiceans were lukewarm. Laodicea is located near hot thermal pools, but it’s also near mountains where cold, fresh water streams down. Laodiceans had access to both waters and could make their water lukewarm, just like their faith. Another example of this is in Revelation 2:18 , where Jesus describes His feet as “burnished bronze” when addressing the church in Thyatira. As it turns out, bronze was one of the main industries of that time.

Finally, I was amazed at how the concerns Jesus had for the churches of Asia Minor are still the concerns of today. Being a country that is 95% Islamic, the entire region holds to the teachings of Allah, just like the early believers in Pergamum held to the teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans, and those in Thyatira who tolerated Jezebel.

These warnings are not just for first-century Christians but for all of us. Have we lost our first love? Are we holding to false teachings? Do we tolerate sin that has seeped into our lives? Do we need to be awakened by truth. Are we in danger of being lukewarm? If so, may the Holy Spirit search us and convict our hearts to turn from our ways and repent, so that we may experience all that the Lord has for us.

As I have pondered my time in Turkey, I am thankful the Lord had something specific to show me on the trip. He opened my eyes to see His intimate knowledge of us and how He is alive and active in our lives today, just as He was in the first century. My heart rejoices that He cares so deeply for us.

Don’t Wait to Celebrate

Thu, 01 May 2025 13:01:04 GMT

Don’t Wait to Celebrate

May 1, 2025

“Are you sure you are talking about my son? I can’t even get him to take out the trash and close the garage door.” I was at an open house, in a conversation with a dad of one of my recently graduated seniors. I had been describing how his son was instrumental as a student leader that year, planning key events and leading significant ministry. I thanked the dad for setting the example of servant leadership and hard work, which his son surely saw in his home, in order to replicate such admirable qualities and bless our church community.

This was one of my first instances seeing students outshine or outperform in leadership capacity and spiritual maturity, without one or both parents’ knowledge. This student’s leadership at church and in our youth group wasn’t on his dad’s “score card,” so he missed it. Perhaps the student needed to improve his chores around the house, but this was inconsistent with the “chores” I saw him routinely take on at the church, such as helping me tear down after events.

While there may always be mystery around what teens do at home versus at school and church, it is worth exploring ways to close the gap of leadership inconsistency, particularly when celebration is in order.

We have frequent parent-teacher conferences with our students throughout their educational journey, but unfortunately the church’s parent-teacher dialogue is less robust. What if we issued similar “report cards” around spiritual leadership and maturity for parental discussion in a student’s journey?

Perhaps we feel the pressure as parents more on the academic side to identify gaps early and address deficiencies with tutors and focused study. We don’t want our daughter to fall behind or our son to miss that special opportunity. But what if we were just as eager to take the temperature of our teen’s spiritual development with more routine “check-ups” with their spiritual teachers and pastors?

My primary motivation behind this thinking is that I fear we are delaying celebration to “culminating moments,” like graduations, when parents (and kids) need encouragement earlier and more often. One corrective is to curb “Eeyore parenting” that only notices our kids’ deficiencies, and instead celebrate the small wins that we see.

I’m not advocating for flattery or false praise, that is actually grasping for parental approval or manipulating students in some way. This is the kind of faux praise Paul talks about in 1 Thessalonians 2:5, “For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness.” It is linked with greed, where we praise because we want something, not because we selflessly delight in someone and want to double our joy by sharing it with others.

Pastor John Piper explains this in an article, How Do I Praise Others but Avoid Flattery?

The key mark of genuine, non-flattering praise is that it’s the overflow of authentic delight in what we are observing about the other person. It is the opposite of calculation. It is spontaneous. C.S. Lewis, in one of my favorite quotes, says, “We delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not only expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation” ( Reflections on the Psalms , 111). Yes, exactly right.

What we are on the lookout for is any evidences of God’s grace at work in our students. The Apostle Paul opens his letter to the Corinthians giving thanks for the grace of God that he saw in the Corinthians’ lives, as evidenced in their language and knowledge of Jesus. He writes, “I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in Him in all speech and all knowledge.” (1 Corinthians 1:4-5)

In addition, parents need to hear that whatever efforts pastors and church leaders invest in their kids’ spiritual formation, it pales in comparison to their own simple, faithful example as parents. As Christian Smith and Amy Adamczyk, in their book, Handing Down the Faith , explain:

Some readers might be surprised to know that the single, most powerful causal influence on the religious lives of American teenagers and young adults is the religious lives of their parents. Not their peers, not the media, not their youth group leaders or clergy, not their religious school teachers. Myriad studies show that, beyond a doubt, the parents of American youth play the leading role in shaping the character of their religious and spiritual lives, even well after they leave the home.

What parents tend to forget is that their students are constantly watching and absorbing their patterns of life, leadership, and love for Jesus. Through everyday acts of faithfulness, a weekly commitment to gather with God’s people at church, and a humble trust in God, parents offer their young adults a more indelible spiritual imprint than any pastor or spiritual leader could give. And yet, those spiritual leaders may have a vantage point to see and name what these students are becoming in ways parents may miss, or students may hide.

So, as we enter this graduation season, fill cards with cash and compliments for our graduates, and also consider how you may encourage parents with your observations of their student. Have you seen any evidences of God’s grace in students unique to your vantage point, that may have been hidden from their parents? And even better, extend these celebrations to students not-yet-wearing a cap and gown too. God may use your timely encouragement to lift a weary parent’s arms or ensure a teen reaches graduation with confidence and hope.

Outwit, Outplay, Outlast

matth@friendshipmn.org (Matt Himple) — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 13:00:07 GMT

Outwit, Outplay, Outlast

April 1, 2025

The reality TV show genre has been around for a long time. Most of them feel scripted and are so over the top and dramatic. But there is one that has consistently been a social experiment unlike any other, the CBS classic Survivor.

On Survivor, strangers are marooned on an island together with the challenge of being the last one standing by voting other competitors out of the game. The twist is the winner is voted on by the people that were voted off, every decision has a lasting impact.

The slogan of Survivor is to Outwit, Outplay and Outlast and the tension of the show is all about who is your ally and who is your enemy in disguise?

While I cannot say that I’ve watched all 48 seasons across the 25 years, I can say that I’ve reflected on the slogan over the last 25 years of my life by asking the question: in my faith, am I preparing to “outwit, outplay and outlast?”

Outwit.

There is constant tension on Survivor of who is on your side, who can you trust and who might just be really good at lying and what advantages might they have? That tension is always controlled in one way; the ability to discern the truth.

In our Christian walk, our enemy is incredibly deceitful, sowing discord and confusion just waiting to snuff out our torch. And we, like the players in Survivor, have to know how to discern the Truth.

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

- 1 Peter 5:8-9

How do we stay firm in our faith and Outwit the devil? James 4:7-8 tells us that we must draw near to God. As we draw closer to God, the devil will flee from us.

As we study the Word of God, we learn how to discern the Truth from lies. Then, our confidence and identity are in the Lord and we can Outwit the devil and all his schemes.

Outplay.

Survivor is not won by the static, and likewise, we cannot sit idly and expect to outplay the devil. As 1 Peter tells us, “Satan is on the prowl, seeking to devour.”

The most common phrase from contestants across all the seasons of Survivor must be “I came here to play.” The players that have won the show did not do so passively, but they battled every day, digging deep in adversity and by building relationships with like-minded people to further advance toward the goal.

When Satan looks at our lives, does he see someone who came here to play?

Ephesians 6 implores us to “put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” Our enemy is holding nothing back, he is fighting to destroy our eternal soul. How are we preparing to return that vigor and foil all the attacks of Satan?

When Satan looks at our spiritual lives and the battle for our soul, he should know that “we came here to play,” and he should see that we don’t play alone!

Players on Survivor who have good people around them, make it to the end proving that good alliances are critical for success.

Through the salvation we have through Jesus Christ, we live, and we must build one another up. Are you surrounding yourself with those who want your success and growth in life or people who are just looking to get ahead by any means necessary? ( 1 Thessalonians, Proverbs, 1 Corinthians )

Outlast.

Unlike Survivor, we already have the script for the finale – Jesus is going to outlast the enemy! And, according to Romans 5, we have also obtained access to that coming glory! Amen!

We will outlast the devil, but this does not encourage passivity. Like Survivor, every decision we make has an impact and we must outwit (study God’s Word and Truth) and outplay (practice spiritual discipline and godly company) every day and at every turn.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

- Hebrews 10:23-25

As I watch Survivor, know that I am praying for the saints and for the Church. I pray that together we may encourage each other in our faith so that the devil knows that we came here to play and we’re going to outwit, outplay and outlast with the help of Jesus Christ!

Family Worship

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 18:01:33 GMT

Family Worship

March 1, 2025

In our household after dinner and before we wind down for the night, one of the most chaotic scenes of the day ensues. Kids jump on and off the couch, practicing cartwheels and somersaults. They’re not often focused on what we are doing. They find every reason to leave the room. And our young boys use closed fists and sharp kicks to communicate with each other instead of their words. Honestly, many nights, I feel tempted to just give up and send everybody to bed.

But what we’re doing is too important. This is our Family Worship. Every night we sing , we read . And we pray . And yes, it is rare that we make it through Family Worship without somebody crying or leaving (okay, it’s rare that we make it two minutes before this happens). Yet this consistent, crazy, patience-testing time is incredibly valuable. Why? I’ll give three related reasons.

It’s an expression of gratitude and obedience to God. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 is a foundational text for seeing the value of regular, formal, times of worship and instruction in our homes (this is not to exclude informal times of worship and instruction). We are instructing ourselves and our kids about who God is, how to worship Him, and how important it is to worship Him daily.
The regular rhythm of formal worship in our homes orients our schedules towards God. God’s people have always had daily (prayer times), weekly (sabbath), seasonal (various festivals of worship), and annual (Day of Atonement) formal times of worship. Their entire calendars were oriented around the worship of God. When we or our children are involved in various activities and hobbies, our calendars (and so our lives) can easily become oriented around those things . The incorporation of daily, formal, scheduled , worship of God is a helpful antidote to a culture full of activity vying for the attention of our hearts and those of our families.
A commitment to daily formal worship literally tunes our hearts to sing God’s praise. As we practice the discipline of prioritizing and protecting that time for our households, over time our hearts come to cherish it. Day after day, it is reinforced into our hearts and minds that this is worth it and this is valuable .

So, how does a household engage in Family Worship? In his little book titled Family Worship , Donald Whitney succinctly outlines the why and the how. He identifies the three simple ingredients of reading God’s Word, singing praise in response to God’s grace, and encountering God personally through prayer . That’s it. No need for a deep theological lesson. No pre-planned devotion. In our house we choose a hymn of the month (we sing the same hymn every night for the month), we read a Psalm (or portion of one if it is too long), and we invite the kids to choose one family to pray for.

You need to know, we do this almost every night, but we are not perfect. And some nights our attitudes are far better than others. We haven’t figured it all out, and we’ve failed in so many different ways, but we have seen the Lord bear fruit in being faithful through years of commitment to this formal, scheduled, regular time of worship.

Whether you are single, widowed, married, with or without kids, this simple commitment to worship God in your household daily can bear massive fruit in your walk with the Lord. Yet, for many (and we ourselves were in this boat for quite some time), the greatest hindrance seems to be that we’ve gone so long without doing it, can we even start something like this? Will it even be beneficial at this point? To which I would respond with a gardening proverb I heard recently. The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, true. But the second best time to plant a tree, is right now. Go plant that tree, and see what fruit the Lord may bear.

Stumbling with Pride

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 15:15:58 GMT

Stumbling with Pride

February 3, 2025

One November morning, I got up early to play in a pickleball league for the first time ever. I had played pickleball with my wife, my kids, and a couple of friends, but playing in a league was a step toward officially becoming “one of those” pickleball players. When I arrived at the pickleball club, I started to warm up and get ready for league play. I was placed in a group of five people that I would play with for the next two hours. The five of us in that group had a great time playing together, until, in the last game of the day, we all heard a pop, and my Achilles tendon ruptured.

Over the last 10 weeks, I have had surgery, been in a cast, been in a boot, and am now wearing a heal lift in my right shoe at all times. While the full recovery time for this injury is a year, it really is a small trial compared to so much of what others are going through. However, while it may be a small trial, it is still a trial, and one of my primary prayers during the last 10 weeks is that God would use this trial to refine my character and make me more like Him. I realize each time I pray this prayer that it is a prayer that is asking for painful revelation about areas of sin and weakness, but I also recognize that I need the Lord to reveal those things to me if I am going to make progress.

One of the ways God has answered this prayer over the last 10 weeks is through revealing pride in my life and forcing me to deal with that pride. Pride manifests in people’s lives in several self-oriented ways. One of those ways is self-sufficiency. This is a battle in my own life. I don’t like to have people do things for me. I don’t want to feel like I owe anyone anything. I want to make sure the scales of social interaction are even, or tip in the favor of me having done more for you than you have done for me. All this stems from sinful pride that wants to be seen as self-sufficient by others. God has used the last 10 weeks to reveal the pride that was lurking in me and start the needed refining process.

While I have been hobbled, I had people from the church get my food for me at events. People I work with have brought my coffee to me, so I didn’t have to get up. Friends hauled chairs around for me to teach from and shoveled my driveway when it snowed. One man in the church came to my house repeatedly, to give me rides to meetings and appointments when I couldn’t drive. I could list many other ways that people have served me during this time, and I am so thankful for all of it. However, it also makes me uncomfortable. Why does it make me uncomfortable? It makes me uncomfortable because in my pride I feel like I should be self-sufficient. It makes me uncomfortable because in my pride I don’t want to feel like I owe anyone anything.

God has been using my inability to do certain things for myself to show me hidden ways I long to be seen as self-sufficient and totally capable by others. I am grateful that the Lord has been using every ride, every cup of coffee, every time someone has served me during this time to reveal this pride in me, and to remind me that pride is the opposite of life in the Kingdom.

Salvation can’t be ours if our primary heart attitude is pride. Salvation requires the humility to owe something that we can never repay and rejoicing in the fact that we can never repay it. The Kingdom isn’t about self-sufficiency, but complete dependence on God and interdependence with the community of sisters and brothers that He has called us into. Kingdom living isn’t about reciprocating every kind thing done for us. Kingdom living isn’t just about serving others who are in need. Kingdom living is about the willingness to be humble and accept help and service from others. After all, isn’t that how we entered the Kingdom in the first place…by realizing we couldn’t save ourselves; we needed the King to do it. Now in the Kingdom we are people who crucify our prideful self-sufficiency and receive the grace of Jesus and the kindness and service of our fellow-believers.

I pray that God would continue to strip away lingering pride from my life and use whatever circumstances He needs to use to do it. I pray that each of you who is reading this will be able to ask the Lord, what He wants to reform in your character through challenges that you face in life. May God continue to use small and large trials to transform our character so that we Love, Live, and Serve like Jesus.

New Year’s Burden

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 14:27:49 GMT

New Year’s Burden

January 2, 2025

January is my least favorite month of the entire year. The sparkle of the holidays has worn off. You’re getting back to your normal routine. Your bank account is recovering from buying gifts, end-of-the-year birthdays (between my family and in-laws there are 5 December birthdays), and oh yeah – groceries, bills, and life. January never seems to end and on top of that IT GETS DARK AT 4:00 PM!

On top of all of that, we try and throw in resolutions. There is this massive blank canvas on January 1 and there is pressure to make this year the best one yet. While these aspirations are often well-intentioned, they can quickly turn into heavy burdens. The pressure to measure up, the guilt of falling short, and the never-ending quest for self-improvement can leave us weary and disheartened. From the moment the clock strikes midnight, we are trying to be in control of how this year goes. I don’t know about you, but the new year presents so much pressure to start on the right foot and I ALREADY feel discouraged about not living up to a standard I have set for myself.

While resolutions are not bad and they may drive us to some healthy practices – they can easily become idols in our lives, taking the focus away from the relationship and rhythms God has called us to. Where the world calls us to better ourselves, God calls us to lean into Him, trust in Him, and love Him more.

When Jesus died on the cross, He bore the ultimate burden of sin, failure, and inadequacy. Through His resurrection, He declared victory over these burdens, offering us a new identity and an opportunity to continually transform more and more into His own image. The freedom that Christ offers is not about striving harder but surrendering completely. It’s an acknowledgment that, on our own, we cannot achieve lasting transformation. True change begins when we place our trust in the One who has already accomplished everything on our behalf.

Our focus in a New Year resolution is often how to better ourselves, when our true and ongoing goal is Christlikeness. Here are a few scriptures to pray through and ponder as we walk into 2025.

Ephesians 5:1-2 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

What does it mean to imitate God in 2025?

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

The day we began a relationship with Christ, we were made new. This transformation is ongoing for all our days on Earth. We don’t reset, we don’t have to start over.

Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

If you have resolutions for 2025, how do they align with the will of God? Are you striving for self-betterment or for a deeper relationship with the Living God?

God has been ready for what this year holds and He’s in control of it. 2025 can be a year of growing in our relationship with God. We don’t have to live with the burden or pressure of making this year the best it can possibly be. Live in the freedom that God’s hand is over this year and every year to come. Allow Christ’s victory over death to provide you the freedom to pursue Him joyfully. Let the Holy Spirit guide you, making you more like Him. Above all, trust your heavenly Father with whatever 2025 has in store – it is for the kingdom’s benefit and all for His glory.

Mary Christmas – A Call to Live Boldly for Christ

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 14:22:34 GMT

Mary Christmas – A Call to Live Boldly for Christ

December 2, 2024

Nearly 30 years ago, I heard a pastor say something that stuck with me: “Mary Christmas.” At the time, I thought it was just a clever play on words. But over the years, it has transformed the way I see Christmas—and how I walk with Jesus.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, is often overlooked in our faith conversations, almost as if we’re afraid to talk about her. Yet her story is extraordinary—not just for what God did through her, but for how she responded. Mary is a prototype for every disciple. What happened to her physically—Christ indwelling her, growing in her, stretching her, and ultimately going out from her to transform the world—happens to us spiritually.

Imagine what Mary experienced leading up to that first Christmas. She was young, pregnant under mysterious circumstances, traveling rough roads, and giving birth in a stable. It wasn’t the picture-perfect nativity scene we imagine today, but through it all, God was at work, bringing something extraordinary to life in her and through her.

So, when we say “Mary Christmas,” it’s not just a clever phrase; it’s a challenge to live as she did—fully surrendered to God’s work in our lives, allowing Him to transform us and the world around us.

Christ Indwelling Us – A Humble Yes to God’s Plan

Scriptures: Luke 1:26-38; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1:27; Romans 8:9-11

Mary’s life changed forever when the angel Gabriel delivered God’s astonishing message: she would carry the Son of God. Her response? “Let it be to me according to your word.” Mary said yes to God’s plan, even though she didn’t know all the details. That “yes” meant Christ would literally dwell within her, forever changing her life and the world.

Spiritually, the same is true for us. When we say yes to Jesus, He indwells us—not as a distant figure but as a living presence, transforming everything about who we are. Mary’s humble “yes” is a model for how we invite Christ to take His place at the center of our lives.

I’ll never forget my own “yes” to God. It was November 3rd, and I remember the message preached that evening, the crispness of the air, and how everything seemed brighter the next day. That moment changed everything for me. What was your day like?

Action Steps:

Reflect on your own moment of saying yes to God. What does it mean for Christ to dwell in you?
Identify areas of your life where you might need to give Him full access.
This week, write down one specific way you can invite Christ into a deeper part of your life.

Christ Growing in Us – Treasuring His Work in Our Lives

Scriptures: Luke 2:5, 19; Colossians 1:27

Luke 2:5 in the KJV describes Mary as being “great with child.” That phrase always stands out to me—Mary’s body visibly changed as Jesus grew within her. This wasn’t just a physical reality; it reflected the transformation God was working in her life.

Later in Luke, after Jesus was born, Mary didn’t have all the answers, but she treasured every moment, pondering God’s work in her heart. Christ grew her, and as we treasure His work, He grows in us, shaping our hearts and our lives. Growth isn’t always instant; it’s a process of trusting Him each day.

Action Steps:

Meditate on Colossians 1:27: “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Reflect on what this truth means for your daily life.
Take five minutes each evening to write down where you saw God at work that day.
Share with a friend or family member how God has been growing you recently.

Christ Stretching Us – Trusting Through Trials and Pain

Scriptures: Luke 2:34-35; John 19:25

Mary didn’t just experience the joy of Christmas; she also endured the pain of following God’s plan. Simeon’s words in the temple foreshadowed the heartache she would face, and standing at the foot of the cross, Mary witnessed her Son’s suffering for the world.

Christ stretches us in similar ways. He challenges our comfort zones, tests our faith, and refines us through trials. When my dad passed away in 2017, he asked me to perform his funeral. I wasn’t sure I could handle the grief and the responsibility, but God was faithful. Though it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, God stretched me, strengthened me, and continues to do so. How is Christ stretching you today?

Action Steps:

Identify a challenge in your life where you need to trust God more deeply. Surrender it to Him in prayer.
Encourage someone else who is going through a tough time, reminding them of God’s faithfulness.
Memorize Romans 8:28: “He works all things together for good…” Let it shape your perspective during trials.

Christ Going from Us – Sharing His Love with the World

Scriptures: John 2:1-5; Matthew 28:19-20

Mary’s role didn’t end with Jesus’ birth. At the wedding in Cana, she pointed others to Him, saying, “Do whatever He tells you.” Her faith went beyond personal transformation; she encouraged others to trust Jesus, allowing His power to change their lives too.

Our faith journey isn’t complete until we share Christ with the world. Just as Mary pointed others to Him, we are called to let His love flow through us, transforming those around us.

Action Steps:

Pray for one person who needs to experience the love of Christ this week.
Commit to one act of service or generosity this Christmas season that points others to Jesus.
Share your testimony with someone, highlighting how Christ has changed your life.

Mary Christmas – A Call to Live Boldly for Christ

Mary’s journey is the prototype for discipleship. What happened to her physically—Christ indwelling her, growing in her, stretching her, and going out from her to change the world—happens to us spiritually.

This Christmas, let’s follow her example. Say “yes” to God’s plans. Treasure His work in your life. Trust Him through the trials. And boldly share His love with the world.

So, from my heart to yours: Mary Christmas !

Finding Rest and Shelter

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 14:15:57 GMT

Finding Rest and Shelter

October 31, 2024

It is so hard to believe that my first four months at Friendship Church have come and gone! In the very best way, I feel like I’ve been here so much longer. The staff and church members have been so gracious and welcoming to me. My soul has found a wonderful sense of rest, even though my schedule and task list have been busy.

2024 marks my 20th year in Environmental, Health and Safety management. I’ve been very blessed to have a rich and varied career and have worked in power plants, ethanol plants, HVAC manufacturing, medical packaging, and a hospital.

My safety career started when my coworker’s life ended in a workplace accident. I had been working as a boiler operator for a power plant when our contract maintenance worker died due to a lockout tagout injury. My life would never be the same. I was so impacted by this event that I decided to go back to school and learn all I could about safety. I made it my mission to ensure no one I worked with would ever lose their life in the workplace.

It is this passion that I bring to my new role. The safety and security of our staff, contractors, visitors and church members is my top concern. I believe that to reach people with the Gospel, we must first provide for their physical needs. Safety and security are a basic human need for all of us, and there are many factors around us that can alter our level of protection. This is why I find so much comfort in Scripture. God cares so much for us, and He wants us to find safety and rest in Him!

The next time you read Psalm 91, look closely at the visual imagery it gives as it talks about shelter and safety. “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty…He will cover you with His feathers and under His wings you will find refuge.”

We must make the Most High our dwelling place each moment. We must rely on Christ for everything we need daily. To rest in God means we must fully trust Him. We quiet our minds while meditating on His Holy Word by choosing to set aside the worries of the day for that moment. We must find our rest in frequent quiet time with God. I enjoy speaking to Jesus through prayer and praise during my commute and by filling the room with praise music while I set up a space at church. He is such a comfort, especially in a career that is unpredictable.

I am a chronic list maker and love the satisfaction of crossing things off when they are complete. I’ll often joke that my “To-Do” list becomes my “Ta Da” list when I’ve had a good day. You know that moment…when you see all the completed items, hold up the list and say, “TA DA!” Sometimes my list becomes way more than I have time or energy to complete. It’s like I set myself up to fail by trying to do it all or trying (and usually failing or falling short) to be all things to all people. In those times, I try to remember that God wants me to rest too. I believe that God is not after my PRODUCTIVITY as much as He longs for my PRESENCE .

God promises that all who come to Him will find rest in Matthew 11:28-30. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” No matter how busy I am or how long my to-do list is, I must remember that my Heavenly Father is wanting me to search for Him when I need rest.

My question for you is this…where are you resting right now?

No matter what our circumstances…there is joy, peace, safety, and security in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I pray you find rest and shelter in your time with Jesus today!

Voting from a Biblical Perspective

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 14:07:23 GMT

Voting from a Biblical Perspective

October 1, 2024

We are just a few weeks away from the day that we step into a booth and cast our votes for our elected officials. As I have pastored over the last 25 years, I have noticed that among church people these election years tend to be times of high anxiety, rivalry, and even idolatry as people look at the possible outcomes of an election. It is helpful for all of us to remind ourselves of biblical truths that we sent to our church family in an email on 4/27/24.

Jesus will continue to build His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). The future of the church does not hang in the balance of any election, the future of the church is firmly in God’s hands.
We recognize that God’s primary tool to change the world and impact people’s lives is the Gospel and His church, not electoral victories (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Corinthians 9:19-23; Philippians 1:18). Because this is true, our primary focus is always on Jesus’ mission of making disciples (Matthew 28:18-20).
Our church will choose to do what God says is right no matter the consequences (Acts 4:18-20; Daniel 1:8; Daniel 3). God uses those who stand for Him to shine a bright witness to the world (Acts 4:29; Philippians 1:13).
We are called to pray for our nation’s leaders and to pray that they would do what is right and good in the eyes of God (1 Timothy 2:1-2; Romans 13:3-4).

Affirming these principles that God has given us brings us peace amid the storms of an election year that rages around us. However, it doesn’t help us understand how we should vote. When we step into the voting booth next month, what is it that should guide us as we vote? For every follower of Jesus, it is the principles of the Kingdom of God that should guide us in our voting. There is no area of our life that is not under the authority of Jesus Christ, and that includes our political thoughts and decisions. As we make choices about who to vote for in dozens of political races, from the local to the national, we are to be led by the priorities of God’s Word.

What are those biblical principles that should lead us as we vote? I am going to give us five principles that God’s Word indicates are especially important as we make our voting decisions. I am not claiming that these are the only five things that a person should consider, or that they are even the five most important things to consider, but they are five principles that God identifies as particularly important in our decision making.

Character – Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.” When God is identifying leaders for the church, He is almost entirely focused on whether the character of the individual matches the character of God. (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9) Nothing is more important for a leader in a family, in a church, or in our nation, than having upright character. Our elected leaders not only represent us but also help set the cultural climate for conduct and speech. It is imperative that we elect the righteous rather than the wicked.

Murder – The Bible defines murder as the intentional killing of an innocent human being (Genesis 9:3-6; Exodus 21:13; 22:2; Numbers 35:6-28). Living inside a mother’s womb is an unborn human individual with their own unique genetic code. They have been made by God from the moment of conception (Psalm 139:13). To intentionally take the life of one of these innocent human beings is murder. Christians need to pray, act, and vote to protect these lives.

Care for the Poor –God has a special affection for the poor (Proverbs 19:17; Psalm 9:18; 140:12-13; Matthew 19:21) and calls us to care for them (Leviticus 19:10; 25:35; Deuteronomy 15:7,10-11; Psalm 82:3-4; Proverbs 14:31; 21:3; 29:7; Isaiah 1:17). The care for the poor seen in Scripture includes providing for their daily needs and upholding their rights. God rebukes and destroys nations where people live with plenty while the poor are not cared for (Jeremiah 5:28; Ezekiel 16:49; Ezekial 22:29; Amos 2:6; 5:11-12). Christians may differ in their opinions about how to best care for the poor, but we should champion politicians who prioritize them.

The Family – God has made sexual relationship for marriage, and He has made marriage for one woman and one man (Matthew 19:3-9; Genesis 2:24; Ephesians 5:22-33). God has designed husbands to love their wives, and lead their families, and for parents to lead their kids into Godly lives (Ephesians 5:22-33; 6:1-4). We live during a time when God’s designs and definitions are being abandoned. This leads to nothing but hurt and painful consequences in a society. As followers of Jesus, we want to elect officials who are seeking to uphold God’s designs for marriage and for the family.

Justice – 1 Peter 2:14 says that government leaders are appointed “to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.” Romans 13:3 says a government leader is properly doing their job when they are “not a terror to good conduct, but to bad.” Government rulers are meant to carry out justice so that things that are good are rewarded in society and things that are bad are punished. We should vote for those who are going to reward things that God has declared to be good and will punish those things that God says are bad.

As we walk into the voting booth next month, we want to prayerfully consider these principles from the Word of God and select candidates that are most aligned with them. We want to pray that God would provide leaders that know Him and align with His character. As we vote, we recognize that some people we vote for may win and others will not. Either way, we know the One who holds the future and that our lives are ultimately in His hands.

F.O.M.O.

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 13:53:32 GMT

F.O.M.O.

August 28, 2024

F.O.M.O. It’s a real thing. It stands for Fear Of Missing Out. According to Wikipedia, it is “the feeling of apprehension that one is either not in the know about or missing out on information, events, experiences, or life decisions that could make one’s life better.”

In a world with constant activities, the latest fashions to buy, shows to binge, people to hang out with, apps to scroll, and ads begging for your attention everywhere you look it can be a challenge to decide what to do with our time and how to spend our finances. As a mother of three ranging in age from 9-20, I am often pulled in many directions as I try to balance work, family, kids’ activities, and friends. I find that there is not enough calendar for all the things I want to do or be part of.

As Christians, we have the unique opportunity to flip the switch on phenomenon such as F.O.M.O. If the Kingdom of God is upside down from the kingdom of this world, wouldn’t it make sense that as sinful, selfish people, we probably have a selfish view of how to spend our time? What if instead of having a fear of missing out on what the world is calling us to, we fear missing out on what the Father is calling us to?

For example, what if instead of judging someone who has a different perspective or backs a political candidate we don’t like, God is calling us to see them through His eyes or to have a conversation about the saving work of His Son? What if instead of avoiding eye contact with our unbelieving neighbor, we invite them to a casual bonfire with our friends where everyone can get to know one another? What if God is calling us to make a meal and take it to a family that is facing a trial or a widow that could use someone to stop by for dinner even though it will be time-consuming and possibly inconvenient?

The first part of the Great Commission commands us to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (Matthew 28:19). This requires us to “go” into the mission field, which is everywhere non-believers can be found, and lovingly tell them of the saving news of Jesus Christ.

The Great Commission also commands us to make disciples of these believers, “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:20a). This could look like inviting others to join you at the Bible study you attend or starting a LifeGroup with those you would like to get to know better at church. Better yet, share your faith with an unbelieving friend or family member and ask if they would be willing to read the Bible with you. Meet for coffee to read a chapter and discuss what it means.

Why does God call us to love our neighbors as ourselves by sharing the gospel and discipling them in their faith journey? Because “ …. God so loved the world, that he gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. (John 3:16-17). God doesn’t just love us; He loves the WORLD! Because of His love for us, He wants everyone to accept His gift of salvation which can be found in Jesus.

Every minute of every day, the Lord is working. By giving us the Great Commission, God is calling us to join Him in His work. He calls us to see those who are unseen, mourn with those who weep, and humbly serve those in need. It comes down to our willingness to be obedient to things He is calling us to.

God’s sovereign will is going to be completed whether or not we step into what He is inviting us to be part of, and when we say “yes” to His call, we reap the benefits and blessings that come with obedience such as experiencing the sanctifying (transforming) work He does in our lives when we trust Him. If we ignore His call, we miss out on witnessing Him at work. We miss out on seeing God’s power. We miss out on experiencing His faithfulness. We miss out on growing deeper in our relationship with Him.

We are reminded of this in James when he says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” (James 1:22). God asks us to live out our faith by putting into action what we learn in His word, not only for the benefit of others but for the benefit of ourselves.

For many of us, fall is a season when our schedules become full and the options of what to do with our time are abundant. Work, family, activities, and friends are all good things, but let them not distract us from The One Good Thing. Rather than fear missing out on the things of this world, let us fear missing out on all that God has for us and others.

To God be the glory.

From Behind the Camera

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 20:52:01 GMT

From Behind the Camera

August 1, 2024

When you film video for as long as I have, you notice a certain mindset as you film. You begin to see the camera as some sort of reality barrier; in that you feel like you’re not a part of what’s happening in front of the lens. The job is to observe and capture moments, but not necessarily be a participant of what’s happening around you. My role in Czech evolved from an observer with a camera to someone who stepped away from the camera to make connections with those around me.

I had the privilege of filming the Czech mission trip and while my purpose there was to capture the moments, I couldn’t help but see what the Holy Spirit was doing in Letovice. Despite cultural and language differences, it’s a testimony to God’s power that can unite Czech and American people to praise Him.

One of the biggest ways I learned about what our mission trip means to the Czech people was through my interviews with the people in Czech. In talking to Pavlick and Lydie, I learned of the enthusiasm the American team brings when it comes to games, dancing, and sharing the Gospel. In my interviews, I learned of how people came to Christ through the work of the local mission Elim, and their weeklong family programming called LetFest. It was through using a camera that I learned of the work God is doing in Czech.

Having stepped from behind the camera, I made personal connections with those around me. If you watched the Czech Mission Trip video, you may have seen a Czech student, Barbora, share her testimony of how LetFest brought her to know the Lord. After I cut the camera, we kept talking and she shared some of the struggles of what it’s like being a Christian in a largely atheistic society. I, like many others on that trip, had those heart-to-heart conversations that you can only experience by going on a mission trip. Having that moment of Barbora sharing her story with me on and off camera is something I won’t forget.

Seeing the uniting power of Jesus reveals that no matter what country or culture you come from, we have a common enemy, Satan, and a common Savior, Jesus. This trip became more than just a cool opportunity to capture video, it was an opportunity to make spiritual connections and to see the work that God is doing in the Czech Republic. Going into the trip, I was only planning on documenting and understanding the story. God’s plan was for me to step from behind the camera and make those connections with people to let them know that Jesus sees them and loves them. I would encourage you to step from behind ‘your camera,’ whatever that may be. It could be that you’re too shy, too busy, or too afraid. (I’m certainly guilty of all of those.) Trust in the Lord and know that He will work through you, to give you the words to share the Gospel.

Extend Grace

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 20:41:42 GMT

Extend Grace

I was in the car with my kids and there was a crazy driver – you know the kind – that speed around you and cut you off, just missing you by inches. My initial reaction was, “You idiot!” but as soon as that came out of my mouth, the Holy Spirit filled me with conviction. First, I shouldn’t have said that in front of my kids – what kind of example am I being? Second, I shouldn’t judge as I do not know what that person is going through. And third, it’s just not nice to call people names. James 1:19 came to mind “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”

So, I took a breath and said, “You know kids, I am sorry for saying something unkind to that person driving by, and I am sorry God for sinning. Lord, please forgive me. I don’t know what that person is going through – maybe they have an emergency and are racing to the hospital to see a loved one. I probably would have done the same thing in that situation. It’s not my place to judge. I should instead, be kind and extend grace.” At ages 6 & 9, the kids didn’t exactly understand “extend grace” so I explained how God shows us grace. For example, say you were mean to your sibling, and your sibling still gave you a piece of their candy – that’s extending grace – they forgave you and treated you with kindness.

Grace is undeserved mercy. God extends us grace through forgiveness, second chances, the benefit of the doubt, and loving us even though we do not deserve it. He does this because of His good character and unending love for us. He showers us with grace every day, it is not something we earn – it is a gift. God’s grace – in the best gift of all – is Jesus His Son, who died on the cross to give us a way to be with Him for eternity.

By extending grace, you are not condoning a persons’ behavior, you are simply forgiving them and showing them kindness. God teaches us in the Bible to “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32).

In the car that day, the Holy Spirit convicted me by pointing out “Who am I to judge?” We all are sinners. We all make mistakes and hurt others. We all need grace. In Matthew 7:3-5, Jesus says, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

As I reflected on this verse, I thought “Have I ever cut in front of someone on the road before?” Yes, of course. “Have I ever been rude to someone?” Yes, of course. The list goes on. That’s why we are called to be like Christ and extend grace to others, just as He has extended grace to us.

To wrap up that “God-moment” with the kids, I suggested the better approach would be to pray for that driver – asking that the Lord be with her, and to heal whatever situation she was facing. So today, I challenge you…next time you are in line at the grocery store, and someone is rude, extend grace to them – instead of being frustrated, share an encouraging word. They too are a child of God and may be in desperate need of Christ-like grace.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the grace that You extend to us every day. Thank You for Your forgiveness and Your Son. Help us to bite our tongues, not to judge and to show mercy to one another each day. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

A Year of Firsts

Thu, 30 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A Year of Firsts

Most people do their yearly reflections in January. Which makes sense, right? A new year is starting. A new slate to begin new habits. A time to reflect on what went well over the last year and what didn’t. I’ve never been one to do the whole new year’s resolution thing. It feels like most of them don’t last longer than a month anyways. However, the new year hit me a little harder this year for some reason. I couldn’t quite pinpoint why at the time though. It just felt different.

As the months flew by, as they seem to do as you get older and have kids who grow all too fast, we approached May I started to identify why the year felt different than most. May 8, 2023, and May 8, 2024, were bookends of a year of firsts for our family. On May 8, 2023, my grandpa went home to eternity with Jesus. Within a matter of about three days, we lost him. Unprepared and without warning. We were thrown into a year where he wasn’t present at any holiday gatherings, anniversary parties, or birthday celebrations. A year that would make us realize the new normal we all faced.

Perhaps the biggest realization of this new normal for me came just two months later when we welcomed our second daughter into our family. With our first, I distinctly remember the day we packed her up and took her over to Gma and Gpa’s house to meet them for the first time. And while we got to do that with our second also, there was someone noticeably missing. A piece of our family was no longer there. It was a stark reminder that I would never get to introduce them. Never get to see him hold her. He wouldn’t get to watch her grow. He would never know her name. That realization brings a burden and a heartbreak that no one can prepare you for.

As we approached and passed the May 8 mile marker this year, I’ve also been simultaneously preparing a first birthday party celebration for our little girl! The amount of joy she has brought to our family over the past year is unmatched. We are so thankful for her! But I’ve realized, even more, the juxtaposition we’ve been living in for the past year. When you have a new baby, there’s this new sense of wonder. This excitement that’s hard to describe. There’s anticipation of holidays and family gatherings. Excitement in getting to introduce them to family members and friends. The reality of having a new baby brings joy to so many areas of life.

For the past year I’ve been living in two different spaces. One that calls for grief and heartbreak. Longing for the presence of a person we’ve lost. And another space that calls for joy and excitement. Anticipation of what’s to come with this new little one. As we approached the holidays there was an excitement and a sense of devastation all wrapped together. I’ve realized over the past year that living in this juxtaposition is difficult, a constant battle of feeling one thing, then the other. Fighting feelings that don’t seem to coexist well.

However, I’ve also realized there’s also beauty in it. Beauty in the battle. It’s okay for the two to coexist. There are multiple places in Scripture that talk about mourning. In the beatitudes Jesus says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4) And in Psalm 23 David writes, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” We are promised that, amidst grief and mourning, we will be comforted. That the Good Shepherd himself will be with us to walk through “the valley of the shadow of death.” Ecclesiastes 3 says, “There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 & 4) There’s a space where mourning and grief are okay. Allowing ourselves into those spaces to grieve is good. And we are promised that within those spaces we will be comforted.

Perhaps one of the most reassuring and comforting things for me over the past year is the hope of eternity. In the midst of the hard spaces there’s hope. Revelation 21 talks about that hope! It talks about every tear being wiped away. Death will be no more. There will be no more crying or pain. We have the hope of heaven without all the hard spaces we face here on earth! But on this side of heaven, grief and mourning are realities we will face. It’s a heartbreaking reality of our world. There is loss. There is death. There is sorrow. And it’s okay for the two to coexist. It’s okay for us to hold hope of eternity while still holding space for sorrow and grief.

Whether you’re in a season of life with more spaces of grief or more spaces of joy, I pray that you’re able to hold space for both. To allow for them to coexist. To feel the pain and heartbreak that this world can bring, while also holding hope of what God has promised for eternity!

Hope For Everyone!

Wed, 01 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Hope For Everyone!

“But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear in them, nor be troubled but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as Holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,” 1 Peter 3:14-15,18.

What hope do I have in Christ?

What hope do we have in Christ?

What hope do we have when doctors’ appointments persist?

What hope do we have when conflict doesn’t get resolved and leaves us more broken than we thought possible?

What hope do we have in negative bank accounts?

What hope do we have in rebellious children?

What hope do we have when our fridge is empty and so are our family’s bellies? What hope do we have when our years have been spent crying tears of sorrow and anger rather than laughing and finding joy?

What hope do we have when sin is so deeply rooted in every person and piece of creation that was intended for good?

Almost a year ago, I was sat down and told I had a benign tumor on my pituitary gland. After three months of treatment, it seemed to be gone! Until February 2024 when my symptoms got worse – we discovered it had come back and was a little bigger. While it is benign, there are some serious implications such as infertility, permanently becoming blind, and memory loss. There are also some serious next steps (long-term medication or brain surgery). As a 26-year-old with a long road ahead of me, how do I hold on to hope when my health seems threatened from all sides? The temptation to throw away hope and lean into bitterness is high. How do I have hope when I feel thrown into the fire instead of shielded from it?

Jesus – He is the reason for the hope we have in us. He is our peace without bounds. He is a provider and protector. He works outright and behind the scenes joyfully and justly.

Jesus is my hope because He, Himself, found hope when He was faced with ultimate death. He took it on with humility and boldness. He faced the nails, the thorns, and the cup – pleading that they would pass over Him – and yet He drank from that cup willingly and with delight.

My hope rests in the fact that Christ not only knows my sufferings intimately, He knows my misdeeds (more than I’d care to admit) – yet He still drank from the cup. He knew that I would prefer not to suffer for righteousness sake, that I would fear and be troubled by this world, and that I would not treat His children with gentleness and respect. Yet Christ would still suffer on my behalf.

What hope do I have in Christ? My hope is in the choice He made to face the cross and the cup of my sins – however, He drank the cup knowing my sins would not defeat Him. His power was made perfect in my weakness and He walked out of that tomb as our redeemer, just and justifier, forgiver, the perfect gift of grace, and Messiah. Our hope rests in that we can put down our “to-do list for righteousness/hope/joy/forgiveness/etc,” because there is literally nothing we can do to earn those things – they are freely given to us by the Father who is eager to be generous; they were bought by the Son who wanted his brothers and sisters in eternity; and they are sanctified within us by the Holy Spirit excited to see us become more like Them.

Well, that’s great and I know that in my head, but how do I actively have hope when the bad news keeps getting worse? How do I actively have hope with a brain tumor?

As I write this, lyrics from a familiar worship song keep repeating over and over in my head,

“What gift of grace is Jesus, my redeemer

There is no more for heaven now to give He is my joy , my righteousness, and freedom My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace !

To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus

For my life is wholly bound to His

Oh how strange and divine, I can sing, “All is mine”

Yet not I, but through Christ in me”

Our hope is bound to Jesus. We cannot attain or keep hope alive on our own. We need

Christ’s help and hand to cling to. When our circumstances bring us despair, cling to Christ through His good word, through prayer, and through trusted Christ-centered fellowship. Do not let this temporary world steal the eternal hope we have. My tumor will not follow me into eternity nor will any of the other afflictions of this life.

Brothers and sisters, let the Father bless you with hope, let Christ’s work and victory be enough to fuel your hope, and let the Holy Spirit sustain you with it.

Easter is the Launching Point for Our Faith

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Easter is the Launching Point for Our Faith

When I was a kid, I loved Christmas and tolerated Easter. To this child, Christmas was about presents, good food, and most importantly, several days off school. Easter on the other hand was about getting dressed up in uncomfortable clothes and having to pose for lots of pictures with my family in those uncomfortable clothes. There wasn’t much comparison between these two major holidays, one was a dream come true for all my childhood indulgences and the other paled by comparison.

Growing up, and more importantly, growing in a relationship with Christ, has changed my perspective. I’m not sure that I’ve grown any fonder of itchy dress clothes, and I know that I still dislike posing for pictures intensely, but I now love Easter. I love Easter because of what it stands for. Jesus died for my sins. He took my guilt on the cross, and the punishment my sins deserved was poured out on Him. Then three days later, He rose from the grave, defeating Satan and death so that we can have life forevermore with Him.

I love it when we all come together in the weeks before Easter and remember the love of God poured out on us through the cross. I love when we gather on Easter Sunday, in itchy clothes and all, and declare to each other that “He is Risen.” I love the joy that I see on your faces as you celebrate the new life you have through Jesus’ resurrection.

As much as I love Easter these days, I pray that it will not be the high point of our spiritual journey in 2024. I pray that Easter will be a launching point for even greater celebration of Jesus and His transforming work in our lives. My hope is that each of us will experience the joy of pursuing God deeply in our individual lives and our families.

To help you pursue the joy of Jesus, our church staff has prayerfully planned activities to grow your relationship with Christ. I’m excited to jump into the book of Philippians after Easter and study how we can be a people of joy and rejoicing at all times by making Christ the focus of our lives. Ladies, I hope you will join us for a time of growing in relationship with the Lord and other women at Women’s Retreat. Gentlemen, I can’t wait to gather with you for the Men’s Advance and seek the Lord. And I would love to have you join us as we draw near to God in prayer at the Friendship Church Prayer meeting this Wednesday. You can get more information about all these opportunities to grow close to the Lord and more by going to friendshipmn.org.

Let Easter be the launching point in all of our lives and in our church to greater celebration of Jesus and closeness to God.

Preparing Your Hearts and Mind

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Preparing Your Hearts and Mind

Have you ever showed up to worship on a Sunday and been so distracted you found that by the time worship services ended you wondered if it was even worth attending because you were so distracted? Most of us have been there. Unfortunately, our society and culture have high demands on our time and we could live in a distracted state of mind for decades before addressing it if we are not careful. Therefore, I want to share a few thoughts with you. Things that I know will help you to worship in a way that will bring you life and help you to give to the LORD and receive from the LORD during worship. It will take a little bit of thoughtful prep… take heart, it won’t be too difficult.

Before we enter into the sacred space of corporate worship, it’s essential to prepare our hearts and minds. Here are seven steps to help us engage in meaningful preparation for Sunday worship:

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus. – Acts 3:19 & 20

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. – Psalm 46:10

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. – 1 Chronicles 16:34

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. – Matthew 6:6

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch. – Psalm 5:3

6. Engage in Scripture: Immerse in scripture before the worship service. Whether it’s reading a passage, meditating on a verse, or studying a particular theme, scripture engagement enhances your understanding and connection with the LORD. I would encourage taking a moment to read the scripture that will be preached on that Sunday.

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. – Psalm 119:105

I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. – Psalm 9:1

By engaging in these practices, we prepare our hearts to receive the fullness of God’s presence and to worship Him in spirit and in truth. Let us approach Sunday worship with open hearts, minds that are focused, and spirits that are ready to encounter the living God.

Click here to watch a video about preparing your heart for worship.

Click here to go to our daily Bible Reading Plan that coincides with our sermon series.

Prayers of Remembrance

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Prayers of Remembrance

A few years ago, when we were walking through the book of Genesis during a sermon series, we studied how Abraham would pause to build altars and remember all that God had done in the past. Throughout Scripture, we see a pattern of the Israelites recounting the awe-inspiring miracles that God performed for them time and time again. Throughout that series, I began to realize the importance of pausing to recount all that God has done for me, because I realized that I often prayed for things but rarely returned to thank God or even remember how He answered that prayer only a few days later.

In our fast-paced, technology-filled world, it can be difficult to find truly quiet places and periods of time to sit and marinate in what God has done and is doing, yet in Isaiah 46:8-10, God commands His children to remember.

“Remember this and stand firm,
recall it to mind, you transgressors,
⁹ remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me,
¹⁰ declaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
and I will accomplish all my purpose,’”

Now, we might ask ourselves, “What benefit can be drawn from remembering? Wasn’t the Bible written a long time ago and weren’t these verses meant for the Jewish nation?”

Since that sermon series a couple of years ago, I developed a restlessness in my soul that led to an intentional journey of pause and reflection. There are many benefits that can come from pausing to remember what God has done for the nation of Israel, as well as, what He has done in your personal life.

First, by recognizing what He has done for the Israelites, we see God’s character. We see His ultimate power and authority over His creation when He parted the sea, turned water into blood, rained manna on His people, and flooded the earth, just to name a few. We see how God’s love and mercy persisted even as His chosen people disobeyed, whined, and committed violent acts against one another. They were to be the nation that all other nations could look at to see God and worship Him. This persistent love and mercy brought Christ to earth so His people would receive salvation and have an example of righteous living. And when the Jews rejected Christ, He was faithful and extended His love and mercy to all nations.

Second, when we pause and reflect on what God has done in our lives and learn about His character, it leads to recognition of sins, repentance, and worship. It enables us to take a wholistic look at our lives to see who we were before we placed our trust and faith in Jesus and who we are now. We can identify where the Holy Spirit has convicted us, our response to that conviction, and the change that has taken place over time, even if that change is small and has taken time to develop. Once we realize change has taken place, and that the change was not of our own doing, it leads us to worship God. When I took time to reflect on what God has done in my life, it was a beautiful time of thanksgiving and gratitude. Taking time to think through the ways the Lord had answered my prayers allowed me to see His faithfulness, the love He has for me, the reason He answered the way He did, and His character.

Third, as we see God’s character revealed in our lives, it makes Scripture come alive. As I spent intentional time praying about what God has done, I experienced the God of the Bible in a more intimate way. I learned more about God’s will, and it became easier to accept His answer to my prayers, especially when it was not the answer I was expecting or hoping for. In fact, most of my requests became for His will to be done. Throughout Scripture, God has proven Himself faithful to His promises. By trusting in His promises, it became easier to trust His will. I have found more freedom by trusting in Him for all things, big and small, because His will is the best way every single time. When we align our hearts with God, everything else falls in line.

Fourth, returning to thank Him for answered prayers is a form of worship. We glorify God when we acknowledge what He has done, and we humble ourselves when we realize we couldn’t have done it on our own. We exalt His name when we recognize that He is the one who has the power to do it, and we submit ourselves to His authority.

So, if you have ever struggled with feeling like God is distant or you can’t hear God, spend some time in prayer and give this a try. I pray that it works for you like it did for me. All praise to Jesus’.

I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
¹² I will ponder all your work,
and meditate on your mighty deeds.
¹³ Your way, O God, is holy.
What god is great like our God?
¹⁴ You are the God who works wonders;
you have made known your might among the peoples. Psalm 77:11-14

Read an Old Christian Book

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Read an Old Christian Book

As you are looking ahead to all that this new year may hold for you, I’d like to issue a simple challenge. Read an old Christian book this year . I suppose I should challenge you to read two old Christian books this year. Certainly, your soul would benefit from regular encounters with God’s Word – a two- to four-thousand-year-old book. But in addition to a regular diet of Scripture, read an old Christian book this year .

We live in a culture that highly values novelty. Whether it’s cars, appliances, homes, phones, or even apps on our phones the message tends to be the same: newer is generally better. I must confess that until several years ago, I believed this message about books. Why would I read a book on Christian living or thought from 80, 200, or 1500 years ago when there is a staggering amount of them published just in the last decade? Why indeed.

During this last Advent season, I read an old book that I read almost every Advent season: On the Incarnation by Athanasius. This book was written in the mid to late 300’s AD. It was in the preface to this book that I first encountered the challenge and wisdom of reading old books. In his preface to the modern translation of the book, CS Lewis writes how old books may combat the blind spots of our milieu, “The only palliative is to keep the clean sea breeze of the centuries blowing through our minds, and this can be done only by reading old books. Not, of course, that there is any magic about the past. People were no cleverer than they are now; they made as many mistakes as we. But not the same mistakes . They will not flatter us in the errors we are already committing; and their own errors, being now open and palpable, will not endanger us. Two heads are better than one, not because either is infallible, but because they are unlikely to go wrong in the same direction” (emphasis added).

Lewis’ first sentence has beautifully captured my own experience of reading old Christian books: a clean sea breeze. There is nothing new under the sun. So old books address very similar issues to the ones that we face today. The difference is the old books address different manifestations of those issues. They are oblivious to things like Covid 19; Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce; the 2016 and 2020 elections; and things like that. The old books do not seek to win our culture over to a particular stance on any of those issues. They are not concerned with telling us how to think about any particular issue in our time. This truly is a clean sea breeze. I can pick up CS Lewis’s The Four Loves and know that there is no hidden agenda that is trying to be communicated to me. How refreshing it is to hear somebody speak into our modern issues (albeit indirectly) without a horse in the race. The issues that are addressed are familiar (we all painfully know the realities of living in a broken world) yet foreign to me. Lewis does not tell me how to love God and my neighbor faithfully as a Christian in America in 2024. Yet his work very well may be a fount of wisdom that I can, by the power of the Holy Spirit, apply to my unique cultural context. He’s not addressing our specific manifestations of sin and brokenness – he’s addressing his own culture. So I glean the general wisdom of a great thinker like Lewis without feeling compelled to agree with him on every cultural issue – we’re not facing the same cultural issues!

Lewis articulates more beautifully and fully why reading old Christian books is valuable in his preface to On the Incarnation. Why don’t you do yourself a favor and get a two-for-one? Buy the book and you’ll get yourself an old book to read, and a brief essay on why the very book you are reading is worth it.

In closing let me offer one word of caution and a few more recommendations. By means of caution, do not idealize the world of the past. Sin is sin. We view the world of the past far more dispassionately and (by nature of our temporal vantage point) with greater clarity than those who lived in it. This oftentimes leads us to pine for the “good ol’ days” that never existed. Since we left Eden, the world has been corrupted by sin. Glean wisdom from writers of the past, but do not believe the lie that their world was any better than ours is.

Finally, if you are crazy enough to take the challenge and read an old book let me give you three suggestions [JF1] :

On the Incarnation by Athanasius (this copy has the preface written by Lewis, referenced in this blog).
https://shorturl.at/eotFJ

Orthodoxy by GK Chesterton (a literary influence of CS Lewis!)

https://shorturl.at/yI047

The Confessions of Saint Augustine (by far the longest and hardest of the three – but perhaps the most valuable).

https://shorturl.at/erRZ2

Experience the clean ocean breeze of reading an old Christian book this year.

It’s Christmas Time – Get Busy

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

It’s Christmas Time – Get Busy

It’s Christmas Time – Get Busy

Tis the season…for people to write blogs about how busy Christmas time is. If there is something that Christian and non-Christian bloggers, podcasters, artists, and Hollywood writers can agree on, it is that the Holidays are too busy, and that you need to make them less busy. Just a quick perusal of Christmas blogs led me to the following titles.

As we approach Christmas, we will hear from all corners of our society about the dangers of being too busy at Christmas, and we will experience an almost universal call to become less busy. I said, “almost universal call” because in this space I would like to ask you to consider getting busier this Christmas season. Yes…that’s right…I would like to call us to greater busyness this December.

I’m not asking us to say yes to more events, go to more work parties, make more plans with distant relatives, or even find more ways to serve. The kind of busyness I am inviting us to is very targeted.

I want to encourage us to get busy spending time with Jesus this Christmas season. There is nothing we can do with our time that is more important and more impactful to our soul. Jesus came to earth so that you could have a relationship with Him (John 17:3). He saved you so that you could know God and worship Him (1 John 5:20). As we celebrate His birth, our greatest priority isn’t to try and become less busy, but to be busy with the one thing that truly matters, time with our Savior (Luke 10:38-42).

My personal desire for this Christmas season is that I will draw closer to Jesus than I have ever been, and I know spending time with Him is the path to relational closeness. Let me encourage you to join me and get busy seeking our Savior. The following items are examples of things we can all do to get busy seeking Jesus in the days to come.

These are just examples of how we can get busy spending time with Jesus. Our primary objective isn’t completing the items above as a checklist, but devoting our time and energy to knowing Him more. As we make our way through December, I would invite you to join me in shifting our focus. Instead of thinking about how we can become less busy, let’s think about how we can become busier than we have ever been, in spending time with Jesus.

Are We Making a Difference?

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Are We Making a Difference?

Have you ever felt like your prayers are not being answered? Like, “What’s the use? Nothing is changing?”

Those were the thoughts of the missionary couple who wrote a baby congratulations card and prayer to my parents when I was born. My father was 18 years old, and my mom was 25 when I was born. He was a member of the Spirit Lake Sioux Nation on the Ft. Totten Indian Reservation in North Dakota. Mom was the grandchild of Norwegian immigrants whose family homesteaded on the reservation in the early 1900s and I am the 6 ^th generation to have lived there.

“Now it is my prayer that you will both invite Jesus into your hearts and home so this dear little soul will have a happy life here on earth and point others to Jesus Christ.”

The missionary couple that wrote this prayer to my parents were Arthur and Elmyra Ramse. He was the pastor at a Lutheran church near Tokio, ND on the reservation. I don’t recall having met them, but my mom talked about the Ramses and I was familiar with the name.

Decades later, my mom gave me a shoebox full of pictures, mementos, and a few cards. I am a historian, and as such, have collected tote boxes full of books, articles, and photos. The shoebox full of items from my childhood never interested me and I hardly glanced at the contents until recently, when I was looking through that shoebox for a photo from my youth. I pulled out a baby card and saw the name Ramse. This piqued my interest. Inside the small card, which was titled, Baby Congratulations, was a Scripture (Genesis 49:25) and a prayer. “The Almighty…shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above” and “May your bundle from heaven, so precious and small, bring so many blessings you can’t count them all!” The signature read, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Ramse and the boys.

The impact of this little baby card, written so long ago, is far reaching. Although it’s not an easy thing to share, I would like to describe what life was like on the reservation to help you understand my background and how many Native people have come to view God.

In the government’s efforts to civilize and Americanize the Native Americans, the goal to “kill the Indian in him and save the man” was adopted as policy. To accomplish this, they sent Native children to government run schools, many of which were boarding schools. My grandfather and his siblings, and later my dad and his siblings, all attended a Catholic boarding school in St. Michael, ND on the reservation. Much has been written and orally passed down about the harsh treatment of the children by the nuns. My grandfather never talked about his experience, but my dad expressed a hatred of that time and the nuns involved. With the history of faith leaders convincing tribal chiefs and native nations to give up their land and old ways, a distrust developed of those who represented Christ on earth.

My Native great grandparents had Catholic mass in their log cabin for neighbors in the remote region of the reservation, so I know they heard the Gospel message. The Indian agents and priests had power over the wards under their care and the families were expected to attend church and school. A priest used to visit us when I was a child, and he would show us movies on the wall with the projector he brought. My siblings and I all went to Catechism, but this was about the time my father’s abuse of alcohol and abuse of the family started. This threw our family into an upheaval. We left my father when I was 11 and we never went to church again while I lived with my mom. My grandmother Greene died before I was born, and I never heard my grandfather Greene, or my grandparents Jahr, talk about Jesus or their faith. I believe the heavy-handed tactics of the government and church turned members of my family away from any desire to attend church once the rules and regulations were loosened.

My life was lived hard from the age of 11 until I was 22. Partying and taking risks with my life was common. Only by the hand of God did I live through those years. I met Ruth, who became my wife, when I was 22 and through her example and testimony, she pointed me to Christ. I understood my need for forgiveness and found it in Jesus. It wasn’t an easy transition though for either of us. I had a lot of baggage and rough edges to smooth over.

I felt that I had many scores to settle back on the reservation and wanted to go back and hold accountable the offenders for all the hurt they had inflicted on me. But during my faith walk, God led me to Matthew 11:28-30. “Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” When I read this and realized that accountability wasn’t up to me, I could literally feel a weight come off my shoulders!

My father and I were estranged following my parent’s divorce and as far I as I know, he never turned to Christ. My wife, Ruth, had written him a letter years before he passed, sharing Jesus with him. My mom did, however, show signs of faith and acknowledged Jesus as her Savior toward the end of her life. I was privileged to pray with Mom in the last hours of her life and she squeezed my hand. I’ll always cherish that memory.

Fast forward to 2022, when I first read the baby card from the Ramses. I cried after reading the prayer Mrs. Ramse wrote in the card. “Now it is my prayer that you will both invite Jesus into your hearts and home so this dear little soul will have a happy life here on earth and point others to Jesus Christ.” The realization that someone prayed for me 60 plus years ago was very humbling. Ruth became emotional also when I showed her the card. We wanted to find out more about the people who shared Christ’s love with my parents and me all those years ago! The historian in me found a mission!

So, we started searching the internet to connect with the family, and Ruth found an obituary for Arthur Ramse, and I found a YouTube video titled “Memories of Arthur Ramse” by Karen Ramse! In the video were photos of his time on the reservation and his memories of being at Tokio. I immediately emailed Karen to explain who I was and the connection to Arthur and Elmyra. She told me that they were her grandparents! I think we were both emotional while sharing our connection to her grandparents. She gave me the contact information of two of her uncles, Ben and David, who lived and grew up on the reservation when their parents were there. After connecting with them, we found out that they knew my grandparents and grandfather Greene! My grandmother Jahr was hired to drive Ben, one of the sons, and several other students to school in Devils Lake! A young lady by the name of Miriam Dynneson joined the Ramses on the reservation to help them in their mission. When my grandfather Jahr passed away, Miriam was the organist at his service and Arthur officiated the service. She later married David, one of the Ramse sons. Miriam has written books about her adventures in the mission field, and she wrote about the story of the “baby card” and prayer in one of them!

It is only by the Hand of God that this precious family has been woven into mine!

When I connected with the Ramse men and Miriam, we were all in awe of God’s faithfulness, mercy, and grace! Many times, they had heard their parents ask, “Are we making a difference?” On the reservation, ministry is slow going with seemingly no fruit, but when they heard my story and my faith in Jesus, they were overjoyed and felt blessed to hear about the card, prayer, and how God answered that prayer!

We have gotten together with David and Miriam a couple of times and have enjoyed visiting about our time on the reservation. They even joined us at Friendship Church in Prior Lake for a Sunday service! Ruth and I are blessed to call them friends and humbled by our Lord’s faithfulness.

Karen Ramse, Arthur and Elmyra’s granddaughter, teaches at Black Forest Academy, an international Christian school in Germany. She asked if she could share “my” story about the baby card during staff prayer and devotion time on Monday, October 23 which is today, the day I write this. I replied it’s God’s story, she is certainly welcome to share it.

Billy Graham once said: “I firmly believe God continues to answer the prayers of His people even after He has taken them to heaven. Never forget that God isn’t bound by time the way we are. We see only the present moment; God sees everything. We see only part of what He is doing; He sees it all.”

So do not grow weary in doing good! Keep praying and keep loving, living, and serving like Jesus. You may never know on this side of heaven how it will impact a life and the Kingdom of God!

Weaving Faith

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Weaving Faith

Fall feels fresh and exciting, a season full of possibilities. School is back in all its forms; families are settling into a new year, new classrooms, and new groups of friends. It can also feel overwhelming, creating struggles to set priorities and find balance in our homes. We also step into church, with great intentions that we’ll show up, we’ll engage, and we’ll be committed to growth in our family and our faith. As quickly as the season starts, we are enveloped with the realities of the new school year — sports schedules, homework, school activities, work, care of family and homes, and then, an overwhelming feeling of inadequacy can sweep over us.

How am I going to help my kids connect with God? Help them grow their faith when we are pulled in so many directions by the world? As Christ following parents, our most important desire is to have our children follow Jesus. Often, it doesn’t take very long before we feel we are missing the mark.

In times like these, I cling to the words found in Deuteronomy 11:

“You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. ¹⁹ You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. ²⁰ You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates,” Deuteronomy 11:18-20 ESV

God gave us a road map to use. When I stop and think about it, it’s a simple plan. We need to share God stories with our children every day, in any place, and at any time. Sounds simple, right? A lot of the time it is not, but not because we don’t want to, nor because we don’t value it, but because we are caught up in the busy of life. Yet, I believe the more we can weave our faith into our daily lives, identify God’s hand moving in our lives every moment, and share that with our children – God can use it to impact, shape, and mold our children.

When I look back on my growing up, I can now see how my parents wove faith into our daily lives. I went to the neighbor lady’s Bible study with my mom, and “helped” her write notes in her Bible. I sat at her feet while she practiced telling her Good News Club stories or her Sunday school lesson. Dad prayed every night at dinner and called the family to church — Sunday mornings, Sunday nights, Monday nights, the next big tent meeting, you name it. If church was being held, we were there. My parents opened their home to missionaries who needed a place to stay for a night or weekend, and we heard stories of how God was working in their lives. They didn’t do a big devotional each night or week. They didn’t make us memorize scripture. They did, however, talk about how God wanted us to live, what God had done, and what He is still doing. My siblings and I are still following the Lord and praying regularly for our kids and grandkids (Well, I’m praying for their grandkids, and praying to have a few of my own). What my parents instilled in us has stayed with us well into our adult lives and our own families.

Yet, with my own children I wondered: have I done enough? I tried to emulate similar patterns I saw growing up — praying for car accidents on the road, stopping to share something God made that was beautiful, inviting neighbors to hear the Easter story, and doing egg hunts.

My oldest son, Jeremiah, was always full of energy, life and riding the edge. We knew it was coming when he turned 5 and told me he was now, “a whole handful,” and I laughed and thought, boy, did he speak the truth. His path was far from straight and had many bumps along the road. We kept sowing seeds, having conversations, and pointing to Jesus. We spent a year reading Proverbs every night. Still, Jeremiah continued to face many challenges, addictions, and frustrations, even with the church.

During the summer of his junior year of high school, he and his core church friends were asked to not attend youth groups, as he and his friends were “not the type of kids they wanted others at the church to be around.” Interestingly enough, Jeremiah didn’t miss one Sunday night River service his whole senior year. Our adventure continued with Jeremiah after high school, and we prayed often, shared, and continued to point him to Jesus when we could. The last 3-4 years of Jeremiah’s life, he was reaching out and finding ways to connect with his siblings and the family again. He was sharing dreams of proposing to his girlfriend of 10 years. We were hopeful, encouraged and felt we now can speak life and of Christ’s plans into Jeremiah’s life.

And then… he was gone. December 16, 2016. Unimaginable pain, heaviness, and crushing weight on me, on our family. I have heard people share the heaviness they feel with depression but had never experienced it until that day. I remember crying out to the Lord, “How can I go on with this weight,” “How can I face the next day?” I know Jeremiah prayed with me when he was young, asking Jesus to be his Savior. I clung to that memory, and the promises in Scriptures that say no one can snatch them out of God’s hand (John 10:27-29). But the weight remained.

Former Friendship Church Pastor Doyal VanGelder married Spencer and I, dedicated Jeremiah when he was little and ultimately led his funeral service. It was as Doyal prayed over us that God whispered to me ever so sweetly and faintly, “I have him in my arms, everything is going to be fine,” and I felt the heaviness and weight of fear, pain and debilitating sorrow being lifted off me. God’s care and blessings to me did not end there. He gave me even richer gifts. He allowed friends of Jeremiah to come and share stories of how they prayed with Jeremiah, how Jeremiah lived out Scriptures he learned as a child, like to never let the sun go down on your wrath. His friends also shared that when conversations turned to issues of faith, Jeremiah shared with them that the only way to heaven was through Jesus Christ. Through all Jeremiah’s struggles and hurts, even from the church, he did not leave Jesus. I am confident and anticipate my reunion with Jeremiah in heaven one day.

I tell you all of this for one reason: please find ways to tell God’s stories to your children. Tell them everyday something that you saw God do, something God made, something God revealed to you. You don’t need to have a theological devotional each week, but our children need to hear us talk about how God is working in our lives. How he loves us and has a plan for us, and that we are uniquely and wonderfully made by the Creator of the whole universe. I am 100% confident that God will use your stories and your faith walks to powerfully impact your children and guide them into a deeper relationship with the Lord. Even the littlest thing can make the biggest difference!

Simply God

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Simply God

When somebody sins against you and leaves a deep wound, do you find it hard to forgive? When a deadline at work is weighing on you or you are experiencing a life-altering event, do you find it difficult to be truly present with those around you? If you are anything like me, you would answer yes to these questions and a host of other similar questions.

Yet when we consider God, we recognize that He is quick to forgive – no matter how great the sin. No matter how deep the wound. We also recognize that the God of the universe is wholly present with us in every valley and mountain-top even though He is attending to the administration of a highly complex universe. How is God able to forgive the darkest of sins, and we struggle to do so? How is God able to be wholly present despite all the things He attends to, and we are unable to be present as lesser things occupy our minds? The answer is simple. Literally. Or, more precisely, simplicity .

At least, that’s the theological word for it. God is simple . We are complex. To help explain what we mean by God’s simplicity, read the following phrase a few times and spend a few moments sitting on it: God is always everything that God is .

Whenever God acts, every divine attribute and characteristic is being fully expressed in that action. In contrast, whenever I act, sometimes my love is expressed more than my anger. Other times my anger is controlling my actions and words. Sometimes, I allow my logical faculties to control my actions, while other times I am controlled by my emotions. As humans, we are made up of various parts. We are a complex of all our characteristics and attributes. God simply is who He is (Exodus 3:14). God never says, “I can’t believe I did that! That’s just not like me.” Understanding this idea of God’s simplicity has two major implications.

First, it is great news! Believing in God’s simplicity gives us greater confidence that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Who He is, He will always be. We can count on the fact that God will always act in accordance with His character (2 Timothy 2:13). No circumstance will change His character. No emotion will cloud His judgment. Now here’s the greatest part of that news. When God extends judgment on sin, not only is His anger and wrath being expressed, but so is His mercy, and love, and grace! That’s how 1 John 1:9 can say, “If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins…” Humans, on the other hand, are far more fickle. I have a sense of justice that I would like to be expressed just like God does. But I also have competing emotions. Sometimes, I let my selfishness rule the day. So instead of extending forgiveness, my sense of justice is expressed in making another person pay for the way they have hurt me. God is simple, so we can be confident that He does not operate this way. God’s mercy, working in concert with all of His other attributes, including His justice, is what drove Him to put His own son, Jesus, on the cross. His justice wouldn’t allow sin to go unpunished, but His mercy wouldn’t allow repentant humans to receive their just punishment. God is simply awesome!

The other major implication of God’s simplicity is that it frees us to be complex humans. As you are processing just how difficult it is to forgive that person in your life, know that you have a complex of emotions and characteristics that ebb and flow in prominence in your life. On top of that, these emotions and characteristics have been marred by sin. Of course, it’s hard to forgive the way that God forgives, and Jesus calls us to forgive! This doesn’t let us off the hook – we are still called to forgive. But don’t be discouraged if it takes longer than you would like to get to the point of truly extending that forgiveness. As you work through that forgiveness. Or as you seek to be present at home while things at work are occupying your mind, bring that to the Lord. Confess your limitations because you are human, and God is God. Ask that you would walk in step with the Holy Spirit who is able to equip us despite our deficiencies. And praise God that He is simple! He is who He is. All of who He is. Always. He is simply God.

The Grief Invitation

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMT

The Grief Invitation

When we were in the hospital, shortly after learning that our daughter would likely never come home, I remember having a conversation. My husband and I stood in the muted colors of the Ronald McDonald House asking each other:

Should we let them in?

Neither of us wanted to. Letting in our small group felt too raw, too personal. Not because we didn’t love them or know they loved us, but because it was absolutely terrifying. They’d never seen us this way. We had never seen ourselves this way: utterly broken, completely stripped bare, the most vulnerable version of ourselves.

The past week, we hadn’t eaten, barely slept. My entire body buzzed with adrenaline and yet was numb with fatigue. I was weak with heartache and physical pain. Our eyes were bloodshot from crying, constantly crying. Our bodies had physically slumped, shrunk. Our strength was paper thin.

In this place, like all sons of Adam and daughters of Eve, it feels easiest to hide. But something struck me that day I believe to be true. To invite them in—literally, putting their names on that front desk list—and of course, figuratively, was the only way we wouldn’t walk alone.

These are the people who are going to walk with us…after . I said.

Some of our friends came that night to meet our daughter for the first and last time. They saw her covered in tubes and connected to machines and somehow still so perfect and whole. They came and wrapped themselves around us and saw our tears and cried their own. They filled the chapel and prayed. They touched her sweet face. I wish I could say it was wonderful, but it was also terrible. It probably would’ve been easier to hide, to be alone, to stay concealed in our own bubble of fear and pain and vulnerability. And yet now, we had a small army of people who could fathom a slice of our grief.

We left the hospital 10 days later without our daughter. She was gone from this earth. We were not and are not the same.

I don’t know what would’ve happened if we’d decided to do it all alone, but I believe that letting them in was inviting them to our journey of grieving, to the very first step of healing. These friends knew they were on the metaphorical list forever. So after, they wouldn’t let us walk alone; they didn’t let us walk alone.

I tell this story today with the sky white with clouds and the ground wet with rain. It’s cold and quiet. It’s a day for remembering. I tell this story because I think I needed to and because I sincerely believe we are not meant to hide in our deepest pain. Even in the darkest, most confusing moments, when truly no one besides our God can understand our pain, we can invite someone in. Doing so is inviting them not just to see us vulnerable and hurt, but to be Jesus to us, to be near to the brokenhearted and the crushed in spirit. They will not do it perfectly, but if they are true and loving, they will accept the call to walk with us in the years of grieving and healing to come.

Should I Be Anointed with Oil: From Weak to Restored

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Should I Be Anointed with Oil: From Weak to Restored

Introduction

In James 5, there is a call to be anointed with oil by the elders if you are sick or weak. As a believer and an elder, I have personally experienced the restorative work of God through this practice. The restoration we find in Christ is what we desire, and I hope to encourage you to engage in this type of prayer.

The Tapestry of Anointing with Oil

Throughout the pages of Scripture, the act of anointing with oil weaves a profound tapestry of significance. It serves as a sacred practice that consecrates us to God’s purpose and empowers us for His plan through the work of the Holy Spirit. By exploring the connections between the Old Testament rituals and the restorative power revealed in the New Testament, we can gain a deeper understanding of anointing with oil.

Consecration

In Genesis 28:18, we find the first mention of anointing with oil. Jacob, after encountering God in a dream at Bethel, poured oil on a stone pillar, consecrating the place as a sacred site. This act symbolized Jacob’s recognition of God’s presence and his desire to honor Him. Just as sacred spaces were anointed, believers are anointed with the Holy Spirit, reminding us of God’s continual interaction with us as sacred sites.

Priesthood

Exodus 28:41 and 29:20-21 reveal the crucial role of anointing with oil in the consecration of the priesthood. Aaron and his sons were anointed with oil to set them apart for their priestly duties, symbolizing God’s chosen ones being empowered by His Spirit. This established the authority, holiness, and intercessory role of the priesthood, which extends to the priesthood of all believers. Anointing with oil serves as a reminder of our holy duty and obligation.

Kingship

The anointing of David as king of Israel in 1 Samuel 16:13 marked a significant shift in the establishment of the Davidic dynasty. The pouring of oil on David’s head symbolized his selection and empowerment by God to rule His people. This anointing foreshadowed the coming of Jesus Christ, the eternal King. In 1 Peter 2:9, believers are referred to as a royal priesthood established by Jesus. Anointing with oil reminds us of our identity as divine royalty.

The Work of the Holy Spirit

Anointing with oil also finds its ultimate fulfillment in the work of the Holy Spirit. In passages like Matthew 3:16, Isaiah 61:1, and 1 John 2:20, the term “anointing” is associated with the work of the Holy Spirit. By being anointed with oil, we are reminded of the Holy Spirit’s ongoing work in us, as we participate in the restorative process.

Anointing for Healing and Restoration: In James 5:14, the word “astheneo” is used, which can be translated as “sick” or “weak.” It suggests more than just physical ailments and encompasses spiritual weakness or being off-track in our relationship with God. Anointing with oil and prayer are appropriate responses for those who find themselves weak, disconnected from their Kingdom role, or enslaved to sin and death. The goal is not just initial healing but restoration into the Kingdom role God has called us to.

Conclusion

Anointing with oil is a powerful practice that we should consider in light of the tapestry woven throughout Scripture. It consecrates us, calls us to our priestly duties, and reveals our identity as royalty through the work of the Holy Spirit. It reminds us of the Divine Presence and provides an opportunity for obedience and transformation in our lives. Let us respond to the call of James 5, seeking the prayer and anointing of the elders, and experience the restorative power of God in our lives.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are wondering what the next steps might be if you are seeking prayer and anointing with oil from the elders, then let me suggest the following…

Get Back on the Bike

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Get Back on the Bike

Recently in a sermon, I told the story of how my daughter learned to ride a bike. In case you missed it, here are the essential details. When my daughter was five, she received her first bike. It was pink and green with tassels on the handlebars, and it had “Girl’s World” written in big letters on the frame. She loved the bike and immediately began to show it off to the neighbor kids.

There was one problem; she didn’t know how to ride a bike. To fix this problem we got her some training wheels and for a few weeks she rode her new bicycle around the neighborhood with the training wheels on. These cylindrical learning aids didn’t dampen her excitement about her new shiny mode of transportation.

Then came the day when she asked to learn to ride her bike without the training wheels. I took the training wheels off and my little girl wheeled her bike out into the middle of the street. It was a beautiful summer day and many of the neighbors were outside enjoying the weather and working in their yards. Our training was going to have an audience.

When I learned to ride a bike there was a lot of skin lost from my elbows and knees in the process. I decided that my “Precious Princess” would not go through the same painful process that I went through. I had a much better method for teaching her. My plan was to hold on to the seat of the bike and run behind Maddy as she learned to pedal, steer, and balance, without the training wheels. We would practice time and time again with me holding onto the back of the bike until I felt she was ready and then I would let go, without her knowing that I had let go, and she would ride the bike away all on her own. Suddenly, she would realize that I wasn’t holding on to the bike anymore and that she was riding all on her own. She would be so excited that she was doing it on her own, and so overwhelmed with gratitude toward her dad and his ultimately wise training methods, that she would jump off the bike and run back to me and give me the world’s biggest daddy-daughter hug.

Due to flaws in the planning and the execution, the process didn’t work the way I envisioned. Maddy pedaled faster than I anticipated, and I got tired quicker than I anticipated. This led to a moment where Maddy was pedaling faster than I could run, and trying to keep ahold of the seat, I threw off her balance and she panicked, turned the steering wheel hard, and ate pavement. Because I was tired, unbalanced, and running behind her at full speed, I tripped over the bike and fell right on top of her.

There we laid in the middle of the street, a father-daughter pile of scrapes, cuts, blood, and tears. My daughter was hurting and crying, and her dad was hugging her and looking around to see how many neighbors saw this disaster. My daddy-daughter moment wasn’t filled with hugs of gratitude but checks to make sure there were no broken bones.

After a couple of minutes of regaining our composure, I began to carry Maddy back to our driveway with her arms wrapped around my neck. I set Maddy down in the driveway and was about to put the bike back in the garage when I heard Maddy say softly, “Dad, I want to try again.” I heard what she said, but as I turned around to see the cuts, scrapes, and blood, I still asked, “What Sweetie?” She said it again, “Dad, I want to try riding my bike again.” After I asked her if she was sure two or three more times, I straightened out the steering wheel on the bike, set it back in the street, and we started the process all over again. She fell a couple more times over the course of that Saturday afternoon, and there were more cuts and scrapes that I knew we would have to explain to Mom, but by the end of the afternoon, she was riding all over the neighborhood by herself.

That day, Maddy showed a characteristic that is key to life, and life In Christ. It’s called perseverance and it is the willingness to get back on the bike and keep trying when we have fallen off. In Hebrews 12:1, we are told that we must lay aside sins in our lives and run the race toward Christ with all “perseverance” or “endurance.” We are all going to experience times when we fall off the bike of pursuing Christ and living in righteousness, but perseverance means we get back on the bike despite our failure and our pain and we begin to pedal toward Jesus again.

As you read this you can probably pinpoint ways that you have fallen off the bike of pursuing Jesus. It may be that you have given into gossip, lies, lust, coveting, the idol of pleasure, the idol of comfort, the idol of success, or others among the plethora of sins and idols. We all fall off the bike, and we all go through seasons where we seem to be falling off the bike regularly. Let me encourage you to jump back on the bike right now and start pursuing Jesus with all you heart, soul, mind, and strength again. Let me encourage you to confess your sins to the Lord and then put them in the past and not dwell on them. Don’t meditate on the times yesterday or yesteryear where you fell off the bike. Forget what lies behind, get back on the bike and focus on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Keep pedaling!

The Alpha and Omega

Mon, 01 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT

The Alpha and Omega

Do you have a pet peeve? That one irritation, often outside of your control, that gets you every time. For some it’s grammar mistakes. For others it’s not putting the toilet seat down. For others it may be bad driving behavior on the roads. Whatever it is, we all have at least one.

For me, it’s not giving God His proper due – when The Lord God of the universe is referred to as “a” God. I have noticed it more and more in recent years, and it troubles me. At times it’s used in contexts such as “we serve a holy God” or a derivative like “the God we serve…” or “our God…” or even “praise to our God.”

Despite the best intentions of the speaker, the language suggests that the triune God of the Universe is just one among many viable options from which to choose, as though all are equal and we’re just glad that ours comes with certain attributes (as A. W. Tozer would say). To borrow a phrase from James: this should not be so, my brethren (James 3:10).

Oh, I understand the sentiment and the innocence of intent, still I cringe at the very thought. I want to stand up and shout, “He is not a god, He is The God! He is not a lord, He is The LORD.” It may seem like semantics, but God takes His name and His position seriously, and we should too. In fact, for millennia the nation of Israel wouldn’t even say or fully spell His name out of reverence.

God Himself makes it abundantly clear in Exodus 20:2 when He says, “I am the LORD your God.” He goes on to say that He will allow no counterfeit god (idol) beside Him. Similarly, in Isaiah 42:8 He declares, “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.” (NIV, emphasis mine)

The sad truth is that polytheism is alive and well in our culture, even within the evangelical Christian church. People tend to serve other gods – their pride, stomachs, lusts (of the eyes and of the flesh), hobbies, sports, ideologies, and bank accounts – just to name a few. Yet unlike these idols, which receive their idol status from worship, the God of all creation is inherently God, whether we acknowledge Him in worship or not. His stature and status are not dependent on anyone or anything else.

He is not one among many. He is The GOD. He is the great I AM (Exodus 3:14). He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Apex being who created all things. He is the Alpha (the first) and the Omega (the last). He is the foundation of everything, and He will endure beyond time itself. There is none like Him. Nothing and no one compare to Him or even comes close.

As Christ-followers, when we pray, worship, or serve we are doing so unto the One and only true God. Everything else that we lift up alongside Him is a lie (Isaiah 44:20). Everything begins with Him and ends with Him. Everything in heaven and earth are His (1 Chronicles 29:11). And I happen to think our language ought to reflect it.

Possibly my favorite passage in all of Scripture is in the book of Revelation. I love the description of Jesus given in Revelation 19:

¹¹ Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. ¹² His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems, and He has a name written that no one knows but Himself. ¹³ He is clothed in a robe dipped in ^[ ^b ^] blood, and the name by which He is called is The Word of God. ¹⁴ And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following Him on white horses. ¹⁵ From His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. ¹⁶ On His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords .

Beloved, He will come again, and it will be a majestic and awesome sight. Because He is The King of kings and The Lord of lords. There is truly none beside Him.

Is He your Alpha and Omega, your first love and your last? Is He truly Lord of your life? This week, take time to really consider if He is a god in your life or The God of your life. It really does make all the difference in this world…and the next!

_______

Seasons

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Seasons

As I drove to work one morning, surrounded by six-foot piles of snow on either side of the road, while the rain simultaneously fell and hit my windshield, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of joy! Joy because we’d hit the time of year where the seasons collide once again, and the much-awaited spring weather was on the horizon! I have often heard people talk about the “seasonal blues” that they feel during the long winter months here in Minnesota, but I have never been one to struggle with them myself. The last few weeks, however, was a different story. For some reason the endless winter months had begun to wear on me. I found myself longing for sunshine and warmth like never before! Maybe it’s because of the endless amounts of snow that continued to fall week after week or the fact that winter had seemed to hit earlier than usual this year, but for whatever reason, this season felt different. Harder for some reason.

As I went about my day, I couldn’t help but draw comparisons to the seasons of life. While the seasonal weather changes can have an effect on us psychologically, I began to realize that the struggle I was feeling had more to do with the season of life we were going through than the physical weather outside. Don’t get me wrong, I do desperately want physical warmth and sunshine outside as well! But we had been going through a difficult season of life in our family. The business of life was taking a toll, the load of ministry, pregnancy insomnia causing sleepless nights, toddler transitions, multiple family members navigating health scares, the list could go on. But I had grown weary. I was weary of the difficult season we were in. No matter where I turned, there was no way to alleviate the load of the season. As the snow physically accumulated outside, I was also feeling the load of life pile on, one thing after the other, with no reprieve. I was longing to feel not only the physical warmth of a new season, but also the restoring of my soul that David talks about in Psalm 23. I was longing for the season of life to change.

As I sat at my desk looking out at the collision of rain and snow piles, I was reminded that just like the changing of weather seasons here in the great state of Minnesota, seasons of life come and go as well. Sometimes the seasons of life change much quicker than we are ready for; I have learned this quickly watching our daughter grow up! But sometimes the opposite is true. Sometimes life seasons linger much longer than we would like, and we find ourselves growing weary.

I found myself at a crossroads of sorts. I had two options of how to handle this season. First, let it overwhelm me and crush me under its load. Or second, learn to embrace it. Grow within it and let it stretch me beyond what is comfortable. Now, thankfully for us as believers, we do not have to embrace the challenges of life on our own. Matthew 11:28-30 says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Jesus WANTS to walk with us through the yuck of life. Through the difficult seasons we face. And not only that, but He promises to give us rest within them! We don’t have to wait for the season to change in order to feel a refreshing of our souls. Jesus meets us where we are and provides rest and refreshing in that place. All we have to do is come to Him!

We also see in Scripture the importance of community (Colossians 3 and Galatians 6). God created us as relational beings that need community. This need to be in community is felt more strongly when life is hard. Being surrounded by a biblical community that supports you, prays for you, and points you back to God can make all the difference in enduring the seasons that life brings. At Friendship Church, we not only have the church community at large, but we also have the blessing of being a part of a LifeGroup! A smaller community that we get the privilege of doing life with. Sharing the joys, trials, sorrows, and excitements that life brings! When life gets hard, we pray for each other and care for one another. When life brings joyous occasions, we celebrate with one another! We do life together, no matter what it brings.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Not every season is easy or enjoyable, but they all have their place in life. Every season grows us in unique ways and the hard seasons we experience give us a new appreciation for the joyful, less difficult seasons of life. When the difficult season collides with a more joyful season, there is a renewed sense of hope and joy that comes with it. A sense of appreciation, not only because we get to move on from a difficult season, but because of what we have learned and how we have grown closer to Jesus and the people around us through that season. Just like when the long Minnesota winter begins to collide with spring!

What season of life are you in? Are you in a difficult season or a season of much joy? Are you in a season where you feel like the load of life is too much to carry? Like it keeps piling on more and more? Or a season where you feel happiness and warmth? Regardless of the season you are in, remember this: Seasons change! Sometimes more quickly than others, but they will change. If you are in a joyful season, embrace the joy that this season has! If you are in a difficult season, embrace it, draw close to Jesus to find rest within Him, and surround yourself with a community that will support you, pray for you, and walk through the season with you.

Encountering God in the Stories That Move Us

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Encountering God in the Stories That Move Us

Every couple of years I feel this tug. Typically, it’s right around this time of year. As winter stubbornly holds on while spring bides its time. I get this urge to re-enter a world I was introduced to as a child. A world full of foreign concepts such as hobbits, elves, and rings of power. I’m speaking, of course, about the Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkein (LOTR). However, this is more than mere entertainment driving the desire to journey again through Middle Earth. I sense, instead, a deep longing in my soul to experience a story with themes like good versus evil. Light versus dark. What was versus what is. A story with valiant sacrifice. Don’t we all sense that longing?

God’s story of salvation is the greatest saga ever told. It contains all the ingredients we generally gravitate towards in a good story: a good beginning; tension as that good begins to crumble; a decisive moment of healing/resolving the tension; and a hoped-for future – a happily ever after.
In his book, Echoes of Eden , Jerram Barrs demonstrates that the ingredients listed above reverberate through all creation (footnote Echoes of Eden). When we encounter these ingredients in other stories (or other forms of art such as music), they speak to us deeply. This is because they echo God’s grand story of salvation. We can see this if we consider the four major movements of God’s story of salvation – four ingredients to a good story.

Creation: The Good Beginning . The beginning of God’s story is both unique from and uniform with other great stories. It is uniform in that it begins with a world that is good . As humans, we tend to value things being created good. When we purchase something new, we expect it to be in working condition. In the LOTR, we start in a good place. Bilbo Baggins is preparing for his 144 ^th birthday party, old friends are reuniting. Life is good. Other forms of art tap into the good beginning. A heartbreak song remembers how the relationship started good. But the good beginning of God’s story is unique. It begins with a good creator who then creates good things (Genesis 1). God’s good beginning is the good beginning par excellence. It is, therefore, natural for humans to yearn for a time when things were good and not broken. This desire reverberates through all of creation, and when an author or artist taps into it, it speaks to us.

Fall: The Broken Reality . Every good story involves tension for the protagonist to navigate. We gravitate towards that tension because we know that tension. We live that tension. In the LOTR, Frodo’s world is turned upside down when Bilbo vanishes from his birthday party. The magic ring left in Frodo’s possession alters his life and sets him on a most perilous journey. “I wish it need not have happened in my time,” Frodo laments. A sentiment we all know. The grieving widow. The orphaned child. The heart-sinking diagnosis. We hurt and lament. When a story articulates this broken experience and the attending emotions, it speaks deeply to us. Why? It’s an echo of the ultimate pain. The pain of separation from God. The brokenness that occurred when sin entered the world and severed us from the good beginning. This deep pain and loss reverberates through all of creation.

Restoration: The Healing of Wounds. Yet hope does not escape. In the LOTR, there is hope despite all of the evil that abounds. If they can destroy the ring, their world will be free of the danger posed by Lord Sauron. Spoiler alert, they do destroy the ring. It involved self-sacrifice, discipline, and the triumph of good over evil. Those are the very things we, as humans, desire. This is, yet again, an echo of God’s grand story. In the midst of our sin and brokenness, Jesus Himself shows us the meaning of unconditional love. Of ultimate self-sacrifice (Philippians 2:3-11). Of good triumphing over evil. As humans we inherently desire to experience this type of love. Why? Because it’s been hard-wired into our hearts. It’s the mechanism by which the God of the universe took the broken world and restored it. When we encounter a story that highlights these themes of healing that comes from love, it speaks to us in a deep way.

Consummation: The Anticipated Ending . This is where God’s story is incomparable. “And they lived happily ever after”, the classic fairy tale ending is a nice sentiment. But we all know that in our world, it’s not true. Our experience, time and again, tells us that happily ever after isn’t a thing. In the LOTR, a great victory for the forces of good was achieved when the ring was destroyed. Yet life did not return to “normal” for the heroes. The fractured world may have found healing, but it was never the same. As humans, we have an inherent desire to be in a world that doesn’t experience pain, loss, suffering, and death. Where does this deep longing come from? Saint Augustine would say, “You have made us for yourself, and our hearts remain restless until they find their rest in you” (Confessions. 1.1.1). God has written the greatest story to ever be told. It had a good beginning, a broken reality, a healing of wounds, and there is the hope of a perfect future.

I believe that approaching stories (and other works of art) this way can be fruitful in our walk with Jesus. As you listen to that song, watch that movie, read that novel, or tune into that audiobook, be mindful. What part of God’s story is this echoing? How do I resonate with the pain being dealt with here? How do I sympathize with the desire for healing? And ultimately, how is this piece of art instilling in me an eager desire for the true happily ever after? God’s story here is not yet complete. But we can live with certain hope that He will one day right every wrong and we will know His glory in eternity.

References

Jerram Barrs. Echoes of Eden: Reflections on Christianity, Literature, and the Arts (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Publishers. 2013).

Augustine of Hippo. Confessions . Edited by Roy Joseph Deferrari. Translated by Vernon J. Bourke. Vol. 21. The Fathers of the Church. Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 1953.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Greetings, friends! Over the last year, I have been participating in an under-utilized practice. This practice has helped me in many ways. I’ve understood some of the Scriptures in different ways, I have heard a large section of Scriptures at one time, and I have caught themes and context throughout a larger section of scriptures. Therefore, I want to introduce you to this nearly forgotten practice (insert drum roll…) HEARING the Word of God.

Hearing someone else read the Word of God has been life-giving; honestly, it is nothing new for the church. This has been a practice since the Old Testament. Consider the following passages and the fact that in these passages most people are hearing the Scriptures read aloud…

Hearing the Bible read is a common practice throughout the Scriptures and is nearly forgotten by today’s practices. A diet of God’s Word is necessary and encouraging. It helps the believer to hear the Word and tune their ears to God’s Word in light of today’s challenges.

BIBLICAL ILLITERACY…

Christianity Today published an article online from May of 1969 and it may be more relevant today than when it was published. It is entitled, Error Through Ignorance (Christianity Today, 1969). The gist of the article is that we wrongly apply God’s Word when we don’t know God’s Word. A great illustration that the article refers to is from Mark 12. In the passage, the Sadducees, who denied the resurrection come to Jesus to try to trap him by sharing a hypothetical story about a woman who followed the law of Moses and married the next brother (following the law of Moses) and then asking, in the resurrection whose wife will she be.

Jesus’ response is brilliant and speaks to us today. He says, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures, nor the power of God…”

Studies by Ligonier Ministries and Lifeway Research suggest that the biblical ignorance of evangelicals is even greater than we realized. The research suggests a growing belief in biblical errors such as multiple ways of salvation, a growing belief in unorthodox biblical stances on Jesus, as well as, errors concerning biblical teachings on gender and the church.

The obvious answer to this issue is to become biblically literate. So how? Let me suggest a simple answer… hear the Word. You might have expected me to say something like, get in a LifeGroup, do daily devotions, or go to worship. Yes, do those things. They are helpful but drinking in the Word of God is paramount to being biblically literate.

HEARING THE WORD ADDRESSES…

RESOURCES :

https://Biblegateway.com – website and app so that you can listen to the Bible.

https://thestateoftheology.com/ – a study that is referred to in the article.

https://redeemingproductivity.com/5-best-ways-to-listen-to-the-bible/ – additional resources to hear the Bible.

https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/public-reading-scripture/ – additional educational resource.

Gratitude and Perspective: Home (sick) for the holidays

Fri, 30 Dec 2022 03:39:26 GMT

Gratitude and Perspective: Home (sick) for the holidays

This is our second Christmas, third major holiday in a row that we’ve been home sick. It seems the closer we get to gathering with family, the more congestion sets in, then a fever and bam! Suddenly all the baking and bustling, the planning and purchasing, are pointless. We’re home sick for yet another holiday.

I know what you’re probably thinking. That we’re some super uptight, no sniffles-allowed family, but we truly do not try to be! We wait until the last possible minute, making sure we’re truly miserable and definitely contagious before making the call.

This all really bums me out. I want to see family, to participate in traditions. I want to watch my littles ones’ eyes reflect the candlelight of Christmas eve service, to hear them run down the stairs on Christmas morning instead of cough themselves awake. We all want to eat sweets and special food, instead of chicken soup and saltines.

It’s hard, frustrating, disappointing.

Then along comes that little heavenly shoulder tap, that whisper to remember two very important things: Gratitude and Perspective.

I’m convinced that the happiest, most peaceful people on this earth have this nailed down. They can see the big picture. Their lens is not hyper-focused on self, or even their own little circle; it’s set to a wider scope. They think about others and understand that not all suffering is created equal. They can empathize and step outside themselves, which seems to make them a better kind of person all-around.

I think perspective and gratitude go hand-in-hand, because when we see even the most mundane things as something that someone else would treasure (a hot meal, a soft bed, running water) perspective starts to set in. And while being grateful for these little (to us) things might not be a feeling, it can become a practice.

I am a wee little newbie at all this, truly. I think most my life I spent trying to unlock the keys to my own happiness by changing this, tweaking that, adding or subtracting from my calendar, work, relationships.

But in the recent years of practice in perspective and gratitude, I’ve already noticed a huge difference in my joy, in my resilience. Part of this is my Christian understanding that this is not my home. I can expect the occasional disappointment. I am not alone in hardship. I can trust that circumstantial change for the worse, has the possibility to change me for the better.

I hope you all were able to see family and celebrate together this year. But I know, like us, you’ve probably experienced some tough weeks of sickness, surprising disappointments or even worse. I hope for you and for me that in these moments, we can find a new way forward. One of both gratitude and perspective. We’re on the journey together.

Truth to meditate on in seasons of disappointment:

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:20

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. Philippians 4:6-8

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10

Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Colossians 3:2

Stop the Hectivity

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Stop the Hectivity

One of my favorite words to describe this time of year is the word hectivity. It is a combination of the words hectic and activity, and it describes what many of us are involved in during the month of December as we add parties for work, family gatherings, special church events, shopping, planning and more, to an already busy schedule. December is a month of hectivity.

This season should be a gloriously peaceful time of remembering God’s ultimate response to His lost and rebellious creatures, the ultimate gift of grace—the gift of Himself—in the person of Jesus. But instead of a peaceful season of worship and celebration, December has devolved into the craziest time of the year.

A big reason that this season is filled with hectivity is because the Christmas season has become a battle between two stories—one attractive and untrue; and the other deeply humbling, but what every person, everywhere, needs.

The false “Christmas story” the world whispers tell us and our children that we are the center of life, rather than God and God alone. It looks to possessions for fulfillment, rather than worship of the Creator. It makes the physical pleasures of celebrations our primary focus, rather than the rescuing intervention of the Redeemer. It’s dominated by the comforts of December moments, rather than eternal priorities.

Unlike this false “Christmas story,” the true “Christmas Story” is humbling and unappealing to our senses. It’s a story about a world terribly broken by sin and populated by self-centered rebels. It’s about people created to live for God, but who live for themselves. This story is about the dethroning of the Creator in people’s hearts and the enthroning of His creation. It’s about conditions so desperate that God did the unthinkable, sending his Son to be the sacrificial Lamb of redemption. And why did Jesus come? Because we were so lost that there was no other way.

The Good News of Christmas doesn’t make any sense until we understand this bad news that is its backdrop. The news that Jesus came on a glorious mission of grace to live, die, and rise in our place is only worth celebrating when you understand it’s the only hope.

The battle that wages between the untrue and true meanings of Christmas isn’t a battle about whether we should sing silly seasonal tunes versus Christmas carols, or have worship times versus big family feasts. No, the war is about what story of identity, need, meaning, and purpose we will believe and pass on to the next generation.

We should enjoy the gifts, the decorations, and the delicious foods, but start preparing your heart and your family early this year for the battle to come by focusing on the true Gospel story.

Here are four ways to focus your heart and your family on the true story that our souls need.

To help focus your heart and your family, we have provided a devotional that leads up to Christmas Day called the 25 Days of Christmas. We would encourage you to pick up the devotional at the welcome center of your campus or find it on our website friendshipmn.org/christmas. We hope the daily devotionals and activities help to focus your heart and family on the true story of Christmas.

Rejoice

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Rejoice

For the last several months, my LifeGroup has been going through the Friendship Church Bible study curriculum on the life of Isaac and Jacob in Genesis 24-35. Throughout these chapters we see a cycle of God’s promises to and through broken and sinful people. We see these promises put into jeopardy due to the sinful and foolish actions of these people. And yet, we still see that God continues to fulfill His promises despite them. He doesn’t owe us anything, yet He keeps His promises.

If we were to search our own lives, we’d see a similar storyline, I’m sure. Somehow, throughout all of human history and in different stories through the entire Bible, mankind easily gets in the way of God’s plans and promises for our lives. On the other hand, sometimes our apathy or sin blinds us from even seeing them. Or sometimes we might be too busy complaining to God about our own plans that we don’t see Him already at work.

It’s in times like these that I often recall the lyrics to the song “Waymaker.”

Even when I don’t see it, You’re working

Even when I don’t feel it, You’re working

You never stop, You never stop working

God always fulfills His promises and plans. We might not see it. We might not feel it. He might fulfill them in ways we don’t even expect or anticipate. But, God is faithful.

“Even when I don’t see it; when I don’t feel it…” These words remind me that we’re not always aware of God in our lives, but that doesn’t mean we should be idle with our awareness. Yes, thank God that He is always working! But… Maybe we should be more attentive to how God is working in our lives and what He might be calling us to each day.

Fortunately, it’s November – the month of thanksgiving and gratitude. One of my favorite ways to connect with God is by practicing thankfulness and gratitude. So with that, I’d like to challenge you to spend 10 minutes each day this month practicing this with me.

During this time, find these two songs: “Be Glad” by Cody Carnes and “Live To Praise You” by Lincoln Brewster. Play them while you spend time giving thanks to God and praising Him while singing along. Whatever you’re thankful for, tell Him and praise Him for it! Be filled with His joy and rejoice in His goodness!

Fall Retreat

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Fall Retreat

As I was driving to work this brisk morning, sipping my coffee, and watching the sun hit the different colors of the changing leaves, I couldn’t help but smile. Fall finally feels like it has arrived, and that always fills me with excitement and anticipation!

I get excited when Fall feels “official”, because in youth ministry that means a Fall Retreat is right around the corner. I also get filled with anticipation, because I start to think about all the ways God has, can, and will work in the lives of the students that attend the retreat.

Even though I have not yet been on a retreat with Friendship Youth, through my own personal experience as a High School student, as well as leading other retreats as a Youth Pastor, I am confident that this retreat will also be highly used by God to make a difference in our students’ lives. At the end of the weekend, they may even be astonished at what God has revealed to them of Himself.

Personally, as a student, I still remember my first weekend retreat with my youth group. How amazing it was to get away from the busyness of life, and to have the opportunity to experience the presence of God in a new way. It was also one of the first times I felt God confirming my call to ministry. As the years have progressed, I have since had the privilege to lead other youth groups on retreats, and it has never failed to be a time where God meets with those students and changes their lives as well.

I have seen students hear God challenge them on their lifestyle choice and give them the challenge to turn from the direction they were heading and follow Him instead. I have seen God use retreats to speak healing into fractured relationships and restore friendships. I have seen God use retreats to bring students into a new relationship with Him through the Gospel of Jesus. And I have seen God completely change the direction of a student’s life by calling them into ministry when their plan was to be a doctor!

So, it is no surprise that because of all these past experiences I am once again filled with excitement and anticipation as Fall comes, and I prepare for my first retreat with Friendship Youth. I cannot wait to see what God does in, and through, the lives of the students that go. Which reminds me, if you are reading this and have a student that has not yet signed up for Fall Retreat, would you pray about signing them up for the retreat? I promise you it is an awesome experience, and you, too, may be astonished at what God will do in the life of your student!

If you would like to register for Fall Retreat, you can register at friendshipmn.org/fallretreat. The deadline to register is this Sunday October 9, 2022.

Fall for Jesus

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Fall for Jesus

I truly love the fall. I wait with anticipation all year for the crisp air, warm apple cider, the smell of bonfires and the proliferation of all things pumpkin. But my absolute favorite part of the fall is the spectacular array of leaves in their glorious, varied hues.

I recognize that to some the fall makes them think of the end of something, of death and dying. Some see the season of autumn as depressing, but I see just the opposite. The harvest season is the reaping of all things sown in the spring and the culmination of the hard work of the summer soil. The once promising immature seeds of spring have matured and are ready to be harvested for their ultimate purpose.

Dying leaves are merely fulfilling their life cycle – letting go of the former to make way for new growth. As they draw near their final dramatic act, the leaves display the apex of their beauty. This is their testimony, this is the culmination of their existence…and it is spectacular.

We too have a testimony. Isaiah 61, verse 3, speaks about those who have been changed by Jesus – like those who used to mourn but have been comforted, those who traded their ashes for a crown of beauty, and those who have had their mourning turned to dancing. That same verse goes on to say:

They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of His splendor. (NIV)

I love the idea that we who have a testimony of God’s faithfulness, grace, and mercy, through Jesus, are like a mighty tree that He planted in order to show off His splendor. Not our splendor, His.

I am about to finish my personal year of jubilee…my 50 ^th year…and I can’t help but think I am entering the early fall of my life. That thought tends to sadden me a bit. It reminds me of the goals I have not yet achieved and the hopes and dreams that will likely never be realized. Yet, I will not live in regret. I will instead look forward to what He has yet in store for me in this season of my life. Afterall, I do love the fall.

Fall reminds us that this earthly life and most of what we toil for and focus on are temporary. Like the summer green gives way to falling amber hues, this too shall pass. Falling leaves are a reminder to hold unswervingly to Jesus, the one who will never fall away.

May God take the remaining years of our lives, however many of them He ordains, and use each one as a canvas to display His glorious splendor and a means of pointing others to Jesus, the One who is so faithful and true. I pray we would all finish well, remaining faithful until the day He calls us home.

So, with each falling leaf you see in the coming weeks, fall for Jesus all over again. He never leaves.

_______

Because I Live

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Because I Live

I was recently asked if I had any interest in performing a spoken word poem with a Christian metal band. The group is local and goes by the name “Intercessor” and shortly after completing and releasing their debut album they gained enough traction to start performing live shows. The lead singer does happen to be a close friend of mine, and so naturally, I was very grateful that he asked, and I was really looking forward to being in a gig with them. As excited as I was for a chance to write and perform something new, I experienced a lot of fear and anxiety around the thought of needing to “perform.” They had only given me a one-month notice so the pressure was on. I found myself easily and quickly getting caught up in “self,” and at one point I began to realize that I was beginning to completely miss the point. Every time I sat down to try and write something that I hoped and intended to be God-glorifying, the image of myself on a stage in front of others while feeling terrified, would pop up and crowd out the images I wanted to express and portray. Images of a loving Heavenly Father; a portrait of the person and work of Jesus; the everlasting truth of The Holy Spirit and His ability to transform hearts; a redeemed perspective and God-driven inspiration was the place where I desperately desired to create from, but I was clearly about to miss the mark. The harder I tried to simply “will” myself into a different mindset, the more anxious I became, and with only two weeks left before the show I had nothing written.

One evening, while sitting down and putting nothing on paper and wrestling with the same images of self, there came an abrupt interruption that shot through my thoughts almost as if the Lord were speaking out loud and directly to me: “because I live, you too shall live.” I knew the words were written in Scripture, but it was not a verse I had ever memorized. There was freedom attached to the words but I was eager to look up and know where they exist in scripture so with a quick Google search I was pointed to John 14:19. “Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.”

My own will had a very little power in shifting my gaze. When we are stuck in our own image and relying on self for what we know only the Lord can do, it’s an understatement to say that we’re at a loss. I would say that I personally became outright powerless. And the more I fixated on my lack of being able to see God for who He is, the more inward focused I became, and my inability became a source of real pain. After reading, and then re-reading, and then re-reading again, the images I had of “self” began to dim, and the freedom of Jesus’ words in John 14 offered an out-pouring of newer less self-driven images. Images of peace, and ultimately, the perfection of Christ as a true source of life.

A week before the show, I ended up catching Covid and never was able to perform with my friend and his band or share a poem with their audience. I felt sad to miss out on the opportunity but was immensely grateful for how the Lord still provided an experience that drew me closer to Him. Below is the poem that followed.

You see the truth and hear the word, “Because I live you too shall live.”

Rise from this den,

Hold your head,

in My Name lose this dread

you’ve held and carried far too long.

Bared by what you’re not,

and scorned for who you are.

Take the wounds now sealed in scars,

and hand them over one by one.

The Father’s voice continues calling,

“Welcome home, my wayward son.”

I’ll sing His glory at my loudest, I won’t fear the pain to come,

I’m tucked safely in His presence, where I rest, and here I wish to stay,

Because tomorrow has its troubles, what they are, is not for me to know or say.

So I focus on being steeped within the knowledge and the wisdom that He offers us today.

Sometimes it’s one foot forward before a stumble sends us hurling three more back, but I’m learning through these failures that The Lord is keen to all I lack.

And He bids me to press onward in the face of loss, in the pain of searing doubt, to look upon the questions of tomorrow with the confidence of hope, truth, and love,

knowing that His Son has had all forms of temptation thrown and strewn His way,

never did He falter, slip, or alter,

what He offers us in turn for sinning, His response to our often harmful choices, is a humbly perfected perfect faith.

Wonderful and fearfully,

Astonishingly made.

I sit still, drawing closer, peace I know in Him resides,

I feel the grip of darkness loosen, suddenly the yoke looks half its size.

He tells me stand,

When like a child I’ve been crying out for an embrace,

And wraps His loving arms around a man who will never stop being in desperate need of

Grace.

Hurt People, Hurt People

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Hurt People, Hurt People

You’ve heard the saying, right? Hurt people, hurt people? I have heard this said, and said it myself, many times throughout my growing up years. I’ve often said it to explain or justify someone’s hurtful actions towards another or myself. In my mind I’ve always kind of seen it as a “free pass” for the person treating people poorly. However, this statement took on a whole new depth of meaning for me a few months ago.

I was frustrated. Very frustrated. At what you might ask? I didn’t know! But none the less, that frustration, whatever it was about, was coming out towards my oh so patient husband! At one point in our conversation Sam looked at me and said, “Amy, why are you so frustrated with me?” I stopped dead in my tracks and after thirty seconds of searching my brain for the reason I said, a little sheepishly, “I’m not sure.” I then burst into tears as the weight of hurt hit me with full force. I was not in any way or for any reason, frustrated with Sam. He had done nothing to wrong me in any way! But I WAS feeling extreme hurt from the actions of a friend. Actions that I hadn’t realized had hurt me so badly until I saw the outflow of them towards someone else. As I reflected more on that realization throughout the day, it dawned on me that I was a “hurt people, hurting people.” Because of the hurt I was feeling from a completely unrelated situation, I was hurting those around me. Hurt that I didn’t even realize I was feeling so deeply.

What I realized is how easy it is to let my emotions and feelings, whether conscious or unconscious, affect how I treat those around me. It’s easy to let the weight of the hurt I am feeling (or even unknowingly feeling) completely consume me. But as believers, we are called to something greater. We are called to live in a way that draws attention, not to us, but to Jesus. My actions towards Sam that day were in no way pointing anyone to Jesus! I believe that Jesus, among many other things, gives us the best example for us to follow regarding dealing with hurt, both from life situations and people.

Luke 23 is one of the places we see the story of Jesus’ crucifixion told. Now, I don’t know about you, but I think the crucifixion was one of the most hurtful things anyone could have ever done to Jesus. He was beaten, flogged, falsely accused, and hung on a cross where everyone mocked him. Not only that, but his friends had abandoned him! They denied even knowing him! The amount of hurt Jesus must have felt during that time, both physically and emotionally, is unimaginable. Both by people he knew and people he didn’t. I like to believe that Jesus, in his infinite power, could have busted himself off of that cross to wipe out everyone who had wronged him! In my mind it would have looked like something out of a Thor movie. Lightening bolts, thunder, and wind all coming together in an epic show of power! Jesus would swoop down off that cross, summon His army of angels, and annihilate all those involved in His betrayal, sentencing, and crucifixion! (Now, I realize this holds no scriptural accuracy, but I have nothing else to compare it to! So, a Thor movie it is!) In all seriousness though, Jesus COULD HAVE done it. Jesus was God after all! However, He chose to lay aside His divine nature and only rely on His human strength. I think that what we see in this instance is something that required even more strength than a lightening show would have. In verse 34 of Luke 23 Jesus says, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.” Read that one more time. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.” Forgive them? They literally just hung Him on a cross! Wrongly I might add. However, amid them literally killing Him, Jesus CHOOSES to forgive them.

As followers of Jesus, we have been called to do the same. Luke 6:29 says, “If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also.” Now, I don’t think this means we are to encourage people to harm us. I don’t think that’s what Jesus has called us to do. But I do believe that Jesus has called us to turn the other cheek when we are hurt. And not only that, but to forgive them for what they’ve done. Whether they’ve earned it or even asked for it. We are called to forgive. Not hurt them in return.

During hurtful situations, whether we have been hurt by someone or we are feeling hurt from life circumstances, we have a choice. We can allow that hurt to create a cycle in our life. A cycle of hurt people hurting people. I am hurt so I hurt someone else, who hurts someone else, who hurts someone else, and so on and so on. Who knows where the hurt ends! I can let the hurt that I am feeling seep into my words and actions towards others. OR I can choose to forgive. I can choose to not let my hurt influence the way I respond to and treat people. I can choose to be a “hurt people, forgiving people.”

This is something that continues to challenge me daily. Every time I feel hurt by someone it causes me to slow down and evaluate my actions towards others. It causes me to ask myself, is my hurt causing me to react in hurtful ways towards others? Have I dealt with the hurt I am feeling so that I don’t in turn hurt others? And have I even acknowledged or admitted the hurt that I am feeling? The next time you feel hurt, I challenge you to ask yourself these questions. To evaluate whether your hurt is causing you to hurt those around you or to follow the example that Jesus has given us to forgive those that have caused us hurt.

Abortion

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Abortion

Both of us were born in 1973, the year of the Roe v. Wade ruling. We were among the first children born during this 50-year period when abortion on demand was the legal position of our country. Our hearts break at the fact that over 63 million abortions have taken place in the United States during these five decades. With the recent court ruling overruling Roe v. Wade, we want to take a few minutes and share the Bible’s teaching on this issue in hopes that it helps bring greater understanding to why followers of Jesus feel strongly about this issue and work to end abortion. As followers of Jesus, we are not called to view this issue or any issue primarily through the lens of personal convenience, family tradition, or political preference, but we are to view it through the lens of the teaching of God in the Scripture.

The Bible teaches that God has ordained life

“In the beginning, God created…” is the first thing that we learn about God in the entire Bible. He is creative in a literal way! He created something out of nothing and then he brought life from non-life. There is no other explanation for life arising from non-life than the direct intervention of our creative God. Life is His idea, as the creator of all life, He has Maker’s rights over all that lives. He has full authority over His creation.

The Bible teaches that God has ordained human life in His Image

At the crescendo of creation, God created humankind! When God created humankind, He created them in His image. Uniquely and specifically, humans are created in the image of God!

Genesis 1:26 states, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…’” Additionally, in Genesis 1:27, we find that God created us in His image, male and female. Humankind uniquely represents the image of God. After referring to His creation as “good” on every other day of creation, God refers to the creation as “very good” on the day that human beings are made. Though we are broken from the fall, people of all ages have inherent value because we are created in God’s image! Because human life is made in the image of God, God specifically instructs human beings never to take the life of an innocent human being because it bears his valuable image (Genesis 9:6).

Instead of taking innocent life, image-bearers are designed and given a command to “be fruitful and multiply.” Within the God ordained institution of marriage, addition to the human race is the stated command and goal, not subtraction. Abortion works in direct contradiction to God’s design for marriage and procreation.

The Bible teaches that the intentional killing of an innocent human being is murder.

Those who stand opposed to abortion are often referred to as “pro-life.” One doesn’t need to live with a person who is pro-life very long to realize that they are not universally pro-life. We swat mosquitoes when they land on our arm, we eat ground beef that has come from a cow, and many of us will defend our families if someone breaks into our house to kill them, even to the point of ending that intruder’s life if necessary.

A more accurate name for the Christian position is anti-murder. The Bible defines murder as the “ intentional killing of an innocent human being ,” and we believe that abortion meets all the criteria of that definition.

Murder is intentional killing . In the Old Testament, God provided six cities of refuge for those who accidentally killed another person. They could run to those cities to avoid the retribution of the family of the person who had died. If it was determined that the death had happened accidently, then they were not convictable of murder. God wanted people to understand that murder is intentional. Throughout His law, He makes the distinction between accidental deaths and those caused intentionally. In our own justice system, we recognize this difference and if a person is killed accidentally the person who killed them may be charged with manslaughter or with nothing at all, but they won’t be charged with murder. When it comes to abortion, there is no doubt that what takes place is intentional and meets the first criteria.

Murder is killing the innocent. Exodus 22:2 says, “If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him.” Why is the person who kills an attacker in their home not guilty of murder according to God’s law? It’s because the person who is breaking in is not innocent. They are seeking to kill or harm those in the house. Why is it that God calls for capital punishment for certain crimes within Israel? It’s because those people who have committed those crimes are no longer innocent.

Within our own justice system, we recognize these same distinctions – those who are defending their home or person against assailants who intend to kill or harm them are not charged with murder, even if they take the assailant’s life. We recognize that murder involves killing an innocent human being. Clearly the unborn child, that is killed in an abortion, is innocent and meets the criteria for murder.

Murder is the killing of a human being. As one reads about the sacrificial system in the Old Testament one realizes that God’s people were not “pro-life” in a generic sense. Thousands of animals were killed as a part of the sacrifices and meals of the people of Israel. Genesis 9:3-6 make it clear that there is a distinction between the killing of animals for food and the killing of human beings who are made in the image of God. Killing animals is acceptable but we are never to intentionally take the life of an innocent human being because they bear the image of God. Of course, our own judicial system recognizes this distinction as well, and only prosecutes someone for murder for killing a human being.

Is the unborn child inside a mother a human being? The answer is yes. If that unborn child isn’t a human being, what is it? It’s not a frog or a dog or a tree. It bears all the chromosomal and genetic markers from the moment of conception of the human species. Some argue that the unborn child is a part of the mother’s body. One doesn’t need to think about this proposition long to realize how false this claim is. If the baby is a part of the mother’s body than it would share her genetic makeup. Every cell in that mom’s body bears the exact same genetic markers. From her head to her toes, each cell bears her unique mark. The baby’s body has a totally unique and different genetic make-up than the mom from the moment of conception. Every cell in that baby’s body has a different genetic make-up than every cell in that mom’s body. There is no way to argue that the baby is a part of the mother’s body. Science won’t allow it.

More importantly, the Bible makes it clear that God sees that unborn baby as a human being. Exodus 21:22-25 says, “When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman’s husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.” In this passage we see that if someone causes death to the child, they are guilty, and life for a life is expected. Why? Because the fetus is a life that God has ordained and created. The unborn baby is a human being and is protected by God’s laws that govern human beings. Additional principles from Jeremiah 1 and Psalm 139 confirm that God has created human life that is in the mother’s womb.

The early church was in universal agreement that unborn children were human brings and were not to be killed. The Didache is a tool that the early church used that was given to the church by word of mouth from the Apostles and written down as early as the second century. This teaching in it states, “do not murder children through abortion.” (Didache 2:2). The intentional killing of an innocent human being is murder, no matter how old that life is.

What if I have had an abortion?

There are people in almost every church family in America who have had an abortion. Our church is no exception, so if you are reading this and you have had an abortion, we want you to experience the grace and mercy of Jesus.

All have sinned…

We know of some who have had abortions. In every case, it is apparent that this has caused a great deal of anguish especially after the realization of the act. Every holiday or anniversary can act as a reminder and be a source of pain.

Here is the reality… we have all sinned ! That does not make sin ok, but rather affirms the reality of the situation. Romans 3:23 tells us that “all have sinned…” This sin separates us from God. Each sin is a rebellious act against God and that rebellious act offers a payment. That payment is death (Romans 6:23). That payment of death is, in fact, separation from God.

No matter what the sin is, that sin is not just against others but also against God and requires repentance.

There is forgiveness…

Repentance is found in a changing of the mind. A realization that our mind was wrong and our actions that followed were wrong. They missed the mark. Apart from ultimately blaspheming the Holy Spirit there is no sin that cannot be forgiven. That includes abortion!

God offers forgiveness! Though we may live with real consequences of sin, we also live with the reality of a God who love us and has provided a way of forgiveness through Jesus Christ. We find that in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins…”

God is faithful even though we have not been faithful. God forgives! As an act of faith, we need to accept that forgiveness, after we repent and confess, to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Please don’t allow the Accuser to continue to bring up old sin that has been repented from. Please don’t allow the Accuser to keep you in your hurt and pain. God is willing to forgive! Will you confess?

There is cleansing…

More good news! Are you ready? From the same passage 1 John 1:9, not only does God in His faithfulness forgive us but he also “…cleanse(s) us from all unrighteousness.” Friend, you do not have to remain in the filth of sin. Once forgiven we are cleansed! That is God’s work and He is faithful to do it. Even if it does not “feel” that way, it is true!

Please note that some of God’s greatest instruments for carrying out His work are people who intentionally killed innocent human beings. Moses, David and Paul all did horrible acts and yet all were cleaned by God and greatly used for His purposes. God’s design is to take those who are deep in sin and restore their souls and lives so that they can be greatly used to impact the lives of others.

We rejoice that lives may be saved due to this current ruling by the Supreme Court. Yet we know that without the LORD Jesus Christ, we are doomed to an eternity separated from God. That is a painful reality with which we all must wrestle. As with all things, they are a spiritual matter. Let us surrender all things to Christ and walk together as we love, live and serve like Jesus!

The Freedom Question

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT

The Freedom Question

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery…
– Galatians 5:1

What is it about freedom that both inspires and terrifies us?

Since the dawn of humanity, we have experimented with harnessing and loosing freedoms again and again. History shows us leaders who both fought to abolish boundaries and those who believed freedom to be the birthplace of mankind’s bend towards evil. The way we set up our governments reflect where we fall in our beliefs about freedom, and yet the pendulum is always swinging.

If you don’t believe this to be true, just look at our laws. Look at recent congressional decisions, the way our nation reacts and responds. We are constantly in debate about which rights belong to us and which rights (freedoms) are unjust, morally wrong, inconsistent, illogical. The arguments for or against become complex and nuanced, adopted by political parties and used as pawns in a never-ending political chess match.

As far as I can tell though, the heart of these arguments comes back to one core question: Can humans handle freedom?

The interesting thing is when we go to the word of God, the answer to this seems to be both yes and no. One of the many beautiful nuances of the faith we follow, is that our human debates are elevated into another realm altogether.

…You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

– Galatians 5:13-14

When I read Galatians 5, I see a powerful exposition on what humankind can do with freedom. If we let our flesh, our very nature, take over, wickedness abounds. At the same time, if we use man-made laws and regulation to govern ourselves and those around us, we can quickly create a false sense of salvation.

God created us as free. Even the tethers of religion are undone in Jesus’s final miracle, and yet our personal freedom to make decisions, act, speak, and even think is given guiderails. We are asked to evaluate ourselves to see if our freedom follows the leading of a loving Spirit—God’s own Spirit.

“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.

– Corinthians 6:12

The challenge for Christians has been and will always be to view freedom with an entirely different frame than the culture around us. We have the opportunity to show our friends, family, and neighbors that yes, we believe in freedom! However, our freedom is different. Rather than self-serving it is others-serving; rather than indulgent, it is sacrificial, rather than proud, humble.

Our freedom is governed by the Spirit of a loving God and results in the sweetest fruits: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness. And the world is better for it.

Epic Poetry: The Book of Psalms

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Epic Poetry: The Book of Psalms

On June 26, we started a series on Sunday mornings called Epic Poetry . It is a series in which we are looking at select Psalms. I thought it might be helpful to provide a brief overview of the book of Psalms as we prepare to meet with God in its pages for the rest of the summer.

What is the book of Psalms?

The Book of Psalms is a collection of prayers, poems, and songs that are meant to focus our mind and heart on praising and adoring God. It appears the psalms in this book were used as songs in the worship services of ancient Israel. The psalms encourage us to praise God for who He is and what He has done. Psalms affirms God’s faithfulness to us in times of trouble and reminds us that He is our Provider. The portrayal of worship in the Psalms offers us glimpse after glimpse, of hearts and lives utterly devoted to God.

Who wrote the psalms?

Psalms is one of only two Old Testament books to identify itself as a composite work containing multiple authors (Proverbs is the other). Some psalms name their author in the first line or title. For example, Moses wrote Psalm 90. David was responsible for many of them, composing seventy-three psalms. Two of the psalms (72 and 127) are attributed to Solomon, David’s son and successor. Another group of 12 psalms (50) and (73—83) is ascribed to the family of Asaph. The sons of Korah wrote 11 psalms (42, 44—49, 84—85, 87—88). Psalm 88 is attributed to Heman and Psalm 89 to Ethan the Ezrahite. Outside of Moses, David, and Solomon, these other authors were Priests or Levites who were responsible for providing music for sanctuary worship. Fifty of the psalms designate no specific author.

When were the psalms written?

The oldest psalm in the collection is probably the prayer of Moses (90), a reflection on the frailty of man as compared to the eternity of God. The latest psalm is probably (137), a song of lament written during the days when the Hebrews were being held captive by the Babylonians, from about 586 to 538 B.C. This means the writing of the book spans one thousand years. Some of the psalms attributed to David have additional notations connecting them with documented events in his life (for example, Psalm 59 is linked with 1 Samuel 19:11; Psalm 56 is connected with 1 Samuel 21:10-15 and many more).

How are the Psalms organized?

The psalms are organized into five books or collections.

It is uncertain why Psalms is divided into five books. The division of the Psalms is not based on authorship or chronology. There are some themes within the books, but they don’t run through every psalm in the book. The five books are clear because each of these five books or sections of psalms ends with a doxology or a song of praise, and these songs of praise all end with very similar lines of praise for God.

It seems that the 150 individual psalms, written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel’s history, must have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

How were the psalms used?

The psalms comprised the ancient hymnal of God’s people. The psalms express the emotion of the author to God or about God. Different types of psalms were written to communicate different feelings and thoughts regarding life situations.

Many, if not all these psalms seem intended to be sung. The psalms include unique Hebrew terms. Words like Selah and maskil communicate musical instructions for those using the psalms. Occasionally, a psalm appears with instructions for the song leader. For example, we see instructions such as “For the director of music” (occurring in fifty-five psalms); “To the tune of ‘Lilies’” (similar references found in Psalms 45 , 60 , 69 , 80 ); “To the tune of ‘The Doe of the Morning’” (Psalm 22); “To the tune of ‘Do Not Destroy’” ( Psalms 57–59 , 75 ). These and others can refer to melodies used with the given psalms.

How do the Psalms impact us?

The Psalms constantly provide encouragement for us by reminding us of Jesus and his salvation. Prophetic pictures of the Messiah are seen in numerous psalms.

Psalms reminds us that our God is good and worthy of praise and that he will not leave His people in their sin and sent a Savior to die for our sins.

The Psalms are also a reminder that every moment is to be a moment of worship in our lives. We can bring all our feelings, thoughts and experiences to God. Sometimes we are experiencing the highest of highs and at other times we are feeling the lowest of lows. In all situations and with all our feelings, we can rest assured that He will hear and understand. The psalmists teach us that the most profound prayer of all is a cry for help as we find ourselves overwhelmed by the problems of life. They teach us that God is good no matter what our current circumstances are and lead us into praise whether we feel like praising or not.

I know that as we spend time in a few of these psalms this summer, we will draw closer to God and grow in our praise for Him.

Joy!

Wed, 15 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Joy!

It was Tuesday May 3rd and we had to take my dad to the hospital by ambulance because he was having some problems just getting up from his chair and his oxygen level had dropped below 80. Dad was dealing with Alzheimer’s as well as COPD and cancer in his right lung. This was his second bout with cancer. He had been in immunotherapy treatments for about three months dealing with the cancer in his lung. He developed pneumonia in his right lung and that started affecting the rest of his body, even his ability to get up and do anything. Though we had seen a steady decline in his health over a 2-month period, this new change occurred very, very quickly, within 24 hours.

At the ER, he became delirious, and we had decisions to make. I had a conversation with my mom, and I told her, “If dad were able to communicate right this minute with me, I know this is what he would say. He would say ‘Mark, take care of your mom and let me go.’” She agreed.

Being followers and lovers of Jesus, we aren’t exempt from the death process, but we know our ultimate destination. I know where my dad is going and that one day we will be reunited. I don’t know what that’s going to look like, but I know it’s going to be great.

We also know that this isn’t necessarily a happy time for anybody left on earth that has to miss a loved one. And going through something like this doesn’t put a smile on my face.

Yet…we experienced the Joy of the Lord in the midst of this particular fire. Joy is like a fragrance when the Lord shows up. There’s a knowing of truth on a different level in His presence—a knowing in our spirit, not just our heads. Along with joy comes the unexplainable overwhelming peace of God at times like this for those who love Him! The presence and the peace of the Lord!

Joy is different than happiness. Happiness comes from happenings. For example, I experienced some great happiness this year when the Georgia Bulldogs beat Alabama for the national championship. Just beating Alabama would’ve brought me a lot of happiness J; but to beat them and win the national championship gave me a lot of extra happiness. And if the Bulldogs lost, I wouldn’t necessarily have been as happy.

I think most times in life people, including myself, chase happiness and feel like that’s ultimately what we are looking for. Happiness is short-lived until the very next sad thing comes along. But the Joy of the Lord is steady. It’s ultimately what matters. Being happy is a result of our surroundings and being joyful is ultimately about our relationship with our Maker, our Heavenly Father! Being connected to Jesus, spending time with Him on a regular basis, keeps things in perspective. To imagine how much He loves us, even dying for us as a human being, knowing at any moment, He could have called a legion of angels to come to His aide. But He continued the agonizing death and humiliation, for me!! For you! I’m sure He was not “happy” about all this.

Hebrews 12:2 says, “Jesus…who for the JOY set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

James 1:2-3 “Count it all JOY when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing”

Galatians 5:2-23 says, “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Author Sam Storms says, “Joy is not necessarily the absence of suffering, it is the presence of God.” I believe this to be true.

Nehemiah 8:10 says “Do not be grieved, for the JOY of the Lord is your strength.” I experienced just that!

Ps 16:11 “In Your presence is fullness of JOY!” Your Presence! Wow!

In Daniel 3, when Nebuchadnezzar commanded Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to worship the image that he had made, they said “No”; even knowing the consequence was to be cast into a fiery furnace. Can you imagine? And they said, “If this be so, our God whom we serve (I love the word serve ) will deliver us out of your hand”. I wonder if they even knew what that would look like. How would they be delivered? Regardless, I’m sure they were not “happy” about this particular situation. But I believe the presence of the Lord, the Joy of the Lord sustained them as they were tied up. The furnace was heated up seven times its normal heat because the king was so enraged with these three God serving men (there’s that word again, serving ). They were tossed into the fire–not a happy place for sure! But the Joy of the Lord sustained them, and the presence of God was there in a form that all could see as a fourth person. AMAZING!

As I was next to my dad in the hospital on his death bed, the Joy of the Lord was very overwhelming. Was I sad? Of course. But I knew where my Pop was going! Even as I was next to my mom as she slept in a chair beside my dad, the Joy of the Lord was intense and satisfying. It was sustaining me. The Joy of the Lord allowed me to pray and sing over my dad as he passed to his heavenly home! What an honor! Just me and my dad and the Joy of the Lord!

The Joy of the Lord is rich and deep. I’ve never experienced it like this before, but now I know what it’s like and I want more! Have you ever experienced the Joy of the Lord? It is available to all of us who call ourselves Followers of Christ, God-serving people. You and I just need to recognize it, to taste it, to smell it. It will be familiar to you from that point on. And we help each other see and experience the Joy of the Lord as we “serve” each other. The Friendship Church family has served so well over the many years I have known you all. And even as we experienced the death of my dad, Bob Alewine, you served me and my family, loved on us and helped us experience the Joy of the Lord. Thank you for serving so well.

Choosing Music For Congregational Worship

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Choosing Music For Congregational Worship

The Bible has a lot to say about worship. Whether it’s concerning our hearts (Matthew 15:8-9; Exodus 29:13) or the types of songs and instruments used in worship (Psalm 150:1-5; Psalm 98:1-7). I personally enjoy the Psalmist’s call to use clashing cymbals and ram horns in worship. The world needs more of that. All said, even if our hearts are in the right place and we use every single instrument, worship in song and sound doctrine is important (1 Timothy 4:16; Titus 1:9; Titus 2:1).

It is out of this understanding of God’s call to worship that I strive to lead our congregational worship. But, choosing music for congregational worship isn’t that easy. Surprisingly, it takes a lot of time, thought, and energy. As you read on, I’m going to take you on a journey through the process I follow when selecting music for congregational worship. My hope is that those who read this would glean something to use in their personal lives to evaluate the music they choose to listen to and worship God with.

Sound Doctrine

First, let’s expand a bit more on sound doctrine.

1 Timothy 4:16

¹⁶ Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Titus 1:9

⁹ He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

Titus 2:1

But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.

Sound doctrine in our worship music is important because music tends to walk out the door with us. Were you ever taught in school to put something to music or in song form if you need help memorizing or learning it? Recite the ABCs to yourself for a moment. Seriously, stop and do it.

I would bet 9/10 people just sang the ABCs versus a monotone recital. At the very least, your “L, M, N, O, P” was thought through faster than the rest of the letters as if you said the word, “Elemenopy.” …H I J K Elemenopy Q R S… This is something my wife constantly tells me to slow down with when teaching our girls the alphabet. She’s right too. “L… M… N… O… P…”

The same concept is true of the words put to worship music. We remember them so much easier because of the music than perhaps we would remember “Bullet Point #2” in the sermon given four weeks ago. This is why sound doctrine in our worship music is important to me; that our church family would walk out of the door with a song stuck in their head that’s teaching them sound biblical principles.

The Song’s Focus

Is the song focused on me, us, the world, or is it focused on The Father, Son and/or Holy Spirit? What a song is focused on helps determine whether it has a fit for congregational worship. I specify congregational worship because there are many songs that are perfect for, in fact, intended for personal worship between a person and the Lord. When selecting music for congregational worship, a song that is upwardly focused on God easily moves further in the process. This is because we are gathering together to worship God, not to sing songs about what we want God to do for us.

Unfortunately and fortunately, there are a lot of songs that are focused on “me,” “I,” or “us.” It’s unfortunate because these types of songs are often used for congregations when it really seems like the song was a sweet moment between the songwriter and the Lord. It’s fortunate, because I do think songs like this play an important role in our worship of God as individuals during our day-in and day-out relationship with our Creator.

The Song’s Purpose

This is the last criteria I usually either start the process with or end it. What purpose will a song serve in our worship services? This criteria is often the broadest because there are a variety of factors at play. For example, we are usually planning our upcoming sermon series in advance, so this gives us the opportunity to see if there are any worship songs that fit well with the theme of the series. In this example, I would start the search process for a new worship song based on the theme of the series, and then further evaluate the ones I find for sound doctrine and focus.

Another example is song tempo. This is a random factor, but having a good balance of upbeat, medium, and slow-paced songs is important. Introducing too many songs of a certain tempo in a short span of time can create unbalance in our song repertoire.

Sometimes songs play a smaller role as a “special” where they may not receive a regular spot in the rotation, but they serve a purpose maybe just once or during certain times in the worship service. For example, because we take Communion weekly at Friendship Church, occasionally playing a special song during Communion is refreshing and thought-provoking.

This criteria is the most interesting to me because it doesn’t have a concrete evaluation tool to measure against. It’s easy to exclude a song if it has poor doctrine or if the focus is lopsidedly on me.

The truth is that I try to connect music, message, and sermon series the best I can. Because of this, a lot of great songs come my way and I end up having to keep them on a potential music playlist for some time down the road. According to CCLI, the Christian music copyrighting organization, there are over 100,000 Christian songs available to the world. What an amazing testament to God’s work in the lives of many people who are called to write songs of worship through each generation. At the end of the day, we’ll never have a shortage when it comes to song options for praising God’s name. It’s just a matter of choosing the right song for right now. Sometimes that’s easy. Sometimes it’s not, but if it has sound doctrine and draws us to a rightful view of God, it can’t be wrong.

The Smile of God

Sun, 15 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

The Smile of God

Did I just see a snowflake? Wait, what month is it? That’s right it’s the month of May! Butterflies and sunshine. Trees in full bloom and green grass to be mowed. Yeah, that’s the May I remember. This Spring has been very cloudy, and the temperatures have not been very warm. In times like this you could almost assume the sun did not exist anymore.

I remember a good friend telling me years ago that they have learned to enjoy the cold of winter, after years of complaining about it. I thought to myself that they were crazy, and I continued to hold a grudge against winter and all its undesirable personality traits.

It is no wonder God gives us many commands in His Word, as we come to experience challenges in life that we are so prone to do the opposite of His commands, by nature. Life is filled with opportunities to complain, get offended, and cast blame on others. Yet, what if we began to see things from another angle? What if we started to see trials as the Scriptures show them to be? The word trial carries with it the concept of “a test”. To put a trial in a more positive perspective, there is an opportunity presented in each trial we face as followers of Jesus. Let’s see what James, the brother of Jesus had to say regarding trials, of which I am sure that he endured as he grew up alongside his brother, “the perfect child:”

“ Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a doubleminded man, unstable in all his ways.” – James 1:2-8

Did you hear that phrase? God gives generously to all who ask for wisdom without reproach. The concept here is describing what it feels like to be made to feel as though you have lost your good standing with Him. I am sure we have all been in a situation where a superior has made us feel shame for not adding up to certain expectations. This presents us with a poor motivation and typically produces a performance driven mindset. When we embrace this mindset in response to the reproach that someone has laid on us, we are bound to fail again.

What a difference it makes when amid failure or simply imperfection, we receive affirmation for the progress we have made in the midst our struggles, rather than an emphasis placed on where we are struggling, with a “shape up or ship out” directive. God loves when we ask for wisdom, because he is not expecting us to have the wisdom within our self. How much more would we ask for this wisdom amid relational tension and the temptation to hold a grudge or exchanging words that cut away at the other person, if we embraced this truth that God does not reproach those who ask for wisdom? We truly live under a friendly sky, even when the sun is not shining.

It greatly helps us in our weakness as humans to know that God is always in a good mood and that He will give us “every good and perfect gift” during any testing or temptation. He is the “ Father of lights, ” James 1:17 . He Himself does not change, yet He is always working for the change within us. As a Father, He has a family, and we have brothers and sisters. The ultimate trial that we face in this life is to rejoice always, give thanks in all circumstances, and to pray without ceasing. This is the will of God lived out in day-to-day exchange with other people. We need one another to be able to embrace this calling. Together we get to remember that behind the clouds and cold weather of the trials of this life, there is a bright smile stronger than the sun. Our Father in heaven is smiling on His children as they ask Him for wisdom in the confidence that He is cheering them on in their pursuit of the “ crown of life which God has promised those who love Him ”, as they “ remain steadfast under trial and stand the test to the end, ” James 1:12 .

Together we stand in the Body of Christ. Let’s remember to be a people who encourage each other, knowing that in this world we will have tribulation, Jesus has overcome, and in His overcoming, so will we. When we are surrounded by trials of many kinds, may we look up to the God who delights in the journey with us.

Declaring His Praise to the Generations

Sun, 01 May 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Declaring His Praise to the Generations

Last week as we drove across the bridge in town, my kids squealed with delight as they took turns guessing when all the ice would be off the lake. We searched around our neighborhood for the handiwork of our Creator as He began to unfold to us a masterpiece in each bud of the crocuses that peeked out of the cold hard ground. Mother robin prompted them onward as the treasure hunt to find her secret began. Discovering the home for her babies presented yet another invitation to more wonder as the process of life would soon unfold in the treasure of bright blue eggs and eventually babies in the coming days.

Without fail, my kids’ hearts are captivated by this process each year! They eagerly watch for the “first living things” to come back from the harsh white stillness and relish being the one to announce the discovery at our next family meal. Growing up as a young girl, this process of springtime creation surprises was something I enjoyed most with my grandmas.

The wonder they had in the natural world taught me how to worship and know God as Creator and King of the Universe. Whenever I brought a friend up to our family cabin in northern Minnesota, I knew that they too would see the reverence and awe my grandparents had for the living God and His creation. The spiritual influence of my grandparents didn’t just impact me and my friends, but the young people in their churches as well. Through mentoring relationships in various ministries, they participated in, they left a spiritual legacy that went far beyond their own bloodlines. At their funerals it was clear to see that they had many more “grandchildren” than their obituaries named.

In Psalm 78, we see a command from the Lord to “teach the next generation the praiseworthy deeds, power and wonders of our God.” In the text, the Father addresses the reader as “My people” which demonstrates His call to each believer in the family of God. We see that if we are a child of God, we are also a spiritual mother or father, regardless of whether or not we are related to the young people in our lives.

The Lord commanded this teaching of His attributes and storyline of Scriptures as a way of future generations to know His goodness, faithfulness, and provision. The text goes on in verse seven to show us the Father’s desire for all to “put their trust in Him and not forget His deeds, but to keep his commands.”

In a world where grandparents live thousands of miles away from their grandchildren and where divorce separates children from their parents, how do we fulfill this command from the Lord? As soon as sin entered the world, brokenness in family relationships began and still continue today. Distant parenting and abandonment are heartbreaking realities that children face every single day.

Yet despite the severed relationships that exist in so many family genealogies, we see the echo of eternity through adoption and through spiritual mothers and fathers investing in children and grandchildren that are not their own flesh and blood.

With Mother’s Day and Father’s Day fast approaching, we come face to face with the tension that exists between relationships among the generations. In the family of God, we can find hope, healing, and redemption.

Just as my own grandparents invested in “church grandkids” in their own churches, I’ve seen quite a few do that here at Friendship. Have you seen them in action yet? Are you one of them?

It’s easy to spot these spiritual fathers and mothers in action, they are always busy nurturing, serving and loving the younger generation. If you don’t know their immediate family, it’s hard to tell who is a part of it because they love people in and out of their family so well that you cannot easily tell the difference.

Over at the Prior Lake Campus, “Grandma Lynne” knits hurting hearts of teenagers back together with hugs just as beautifully as she creates scarves and hats. When “Grandma Heidi” pushes the stroller of a cooing baby you might think this precious infant is her own granddaughter. Yet these women love young ones that they are not related to as they point them to Christ with the same devotion as a blood relative might do.

If we took every day in the month of May from morning til night, we wouldn’t have enough time to share all the stories of the countless investments that spiritual mothers and fathers have made in impacting Friendship’s young people to know the love of Christ Jesus. “Grandma Kathy’s” welcoming smile and “Grandma Sharon’s” listening ears aren’t just for their own grandkids but for anyone who needs to feel the love of the Father through the affection of a real person.

The Shakopee Campus is no different! “Mama Peggy’s” revolving front door welcomes the feet of teens looking for a place to learn and grow. Spiritual mothering and grandmothering looks like “Abuela Becky” registering kids for sports and praying for their healing. It’s the face of the same Sunday School teacher each week sharing the stories of His faithfulness and the comforting arms gently rocking babies while hymns are sung over them in the nursery.

When you have a heart for spiritual parenting, it doesn’t matter if you carried babies in your own womb or carried them in your heart as they grew in someone else’s womb. The story of redemption and restoration beckons us to share with future generations whether they are in our immediate family or not! This Mother’s Day, my prayer for you is that you would see God’s handiwork in the intricate weaving of the relational connections He has formed between the generations here at Friendship Church.

As you look for the miracles of life this spring in creation and in our church, I want to encourage you to ask yourself these three questions:

I pray that the Holy Spirit will give us eyes to see these young people that need a spiritual mother or father. Whether we end up being the ones who get the privilege of investing in their lives directly or whether we encourage others that are serving in that role, we can all play a part in the story God is writing to redeem His children and draw each one into the loving family He has created. With the blood of Christ, we never lack anything that our own bloodlines have not been able to provide. His blood has given each of us the opportunity to belong to a family with a legacy that is better than we could ever choose for ourselves!

Almost Forgiven?

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Almost Forgiven?

As Christian believers, we know that no matter how great the sin, God’s proven love is greater still. We recognize and worship Him for His Goodness and Grace, especially on Easter. Yet, sometimes, because we know our specific sin and how devastatingly terrible our choices have been, we come to secretly believe in the deep recesses of our hearts and minds that while God’s love and forgiveness is sufficient for others’ sins – and even for most of our sin – it can’t possibly cover that sin. Some of you know what I mean. That sin, that private, deepest regret of our lives which we keep hidden deep in our hearts and for which we secretly believe we could not possibly be forgiven.

Friend, I have been there. Fortunately, I had a good and godly friend who looked me straight in the eye and said, “so you think Christ’s sacrifice was incomplete?” WHAT? No! Her question hit me hard. She lovingly pointed out that believing my sin was unforgivable was essentially saying that Jesus’ sacrifice was good for everyone else, but not good enough to cover my sin. That His sacrifice was incomplete, somehow lacking. And harboring unforgiveness toward myself propagated the guilt, shame, and condemnation I was feeling…which do not come from God.

I was shocked by the truth of her statements. I let it sink in. It was true. I was unconsciously believing the lie that my sin was unforgivable. My continual loathing of myself and that sin was actually a sin against the love, grace, and forgiveness of Jesus. I had to acknowledge, trust, and believe that what Paul penned in 2 Corinthians 12:9 is true. His grace is sufficient…even, and maybe especially, for that sin too.

If you have ever struggled with these same thoughts, let me be that friend to you today. Scripture says that all have sinned and all have fallen short of God’s holy standard. Despite what the culture around you may want you to think, there is no acceptable sin. All sin is a stench in God’s nostrils. No sin smells sweet. From His view (and His is the only view that matters) there is no better sin or worse sin. Every sin – yours, mine, and Mother Teresa of Calcutta’s – drove Jesus to the cross.

The enemy of your soul would have you believe that you – or at least this sin – is beyond the grasp of God’s grace. Friend, don’t you believe it. Don’t fall for that lie.

Yes, your sin is bad (that’s why it’s called sin). But don’t let the gravity of your sin eclipse the vastness God’s great love. Your sin is bad, it’s tragic, it’s terrible, but it is not unforgivable. God knows the end from the beginning. He did not prefer our sin, but He knew it in advance. That is precisely why Jesus came. He did what He knew we could not. With compassion, He took on the punishment we could not have endured. He did this so that we would be free to come to Him, not so that we would stand at a distance in shame refusing to give Him our hardest stuff.

Friend, please hear me today: the degree to which your sin is forgivable is dependent not on the weight of the sin but on the magnitude of the One who forgives. He is bigger, greater, good-er…and more faithful, more true, more gracious, more pure, more perfect, more merciful, more loving, and more compassionate. Jesus Christ’s willing, tragic death and glorious resurrection is enough. It was perfectly complete in every way. Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient to forgive every sin of everyone who will come to Him…yes, even for you, even for that .

Don’t wait another day in secret self-loathing. Run to Him. He knows anyway. He can handle it. He has already made provision for your forgiveness and healing. Now, He awaits your acceptance of this free and beautiful gift. Accept the love, grace, compassion, and forgiveness that He so freely offers. Then walk with Him, and give Him His rightful place in your life – as both Savior and Lord.

Oh, for sure you and I will still fall short again. Despite our best intentions to walk blameless before Him, we will still stumble and fall. We don’t sin so that grace may abound, yet the flesh is still weak. And when we sin, we immediately run to Him, fall at His beautiful feet, and allow Him to pick us up again with those tender, pierced hands and gracious loving eyes.

If we believe the word of God, then we must take seriously the words that lead us to conviction AND the words that lead us to mercy. Hebrews 4:14-16 tell us that in Jesus, who understands our sin and is firmly seated on His heavenly throne, we can come “boldly to the throne of our gracious God” and “there we will receive mercy” from and through Him who understands (NLT).

On this Good Friday, remember that the blood He shed was for you and for that sin. When it comes to carrying around that sin, guilt, and condemnation… it is finished!

Friend, if you’re struggling with this, please don’t struggle alone. Reach out. Connect with a pastor. Contact with me or a godly believer in your life. We would love to help you understand just how wide, high, and deep is His consuming love for you.

Wedding Vows

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Wedding Vows

The wedding vows. Whether or not we’ve sat and tried to write them ourselves with the intention of saying them to another person, or if we have been attendees at a wedding ceremony where we’ve sat and listened, as third-party witnesses, to two other individuals say vows to one another, most can agree that it is a particularly sacred moment during the service.

I personally, have always looked forward to hearing which direction a couple chooses to go. Some would say that traditional is better, others believe that something unique and from the heart is a must. When my wife Kate and I were in the process of trying to decide how we hoped our vows would sound, we really wrestled with which direction we thought was best. Given my background and interest in poetry I desired to go with a more creative take, while Kate just about died at the idea of trying to write something herself. Not wanting to push her into an uncomfortable situation, I felt as though we were back at square one and I found myself researching how to write them with all the standard traditional language. I inevitability hit a wall and became frustrated with the idea of not being able to infuse a little bit more of how I saw God’s hand in Kate and I finding one another, and the magnitude of everything I was feeling in taking each other’s hand in marriage. There was relentless tension and turmoil in the angst of feeling a fear of failure and amazing grace. At the same time, a striking contradiction railed against my emotional health.

After several days of restlessness, and endless revision, we were only two days away from getting married, and we were absolutely no closer to having our vows done. Kate and I came together and spent some time in prayer over the matter, and after asking for the Lord’s help, we both felt we had been given an answer. We decided that creativity would be fine, and if I were to write them myself it would be perfectly okay for both of us to simply read them back to one another. It didn’t matter if only one of us had physically written them, it would ultimately be what we hoped – by God’s grace – our marriage and life together would look like, and would undoubtedly still be something that we would be participating in together. As peace over the matter finally came, the process came more naturally, and I had the idea of incorporating traditional language, while still writing from the heart using a more poetry-like style. I hope it doesn’t sound pretentious or braggadocious to say that many of the people in attendance at our wedding found our vows to be particularly moving, and one of the more beautiful elements in our ceremony.

Fast forward to today, where the two of us have been married only five months, I can see just how far I still have yet to go in fulfilling the vows I said to Kate, so with as much humility as humanly possible, and for the purpose of allowing others to see and hold me accountable to the promises I made to my wife, I would like to share those vows with others, in this blog, and I hope that by doing so anyone (single or married) might be blessed as they either look forward to saying their own vows to someone else one day, or look back on having already previously said them to another.

I, Mike [Kate], take thee, Kate [Mike], to be my wedded wife [husband]). From this day forward we’re together, hand in hand, side by side. And I feel joyful, but without it I’m still here- happiness I think is fleeting, even though we’ll take it when it comes, through sorrow we’ll grow tender, I wish to see and know your heart, because there I’ll see God working- ways I’ve never seen before, and I know that when you’re hurting I’ll be with you, that to me is worth much more.

In sickness without wealth, if we’re poor we’re all the richer, although I hope I’m always winning in a loving lifelong competition of who can say, “I’m sorry” quicker.

I have a dream of growing old, before we have to say goodbye, but for now I feel so young, I’ll keep you close until death has done us part, our separate ways is only in His time. To have is very precious, but sometimes I hold a bit too tight, I see that you or I is not the point, so I’m gripping even tighter to the grace we have in Christ.

Failure, seems seldom mentioned, but in truth I’ll let you down, to forgive as I’ve been forgiven is my utmost solemn vow.

What’s left is just your hand, so in marriage please take mine. Forever, was once an empty concept, until He called us, now I see the meaning, I hear our Father’s voice as I whisper softly, “you are mine”.

Tears From the Other Room

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Tears From the Other Room

Becoming a parent has been the best, yet most challenging experience of my life. Try as they might, no one can quite prepare you for what it’s like to be a parent. I had so many people give me advice, tips, tricks, cautions, etc., which were all so helpful in their own way! But none of them could fully prepare me for what was ahead. Probably one of the most unexpected things about becoming a parent is how much it’s taught me about my relationship with my Heavenly Father. It has brought to life so many characteristics of our Heavenly Father and caused me to experience them in a whole new light.

One night I pulled myself out of bed (who knows what time it was because it all blends together at that time of night!) to answer the upset call of our sweet little girl, Tali, who was sleeping in her bedroom next to ours. I walked into her dimly lit room and peered into her crib to see what she needed. Did the pacifier fall out of her mouth? Is she hungry? Is she cold? As soon as she saw my face, her face lit up with the sweetest smile and the tears instantly stopped. After offering the pacifier that was quickly spit back at me, I determined that this was not a quick fix situation, the girl was hungry! “I’ll be right back Bug,” I told her as I turned and headed for the door. I made a quick jaunt to the kitchen to throw a bottle in the warmer and as soon as I opened the fridge door, the crying started again from the other room. “I just need two seconds to start the bottle warming and I’ll be back to get you,” I thought to myself. Once I got the bottle warming, I went back to her room, scooped her up, and brought her to the kitchen to wait with me. As we stood there in the kitchen waiting, she was quiet and content waiting for her midnight snack to be ready. “See Bug, I told you I’d be right back!”

As I reflect on that instance, and the many others like it that we’ve already experienced in our short time as parents, I can’t help but wonder how often this is me in my relationship with the Lord? How often do I panic when I feel He is “out of sight?” Our kitchen is about a ten second walk from Tali’s room, not far at all! But at five months old, she’s too little to understand that I’m still there, even though she can’t see me. When I’m out of sight, she thinks I’m not there. As a parent, I reassure Tali many, many times a day that I will not leave her! I am constantly telling her that “I will be right back,” or “just one second” because I want her to know that she is never alone and that I am always there for her.

Now, I’m only human. I am in no way perfect, nor will I ever be perfect! But if I, in my finite humanness, want my daughter to know that she is never alone, how much more does our Heavenly Father want us to know that? There are many places in scripture where we see God’s promise to never leave us. Hebrews 13:5 says, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” The Lord said this to the Israelites when they were headed into the promised land, when they were doubting whether God was still with them. And what was His reassurance to them? That He will never, ever leave them.

Not only do we see God’s promise to never leave us documented all over in Scripture, but we also see the reality of this promise come to fruition time and time again. We see that our God is faithful to not only promise to never leave us, but to ACTUALLY never leave us! We see this played out in the story of the Israelites and in the story of Abraham, we see this in the stories of Ruth and Esther, the stories of Daniel in the lion’s den and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. We see it in the story of David when he fights the giant Goliath, and in the story of Noah when he builds the ark and is laughed at by everyone around him. And those are just a few stories from the Old Testament! That’s just a glimpse of the faithfulness of God to His people. That doesn’t even touch the New Testament stories! We see over and over again God’s faithfulness to Paul and the believers throughout the New Testament.

Not only can we see God’s faithfulness in the stories we read in Scripture, but I believe that each one of us could tell contentless stories of God’s faithfulness in our own lives today. I know that I could tell you story after story of how God has been faithful in my own life. How He has shown up time and again when I have felt alone and scared. But I could also tell you countless stories of when I have been the frightened child crying in the next room. When I have been afraid that I have been left to fend for myself, doubting God’s promise to never leave me. But you know what, God still shows up! Because He is a faithful God who keeps His promises. No matter how much I doubt, no matter how much I cry, He is still there to reassure me and be there for me. Why? Because our God is a faithful God!

So, my challenge to us as believers is this: to recognize God’s faithfulness in our lives and share about it! When is the last time you intentionally recognized God’s faithfulness in your life or told someone about it? You never know who’s struggling with being the crying baby in the other room. So, let’s make it our goal in the days, weeks, and months ahead to intentionally recognize God’s faithfulness in our lives and share it with those around us. We have the privilege of getting to read stories in Scripture of God’s faithfulness. But God’s didn’t stop being faithful there! He continues to be faithful to this day. Let’s recognize it and share it!

Life In View of the Cross

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Life In View of the Cross

Life In View of the Cross

In our faith practices we often look at the resurrection, and rightfully so! The resurrection is the reminder of the victory over death, a promise for the followers of Jesus that there is life beyond this present world and much, much more! However, the resurrection has fuller meaning in light of the cross of Jesus! I find myself singing and contemplating a line from the hymn, Old Rugged Cross! The line is “that old rugged cross, so despised by the world, has a wondrous attraction for me.” It’s the last phrase that I want to focus on, “…has a wondrous attraction for me.”

There are a variety of faith practices, spiritual disciplines and behavior that help us to walk nearer to Christ. An example may be our daily devotions. Daily devotions are where we spend time in the Bible, studying the Word and praying. This is a very helpful faith practice for the believer to calibrate their day and prepare for God’s plan. Fasting may be a spiritual discipline that allows for many things not the least of which is to put our body under control of the Spirit (denying the body’s natural urges to submit to spiritual authority). There is another faith practice, and that practice is found in living a life in view of the cross.

I grew up in a church that practiced “crossing themselves”. I never knew why. I just knew that when you walked into the church you crossed yourself. Occasionally, in the worship service we would “cross ourselves”. I just did it. Years later I finally figured out why. That practice was a great reminder of the cross and living a life in view of the cross.

I have had a condition called “Chronic Sinusitis” that creeps into my life once or twice a year. Several years ago, I was able to get it under control. I thought those days were behind me. Then I woke up in the middle of the night with pressure on my eye and ear. Chronic Sinusitis was back! It’s very frustrating as it only allows me to sleep for a little while then the pressure in my eye and ear are overwhelming and won’t allow for continued sleep. I have thrown up from the pain and sometimes will shake from the pressure.

I have found myself in days past begging God to heal me, to relieve the pressure, etc. Sometimes God has answered those requests immediately! Sometimes, He has used medicine to heal me and sometimes… I just hurt! Through my most recent episode I have been remembering a lesson that I’ve experienced, preached on, and taught others. The lesson is found at the cross!

The Cross teaches some lessons that we constantly and consistently need to remember AND practice. The cross is also for the believer. In good times and bad, we should always look at the cross! Recently, as I was staring at the dark wall during another sleepless night, I thought of the cross! As I considered the cross and the many passages that speak on this matter, I found hope in my suffering.

Hallelujah! God is with us! My suffering is not a unique or isolated experience. The mass of humanity before and after me has and will suffer. Unlike those who suffer and do not know the LORD we have hope! The Creator of the universe, the One who fashioned us into His image bearers is with us! He is present! (Joshua 1:9; Isaiah 41:10; Romans 3:38-39; Matthew 28:20)

When I consider Jesus on the cross, I quickly come to the conclusion that my suffering and hurt is no where near that. That does not discount or trivialize my suffering. That does, however, remind me that the way of Jesus goes to the cross. I am a follower of that way! Jesus’ suffering was intense and painful and He offered that suffering to His Father. My hurt is more endurable when compared to the cross. My hurt is more meaningful compared to the cross. My hurt allows me to offer it when compared to the cross.

Paul reminds us that he wanted “to know Him (Christ), and the power of His resurrection” which is to “fellowship in sufferings.” That suffering is not more clearly demonstrated than at the cross. Salvation is found at the cross (1 Cor 1:18). That literally brings us closer to the LORD. The cross allows me to live; righteousness (1 Peter 2:24). Again, this righteousness literally brings us closer to the LORD. The cross must be viewed!

For the follower of Jesus, the cross is a reminder that this suffering will end. It is also a reminder that for the non-believer it is going to get worse. There is a story from church history that Lazarus (the one who Jesus rose from the grave in John 11) went on to become a bishop. He also had a dominating trait, he never smiled (one time he did but that is another blog). He was worried by the unredeemed souls. According to history, Lazarus constantly was reminded of the eternal fate of those who did not follow Jesus and that suffering was eternal.

Jesus, Himself, reminds us to carry our own cross. Those who do, are His disciples (Luke 14:27). Embrace the cross! Suffering is a part of the experience. The resurrection comes after the cross and perhaps this is a spiritual reality that must be formed in the Christ-follower. Pick up the cross, die to self, to live to Christ and experience His resurrection.

Please do not misunderstand me. We absolutely should keep the resurrection in front of us. However, we cannot overlook the cross. For the believer, the cross has a “wondrous attraction”. As we consider a life lived in full view of the cross, what are some additional insights that you have? What are some things that we could do to help remind ourselves of the cross and Jesus’ sacrifice?

Valentine’s Day

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Valentine’s Day

Yesterday was Valentine’s Day, and I can almost guarantee that most of us fall into three groups: 1) you don’t really care (just another holiday made up by candy and greeting card companies). 2) you really care (love to celebrate or despise celebrating both fit in this group). Or 3) you actually, completely forgot. Whatever this day holds for you, know you’re not alone. It’s a spectrum of emotion out there, and we’re all on it.

As a teenager, I was all about poking fun of Valentine’s Day, bringing cupcakes to school and handing them out to my fellow single friends. “Happy S.A.D. Day! Single’s Awareness Day!” And I approached high school dating in much the same way. Yet, despite my sarcasm, I still felt the odd twinge when friends went home with flowers or treats from their admirer. Try as I might, I couldn’t shake the reality that relationships, dating, titles like “boyfriend” and “girlfriend” were still supremely important to those all around me.

I remember when my first friend got engaged at the ripe old age of 20. She said how much extra mental space she had because she wasn’t thinking about guys, dating, or love interests anymore. At the time, I thought that was so strange (I thought she was a little boy-crazy), but I’ve come to see that her recognition holds some truth.

People spend years, decades even, of their lives with their minds consumed with finding love, maintaining love, losing love or finding it again. I wonder how much of our mental, emotional, even spiritual energy is spent on this area.

While I believe marriage is a supremely important relationship in this life and different than just hunting for love, it can do the same thing to our mentalscape. A hostage takeover. But isn’t marriage beautiful, God-created, and all the things? Yep, and if we’re married, we should be honoring the choice we made, investing in our marriage, working for it, believing in it, enjoying it.

Yet our current relationship status says very little if anything about our devotion to Christ. Don’t believe me? Ask our favorite guy, Paul. He talks a lot about marriage and singleness in 1 Corinthians chapter 7.

1 Corinthians 7:29-31 “What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.”

I hope you’re not reading this and thinking “SEE! I can ignore my spouse! I can pretend this marriage never happened! It’s BIBLICAL.” The point is simple: marriage isn’t the point! Being happy or sad about our love life isn’t the point. Getting stuff and loving the stuff isn’t the point.

This world in its present form is passing away. That’s the point. Our main drive in life shouldn’t be finding love, getting married, or anything other than following Christ and advancing His kingdom. So, whatever our relationship status right now, I hope this passage frees you to refocus your gaze, restore your mind and find purpose that goes far beyond any relationship this world can offer.

Marriage Checkup

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Marriage Checkup

In 2007, I went to see a doctor to get a physical. It was the first time I had been in for a physical as an adult. I’d been to the doctor when there where things wrong that needed treatment, but I’d never been to the doctor to have him do an overall diagnostic of my health. The doctor came in to see me, ask me questions, and order a few tests. When he was about to wrap up our appointment, he looked at me with a little grin and asked me, “Do you want the 95% physical or the 100% physical today?” In my naivete, I asked him what the difference was between the two. After he explained the difference, I quickly responded that I would take the 95% physical. He told me that was fine, but that the next time I came in for a physical it would need to be the 100%. I haven’t been back for a physical since.

It’s probably time for me to go in and see a doctor once again. A physical can catch those issues that don’t have obvious presenting symptoms. If I break my leg tomorrow, of course I’ll go to the doctor. The fact that I can’t walk and that my leg is crooked are going to force my hand. What is going to catch those little illnesses and diseases that build up over time but don’t present in such obvious ways on the outside? More people die from high blood pressure or bad cholesterol then die from broken legs. It’s a check-up with the doctor that is meant to help identify some of those underlying issues so that a treatment plan can be created. I have friends who have had serious illnesses diagnosed at their annual physical and it has saved their lives.

While I’ve been negligent with my physical health, Erika and I have been more attentive to our marital health. We have developed rhythms of checking in each week to see how our marriage is doing, and occasionally, we have done a more complete diagnostic. We just had a chance to get away for a week by ourselves for the purpose of sparking our marriage. Often on vacations in the past, I have just sought to have fun and relax. While Erika and I spent plenty of time having fun and relaxing this last week, we also intentionally dedicated time to growing our relationship. We spent time in the Word of God together, prayed together, watched six hours of marriage videos to spark discussion and planned all kinds of romantic outings. We had a chance to share with each other, care for each other and plan for future growth in our relationship. It was a great week for both of us and for the health of our marriage.

Every married couple has a need to do a check-up to make sure their relationship is healthy and growing. In Song of Solomon, the Beloved says to her Lover,

“Catch the foxes for us,
the little foxes
that spoil the vineyards,
for our vineyards are in blossom.” (Song of Solomon 2:15)

The vineyard represents the relationship between the Lover and the Beloved throughout this poetic book. The foxes are a poetic way to speak about the little problems that can come in and spoil the good fruit of a healthy relationship. They are little foxes, but you must catch them, or the foxes will multiply and become a bigger problem. The little foxes of communication patterns, unfair expectations, unhealthy conflict management and more, need to be diagnosed so that they can be caught and dealt with in a way that leads back to health and flourishing. Every couple needs time dedicated to catching the foxes and watering the vineyard of the relationship.

If you’re in need of a marriage check-up, or just want to spend quality time pursing God together, I want to encourage you to come to the Spark Your Marriage weekend on February 11-12. This will be a great weekend filled with teaching from God’s Word, fun activities, food, opportunities for future growth and more. You can sign up for the weekend right now at friendshipmn.org/spark

The Weight of the World

Sat, 15 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

The Weight of the World

Have you ever felt the weight of the world on your shoulders? I sure have.

Cindy and I were hit hard by Covid in November of 2021. It started with Cindy first. We had pre-determined our “Covid plan” just in case. We were going to mask, glove up and stay in separate parts of the house. Well…that only lasted about two minutes when Covid actually hit us.

Cindy got a pretty severe case and there was absolutely no way I was going to leave her in another part of the house. Fever, racking cough and body aches were overwhelming for her. I decided to get through it with her and set alarms throughout the night to check for fever and monitor her oxygen levels.

One evening, she was in her chair next to me covered up under 6 blankets and still having mad chills. I had never seen her this sick before. I couldn’t take my eyes off her and 40 years of marriage went through my mind. Forty glorious, sometimes very difficult, years. We’ve been through so much together.

I struggled with taking her to the hospital knowing I would not be able to be with her. We knew of a few people praying for us but decided to go ahead and send a prayer request to our Friendship Church family through the website. Within a few hours of sending that prayer request, she started to improve. Sensing the power of prayer and experiencing the love and kindness of friends lifted us in an amazing way and we were able to press on.

Not surprisingly, I came down with Covid a week later, but it didn’t seem as bad as Cindy had it. Within 6 days, though, I got much worse and Cindy improved enough to take care of me. We were pathetic but prayerful, grateful, humble and hopeful. And here we are today, not by our own strength, but through the grace and strength of Jesus. Praise God!!

As you might guess, I express a lot of emotion through music. As I cried out to God for help during this time, the words of a new song began to flow. It’s called, “Have You Ever Felt”. Here’s a portion of it…

Have you ever felt the weight of the world on your shoulders

Have you ever felt the days just seem to get colder

The night times seem longer, and you don’t feel any stronger

There’s only one way out

I know where my help comes from

I know who puts breath in these lungs

I know the One who calls me by name

Who breaks all my chains and meets me in my pain

I know You, I know You

“Have You Ever Felt” will be released on January 14. You can click here to listen on our website . I pray this song will remind you of God’s seen and unseen presence in your life and that you’ll realize where your help comes from in a fresh, new way.

Cindy and I are utterly grateful to be healthy again and want to say “thank you” to our praying church family! We humbly acknowledge that the situation could have turned out differently; that all those prayers might not have been answered exactly like we wanted. We all know praying people who have lost loved ones. We hope this song will help them trust deeply in God’s love and goodness in the midst of that pain.

That Is Not My Mom’s Middle Name

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

That Is Not My Mom’s Middle Name

My parents had planned a trip to Italy and were supposed to go in early 2020. But their plans were postponed due to the COVID pandemic the world began to face. Over the course of the next year and a half, Mom and Dad worked on refreshing different documents and accounts so that, if anything should happen to them while they’re on their trip, we (their children) would be able to help from home.

Well, their trip to Italy finally came around and halfway through it, I received a phone call from the County Medical Examiner informing me of a body they had for my mom, who they referenced by first and last name. The world stopped turning for a moment and all I could continue to say to the man on the other end of the phone was, “What? What? What? What? What? What?” By the 15 ^th “What?” he caught on to my surprise and decided to clarify the middle name: Louise. PHEW!

That is not my mom’s middle name.

I hung up with the County Medical Examiner, but I was still stuck in that stopped world. I finally took a breath and realized that my mom was okay. But my body was still in shock with the feelings that came from that false alarm.

I learned that day just how much my mom, my dad, my wife, my children, my family, or how much anyone means to anyone. After sharing the story with my wife, she shared how happy she was that my mom was okay, but then added how sad it must be for the real family of the person who had passed.

I’ll be honest that I have a refreshed perspective of what family means this Holiday season. I can’t imagine that medical examiners make the mistake often, at least I’d hope not. And all too often, the hurt of lost family members stings deeper as we make our way through the Holidays.

For those who can say, “That is not my mom’s middle name,” take advantage of the time you have. If you’re close to family or friends, lean a little closer. If you’re estranged, don’t stop praying. As long as we have breath to share the name and love of Jesus, and those around us are here to hear it, don’t wait. We can always point people to the steadfast love of God and the hope that is found in Him.

²² The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

His mercies never come to an end;

²³ they are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

²⁴ “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,

“therefore I will hope in Him.”

Lamentations 3:22-24

I am so grateful this Holiday season to say… That is not my mom’s middle name.

Come Like a Child

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Come Like a Child

Since school started our family has officially become acclimated with the petri dish better known as preschool. The runny noses are in full force which means I’ve officially become a full-time nose blower as my snotty-noised threenager demands every drop be wiped clean. This less than picturesque scene created the perfect backdrop for me to read my most recent book on my reading list titled, “Beginning a Praying Life” by Paul E. Miller.

I say this because Miller’s main point in prayer is coming like a child. If I haven’t already painted a clear enough picture of a child, please take a moment to think of the children in your own life. Children are messy, unprompted, persistent, needy, and bold. This is exactly how God wants us to come to Him in prayer. What a relief! This revelation quickly became one of those moments when what I know to be true in my head began to sink into the deepest part of my soul. In one simple illustration, my previous perspective on prayer immediately changed. I think most of us know prayer is not a matter of performing or saying the right things or sounding spiritual to achieve the most desired outcome. However, I still think there is a block in many people’s prayer life. I’ve certainly felt like that on more than one occasion, but I find it so refreshing to be reminded that prayer is simple yet extraordinary opportunity to come as I am and ask God to help clean up my mess. I don’t know about you, but I have a tendency of holding onto my mess and hoarding all of the grimy details while trying to clean it up myself instead of letting God work with it.

Miller points out that the reason we are hesitant to pray like a child may be for one of many reasons like fear, doubt, or cynicism. He spends a lot of time on the topic of cynicism and sums it up by saying that many of us have lost our child-like faith because we’ve fallen cynical to prayer. We don’t believe that God will show up and we don’t want to risk him not answering so we tend to ask less of Him. However, that’s not who God is. On several occasions, Jesus reminds the disciples that children hold an important role in His kingdom.

In Matthew 19:14, Jesus said, “ Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. ”

When my snotty noise child comes to me repeatedly to wipe his nose I oblige, and I’m humbled by the thought of going to God with my own messes totally and completely unashamed. My son comes to me with no apprehension because he doesn’t question whether I will ignore him or turn him down or give him something other than what he asked for. He simply trusts me because he has no reason not to. This is the relationship each of us has been given in Christ.

Matthew 7:11 says it best, “ If then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! ”

Prayer shouldn’t be a chore, but a chance to encounter the faithful heart of God.

If any part of this resonated with you and you feel you’ve grown cynical to prayer and wish to reverse the cycle than I highly recommend this book, “Beginning a Praying Life” or its companion,

“A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World” both by Paul. E. Miller.

All that Remains

Tue, 09 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT

All that Remains

Each year up at the cabin, my youngest girls eagerly await the opportunity to walk with their great uncle to the compost bin. Now, let’s be honest, not many people eagerly await composting! But they squeal with glee at the invitation. Their great uncle is very purposeful in all that he does and each step he takes in life and in trash is very intentional! Only certain items get composted and the fire is prepared in the proper way. With him, getting rid of the trash is a learning opportunity unlike anything else!

After chatting about the miracles of composting, the next step is to burn everything. While the smells from the trash burning don’t entice many in our family, the girls know that togetherness is worth more than the smells that deter everyone else. After all, the fire isn’t really about burning, it’s about a treasured time of laughing and learning with one of their favorite people in the world. It’s a time where they learn about decomposition and bears, Jesus and jokes. And the fire always ends with a sweet s’more to seal the lessons in life.

When we think about fire we know that it can be the conduit for pleasure and pain alike. Most of us can recall memories of accidental fires, campfires, forest fires and everything in between. One thing I’m sure we can all agree on is that fire changes whatever is near it. It is unpredictable and humbling. It is amazing and all-consuming! The combination of what we smell, feel and taste when we are near it etches us with memories that remain when nothing else does.

In my own life, I have known sweet memories of blazing fires with backyard worship circles and crackling flames with hot dogs under breathtaking stars. Yet, I have also known raging fires that took the life of a family friend and consumed our entire household of belongings. Fires are undeniably powerful – for the good and the bad. They can consume every tangible thing, while still leaving the remains of things that cannot be consumed. Lives and belongings can be lost to fire, but what emerges from the ashes is what truly remains. Whether metal or memories, some things cannot be damaged by fire.

A dear friend of ours also experienced a house fire. Although everything in their home burnt to a crisp, miraculously one thing remained – a calendar from Voice of the Martyrs with a verse from Psalms 34:15 that read, “The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.”

This verse was something they clung to as they faced the trial of losing all their belongings and uprooting their whole life. Trials like this can remind us that things in life can be shaken. Jobs can be lost, relationships can experience separation and sickness can come when we least expect. Another friend of mine faced kidnapping and persecution for his faith. Yet somehow, he and his wife learned to stay faithful to Jesus as they waited for Him to bring them to safety. For people of all ages, trials do come. Living in this world ensures that trials cannot be avoided. During this past year or so, many of us have experienced the reality of this firsthand. While our trials may not have been as extreme as a house fire or kidnapping, many of us were forced us to face the reality that many things in life can be shaken. Even things that many thought couldn’t be shaken were turned upside down in a heartbeat.

As we take a step closer to the return of Christ with each day, we should not be surprised when fiery trials come. As James says in Chapter 1, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” Whether the trial lasts five minutes, a week, or a few years, we know that God will meet us in whatever things are shaken in our life to draw us nearer to Himself. We know that these kinds of trials, as well as others like earthquakes and forest fires, will come in the days before Christ’s return. We also know that His joy will fill our hearts in ways that we never thought imaginable. In His kindness, He meets us as we are and is ready to walk through these trials with us, patiently revealing to us His love. Through the Holy Spirit, He gently leads us to discover His mercy. In His great mercy, He offers us a way to eternity, a way to relationship with Him that can never be shaken. How else can someone experiencing persecution laugh and dance and have hope? How else can someone facing cancer remain peaceful? Nothing else but the hope of Christ and His return produces this kind of joy in the face of fiery trials.

In Hebrews 12: 25-29 we read, “Let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” These trials that we face in this world where everything can be shaken give us an opportunity to recognize what truly remains in our hearts when things are shaken. These trials leave us with many questions.

We wonder, do we trust that Jesus Christ will return and restore all men unto himself? Do we have faith in His promises? Do we have hope that He will heal all diseases? A trust that He will make all things right?

This is His way. The way of the kingdom of God. And through His love, we are welcome to be a part of this kingdom. For when Christ returns, every eye will see and every tongue will confess, that He is the Christ, the Holy and Righteous one!

This year, the pastors of our youth felt led to choose the above verses for the theme of Fall Retreat. Recognizing that our youth faced many trials over this last year and that they continue to see the world around them shaken, they need the hope that only the kingdom of God provides.

Would you pray for the youth that attended the Fall Retreat this year? Would you ask the Holy Spirit to give them conviction of their sin? Ask for them to have hope for their future as they believe in God’s promises? Confidence that they are chosen by the Father to be a part of the kingdom of God?

As each of us face trials of many kinds, and as our youth consider the trials of their own lives, may we each come before the throne of God humbled and hopeful. For our God is a consuming fire, and He will bring justice and righteousness to this earth when He restores it for all of eternity! As we await that day, let us give thanks and rejoice for our salvation draws near!

Gratitude and Boxelder Bugs

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Gratitude and Boxelder Bugs

I bet there’s one thing we all have in common, that unites us as a species this very moment. It goes beyond culture and belief. It’s something we give little thought to and yet can’t avoid: bugs. Boxelder bugs, to be exact.

They are literally everywhere right now, but I don’t need to tell you that. You probably have your own clan of them hanging around your front door or decorating the south side of your house. Even as I write this, a boxelder bug catches my eye, clinging to a leaf on one of our house plants. How ironic , I think. Here we have thousands of these things swarming our house and making a dash for the indoors whenever they get the chance, and now, one (realistically many more) have made it. Victory! Yet, it scurries its nasty little legs right to the one semblance of nature it can find: my house plant. Slow and lethargic, it begins to realize (if bugs can realize stuff) that the outdoors is life and being inside is the beginning of the end.

These bugs aren’t the only offenders of the grass-is-greener mentality. Our cat, dog and chickens all have FOMO (fear of missing out) as well. Wherever we go, they go, and believe me it does get old.

All of us have a little of this inside of us too. So maybe that’s what really unites us after all.

Our humanity and the pull for more, for different, for other is our common thread. What we have doesn’t quite cut it—our house, job, friends, church, spouse, body— it could all improve. We could have or be what they have or are.

Self-improvement and house-improvement and even spiritual-improvement are all really trendy things in our culture. It’s definitely not all bad. But there is something to mindfulness in the present. To gratitude in our space, work, and relationships.

I hate to compare us to boxelder bugs, but I guess that’s where the metaphor is leading because often times, the other side isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Maybe right where we’re at is just right.

I’m taking a break from FOMO to think about the ways God is providing for me in the here and now. When I consider the blessings around me, the provisions I’ve prayed for, they inspire a kind of gratitude that leads to actual living and not just existing. I see how God is using my gifts in ways I’ve hoped for, but in roles I didn’t expect. I see how my husband, children and friends all supply different flavors to my life and fill different aspects of my heart. I see how my work isn’t glamorous but just enough in this season of raising little ones. I belong in this place, at this time. We belong in this place at this time.

So, I stand up, carry my little house plant to the door and flick the bug back out where it belongs.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

A Season of Change

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A Season of Change

All of us who live in Minnesota get an unusual opportunity that much of the world does not experience in the same manner. We in Minnesota get to experience all four seasons with their varying temperatures, precipitation, and of course, the transformation of the canvas of the landscape around us. This time of the year is often not only mild in the afternoon, but also very colorful as the leaves begin to change to gold, brown, orange, and other various tones presenting an orchestrated beauty from the hand of our Creator. In contrast to the late spring bloom of green horizons, the sounds of birds, and the grace of a butterfly moving through our garden, we see the signs of the dormancy of winter drawing near.

God has designed the cycles of the annual seasons to remind us of His way of transforming us as His people. Though we were created for the paradise of summer, the tragic result of the fall is that,

“…sin came into the world through one man, and death spread to all men because all sinned.” – Romans 5:12

The cycle of the seasons reminds us of this tragedy in symbolism, yet they also remind us of the hope of new life to come, in that spring returns each year. Scripture consistently speaks to the depravity of our humanity, declaring that,

“ All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God .” – Romans 3:23

We are not living fully in the way that God designed us to live. The hope that we have been given in the message of the Gospel is that through the death of Jesus on the cross, we not only receive the forgiveness of our sins, but we also receive freedom from the slavery to sin and serve a new Master. This new Master died the death of winter on our behalf, paying the penalty to free us from sins penalty, and pursue Him wholeheartedly.

“… having been set free from sin, we have become slaves of righteousness .” – Romans 6:18

This is the greatest news ever given in history! We can live in the freedom that Christ has given us! The question remains, what does it look like to walk in freedom from sin and the same freedom to obey God from the heart, even while realizing there is so much change that I still need to undergo? Let me bring us back to the fall colors and what they represent. The death of the leaves and their twirling fall to the ground remind us that winter is coming, yet again. The change in the seasons are a parallel to our transformation as children of God through the cross having its way in us. As Romans continues, we see that there is a war in our soul that divides our affections between satisfying our sinful desires and walking in the joy and pleasure of knowing and obeying Jesus commands. Paul states that we have died to sin and the judgment we deserve for breaking the law of God, and that we are now joined to Jesus, so that

“… we belong to another, to Him who was raise from the dead, that we might bear fruit for God .” – Romans 7:4

Paul describes that as we walk out the journey of abiding in Jesus and the fruit that results, that amid the process we continually face opportunities to walk in freedom or “do what we don’t want to do.” This very crisis that we face is the opportunity to cry out to God as we are being tempted, for deliverance! Paul declared that he was a wretched or more literally, a miserable man in Romans 7:24. He asks the question, “Who will deliver me from this body of death?” The apostle goes on to answer his own question with the answer that every kid in Sunday school would say, JESUS!! This is the context for one of the most popular verses in the entire Bible and rightly so,

“ There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus . For the law of the Spirit of life in has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death .” – Romans 8:1-2

The path to freedom is forged for us by Jesus, yet we all know that the battle continues to rage, and we don’t always walk in this freedom.

This is where we circle back again to the parallel of the four seasons. Just as the fall reminds us of the soon to come death of winter, so the spring reminds us that summer is near. As Paul continues in Romans 8, he sets realistic expectations for this life in contrast with the life to come on the path toward transformation. He reminds us to consider that,

“…the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed. “ – Romans 8:18

He also reminds us that our ultimate freedom still awaits the return Jesus in glory. He describes the groaning of creation itself, as it waits with eager expectation to be set free from corruption along with what he describes with the phrase, “the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” One day soon the paradise of summers beauty and refreshing air will dawn! We will be changed in the twinkling of the eye into bodies of glory, to battle sin no more! Until that day, God has provided seasons of change to remind us of the change, we signed up for in surrendering to Him. Whatever challenging elements that each season may bring, may we entrust ourselves to Him who has made us more than conquerors through Him who loved us and washed us in His blood! So, as you see the beauty in the colorful leaves this month, remember that God is working in you and the new life of spring will return!

A Blog About Nothing

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A Blog About Nothing

Have you ever stopped to think about nothing? That’s a tricky question so I need to ask it again, but differently. When asked that question, I assume many would interpret it to mean, “Do you ever turn off your brain and take a moment to pause and not think about anything?” I admit that’s a fair interpretation and probably the most common. However, I am asking…Do you ever stop to think about NOTHING?

What IS “nothing?”

Recently, I have been thinking a lot about nothing. It’s not that I have nothing to do or anything; I’m as busy as anyone else. But I’ve been thinking about nothing and how it relates to my relationship with Jesus. What I’m beginning to realize is that a relationship with Jesus has a lot more to do with nothing than anything. Here’s what I mean.

Our relationship with Jesus is based on nothing that we can do on our own.

Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us,

“ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ”

Nothing we can do gets us to Heaven. Nothing we can do obtains our salvation to eternal life. We have salvation through Jesus Christ because He died for our sin (John 3:16, Romans 5:8; 6:23).

Our relationship with Jesus requires that we hold onto nothing; that we surrender our all to Him.

Yes it is true that when we believe by faith that Jesus is Lord, we have eternal life. But our Christian life is meant for more!

Luke 9:23-24 says,

“And He said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.”

Jesus calls us to more. He calls us to live each day for Him and to surrender our life and everything in it to His leading. He calls us to hold onto nothing. BUT Him.

As we head into October 2021, we’ll be singing “I Surrender All” as part of our next song in the Hymn Project. As we do, consider the following:

Losing Superman

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Losing Superman

When Superman Dies:

I remember hearing the words, “Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap a tall building in a single bound! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Superman!” Superman was indestructible. Every week when watching Superman there was a threat! Yet Superman was always willing to sacrifice his well being for others. However, in each episode Superman won! He could not lose. I think that is why it was a such a shocker when seeing the ending scene of Batman V. Superman. Superman was not just defeated he was dead…. AND BURIED! I remember walking out of the theater dejected! Hurt! I can’t really explain why… until the last day of Summer 2017… my dad died.

Death isn’t Supposed to happen to him:

Superman was not supposed to die… and I thought my dad shouldn’t ever die either!!! As a boy, I remember seeing dad as a super-man. Perhaps one reason was that he said Superman was his brother and they were separated at birth (I believed that until I was 12 years old… don’t judge me, he was a really good storyteller)! I watched how he interacted with my mother, with me, with my brother, how he worked at the house, how he laughed and wove a story. I marveled at who he was and held on to every word, every tickle, every moment. To me, dad was Superman! Not saving the world (or even Lois Lane) but rather he was the picture of how a man should be and he seemed… SUPER! He was the pinnacle of who I could be. When my dad died…. I didn’t know what to do!

Addressing Loss:

If I’m telling the truth (and I am), I have to say that I still don’t know what to do with the loss of my dad, but I am learning to point up and move forward. Over the last few years, as I have been processing my dad’s death, I have been reminded of several things. Here they are:

Everyone has influence –

My dad worked in shipping and receiving over 30 years. He thought he did not have much influence, but his life lessons and stories have influenced me and many others. The attendance of my dad’s “life celebration” service was full (we thought it was lame to call it a “memorial service”! We thought about saying “funeral” but decided against it, even though dad thought we should put the “fun” in “funeral” {He literally said that, “put the ‘fun’ back in ‘funeral’. I’m telling you he just looked at stuff a little different than most people])!

He would often say things like, “I’m satisfied with not leading.” But that is a paradox of life – we can’t not lead. John Maxwell says that influence is leadership, and everyone influences. Therefore, dad was very influential in his own way and by extension, he was a leader! I am reminded that everyone has influence. Heroes learn how to use that influence to maximize life. Some do it purposefully and others just do it because that’s who they are. My dad was the latter of the two, that is just who he was!

Everyone dies –

Everyone dies. I hate this one! I catch myself reflecting on Genesis 1-3 and think… “what if Adam and Eve wouldn’t have messed it up for all of us?!?!” We would have lived together…. FOREVER! However, sin has infected all of us! Hebrews 9:27 says, “… it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment…” Lest we think we are immortal on this side of eternity we need to live in the reality that one day even the super-est of men and women will die. Heroes recognize this reality and live in this place. Tomorrow is not promised!

When God reveals His name to Moses, He says His name is “I Am.” That is important. The subtle reality of His name is a reminder of the present presence of God. We aren’t supposed to dwell in the past or live in the future. We have now to exist in and we do it with the LORD, the Great I Am! Therefore, let us not forget that everyone will die.

We will meet again –

I hate that we die, but I am thankful that we don’t just return to the earth. We have been given great hope in 2 Cor 5:6-8, “ So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” For those who have surrendered to Christ (who is even better than Superman), they have been given eternal life and we will spend it together! Though my heart grieves, I can say with gratitude that “it is not ‘goodbye,’ just, I will see you later!” So… Dad, I’ll see you later! A hero can stand with great confidence during tragedy knowing that they are eternal creatures. There is no end! Heroes grieve but they don’t despair!

Christ is the ultimate example –

As I alluded to earlier, Christ is our ultimate example. My dad was great, but he had his flaws (just like every person before him and every person after him). Therefore, Paul’s words are especially meaningful as I consider my dad. Paul said, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.” As I consider the life of my dad and remember his legacy, I will imitate those things that reflect Christ (less I unwittingly worship him… which often unintentionally happens after someone passes away). Heroes know who the ultimate hero is and point others to Him with their words and deeds!

Closing thoughts:

“Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Superman!” Superman was indestructible… I thought. However, even Superman dies. Like Superman, but in different ways, my dad made sacrifices, but the ultimate sacrifice was made by Christ on the cross. On the last day of Summer 2017… my dad died. I will miss him, hurt for him, and I will also celebrate his life and the lessons he taught me! Dad was a super-man! Heroes can stand strong in loss and tragedy because the source of their power comes from on high! Let us put our hope and trust in the One who gives us life!

The Promise of Hope and Joy in Grief

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The Promise of Hope and Joy in Grief

My dad called me last week to let me know that my uncle had passed away. My Uncle Don loved Jesus and his family very much. He wasn’t a big talker. He would sit silently for long stretches during family discussions while others produced most of the words, but just at the right time, he would break into the conversation with something very profound or funny. He didn’t speak often but when he did everyone benefited from what he said.

Next week I am flying to Oregon to take part in a memorial service for Uncle Don. I have been asked to be a part of the service and as I think about Don and prepare some remarks, I find myself filled with sadness and joy. I know his memorial service will be filled with these two elements as well. There will be a celebration of His life and joy that He is with Jesus, but there will also be sadness that he is gone.

The Scripture teaches us that death is always going to produce these conflicting emotions within the believer. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 says, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.” If you are a follower of Jesus who loses someone that you love, there is grief. Paul doesn’t say that he wants them to be informed so that when those they love die, they will not have any grief. No, he says he wants them to be informed so that their grief will be different. God has made us for relationships and connection. The stronger the connection, the harder it is when that connection is cut off by death. Grief is a sign of a loving relationship and strong connection.

However, God doesn’t want us to just have grief when those we love die. He wants that grief to mix with hope. The connection has been cut, but only temporarily. For followers of Jesus there is a guaranteed reunion that will take place in the future. This reunion will take place around the throne of Jesus and this promise brings us joy, hope and encouragement alongside our grief. If you have lost someone close to you, don’t feel guilty that you are still grieving, because that grief is a recognition of the beautiful connection that you had with that person. At the same time, don’t feel bad if you are experiencing joy and relief that they are with Jesus and hope that you will join them there one day, because that hope and encouragement comes from the beautiful eternal perspective that is ours in Jesus.

I know my Uncle Don’s memorial service will be filled with mourning and hope, sadness and joy and that is the way it should be when we lose a fellow believer. Thank God for the hurt because it reflects love and connection, and thank God for the hope and joy that can be ours because we will meet again in our ultimate home.

Back To School Prayer For Others

Tue, 07 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Back To School Prayer For Others

The cheerful sunflowers and the bounty from harvest bring a gentle reminder that fall is just around the corner! For our family, saying goodbye to hot lazy days in the sun and relaxing weekends at the cabin are hard to let go of, but pumpkin spice lattes and football eagerly beckon us.

As my son and I pulled up to the high school football field last week, we quickly realized that we were arriving at the wrong time on the first day! Dread filled my heart as I quickly scanned for some way to figure out what was happening and how to fix it. With players going in every direction and tons of people gathered on the field already, it was obvious that we missed something. I don’t know about you, but when it comes to these situations, I become a ball of nerves!

Yet as quickly as my heart filled with dread, it instantly changed into respect for my son. Upon realizing what was happening, he took a deep breath and confidently hopped out and said, “Don’t worry mom – I’ve got this. I will figure it out. Love you, bye!” As I pulled out of the lot I remembered that we had taken time on the car ride there to pray together. Knowing that his first day might present unexpected circumstances, we knew how important it would be to ask for the Holy Spirit to guide him and give him wisdom to deal with whatever he would face.

While I drove home, I began to ponder my own memories of facing unexpected circumstances in school, sports and life. Growing up in rural Iowa and Minnesota, my life was not very complicated, yet somehow seemed to have endless possibilities. Life moved slowly in a quiet and predictable rhythm, but everyone was always excited to have kids join sports to fill teams. There was always room for people to join in because there just weren’t that many people!

When I moved to a suburb of the Twin Cities in my later elementary years, I was shocked to find out that the clothes and trends were quite different and that there were too many kids trying out for sports. Life moved swiftly with families going here and there and I was caught off guard with the rapid pace of life, and the cuts made in youth sports at such a young age. Faced with a decision to submit to fear from the uncertainties, I knew even at a young age that I had a choice.

What I remember most about that time in my life was how tough it was for me to find God in the midst of those changes. As I talk with young people today, I see many of them experiencing similar feelings of fear and anxiety related to the things happening in their world too.

Though I knew that God was with me, I initially felt alone as I faced those unexpected circumstances. Thankfully, our family found a great church and I had a few teachers who were believers that noticed my need for encouragement in the midst of the large classrooms of kids. Their intentional love and attentiveness made a big difference to me as a young girl. Growing up with a single mom, the support and encouragement of loving adults in my church family as well as from teachers helped me to grasp the depth of God’s love in a tangible way.

Whether you have kids at home or not, we all have kids in our lives. Each one of them will be facing changes this year as they prepare for school. Have you considered praying for the kids in your extended family? In our church family? Your prayers can truly make a difference in their lives!

We have several teachers and staff in our church family that are prayerfully preparing their hearts to minister to kids as they face these changes. I want to encourage you to take a few moments today to pray for these educators as they consider how to be vessels of the Father’s love in the lives of young people.

Prayer impacts people’s lives in ways that we cannot fathom or comprehend! As we learn to listen to the Holy Spirit and pray as He leads us, we will join an adventure that is unpredictable and amazing!

In my first year of college, I had a resident advisor that prayed faithfully for me at a time when I was walking away from the Lord. Her prayers for my life had great significance as I learned to trust the Lord in new ways. I lost touch with this woman whose prayers impacted me greatly, but got to thank her fifteen years later.

Have you ever had the feeling that someone is praying for you? I had that feeling my freshman year of college. My heart began to transform in new ways and deep inside I knew that it was somehow the result of someone (likely several people) praying faithfully for me to repent and turn to the Lord completely. As my heart began to soften and I experienced conviction of my sin, I learned to trust Him and began to find courage to make hard choices and strength to resist temptation in the place of prayer and purpose that I didn’t have before.

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41

Let’s not lose heart in our efforts to encourage and pray! As we consider students, teachers, Sunday school teachers, youth leaders and pastors, let’s remember how they are facing typical pressures of starting a new school year. Let’s also remember that they are facing unpredictable situations and fears that previous generations have never faced.

The opportunity before us to trust in God as we face the uncertainties of life today is one that can have eternal significance in people’s lives. The world around us is scared and filled with fear. Yet the light of Christ and the promise of His return gives us hope that we can hold onto in the midst of the storms.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:11-13

Let’s pray for each other and for the young people in our lives that they will cling to the anchor of Christ these days and that we will do our part to encourage, listen and care for young people.

If you would like to know more about how you can impact young people’s lives in our church family, feel free to email: genj@friendshipmn.org to find out more. Whether you feel led to pray, volunteer sporadically or on a more regular basis, we have tons of opportunities to serve newborns to young adults in a variety of ways.

Preparing For The Unpreparable

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Preparing For The Unpreparable

The word prepare means “to make someone ready or able to do or deal with something.” I don’t know about you, but I like to prepare. I am a planner. I like to feel prepared and ready to deal with whatever is coming my way. I always loved it when there was a packing list provided for things like college, camp, and mission trips. And I’m not going to lie, I always went above and beyond the packing list provided because my philosophy was, you can never be too prepared! Right? Because I am such a planner, it has made the season of life we are preparing for even more challenging and stretching for me. What season is that you might ask? Parenthood. We are in the midst of preparing for the arrival of our first child!

The first few months after we found out we were pregnant felt very surreal. There was a lot of talking and dreaming about what this next stage of life would bring. It took a while for reality to completely set in. Once we hit about 20 weeks (20 weeks marks the halfway point for those of you who may not know the significance of the number!) it started to get very, very real. It started to set in that in just five short months or less we will have a little human in our home that we are responsible for. It’s our responsibility to keep them alive, to teach them, to raise them, to meet their every need. I started to feel very overwhelmed and daunted by this fact. How on earth would I ever be prepared for this?! I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of things I realized I didn’t know. Things I needed to learn before our little girl arrives! How much do I feed her? How often do I feed her? How do I buckle her in the car seat? (It’s more complicated than it looks!) How long should she sleep? How do I put her to sleep? All these questions and so many more started flooding my thoughts. How do I care for this sweet baby girl that God has blessed us with?

I spent about two weeks in this overwhelmed state, trying to research all I could to prepare myself for the newness that is headed our way, until one Sunday morning in church we sang the song “Nothing I Hold Onto” by Will Reagan. The lyrics hit me hard.

I lean not on my own understanding

My life is in the hands of The Maker of heaven

I give it all to You, God

Trusting that You’ll make something beautiful out of me

I will climb this mountain

With my hands wide open

There’s nothing I hold onto

I realized that I have been leaning on my understanding and knowledge. The common thought repeating itself in my head was that I am not prepared. And not only am I not prepared, but I don’t know HOW to prepare. I don’t know about you, but this is a very helpless feeling! I don’t know how to learn the things I need to learn, to know all the things that I will need to know. But it quickly hit me, I will never be able to know everything there is to know about parenthood and raising a child! Now, I am sure all of you parents out there would agree with this and would have been able to just tell me this if I had asked!

Over the last few weeks, I have been reminded of Proverbs 3:5-6 which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Over the years I have come to learn that this does not mean that if I follow the Lord my path will always be perfect or easy, but what it does mean is that the Lord will guide me through the things that life brings. That He will make a way through the different experiences I encounter. I have learned that preparing for things isn’t bad! However, I have also learned that there must be balance. Balance between preparing and trusting God and His understanding. I can prepare and plan to a point and when I hit that point, I have to trust that the Lord knows what He’s doing and that He will guide my path through the unknown.

So, as we prepare for this new season of parenthood, I am reminded of my need to trust in the Lord with all my heart. That my understanding and knowledge is finite and minimal at best, but that HIS understanding is infinite and complete. I am reminded that if I lean on Him and trust Him with all my heart, that He will guide my steps and prepare me for what lies ahead. In all my research and attempts to learn all the things I need to know I have learned one thing for sure: I know nothing! And ya know what? I have learned that that’s okay. I don’t need to, and never will, know it all. I have been reminded that His ways are higher than mine and that His understanding is far vaster than mine ever will be!

In Defense of Slow Art

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

In Defense of Slow Art

I remember when I first discovered Bob Ross. I would sit on the edge of my parent’s bed and watch, dumbfounded, as little swipes of his brush turned into forests, swirls became white-capped waves. Mistakes became “little birds.” To me, he was fast. He made something tangible and beautiful in a time frame I could never replicate. This fuzzy-headed magician amazed me, inspired me, kindled my love for all things crafty.

Today, Bob Ross couldn’t even compete with our culture’s quick pace. We do nothing more than tap our fingers on fiberglass, swipe to the right a few times, and we have a well-lit, captioned photograph. We flutter our fingers over a keyboard to write a story, layer a few tracks to compose a song. We do this again and again, never stopping to think about how wild, how impossibly simple and quick it is to create “art.” On top of that, in mere moments, we can have our creations siphoned onto phones and tablets and into the homes of dozens (thousands, if we have the following) of people. This shouldn’t just make us shrug. It’s a big deal—a huge change for our world and especially for how we create.

With all the benefits and opportunities, it’s hard to loosen our grip on creations that come so quickly. But doing things fast always has a price. We microwave the good stuff right out of our creative process and miss some of the most wonderful rewards the journey of creating can give us. It’s time to slow down—or at least bring it back to Bob-Ross-pace—because we have so much to gain.

Slow art shows us context

We are a culture of ‘fly-over’ people. We hop into planes, fly over thousands of miles of land, wheel our dirty little carry-ons down the ramp, and act like it’s nothing. We didn’t see the plains transform into deserts, the black tree-packed hills morph into mountains.

In the same way, fast art foregoes the journey for the destination. It nixes any chance we have of getting a glimpse into the context that helps us create well, the patience it takes to create something great. When I type, I don’t even see my fingers move or have the notion of how one-word fits like a puzzle piece into another. When I take a photo on my phone and swipe for a filter, I have no idea what kind angle, dust and light it would take to actually create the same effect. Slowing down gives us the journey again. It forces us to wait for the right word, the perfect amount of pressure on the clay, the exact moment when the sun and moon are fighting for the sky, and the lighting is pure magic. This fosters appreciation, a sense of awe, not just for our own art, but the work of others and for the Creator Himself.

Slow art helps us be present

Pre-Instagram, a college friend of mine used to wake up before dawn for her craft. She’d drive to the lake in the moonlight and wait with the birds for the sun to first spill over the trees onto the surface of the water. Her photos were like nothing I’d ever seen. And the beauty was in more than just what she captured. It was in her rosy cheeks and dewy hair as she slipped back home after watching the sunrise while everyone else was still asleep.

Slowing down does this for us; it lets us experience the very visceral and physical nature of creating. We once again feel the pre-dawn shift into warm morning, smell the paint mixing on the canvas, feel the pen actually dent the page with the weight of our words. Slow art gives us permission to experience the creative process again and invite our senses back into our work. I believe this kind of creating not only invites us back in, but reaches out and invites others to emotively experience our work as well.

Slow art spreads authenticity

We are a generation obsessed with authentic. Real leather over faux, whole foods over processed, distressed over clean cut. In reality though, most of our authenticity is contrived. Tees made to look vintage, wood nicked and burned by machine, DIY projects that have been done again, and again, and again. Suddenly, actual authenticity is really hard to find.

This is because true authenticity comes with time. It can’t be fabricated or contrived. Creating with intention gives us that time, inviting our minds and hearts, even our hands, into the sacred. It lets us find the voice our work has been searching for, the passion hidden beneath all the pressure. If we want to continue to create instead of contriving, Holy Spirit-inspired, slow art is the only path. It’s arduous and sometimes maddening, but the result is actual authenticity. Something our world desperately needs.

Slowing down one step at a time

Slow art isn’t always possible, and often might not be profitable, but it deserves a place in how we create. We can’t write out every article, story or idea by hand, but we can take steps to slow down. We can sit outside and start with a prayer. We can choose to leave a phone or computer behind for a while and opt for a notebook and pen instead. We can slow down.

I think when we take this time with our creating, there is so much to gain: the context of what makes us create best, the sense-drenched experience of making, and a connection to the Creator that comes with truly creating.

God Writes A Different Story

Tue, 17 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

God Writes A Different Story

By virtue of trade, I am required to attend and work funerals, often for individuals whom I’ve never met. Funerals may be a part of life, but I would argue that death is not. I’ve never heard it said from a pulpit but a phrase that deeply troubles me goes like this: “Death is natural… it’s a part of life.” The people who I’ve heard speak this way are not ill-intentioned, and the phrase often comes from a good place, but when I hear those words my knee jerk reaction is always a question: “How so?” Death being a “part of life” is usually uttered in passing which is not a particularly appropriate time to offer my retort, therefore I often refrain from launching into what could be an hour-long conversation, but inside… my question resonates, and I hold the internal heaviness of not speaking a counter perspective: death is wrong.

Arriving early to events is consistent practice for audio technicians, the variables often depend on the event itself. Sunday mornings consist of many different moving parts: multiple band members, lots of gear and large instruments, a multitude of microphones and cabling, etc. On Sundays, one can expect to move a little lighter on their feet. It isn’t inappropriate or unexpected when the first person you see on a Sunday morning has a large smile and a warmer tone to their voice when they say, “Good morning! How’s the weekend?” Small talk of things like weather, or a brief explanation of something unique from the past several days is commonplace and adds to the excitement of a day that appears to already be going well. To arrive early at a funeral, on the other hand, is to step into the early, ever shifting tides of sorrow and loss.

Doing funerals for those whom you’ve never met is even further disorientating and I catch myself trying to put the puzzle together; placing family members in their perspective spaces, the pieces to the puzzle are individuals and fitting them correctly is based on levels of grief I observe in the faces of loved ones. Your biggest fear as a tech is apathy. A family member having the thought that the person behind the sound board has little interest or care in their grief is enough to make me want to rush to any and all, despite my relationship or lack thereof and say, “Hi, my name is Mike, I’m so sorry for your loss.” At funerals the greetings are said in hush tones, and many people – myself included – seem fearful that any happiness in their tone might be lifted through the air and reach the family which would suggest disrespect. Grief is ever present, and the atmospheric contrast to a Sunday can be felt on a cellular level.

It is Saturday June 5. I am scheduled to run sound for a funeral at Friendship Church, Prior Lake campus. Visitation for the family begins at 10am and wanting to be sure I have enough time to setup and cover all technical requirements, I have arrived an hour early. At precisely 9:00am I pass through the sanctuary doors, and I can immediately feel the familiar difference between a Sunday, and the present event. At the front of the room, just below the stage, I notice the stunning craftsmanship of a well-polished wood casket, and I can see that the lid is intentionally open; inside lies the body of a loved one who has passed. To either side of the casket there are brilliantly arranged bouquets, enormous, each with a variety of vibrant colors.

Not knowing the family, or the person who lies peacefully inside the casket I keep a respectful distance. I feel that it isn’t my place to look closer and my convictions tell me that the surrounding space around the casket is reserved for loved ones. A brief glance from the back of the room is all I can use for insight. The stage lighting shines down into the casket at an angle that allows me to briefly notice the thinned hair of an almost bald head belonging to someone I estimate has died in his 80s. If it weren’t for the length of his hair, I may have been unable to assume the deceased is male . Maybe someone’s grandfather , I think to myself. A small wave of relief washes over me as I grow hopeful that the friends and family of this older gentleman were able to rest by his side before he passed, and that he leaves behind a full and well-lived life. Maybe today will be similar to a Sunday morning. Maybe greetings won’t be as hushed, maybe my lack of relationship to the family will not be felt by others, maybe the atmosphere will carry with it a spirit of celebration, rather than loss.

I move through my responsibilities behind the sound board with a bit of ease. I feel clearer and less heavy-laden and start to believe that smiles might be appropriate, possibly even expected. The last item on my check list for the morning is to set and prep the Chapel where lunch is scheduled to take place following the ceremony.

In the hallway just outside the sanctuary, staff members stand near the doors ready to greet guests, as a few begin to arrive. I make my way to the west end of the building passing by two TV monitors that roll through a slideshow of photographs. A photo of four individuals standing together in front of a lake – the younger gentleman in the picture holding a large fish – fades to black and is in the process of switching to a new photo. Moving quickly, I try to keep an eye on the monitor and catch a glimpse of the next picture as it appears, but as it starts to fade in, the corridor walls leading to the Chapel eclipse my gaze and I continue forward, determined to accomplish my final task. I reach the end of the corridor and see that the Chapel doors have all been propped open. Stepping inside, I’m surprised to find all the equipment in the Chapel has already been turned on. Rows of tables and chairs are all in place. The tables are carefully draped in cloth, the chairs are in order and neatly tucked beneath each table’s edge.

The sun is still over the east side of the building which stops the morning rays from spilling in through the windows, the lack of natural light makes the ceiling projector’s beam slightly visible in the air which captures thin strips of dust particles. The cone shaped beam extends in length and grows wider as it reaches for a screen that hangs on the adjacent north side wall. The beam suddenly changes colors and I look at the screen in time to see another photo from the same slideshow on the TV monitors out in the lobby. A different photo of the same young man who had been holding a large fish in the previous, is now being projected on screen, but here he stands beside a woman who appears to be of similar age; his arm hangs at his side and near the bottom of the frame I can see that he is holding her hand right hand. The young man doesn’t appear to be a day over 25. They are both smiling in the photo, and based on the lack of space between them, it feels safe to assume that the two of them are in love. I have a thought to check the young woman’s left hand for a ring, but I am abruptly distracted by a different observation. The young man is completely bald. I’m hit with mixed feelings of excitement and devastating curiosity as I realize that I have just been presented with a new piece to the puzzle. Determining whether or not the piece will fit suddenly hangs on the next several photos. I hold my breath and hope the following picture contains unrecognizable faces. The young couple begins to slowly fade out. My heart sinks as a new image of the same young man comes into focus. The slideshow continues and I watch several more pictures come and go. Each time the screen fades to black a new photo appears and the young man’s face is consistent in every one.

I leave the Chapel and make way upstairs with the intention of checking in with the person running slides in the media room. The operator has stepped out, but I bump into pastor Art. “Hi, Art.”

“Good morning, sir! How are you?” He asks.

“Well… You know, it’s been a while since I’ve been to a funeral with an open casket. When I came in this morning I wrongly assumed that person who passed was in their 80s. I’ve been watching the slideshow and I’m just now realizing that he may have been younger than me.”

“Oh yeah.” Art says. “No, he was only 24. He had Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He and his wife have only been married for two weeks.”

I take a moment to absorb pastor Art’s statement. The words, married for two weeks , hit a button on a remote control for my brain and a mental movie starts to play. I can suddenly see brief snippets from scenes of a young couple who are happy, but the husband is dying. “Whoa… This is a difficult funeral.” I say. “But they were married?”

“Yup. Only two weeks, and I’m not exactly sure of the whole story there.”

“Wow, that’s really difficult.” I say. “I was going to say, she must be a remarkable person to marry someone who was dying.”

“Yeah, I’m not sure how that came to be, but it is a remarkable, and very sad story.”

Art and I part ways for the time being, and I head back downstairs to the sanctuary. The visitation begins in fifteen minutes. Back at the sound board the pastor who will be speaking during the ceremony, is quietly going over his message notes. We greet one another, softly. I take my post behind the sound board and linger for a few moments, but then, to interrupt the silence I turn towards the pastor and say, “I’ve been really sad to learn more about this family and hear some of their story.” The pastor tips his head and closes his notes.

“Yes.” He says to me, quietly. “It is quite a story.” His tone is very inviting, and my nerves of speaking up have completely subsided. We both take a step closer to one another, and I sort of lean-in, hoping to say more.

“When I first got here I didn’t get close enough to the casket to see his face, and I thought that this may have been the funeral for someone in his 80s. It wasn’t until I stepped outside and noticed the photos that this is someone who was very young.”

“Ooohhh, no, exactly,” he says. “It’s been a long journey. He had cancer, but fully recovered. My wife and I actually officiated at he and his wife’s wedding just two weeks ago. His girlfriend stayed with him through the cancer, and when they got the news that it was in remission, they all celebrated over what looked like the start of things beginning to really turn around.”

At this point I have stayed completely silent and stunned. I let the pastor continue and he says, “The two of them were thrilled to move in the direction they had longed to for so long. A few weeks after it went into remission, he was strong enough to walk down the aisle on his own.”

I continued listening to the pastor and he went on to explain that even though the cancer had subsided there was a need to still administer medications for a different condition that had developed as a result of the cancer, a condition known as Guillain-Barré syndrome. The medication was administered via a PICC line (which stands for peripherally inserted central catheter) and after not feeling so well during the first week of marriage, he and his family all went back to the hospital they had just left, where they removed the PICC line from the young man’s body and believe that an infection had got in and gone to his heart. The pastor told me that within twelve hours of admittance, the young man died.

As difficult as it was, I find myself grateful that I had the opportunity to be there for the rest of that morning. The story didn’t end with the pastor telling me of the family’s tragedy and leaving myself, or anyone else in attendance, stuck within a pit of despair. As the 10:00am visitation began I stood behind the sound board and saw the grief of a young woman who was widowed after only two weeks of marriage. I could see the pain in the eyes of a mother and father who were burying their son of only 24 years, but despite the pain there was an enormous ray of hope that shot through the entire building that morning. The young man who passed, knew Jesus.

Towards the middle of the pastor’s message, he seemingly stepped away from his notes when he explained to all of us in attendance that if we were the ones writing the story it would likely end differently. In our Hollywood-ized versions of romance and happy endings the groom doesn’t die, parents and grandparents do not bury their children, and we see life lived to its fullest extent. “Luckily for us,” the pastor said, “our heavenly author writes a different story and tells us that death is not the end for those whose hope is in Him.” In God’s story His son does die, that we might live, and be with Him eternally in a place where there is no death, sickness and pain, or suffering of any kind.

As I listened to the pastor’s message I thought of my own life, and my concern of death and the loss of loved ones. Those of us who attend church have heard the message of eternal life before, but when we’re young it often feels like a distant concept, rather than an immediate reality. As I made all the right technical preparations for the funeral that morning, I had skipped the internal prep work, and neglected to reflect on the fact that I myself will one day go home to be with Jesus, and the weight of the young man’s story would remind me that I do not know when. Despite the floor having been ripped out beneath their feet, one thing was abundantly clear: the family was standing on solid rock. In the face of death, and searing loss, the young man and those he left behind stood firm on one life-changing, foundational truth: Christ crucified. “Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.” – John 14:19

The Reason We Love Vacations

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The Reason We Love Vacations

The long drive was well worth it. When you grow up in a small town you crave excitement, something bigger than the day-to-day rhythm. I was barely old enough to see out the window, but what I did see were giant, orangish-golden beams that stretched much higher than any tree I had ever climbed. The Golden Gate Bridge was beautiful and the road that crossed it seemed to go on forever over the deep blue ocean waters below. So much history lay in this region and the discussions I had with my parents went from the Gold Rush to the more somber discussion about Alcatraz Island. We enjoyed a ride on the hilly streets in the Cable Cars and of course, enjoyed some great Mexican food. The sad sights of the city were the poverty and the garbage in the streets, along with used syringes from hopeless drug addicts that lay along the sidewalks. These things are not in my memory, though my parents did witness such things along the way, the innocence of childhood allowed me to take in the good, the beauty, and the adventure of the vacation.

Over the years of my childhood, my family took another vacation. This one was to Glacier National Park in Montana. I was in awe of the beauty and grandeur of the lofty mountain heights and taken in by the calm flowing streams. It was amazing that the temperature at the creek could drop ten to twelve degrees as you ascend a mountain. I so desired to see a bear and the time came to catch a glimpse. Well, my whole family saw it, except me, I was not fast enough to turn my head as it crossed the highway in front of us. This longing strangely enough, is still in me, and to this day I have yet to see a bear in the wild, though I have travelled into the heart of bear country in Minnesota and Wisconsin annually.

There is something about a vacation, an adventure, the intrigue of the wild outdoors in all of us. We all long for something so much bigger than ourselves and life is filled with peril and beauty. In fact, I wonder if all of us have feelings that we are trapped between a mountain top and the prisoners on Alcatraz Island who had attempted to escape numerous times? Things are not the way they are supposed to be, as we toil in this life. The joy and pleasure of our youth is fleeting, and joys are often mixed with the sorrows of sin’s curse, in this age that ends in death. I know this is very dark, right? Yet the apostle Paul gives us a perspective on how to navigate this mixture of the pleasures and sufferings of taking up our cross in this age in his letter to the Romans that can set our hearts on mountain heights of eternal pleasure.

¹⁸ “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the creation waits with eager longing for the revelation of the sons of God. ²⁰ For creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope, ²¹ that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ²² For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. ²³ And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” Romans 8:18-23

While we await the ultimate vacation that God has promised His children, we will pass through many valleys, great trials, while standing in awe of this beautiful life that God has given each of us. It is vital that when one takes a vacation, they leave their work behind and take in the rest that one needs. This is easier said than done in our busy lives, yet all the while when we can’t this makes something very loud and clear: We are too dependent upon our own personal resources and focused too much on our own personal image. Let’s face it, this can be true of all of us at times. The greatness of our God is designed to take our breath away and in this age of suffering we tend to get weighed down with much care. It is so vitally urgent for our very soul that we take the time to reflect not only on who God is, but to get to know Him personally as well. Jesus told us that the way is narrow that leads to life and few find it. He also said that the road that leads to destruction is broad and many walk on it without realizing it. The truth is that the narrow road of obedience and dependence upon God leads to a broad place of beauty in the age to come, described by Paul as the glorious freedom of the children of God that is not even worth comparing to this age and its present suffering. Together as the Body of Christ, may we stir one another up to go up to the mountaintop view and eagerly desire the redemption of our bodies and fullness of joy in Jesus’ presence for endless ages! There is a day coming when we are forever freed from the “Alcatraz” of this body we live in that is destined to die. May we live with our eyes fixed on what is not yet seen with patient endurance and remember the words of C.S. Lewis:

“Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy has been offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

–The Weight of Glory, C.S. Lewis

A Mighty Fortress

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A Mighty Fortress

We introduced “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” as the August hymn part of our 2021 Hymn Project.

This hymn was written by Martin Luther in 1529 in Germany. As you read through the lyrics, there is no doubt that it’s from that time frame; so much so, that even the English translation of the song needs a translation to modern day English.

Martin Luther, the man who began the Protestant Reformation, once wrote, “Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world. It controls our thoughts, minds, hearts, and spirits.” ¹ Music is an important part of our worship of God. It’s important because the message of God is wrapped up in tune or melody and easily gets stuck in our head. So it’s even more important that what we’re singing is based on sound doctrine from the Word of God.

“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” is one of Luther’s most well-known hymns. Based on Psalm 46, this hymn celebrates God’s sovereign power over all earthly and spiritual forces.

Let’s read some of Psalm 46 and then take a closer look at some of the lyrics within this hymn.

¹ God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way…
¹⁰ “Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
¹¹ The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

-Psalm 46:1-2, 10-11

Let’s look through this hymn and highlight some uncommon words and interesting phrases. Understanding some of these words and concepts will help as we sing.

I hope this breakdown helps us draw nearer to God as we worship Him with this Hymn. As we sing, we are celebrating the fact that we already know God will reign forever. There is no reason to fear or tremble at evil. There is every reason to lean on God, our Mighty Fortress.

Super Self

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Super Self

I grew up reading comic books and watching Saturday morning cartoons. I could not wait to watch Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends along with Super Friends. It was a great morning every Saturday and always worth waking up early to watch. Superheroes have made a revival in pop culture over the last 14 years or so with movies like Iron Man and Avengers dominating the screen. I wonder if this American Idol of wanting power and harnessing it for “good” has infected the church more than we think. It seems that Christianized self-help has dominated the top sales position (no I’m not naming names yet…). When we look at the Scriptures, we realize that it is not a better self that we want but rather a spiritual death to self.

So does God want us to be a better version of ourselves or does He have another idea and plan? Around 13 times Jesus calls people to “follow me.” The depths of Jesus’ words are not apparent to the western reader at first. However, as we read through the Gospels, we see Jesus’ fuller meaning to “Follow me.” What we find is a depth of request that is personal and asks for an emptying of self and communion with God in such a way that is transformative to the core! A better self is not the fruit of following Jesus but rather a death to self and a complete transformation.

Come and see:

Jesus is confronted by some young disciples. Presumably, they are tongue-tied when Jesus asks, “What are you seeking?” (which is another way of asking, “What do you want?”). Having an audience with the Savior of the world, the One who Israel has waited for and the fulfillment of Scriptures these young men ask, “Where are you staying?” Jesus responds, “Come and see.” This is not an invitation to just go and visit the place where Jesus is sleeping that night. This is an invitation to a relationship. This is beyond the moment of physical location but rather a spiritual request to see how the Savior lives. This will lead them to a new crossroad in their lives. (See John 1:35-42)

Follow me:

These young men have an amazing interaction with Jesus! However, in John there is an indication that although they follow Jesus, it is unclear where they are at in the “discipleship commitment” as they seem to go back to what they were doing; whereas in Matthew 4, when Jesus calls Andrew, Simon Peter, James, and John from fishing He expressly states, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” It is an interesting command.

Follow me – This is an act of the will. It requires our brain’s engagement to respond.

I will make you – This is a transformation of the heart. Jesus is letting them know that He will do the work. The responsibility is on Christ to change the person? the heart? once the will is submitted.

Fishers of men – Jesus is calling these men on mission with Him. This is what they are going to be about and it will require action (some preparation, some engagement, some work, some flexibility, some course correction, some mending and some follow up… this was all implied by Christ to these men who fished for a living).

At this point, it may feel like Jesus is going to make them better. It may feel like He is going to make them super. However, we see that Jesus calls James and John the “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17) and corrects them when they want to sit at Jesus’ right and left (Mark 10:35-45). He calls them not to a position but to drink of the cup that Jesus drinks from and to be immersed in the life that Jesus is immersed in. Following Jesus is a mission, it is a calling, and it comes with requirements! The Sons of Thunder are not called to a better version of themselves. They are called to a transformation. A place where the “old has gone and the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Simon Peter is the leader of the disciples (if that is fair to call him that). He is not immune to Jesus’ correction either. Jesus does not nurture and develop Simon Peter’s attributes but rather calls them out, empties them, and restores him to Jesus’ plan (Mark 8:33, Matthew 16:23 and John 21:15-19). Simon Peter is not a superhero. His attributes get in the way of Jesus’ mission. And the narrative of the disciples with Jesus is wrapped up with Christ’s final command to Simon Peter at the end of the Gospel of John, “Follow Me!”

Follow Me:

Jesus’ final statement to Peter on the seaside shore occurs after the resurrection. One of the implications of Simon Peter’s desire to go back to fishing is that he thinks he cannot follow Jesus. Jesus restores Simon Peter. This restoration is a call to die. This restoration is a reminder that following Jesus is not about becoming the best version of self. No matter what our culture communicates there is only one Superhero, and His name is “Jesus.”

Despite our sinful nature we are able to crucify it in Christ (Galatians 2:20) and live in Him. Our life in Christ keeps us on the path of follow-ship. The destination is not as important (we will get there… that is His work) but the journey of choosing to follow, allowing Jesus to have His way in transforming us and being on Jesus’ mission is the important part, and the part that we have action in.

Let me encourage you to take some time this week and read the following passages. In reading these passages please take a little time to understand the context around them. Then ask yourself – How does this direct my mind (my will), my heart (Jesus’ work in my life), and my actions (my mission with Jesus)?

Please read: Galatians 2:20; Luke 9:23; Luke 14:33; 1 Corinthians 15:31; Romans 6:1-11; Luke 14:27; Philippians 1:21; Romans 12:1; Colossians 3:3; 1 Peter 2:24; Romans 8:18; John 12:24-26; Romans 6:23; and John 3:1-36

Won’t You Be My Neighbor

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Won’t You Be My Neighbor

Though our humble suburban home doesn’t boast of the best landscaping or the greenest grass, it does give us a unique, birds-eye view to all the comings and goings of our neighbors. As they walk their dogs, take coolers or paddle boards down to the lake and drive to and from work, we see their lives unfold before us day-by-day. Likewise, they see our family on display since our house is the corner lot to the main entrance of our neighborhood.

If you live in the suburbs like we do, you may have neighbors like ours: those that keep to themselves completely, those that do odd things and those that help chase the puppy down or buy lemonade from the kids.

Who are your neighbors? Do you consider them close friends or are they more like strangers that you smile at from a distance? Have you ever prayed for your neighbors? Or asked God to shine through your home as you live in the neighborhood?

My husband and I give thanks to God for our current next door neighbors. A knock on the door from her always brings a joyful, kind smile and sometimes homemade cinnamon rolls – just because! Her husband is always ready to teach our son how to drill a hole for ice fishing or to fix a bike. They are the type of people that have dropped everything to serve us and even mowed our lawn before we had the chance to meet them. We can’t imagine our life without those two! They are the kind of neighbors that are easy to love and make us excited to spend time with them.

Throughout our married life, we haven’t always had neighbors like this amazing couple. Ministry opportunities in different states have brought us to homes in the bustling inner city, acreages with farm animals and quaint townhomes nestled in quiet suburbs. We have had neighbors that have stolen from us, neighbors that have ridiculed us and plenty of neighbors that we never even met. Yet in each of the places we’ve lived, there has been a repeated temptation – smile at our neighbors but keep them at a distance whenever possible.

Can you relate? It’s easy to unwind and disengage from sharing your life. Intentionally opening up and taking time to love those around us doesn’t always come naturally, in fact, Romans 5:5 says that “ God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit .” I often think of the phrase that we see on the walls of our church, Love, Live and Serve like Jesus . How did Jesus treat his neighbors? He certainly made time for them! And he made efforts to love them no matter who they were or where they came from. He taught us that to be a neighbor is to go so far as to care for those we may not especially be drawn to in the parable of the good Samaritan, Luke 10:25-37.

Following his example has challenged our family to be intentional in praying for our neighbors, whether they were the type that stole from us or blessed us. There have been all kinds of neighbors that have been hard to love and a few that have been easy to love. Through all of these moves, our kids are now used to us taking time to pray for our neighbors and asking God to give us Gospel opportunities with them whenever they arise.

Truthfully, that usually means conversations at inconvenient times, and sharing belongings that have value to us when our neighbor has a need. As we’ve challenged our kids to do this alongside us, we have longed for our kids to have opportunities to share their faith too, no matter what age they are.

Recently, we were heading out the door running late and a neighbor stopped at the end of the driveway to chat. Perfect timing – not really. This specific neighbor has a young daughter that enjoys playing with ours and has shared with us that she has a lot of questions about faith practices and has researched a lot of other religions.

As the small talk began and the girls giggled away, one of our young daughters suddenly ran into the house to get her Bible. She told us later that in her heart she felt an irresistible desire to go get it and then began searching through it for a few of her favorite Bible verses to write on a piece of paper to give to the neighbor girl.

When the young gal saw our daughter intently looking through the book, she asked my daughter, “What is that book?” My daughter answered, ”It’s my Bible and I read it to learn about Jesus.” The mom quickly jumped in and said that her daughter has been asking repeatedly to go to church for the past several months but she didn’t know where to take her.

Our girls excitedly told them about how much they love going to Friendship Church and the neighbor mentioned that coincidentally her mom, the little girl’s grandma, had tried to take her daughter to Friendship one time, but had gotten lost and never made it there.

Later on in the conversation, we found out that the little girl had an upcoming birthday, but because of COVID, they would not be celebrating with anyone. As we left for church that weekend, we grabbed a Bible from the Family Ministry library and stopped to pray with a fellow staff member for this little girl and for her desire to go to church.

Through no small coincidence, our girls had attended a birthday party earlier that week and had accidentally left the gift at home. At the time, we were a block away from the party and I knew that we only had time to buy a new gift. In a moment of frustration I thought, how do you leave the present at home on the way to the party?

As it turns out, the Lord was working through our girls’ forgetfulness to provide us with a gift “at the ready” for this little girl that wanted to know more about Jesus. So, as a family, along with our Labrador puppy, all nine of us ran down to her house that Sunday evening to sing Happy Birthday on her doorstep and to deliver her a BIble and a gift, along with an invitation to come to an upcoming Family Ministry event at Friendship.

As I reflected on that day, I remembered how it crossed our minds to give an excuse that we didn’t have time to chat, but I am so grateful that the Lord prompted us to slow down and take time for them. It would have been so easy to rush the conversation, but visiting without an urgency gave time for the Holy Spirit to speak to our child to prompt her to bring her Bible outside and spark the conversation about church.

Only the Lord could have orchestrated all of those details to come together! There is no doubt that God is involved in the details of our lives and that His care for us is very specific.

Loving our neighbors isn’t always easy, even getting to know them requires effort. As you consider your neighbors and who God has placed all around you, will you take a minute to pray for them? Pray that Jesus would give you a love for them that would compel you to go out of your way when it’s not convenient. After all, you probably do have someone in your neighborhood just waiting to learn about Jesus!

This August 13, Friendship Church is hosting an event, Neighborhood Night in the Lot , at the Shakopee Campus starting at 6:30pm. This event is a great opportunity to connect with people in the community and to share the Gospel with them as you pick up cotton candy or a snow cone. There will also be food available for purchase, as well as tons of free bouncy houses and activities for the whole family. Postcards are available at the Welcome Center for you to share with friends or neighbors.

Would you consider going on a prayer walk around your neighborhood? Will you ask God to show you ways that you can love and serve your neighbors?

As you consider doing these things, my prayer for you is that you would be filled with boldness and compassion from the Holy Spirit as you consider how you can share the hope that you have found in Jesus Christ with the people God has placed all around you today.

God’s Joy

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

God’s Joy

On the 4th of July, my sister, her husband, and her kids came to visit us at our house. I have a niece that is 16 and a nephew that is 14. My niece has a wonderfully sensitive soul and is kind to everyone she meets. Unfortunately, sensitivity and kindness are not always valued among teenagers, and she has been experiencing mocking and ostracization from girls around her the last few months. My sister told us that my niece was really looking forward to coming to see my kids because she knew they would treat her well.

My kids are in their early 20’s and over the weekend they had a friend from college that was staying with us. My daughter, son and their friend invited my niece and nephew to go out and go paddle boarding with them on Sunday. My nephew didn’t want to go but my niece jumped at the opportunity and went out with these three young adults to go paddle boarding. There is something special about being accepted and loved on by “older, cool kids” and it’s even better when it’s on a lake.

When they returned, my niece couldn’t stop smiling. I asked her, how her time was, and she told me that it was “the best time she had had in forever.” She sat on the couch and radiated joy and happiness as she talked about all that they did at the lake. In that moment, all the love and attention from her older cousins had overwhelmed the treatment of her peers the previous weeks and she was the picture of happiness, her smile running from ear to ear.

That picture of my niece’s happiness has been stuck in my head as I have spent time with God the last few days. Not just because it is a reminder for me to pray for my niece, but also because that perfect picture of happiness reminds me of the God, I’m spending time with. Our God is ultimately and perfectly happy! He is joy itself and His smile is constant and beyond imagination. Yes…the causes of His joy may be different than what my niece experienced on the fourth of July, but His happiness is even more full and radiant than hers was.

These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:11

In the verse above, Jesus teaches His disciples that they can have fullness of joy. But it isn’t just any joy, it is the joy that belongs to God. Jesus refers to the joy that His disciples can have as “my joy” because it is bound up in the character and existence of God. He is filled with joy. He is joy!

In 1 Timothy 1:11, Paul referred to God as the “blessed God.” The word that he used means happy. God is said to rejoice over His people with singing (Zephaniah 3:17) and He leads the rejoicing in the presence of the angels in heaven when a sinner repents (Luke 15:10). In the parable of the talents, those who are faithful to God are invited to enter the “joy of your Master.” There are many different ways we may think about God, but our picture of who He is, is incomplete if it doesn’t include the fact that the Master is the source of all joy. He is happier than any person ever could be and the smile of a 16-year-old girl has been a wonderful reminder for me that we worship an eternally, perfectly joy-filled God. That thought makes me happy!

Don’t Touch The Cards!

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Don’t Touch The Cards!

I announced in the Ministry Team meeting that my husband and I were going to Las Vegas to celebrate our anniversary. When most people think of Vegas – they think of gambling and all the other wild activities. I explained that my husband and I are national park type people, and our purpose was to see Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, Death Valley National Park, Valley of Fire, Red Rock Canyon and Lake Havasu – with Vegas being a central location to see God’s beautiful creation.

They jokingly said “yeah, right – ha, ha!” Then I remembered, I did get kicked out of a casino once! Pastor Kenny challenged me to write a blog about it. So here it goes. In my twenties, after working a trade show and having a team dinner, our group thought it would be fun to walk the strip and check out some of the casinos. We decided to play blackjack at the Luxor. Now I had never gambled before, so this was far out of my comfort zone. The only time I had played blackjack was with my family as a kid. But I think that purpose was a math lesson! When we played cards as a family, you always picked them up in your hands and held the cards.

So, when the first hand was dealt at the table, I picked up the cards out of habit. Little did I know that was a big NO-NO in Vegas! The dealer sternly warned me not to touch the cards. I profusely apologized explaining I had never played before and didn’t know. For the next few hands I really concentrated to make sure I didn’t touch the cards out of habit. Then, it became a little more laid back, our team laughed, and talked as we played for a bit. After a while, the dealer had to shuffle so there was a break in the action. Sure enough, once we restarted play, I picked up the cards again out of habit. Within seconds, there were two burly security guards at each of my shoulders stating I had to leave the building – NOW! I got kicked out of the casino! They escorted me and my group out. Needless to say, my coworkers laughed about that for quite some time.

What I learned through that experience is that old habits die hard. Research estimates it takes a minimum of 21 days or 3 weeks of taking daily action to form a new habit. I’ve found this to be true in regards to a lot of things, such as exercising or spiritual disciplines. It’s so easy to start a new good habit. But once you skip a day, then skip again, it’s easy to fall out of the good habit. Cultivating good habits takes perseverance and self-control.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7

Over the years, one of the spiritual disciplines I’ve developed is starting and ending every day in prayer. I remember a study by Bible teacher Beth Moore in which she talked about physically getting down on your knees and surrendering to God in prayer. I was moved and started practicing that by laying face down and starting each morning in prayer. Wow, did my life change! God answered prayers and I felt peace and encouragement from Him like never before. Now that doesn’t mean I won’t face sad, bad or stressful things. But by connecting with God first, my heart and mind are better prepared for the day, and it opens me up to God’s leading. After practicing this habit for about 15 years, I sure notice when I forget and “touch the cards.” When I skip prayer time, my day is thrown off and I feel out of rhythm. Days are always better when you connect and surrender to the Source of Life!

Likewise, I pray in bed before going to sleep. Are you like me and struggle with racing thoughts of to-do lists or decisions that need to be made, as you wind down in the evening? When I take time to reflect and thank the Lord for what He has done, appreciating who He is, it makes all the difference in my soul. I can sleep in peace because I have truly laid all my worries before the Lord and put my trust in Him.

So, I encourage you to ask God to show you what good habits He desires for you to form in your life. Maybe it’s reading daily devotions, prayer, or serving weekly at church? Ask Him to guide you and help you grow in self-discipline to develop a good new habit. The resulting fruit will be so rewarding!

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23a

Fishing With Creation

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Fishing With Creation

When the deeds and tasks are done…
All the signs of mistrust fall between the lines
Through the cracks where ash is ever turning, drifting, flowing into dust.
I saw my heart.
I sang my hopes.
I learned that lust…
If Is? for the birds.
And, in the dark
Where secrets lurk
I’ve come to learn
That speech can loom on useless words.

Faith.
The space where logic meets its foe and reason fights to coincide,
Knocking endlessly, so violently,
Relentlessly it tries;
But you can’t rip me from the grace this King is ruthless to bestow,
You can drag me bloody, beaten senseless, and without a stitch of clothes,
And though stark naked to my grave
My spirit then made white as snow.
Satan laughing in a manic desperate state he pulls all stops
Launching full force expert tactics knowing his demise is close.
There: the battle grounds run red with blood of countless sinful souls.
And though the war has claimed too many
There’s yet blood from One who’s death was set to cause Him pain
Who death itself had no effect and all attempts proved truly vain.

In the throes of deep temptation
In the endless dark pit of despair
There’s a love that plumbs far deeper than we ever knew He cared.
Darkness gaping in the mouth the monster evil knows he is
Its belly never full
Its thirst perpetual for sin.
There we find enticements tailor made to fit our vice
Pro fishermen of hell who rig the bait with what we’ll bite.
Don’t be left to mindless swimming
Taking nibbles on a whim
You won’t like what happens after those kind of fishermen have fought their catch and reeled it in.
I made it all the way onto the table
Felt my scales against the block,
But as I went under the knife I felt a sudden grip from different hands
A set that wasn’t quick to toss
Or tear.
Plucked out and thrown into a new bucket
Just before I lost my air.

Now I’m caught by saving hands
Which never catch to kill and eat.
Watch this Fisherman of grace take captured fish and set them free.

Surviving To Thriving

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Surviving To Thriving

Last year my husband Brian and I sat pondering what we should do to celebrate our June wedding anniversary. After quite a bit of hemming and hawing and none of the ideas really sounding that fun, we decided to take a 4-night canoe trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA). The last time we had been to this watery, million plus acre wilderness area in northeastern Minnesota, was to celebrate my 50 ^th birthday, and more than a couple additional birthdays had passed since that time.

Since it was an anniversary trip, we decided to go the easy route and have an outfitter pack our food for us. We also rented some of the necessary gear that we did not have… canoe, paddles, Duluth packs, and ropes to hang our food items out of reach from hungry bears.

For Brian and I, paddling and camping in the BWCA scratches something deep in our souls. We found a wonderful campsite, complete with a calm bay out front, a beautiful sunset view, and a loon that frequented the area and filled some of the silence with its eerie calls. The food and coffee were delicious, cooked over an open fire or propane stove. There was no roughing it with the coffee, as we made sure to bring fresh, whole beans, a hand crank bean grinder and hazelnut creamer.

Along with crystal clear lakes and amazing views, the BWCA can harbor an incredible number of mosquitos. We definitely had our share of those. After we had our dinner each night and the sun began to go down, those hungry buggers came out, seeking us out for an easy meal. In an attempt to make it more difficult for them, we’d use smoke from the campfire, bug repellent and of course the good ole fashioned slap.

One of the things we really like to do on these kinds of trips, is not pay attention to the time. We wake up when we wake, eat when we’re hungry and use the sun to guide our use of the day.

To move between some of the lakes in the BWCA, you need to carry all of your gear (canoe, paddles, backpacks, fishing gear) on a path that runs between the lakes. This is called a portage. Thankfully, my personal Sherpa Brian always carries the canoe for us, while often also wearing a backpack and managing to strap all sorts of other items to the canoe as well. He marches steadily on the path, head down and looking at his feet and the path while the canoe obscures his view ahead. I follow after him and usually end up some distance behind.

On one of our portages, I noticed a pile of feathers on the trail. It looked so weird, but knowing I was near the end and anxious to put down my burden, I passed by it thinking we would go back and take a look. When I arrived at the end, I asked Brian, “Did you see that pile of feathers?”

He said, “I had the strangest thing happen. A ruffed grouse ran out in front of me and I stepped on its tail with my left foot, and then keeping my stride I kicked it with my right foot. I heard kind of a squawk but kept going with the canoe!”

We went back and looked, and there was a perfect tail of the grouse on the trail! A never to be repeated event. How funny! And unbelievable! That grouse tail is one of the many fun memories we have from taking that trip.

I share all this to make a point… It’s important for adults to have fun. Fun can be defined as something that brings pleasure, joy or playfulness.

We often think of fun as just for kids. As an adult, you should also make sure your calendar has some fun things scheduled into it this summer as well. For couples, having fun together is a powerful tool for strengthening your marriage.

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. – Proverbs 17:22

Couples start out their dating relationship doing all sorts of fun things together. Over time, familiarity with each other and the numerous tasks and responsibilities of life can push fun activities aside. We’ve all heard or said these statements… “We are too busy to plan to just have fun.” “We don’t like to do the same things.” “Someday we will…”

I recently heard a speaker say, “If you’re not laughing together and doing fun things in your marriage, your marriage is in danger.” I believe it!

Do you look at your spouse and associate them with fun? Was that truer in the past then it is today? I’m assuming that when you fell in love with your spouse, you did all sorts of fun things together. Having fun with your spouse will keep your marriage thriving. If your goal is to have a strong marriage, fun must find its way into it.

The data is clear. We are at our best when we are having fun. That means that couples are at their best when they are having fun! Consider the benefits of you and your spouse being intentional about doing fun activities together. Laughter, reduced stress, better communication, relational harmony, fun memories and closeness to name a few.

If knowing where to begin seems like a challenge to you, here is how to get started. With your spouse, take some time to brainstorm some ideas of what activities sound like fun. Your spouse will have some things they think would be fun that you won’t (i.e. winter camping). You will have some ideas that you think would be fun, that your spouse won’t (i.e. swing dancing lessons). But there will also be things that you both think would be fun. Pick a date and time and put it on the calendar.

If you are struggling at finding common ground, choose something that would be new to both of you, try it out and see if it fits or if you need to try something else. Remember, a fun activity has no accomplishment, no purpose… other than spending time together in an enjoyable way.

Our calendars can get filled quickly. If we don’t plan our time, it will get planned for us. Blessings to you as a couple as you intentionally seek to have fun together this summer and beyond!

Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. – Ecclesiastes 9:9

Lead Them

Tue, 15 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Lead Them

Happy Father’s Day!

If you’re a father, or if you’d like to be some day, I hope as you read on that you are encouraged, spurred-on, or that some of you may even feel a little punch to the gut.

Father’s Day and Mother’s Day are similar at their basic concept; they’re days in which children and spouses are to celebrate their fathers and mothers. Unlike Mother’s Day, a day that is deservedly all about mom, Father’s Day is and should be treated entirely different in my opinion.

Dads do not have the same experience as moms, and they’ll never fully understand what it means to be a mom. From conception through the rest of a child’s life, the experience a mother has is greatly different than that of a father. From childbearing, to the “I only want mommy” phases of life, to the widths and depths moms think through as they observe and analyze every moment of the lives of their children, dads just have a different experience. Because of that, when it comes to Mother’s Day, I am all for supporting my wife and doing whatever it takes to make Mother’s Day special for her. If we as husbands truly understand our wives, we’d pay attention to this and honor her as we’re called to do.

Father’s Day is different. Is it okay to be celebrated by your wife or children? Yes, absolutely! If you’re given a gift, should you accept it? Yes, with humility and thankfulness! But should you expect these things? Should you expect a weekend of relaxation, doing whatever you want, having your special requests fulfilled, neglecting the lawn, or getting away with some guy friends? Absolutely not. Every year, my wife will ask me how I want to celebrate Father’s Day, or if there’s anything special I’d like, and my answer is always, “I just want to be with you and the kids.”

Husbands and fathers, we are called to lead our wives and children every day. Having both of those titles myself, I know and have learned far too often that I don’t do that perfectly. So, Father’s Day for me is an annual reminder of what God has called me to in these roles. It’s a time to reflect on how I’ve loved and engaged my children the past year and to seek out new ways of pursuing my wife. It’s easy to get stuck in the ruts life paves for us and I’ve fallen prey to routine. But my wife and children deserve my best. Your family deserves your best.

So, this Father’s Day, I encourage you to take some real time to look within and ask yourself these questions:

I challenge you to listen to the song, “Lead Me” by Sanctus Real. Listen to the lyrics and see the faces of your wife and children. Your family wants and needs you to lead them.

Ephesians 5:25-28

^“25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, ²⁶ that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, ²⁷ so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. ^[ ^a ^] ²⁸ In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.”

1 Peter 3:7-8

^“7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you ^[ ^a ^] of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. ⁸ Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.”

Ephesians 6:4

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Ministry Of Reconciliation

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Ministry Of Reconciliation

Reaching. Healing. Renewing.

Who doesn’t want more of these verbs in their life?

That’s the heart and hope behind Ministry of Reconciliation and I can certainly attest to its life-giving characteristics.

Ministry of Reconciliation (MOR) was birthed out of Friendship Church and has since turned into a stand alone ministry just down the road from where it first began.

I don’t think anyone would doubt that last year was hard. Not just globally, but personally on many levels for many people as well. As if COVID and all of its facets weren’t enough, I was fighting my way through the thick of my own bondage.

Enter in MOR. I’ve been going once a week since the beginning of the year and I have already found so much freedom.

I firmly believe MOR is an asset to anyone because we all have stories marked with some level of pain, hurt, and brokenness. MOR is a safe place to heal in these areas and more. Everyone who walks through their doors is offered free ministry on a donation based offering and is assigned two prayer ministers to partner with them through their unique journey.

For some it’s longer that others. It really depends on your story and just how deep you want to go. My husband made it through in record speed in less than 8 weeks flat. He now has the tools to continue to do the ongoing work on his own. On the other hand, I’ve been going for 5 months and I don’t see an end in sight.

What I love most about MOR is that it’s one-hundred percent spirit-led. Each session is sandwiched between prayer to ensure God is the one doing the brunt of the work.

Psalm 86:11 is the heart and soul behind MOR. “ Teach me Your way, O LORD; and I will walk in Your truth; give me an undivided heart, and I will fear (revere) Your name. “

The point is to look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, and allow His truth to lead us into God’s best. Each approach used in MOR is littered with scripture and rooted in biblical truth. Together my prayer partners and I have worked through generational ties, unforgiveness, strongholds, roots of bitterness, and that’s just the beginning. Of course many of these areas are a lifelong pursuit, but that’s why it’s so important to receive the tools to continue to tap into these things.

For example, when we first tackled unforgiveness I was instructed to make a list of all those who came to mind. After working through my list I quickly realized that even though I had forgiven certain people I continued to be hurt by them. These people are considered serial offenders and I must continue to cultivate a heart of forgiveness towards them. Sometimes when this task feels especially tricky I will pull out my MOR folder and go through the scriptures on forgiveness and read through the forgiveness prayer as well.

I believe MOR acts like a bridge between the things that try to trip us up and hold us back and God’s beautiful plan for redemption. Some weeks are harder than others to show up, but I always walk away feeling lighter and like the veil between God and I has been lifted. I’ve seen beauty come from ashes and I’m so thankful that God has provided a place to help push me along the path of freedom in Christ.

If you or someone you know is in need of a spiritual helping hand then I highly recommend Ministry of Reconciliation. You can explore more of their vision and mission on their website below.

http://mor-mn.com/home

Inspiration

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Inspiration

As I was pouring myself a cup of iced afternoon coffee, my five-year-old daughter approached me with a smirk and said, “Wouldn’t it be funny if a pig sang a song and all he did was oink?” She’d painted a silly picture, and I couldn’t help but hear a pig oinking to the tune of Yankee Doodle Went to Town . Then, without any effort, my mind showed me a cow mooing dramatically to the tune of Whitney Houston’s I will always love you. Suddenly, the possibilities for children’s books and YouTube videos were running through my mind. I was mentally writing them when I realized: I was inspired, however ridiculously, by the imaginations of my five-year-old.

Inspiration is funny like that. It comes and goes, almost without pattern or precedence. What works to get me thinking, writing, or dreaming one day may not work the next. When I try to re-create a time or place where I felt inspired, it almost never happens. That’s when motivation steps in. I have to motivate myself with rewards or consequences to keep things moving. Deadlines, responsibilities, paychecks, happy or disappointed people, failure or success—these are all external motivators. Though the two are similar, we all understand that somehow inspiration is different. Many people even say that motivation is external while inspiration comes from within.

If it’s true that inspiration comes from within, then that is also the “place” where the Spirit of God dwells. [1] The Spirit of the single most creative Being to ever exist indwells us. So it would be reasonable to believe that same Spirit indwelling us could inspire some of the most thought-provoking art and literature, the most well-composed music, the most compelling movies, research papers and ingenious inventions. A professor of mine once said, “Christians should be the most creative people on the planet.” But perhaps a better way to word it is: “Christians should be the most inspired people on the planet.”

I don’t know about you, but I don’t often feel like this—like I am a uniquely inspired individual. Much of what I produce is some sort of reproduction of something I saw or read or researched online. And I’m not alone. Our internet age ultra-connectedness has created a sort of groupthink, creative template that nearly suffocates originality. Even what we share with one another is meme-esque, in that it’s already been shared a thousand, a hundred thousand times before.

It’s like we’ve all forgotten how to draw without tracing paper, how to think without Google. Where is our inspiration?

But there’s hope. Isn’t that always the message for us who love and are loved by God? There’s hope because of the creative Spirit that we so often ignore. I believe His voice is always speaking, waiting to be heard. I believe He’s behind every stroke of genius, every life-altering piece of art. When we pray, listen, trust that Creator—instead of looking for outside motivators or even our own past inspiration— something new can be born.

Let’s ask. Ask Him to inspire us, to move us, to not just indwell, but pour out of us. I don’t think this is a one-time prayer or even a daily ritual, but rather a real desire to be used in new and divinely inspired ways.

I believe that as we do this, inspiration will come with a force we’ve never known before. And it might just start a movement. Because the truly inspired tend to leave a trail of tulip petals, of true inspiration for others to follow and find for themselves.

[1] Ezekiel 36:27

I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Romans 8:9

However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him

Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Indwelling-Of-The-Holy-Spirit

The Best Man Speech

Tue, 25 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The Best Man Speech

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to stand as the “best man” in a wedding. And as I was preparing the speech, it really got me thinking about my dear friend, his future bride, and what I believe God teaches us about marriage. I hope this will bless others, single or married.

The hardest part of putting something together was trying to think of what I might share – what his friendship has done in my life, details about the two of them, or even better what God is doing by bringing them together.

One thing I have observed in my friends is a type of spirit that offers more encouragement than it does criticism; strives to love rather than condemn; aims to serve over being waited on; and desires to be a team mate rather than an opponent. What a blessing to see the ways God moves in your hearts.

“The love of my life,” it’s sad that phrases like these become so common they turn cliche, the problem being that cliches are often true, and the only reason they become cheesy or sappy is because over time, they become overused. Sometimes a cliche is the best way to express what we otherwise cannot- to make known and put plainly that which burst forth from our hearts, when the words necessary to do so, feel too far away. To call someone the love of your life is not a cliche, in fact, I consider it a miracle.

But the truth, that I’m sure older married couples know too well, is how it won’t always be easy. Life tends to have a way, and in time, the heart tries to quit. Don’t let it.

It’s been my experience that the heart always follows action, when you hit the wall of unwillingness to serve and love sacrificially, commit yourself/ mind soul and body to a ruthless pursuit of grace, don’t wait for your heart to catch up, it will on its own eventually, in time it will be forced to, the heart may have a lot of pull but it never has enough say or wherewithal to keep your body paralyzed; leave your mind idle, or steal from you the ability to move towards one another in love- at least, it doesn’t have to.

I believe simple deeds often do more than large ones- it’s the day-to-day small acts of kindness that will give your marriage space to grow and flourish. I doubt that either of you has fallen in love with the other based on grand gestures- the proposal was a grand gesture, this day an even larger one, and throughout your marriage I hope every now and again there will be more grand gestures, but please, do not forget the small things- at face value grand gestures are exactly as the phrase suggests: GRAND; they are moving in nature, and very emotionally stirring but they will not sustain you when the going seems tough.

There will be seasons when the weight of life seems heavier than it ever has, during these seasons you’re marriage may feel heavy as well and it’s during those times you will both get lessons on what forgiveness truly is. Do not try to lift the weight on your own- as you feel the pains of what it takes to grow stronger it will not be the grand gestures that help you push the weight- what I hope you both remember when things seem unfamiliar, is the other person’s ability to say, “I’m sorry”; when you’re having your worst day and nothing is falling into place the way it needs to – lean on one another’s ear, remember that listening will always do more than trying to fix.

Become experts in each other’s strengths. In case I have made it sound easy I’ll add that grace does come at a cost. When you choose to forgive one another for the mistakes you are guaranteed to make you will feel pain, possibly even loss knowing that somewhere there is something that has temporarily gone missing. Maybe it takes time, but eventually forgiveness does come but the pain must be absorbed somewhere, and the choice to forgive is a choice to absorb pain for the sake of another- when these moments come, I urge you to look to the cross.

To Jesus there are no surprises; he already knows every mistake, and the choice to absorb our pain that we might be forgiven is exactly what it will take to look at your spouse when there’s been a rough break, and say, “even though I’m still hurting, in Him we’re okay. I forgive you.”

Our ability to extend grace is somewhat broken and only goes so far, but Christ’s is perfect, and He waits with open arms ready to bring the two of you closer together as you pursue Him; forgoing your independence no longer separates you, but moves you forward together as one.

When I finished sharing these words of encouragement to honor my friends, there wasn’t a dry eye in the place. Not only are friends and family there to support newlyweds, but when they put their trust in God, He will lead them throughout the years.

God of the Impossible

Tue, 18 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

God of the Impossible

As I stood at the terminal gate watching person after person board the plane that I was hoping to fly on, I knew that my chances for using the standby ticket in my hand were slim to none. That flight was no different than the flight before it, there was simply no room! Would I get back in time for my college classes the next morning in Florida? Would I be able to find a ride if my flight arrived in the middle of the night?

As I watched the flight depart, I resolved that God must be up to something and so I settled into my seat and let my thoughts drift to a firm desire I had to spend my study abroad in the country of Bolivia. Though everyone thought I was crazy for picking a random country with no contacts or clear plans for how it would play out, I was firm in my commitment to pursue this path. Somehow, and in some way, I knew in my heart that I was going to go to Bolivia, and I had peace that God was working somehow to open a door for me to go there. I just knew it!

While I waited for the next potential flight to begin boarding, a casual conversation began with some people near me. The couple had been rerouted to Minneapolis from Michigan due to a flight change from bad weather. As we began talking, they quietly explained that they were flying home from the funeral of their son. As I listened and shared any words of encouragement that came to my mind, my jaw practically dropped open when they began sharing about how their son, a police officer killed in the line of duty, had met his bride while serving as a missionary in Bolivia.

They went on to share stories and details about the mission work that their best friends had led for years. They recalled memories of their son and these missionaries with great fondness. Humility washed over me as I began to realize how incredible the circumstances were that had brought us together. We prayed together and marveled at how God alone could connect people through such painful circumstances and yet somehow bring glory to His perfect plan.

Just a few months later, I took a flight to Cochabamba, Bolivia, where I spent three months serving as a missionary and completing my study abroad coursework. The circumstances that got me to Bolivia did not prepare me for the challenges of serving impoverished children and their mothers in prison, but they did teach me that my Father in Heaven is sovereign and works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

The lesson I learned through that experience was that God can do the impossible! It impacted me greatly as a young woman and I figured I would remember it forever. As believers, we know that we have a great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1) that bear testimony to God working in impossible situations.

Yet, facing our own circumstances of the “impossible” as we journey on with the Lord, we can sometimes feel weak in our faith and prone to lose heart or settle into thoughts of despair at times. Even when we have seen God working in amazing ways in the past, we still need to be reminded of this truth year by year as we follow Him. Our family recently faced some circumstances that caused me to wrestle with this lesson in a deeper way.

At a recent LifeGroup gathering, the night began with someone sharing a praise report of how a youth had come to faith in Jesus based on a testimony that someone in our own group had shared a few years ago. The testimony was based on a very difficult trial that they had faced, and how God had been faithful in the midst of it. As everyone rejoiced upon hearing the testimony, we all marveled at how God’s timing was perfect! There was no other explanation. Others in the group began sharing stories of how God was working in their lives and how His timing was just perfect. No other explanation, only God could have done it!

We went on that night to study Romans 16 and studied the love and care that Paul expressed for the various church leaders and laborers in the Gospel. I looked around the room at the dear brothers and sisters in the Lord and instantly my faith was strengthened to believe again that God is perfect in His timing! His faithfulness is near to us in our trials and His plan for us is good. At all times and in all ways.

That night as we shared the challenges we were facing, our LifeGroup prayed for us, encouraged us and shared with us the heart that Paul shared for his fellow Gospel laborers in his letter to the Roman church. I fell asleep that night feeling confident that God could work in our seemingly impossible situation and thanking God for the love we felt from our brothers and sisters in Christ.

This past year has brought many challenges for people all across the globe. There are several people in the Friendship Church family that are facing impossible situations today. Whether health related, financial or relational, they are all important to our Father in Heaven and we can be sure that He is working on our behalf, even when we don’t realize it. My prayer for you is that you would have faith to see Him working and faith to believe His promises in the Scriptures regardless of what you are facing.

As I pray for our church, I often pray that more LifeGroups would be formed. These small gatherings of members of our Body provide the opportunity for care, compassion, needs to be met and prayer to take place. Most importantly, they are the perfect greenhouse for faith to grow as we encourage one another as the Day draws near for Christ to return.

Are you in a LifeGroup ? Would you prayerfully consider hosting or facilitating one? If the Lord is stirring in your heart a desire to join a group or to potentially lead a group, don’t hesitate to reach out to the church office so that we can pray with you and help you get connected!

We’re in this together, running the race of faith, arm-in-arm, reminding each other of God’s amazing ability to transform hearts, turn around lives and change impossible situations. He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than we can ask or imagine! (Ephesians 3:20)

Letting The Urgent Outweigh The Important

Tue, 11 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Letting The Urgent Outweigh The Important

I opened my calendar a few weeks ago to schedule a game night with friends and thought to myself, “When did things get so busy?!” Somehow without my knowing, every weekend for the next month had something going on. Have you ever had this happen to you? You keep putting one thing after the other onto the calendar without stopping to look at the surrounding days and weeks to see how busy you are making your schedule as a whole? I’ve been finding myself doing this a lot lately. I first noticed it a few months ago when we were trying to reschedule a family dinner with Sam’s siblings. Something came up and we had to reschedule the original date we had picked. I flipped through my calendar to see what other evenings we had free, only to realize we didn’t have another free evening for a whole two weeks! TWO WEEKS! I don’t know about you, but that’s a long time to go without a free evening! The thing that I find increasingly distressing about this is that I often don’t even realize I’m booking us so full until the calendar is packed! I often tell myself that “Everything we put on the schedule is good. Don’t worry!” But the other day I found myself asking, “Is it really?” Is it all truly good if it takes time from the Lord? From my spouse? From taking time to rest? If the next weekend meeting, the next evening event, the next…you name it, takes all of my time to the point where I don’t even have time to slow down and catch my breath, are they truly good things?

Over the years, I’ve learned that eventually something has to give. Is it my time with the Lord? Time with my spouse? Sleep? Health and nutrition? I have also learned that if I don’t choose where to give something up, then I will unintentionally end up giving up things I shouldn’t. My husband always says, “Don’t let the urgent outweigh the important.” There are things that come up that feel urgent. It feels like they must be done immediately. But often those urgent things end up pushing out the important things. The things that should be a priority to us. If we don’t hold those important things as non-negotiables, as priorities that can’t be moved, then they will end up being pushed out by the urgent things that come up.

As I was reading in Mark 6 the other day, I noticed an interaction between Jesus and his disciples, right before the feeding of the five thousand, that I had never noticed before. Verse 31 says, “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He (Jesus) said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’” Jesus encourages, and even purposefully sets aside time for Him and His disciples to rest. They have been consumed with ministering to people, to the point where they haven’t even been able to take time to eat! Yet Jesus tells them it’s time to set aside time to rest. Now, don’t you think that ministry was important? Weren’t the people they were ministering to a priority? Of course! But if Jesus and the disciples didn’t take time to rest, spend time with their Heavenly Father, and even building up one another, they wouldn’t be able to pour out and continue their ministry to the people around them. The urgent things that come up are often not bad things, which can make it even harder to say no to them! But do we say yes to them at the expense of the important?

Back on March 10, Sam and I celebrated our 3-year wedding anniversary! Around Christmas time we started talking about taking a trip this year for our anniversary since we weren’t able to last year because of COVID. We talked off and on for three months about where we might want to go and when we might be able to “fit in” a trip like that. Before we knew it, it was March 6, and our anniversary was four days away! No trip was planned. We both realized that there was no way we were taking a trip for our anniversary with that short of notice. We both were really sad that three months had slipped away from us without planning our trip. Something we said was important to us got pushed off because of the seemingly urgent things that came up along the way.

I don’t have perfect answers as to how we resolve this in our daily lives. The reality is that sometimes we can’t avoid the urgent. Sometimes we must make space for the urgent things, because sometimes they truly are urgent! But going into this summer, where the schedule is already packed with events, weddings, family time, preparing for a baby coming in the fall, and all kinds of other projects that need to get done, Sam and I decided to sit down and prioritize the important. To block off dates on the calendar for vacations (and actually stick to them!), to write in date nights and Saturdays that we are taking as times to rest, because we know that if we don’t do it now, before we know it the schedule will be filled with the urgent.

I would encourage you to prayerfully consider the important things in your life. How are you going to make sure they are prioritized? How are you going to make sure that when the urgent things arise, the important things don’t get pushed to the side? Maybe it’s sitting down like we did and blocking off dates. Maybe it’s building a weekly routine that establishes those important things in your daily life. Maybe it’s sitting down at the end of the month and evaluating how you’re doing at prioritizing those important things and then setting up goals of how you could do better the next month. Whatever works best for you and your family, give it a shot! There is no right or wrong answer, the most important thing is that we honor God with how we steward our time and that we don’t let the important things get pushed aside because of the urgent.

For Every Woman a Flower

Tue, 04 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

For Every Woman a Flower

I have a distinct memory of being in church one Mother’s Day, and the speaker inviting every woman to take a flower as she left the auditorium. A “happy-mother’s-day-flower.” Honestly, the notion confused me. Wasn’t today just about the mothers? Weren’t we supposed to make them feel special, let them stand out? I was a young woman, unmarried and nowhere near motherhood. Looking around the room, I was certain many of the women holding onto those single stems were not mothers either. But as encouraged, I took a flower and feeling my cheeks warm a little, left that day without much thought.

I have revisited that service, held that flower in my mind many times since.

Since that day, I’ve become a mother myself. I’ve experienced the preparation, the anxious waiting, the painful growth and joyful arrival of my children. I’ve also seen and shared and lived through the shattering pain of pregnancy loss and infant loss. I’ve lived through the diapers, the potty training, the first steps, first words, first days, with many more to come.

I’ve learned and am still learning the immense breadth of motherhood.

That day, all those years ago in church, I saw mothers, and I saw non-mothers. I did not see the yawning spectrum before me. I did not see the women who yearned to hold their children, unborn or born and gone to soon. I did not see the mothers whose children had turned away from their faith, their families, their God. I did not see the mothers who ached for their physically or mentally ill, addicted, or incarcerated children. I did not see the many mothers-to-be, who had yet to learn of their pregnancy or their pregnancy loss. I did not see the many mothers who would always hold children in their hearts and never in their arms. I did not see the many mothers who had or would become a mother through adoption. I did not see the many women who would “mother,” yet never hold the title in the eyes of our world.

I did not see the ocean of pain and love all around me.

Our Father in heaven is always bending in compassion, sacrificing, his heart breaking for his children. This is a mother’s love. It is a universe. Holding so much love and pain, it is ever-expanding in what it carries.

So today, on this Mother’s Day, a flower for every mother in every sense of the word.

A flower for you, today.

A flower for every woman.

My List

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

My List

I’ve been attempting to write this particular post for over four weeks. For some reason I’ve been exceptionally stuck. Between my late-night brainstorming sessions that ultimately amounted to nothing, and early mornings spent staring at a blank page, I’ve caught myself on several occasions growing outright frantic to develop an idea that I felt could offer something meaningful. I still don’t have it. This post is past due and my anxiety over simply scratching something together to just, “turn it in!” has got the best of me. I pray that at this moment, you’re in a season of peace. And if not, this goes out to you.

I recently began taking an inventory of the things in this world that make me anxious. To my surprise, for the first time in my life, writing has made my list. I’m gripped by a sense of loss as I realize that what I’ve always looked to for hope has suddenly let me down. I catch myself grasping for straws as I try to draw on anything I’ve found even remotely inspiring within the past few weeks. With every writing project in the past, I’ve always been able to strike a pace that pushes me forward in such a way that inspiration never feels too far away; a distance that keeps my attention while never allowing my focus to stray too significantly. But today, I’ll be lucky to finish the next sentence before Google starts beckoning my name as I remember that hilarious video of the former NASA scientist who created a squirrel edition “American Ninja Warrior” obstacle course in his backyard, filming squirrels as they rally through the brilliantly engineered maze hoping to reach the prize of assorted nuts waiting for them on the final platform at the end of the course. Okay…I’ve managed to resist – for now!

In all seriousness, if we had a different means of conversing at this particular moment, I would ask you this, “What are you currently struggling with?” I am curious, and if I knew the answer, I would be eager for the opportunity to pray for you. In light of feeling as though I have little to say, as sincerely as I can make this sound, I hope you’re doing well.

With every passing hour I’m reminded of the fact that we as humans are often quite limited in our capacity to care for others. And as my writers’ block continues to convince me that I have permanent inadequacies, I’m a little ashamed to admit that throughout the process, prayer never came to mind. It makes me realize that in my moments of stress, I should make a second column at the bottom of my anxieties list with a header of the words, “people I’ve prayed for this week.” Taking the eyes God gave us, removing the gaze off ourselves, and shifting it onto others is probably not a frequently prescribed anti-anxiety medication, but it should be.

The older I get, the more I begin to realize that my anxiety is nothing more than a symptom. A symptom to a much larger, darker in nature and rapidly growing underlying disease. I’ll call it the disease of self. As I reflect on those nights that I felt stuck, I begin to see that I was not battling a lack of inspiration, or the impending doom of a leering deadline, I was afraid of running into a distortion of my self-image. “What if it’s bad? What if I sound dumb? What if I expose myself as anything other than the magnificent writer I want others to see? What if my grammar proves that I’m not as good as I dream I could be?” These, along with many more are the questions that Satan, the world, and my flesh would love to keep me fixated on.

Luckily, in my war against the lack of care for others, and my daily obsession with “self,” I do not stand empty handed on the battlefield or face my opponent all alone. The Lord looks down on my helplessness with compassion and tells me that through Him, I will be given all the necessary means to fight, as He possess all the proper equipment.

“ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:10-17.

I shudder to think of how easily I feel defeated, when words like this are written in our Bible. What power does my inadequacy or the temptation to give into “self” have over the Word of God when THIS is what the Lord has to say about the way He desires to equip us? In my angst I’m starting to see, there is something much larger at play, that underneath my surface fears there is an enemy who wants to take me out, and when I’m stuck behind a blank page with some thousand odd words still left to write, my enemy knows exactly where to strike and how to leave me gazing in the mirror, looking proudly at the reflection I see, standing with a list of questions that he would love to see my “self” use to define me.

I feel closer to being free from my anxiety now, than I did before starting. What God desires to teach me through these blogs is so much richer than what I could have tried to teach myself, and after four weeks of constant churning I’ve learned that it has much less to do with me. So, I turn it back to you. If you’re not in a place of peace, and you too feel that your list of anxieties just gets longer every year, then I encourage you to read Ephesians 6, and tell the Lord that you wish to be with Him throughout the fight. If we had a different means of conversing at this particular moment, I would say that God has interest in you. And I’ll close with this, “if I can ask a heart-felt question from a distance, even though we may have never met, how much closer is the Father to those who trust in Him?”

Potty Training

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Potty Training

Potty training. Learning or teaching, we’ve all been there. If it’s been a while since you were potty trained or had to potty train anyone, please allow me to remind you… Remember all the accidents, messes, laundry, extra clothes, crying and stubbornness? Maybe you do, maybe you don’t, but that’s my life right now.

My wife and I are at least six months into potty training our oldest daughter. For the most part, she’s doing great and we’re proud of her and it’s such a unique time to be a parent. Why? Because the little girl that I love so much can bring out so many emotions in me. Potty training hasn’t gone perfectly and I’m not a perfect parent, but I still love my daughter despite the struggles that have come. I can’t do it on my own though. There have been times where my head has been in my hands while I pray for patience and the love of Jesus.

God is teaching me in these moments. Never would I have thought that God would choose to grow me as a parent and as a disciple through potty training my children. The biggest thing I’ve been learning is that at the end of the day the accidents, messes, piles of laundry, crying or stubbornness do not matter. I still love my daughter.

In the same way, no matter the accidents, messes, crying, stubbornness…the SIN that I have in my life, God still loves me. He doesn’t just love me though; He CHOOSES to love me. The recent celebration of Easter weekend proves it in that He gave His Son, Jesus, to die in my place for my sin so that I could have eternal life with Him in Heaven.

Don’t forget this when you’re stuck in the “accidents” and “messes” of your life. Don’t forget it because I know it’s easier to just wallow in whatever sin you’re dealing with rather than seeking God’s face and leaning into Him.

We heard from the Hymn Project video this month about the hymn, “His Mercy Is More.” If it isn’t by the grace, if it isn’t by the mercy of God, our sins alone would lead us to eternal separation from Him.

But John Newton reminds us…

“ Our sins are many, but His mercies are more: our sins are great, but His righteousness is greater: we are weak, but He is power.”

Acts 3:19 says, “ Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out .”

2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

We have a patient and loving God. It may seem harder to run to Him, but it’s not. He still loves His children. Lean on Him.

I Kept Looking…

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

I Kept Looking…

I Kept Looking

Until I saw His Glory….

I love how Daniel tells us in Daniel chapter 7, how he kept looking as he saw the kings and kingdoms of this earth rising and falling until, “Thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days took His seat!…Thousands upon thousands were attending Him…the court sat, and the books were opened.”

And he kept looking, “And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like the Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed!” Daniel 7:13-14

Daniel kept looking until he saw His glory!

Like Daniel, I kept looking as I watched Jesus endure and fulfill His sufferings, until I saw the glories that followed! 1 Peter 1:11

I watched as He ascended in the clouds, and I saw His triumphant entry into the court of His Father with the keys of death and hell in His hand! I kept looking as He was presented before the Ancient of Days and was given dominion, glory, and an everlasting kingdom.

Jesus prayed to His Father in John 17, “Father, I desire (it is My will), that those you have given Me may be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”

Wow! It is the desire of our Lord Jesus that we are living where He is, He longs for us to be with Him! And that we would see His glory. Where is He? He is now seated at the right hand of His Father on His throne. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The Father has exalted Him to the most-high place and given to Him rule and reign over all the kingdoms in heaven and on earth forever more! He wears the Victor’s crown, and His word is final. All authority has been given to Him in heaven and on earth. All will bow down and worship Him. He will judge in righteousness the living and the dead. It is the Lord Jesus’ desire for us to see Him in this place of glory. That the Father did not leave Him in the grave but caused Him to have victory over it! He passed over and did not see death, making a way for us. Because He has gone before us, we no longer have to fear death. But with the same power that raised Him up we will be raised up on that day, and we will receive bodies that will not die, but will live forever more with Him in glory.

But He wanted us to see Him now in His glory. Why? So that we would see that He received His reward. He wanted us to see His glory, in order that we would walk in the full assurance of faith! He doesn’t want us to live in fear, but to be strong and courageous!

He left His throne and laid down His crown to come to earth and become a servant to His Heavenly Father. He obeyed Him even unto death – to the death of the cross. He desired to please His Father above all else. With all the earthly pleasures around Him, He kept His eyes, His heart, and His mind on His Father, and on what He was sent to do. Jesus knew that His Father had entrusted Him with the salvation of all men. The Father had given Him the task of manifesting His Name and revealing to us His heart. Jesus was anointed to preach the kingdom and the word of God to us just as His Father had commanded Him. He did nothing on His own initiative.

And now He has asked us to do the same, to take up our cross and follow Him. He has entrusted us with the message of the Gospel, and to make known His Father’s love. He has asked us to lay down our lives, to wholly submit to His Lordship, to hear our Father’s voice, and to speak His words of Life and Peace. We are to be burning lamps testifying and bearing witness to a kingdom that cannot be seen. Through us we are to shine the glory of the Son.

How can we do this? Only if we are dwelling where He is now. The Lord has made a way for us to live in His glory now. Jesus has given us access into the court of our God and King. He has taken us from the earthly realm and seated us in heavenly places with Him. We have left this temporal realm and now are living in the eternal. Our hearts and minds and affections are to be on heavenly things, on the eternal things. We are to enter into His presence daily, keeping our appointed times with Him. Being filled with His Word and His Spirit. Letting the Lord speak to us. Sitting at His feet as He teaches us. Being still and listening. Allowing Him to transform us by it, that we would be ever changing into the image of His Son. It is not by our religious good deeds, but by the power of God working in us, through the Holy Spirit.

All that this has cost me has been nothing to me to gain Christ. I want to be full of the glory of God. I want to be full of His power, His grace, His mercy and His truth. I want to please Him with my life in all things. I want to know His Word, and I want to let it have its full work in me. So that it isn’t just head knowledge, but that I become it!!! I want to be a living example, Paul said we are to be living epistles. That means that the word we read, the letters that have been written in the Bible, we are living them out!! We speak them with our lives. Everything we do will be a living testimony, a witness to the truth, of the Word of God. We are the evidence on the earth of His victories! Jesus is the King and Savior of the world, and He rules and reigns over the nations. Our lives will let men see Him. That is why we need to see Him in His glory, that is why we need to make our dwelling place where He is.

I pray you would dwell in the Holy of Holies, daily abiding in His Word and in His presence. And may He make you a true witness of the glory of Jesus.

I kept looking like Daniel and I saw His glory, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come! For the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.” Revelation 12:10-11

The Point of Purpose

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The Point of Purpose

5 Reflections of being created with Purpose

Sometimes we get things out of order! We like to get to the end or we may focus on the journey! There is a term often used in brainstorming called, Z-Thinking. It requires you to start with the end in mind! It is a great practice. It helps people think through process. It also focuses on the journey to get to the end. However, in life, we may want to begin with the beginning. Life doesn’t seem to be as much about process as it is about building. There is certainly a journey and there is certainly an end to this side of eternity but we are building and if we are building then we need a foundation so that when times are tough and we feel lonely, our building doesn’t crumble.

I didn’t just make up the idea of our lives being a building. Jesus referred to His own life as the Temple (Matt 12; Matt 26; Matt 27; Mark 14; John 2) and 1 Peter 2 reminds us that we are being knit together as a sanctuary for God. We are being built up! If we are being built up then we need a foundation. That foundation has an impact on the entire building.

There have been many things written throughout the years about the impact of meaninglessness. However, this season of COVID-19 has highlighted this concern. The CDC has written about the increased trends of mental health (including increased substance abuse and suicidal ideation). Perhaps the increase in these issues fall on the issue of “meaninglessness.”

Is it any wonder that when we teach our children that they evolved from primordial ooze on accident and that they will live and die with only self-given meaning that we imprint them with great meaninglessness and hopelessness? Therefore, we need to get back to a very simple foundation.

The Foundation:

“In the beginning, God created… (Gen 1).” God created… and when He created, He created with order and for a reason. Therefore, you and I start with purpose! Let us not begin by limiting that purpose to a vocation. That would be silly. When we assume our profession is why we exist or that this “one thing” is why we do what we do, we often miss the point. We are parents, workers, children, neighbors, believers, consumers, thinkers, doers, etc. So it is terribly important that we begin with the fact that we are created purposefully! Here are some reflections on being created on purpose, with purpose and for purpose.

1) We are no accidents –

Because there is an infinite God who is the Creator, and He makes everything for a reason (see Genesis 1), and He calls it good and He governs creation, then it is a fact you are here on purpose! No matter what others have said, nor the textbooks… we are created with purpose and for such a time as this!

The passages are numerous that point to this truth. When considering the entire narrative of Scripture it is an obvious logical conclusion that God created us on purpose.

2) We are a part of a design –

There is a grand picture. History pointed to the coming of the Messiah and now points at the Messiah. We are a part of a cosmic orchestration not a cosmic accident. This orchestration will point all creation to the beauty and wonder of a beautiful and perfect God who redeems! We get to join in on the fun!

3) There are things bigger than us –

In a time when it seems like the world is all about us, it is important to know that there is something (more like Someone) greater than ourselves. There is a God who loves us deeply (John 3) and draws us to Himself. He designed us with passions and gifts to point others to Himself as He draws us to Himself! What an amazing God!

This truth is bigger than us and yet we join in and build this beautiful building. How amazing to consider that God allows us to join Him in His work!

4) We make an impact –

Because God creates with purpose then it is important to note that we make an impact. If word pictures are your thing then consider the strands of a tapestry. Each one is needed and crisscrosses very purposefully with other strands. From the back of this tapestry it looks random, from the front it is obvious! You are a part of a tapestry and you make an impact!

How wonderful that one day we will see and understand God’s ultimate plan and His design throughout, and how we joined in!

WE ARE NO ACCIDENT! OUR IMPACT IS NO ACCIDENT!

5) Others are also created on purpose –

Let us not forget the obvious. If we were created with purpose and on purpose then others were also. Some may think that means that we all lose value (if everyone wins then no one wins). However, that is not a valid biblical conclusion. Each person has a place and has a role.

Starting with the end in mind is helpful when we are working on a project but it is not the way we live life. These days have brought up many challenges. These days have made us question things that perhaps, we’ve never considered before. Take heart! God has a plan… and you are part of His wonderful plan!

(NOTE: This article is simply stating the foundation and our need for it. Dig into the Scriptures to find out more about God’s plan. This plan builds on a foundation and leads to salvation then to sanctification then to glorification.)

The Ejection Seat

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The Ejection Seat

As I was cleaning out old boxes in our storeroom, I stumbled across some old VHS tapes. One tape was of me riding the Ejection Seat at the Minnesota State Fair back in the early-1990s, the year the ride first opened. Did you ever go on that insane ride?

The Ejection Seat was a ride in which two people are strapped into seats inside a metal frame in the shape of a ball, that is attached to what seemed like giant rubber bands. With music pumping, crowds gathering – you are ejected into the atmosphere at 70 mph, going 200 feet high at 4Gs! It was compared to what astronauts’ experience during a launch. Exhilarating enough to make a person scream or lose their lunch!

I quickly dusted off the VCR so I could stroll down memory lane. Wow – this was going to be exciting! As I started watching, it brought a rush of good memories – oh to be young again with no grey hair, no wrinkles, and to be in prime shape! That thrill ride was awesome and right up my alley as a curious, adventure seeker! Over the loudspeaker the ride operator counted down “three, two, one!” Zoom! We went flying in the air with gravity pressing against you, we hit weightlessness at the top, then plunged backwards and repeated the slingshot motion a few times. I screamed at the top of my lungs during that adrenaline rush, but upon hearing my reaction to the ride – the words that came out of my mouth – I wept. Not just a little cry, but a serious, deep sorrow-filled cry from my soul, in an apology to God for taking His name in vain.

I had forgotten that in my early 20s, I did occasionally take The Lord’s name in vain – much like people do today on TV home makeover reveals, in the hallways at school or work, and in three letter text abbreviations – without much thought. Just because everyone else seemed to be talking like that, it still didn’t make it right for me to do. Deuteronomy 5:11 says, “You shall not take the name of The Lord your God in vain, for The Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” I was ashamed. To hear my recorded voice disobeying God’s command was disturbing. It was like I viewed a completely different person on video. I responded with a whole-hearted apology to God for every time in my life I had uttered words in a sinful way. Then, I destroyed the tape as an act of remorse and confession, releasing forgotten sins of my past to God, to once again be washed clean by Jesus.

Thankfully, God convicted me to change while attending a young adult retreat just a year or two after the Ejection Seat ride. He gave me forgiveness and restored me. He has been making me new and renewing my mind ever since, just as He said in Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” And He can renew your mind as well!

It’s been interesting to reflect on how much God has renewed me from the inside out over the years. Back then, I didn’t realize the magnitude of my words. Fast-forward and now every time I hear or see someone take The Lord’s name in vain – I literally cringe – like nails on a chalkboard. It hurts me to the core to hear someone speak flippantly about the one true God whom I love.

Our God is Holy and Divine – He’s our King, Creator, Provider and so much more. He deserves our utmost respect, love and adoration! “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

Faithfulness

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Faithfulness

When I reflect on who it is you are, I tend to see my past mistakes,

I think of bruises, I picture scars, I feel somewhat incomplete.

I realize- my moments of self-doubting, and believing I’m the reason for existence; this idea of God… is just far-fetched- that it’s in this lack of faith you chose to meet me.

In the burden of my self-destructive outlets, you stayed near, you made a spot within the gaping hole of this thing we call a heart, which tends to do just about everything except lend glory unto you; as broken as it is you still made room.

You formed its shape; you built its walls, put all necessary framework in its proper place, and at its center put a chair in which you sat in wait,

it took forever and half, until that moment when you drew the blinds over my selfish visions, and let my dreams of flashing lights grow slightly dim,

and when the noise had finally settled that’s when I saw you sitting in that chair, patiently waiting where you had for twenty years, and I asked you if the voice that I heard calling was from you, and in a tone I can’t forget, you said, “it’s always been”.

Faithfulness. The problem is my eyes are too on me, constantly find myself looking down, staring towards the ground as if I’ll find the answers.

As if I’ll have success by paving paths myself and doing life my way, and thinking I’ll do better if I let you stay in your lane.

When I think back, on who I was throughout that time, I imagine God with a big smile and hopefully a laugh- knowing that, in three years’ time, he would claim me as a son, that he would soon call me his own, that despite my nervous running, and my comfort in the “world” he would show me that my acts of rebellion were just attempts at finding space inside his home.

When I reflect on who it is you are, I see that you’re a God of grace, I think of love, I picture faith, I realize that you’re not obsessed with my mistakes, and in my moments of self-doubting, and believing I’m the reason for existence, this idea of God is full-fletched truth- that by his faithfulness he’ll never leave me.

You offer freedom from all self-destructive habits, you’re not as far away as we all think, that within the gaping hole of this thing we call a soul- you built a God-shaped space. And it must be tough to watch us stuff it full of crap we think will better fill your place, but from there you take what’s missing and you show us that you cannot be replaced.

So, I put a chair inside your home and take a seat, and in no time whatsoever you come and greet me,

you show me that my dreams of flashing lights are ultimately just attempts at reaching out and searching for a greater hope that I’d find you, and as noisy as I try to make it, you’ve known exactly when to turn it down and make me calmly sit; to pray for patience and know that with you I’ll journey on for twenty years, that faithfulness can go both ways, and you’ll extend the love that’s needed when I slip, it’s then you asked me, “do you know that I won’t waver in the affection that I have for you?” And in a tone, I hoped was fitting I said, “I’m trying to.”

Faithfulness. Now my eyes look up to you. Lifted from the ground, I switch my gaze, I draw nearer to your presence, and I leave behind the fears I’m more used to. I find success by letting go, and redirecting all my paths, I’m making strides in new directions, finding peace in doing life your way, I’m learning answers to big questions, why is pain so hard to face?

When I look forward towards the person you’re now shaping me to be, I hear your laughter from a distance, so I smile as I picture a gigantic God-sized family tree, and how much bigger it might grow in three years’ time. You call us children, and you claim us as your own, that despite our constant turning, you’re steadfast in your commitment, showing us this world is not our home.

When I reflect on who it is I want to be, I see that you’re the potter, I’m the clay. That your goodness towards your people is not in vain, despite our need for constant molding, you’re the one who does not change. It’s in this I find my rest.

A life made whole… by faithfulness.

The Age Old Question

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The Age Old Question

If God is good then why does He allow pain and suffering?

*Spoiler alert I don’t have the “answer” but rather this is simply an invitation to share with you the personal revelation I’ve received through my experience with suffering and the hope that you may glean some truth in return.

“Let’s read the Bible,” my two-year-old tells me, as he cuddles up beside me on the couch.

He has so much to learn, yet so much to teach me at the same time.

I look at him in wonder and awe. He has no idea how big of a miracle he is to me. There was a time when he was a distant dream and there seemed to be more doubt than belief in the possibility of him. I remember being only 20-years-old laying in a hospital bed and wondering, “Will I ever have a child someday? Will my body allow it? Will someone love me enough in the first place to start a family with me? How could anyone ever even love me like this?”

I was 80 pounds of flesh and bones and had lost half of my blood. It wasn’t an overnight phenomenon, but rather a slow and painful one. So painful. So slow.

I felt so lost and alone. Even at the ripe age of twenty I was no stranger to suffering. I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis when I was 15 and my life thus far had been characterized by high highs and extremely low lows. This particular flare-up had me at my breaking point.

Somehow in this state of loneliness and with all of my fears and “what ifs” in tow, I felt God’s love. It can only be described by the grace of God because I was at the absolute end of myself.

I was forced to drop out of college, leave my friends and my community on the other side of the country and deal daily with a body that felt like it was failing me. Death seemed closer than ever and I begged God to intervene.

I had been praying for a miracle. You know the kind I’m talking about. The gigantic and instantaneous kind that wows the doctors and leaves me feeling better than I ever have. However, after months of praying and trying what seemed like every option under the sun I was only getting sicker. Looking back, it’s obvious that God had another kind of miracle in mind. The kind where He wills us to hang on a little longer because He is up to something long and drawn out, but absolutely beautiful.

Less than a year later from that fateful hospital stay, I met my husband Adam. We were married on July 16, 2017 and exactly one year later our son, Shepherd, was born on our first anniversary. No, my miracle didn’t happen instantaneously, but it happened, nonetheless.

Now when I look at Shepherd, I want to impart to him God’s truth and show him that he is living proof of God’s goodness and faithfulness. As his mama, I want to protect him and spare him some of the pain and suffering I’ve experienced, but I know the bittersweet reality there’s a promise for it.

It’s not the kind of promise that we often paint on the wall or raise as a banner over our life, but it’s a promise none the less. We will face trials of many kinds. James and John are just two of God’s men that tell us so.

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

As much as it breaks my heart to know that he will meet suffering in its face someday, I pray that he meets Jesus there too. I pray he’s invited into the world of an overcomer. I pray he takes Jesus at His Word and acknowledges that no matter the battle Jesus has overcome it and there is victory in Christ because of it.

For me, it wasn’t a peaceful or quiet encounter with our Savior. At least not initially. It was a series of kicking and screaming fits that begged the question why?!?

I would be surprised if you hadn’t heard this same question tossed around. Believers and non-believers alike ask it all the time. Why does this feel so bad when God is supposed to be so good? Why do children die and marriages dissolve? Why?

I’m sorry to say I don’t have the answer, but I believe my story and probably yours too, proves that suffering serves a purpose.

Romans 8:28 says it better, “ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

So obviously suffering serves a purpose, but the process to unearth it isn’t always pleasant. There are times in my life when I shooed God away and others when I shook my fist at Him and yelled, “I’m not this strong God. What were you thinking!?” It was there that he showed me that my strength was never the point. His strength was and still is.

I like to think in that moment He looked at me tenderly and sighed, “finally.” I knew based on Scripture and growing up surrounded by church people that God was supposed to be my strength, but it was a different experience entirely when I recognized Him as my strength.

I think to myself, “Hi, Jesus. It’s nice to meet you. I didn’t set out to meet you in this place of pain and suffering. I would have preferred a place of butterflies and roses, but I’m not sure I would have encountered you and all of your glory the same way if the situation had been different.”

The truth is God never made me strong enough. He didn’t look at my strength and smile. Rather He saw my weakness and offered me His hand to hold.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Now I see the quickest way out of suffering is surrender. Yet here I am still facing battles and forgetting to do just that. I hate to admit it but in all of my years of highs and lows, I still haven’t mastered this.

So I pray, “Lord help me to be quicker to lay down my life.”

A mentor recently shared that each time we go through suffering, we may be tempted to become frustrated that we are still dealing with similar struggles, but she said we are growing our faith muscle. The thing we all know about muscles is they don’t grow without sweat and hard work.

It doesn’t always get easier, but we always walk away stronger. Our faith muscle grows, and we learn to rely on God more and to do so more quickly than the time before.

As much as I hate the thought of suffering, I’ve come to see it for what it is underneath the surface. I believe it’s the closest chance to meet Jesus face to face that we will get on this side of heaven. When I think about the peak of my pain and long bouts of suffering, I’m so often confronted with my humanity. I think how quickly I would opt out and choose a different path if the opportunity presented itself and yet Jesus had that very choice, and He chose to remain on the cross and faced the worst kind of suffering because of His outstanding love for us.

I don’t like suffering or wish it on anyone, but I believe it paints the most beautiful picture of our God. When I think about Jesus on the cross it wrecks me in the most beautiful way.

Hebrews 12:2-3 says, “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:2-3

As I look back on my life, I can’t strip away the painful parts and I no longer wish that I was spared of the suffering because I wouldn’t be me without it and I wouldn’t know God the way I do today.

Hindsight is of course 20/20, but I believe it more than that. I believe it’s faith building to look back and see the trail of God’s faithfulness in our lives. When I was sick and stuck in the hospital nearly convinced that I was a lost cause and writing myself off, God saw the bigger picture. He knew that as painful as it was to say goodbye to my life in California that my husband and my future was waiting for me in Michigan. He knew that a few years later I would be laying in a different hospital bed for a very different reason when I looked into my newborn baby boy’s eyes and praised Jesus for His goodness. Finally, after seeing Shepherd I can no longer think that my body is a failure because it has grown and sustained life and that is nothing short of a miracle. Sometimes the miracle just takes a little time to grow.

As the author and perfecter of our faith, God knows what we need. He knows each of our thresholds and strongholds and He crafts a story that fits us best. Thank you for letting me share a part of mine with you.

Up, Down and Vertical

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Up, Down and Vertical

I stood there as the conversation ended with their statement whirling through my head. I had been talking with a young adult who expressed that they did not feel like this was the church for them. The concern must have shown on my face as I looked at them and murmured “how come?” With a shrug of their shoulders, they replied “I don’t know, there’s just no one my age here.” I couldn’t compose my thoughts quick enough to respond, so the conversation quickly dissipated, and we headed our separate ways. This comment has caused me to dive deeper into this topic and reflect on God’s call to the church when it comes to intergenerational ministry.

I grew up in a small church, about 200 people on a Sunday morning with only one service. I spent the first 26 years of my life at this church! It was home to me. Everyone knew me and I knew everyone. That’s the perk (and downside sometimes!) of being at the same church for so long. All the ladies tell stories of you jumping off slides in the nursery when you were little and dancing like a crazy person during Christmas programs (yes, I was that child!). However, as I have reflected, I have also come to appreciate and value the intergenerational relationships I unknowingly built throughout those years. To this day when I visit my home church, while I don’t know everyone anymore and they definitely don’t all know me, I still am greeted by many people of different ages that I have known for many years.

Growing up, my dream had always been to marry a youth pastor. However, as I got older, I began to realize that would probably mean leaving the comfort zone of my home church where I knew everyone. This was an intimidating thought for me! Go to a place where I know no one? How would I get to know people? So, when God answered this desire in my heart and I got engaged to a handsome youth pastor who was working at Friendship Church, the reality of switching churches set in. I have never been much of an extrovert, left up to my own devices I would choose to be the person who slips in as the service starts, sits in the back row, and heads for the door right when the pastor says “amen.” God knew this. God knew I needed to create a community within this new church that I would be calling home and He was gracious enough to provide me with an “in” to Friendship Church. Two weeks before Sam and I got married, I accepted the position as the Connections Assistant here at Friendship Church. Unbeknownst to me at the time, this job had me working alongside the woman at Friendship Church who knows everyone, Lori McCormick! If I am honest, at the time I had no idea what this job would mean for my transition into Friendship! I had no idea how many people I would be crossing paths with and the blessing that this would be on my life. Looking back on the last two and a half years I can tell you that it has meant countless relationships built with many individuals that I probably never would have crossed paths with if I had not been filling that role. And do you know what? Those relationships have been what has made Friendship Church home for me. The people who know me and the people I know is what makes Friendship Church feel like family. If I hadn’t stepped into that job, I might still be the person who slips in and out without hardly being noticed. God knew I needed a little push to get out of my comfort zone. But do you want to know what else? Hardly any of those people are my same age. And I have found that it doesn’t matter. Regardless of age, all those people have, and continue to make, an impact on my life. They have helped mold and shape me into the woman and leader that I am today.

Titus 2 talks about older men and women teaching and training the younger men and women. I would encourage you to read it. What a beautiful picture it is! Think about it. Do you know people older than you? Do you know people younger than you? I know I do! And if you are being honest, you do too! Are you teaching and training them to be who God has called them to be? Are you investing in the lives of those around you? Are you looking for older people to teach you and younger people to pour into? Don’t get me wrong, there is value in having peers your own age! I have some of those myself. But there is also so much value in being discipled by people older and discipling people younger. It breaks my heart when I hear people say, “There aren’t people my age here, therefore I don’t belong.” Regardless of if there are people my age, there are still people with whom I can invest in and build relationships. I have found that sometimes it is those relationships that are the biggest blessing on my life.

My question to us, Friendship Church, is this, “Do we actively seek to know people both older and younger than us, or are we stuck in our comfort zone with peers our own age?” For me, bridging the gap took place primarily through my job at first. I’m not going to lie, if it had been up to me, I don’t know that I would have stepped out in this way. But am I grateful for it now! God has shown me the beauty of intergenerational relationships in my life and in the church. He has shown me the blessing of walking through life alongside people of all ages. Since Sam and I got married three years ago, I have also gotten involved and serve in the youth ministry where I get the privilege of ministering to and building relationships with our teens here at Friendship. And let me tell you, often they teach me more than I will ever teach them!

So, my challenge is this, get involved! Get to know people of all different ages and stages of life. Who knows how God will use you to speak into their lives and how He will use them to speak into yours! If you are looking for ways to get to know more people of all ages here at Friendship, there are many ministries available for you to plug into! Serving alongside people on the Hospitality team, in the kitchen cooking meals, teaching our little children within the Kids Ministry, or being a discussion group leader for our youth are just a few ways to get connected! Try saying “hi” to someone each Sunday morning that you’ve never met, or you don’t know well. It can take boldness and courage to step outside our comfort zones, especially when you are introverted like me! However, I can guarantee you this, wherever you choose to get involved it will be worth it! God will bless those relationships that you build, and your life will be richer because of them!

Life Behind The Mask

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Life Behind The Mask

Prior to 2020, the only people that I can think of who wore masks were superheroes and robbers. One hides their identity so they can keep doing their heroic work at odd hours throughout the day. The other hides their identity because they’re up to no good and they don’t want others to know who they are. Regardless of the reasons, good or bad, as to why superheroes and robbers wear masks, the desired result to hide their identity is the same.

2020 has come and gone and now almost anyone you see is wearing a mask. Have you ever stopped to think about the impact this has had on daily interaction between people? Let’s think about it, and not in a way that brings up the pro/anti-mask debate, but in a way that looks deeper into the lives of the people wearing the mask.

Wearing a mask brings a certain level of anonymity. In this masked life, we’ve grown accustomed to identifying people we know by the top portion of their head, their voice, their style of mask, etc., but I admit it was difficult at first. Remember bumping into people at church or stores having to maybe do a double-take or even ask who was talking to you? In this masked-up world, it is so easy to carry-on behind our masks without anyone recognizing who we are.

Let’s look at our lives before the mask. I would argue that a majority of people would tend to treat others well whether friend or stranger. For those who claim to love, live, and serve like Jesus, I would argue that it was easier, if that’s the right word, to “be like Jesus” to others. Why? Because we didn’t have masks to hide behind. But now in a masked-up world, we can nearly go anywhere we want and maintain our anonymity. That makes it easier to live selfishly, disregard others, and live in ways we wouldn’t if we weren’t wearing a mask. The question I ask myself and I am asking you is, “Why is it okay to treat others differently while wearing a mask?”

I’ll be honest, I have struggled at times with this. For whatever reason in the past several months, I have had more than a handful of opportunities to deal with customer service issues and have tough conversations with strangers, all while wearing a mask. I was fearless in those moments. Behind my mask, behind the cloud of anonymity it provided, I knew I had the option to say whatever I wanted or act however I wanted. That’s just it, though…it was an option. Thankfully for me, I was wearing one of our Friendship Church branded masks. I think it was God’s way of reminding me to love, live and serve like Him, but it shouldn’t take a mask to remind me of that.

The funny thing is… just like behind closed doors, just like when no one else is watching…Jesus is still there. Behind our masks, Jesus is still there, and He is calling us to continue loving, living and serving like Him. In the days ahead, I would encourage you to remember God’s call on your life and to be like Jesus to those around you, mask or no mask.

Remember the children’s song, “This Little Light of Mine?”

This little light of mine

I’m going to let it shine

Oh, this little light of mine

I’m going to let it shine

Hide it under a bushel? No!

I’m going to let it shine

Hide it under a bushel? No!

I’m going to let it shine

Let it shine, all the time, let it shine.

Maybe we should sing it again, but replace bushel with mask…

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. ² And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2

A 90-Minute Day

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMT

A 90-Minute Day

It’s 4:00pm. The previous six hours of work lie in the rear-view mirror and what’s left of the day is splayed open like an unwrapped Christmas present; all that’s left is for the corners to be folded down and to tie a bow around the top. The more difficult aspect of my job would have to be the commute – on my best day, meaning very little traffic, the best I can do is 45 minutes (driving non-sinfully) and the worst I’ve ever encountered is 90 minutes. A 90-minute day usually forces me to follow the speed limit, so there is less of a temptation to let my flesh take over the wheel, but on the 90-minute days there is enough angst and frustration going on within my heart to create plenty of other opportunities to sin – please pray for me and my commute. I say all of this in a slapstick manner, but of course, the ugliness of our hearts is never something to be flippant about, and though I do mean it in a lighthearted way, my drive to and from work does become strenuous at times.

By 6:00pm I feel I’ve put the bow in place, and although I do feel a sense of relief for the amount of work I was able to accomplish, there is a faint and distant spiritual nag starting to creep up inside my heart. Home feels a long way away. When I finally look away from my computer my stomach lets out the type of gurgle that one would feel a need to apologize for if they were in the presence of others. Despite feeling good for having checked a few items off the weekly tasks list, there’s an enemy standing over my shoulder and he whispers the four words he knows will cut best: “Should have done more.” I let the self-pity begin. Normally I’ll do my best to shrug it off, and say, “Not today Satan,” but by now I’m feeling particularly defeated and I’m anticipating all the ugly and potentially evil things my heart will do on the drive home. I get a sense that today will be a 90-minute day.

Suddenly I’m hit with a temptation to simply remain firmly planted in my chair; if I don’t move nothing bad has to happen. I can sit right here until any and all of the formidable feelings fade, maybe by then tomorrow will have come, and I will have been able to skip the drive altogether. In the back of my mind, I know that moments like this present opportunity: I can choose to sit in my misery and let the “woe is me” mentality dictate which direction I go next; or I can try to hand my desperation for control over to someone else – someone who can do far more and much better than I can. I take a deep breath, and I visualize what it looks like to let go, instead of passively sitting and simply waiting for the moment to pass, I hear a call to become active, even violent if I must; to intentionally picture the act of letting go, and to instead anticipate the freedom of handing over my need for control to a set of hands more capable than my own.

I begin to remember that Jesus is always in the room, and for a brief moment I dread how quickly that thought tends to be forgotten. So, I wait. Eyes closed, I bring to the forefront of my mind the image I have of Christ. The Bible often speaks of visions, I doubt what I’m envisioning is the same, but the moment has a type of intimacy, nonetheless. There is no way for me to accurately project the actual image of Jesus’ face so instead I picture His person – without any particular or distinct features I can imagine the personhood of Christ: His stature, His presence, His forgiveness, His grace. With my eyes still closed, I watch Jesus walk over to me. Without a way to capture the physical appearance of Christ’s face there is no way to see a facial expression, but I can feel as you would a physical touch, what I can only describe as a smile. I accept from Jesus an invitation to stand, and rather than an embrace, I look to see an outstretched arm.

Although on the surface it doesn’t appear to be, there is more to this gesture than a simple handshake. In the palm of one hand there is an offer of forgiveness. In the palm of one hand there is an extension of grace. In the palm of one hand there is an amazing love. The forgiveness of my inability to rely on more than my own strength; the grace that is needed when I see others as merely being in my way; the love that my soul is lacking when I allow my enemy to leave me in a place where I feel stuck; the person I need when I’m faced with a 90-minute drive and I find myself believing that my life would be perfect if I was already home. I see Jesus still standing in His same place, with an outstretched arm, and I realize that at this point I’ve left Him hanging.

It amazes me how even when given the opportunity to accept what I know my soul needs most; I can conjure up a split-second excuse to avoid the risk of facing my own fear: In this instant I imagine that once my imagination disappears, I’ll go right back to living as though Christ has left the room. A sense of burden tries to step into the room, accompanied by a spirit of doubt, the light that had been invading doesn’t disappear but seems to dim. It’s the fear of mistaking what’s true for what’s false that would like to interrupt this moment and insist that I’ve been sorely misguided.

Before I can ask why, I see Christ’s arm extend further. I glance back at the enemy who hides behind my shoulder, and say, “This time, it won’t work.” As an expression of what it takes to let go, I reach for the palm of the one I know I need most, and I’m met with a love I can tell is not fake. I open my eyes. My acts of fear and self-doubt seem to fade away in the background and I realize that Christ has not left, and that I don’t think He intends to. The drive home still lies ahead, but I’m reminded that I won’t be alone.

Casting Lines And Casting Cares

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Casting Lines And Casting Cares

I’m always amazed by how my husband, with a flick of his wrist, can send a line out over the lake in a perfect arch glinting in the sun like a spider’s thread. Then, just as quickly as the line hits the water, he’s drawing it back. He reels at a slow yet consistent pace, waiting for the faint ‘hit’ of a Northern on his bait. It’s even more mind blowing to watch a fly fisherman. Knee deep in the water, they seem to charm their line until it comes alive, dancing above the water in just the right rhythm. It’s almost beautiful.

In both scenarios, the person fishing hopes to cast their line out and draw it back again, this time with a fish on the hook. The cast is important, but so is setting the hook, and reeling in the catch.

I bet by now you’re wondering where I’m going with this. Fishing is the analogy Jesus used to talk of evangelism. It was the livelihood for several of His friends, often the means by which they had food to eat and even how He paid His tax one time. Yet, Peter calls us to humble ourselves “casting your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).” For once, I don’t think we should imagine fishing.

Years back, I believe God gave me a picture for this kind of casting. It was a heavily wooded lake with a little access point, a place where the long grasses parted. In the shallows, I could see the stones shimmering silver and brown-gold under the water’s surface, but further out, they disappeared into the lake’s green depths.

In my hand, I held a stone. I knew if I threw it hard enough, far enough, the stone would sink into the water, and I would not see it again.

I believe God told me that day, casting our cares on Him is not at all like casting a fishing line and reeling it back in. He showed me casting my cares on Him is more like skipping a stone into a lake, letting it sink, and leaving it behind.

It takes a little imagination, but picture yourself walking around with heavy, sometimes previously thrown stones weighing you down, muck up to your knees from digging them back out, wet to the bone. Now imagine yourself walking around dry, lighter, freer, almost bouncing without because you’ve emptied your pockets and shed your burden. Picture the stone of your worry or sorrow sinking into the lake’s deep belly and never holding it again.

When I pray over my cares, fears, anxieties, I try to go back to this little access point in my mind. I throw my stone, and I believe it shifts something in me ever so slightly. The instinct is to reel that care back in, hold that heavy stone in my pocket— honestly, it’s strong— but not nearly as strong as God’s power to carry it for me. Because He cares for me.

“Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you;…” Psalm 55:22

“…casting your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

Everyday Valentine

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Everyday Valentine

January in Minnesota is often seen as drudgery. We typically try to just get through it. Between the bitter cold and dull gray skies, there’s not much to look forward to. As I considered how the holidays were long past, and my stir-crazy kids were stuck indoors loaded with energy to burn, the prospect of a date with my husband seemed like a dream. When we heard about local restaurants being able to open again, our excitement was paramount as we planned a dinner out.

But a moment later, I saw a text come in that was an answer to a long-standing prayer, and my joy far surpassed the excitement I’d felt just a moment ago. The picture was simply a hand, with a ring on it – our dear friends were engaged! The groom’s loving devotion to his bride as he prepared his heart (and bank account) for the proposal had impacted us greatly as we awaited the day that he would finally pop the question.

On a double date celebration at a local restaurant, the bride-to-be shared the story of how her best friend had proposed. As she shared the details one by one, my mind drifted back to my early twenties when my girlfriends would exchange proposal stories with each other, comparing the elaborate nature of how their guy had dropped a knee and revealed the ring. At the time, I remember the temptation many of us felt to compare our stories to each other and to gush more about how the proposal took place, instead of who proposed to us.

You don’t have to look far to find the idea of a debonair, knight-in-shining armor type of guy getting all the credit as the “ideal man” in movies, books and poetry. The trap to have or to find “the perfect guy” or to have somehow ended up with a less than “perfect one” can steal our appreciation for the spouse God has chosen for us. We can forget about how important it is to trust God that our spouse can be all that He has designed them to be. A spouse that displays loyalty and faithfulness through everyday decisions can sweep you off your feet for a lifetime, not just for that one perfect date.

This “perfect mate/perfect date” syndrome plagues singles and married people alike. The trap of a thrill seeking, yet shallow love, deceives us into a false reality of what we think we want in a relationship from the other person. Love that passes the most difficult test of loyalty can only be found when the relationship is built upon the faithfulness of God. A marriage based on covenant love isn’t dependent upon the performance of the other person, but upon the cornerstone of Christ and His faithfulness. A wise pastor friend of mine explained it like this, “Romance is built on faithful love, but faithful love cannot be built on romance alone.”

As a young couple, my husband and I had so much to learn about how to build romance into our everyday life. Demands from busy ministry life, several moves and little kids waking us up at night left us tired, unmotivated and low on creativity at times. But marriage ministries like Marriage Today , Dare to be Different and Imagine Beautiful all helped us learn how to love each other despite the challenges and demands on our time and energy. Though some of our birthdays and Valentine’s Days were elaborate and special, others were forgotten altogether! Instead of focusing on disappointments throughout the last eighteen years, I’ve learned to appreciate Jeremy for his strengths and to cover him in his weaknesses by believing the best in him. After all, I have my own weaknesses!

My husband’s commitment to God and to our family has been an anchor to me and to our kids as we have faced many storms in our life together. I have seen him read the Bible every single day that I’ve known him. He is unwavering in his pursuit to prioritize daily worship and prayer and that challenges me greatly to grow in my own relationship with the Lord. The strength he finds in the Word has helped guide our family to trust God through a house fire, identity theft, a baby in the NICU and unexpected career changes. He has spent hours lovingly rocking crying babies as well as waking early to shovel snow before going to a long day of work running his own business.

When I think about all the years of small decisions that displayed my husband’s integrity, I realized that they have caused me to know the faithfulness of the Lord in ways that I never would have anticipated. Jesus’ everyday life on earth was also filled with small decisions that displayed His trust in the Father and submission to His will.

“I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with my whole heart; And I will glorify thy name forevermore. For great is thy loving kindness toward me.” Psalm 86:12-13

God’s faithfulness has so much more to do with Him than with us. His pursuit of His children to know Him as Savior and friend is displayed in a thousand ways in our everyday lives. Do you have eyes to see the small ways He is working? If not, why not ask God to give you eyes to see Him moving and a heart to hear His voice.

The best way we can experience His love is through His forgiveness of our sins, no matter how many or how awful they seem to be. Truly the greatest gift of love any of us have ever received is the gift of salvation, Christ’s voluntary death on the cross that atoned for our sins.

“For You, Lord, are kind and ready to forgive, rich in faithful love to all who call on You.” Psalm 86:5

How do you see God in your everyday life? Is it through a co-worker’s words of encouragement? A song that comes on the radio? A verse that you have always treasured?

My prayer for you married couples is that you would treasure your spouse for the ways they show love to you and to consider giving them grace this year if you don’t get a box of chocolates! Plus, you don’t need to worry about a date for February 14th, as Friendship Church has you covered this year. Check out www.friendshipmn.org/valentine to find more info on a fun and relaxing date night with free childcare at the Shakopee campus!

Bucking The Trend

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Bucking The Trend

Recently I was talking to a friend who attends an enormous church in another state. As we were discussing Friendship Church, he was trying to figure out why we would need more than one preacher on a Sunday. His church has multiple campuses as well, but only one Pastor speaks, and it is shown on video at the other campuses. He asked me why we didn’t do it that way at Friendship. “After all,” he asked, “wouldn’t it be less work for you if there was only one preacher needed each Sunday?”

My friend asks a good question. In a world where video preaching is becoming more and more common, why is Friendship the rare multi-site church that has live preaching on its campuses? Wouldn’t it be easier and more efficient to have one pastor preach each week and just broadcast their message to the other campus? Don’t all the really big churches do video preaching at their campuses? Why is Friendship committed to in-person preaching at its worship services?

Every church must make decisions about how they are going to function in their worship services, and they make those decisions based on their ministry values. It may be that playing the sermon on screens would be easier, more efficient, and perhaps even draw a bigger crowd, but we think the general pattern of in-person preaching is a wiser decision for helping our people grow as disciples of Jesus.

Let me give you a few reasons that Friendship is bucking the trend of video campuses and believes that disciples can best be made by in-person preaching.

#1 – We want to communicate the high value the gospel places on relationships . We live in a world that is increasingly taking place on video screens. Social interactions at stores, banks and businesses have been replaced by interactions with machines. The increased use of video preaching in churches has corresponded with growing calls among social scientists for people to spend less time on screens and more time interacting face to face with other human beings.

When the preacher only appears on the screen on Sunday, it depersonalizes Sunday morning worship and can communicate that observing the “show” is more important than being together. In a world that is increasingly depersonalized, the church needs to be doing all that it can to be counter cultural. Paul told the Thessalonians that he had such a deep affection for them that he couldn’t just share the Gospel with them, he needed to share his life with them as well (1 Thessalonians 2:8). The Gospel is about a relationship with God that is lived out in deep relationships with our fellow believers and the church needs to be expressing the high value of relationships in everything it does. This includes the in-person preaching of the Word of God by a Pastor who is in the flesh, can make eye contact with you during the message and can be asked a question after the service.

#2 – The Bible teaches that it is important to be able to personally interact with teachers so that we can follow their example of integrity. It is infuriating to watch one mega-church pastor after another be removed from ministry because of moral failure. It seems like every month there is another story about a pastor who didn’t stay faithful to his wife, was embezzling money from the church or was mistreating those under his authority. I have to wonder if part of the reason for this rash of moral failures is because we don’t look for the primary qualities in a Pastor that we used to in decades gone by, or that God calls us to look for in His Word. As we read through the qualifications of an overseer in 1 Timothy 3 or Titus 1, they heavily emphasize integrity and have very little to say about talent and charisma. Our leaders are to be selected primarily based on their character. It is only natural in a world in which many Pastors’ primary role is on a screen that Pastors are often chosen based on qualities like “how well they keep people’s attention”, “how interesting their speaking is” and “how dynamic they are.” When people’s primary relationship with the Pastor is on a screen it is only natural that their selection would de-emphasize character and emphasize their public communication abilities.

The integrity of our church leaders is of the utmost importance because people in the church are supposed to be able to look to them as a model of how to seek after Christ. The Pastor’s integrity, obedience, and repentance in failure is meant to serve as a pattern for others. Paul says repeatedly in the Epistles that he wants people to follow after him as he follows after Jesus ( 1 Cor. 4:16; 11:1 ; Phil. 3:17 ; 1 Thess. 1:6; 2:14 ; 2 Thess. 3:7, 9 ). He can say this because he is living a life of integrity and he knows people can see his life of integrity since he interacts with them every time they gather for worship.

Unfortunately, in so many churches people only know the Pastor who is speaking to them as the giant talking head on the screen. They don’t have the opportunity to personally interact with the person who is speaking to them each Sunday and so that preacher can’t function as a model in the way that 1 Timothy 3 calls them to be.

In Hebrews 13:7 we read, “ Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith .” We recognize that our Pastors are imperfect people, but God has given them the task of walking as models in the faith. A task that is best carried out in person rather than on a screen.

#3 – We want to reproduce preachers. A key qualification for an overseer in the Bible is the ability to “ give instruction in sound doctrine ” to the church (Titus 1:9). We want to be a church that grows the number of healthy preachers for the sake of Kingdom expansion. Within the video model the number of preachers on multiple campuses is intentionally reduced for the sake of efficiency. But at Friendship, we want more opportunities for speakers to preach and learn the art of teaching the Word of God. The best way for future preachers to learn is to be given opportunities to preach, and with in-person preaching we are maximizing those opportunities.

#4 – We do not want to encourage the cult of personality. One of the unhealthiest trends in modern Christianity is the way some pastors function as idols to those in their congregation. Churches become known by the Pastor who preaches there rather than by the work of the Spirit among the congregation. It is unhealthy when people choose a church because of the celebrity Pastor rather than the criteria that the Scripture gives to us for congregational health. This can happen with any congregation and with any teaching model, but in a world where people are far too focused on a “big name” it probably isn’t wise to blow a Pastor’s face up and put them on a movie screen every week. We think the healthiest model is to have multiple main preachers genuinely sharing the preaching load so that no one person becomes the emphasis and winds up on a pedestal in a way that is unhealthy for them or for the people who come to worship.

Is in-person preaching the only way that God can work to make disciples? Of course not. When we talk about in-person preaching vs. video venues we are not talking about matters of right and wrong, but degrees of wisdom. Will there be times at Friendship that we use video to share a special speaker or special message at both campuses? Yes, we will, but our pattern will always be in-person preaching. We believe the wisest choice for the discipleship of people is in-person preaching and we are excited to bring the word of God on our campuses every week.

Whiter Than Snow

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Whiter Than Snow

Minnesota is the land of 10,000 lakes. But there is another thing that Minnesota is known for… embraced by the hearty and feared by those that live in temperate climates year-round. I’m talking about snow.

Minnesotans obviously expect a good dose of the white stuff each winter. Sometimes we get a lot of it and are challenged with where to stack it up when clearing off our driveways. And if we are really lucky, we can get so much that we need to make sure the weight of the snow is off of our roofs as well. This year, the October 20 snowstorm dumped 6-9” on us, making us all think it was going to be a loooong winter. Warming temperatures made the snow melt and we all wondered if we would have a white Christmas. The blizzard that showed up on December 23 took care of that for us!

Now at the end of January, we have been graced with several more inches of the fluffy stuff.

A read through the Bible reveals that snow is talked about in several verses.

His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
– Matthew 28:3

I had always assumed the climate in the Middle East was dry and desert like. Yet, Matthew has experience with snow! A quick search of Wikipedia informed me of one recent snow event in Israel. In 2013, over 2 feet of snow fell in Jerusalem, and up to three feet in the Judean Hills. Jerusalem was cut off for 48 hours by deep snow and flooding, and cars were abandoned after they got stuck in the snow.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow . – Psalm 51:7

An observation I had about this particular verse is that it says, “whiter than snow.”

Snow is white. The whitest white. Whiter than clouds. Whiter than a baby polar bear. I think of fresh snow as being clean and pure. Blinding when the sun is shining on it and reflecting the light into the eye. This verse says whiter than snow. How could fresh snow be any whiter than it already is?

Here is the interesting thing. Every flake of snow is formed around a little piece of dirt.

God, the creator, set it up like this. Snow is formed when water vapor condenses around small particles of dust, pollen, or salts at temperatures below freezing. As water molecules are added to the growing ice crystal, a one-of-a-kind snowflake emerges. An object’s color is determined by the light it reflects and when it reflects very little, it appears white. This is true of the snowflake. Because it absorbs most of the visible light striking its surface, it appears white to our eyes, despite the dirt tucked away in its center!

There is another, greater truth in Psalm 57:1 that is also contained in this verse.

“ Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow ;
though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” – Isaiah 1:18

Have you ever tried to get a deep, red stain off a totally white item? It is a challenge to say the least, even with the specifically formulated cleaners we have today. We all understand what a stain is.

Yet, God speaks to Isaiah to make the point that He can wash away our sin, making the red stain of it as white as snow. As white as the fresh flakes we see falling from the sky. As white as the undisturbed accumulation of snow that we see on the ground. This is good news!

I am the kind of person that really needs to lean in to winter. I do not readily see snow and get enthused about the outdoor activities that become available. In the past, it was not uncommon for me to complain and grumble.

However, after meditating on verses that talk about snow, whenever I see the white stuff coming down, I am reminded of the truth of Scripture and the gift of forgiveness that has been provided through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

May you also be reminded of that truth; with every snowflake you see.

Speak Life

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Speak Life

I spent a lot of time reflecting on where I was at, both in my walk with the Lord and in the everyday ebb and flow of life, before taking my current position at Friendship Church. I call my pondering of the past a reflection, but often-times it’s more of a grimace; a particular cringe worthy grievance I have with myself for how long it took me to seek counsel from God and others in terms of where I was supposed to go and the type of work I should have aimed to be doing next. It was in me to ask for wisdom and guidance in how to move towards a vocation that was more in line with my field and the direction I felt God was nudging me, but for a long time I struggled with hesitation and questioned whether or not I’d make the right move when faced with such a large decision.

Prior to taking my role at Friendship, I had gone to school for audio engineering where I learned a large chunk of my knowledge in audio/visual technology, but after graduating and successfully obtaining an Associate Degree in audio engineering and production, I was too fearful and a little apprehensive at putting myself out there and pursuing a job in the technical field. For a few years I found myself job-hopping and bouncing around between different fields not related to my degree. I had however, kept my skills sharp by getting plugged into a Church in downtown Minneapolis called Hope Community Church, where I worked closely with their technical director as a volunteer, and continued my education with hands-on experience in the audio/visual production team at Hope. Even though I had failed to land a full-time position in the audio/technical world immediately after graduation, it is amazing to look back on that time period and see all the ways God still had a plan, and despite the frustration I have with myself for having bounced around as much as I did, God was still pulling the strings and leading me in the right direction.

It was a matter of faith. When I look back on the highs and lows, and see the hesitation that plagued my mind, I can begin to feel a looming sense of shame for what felt like a missed opportunity to grow in faith. In 1 John 3:1-3 the author writes, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure.” What a remarkable hope we have in Christ! A hope that is so much greater than accepting the right job offer. It’s not to say that a great job offer is not valuable or in some way wrong, but to worry about making the wrong decision over something as temporary as a new vocational position, is to lose sight of what it means to be a child of God, and experience a type of love that says, “Go my child! What you will be has not yet appeared, and when it does all else will pale in comparison. In the meantime, I am with you.” I want that freedom. To look a large decision in the face and recognize it for what it is: minuscule. Minuscule to an infinitely large God who calls us His children. Thankfully, where faith is lacking, grace abounds, and despite my fear, God still held the reigns and led me down a path I could have never found on my own.

In September of 2019, I reached out to the career services department at my alma mater and told them I was hoping to find full-time work in my prospective field. They helped. They sent my resume to Friendship Church that same day, and two hours later I received a call from Mark Alewine; Friendship’s worship leader/pastor at that time, who asked me if I was interested in interviewing for the Technical Director position at Friendship. A month later I was given the opportunity to join staff at Friendship Church and try my hand at all things technical; to finally put my educational background to good use, and more importantly, experience the hand of God and marvel at what He is capable of doing for His children.

Now, just over one year later, my current role at Friendship Church has been, and will continue to be an amazing blessing. Vocationally, I now work as a full-time audio technician, but what many people have not always known about me is my long-standing love and passion for poetry. My love for writing poetry began at a very young age and throughout the years I have been consistently writing in the background. During my years at Hope Community Church, it was brought to the attention of the staff that I had an interest in spoken word poetry; something the church had been hoping to introduce and incorporate into their worship. On Easter Sunday in 2019, Hope had me perform a piece of spoken word poetry that encapsulated my testimony and fit well into the message they preached that Sunday. The experience was very life-giving and well received by the congregation. The feedback I received that day was very moving and allowed me to begin sharing my passion for writing with others.

During my interview for the Technical Director position at Friendship I was asked about my technical experience in worship and arts, as well as any experience I may have had performing in a worship environment. I was excited and humbled to say that I did indeed have experience in both the technical and performance components of worship, and that my experience with performing was related to a personal interest in spoken word poetry; that I had performed and worked with other performers in my previous role. The offer for the Technical Director position at Friendship came through, and after accepting the position my first day as a staff member at Friendship was on October 22, 2019. The first few months at Friendship involved learning the ropes and getting accustomed to how Friendship does ministry. The majority of my time spent throughout those early months was learning the technical side of Friendship and getting acquainted with the audio/visual elements of a service/day-to-day operations and familiarizing myself with Friendship’s production team and equipment.

As the months progressed, other staff members and my immediate colleagues became aware of my interest in spoken word poetry and we began discussing the possibility of incorporating a spoken word poem into a future sermon series at Friendship. In August 2020, Matt Clausen and several other staff members on the creative team began putting together a sermon series entitled, “Speak Life.” When the heart behind this series was expressed to me, and the message Friendship wanted to convey was laid out, the words struck me in a way that kept the meaning and message continuously rotating in my mind: “Speak Life.” On the day I sat down to try and capture the heart behind the series and present it in a poetic way, I heard the words and began to repeatedly say them aloud to myself, “Speak Life.” I said them once, “Speak Life,” then again, “Speak Life.” and on the third time, I saw that every letter in the phrase had the potential to convey and capture the specific parts of what the series would try to express as a whole: “Some People Encourage And Keep Living In Faith Earnestly.” The idea for the piece was born and I could feel the Holy Spirit beginning to stir up the rest. From there it was a matter of prayer and asking that the Lord would use what we create as a team to impact the hearts and minds of others and remind us of what it means to Speak Life.

Speak Life

Speak Life;

Some People Encourage And Keep Living In Faith Earnestly.

Even so,

Sometimes it still feels hard to not tear down.

Words , they say mean nothing, only actions carry weight;

They told me God… was only for the superstitious, that this faith—

we claim to carry is just blind.

Well,

sticks and stones might break my bones but words can always hurt me.

Looking out across our nation- it’s a mess we’re living in,

I see friends pinned against each other, picking sides, neither one with a solution that to me makes any sense.

Speak Life;

Some people encourage and keep living in faith earnestly.

But how do we get there?

You see,

that question keeps me up at night

I lay there in my spinning hoping I might find the answer, I never do before it’s light,

Cause that’s just me,

trusting in myself,

But that’s when…

in God’s grace…

He finds me,

in his word I hear his voice…

it whispers to me:

Speak Life;

How…

with lots of doubters all around me, is there hope left here to spare?

People groan and grumble daily, there’s a hatred in the air.

It feels awfully quick and easy to just stumble, and let another brother take the fall,

It’s more simple telling others, “he’s a sinner; aren’t we all?”

Why do words come so easy when they’re filled with anger in our angst?

The Lord was quick to come and aid me as he mentioned, “take a look inside my word, read what was written by my servant James.”

“So also, the tongue is but a small member, and yet it boasts of such great things.”

We mumble curses at each other, then within the same breath we’ll turn and lift a song of praise

Who among us brothers, has the strength to tame this beast?

Let him be wise in understanding, let the mouth of God replace our restless speech and…

Speak Life.

If the work of Christ is still alive,

our words will serve us as a mirror for our hearts;

Reflecting what we cherish,

either hiding or revealing who others think we aren’t,

or are.

Because…

Some people encourage and keep living in faith earnestly.

But we don’t see it much these days-

which begs the question:

What would it take to be humble? To not indulge this worldly pride?

Well that question haunts me daily, and for years I tried to find the answer on my own, But that’s just me,

trusting far too much in myself.

But that’s when…

in God’s grace…

He found me,

in His word I heard His voice…

it whispered to me:

Speak Life.

Speak Life Video

The Heart-Shaped Cloud

Tue, 12 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The Heart-Shaped Cloud

Have you ever needed encouragement from God? I have, on many an occasion. The most recent encouragement was in the form of a precious, heart-shaped cloud. A few months ago, the exhaustion, isolation and uncertainty of 2020 caught up with me. Generally, I am an optimistic, encouraging person who often thinks such things as “together we can do this; be hopeful; this too shall pass; and God will work everything out.” But my tank was empty. In late-August I hit a wall. I was exhausted. I missed seeing people unmasked, face-to-face. The constant fear projected by the news media was unhealthy. Medical and financial concerns loomed. It all added up and I was an emotional mess. I needed to be filled with God’s love.

What I’ve learned about myself over the years is that when I become this overwhelmed, the only solution that truly helps me and gives me the strength to move forward is to seek time with God. And I’m not talking about saying a quick prayer – I’m talking about falling on your knees, crying out and casting all your worries on Him who loves you. Truly surrendering. Truly receiving.

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

This practice started when I was in high school and my youth group went to Christikon Bible Camp in Montana. The beauty of the mountains was unlike anything this Minnesota gal had ever seen. Every day, we were sent out into a field of wildflowers, surrounded by mountains, to talk with God. To pray, to seek Him, to surrender, to praise Him. That hour was the most meaningful part of camp. I felt the presence of God like I had never before. Surrounded by His glorious creation, not a distraction in the world – just utter peace, beauty and clarity to hear His voice and feel His love.

Now, you don’t have to live near mountains to seek and receive God’s restorative power. It can happen in any place, at any time – at church, in your bedroom, in the car, on your deck. This time, I floated alone in a pool and poured out my heart to God. I shared everything that I was worried about, tired of and needed guidance on. Total surrender. I cried. I called out to God, asking for help, renewed strength and hope. I asked for Him to please show me His love because I desperately needed to feel it. And after asking, I looked up towards the heavens and saw a heart-shaped cloud in the sky. It was beautiful! It was miraculous! And it filled me with such joy! It felt like God wrapped His loving arms around me and said my precious child, I am with you. I was so grateful and humbled that the God of all creation would take time to show me His love! After taking it all in, I took a photo of the cloud, so I would remember God’s faithfulness.

My heartfelt prayer for you today, is that you truly surrender and truly receive God’s love!

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Behind the Camera

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Behind the Camera

I’ve been Friendship Church’s video specialist for over two years now and one thing that’s unique about this church is its story. Most churches that I’ve attended don’t tell or don’t know their history or story. What I found is that since Friendship is still a relatively young church, a lot of the founders of this church are still around to share their stories.

The main videos that I make for Friendship Church are what are known as “Ministry Spotlights.” They’re basically promo videos for the different ministries and events that Friendship Church sponsors. Doing these videos week after week has made me realize how active and busy this congregation is with anything from MOPS to Service Projects to Mission Trip meetings. (This is all pre-COVID by the way.) It’s inspiring how active and passionate people are to start new ministries and join them. People aren’t just checking in once a week, they’re actively looking to live out their faith in God through these events and ministries.

A video series that I’ve started doing this year is a series called “Faith Stories.” These are testimony videos that are told and presented in a more cinematic format and are my favorite videos to make because I love telling people’s stories in a visually creative way. One thing I ask myself when making these videos is, “Why are people willing to open up and tell about their personal experience on camera?” I’m grateful every time someone agrees to do a Faith Story video, but I wonder about that question. I think it’s because people at Friendship Church have a story to tell and they know that sharing their story may help someone grow in their faith with God.

One of the videos that I’m most proud of is the 40th Anniversary Documentary. Friendship Church celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2019 and had a big celebration for reaching that milestone. As part of the celebration, I directed, filmed, and edited a 10-minute documentary that chronicled the many milestones that Friendship Church has reached over the years. Two of the founding families were interviewed on camera and the history they recounted definitely brought today’s Friendship Church into perspective. Having that first-hand knowledge to the history of this church is so valuable. Having that first-hand knowledge to the history of this church is so valuable, as it helps bind the community of fellowship we have at Friendship Church.

Making all these videos, whether a Ministry Spotlight or a Faith Story, requires more than just a camera, a microphone, and some lights; it also requires trust and building relationships. Filmmaking is such a collaborative craft because it’s almost impossible for just one person to do it by themselves. That trust is what allows people to collaborate with me and feel safe in making themselves vulnerable on camera. I do my best with every video I make and in turn, people know that I want to portray them in a positive light, and help them bring glory to God.

The people of Friendship Church have a story to tell and are not afraid to share it. With Friendship’s welcoming nature and warm personality, there will be more stories to tell in the years to come; and I’m looking forward to using the opportunities that Friendship has given me to share what God has done and to help direct people to Him from behind the camera.

The Hymn Project

Tue, 29 Dec 2020 00:00:00 GMT

The Hymn Project

2020 has been a crazy year. What’s that old saying? “Fail to plan and your plan will fail?” Well, if 2020 could rewrite that, we’d all agree it’d be something like, “Sure, go ahead, make your plans, get excited about them, plan on them, but your plan will fail.” SERIOUSLY. If you’re anything like me, it has been so easy to not worry about plans. A lot of people found their Covid-routines. It’s not like everyone loves it, but it has been what it has been.

As we’ve neared 2021, I’ve felt a yearning for more and I dare say that I have been making plans. Some of 2020 may roll into 2021, but that doesn’t mean everything from 2020 has to, right?

I recently shared a blog here called Input Equals Output. Basically, to sum it up, the music you listen to impacts you in ways you don’t always see. The same impact enters into our choice of music we use to worship Jesus. My encouragement was, and is, that we seek out worship music that is sound in doctrine and is God-focused. I briefly picked at a hot topic among churches and believers these days debating the superiority of hymns versus contemporary songs in worship music. The interesting thing is that both styles of music are valuable and offer worship to God. In fact, within the sounds of modern music, hymns have been easily disguised by fresh instrumentation. So, why do some people spend so much time arguing about it? Unfortunately, it’s easy to let our preferences for worship music hinder our worship. It doesn’t even have to be music related either. The basic point is; why is it okay to let our preferences interfere with our ability to just worship God in anything?

This got me thinking a bit about the rotation of songs we have going at Friendship Church. It’s safe to say that we have a large repertoire of contemporary music. This is perfectly normal and there isn’t really anything wrong with that. But, there’s a large chunk of worship music we’re missing out on and I think it’s time we increase the number of hymns we have in our song rotation.

Throughout 2021, we will spend 12 months learning 12 hymns. Some hymns will be from ancient times. Some will be from the last 10-20 years. Some hymns have a neat history that we’ll learn about. Some have old words we don’t really use today and we’ll learn what they mean. I find that having an intellectual understanding of a song can enhance our worship to God as we connect our hearts and minds. Some are newer and will just be good additions to the songs we sing. So, what makes a hymn a hymn, and other songs we sing in church not a hymn? Are there reasons why we’ll sing a specific hymn? Will all of these hymns be boring? What’s to gain by focusing on singing hymns; aren’t our current songs good enough? Check out the Question and Answer portion below for some cool insights to these questions and more.

It won’t be boring. We’re worshiping our Heavenly Father after all, aren’t we?

Listen to the Friendship Church Hymn Project playlist on Spotify.

QUESTION # 1

What makes a hymn a hymn, and other songs we sing in church not a hymn?

Hymns can be arranged in several ways but are often comprised of verses only. Some include verses and choruses. Lyrically and melodically, verses are sung the same from verse to verse with an occasional variation. Often times, hymns are written with a certain number of syllables per line. This is called the meter. For example, in It Is Well With My Soul, the meter is 11.8.11.9, which means in each verse the first line has 11 syllables, the second has 8, the third has 11, and the fourth has 9. This is repeated throughout the song. Because of the emphasis on these items when hymn writing, it is easier for people to catch on to these types of songs.

QUESTION # 2

Are there reasons why we’ll sing a specific hymn?

Yes. Some hymns are written for a certain period of time and so we’ll try to introduce it around that time of the year in 2021. For example, Holy, Holy, Holy was written for use around Trinity Sunday, which is the first Sunday after Pentecost, so we’ll aim to learn more about this hymn within that time frame. Other than that, some hymns are just good to sing.

QUESTION # 3

Will all of these hymns be boring?

NO! As mentioned above, our goal in worship, whether it’s music, teaching, reading, working, or in community is to worship God. My hope is that all will come and worship Christ for who He is because He deserves it.

QUESTION # 4

What’s to gain by focusing on singing hymns; aren’t our current songs good enough?

Isn’t it amazing that there are songs that still exist that were written hundreds of years ago? There’s a reason that hymns have passed down from generation to generation. Many hymns were written around certain theological understandings, which makes them especially powerful in helping us to remember and understand these doctrines and how they apply to our life. You know how it’s easier to remember things when they’re put to song? Current songs have the same power, but we have to be careful when selecting them. Which is true for hymns too. The Christian Contemporary Music Movement was born in the 1960s and was a drastic shift in worship music from the traditional hymns the church had been singing for years. One issue that came with CCM, though, was a drop-off in teaching theology through music. This isn’t to say that it doesn’t exist in contemporary music. This also doesn’t mean that there weren’t errant teachings in songs and hymns prior to CCM. A part of why these movements and CCM came about, was in an effort to break away from the way church was being done and to reach different people groups. CCM artists may have been more concerned about the new styles of their songs and their poetic phrasing than sound doctrine. All said, we will still sing Contemporary Christian Music!

QUESTION # 5

What is a burning bush moment and how does it relate to hymns?

I recently learned about burning bush moments. It’s an interesting term for a simple concept. Like when God met Moses in the form of a burning bush, one would probably guess that moment for Moses was incredible and hard to forget.

God may not be appearing as a burning bush these days, but He is certainly revealing Himself to people in incredible ways that are hard to forget. Music is one way that God reveals Himself to us. Have you ever experienced a moment of worshiping the Lord that was so powerful, and whenever you hear that song thereafter, that moment comes afresh on you? That’s a burning bush moment. Some songs have ministered to people’s hearts that God used to call them to repentance and salvation. Those songs are burning bush moments. In bringing out some of these hymns this year, there are no doubt people of all ages within our congregation that will be ministered to by a hymn that was a burning bush moment for them.

Our Bible Reading Journey

Tue, 22 Dec 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Our Bible Reading Journey

On Sunday December 27, we are going to celebrate “Bible Reading Sunday.” Hearing from God in the Bible is the focus of every one of our gatherings but on this Sunday, we are going to be focusing on our personal Bible reading and we will be unveiling a 90-day reading plan that will lead us through all four Gospels between New Year’s Day and Easter. You can find the plan at this link: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/8868 We will also have booklets available that have the passages listed for each day with a place to take notes.

As we spend time reading through the Gospels each day during this journey together what should we be looking for? How do we read the Bible in a way that allows us to meet with God and be transformed by Him? Here are a few hints that may be helpful as we read together.

#1 – Make an Appointment – We make appointments for the things that we really don’t want to miss. I already have my daughter’s college graduation on my calendar because there is not a chance that I’m going to miss it. It’s important to me so I make an appointment and block that time out. We don’t ever want to miss our daily time with God, so make sure you set a time and make an appointment. Don’t let the hecticness of life crowd out what is most important in your day.

#2 – Pray – The primary reason we read our Bible isn’t to be entertained or even to gain information. The primary reason we read our Bible is to meet with the Living God. Reading the Bible is a relational process, and we want to start by praying and recognizing God’s presence. While we are reading the Scripture, we want to be carrying on a prayerful dialogue with Him about what we are reading.

#3 – Be Attentive – As we are spending time in the Bible, we want to recognize that we aren’t just completing our Bible reading for the day, we are meeting with our Maker, Savior and Lord. We want to pay close attention to what He is saying so we eliminate things that might be a distraction to meeting with God so that we can spend quality time with Him. I find it helpful to have a notebook next to me where I can write my thoughts and journal prayers to God. Writing helps me focus on what I am reading.

#4 – Discover the Meaning – When the author wrote the section of Scripture that we are reading he had a meaning that he conveyed to his original readers through his words. It is our job to do our best to understand the author’s original meaning. We don’t get to just assign any meaning we want to a passage or else we can make the Bible say anything we want and all kinds of things it was never intended to say. The context of the passage helps us to understand the meaning that was intended. Context is so important to meaning that we want to make sure we are always using a Bible reading plan that allows us to look at whole passages and books of the Bible so we can see the context of each of the verses we are reading. Having a good study Bible can be very helpful when we encounter passages that we have questions about or don’t understand. The notes in a study Bible are put together by scholars who have studied the Scripture in their original languages and are considered experts. Their opinions and thoughts can help us when we struggle to understand the meaning for ourselves.

#5 – Find the Principle – There is always a big principle within the passages that we read. If we read a longer section, we may encounter more than one big principle. Understanding this big principle is essential if God is going to speak into our life in a transformational way. If we read 1 Corinthians 8, a passage that is about meat sacrificed to idols, we may be tempted to bypass its teaching as irrelevant for our society where we don’t eat meat sacrificed to idols. But as we look at the passage closer, we realize that the big principle of the passage is to always be willing to sacrifice your rights if it helps your sister or brother grow in Christ. This principle has applications in all kinds of areas in our lives. We want to make sure that we are discovering the big principle as we read a passage in the Scripture.

#6 – Praise God –The Bible is written to tell us about how amazing God is. My selfish nature wants the Bible to be about me and I want to only apply the Bible to my life. However, there are large chunks of the Bible that are exclusively dedicated to teaching us about how amazing God is and I won’t have a use for these chunks of Scripture if I am only focused on applying things to myself. As we read through a passage we always want to be asking, how we can praise and exalt God because of what we are reading and praise Him constantly as we read?

#7 – Apply the Principle – God’s Word is living and active and the Holy Spirit uses it to impress conviction and encouragement upon our hearts and minds. We want to respond to that by applying the big principle in our life each time we read. There may be an action we need to take, a conversation we need to have, or a new direction we need to go. Whatever the big principle is in the passage, we want to make sure to apply it immediately so that we are doers of the Word and not hearers only.

I hope you will find these practices helpful as you engage with the Word of God each day. Join us for Bible Reading Sunday on December 27 and we look forward to reading the Gospels with you in the New Year.

What The Grand Canyon Taught Me About Advent

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 00:00:00 GMT

What The Grand Canyon Taught Me About Advent

It was something we decided on a whim, we were bachelors after all, and I was an intern here at Friendship Church. I lived with a family that hosted me during my internship and my friend Spencer lived across the street. He worked for Northwest Airlines and we were going to catch a red-eye flight to Las Vegas, rent a car and drive to Utah and Arizona to sightsee in the land of canyons. The adventures included driving on a gravel, minimum maintenance desert road upon exiting Bryce Canyon, with very little gas in the car and two water bottles to our name. Of course, we realized this when we were too far down the road to turn around, not to mention we had no modern technology of a GPS to guide us. We made it safely to Arizona, but my lunch did not. Let’s just say Taco Bell gave me food poisoning and we drove with the car window open for the next few hours.

It was the month of April, so when we arrived at the high elevation of the Grand Canyon, there was snow on the ground. The beautiful colors of brown, orange, and purple spread across the face of the rock canyon walls and were gorgeous in displaying a ray of God’s glory in His handiwork of creation.

Fast forward two years. I was at my little sister’s church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and I heard an Advent message about John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” The pastor made this statement regarding the great wonder of God taking on human form in Jesus, “The concept of the incarnation of Jesus is like standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon. There are only two responses that come from the experience. One is to see a big hole in the ground and walk away unchanged. The second is to revel in its beauty and let it transform you for the rest of your life.” This message was etched in my mind and still deeply stirs my affection for Jesus twenty years later.

As we walk through another season of Advent, we have an opportunity to reflect on the incomparable event of Jesus becoming a Man. As we think on the lowliness of His birth, the animal trough He lay in, the humble servants that Mary and Joseph were, the death threat from King Herod that raged through the land, the angels coming to the dirty, sweaty shepherds in the fields with the message of the ages, and freedom from the slavery of sin through Jesus, my prayer is that it transforms our lives.

One of my favorite Christmas hymns captures just what the timing of Jesus meant. In “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” a line says, “Late in time, behold Him come.” In modern day we would say “Just in the nick of time.” At a very dark time in history, as Herod was killing the sons of Israel age two years and under, Rome was ruling over Israel, and God had not been speaking through His prophets for 400 years, Jesus, the Light of the world, shined forth with the answer. This sounds like something that can help our perspective in 2020, as we look to God through these dark days. Imagine with me the glorious experience it must have been for the apostle who said, “We proclaim to you the One who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw Him with our own eyes and touched Him with our own hands. He is the Word of life” 1 John 1:1. Can you imagine what it was like to touch Him?

As we close out the season of Advent this year, He is near to us and knows the reach of our heart. May we look longingly and expectantly by faith into the face of Jesus, asking Him to transform us into His image. “For God, who said, ‘Let there be light in the darkness’ has made His light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ” 2 Corinthians 4:6.

I wanted to point out a few resources that have proved very helpful for my family to experience Advent over the years. First, for the preschooler age, we have used a book called When will it be Christmas? written by a family friend, Carol Garborg. It contains 25 stories and family activities for Advent. Secondly, I want to recommend a storybook that views Advent from a Jewish cultural perspective called Jotham’s Journey by Arnold Ytreeide.

Finally, for adults and teenagers I highly recommend a video series from a good friend of my family, Josh Hawkins. This can be found at joshuahawkins.com/advent . This series connects both the first and second Advents with Scripture readings and a ten-minute video that goes with the reading.

May the light from His face shine upon us this Advent season, as we long for the day that we can see Him at the second Advent, face to face in glory!

The Heart of Tradition

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 00:00:00 GMT

The Heart of Tradition

As I savored a quiet moment to gaze upon the glistening waves on the lake across the street from our home, my thoughts turned to the changing of seasons. The nearby maple’s fiery orange and golden leaves reminded me of the preparations needed for the myriad of traditions our family enjoys each Holiday season. My mind quickly began to fill with lists of things to do, but an excited shout from my youngest daughter swiftly redirected my attention. “Mommy, Mommy, when do we get to go see Mr. Clint and get a candy cane?”

The reminder of this annual family tradition brought fond memories of braving snowstorms and belting out Christmas songs on our yearly trek to Northfield. Each year we endeavor to bring home a sweetly scented pine to bear the Christmas memories represented in our treasury of ornaments. Yet surprisingly, my daughter did not seem to find delight in her memories of discovering “the perfect tree” but in the wonder of seeing a friend she has found in Mr. Clint, the owner of the Wolcyn Tree lot.

As a mom, I’m not a big fan of candy, but the exception is always made when we get our Christmas tree. Mr. Clint’s countenance beams with the love of Christ in all he does. Each year, we catch glimpses of him patiently mentoring his employees and sharing hope and handfuls of candy quite generously, with our kids being no exception to receive these gifts. As I thought about it, it’s really no surprise at all that my little one’s delight is in the friend she found and not in the tradition itself.

As plans for watching Thanksgiving football games with favorite uncles slipped through our grasp this year, many canceled holiday traditions have reminded us of the uncertainty of these times we are in. Experiencing separation from loved ones and facing changes to our favorite holiday events like The Nutcracker , we are facing disappointments around every corner. As God’s children, we are not the first ones to face times such as these. These disappointments provide us with an opportunity to consider the heart behind the traditions that we have held dear all these years.

While some people’s traditions during the holidays might include baking lefse, ginger snaps or bonket with Grandma, others cherish the memory of the family’s patriarch reading the Christmas story from the book of Matthew. Yet, we all behold memories that have etched impressions in our hearts whether spiritual or culinary centered. As this year’s holidays fast approach, we are all facing feelings of uncertainty about which traditions we will be able to enjoy. As God’s children, we are not alone in facing times of uncertainty, nor are we alone in our desire to maintain the integrity of our Christian traditions, despite the limitations and circumstances we are facing.

Our Father’s faithfulness to provide for His children in times of war, famine or plague through providing for daily needs as well as creative ways to adapt traditions and to create new ones, give us a glimpse of who He is and of His desire to care for us at all times. He reminds us of His promises through hymns that have been sung in caves with little means and in castles with lavish feasts. Still, His provision of a stable for a young girl and an impending birth can give us confidence that no matter what challenge we face this holiday season, He will always be our Emmanuel , God with us. “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus for He will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

As you remember how and why Jesus came, I want to encourage you to let go of traditions for “traditions sake” and to remember who God is and of your friendship with Him in preparing for each tradition. Embracing this freedom will give us the hope that we need to delight in what is most important with the ones that we love the most. Holiday traditions give us opportunities to teach our kids (and to learn for ourselves) about: God’s plan of salvation, the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, historical events of the Bible and prophetic events yet to come. Anchoring our relationships in the love of the Father and the memories of His faithfulness will guide our hearts into His love and give us the hope that we need when discouragement looms.

Which holiday traditions do you celebrate? Can you imagine the creative ideas God has for you to take part in as you seek to honor Him in these traditions? What are some ways that you have seen God’s faithfulness in your life or of your family members?

As we look towards Advent, and our varied holiday traditions, let’s encourage one another to remember God’s faithfulness through the ages and to acknowledge His desire to be the focus of the traditions that we hold most dear. He is Emmanuel , God with us, and He longs for fellowship with you this holiday season as you prepare your heart for His return. As it says in 1 Peter 1:6-9: “My prayer is that we may be a people who rejoice through trials as we focus our hearts on loving Him now, while we know the fellowship of joy inexpressible as we await His glorious return to restore all things and men unto Himself.”

Glorifying God in Secular Christmas Music

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Glorifying God in Secular Christmas Music

This holiday season is honestly, a strange one! As families navigate spending time together over zoom calls and have virtual mashed potato wars with relatives, we long to be together again. Maybe you can relate with me in loving snippets of normalcy, like walking through a Christmas tree lot, experiencing holiday cheer from bell ringers outside a grocery store, and hearing All I Want For Christmas Is You for the hundredth time on the radio. Christmas traditions have never felt so comforting.

A favorite family tradition of mine is throwing on Christmas music, while decorating the tree together. Sounds magical, but it really looks like my family arguing over which decorations go where, willingly succumbing to my dad stringing all the lights, and watching my mom pull out ornament after ornament telling stories, as my brother and I goof-off down memory lane.

Yearly, a curious conversation takes place in what Christmas music to listen to as a family. I often vote for secular Christmas music, someone else raises a hand for classical Christmas oldies, and my dad pleas for traditional Christmas hymns. Last Christmas, I clearly remember the great debate of which genre to listen to, as my dad was particularly vocal in his preference. I remember sitting untangling the lights in an ordinary moment of decorating, when he turned my attention towards the Messiah and meaning of Christmas celebration. My heart began to soften as he shared why listening to What Child Is This?, Joy to the World , and Mary Did You Know? impacted him so much, keeping his gaze on Christ during this season.

The truth of the birth of Jesus was the focal point of Christmas in my heart and mind, but somewhere along the way, singing and celebrating to the world’s version of Christmas became my holiday praise. Quickly, I was convicted through the sharpening of the Holy Spirit, when I realized I loved listening to secular Christmas music much more than the songs my dad loved of baby Jesus, our precious Immanuel. His heart was true in praise, while in the subtleties of my heart, I saw my motivation to celebrate like the world does in Christmas songs with the coming of Santa Claus, finding love at Christmastime, and receiving amazing presents. What a stark contrast for believers when celebrating Christmas: The coming of Jesus Christ, growing in our love for God, and receiving the gift of Salvation!

Through that one moment of my dad sharing his heart and conviction with Christmas songs, I saw a glimpse of the Father’s heart for our worship during Christmastime and that is the importance of singing and saying truth. This year’s gathering will be different for sure, but now more than ever, we have an opportunity to choose the type of music we bring into our homes. I have found a new joy in learning to celebrate the birth of Jesus in all kinds of Christmas music. When singing classics like It’s the Most Wonderful Time of Year , I sing in worship because it IS the most wonderful time of the year, due to the birth of the Prince of Peace. If your heart is in the right place, your worship is in the right place (except for songs like I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus that just doesn’t make the cut – ever).

This Christmas, I pray that you find the joy in glorifying God through music!

Drinking Grace

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Drinking Grace

When it comes to seasonal decorating, Martha Stewart’s got nothing on my mom. Every holiday season as a child, I could count on fresh colors, decorations, and scents to accompany the next big celebration. And as my siblings and I grew up, mom added our school crafts to her own décor for immersive seasonal changes. Thanksgiving was no exception, from pilgrim cut-outs and woven cornucopias to pumpkin candles and laminated turkey placemats.

In addition to decorations, we could always count on certain family traditions with each holiday. Before enjoying our Thanksgiving meal, each member of our family, as well as the relatives and guests at our table, would read a Scripture passage about thankfulness and then share what they were thankful for.

In that same spirit, I’d like to share a less common verse about thanksgiving and reflect on my current thankfulness.

After talking about the treasure of gospel ministry in the power of God’s Spirit residing in our frail, “jars of clay” bodies, the apostle Paul writes, “For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 4:15).

Notice how thanksgiving increases as grace extends more and more. There is no doubt in my mind that 2020 marks a year when I have drunk from God’s well of grace more than any previous year in my life. Without God’s grace, how could any of us survive?

As a father of six kids, parents often joke with me that they couldn’t handle any more than the two or three kids they already have since they don’t “have what it takes.” I try to assure them that it’s not about the parent as much as God giving the proportionate grace needed for the kid-load he provides. We felt overwhelmed with one kid and six kids, and only as God supernaturally increased grace could we handle life’s increased pressures.

As the year of the pandemic trudges on, it is only by God’s grace that any of us continue to survive. Cutting off physical contact with family and friends, trying to assist our kids with new and complicated patterns of schooling, disruptive aspects to our jobs, companies, and industries, and the perpetual state of unknowns all require supernatural grace. And as the pressures increase, the need for grace grows.

In these verses, Paul links gospel spreading to increased thanksgiving, which ultimately leads to God getting more glory. I want to be part of this culmination. If the milk of God’s grace is the survival-beverage of choice for Christians this year, let’s make sure we thank the Source publicly, so He gets the credit and glory He deserves.

Instead of wiping our milk moustaches and going back to our pandemic activities, let’s tell people Who has been sustaining us and shout from the rooftops our source of life, joy, and peace. God gets glory when we drink from His grace and thank Him publicly for that gift.

As we enter this week of Thanksgiving, I am most thankful for God’s grace showing up in precious and particular ways over the past six months. I want the world to know that God alone is good and kind and worth worshipping as sustainer of all.

One example is that during a family emergency this summer, several people in our family and at Friendship Church came to our side with gifts, meals, and help watching our kids when we needed it most. I felt the sustaining hug of God’s grace through these many thoughtful actions and thank God for them.

During this week of Thanksgiving, we are inviting Friendship families to give praise to this God of grace by joining us for a special virtual event called Praise, Pie and Gratitude on Wednesday, November 25, from 6:30 – 7:30pm on Friendship’s YouTube channel (youtube.com/friendshipmn) .

This special evening of praise and worship with our campus pastors and worship team will help us give thanks and praise to our Heavenly Father as a church body, while celebrating with our families at home.

The Importance of Being Connected

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT

The Importance of Being Connected

It was July 2003 when the moving truck pulled up in front of our home in Smyrna, TN. I had only been there a year and a half. They boxed our belongings, loaded them up and took off for Shakopee, MN. My goodbyes were brief; having been there only a short time I didn’t have any real close friendships, but even so, I was now going to have to start over.

As we got settled into our home, I started to think about how I would make friends here. We heard that Minnesota had the highest retention in the United States of people being born here and staying and that it was difficult to break in and make friends.

At that time in my life, I was on a journey of growing from a church attender to understanding the Gospel and becoming a follower of Jesus. I remember having a thought one day that it would be good to have some Christian friends. I don’t know where that thought came from, but it sounded good!

In Genesis we see the Father, Son and Holy Spirit together in relationship during creation. We read of their conversation as God prepares to make us in His image. As they are in relationship and we are created in God’s image, we are made for relationships!

We began our journey at Friendship Church. Would I find some Christian friends here I wondered? How would I go about it? I searched the church website constantly looking for a way to get connected. I didn’t know what to do or how to go about getting started.

Then there were the announcements in church about the Alpha course, about joining a Cell group and there was volleyball. I signed us up for everything! It was wonderful. I was meeting people and getting to know them. I came to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

So, what was important about having these relationships with other believers? God’s word has much to say about this. Here are a few of my favorite verses.

Galatians 6:2 – Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

James 5:16a – Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

Proverbs 27:17 – As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Hebrews 10:24-25 – And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another…

Fast forward 17 years…how have these friendships impacted my life and why would I encourage you to make connections with other Christians?

For most of my life I feel like I lived seeing in gray. I had no strong feelings or convictions about many topics. My flesh, friends, co-workers, tv shows, and news greatly influenced my thinking and my decision making on a very wide variety of topics including marriage and parenting. Gossip and complaining were a very big part of my life. I don’t remember ever taking anything I learned in church into consideration.

As I became connected with believers, we studied the Bible and prayed together. We talked about decisions we were making and what God’s word said about them. We laughed, cried, encouraged, played and served together. We provided for each other when there was a need. We helped each other to respond and interact with others in a way that glorifies God and is obedient to His Word. I heard other people’s faith stories and my faith was increased. People encouraged me as I learned to read the Bible and started to pray out loud. We talked through sin and struggles, with prayer and accountability. We rejoiced together and grieved together. I was loved and supported through the death of my sister and dad.

I can’t imagine life without a group of Christian friends to be deeply connected with.

How about you? Who are you connected with? Who are you doing life with? Do you have a group of people that are helping you to grow in your relationship with Jesus? Do you have people that will help to hold you accountable? Who walk with you in love and without judgment? Who encourage you and pray for you regularly?

It can take a bit to find that group but let me encourage you that it is so worth it, and we would love to help you! Come to Friendship 101 where you can find out more about Friendship Church, get to know our pastors and staff and let us help you take steps to get connected. Attend Friendship 201 where over the course of several weeks you can journey with others to learn more about our faith. Real community is built during this course. A LifeGroup is where we hope that everyone at Friendship Church will land. There are many available to choose from. Check the website friendshipmn.org/nextsteps/ to get more information on all of these options.

What is a Faith Story?

Tue, 10 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT

What is a Faith Story?

Recently, I was taken back by a question: “What is my faith story?” That is a difficult story to tell. The reason it is difficult to tell is because one must ask questions to answer the question. These questions are:

What is a faith story? Who is involved with our faith story? When does our faith story start?

WHAT IS A “FAITH STORY”:

A faith story is generally understood to be the story of one’s salvation in Christ. It is the “how I became a Christian” story. This is often outlined by stating: What my life was like before Christ; how I realized I needed a savior; how Jesus became my savior; my life since becoming a Christian. I have found this outline helpful in sharing my faith story. However, I’ve also found it to be insufficient.

Perhaps it is insufficient because we no longer live in a time where our story is relatable to the masses. At least it does not seem relatable. Many people will hear my faith story and say, “That’s great… for you!” The idea is that this truth is not for everyone. It may be true for me that I need a savior but not true for them that they need a savior. Therefore, I’ve been reconsidering my faith story. And this leads to the next question. “Who is involved in our faith story?”

WHO IS INVOLVED IN OUR FAITH STORY:

In the past, I have been very comfortable with keeping my story about me. I didn’t want to offend anyone. That didn’t work so I began to end my story with, “Do you remember a time in your life that you called on Jesus as your Savior?” This question has worked at times. However, I’m finding that people often feel put on the spot. They grow cold at the question. Why? Perhaps because they have not connected with the story. However, why should they connect? After all, we are all individuals with different lives and goals. Why should anyone connect with a Hoosier who chose to accept Jesus as his Savior? The truth is that it is not a matter of if they connect with my story but rather a reality that we are connected. Hear me out…

We are connected already! If Romans 12:5 and 1 Corinthians 10:17 are true then those who are in Christ are one body. Also, if we all fell because of Adam (Romans 5) then we are not just connected via Christ, but we are connected because we are human (Romans 3). Therefore, my faith story is not just MY FAITH STORY ! My faith story is wrapped up in Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Israel, Peter and the disciples but also the sea of humanity that has existed, currently exists and those who will exist. This faith story does not start with me because it is connected to everyone as secondary players in a drama that focuses on Christ as the star of the show. My faith story is an element to a larger narrative.

If that is true, then when does our faith story start?

WHEN DOES OUR FAITH STORY START:

When does our faith story start? “In the beginning…” Our faith story begins with God. He was in the beginning and started our faith story. It is God that we should begin with talking about. Why? Because God is the one who can help us. He exists outside of our interconnectedness. He is the one who could come in the flesh and live a perfect life. None of us have been able to do that. When we discover the amazing truth of that reality then we are far more open to the message of faith that God has called us. Will we respond and how will we respond is directly associated with who God is and how we understand Him.

If one thinks of God as the old man in the sky who is aloof in his dealings with mankind and when He interacts with mankind it is only to crash our good times, then there is not much motivation to follow Him, no matter how good our faith story is.

Our faith story begins with an awesome God who created us in His image. Because of sin, that image is mired and muddy. That image is, at best, the reflection of a mirror that one may find in a carnival. The kind that causes one to look different than one really appears. Because that is true, people have misunderstood God. They wrote about God and misnamed Him. They worshipped God and missed the point. Instead of cleaning up the image bearer they only soiled His image more. That’s when God spoke to the prophets to help them understand. Nearly 2500 prophecies (future events) were given. Of those 2500 prophecies 2000 have been fulfilled [1] . The nearly 500 prophecies that are not fulfilled are not broken prophecies but rather future prophecies. However, God went beyond the written word and came in the flesh. He dwelt among us! This God does not require sacrifices be given to Him. He became the sacrifice for us when He gave Himself to crucifixion. Yet Jesus showed that He is God by raising from the dead and giving us His Holy Spirit for all who call on Him. By calling on Him the image of God is restored. As we walk in faith, we see more clearly the reflection of this awesome God!

Has your image been restored? Have you called on Jesus as your savior? Join this active, redemptive, amazing, united body that spans time, space and culture and calls us to restored unity with God! What is your faith story?

[1]This number is considered by a miracle by statisticians according to Dr. Robin Roberts (retired, formerly of UNLV). Dr. Roberts confirmed that any given prophecy has a 1 in 10 chance of becoming true but for 2000 prophecies to become true exactly then it would be 1 in 10 to the 2000 ^th power. That is a statistical miracle.

Grief and the Holidays

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Grief and the Holidays

How do you handle grief during the holidays?

Holidays are clearly some of the roughest days to navigate after a loss. But holidays are a part of the grieving journey. And let’s not forget children who will be celebrating the holidays while missing a loved one for the first time.

How to develop a strategy that can assist you through the holidays:

Fun Stuff

Remember, it is okay to be happy. Being happy does not diminish how much you love and miss the person who isn’t there this holiday. Do not feel guilt for the joy you do find this holiday season.

We would like to invite you to “Surviving the Holidays” on Saturday, November 7, 9:00 – 11:00am at the Prior Lake Campus of Friendship Church. You will be given tools that will enable you not only to survive the coming holidays, but also to face them with a measure of peace and assurance.

Check the website for more information and to register.

Decision Making by the Book

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Decision Making by the Book

A little over three years ago Erika and I were praying about whether we should leave the church where we had served for 17 years and take a position at Friendship Church. We spent hours and hours praying and talking as we made the decision. At that same time, our son was starting to look through colleges to try and figure out where would be the best place for him to go. He was asking us questions about how to make a decision like that when there are so many possibilities. It wasn’t long after this that our daughter was asked out by a young man at her college and was trying to decide whether she should go out with him. Was he the right guy to go out with or should she be waiting for someone else? This was a season in the life of our family that was filled with life altering decisions.

Everyone’s life is filled with decisions. Even not making decisions is a decision in and of itself. We think of some of these decisions as small decisions, like which shoe to put on first before we head out the door. There are other decisions, like the decisions that my family was making three years ago, that we think of as large life decisions. How do we make these decisions? Does God care about all the decisions that we make or just the big ones? What decisions does God consider to be the big ones?

Many times, the decisions that we consider to be big can bring anxiety into our lives. We don’t want to screw these decisions up and we are worried that if we do, we will pay the price for the rest of our lives. That is a lot of pressure! Is all that pressure appropriate? How do we handle that pressure?

Some people just make whatever decision they think will make them the happiest. Other’s make decisions based on what will please the people around them. Followers of Jesus want to make decisions that conform to God’s will. But what is God’s will? Does God have an individual plan that each of us are expected to discern and follow as we go through life? What happens to us if we get away from the individual plan? How is God’s will that is expressed in the Bible related to His plan for your life?

God has given us all that we need in order to make the decisions that we face as we go through life. He gives us a clarity about which decisions are right and wrong. He also helps us to understand which decisions are wise and unwise. We all want God to speak about our decisions and it can be discouraging if we are expecting Him to speak in ways that He won’t and encouraging to hear His voice in the ways that He does speak.

I want to invite you to a Saturday Seminar where we will have brunch and consider these questions about decision making and more. We will be looking at what God’s Word has to say to us about making decisions that please God and talking about how the Holy Spirit, His Word and prayer work together in the process. I hope you can join us for “Decision Making by the Book” on Saturday, November 14 from 9:00am to 12:30pm in the Prior Lake Chapel. Register online here .

Input Equals Output

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Input Equals Output

As I sat here writing this, I found myself once again in awe of how the Lord works in our lives. Even when we don’t see it, He is working. About this time one year ago, the Lord began something new in my heart and now it all makes sense. You’ll have to continue reading to find out.

As a worship pastor, I feel compelled to write the obligatory blog about music and the impact it has in our lives. I’m no fitness junkie nor am I a health expert, but I do know that what you put into your body directly affects it. Eat bad food… feel bad later. Drink no water…headache later. The same concept applies to other areas of our lives as well, like what we watch for entertainment and specifically for the purpose of this blog, the music we listen to and/or use to worship God.

If you haven’t already heard this from me, the most important thing when introducing new music to our congregation is evaluating songs for sound doctrine. We read about the Bereans in Acts 17 who eagerly examined everything against Scripture. In the same way, we’re called to that in our lives with the music we listen to, our songs of praise, and in many other areas of our lives.

Music is something that we internalize. It is something we not only hear, but we feel it. The words that we hear not only enter our minds, but they go to the depths of our soul. For example, when we listen to a song with bad language in it, we hear these words and internalize them. Even though we may not repeat those words verbally, we definitely think them in our heads. In the same way, when the songs we sing to praise Jesus teach the wrong ideas about Him or misinterpret Scripture, we run the risk of internalizing and believing them as truth. Just because it’s in a Christian or worship song doesn’t mean it’s completely biblical.

We have to guard our hearts even more so in today’s world. In the 1960s, Christian Contemporary Music (CCM) was born out of the Jesus Movement with additional origins in the Charismatic Movement. This was a drastic shift in worship music from the traditional hymns the church had been singing for years. Hymns and Contemporary genres both serve the church well and this isn’t the time to discuss how some Christians let their preference for worship music hinder their worship. That’s a heart issue and will take more time. The point is, both genres are valuable and offer worship to God.

One issue that came with CCM, though, was a drop-off in teaching theology through music. This isn’t to say that it doesn’t exist in contemporary music. This also doesn’t mean that there weren’t errant teachings in songs and hymns prior to CCM. A part of why these movements and CCM came about, was in an effort to break away from the way church was being done and to reach different people groups. CCM artists may have been more concerned about the new styles of their songs and their poetic phrasing than sound doctrine. I can attest to this in my own writing of songs when I first began leading worship in college. I wanted to write what I felt was catchy and because I was a Christian and the song was “for” God, I thought it was good despite stopping to consider if it was biblically accurate.

There are billions of songs around the world. There are probably hundreds of thousands of worship songs. We have to be careful to teach our congregation songs that carry biblical truths to our minds and hearts. And we, as individuals, have to be careful to consume music in the same way in our own lives.

About a year ago, I had no idea that God would be calling me back into ministry. In 2019, my wife and I were in the process of finishing our basement. As we painted coat after coat, we really enjoyed listening to podcasts and music together. One podcast in particular went into the importance of examining our music for sound doctrine, and for some reason, it really resonated with me. Song after song, I would continuously be thinking, “Hmm.. that’s not right. Where does the Bible say that?” Or, “Wow, this artist really took the time to write truth.” When songs show biblical support, it makes both the song and Scripture all the more interesting to dig into. Little did I know that God was working in my heart then as He’d be calling me to carry this responsibility for our church just six months later.

All said, remember this: Input equals Output.

Spend A Night In His Light

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Spend A Night In His Light

Colorful drives in the country, apple orchards, pumpkin patches, fall festivals, hot cocoa and hot apple cider, Pumpkin Spice Lattes, leaves on the ground…here in the Midwest, these are the things that remind us of Fall. The world around us changes as we prepare for a new season.

As families and friends, we take this opportunity to fit in some good quality time together before the snow and temperatures start to fall! We spend time picking pumpkins to make pumpkin pies, pumpkin bars or jack-o-lanterns. Trips to the apple orchard give us the opportunity to pick fresh apples and go on a hayride. When we get home, we can fill our house with the wonderful smell of fresh baked pies or apple crisp. Caramel apples are amongst the favorites for many! A slow ride on the hay looking at the changing leaves as we sip on hot cocoa or hot apple cider can help us to slow down and appreciate God’s beautiful world.

At Friendship Church during this time we are typically gearing up to put on our Fall Family Festival with cotton candy, popcorn, hotdogs, caramel apples, a Bible room and of course lots of games and candy! A place for our families and neighbors to come on October 31 to “Skip the fright and spend the night in His light!”

These activities might look a little different this year compared to what they have years past because of this season that we are currently in. We have had to change how we “gather.” This year things need to be different because of COVID. Different is not bad, it is just simply different than what we might be used to!

Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us “There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven.”

What does different look like in this season? What if different really didn’t have to be that “different” after all? What if we could still offer a place for smaller groups to gather and “spend the night in His light?” What if, instead of one place for a large group to gather, we provide many places for smaller groups to gather?

Think of the impact that we, as a church, could have with this “different!” To be able to invite others into our smaller spaces and share God’s light with our Friendship families and neighbors. I encourage you to think about it!

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

If you have a space that you would like to share and host a small gathering let us know! We can help you figure out what this might look like for you as a host to open your space for others to come and fellowship, joining together to share the light of Jesus!

Check our website at https://friendshipmn.org/gatherings to sign up for a host kit or to see upcoming locations to gather between now and Thanksgiving.

Accountability Among Christian Men

Tue, 06 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Accountability Among Christian Men

The concept of accountability for Christian men means many things to many people. For some men, it is primarily about marital fidelity and pornography. For others, accountability spells the awkwardness of confession and the threat of judgment or legalism. And for some, it is nothing more than a three-step plan to guard against moral failure. However, the term “moral failure” is a more complex subject and because of the sinful nature of all of us, manifests, to some degree, in all aspects of human behavior.

Intuitively, we know we are being accountable when we live good, pure lives. By this we show God that we are serving Him and are loyal to Him. We are accountable when we live in obedience to His Word. 1 Peter 1:14-16 tells us, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”

Most men who profess faith in Jesus Christ don’t go searching for ways to dishonor Him. And rarely do they demonstrate dramatic behavior changes that prompt them to suddenly become prideful, lustful, dishonest, or violent. Instead, patterns of sin creep in over time. For each of us, disobedience to God’s Word opens the door. Spiritual emptiness – the absence of daily relationship with our Father – leaves us vulnerable and ill-equipped to resist most of what the world would throw at us.

For men, accountability is a biblical mandate. Romans 14:12 states, “So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.” Why? Because He loves us so much that He sent His beloved son to die in our place, even while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). Jesus paid a debt He did not owe upon the Cross and deserves our love and obedience. It goes further than that. We must be accountable to ourselves and our families. Philippians 2:12 clearly says, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Our families desperately need us to lead, teach, provide and protect as Christlike examples in our homes and for the world to observe. Leadership in or outside one’s home can be daunting for some men. It’s easier to turn inward and tough-out the tough times alone. Without a continuous and spirit-filled connection to our Creator, loneliness can set in together with the potential for isolation from family and friends. Sadly, families pay an enormous price for mens’ lack of leadership and Christlike attention to them.

So, what do we do? For most men, the process of forming accountability relationships is an effective place to begin. Why? Because left to our own devices, we will ultimately fail. Yes, we need daily Scripture and prayer, but we also need healthy accountability relationships with people who care enough about us to speak truth into us; who see our blind spots; and who have perspectives we can learn from. We need other men as “countermeasures” to help us block those patterns of sin, and the rationalizations we subconsciously create, to justify sin in our lives.

I would encourage you to directly approach one or two men and tell them you are seeking accountability through a relationship that has consistency, structure and transparency. If you don’t know where to start, consider signing up for the Men’s Bonfire and Cookout that will take place on Friday, October 9 at the Prior Lake Campus Firepit from 6:30 – 8:00pm.

One Thing

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMT

One Thing

With our annual Fall Retreat just around the corner we thought it would be valuable to look at why we go on a retreat, and why we chose our theme this year, “One Thing.”

Fall Retreat is a major event on the youth ministry calendar every year both in its size and in its impact. So, what’s so special about Fall Retreat? There are a few reasons I believe Fall Retreat has been so instrumental in the lives of students, and all of them can be applied to our lives outside of retreat.

First, Fall Retreat is a getaway from the daily routine. There is something about stopping, resting, or slowing down that helps us see things from a different perspective. There is always another project to be done, another person who wants to spend time, another anxiety that demands my thoughts, another chore that needs to get done, and if we don’t stop with regularity then we will find that the urgent things will overtake the important things in our lives. This is the first reason that Fall Retreat is valuable. It is a disruption to the daily routine, a sabbath from the work that needs to be done, and a new location that spurs on a different way of thinking. In our daily lives we may not always be able to take a three hour drive to a camp and stay for a week to accomplish this, but are we carving out a sabbath on a weekly basis? Do we take a break from our daily routines, get out of our normal spaces and intentionally spend time with God?

This leads to the second reason I think Fall Retreat works the way it does; Fall Retreat is intentional time devoted to God. It’s not just that we stop our normal busy routine, but its that we take our time and devote a much higher percentage of it to the Lord. I like to think of it like in a marriage – a couple should spend daily time with one another, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t need a date night with regularity, and a vacation or extended time together on occasion to build a healthy relationship. In our relationship with Jesus we should be spending time with Him every day, but we should also be building in those “date nights” and “vacations” to build into our relationship with Him! Fall Retreat is designed to be an extended time devoted to building students relationships with Jesus.

This brings us to our third and final reason why Fall Retreat is valuable: At Fall Retreat we daily practice spiritual disciplines. Going back to the analogy of a vacation for a married couple, how would you plan a five-day vacation for you and your spouse? My guess is that you would fill it with things the two of you enjoy doing, time to rest, space for conversations and other things that you know will build into the relationship. In our faith we talk a lot about spending time with God and we mention things like prayer, reading the Bible, worshipping, journaling, etc. So, at Fall Retreat we build our schedule around intentional relationship building for our students with God first, and one another second. We have multiple times set aside for prayer, time for personal devotions in Scripture, time to memorize Scripture, multiple chapels where we worship in song and hear from God’s word, and time having fun building our community with one another.

Again, all of these things can be done on a regular or even daily basis, and that’s the point! I’ve had many students ask why they feel so much closer to God on retreat and my answer is always these three things. Are you taking time to daily be with Him like we do at retreat – in prayer, in the word, and in worship? Do you ever step away from the business of your week to devote time to Jesus? I don’t believe that God waits for us to get to Fall Retreat in order to be close to us, rather for some reason we seem to wait until an event like Fall Retreat to draw close to Him. Our students get to see what God can do when they take five days and fully pursue Him, and it’s amazing to see what God does in just five days! But here’s a challenging question: What if we were to take the other 360 days of the year and build a life that reflected Jesus being our top priority? It is so easy to become distracted, and busy with all that life puts on our plates, but being intentional to give more of ourselves to Jesus is always worth it! And that is exactly why we have chosen our theme this year as “One Thing!”

Our theme comes out of Psalm 27:4: “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” With thousands of things competing for our attention, how do we make Jesus our “One Thing?” I’d like to end by asking you the same thing: In your life are you intentional with your relationship with Jesus that despite all that vies for your attention – He is your “One Thing?”

The Heart of Community

Tue, 22 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMT

The Heart of Community

Have you ever noticed the number of things women do in groups? Women enjoy having company while they are doing things. We look for any possible excuse to spend time together! Men and women alike were created in the image of God and part of that image is a deep desire to know and be known by others.

In Genesis 2 God says that “It is not good for man to be alone.” Now, in this particular passage, God is talking to Adam, but the same principle rings true for all of us – we were not created to do life alone! We were all created (men and women alike) in the image of a relational God and as a result, we crave and desire a depth of community and sense of knowing that goes beyond just knowing someone’s name. We desire to know and be known by those around us. We were created to live life together. To come alongside one another, bearing each other’s burdens (Galatians 6) and building one another up (1 Thessalonians 5).

John 13:34-35 says, “ A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another .” I want to break this passage down a little bit and look at three truths in this passage that have changed my view of community.

The first truth Jesus teaches is that we are to love one another. Now, to most of us this is probably pretty straight forward. Love others. Great! But I think sometimes in assuming that it’s straight forward, we actually start missing the opportunities God puts in front of us to love one another. We get to the point where we actually make it too simple. How often do you intentionally look for opportunities to love others? For me this can be incredibly hard, especially when life gets busy! (Which, let’s be real, is all the time!) A lot of times the opportunities to love others look a lot like distractions in my daily routine. I get stopped in the hallway as I’m headed from one meeting to another, I’m tired after a long day at work and have to get home to eat dinner before small group and someone stops me for a conversation, the list could go on! It’s in these moments that I have to remind myself that people are more valuable than the task I’m doing! Loving that person in that moment is more important than an extra half hour at home before small group comes over. I have to remind myself that maybe the distraction is the most important thing for me to focus on in that moment! Maybe that person needs me to love on them more than I need the half hour at home. I also have to remind myself to trust that God is going to work through me to love them in a way that they need in that moment.

The second truth I want to look at in this passage is that we are to love others as He has loved us. Did you catch that? In order to love others well, we first have to know the love that He has for us. We can’t love people out of our own love, we have to love them out of an understanding of God’s love for us! Our love for others should come out of knowing the deep, deep love that God Himself has for us. If we are loving people on our own, our love will run out. We will get tired of loving people. We will get distracted and our primary focus will become the task to do instead of the person to love. But if we are loving out of a deep, personal relationship with our heavenly Father, a deep knowledge of who He is, then our love for others will never run dry! Do you know the love He has for you? Do you love out of that love He has for you? Or are you trying to love others on your own?

The third truth Jesus teaches is that our love points to a bigger picture. Jesus tells His disciples that the way they love one another shows the world that they are His disciples. Wow! I don’t know about you but when this truly sank in for me, it was a game changer! Think about it for a minute. The love we have for each other as believers shows non-believers that we are HIS disciples. When someone walks through our doors on a Sunday morning, what kind of community do they see? What kind of community are they pulled into? Do we, Friendship Church Women, strive to know people? Do we seek to love them in a way that shows them that we are His disciples? Our community and the way we love each other has a kingdom focus that I think we often lose sight of. God has called us to love one another and live in community with one another – to KNOW one another. Do we strive to know one another like this?

As we start into this new year of Women’s Ministry here at Friendship Church, it is my hope and prayer that we create a community where we truly KNOW and LOVE one another! My prayer is that we have a community among our women that shows anyone who walks through our doors that we are HIS disciples.

Will you join me in creating this kind of community? Throughout the year we will have many opportunities to come together and build our community. I would challenge you to use these events to get to know other women here at Friendship Church. Grab a friend and join us as we strive to know one another and love one another out of our love for Christ!

Our first Girlfriend Gathering event will be held on Friday, October 2 from 6:30 – 8:30pm at the Prior Lake Campus. Join us for a night of worship and fellowship as we kick off an awesome year!

What It Takes To Become A Certified Drone Pilot

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMT

What It Takes To Become A Certified Drone Pilot

Recently, Friendship Church has purchased a drone to add to their arsenal of video gear. The drone is the DJI Mavic Air 2, otherwise now known as “FishyOne.” While this is an exciting, new way to capture pictures and video, there are also some strings attached that come with purchasing a drone. Many people think that you can just buy a drone and fly it wherever and whenever you want. What they don’t tell you on the back of the box of the drone, is all the regulations you need to follow whether you’re flying it for fun or for work. Since I was going to be flying it for work, I needed to pass what’s called a ‘Part 107 Exam’ to be able to fly legally. This was my experience studying for and passing the Part 107 exam.

When you buy a drone, you must register it with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regardless of how you intend to use it if it weighs 250 grams (0.6 lbs.) or more. If you’re flying commercially, meaning making money from your drone footage, you must pass the Part 107 exam and get certified through the FAA. “But a church is a non-profit! Do churches need certified pilots?” Yes, non-profits and churches need to hire certified drone pilots because even though Friendship Church is not a for-profit business, there’s still money being exchanged and it’s a ‘furtherance of a business.” So as the person flying the drone, I could face a huge fine from the FAA, and Friendship Church could be liable if the drone crashed and damaged property or hurt someone. It has also been reported that the FAA is going after clients who don’t hire certified drone pilots. For more information on this topic you can click here .

So, what do you have to do to pass this test? Well to take the test is $150 at an approved flight school, and there are many ways you can study for the Part 107 exam. The FAA has a downloadable study guide, that is an 87-page PDF, that covers 75% of the material. You will then have to do some more Googling and Youtubing on your own to learn about sectional charts; which is a huge part of the test. Since I would die of boredom from reading government documents, I decided that I would enroll in one of the various online drone schools. All I had to do was watch a bunch of videos, take some quizzes, and a little reading. The course also offered a couple of practice tests, which made me feel totally prepared and confident to take the test! I don’t think you can just show up to take the test without taking the time to study because you are not going to do well.

You may be surprised to know that there’s very little to no information on how to actually control or pilot the drone. It’s not like taking your driver’s test where there is a written and performance exam. The test is 60 questions, it’s all multiple choice, and you don’t fly a drone to demonstrate your flying ability. So, what do you learn in drone school to pass the test? The overall goal of this is for you, as the pilot, to understand all the regulations and how drones fit into the world of aeronautics. You will learn about the different types of airspace, how to read sectional charts, how airport runways work, and how to understand weather reports. You will get a very novice level of what manned pilots learn in their schooling. Some of this information I learned is helpful, some of the information is interesting but not necessarily helpful, and some of the information was a no brainer. They had to warn me that flying narcotic drugs with my drone was illegal; gosh I was thinking about doing that but now that they mentioned it I better not!

This is an example of what a sectional chart looks like.

These are some examples of what a METAR reading looks like.

After you go through all the material, and take the practice tests, it’s time to take the exam! You can’t take the test online; you must go to an FAA approved testing center to take the test in-person. I took the test at Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie, which also has a flight school. The only thing you can bring with you to the test is a simple calculator. Smartphones are obviously prohibited so they held onto that for me while I took the test. They provided me with a pencil, a piece of paper, and a test booklet. The instructor guided me into the back hallway through to a classroom. In the classroom there were three separate, windowed rooms with a desk, computer, and a chair. I was being video monitored, while taking the test, the whole time and was given 2 hours to take a 60-question multiple choice exam. It only took me about half an hour to complete the exam and I passed with a 90%!

If you want to make money from flying a drone you must take the test and get certified. Number one because it’s the law and two because you do learn a lot of good information about safety, the regulations, and the weather. If you want to just go buy a drone for fun, I would still strongly recommend you learn and follow the regulations. The last thing the drone industry needs is someone flying recklessly and damaging something or someone with their drone.

The drone is a cool piece of technology that Friendship Church will use from time to time. It’s a new way to show glory to God by using the unique tools of the drone to show His creation. Like any gift that God gives us, we want to care for and maintain it while using it to the best of our abilities.

Back To School

Tue, 08 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Back To School

As we think about families and kids starting school this year, we are full of uncertainties. Families are making the choice to send their kids to school not necessarily knowing if there will be face to face teaching happening five days a week or a “hybrid” option. Some parents, for the first time in their lives, are looking at the option of home schooling, in addition to working their regular jobs, to try and give their kids more stability in their days during these uncertain times. So, what can we do, in all these situations, to help families be better equipped for a successful year?

Buy Skittles or M&M’s! Have you heard about the Skittles or M&M’s prayer for back to school? The next time you are out shopping pick some up. The best thing we can do in any situation to equip ourselves, our neighbors and our kids is through prayer. With God by our side difficult things can feel less difficult! When you get home open the package and pick one out. What color is it? Use this guide to pray:

Red – Pray specifically for the school closest to your home. Pray for the safety and health of all students at that school. Pray for any students you know by name. Pray for those who may struggle to find friends or have moved to a new school. Pray for Christian students to share the love of Jesus with other students who do not yet know Jesus.

Purple/Brown – Pray for strength and health for all the teachers preparing to teach students. Pray for the Lord’s peace to reign in their classrooms. Pray for all the parents who are homeschooling their children. Pray for Christian teachers to share the love of Jesus with their students and fellow teachers.

Green – Pray for the parents who are sending their kids to school this year. Pray that they would make time each day to talk to their kids about what went on at school. Pray for Christian parents to model Christ at home to their kids. Pray for any parents of school age children you know by name.

Yellow – Pray for safe travels to and from school this year for all bus drivers, parents, and student drivers. Pray for safety and protection for all schools in your area for this entire school year.

Orange – Pray for all our Sunday school teachers who are about to have new students in their class this fall. Pray that they would share God’s love effectively with their students. Pray that many children would give their hearts to Jesus this year.

Get together with others and do a popcorn prayer. Each of you can pick a Skittle or M&M from the package, and as you go around the circle pray according to the color you chose.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Deep Root

Tue, 01 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Deep Root

Black-Eyed Susan’s. Compass Plant. Purple Coneflower. Ironweed. Rattlesnake Master. Bee Balm. Blanket Flower.

These are just a few of the plants you will find growing in the one acre of prairie my husband and I planted on our property. It has been fun to see our prairie take root and flourish over these last twelve years. The prairie provides beauty to our eyes each year and is home to many fascinating critters, like the green tree frog, eastern meadowlark and monarch butterfly.

Prior to European settlement, more than eighteen million acres of prairie covered Minnesota. It’s hard to believe, but today, less than two percent of Minnesota’s native prairie remains; it is North America’s most endangered habitat type.

The part of the prairie plants that are above the ground provide a brilliant display of color and variety that is pleasant to the eye and soothing to the soul. Yet, without their ability to withstand the intensity of wildfires every three to five years, all that fascinating diversity and beauty would not exist.

You might be asking, “how does a fragile looking plant withstand the scorching heat of a wildfire?” The answer is found in their deep roots; the roots of prairie plants grow up to fifteen feet deep into the soil, far from the heat that would otherwise threaten their life!

This is why prairie grasses and flowers are well suited to fire–in fact, they thrive with it. Fires prevent brush and trees from invading the prairie. After a fire passes through, seeds are widely distributed, and the prairie grasses and other plants respond by bouncing back with even more colorful blooms. New growth is encouraged from the deep roots of the prairie plants that are protected underground. Weeds do not fare as well.

The resilience of the prairie plants, the deep roots they have, and their response to fire creates a wonderful picture for me of how I hope to live when fiery trials come.

I’ve been asking God to create a deep root of faith in me. Roots that are deep can withstand the fire of suffering, challenge and change that is sure to come. When a major trial comes my way, I’m praying that although things may be destroyed above ground, my roots of faith in God will hold strong. That they will help me to persevere, rely on God’s Word, have peace in my soul, and trust in His plan.

I have seen the example of others with a deep root of faith. They have walked through the painful trials of a bad medical diagnosis, a difficult marriage, crippling depression or losing a child. I’ve seen their deep-rooted faith hold them with a strength they clearly could not muster on their own.

Will my roots of faith hold? I’m trusting that they will, but I won’t absolutely know until I get there. In the meantime, I’ll continue to add things into my life that encourage growth in my roots of faith: Bible reading, prayer, listening for the leading of the Holy Spirit, community with believers in Jesus, and spending time with family and friends that strengthen and encourage my faith.

God is an artist and His creation displays His character. Next time you enjoy the beauty of wildflowers, I would encourage you to not only experience awe of the amazing display but take one step further and ask the Awesome One to grow a deep root of faith in you.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. – Colossians 2:6-7

I Will Spit You Out Of My Mouth

Tue, 25 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

I Will Spit You Out Of My Mouth

On a recent trip to Turkey to tour the Seven Churches of Revelation, my understanding of the meaning of the letters to all of the churches was greatly expanded, but the letter to the church in Laodicea struck me the most.

¹⁴ “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.

¹⁵ “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷ For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. ¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. ¹⁹ Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. ²⁰ Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. ²¹ The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. ²² He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” Revelation 3:14-22

I always thought the verse about being neither hot nor cold was a little odd. Was God saying that he wanted people to be either on-fire Christians or indifferent? Wasn’t lukewarm better than indifferent? If so, why such negative emphasis on lukewarm?

The first century church of Laodicea was situated in the Lycus valley between Hierapolis (Pamukkale), where hot mineral springs are located, and the Babadagh mountains with snow-capped peaks. Right between hot and cold, and those first believers of Jesus Christ are chastised for being lukewarm! The other location reality is that Laodicea was not near a water source. Cold water was piped in from Colossae, about ten miles away. Hot water came from Hierapolis, about six miles away. In both cases, by the time the water reached Laodicea, it was lukewarm. Interesting. I love how God uses natural resources to enhance the understanding of His people!

Hot water is useful for many things – cleaning, healthy teas, and warm baths. Cold water is refreshing and invigorating. But what happens with lukewarm water? It was sometimes used to cause one to vomit! Jesus is chastising the church for being lax, not on fire for Him, not useful to Him – He wants to vomit them out of His mouth. Their wealth and status had made them lazy.

Laodicea was located on the famed Roman Road and had become a prosperous trade center. Laodiceans were famous for their glossy black wool and textile industry, as well as a renowned school of medicine and a special eye ointment known as “Phrygian Powder.” Additionally, Laodicea became a wealthy financial center with large banking assets. Jesus calls them out on their self-reliance based on their wealth and perceived need of nothing in verse 17: “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” In verse 18, He encourages them to buy His gold, refined by fire (more valuable than their financial assets), and says He will give them a pure white garment (best of textiles, permanently removing their shame) and His eye salve so they may truly see (spiritual eyes rather than their medical treatments): ^“ I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.”

Jesus continues by telling the Laodiceans that He reproves and disciplines those He loves and encourages them to be zealous and repent. We are all familiar with verse 20 of this passage: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” I had always associated this verse with people coming to Christ, evangelism, and new believers. However, in this context, He is letting the Laodiceans know that He is actively seeking their repentance, so that they can again be right in their relationship with Him, to restore the intimacy they once had. And Jesus ends his reprimand with a great promise in verse 21: “The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.”

The worldly culture of the city of Laodicea had infiltrated the church. Christ followers had become comfortable in their wealth and allowed their relationship with Jesus to take a back seat in their daily lives, causing Him to chastise them for being useless. It’s an easy thing for us to do in our culture today. How are we stepping out of our “lukewarm-ness” and becoming either hot or cold for Jesus today?

Forward in Faith

Tue, 18 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Forward in Faith

“Oh, you are a baby Christian.” Words sweetly spoken to me early on in my faith journey. I didn’t respond. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know what that meant. How was I different, and a baby at that? I had repented of my sin and had come into a relationship with Jesus just as this person had.

It was a couple of years later, when my sister was going through the darkest of times, that this comment came back to me and I began to understand. She too was a brand-new believer. She wanted desperately to make it through the battle she was facing. As a new believer, she didn’t have any of God’s faithfulness in her past to draw on. She didn’t have any stones of remembrance to be able to say, “God, you have carried me through in the past and I have hope. I believe you can and will do it again.”

I began to see the importance of spiritual disciplines in the forming and growing of my own faith. I could see the truth of the words that had been spoken to me, and I could see that I was growing.

As I reflect over the years of following Jesus, there are several practices that have helped grow my faith, and there are those that have set me back. I firmly believe we are not stagnant in our faith. I am growing, or I am back sliding. There is no easy coast, auto pilot setting to growing in my faith. I also realized the more I came to know God, the more there was to know about Him. This journey is going to last a lifetime.

In Philippians 2:12, we are told to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. I have a responsibility here. I need to apply this salvation to my life. My relationship with Jesus needs to be seen. How can I do that? In becoming more like Jesus as we are taught in 2 Corinthians 3:18.

Attending Sunday morning worship services weekly is vital. We need to come together with other believers to praise and worship our Lord, to sit under our spiritual leader and his teaching from God’s word, and to have time to spend with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Hebrews 10:25 instructs us, “not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

My own personal time in God’s word allows Him to speak directly to me, to teach me about Himself, and to instruct me. These times are invaluable. I need to feed on His word daily, or I will be feeding on the words of the world. I remember before I was in Christ, and even had a Bible, my understanding of God was very skewed. The decisions I made were based on what I thought, what my friends said, and what I heard in the media. All those things were constantly changing. I could see everything in gray. There was no black or white for me. I was truly lost. How I love having God’s never changing truth. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path (Psalm 119:105).

Prayer has changed dramatically for me! I was raised in a denomination where we were taught rote prayers. We memorized the words. Nothing was ever explained to give meaning, or understanding, to the content. And so, I rattled off the words when in church or the times I prayed at home. To learn that I could go directly to God with my own words, with my questions, my frustration, my pain, my desires was wonderful and freeing to me. One of my sweetest memories of prayer was on a mission trip to Haiti when we sat in a time of prayer with our Haitian team. They prayed in Creole and we prayed in English, and I knew God was hearing each of us. Learning to pray about everything is a challenge I continue to struggle with. My independent flesh would many times prefer to just move forward, or make my own decisions, but how wonderful it is to take everything to God in prayer. How true I find Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Scripture memorization is hard for me. I used to use that as an excuse to not memorize God’s word. But I was challenged by a friend years ago to work at it. I was given different ideas and tools on how to memorize. It’s still not easy, but it is doable, and well worth the work to have God’s word hidden in my heart – to be able to recall His truth and promises, as I go throughout my day, in meeting with others and in prayer.

My spiritual formation is a choice I make. It is a discipline that starts with a desire to know, love and obey God more each and every day. I am far from perfect. I am thankful that God’s grace and forgiveness is available, and He continually draws me back to Himself when I get off course.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

Honoring God at Work

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Honoring God at Work

I believe the best way to honor God in your work is through your attitude. Whoever you are working for will be revealed in your attitude. The goal of a job should be more than making money. It’s a place of outreach and connection. When you realize that your work is your mission field, your attitude changes.

Often times in work, you have to do things you don’t want to do. Doing those things with a good attitude, without grumbling, honors God. I don’t do all of this right yet, but God is bringing me closer and closer to the goal. When an alarm goes off at two in the morning, I don’t want to drive into work, but that is my job, and it is what I am called by God to do.

We are often called to do things behind the scenes that only God will ever see. Those are the things that are most important, because in those moments you work only to please God.

God is pleased and honored by our work when we show respect and love through things like being on time, being productive, and having a good attitude. It’s very similar to Friendship’s mission statement: Love, Live and Serve like Jesus. If you go to work and you act all “grumpy pants,” God isn’t glorified.

God gives us the opportunity to honor Him through our work relationships. Being kind and honest to your coworkers, and setting boundaries, shows them Jesus.

When I was a contractor, I worked to honor God through my words. I used to have clients and coworkers that would swear, yell at me, and get angry, because I wouldn’t yell back at them. I knew that my words and attitude were representing Jesus. They would ask me, “Why don’t you ever swear like everyone else?” It became an amazing way to share the Gospel.

God calls us all to be good workers. Ephesians 2:10 says, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

I am learning that a very important part of maintaining a healthy work life is setting boundaries. It can be very easy to let work become your entire life, especially with technology. A few more emails are just a touch away. Keeping your work within those boundaries allows you to be present with God and with your family. The separation needs to be concrete, but also mental. Work can become an idol, if you are constantly thinking about it. When your work consumes your day, it can hinder your relationship with God and cause you to get frustrated and burn out quickly. When that happens, you can no longer do the work God is calling you to do.

God calls us all to different jobs and uses us in all of them. Whether you clean toilets, preach sermons, file papers, or save lives, you can honor God.

Family-Building A Sure Foundation

Tue, 04 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Family-Building A Sure Foundation

There are families who have not spoken to one another in not just days or weeks, but months, years and even decades. They’ve allowed hurts to fester and grow, as well as create walls and barriers between one another. They have lost out on opportunities to grow together, and to get to know each other’s family. I know an older woman with two sisters; who had not spoken in decades due to past hurts. They finally came together, when one of the sisters was diagnosed with cancer. Walls came down, and their relationships began to heal. There was sadness in the realization that they missed out on many years of being able to get to know one another. Yet, they experienced great joy when they mended fences, rebuilt their relationships, and changed their twilight years.

The hurts that were so deep kept these sisters from talking to one another for decades. What are the things that drive us to such a place? What makes us unwilling to bend, or turn the other cheek, to be able to see from another person’s perspective? Hurts can come in many different forms and experiences. Each family has its own unique story to tell…. a perceived favorite child, an incident that created problems, perspectives and bias’s that became more important than the relationship.

I walk into new territory, as my children grow older. I can relate to the desires I know my parents had. The desire for all of my children to continue to support, care, love, and come along side one another. How do we develop a foundation that will not crack, or crumble, under the weight of life’s hurts and struggles?

In my own family we often heard, “Josiah is your favorite child.” And for some it may truly appear that he was, as he was allowed many privileges. We would remind the other five children, that we love each of you, and we aren’t favoring Josiah over any of you. When Josiah was asked to do his homework, he sat on the couch and got it done. When he was asked to do a chore, he got up and completed it. So, when he asked to go out and play, drive the go-kart, or go to a movie it was easy to say, “yes.” It became a gentle reminder to my other children, that this was a privilege he earned; not because we favored him, but because of his obedience. We take every opportunity to remind each child how special they are, how they were created uniquely by God with a special purpose, and how much we love them. I think it is important, did we do it perfectly? No, we did not, nor will we. We can only strive to do our best. I would encourage you to constantly bring it back to the Scriptures of how God wants us to treat one another. My grandma often spoke God’s word to us – we should turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:38-40; Luke 6:29), and we should not be a stumbling block to others (Titus 2:7; Romans 14:13; 1 Corinthians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 6:3). How do we love like God calls us to love, how do we forgive as God calls us to forgive? How do we live as God calls us to live?

God placed us in families, to help us learn and grow and strive to be better, to reach others and be an example. How we treat one another in our families will be a light for Jesus. I encourage you to start sharing with your children when they are young the importance of families, importance of practicing forgiveness, turning the other cheek, practicing speaking truth in love, and finding ways as a family to love, honor, care, protect and share with each other. And when the hurts come – which they will – we need to find ways to deal with them in healthy ways. Do not allow the hurt, whether real, imagined, or amplified to cut your relationship off within your family. Broken relationships are not God’s best. It is not His design for families. If we go back to Scripture, time after time, we can learn from Jesus how to love, forgive, and grow our relationships. Our families can shine for Jesus as well. When we support one another and come along side to help carry each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2); we become living examples of the Scriptures God has given us.

Families need to bind together when there is a problem or a challenge. My family still has unresolved hurts. But I’ve seen my family come together to accomplish a goal and to help out when life is rough and bumpy. One example is the passing of my son, Jeremiah. Both my family, and my church family, came around and loved and lifted us up; the focus was how do we help, how do we gird you, how do we care. My sister called funeral homes for us; knowing we didn’t have the money for a funeral. She checked out costs and called a friend for insight, who had lost a child; and discovered where to go and how to help. She made difficult phone calls when she knew I was not capable of making them. Her son wrote an amazing fun quirky “Go Fund Me” account, and the church came around as well. We were able to celebrate Jeremiah, bury him, and not have to go into debt, or rush through the grieving process because of funds. My family and church family lifted me up.

Currently, my 82-year-old parents are building a home. As I’ve watched my family come together to sort, move and physically build the home; it is encouraging that we can set aside differences and focus on loving, caring and honoring our parents.

We must lean on the Scriptures; and the examples God gives in His word. I had the privilege to watch my grandparents and parents walk out the Scriptures, not perfectly, but always reflecting and pointing us back to their truth. I encourage you as parents and families that the best way to discipline, guide, instruct and lay a foundation for our children is to read, share, and discuss God’s word daily.

Hope Academy

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Hope Academy

Friendship Church’s history includes a rich involvement in missions around the world, but did you know that we also support a number of Gospel-focused organizations in Minnesota? One of those organizations is Hope Academy, a K-12 school located in the Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis, an area known for poverty and violent crime. Located at 2300 Chicago Avenue, the school is only blocks away from where demonstrations around the tragic death of George Floyd took place. In the midst of this often-troubled neighborhood, Hope Academy shines as a strong presence that truly lives up to its name. Its mission is to foster hope in God in the inner-city by providing youth with a remarkable, Christ-centered education. What makes the education the students receive at Hope Academy so remarkable? And what qualifies it as a mission organization supported by Friendship Church?

Students at Hope Academy receive an excellent, God-centered education.

The staff of Hope Academy share a core conviction that all people are created in the image of God and deserving of an excellent, God-centered education. They believe that an academically rigorous course of study is the best way to prepare students to deal purposefully and responsibly with the complex issues of living in today’s world. All subjects are taught as part of an integrated whole with the Scriptures at the center. Students are equipped to know and love the truth and to utilize that knowledge to respect, honor, and glorify God in all things. A Hope Academy education is a rare and beautiful thing, embracing and promoting growth of mind, body, emotions, spirit, and character. Students are graded not only on academic performance, but on Christian character. 91% of students believe Hope has been essential to their development of a Christian worldview and more than half of students in grades 6-12 have committed or recommitted their lives to Christ through Hope. Not only are the students receiving an excellent education, they are watching the Gospel being lived out in daily doses through those around them. The essence of this God-centered education is perhaps best summed up in “The Hope Declaration”, which the students learn early on and recite as their creed on a regular basis. If you want inspiration, hope, and encouragement as you read this, you can watch the second graders recite this powerful, Scripture-rich declaration here: https://youtu.be/Iwl0qzHDSA8

Students are taught by a highly-qualified staff that is committed to serve as Christ’s examples.

All Hope Academy staff are held to the highest personal and professional standards. They are deeply invested in making a significant, lasting impact for inner-city youth and their families and disciple their students through daily prayer and heart-to-heart conversations. The majority of staff live in the Minneapolis neighborhoods Hope serves and 75% of founding staff are still involved at the school. Staff go to great lengths to build strong partnerships with urban parents, and to foster hope in God for each family. Teachers connect personally with parents often throughout the year and visit each student at home over the MEA break in October. One parent shared: “It’s hard to explain the feelings I have about Hope Academy. The teachers care about my kids like their own and are with us to help bring forth young men and women of the Lord.”

Parental involvement is taken seriously and covenanted.

It is a well-known fact that parental involvement in children’s education is critical, and the staff at Hope Academy takes the role of parents in education very seriously. There is an authentic and purposeful partnership between school staff and parents. Each Hope Academy parent agrees to attend 7 events and volunteer at any 2 all school events as part of their parent covenant. Parents also receive other types of support as desired and needed to foster their growth as believers and to better equip them for parenting in today’s world. Hope staff provide parenting workshops, Bible studies, and social work services for families to help encourage, equip, and support each parent as the most important teacher in their child’s life. All of this greatly contributes to the success of the Hope students.

God’s hand is evident in Hope’s steady growth and multiplication of its educational model.

Hope Academy began in 2000 in a church basement with 35 students in grades K-2. In 2006 with 115 K-7 students, God provided a 200,000 square foot building to provide for future growth. The high school was started in 2008 with the addition of 9 ^th grade. Each year additional students were added and in 2012 the first senior class graduated, with 100% of its students accepted into a 2 or 4 year college. In 2015, the size of the Kindergarten doubled. Then in 2016, Hope leadership took a bold step with the Growing Hope Capital Campaign. This valiant effort generated funding to not only allow for 275 more students and additional learning space in the school’s current building, but also served as a catalyst for the multiplication of the Hope education model to other cities. When the Growing Hope plan was completed in 2019, Hope Academy Minneapolis expanded the student population to 550 students and gained the addition of a new science wing, 10 new classrooms, a new computer lab, a new gymnasium, an expanded cafeteria, student support rooms, and new art and music rooms. Through this same campaign, the Hope-spearheaded Spreading Hope Network launched four new schools in other states, all sharing the same God-centered education model as Hope Minneapolis. For more information on Spreading Hope, visit: https://spreadinghopenetwork.org/ .

The Hope community provides a glimpse of what believers will one day experience in heaven.

The staff and students at Hope Academy are beautifully diverse, comprised of African, African American, biracial, Latino/Hispanic, Caucasian, Asian/Island Pacific, and Native American representatives. Many students are multi-lingual, with a wide variety of languages spoken. When I visit Hope Academy and witness all of these ambassadors of Christ learning together in harmony under one roof, it feels like I am experiencing what it will one day be like in heaven, when believers will stand before the throne of God with brothers and sisters from every nation, tribe, people, and language (Revelation 7:9). I have had the sense that I am standing on holy ground in my privileged visits to Hope and God’s presence there is evident. At a time when racial tensions are running very high, the members of Hope Academy are living proof that God graces us to love one another and thrive in diverse community together. What a beautiful example this community is!

It gives the Church the opportunity to love like Jesus and make an eternal investment .

Most Christian schools charge tuition to cover 90% of costs and raise 10%. Because of the calling the Lord placed on founders Russ Greg and Jeff Bird and the needs of the community they serve, nearly 90% of the costs at Hope are covered by generous giving. Family tuition is determined on a sliding scale and partners cover the rest. With the median household income in 2019 for a Hope Academy household at $34,800 and the education cost per student at Hope being $11,700, a wide gap exists between these two numbers. This is where the Church has an opportunity to love our neighbors. The words of Jesus in Matthew 6:20-21 tell us to “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven….for where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.” There is an eternal purpose in investing our time, talent, and treasure in Gospel efforts, but there is also a blessing this side of heaven for the investor. Those who have made this investment in Hope Academy experience a joy and hope in doing so. We are part of a peacemaking, unifying army working together for God’s Kingdom.

Have you wanted to get involved in urban Kingdom work, but haven’t found a place that seems to be the right fit? Involvement at Hope presents ways to engage your time, talent, and treasure. A wide variety of volunteer opportunities are available. Getting involved through prayer and/or finances at Hope Academy makes an investment not only in remarkable education, but also in excellent and strategic discipleship. These disciples are being trained up within the context of what is happening in urban settings in our current world, equipping them to spread the hope of the Gospel both now and into the future wherever God takes them in their daily lives. They understand how to navigate sensitive and difficult life circumstances and purposefully sow peace and unity instead of unrest and discord. These disciples are a breath of fresh air and a Godly response to the negativity present all around us. Would you like more information about Hope Academy? Visit http://hopeschool.org or sign up for a virtual tour at http://hopeschool.org/visit/ .

When Crisis Hits

Tue, 21 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMT

When Crisis Hits

Have you ever had a moment that rocks your world? That takes everything you’ve ever known, and within seconds, sends your mind racing and disorients you? For me, this moment happened just over a year ago when my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. In an instant, my world flashed before my eyes. There was so much unknown and so much fear that hit me within a matter of seconds. It hit me “like a ton of bricks,” as my dad likes to say. I’m sure you’ve had at least one of these moments in your life, but for me, this was one of the biggest earth-shattering moments I have ever experienced.

Throughout the next six months of treatment for my mom I wrestled with the age-old questions: Why? Why me? Why my family? Why would God allow this? I struggled with the doubt that all of this brought about in me. I felt guilty, that as a believer I struggled so much with these questions.

I felt like, as a Christian, the verse James 1:2 should have been my go-to response in a situation like this! I’m sure you’ve heard the verse, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.” Now, don’t get me wrong, there is so much truth to this verse! And honestly, this verse has been one of my favorites for as long as I can remember. But during those six months, I found myself struggling to find joy and I felt guilty about it! I felt like, as a believer who is seeking Him and wholeheartedly following Him, shouldn’t it be easy, or at least easier, to find joy in my trials?

I wrestled with these questions until I came upon the story of Job. I’m sure many, if not all of you, know the story of Job, right? The guy who had horrible things happen to him: his family was killed, his herds were stolen, his crops were destroyed. You name it and it happened to him. Talk about a guy who had crisis hit out of nowhere! I have always understood the story of Job to be a story of Job’s faithfulness and fear of the Lord. And while this is true, I came to realize that it is also a beautiful story of Job’s wrestling and trying to understand why all those things happened to him. While I don’t have space to put the entire book of Job here for you, I would encourage you to read it if you haven’t already.

The book of Job is the story of how he wrestled with God about tough questions in his faith. Job struggled to understand why God would allow such terrible tragedies to happen to him and his family. He struggled with the concept of God being just. If God was just, then why would He allow those tragedies when Job didn’t do anything wrong? It says in chapter one that Job was a righteous man! Job wrestled with his understanding of who God is, and what that meant for him and his relationship with God. But perhaps the most important part of the story, I came to learn, is Job’s response to God. There are two responses that stood out to me as I read the book of Job.

First, we see in chapter one verse 20 that Job responds by worshipping within his grief. “Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship.” Job didn’t wait for the grief to pass and he didn’t hide his grief from God. He came to God in the midst of his grief, in the midst of his deepest sorrow, and worshipped Him. After everything was taken away, his family, his herds, his servants, everything he had, he CHOSE to worship God. Tearing his clothes and shaving his head were both signs of mourning. But even in the midst of the mourning, he approached his Heavenly Father. You see, the reality is that God can handle our grief. God wants us to come to Him in our deepest despair and cry out to Him. To sit in His presence and mourn the things that we have lost. To struggle and wrestle with the deep sorrow that we are feeling.

Second, we see God interact with Job’s questions and Job’s response to God as a result of that interaction. Job comes to God with all that he is wrestling through, all of his “why” questions that he doesn’t understand, and God responds! God hears Job and doesn’t leave him to wrestle through it on his own, but instead He meets him in that place to work through the questions he is struggling with. God doesn’t give Job a straightforward answer to why he is suffering or why those things were happening, but by the end of God’s exchange with Job in chapters 38-41, we see a beautiful response of humility and reverence from Job. Job understands that God, in all His infinite wisdom, knows more than Job will ever begin to grasp. Job knows that God’s ways are sovereign and perfect, and that while he may never understand them, he must choose to trust in Him.

Through those six months (and more!) of my own wrestling and searching I came to realize that it was okay to wrestle with the reality of the trials I was facing. It was okay to ask God, “Why?” and bring my struggles to Him. To sit with Him in the midst of my grief and wrestle through what I didn’t understand. If Job could do it, why can’t I? In the midst of my deepest grief, I can choose to worship Him and come into His presence. I found that where grief and worship collide, is where true relationship with Him can be found.

I am blessed to be able to sit here today and say that my mom is cancer free! I know that many stories don’t end this way, and I thank God daily that He provided healing for my mom. But I’ve also learned this: Regardless of the outcome, God is good! His ways are higher than mine and His wisdom is vaster than I can ever begin to understand! It is okay for me, for us, to wrestle with the tough questions! After all, it’s what brings us closer into relationship with Him.

Family Movie Night

Tue, 14 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Family Movie Night

It is family movie night! Movies, popcorn, snacks and snuggles on the couch are one of my favorite times with our girls!

This can be so much fun for many families but for some it can be a time of “stress.” What do you watch when you have kids of different age groups who cannot agree on which movie to watch? Some family members might want to watch something animated or silly while others might want to watch something with more drama or scary elements involved. As a parent I do not want my kids watching movies that contain fright or too much drama, but I realize, as they get older, I will no longer have control over the things they watch. So, I must ask myself if I would rather have them watch on their own or when I am there with them to answer questions and give guidance?

We went through a time in our family when we only watched things like Little House on the Prairie during family movie night because it was safe and the only thing everyone could agree on. Even then, we would skip certain episodes because it was “too scary” for one of the girls.

The girls have both become teenagers now and many times we still have a hard time finding a movie we can all agree on. Many of today’s movies are geared towards worldly things that we, as parents, want so much to protect our children from.

Our family recently watched the movie “Breakthrough.” This was a great movie for our teen girls and us. My favorite part was Joyce’s unrelenting faith that God would heal her son and her commitment to not allowing others to speak negatively about her son, only to “speak life” into him. It is not a movie that we could have watched if our girls were younger. When kids are little, they mostly see the things that might scare them. Seeing teenage boys fall through the ice, a mom becoming angry and yelling at others, seeing a young boy lying in a hospital bed while his mom cries over him, these are the things they would remember. These are the things that would have had them sleeping in our room for days!

Now that they are older, they able to connect the whole story and not get stuck on the things that scare them. They can see the importance of a relationship with Jesus Christ. We talked about how difficult it would be for a family to go through something like this without having faith!

We do have control over the things our kids watch when they are little but as they become teenagers, we lose some of that control, especially when they are with friends. The days of parents asking my permission about showing a specific movie to my young child at their home have gone away. These are the days I see so much value in having had open communication with our girls and the things they might see on TV or the movie screen. Often, parents try to protect their kids from all the things this world will throw at them. My husband and I have instead chosen to process things with our girls. We choose to talk with them about why we do not want them being exposed to certain things instead of avoiding the subject.

Casting Crowns said it perfectly in their song “Slow Fade.” So how do we get ourselves and our kids to not give ourselves away and allow the black and white turn to gray? We must have a strong foundation and that starts with the Bible. Knowing God’s word is the best defense for what is right and wrong. It is when we start to think, “it is just a movie” or “it is just this one time” that things start to get gray in our minds.

A good place to start for movie night is a website called “ Plugged In .” This website gives you an incredibly detailed explanation on what you can expect to see and hear in the movie. If you are still unsure after reading the review from them then do what we have done at times, watch the movie yourself before watching with your children. After all, you know your children better than anyone and will be able to be the best “movie reviewer” your kids will ever have!

Longing for Rest

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Longing for Rest

Sitting on the cabin deck watching the lake roll by and listening to the sound of birds chirping in the trees, I was reminded of Psalm 23. Verses 2-3 say:

“ He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me before quiet waters,
He refreshes my soul. ”

As I reflect on these verses, I can’t help but feel a sense of refreshment for my soul.

I grew up making the three-hour trip up north to the cabin on a very regular basis. We would spend weeks at a time during the summer months. We spent time with family, built forts in the woods, swam, fished and so much more. The cabin has been a favorite vacation spot for my family for as long as I can remember.

As I’ve gotten older and the busyness of life has taken over, what used to be weeks at the cabin has turned into couple day stints here and there throughout the year. We now make it up to the cabin only when there’s a lull in events long enough to make the three-hour drive worth it; and these times are few and far between.

One of these times came a few weeks ago over Father’s Day. As I sat on the deck enjoying the beautiful sunshine and cool breeze, I realized the longing that has developed in me over the years to be at the cabin. But why? What is it about the cabin that makes me long to be there?

And then it hit me: rest. At the cabin there’s permission to slow down. Permission to rest. There’s no schedule to keep, no place to be, no check list to get done. I can simply be. I can rest and refresh in a way that I can’t at home.

The same is true when we spend time in the presence of God. God gives us permission to “ lie down in green pastures ,” as the Psalm says. Permission to just be in His presence. When we slow down and spend time with Him our souls find rest and are refreshed.

I started to realize that life’s busyness often has the same effect on my faith as it does on our trips to the cabin. As life gets busy it can be easy to spend less time in the presence of the Lord. And just like when we can’t make it to the cabin often, I start to notice my soul getting weary and tired when I don’t spend time regularly with the Lord. I feel this sense of longing to spend time in His presence; time resting and refreshing my soul with my Heavenly Father.

The cabin brings physical rest for me. I am able to physically slow down, sleep in and relax with family (that is, if dad doesn’t have a big project for us over the weekend!) In a similar way, spending time with God brings spiritual rest and refreshment to our souls. God wants us to rest in His presence. As Psalm 23 reminds us, the Lord “ makes me lie down in green pastures ” and “ leads me beside quiet waters .” God wants to spend time with me. He wants to slow us down so that He can refresh our soul. He leads us and guides us into times that will help us find spiritual rest.

Matthew 11:29 says, “ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls .” When we aren’t intentional to slow down and spend time with the Lord, our souls are unable to find rest. It is so easy for our souls to grow weary in this world. All the evil and sin remind our heaven bound souls that this earth is not our home. It can make us weary to watch the events of our day unfolding around us. While the cabin brings physical rest, only Jesus can bring spiritual rest and refreshment.

Physical rest is sometimes needed. After a busy week sometimes we need a day off to physically refresh our bodies. But even more so, we need spiritual refreshment. It doesn’t matter where we are, whether we are at a special vacation spot or at home, when we stop and spend time in the presence of God, He promises to refresh our weary souls.

Freedom Worth Living For

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Freedom Worth Living For

I worked for a missions organization in Boston during the summer of 2011. I was a part of a five person staff that led week-long inner-city mission trips for youth groups across the nation. It was a great experience, but I struggled with the freedom to do what I wanted on our days off. As a group we spent countless hours together day and night. We only had one vehicle, and if I wanted any time away and needed the car, it had to be planned. I had to learn to adjust and sacrifice some personal freedom.

Freedom is often thought about more during this time of year. It’s understandable with Memorial Day in the rearview mirror and Independence Day coming up this weekend. These are two days where we take the opportunity to be thankful for our freedom. We’re thankful to those who helped our nation gain its independence and we’re continually thankful to those who have served our country, serving and sacrificing each day for the freedoms we are afforded.

But, right now especially, freedom has been a topic of thought and discussion more than it has been in years past. To me, freedom means a lot more now than it did when 2020 began.

For those of us in the United States, we have a great deal of freedom. It is my hope that the experience COVID-19 has brought us through has given us a new perspective of what freedom really means. Let’s think about the last few months for a minute. Stores have been closed, travel has been limited, our jobs have changed or have been lost, church fellowship has been greatly limited, toilet paper and food items have been nowhere to be seen or severely limited, and the list can go on. These changes have been hindrances to the freedoms that we are used to having. It doesn’t have to be a right or wrong thing, it’s merely fact that life has been different and has probably felt less free. But, we must also admit that we’ve been better off by far compared to several countries around the world, who even without COVID-19, have never experienced the freedoms we do each day.

The level of freedom we have in America is unique, not common. And likewise, American Christians have a unique vantage point on freedom, not common. So, I have to ask myself. What is the purpose of clinging to the freedom we have in the United States? I like freedom as much as the next freedom-loving person and I’m thankful that I have the opportunity to live with freedom. But, while we’re spending so much time thinking about and talking about freedom, let’s pause and consider what I believe is the deeper underlying issue.

We’re chasing the world. Myself included.

I’ve seen so much of “ I want, I need, I deserve, it’s my right” the past few months and as Christians, I think we’re missing the mark. Yes, we have freedom, but where do we see Jesus saying, “ I want, I need, I deserve, it’s my right?”

In Luke 23, Jesus is mocked and questioned, “if you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” Jesus, fully God and fully man, could have walked away from the cross saying “ I want, I need, I deserve, it’s my right,” but He didn’t. He stayed the course. He carried the cross. His body was marred. He died our death. Why?

So that we would have freedom in Christ.

Freedom from our sins.

Freedom from our shame.

Freedom to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

It’s okay to enjoy the freedom we have here. But, is that the freedom we should be living for? To what end do we pursue freedom in this country? For a better life, comfort, convenience? Or, can we use our freedom in this country to further the kingdom of God and preach the Gospel as we are so called to do?

I want to encourage you to be reminded of where Christians stand in this world. Not so that you would feel guilty about the freedoms we have, but so that you would remember the higher calling worth living for.

1 John 2:15-17

^“15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life is not from the Father but is from the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

Galatians 5:13:

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

The freedom we have in Christ is so much better than the worldly freedom we’re all talking about. I want to encourage you to “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness” and to set your hopes on God (1 Timothy 6). Let’s remember to thank God for the freedoms we have, while encouraging our brothers and sisters in Christ, and while speaking and living out the Gospel for those around us who do not yet know Him. Take a moment and think about which freedom is most important to you. I’ll be honest… it’s easy for my worldly freedom to take root each day, but that is a life of this world and far less rewarding than living each day with my freedom in Christ. The world and worldly freedoms will end, but freedom in Christ will not. True freedom is in knowing Him. That is freedom worth living for.

Worship as a Weapon

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Worship as a Weapon

Have you ever felt so overcome in a situation where you froze up? Maybe you could not even get words out of your mouth to utter a prayer, or cry out? Your trouble could have felt so deep that even God seemed distant from it?

SUDDENLY, a worship song pops into your thoughts and you begin praising and singing out truths that your memory and soul remind you of.

You start out humming, grow to silently speaking the words, and your faith rises in remembrance of the power of God. Before you realize it, your heart’s attention has shifted and the King of Glory steps into the room as you sing praise. He sits with you, listens to your brokenness, and wipes away your tears.

Being in relationship with Creator God changes everything. The more that we seek to know Him, the more we recognize the attacks of the enemy and the presence of evil. I remain truly blown away that God reveals His power to us and invites us into His strength. His love permeates our cores, which in turn demands a rightful response of gratitude.

The Bible clearly talks about the forces of evil that exist on earth (Ephesians 6:11-12) and recognizes the “wrestling” that takes place “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Like me, I imagine that when planning out your day, you do not think about the spiritual “wrestling” you might face in the day. And when it does happen, it feels like an ambush. Truth check – as believers, God does not leave us in the dark about the attacks of the enemy. In fact, we are warned that “the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy (John 10:10a).” Furthermore, in James 1, we know as followers of Christ, we will face “trials of various kinds.” The closer we draw towards Jesus, the more evil will attempt to entangle us.

What is your human/flesh response to attacks by the enemy?

What is your spiritual response?

Do you have two different answers to those questions?

When I respond to an attack with my flesh it looks a lot like anxiety, frustration, doubt, or cowering in a corner (funny how acting in your own strength makes you the weakest person in the room). Responding in a spiritual way is wildly different. I lean into my identity as a child of God that is known, loved, and equipped with Holy Spirit to “stand against the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:11).” The power of the Most High God is no joke. Whisper the Name of Jesus and the enemy has to go.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” – James 4:7

As a young girl, I discovered the power of Jesus’ Name, because for years I had horrible, evil nightmares that would keep me from sleeping. My mom would end up joining me in my room praying together: “satan I bind you to the cross in Jesus’ Name. you have no power here, amen.”

Joining Friendship’s Flood worship team as a middle schooler grew my trust that He is, who He says He is. Powerful. At that age, worship songs were fun to sing as my understanding of God blossomed. They grew into an intense awareness for the presence of God and seeking Him in all things. That meant in joy – I praise Him. In stress – I choose praise, not cowering. In fear – I praise His mighty Name. In doubt – I praise Him, because He is faithful. The more I learned about Abba’s character, the more words I had to praise Him with and the more I could praise Him in situationally. I discovered that an outpouring of gratitude and praise to God changes atmospheres of fear to faith, and He becomes so close. Even more importantly, a transformed heart posture of praise is pivotal in watching demons turn and flee.

God is ready to rescue. He is with us and committed to His people.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” –
Psalm 46:1

We need only to call on His mighty Name.

Father’s Day

Tue, 16 Jun 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Father’s Day

Many men see fatherhood through a personal, narrow lens of their own life experience. What they see is often distorted based on that experience. How many times have we heard someone say, “I won’t ever parent the way my father did.” I said that a few times. Or, “I parent the way I do because that’s the way my dad did it.”

The first time of holding your child as a newborn can be overwhelming. In that very moment comes the realization that nothing will ever be quite the same again. Cradling that new life in your arms foretells a lifetime of responsibility ahead. And in that lifetime, an unknown myriad of emotional twists and turns, worries, fears, victories, defeats and sometime, losses.

Time and circumstance each have a way of bringing out the best or the worst in the way men fulfill their roles as fathers. During the career-building years amidst the pressure to achieve and provide well, there are conflicting forces in play. Children need their fathers during the years where roles and values are being learned, yet quite often, children compete for time with dad. And sadly, few men are well prepared to create the healthy balance needed for the most important role they will ever have.

History gives us a litany of “sins of the fathers” and the generational consequences it brings. It’s in the Old Testament books of Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy Jeremiah, as well as in writings by Euripides, Shakespeare and Horace. Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. You show steadfast love to thousands, but you repay the guilt of fathers to their children after them, O great and mighty God, whose name is the Lord of hosts – Jeremiah 32:17-18.

Yet as we approach Father’s Day once again, there is so much hope. Hope that we will submit and take from the example of our Father and Creator – the perfect Father like we all wish we had in our Earthly father. There is hope that generational patterns of sin could be stopped by the simple truth of the Gospel. Father’s Day can be a time of great joy, of renewal and of reconciliation and repentance. Particularly at this time of cultural divide and conflict, there can be great comfort in taking steps that represent the sacrificing of pride in wounded relationships between fathers and children and fathers and wives. Our Father in Heaven provides that comfort.

My teenage years were filled with a kind of low-level resentment of my father. During the hours he was home and wasn’t working our home was full of restraint. Dad was tired and tense, so nobody wanted to upset him. Drama was never on display in our home. He was long on criticism and short on encouragement. On only two occasions in all the time I knew him did I hear words of genuine affirmation or encouragement come from his mouth. Yet on those two occasions, his words were profoundly impactful. So, over the years, my resentment evolved toward respect and, in fact, compassion. I had come to understand that he was ill-equipped to say those words often or to say them well.

I believe that, like my Heavenly Father, he loved me and knew what was good for me. Out of my sight, he wept when I wept. He disciplined me when I needed it. He protected me and provided for my needs. In my 20s, I put up with him, but into his 60s, 70s and 80s, my dad had become my hero. If you have the opportunity this year at Father’s Day, don’t miss any part of all that special day can be for both you and your father.

Full-Time Christian

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Full-Time Christian

I recently became a full-time Christian.

Before you stop reading, please make sure to read on as it would not be good if people left reading this to believe the new Worship Pastor at Friendship Church only recently became a Christian.

That’s not what I’m saying.

In April, I joined Friendship Church full-time as Worship Pastor. So now when people ask me what I do for a living, I can say:

Me: I’m a Worship Pastor.

Them: A What? Pastor? You’re a minister? You preach?

Me: No, I’m a full-time Christian. (I feel like nobody knows what a Worship Pastor is…)

Them: Oh, got it… (they didn’t really get it, because my dad humor is brutal).

Me: Sorry, lame joke. I help my church with music.

Them: OH!

The point is, now that I’m working for the church, that makes me a full-time Christian, doesn’t it?

Not exactly.

Every single human deals with a big problem – that problem is sin. And if left unchecked; if left unrepented; if left to represent our character and who we are as a person; a stranger will be none the wiser of the relationship we claim to have with Jesus.

Being a Christian should be a full-time lifestyle for everyone who walks with Jesus.

Jesus says in Luke 9:23, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” 1 John 1:9 says that, “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Acts 3:9 says to “repent and our sins will be blotted out.”

While we can certainly aim for full-time status, none of us can ever be perfect. But that shouldn’t stop us from getting out of bed each morning with a plan to live that day for Christ!

The best example we have for Christian living is Jesus. Jesus Christ IS the full-time CHRISTian. Jesus is perfect. Thank you Jesus for your grace and mercy and for defeating death and sin so that we might know the Heavenly Father.

My challenge to us all is to take two minutes today when you’ve finished reading this and consider the following:

My hope is that you will take a few moments to search within. Let God speak to you in that time. Make an effort to meet with Jesus this week. Whether it’s every day, a few times through the week, or even just one day this week. The surest way to loving, living and serving like Jesus full-time is through spending time in His Word.

The Great Commandment Comes Home

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 00:00:00 GMT

The Great Commandment Comes Home

“What happened to ALL my pans?” I still remember my mom’s flabbergasted question to my family after returning from an early January trip.

She was about to prepare dinner and brought us all into the kitchen to give an account for the damage.

My older sister and I looked sheepishly at each other and said, “Dad said it was ok.”

While my mom was away, our dad had let my sister and I invite over most of our high school for a New Year’s Eve party. And what better way to ring in the New Year, than to take every pot and pan in our home and beat on them with spoons in the street with our friends!

Hospitality comes with a cost.

Our mom forgave us (and I think forgave our dad J), because they believed that having people in our home and creating space for relational love and investment was more important than pans.

The word “hospitality” is close to the Greek word philoxenia or “love of the stranger.”

It sees people as “friends we haven’t met yet” and seeks others’ good, regardless of relational history.

In our current cultural moment, hospitality may enable us to live as Great Commandment Christians (Matt. 22:36-40) like never before.

Paul’s Galatians’ application is particularly fitting as we consider what it means to “love God and neighbor as self” in quarantine. Paul argues that we must bend our freedom in Christ into service and love for others, “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Galatians 5:13-14).

As gathering restrictions lift, strategies to serve and love our neighbors must pre-occupy our minds, not simply our own personal comforts or freedoms.

The earliest allowable groups may be small in size, but they can be gigantic in Kingdom-advancing impact if we lean into God’s heart of hospitality.

Where we live is not coincidence. God puts neighbors in our lives “for such a time as this.” And not just to invite them to church, but to invite them into our lives. Just as Jesus took on human form to “pitch his tent” with us on life’s journey (John 1:14), we incarnate the capital “C” Church to our neighbors when we love, live, and serve like him in our neighborhoods.

Who we invite over and how we engage them tells a lot about our love for and trust in Jesus.

At the COVID-level, there are ongoing concerns and anxieties around physical safety that we would be unloving to ignore. The well-known insurance company jingle has morphed into a message that epitomizes our approach to neighbor: “State Farm – Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there” has changed to “Stay Far – Like a good neighbor, stay over there.” As Christians, could we tweak it to say, “Like a good neighbor, show that we care?”

Physical safety aside, other fears keep many Christians from engaging their neighbors with hospitable hearts. “Bad company corrupts good character” might be generally helpful advice for high school friend groups. But Jesus did not fear this danger when eating with neighbors who needed his love. And as a general rule, neither should we.

As New Testament scholar Craig Blomberg explains, “Jesus’ model of ministering to people of all backgrounds challenges us to cross the culture-gap between the Christian sub-culture of cozy meetings and holy talk and the pagan culture of our local community. The task of identification with and incarnation into our contemporary paganism, of all kinds, is one of the biggest tasks confronting the church. If Jesus was right, and the prevailing view in ancient Judaism wrong, so that holiness can be more contagious than impurity, then we need not fear such activity.” ( Contagious Holiness: Jesus’ Meals with Sinners , 173).

As we’ve all been driven indoors over the past months and forced to relate to one another through digital means, our collective hunger for connection grows. As we make baby steps back to relating more face-to-face, let’s nurture our new-found neighbor relationships. The mailbox exchange or neighborhood walk conversations can move to porch drinks, back deck barbeques, and even dinners together indoors.

We must not rush past these newly strengthened neighborhood connections to old friends, family friends, or Christian friends alone. What a great time to invite our geographically quarantined “bunker buddies” into relationship with our established Kingdom “siblings” over table fellowship.

Rosaria Butterfield calls this radically ordinary hospitality , or “Using your Christian home in a daily way that seeks to make strangers neighbors, and neighbors family of God. It brings glory to God, serves others, and lives out the gospel in word and deed” ( The Gospel Comes with a House Key: Practicing Radically Ordinary Hospitality in Our Post-Christian World , Rosaria Butterfield, 31).

Throughout her book, Butterfield argues that the purpose of radically ordinary hospitality is to “build, focus, deepen and strengthen the family of God, point others to the Bible-believing local church, and being earthly and spiritual good to everyone we know.” (31)

As we calibrate towards a “new normal” of social relationship as Christians, let’s not miss the gift God has placed before us. Rather than pine for our pre-COVID Christian cliques, let’s bring God-appointed variety to our table fellowships. What would it mean for the cause of Christ and his Kingdom if our daily meals looked closer to a Thanksgiving mix of old friends and across-the-street acquaintances?

When we re-convene our Life Groups on those familiar couches, how could God break in to our established communities through a new face or two because of the mysterious “relational stimulus package” God sent us all this season?

As Christians, may we be known by our radical love (John 13:35) and may our hospitable tables and gatherings prove it.

COVID-19 and Grief

Tue, 26 May 2020 00:00:00 GMT

COVID-19 and Grief

As shelter in place lingers on and I have recently been checking in on people, there is a very common thread that is growing. Grief. Loss. Uncertainty. Fear. Depression. Doubt. But in the same conversation I also hear the other side. Hope. Joy. Faith. Trust. Belief. The current COVID-19 realities that we are living is colliding with our faith, and we are trying to make sense of it all. Some days we are on top of the world and know God is at work and we believe He will bring us through this. Other days we want to crawl under the covers and not come out until it is all over. And many more emotions throughout the day.

It seems that almost overnight the normalcy, routines, predictability and plans of our lives were thrown out the window. And in its place came COVID-19 and it brought with it uncertainty, anxiety, fear, confusion, disruption.

And suddenly, the whole world is experiencing the same life changing challenges. We are living in a time we may have never dreamed possible, one that only sci-fi movies are made of. But that is where we are today.

There is much loss and grief we are collectively experiencing. Together, we are in the same storm, but our boats are all different. What does your boat look like? What are the changes, losses, and griefs you are facing and experiencing?

I love that this verse reminds us that God wants us to come to Him with all of our negative emotions and feelings and that He wants to bring us peace. “ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ” Philippians 4:6-7

The modern definition of grief is keen mental suffering or distress over a loss or affliction—a sharp sorrow—a painful regret.

In the midst of COVID-19 we are experiencing the grief of death in a way that is unheard of. Our loved ones are hospitalized and dying without us being allowed to be at their side. We have not been allowed to gather to love, hug, weep, and support family members. Very small funerals are being held via Facebook Live. We never could have imagined such a time as this.

God knows the depth of this pain and he tells us so in Psalm 34:18, “ The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. ” And in Psalm 147:3, “ He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. ”

Throughout this time, we are facing many loses and we may very well be experiencing grief and not be aware of it. In 1988 we moved from Iowa to Ohio. After we got there and the kids got settled into school and Denny into his job, I was left with the job of unpacking and organizing our home. I am a fairly high-energy, optimistic, get ‘er done kind of person and yet I found myself spending my days lying on the couch. I was sad. I had no energy. I had no interest in unpacking. It was not until years later that I looked back on that time and realized that I had been grieving many losses that came with that move.

The losses in this season of COVID-19 are many and we may be experiencing more than one at a time. Within the same home and family there are different losses and different amounts of grief. When you look at your life a few months ago to now, what have you lost?

Family members or friends have died, a sense of security is gone, part of your salary has been taken, your job is eliminated, plans for your future are on hold, you wonder about your purpose and identity, routines are out the window, activities are all cancelled, community within your workplace is non-existent, clubs and gyms closed, hugs prohibited, personal space is now six feet, there are no proms, wedding plans are up in the air, graduations are not being held, family reunions and social gatherings are not allowed, there is no peace and quiet in your home or you are totally alone in your home and the isolation is unbearable and the list goes on.

Some things we can take in stride and others we cannot. What might cause me to experience grief, may only slightly impact you.

Thankfully, as believers we always have hope! “ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. ” Hebrews 10:23

Let us not give in to fear. The enemy wants us to fear. Keeping too focused on the news can develop into fear and anxiety. “ Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. ” Isaiah 41:10

Below are some signs that you may be experiencing grief, the stages you can expect to go through and tips to help you navigate.

Some Signs You May Be Experiencing Grief

Trouble sleeping Excessive eating

Too much sleeping Difficulty concentrating

Loss of interest in activity Anxiety

Irritability Anger

Fatigue Confusion

The grief journey is not an easy one and is different for each person, but you can expect to go through five stages. They will not necessarily be in the same order for each person and you may go back and forth between them.

Five Stages of Grief

Denial: This cannot be happening to me

Anger: Why is this happening? Who is to blame?

Bargaining: Make this not happen and in return I will_________

Depression: I am too sad to do anything

Acceptance: I am at peace with that has happened

Tips to Navigate Grief

Take care of yourself physically: eat healthy, exercise, go outside for fresh air and sunshine.

Take care of yourself spiritually: spend time in prayer, reading the Bible, attend online church.

Spend time with others: although all virtual for now, you can be a part of a LifeGroup and connect with your family and friends.

Talk about what you are experiencing: share your feelings with friends, family, in GriefShare, with a pastor or counselor.

Ask for help: if you are not sure where to turn, call the church for prayer and direction.

“Grief is a journey, often perilous and without clear direction,” writes author Molly Fumia. “The experience of grieving cannot be ordered or categorized, hurried or controlled, pushed aside or ignored indefinitely. It is inevitable as breathing, as change, as love. It may be postponed, but it will not be denied.” Fumia, Molly. (2003) Safe Passages. York Beach, ME: Conari Press.

Perseverance

Tue, 19 May 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Perseverance

“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:9 (ESV)

Have you seen the Army guarding the tomb of the Unknown Soldier?

How they don’t stop even in severe weather?

The Old Guard, members of the Third Infantry Regiment, keep 24 hour, 365 days/year watch over the Tomb on the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. Here is a video of the guarding the tomb:

https://weather.com/news/trending/video/guarding-the-tomb-of-the-unknowns-regardless-of-the-weather

According to the Society of the Honor Guard web page:

“Tomb Guards are handpicked and rigorously trained. The duty at the Tomb is not for everyone, with the majority of soldiers who begin Tomb Guard training failing. Tomb Guards describe their service as a privilege and an honor, and are undeniably proud of their service. They are part of an unbroken chain of soldiers dating back to 1926. The ideals of the Tomb became the Guidepost for their lives, as well as a motivating factor and measuring stick for future endeavors.”

To learn more, visit:

https://tombguard.org/tomb-of-the-unknown-soldier/the-tomb-guard/

Their service is an example of what it means to “not grow weary of doing good” (perseverance).

What an honor to be selected to Guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It takes training, responsibility, dedication and perseverance to fulfill their commitment. How many of the chosen are able to complete the two-year tour of duty being on guard, and not quit?

Have you ever asked yourself “what is the difference between patience and perseverance?”

According to “Growing in the Fruit of the Spirit”, published by Gospel Light, “Patience is the ability to wait for something, even when it might be difficult to do so. Perseverance is the sticking to a task and attempting to accomplish it in a determined way, despite any obstacles that might appear or hindrances that might get in the way.”

The soldiers guarding the tomb demonstrate to us the value of perseverance.

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (ESV)

In Scripture, Paul uses the illustration how a runner and then a boxer prepares and competes. In the larger picture, Paul is writing on the need for believers to share the Gospel.

How does an athlete or soldier train? They must discipline themselves in the areas of diet, exercise and sleep as required in their training. They cannot be half-hearted and out-of-shape. They aim and focus on winning the prize or completing their duty. They are in a battle that will take perseverance in order to compete and win the prize.

As believers, we need to realize that the flesh, the world, everyday affairs, personal interests, and often simple laziness hinders spiritual growth and preparation for service. Even good things can interfere with the best.

So, we need to prepare and run the race, and not to grow weary while doing good. Keeping our eyes on the imperishable prize. Do not give up. Persevere!

War at Home

Tue, 12 May 2020 00:00:00 GMT

War at Home

I remember when we only had two kids, our oldest daughter and our first son. Our son was a momma’s boy. Every morning he would crawl up in my lap to drink his bottle of milk and we would have snuggle time. It was our special morning routine. For a little over two years of his life he had most of his momma’s attention. And then his whole world changed. His new baby brother entered the picture. Suddenly a new baby was in momma’s lap and sometimes he had to drink his milk alone. A rivalry began that is still going on to this day. A war to win the most attention from mom and dad, a battle to always be the best or have the best or be in the most control.

Maybe you are fortunate to live in a home where all your children live at peace with one another. But that has not been the case for us. We now have four children and peace is not a word that I would use to describe our home, especially right now. Like all of you, we are adjusting to being at home together…all the time. I work two jobs and am attempting to administer distance learning with four kids. But I would say the most difficult part of all of this is managing the sibling rivalry during the day. I feel like I am the constant peace maker. I am the one every one runs to when they have been injured in a wrestling match or had their feelings hurt when they were called a name. It does not fill me with joy to hear my children screaming at each other and uttering terrible things out of their mouths. And all the while I am trying to work, or help someone with school, or catch up on the housework. It gets exhausting.

I am not about to tell you a step by step plan on how to fix all your problems at home. In fact, when the Kids Ministry team was discussing who should write this blog, I thought I was the least likely person to be able to offer wisdom. I needed someone else to give me advice. I do not know how to make the battle between siblings stop.

But this is what I do know. I know that parents have the power to set the atmosphere in the home. If the chaos that my children are creating causes me to also be chaotic – what is the result? More chaos. But what if I have the ability to remain in control of my emotions and stay calm amidst the chaos? How will that impact the actions and attitudes of those around me?

It might seem impossible to manage such a feat. But Jesus promises us that it is in fact possible.

“ Abide in me , and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine , neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” ~John 15:4

And what fruits will we produce when we abide in Jesus?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ~Galatians 5:22-23

As parents, we need to be abiding in Jesus everyday…every hour…every minute. When I am not in the Word or on my knees in prayer I notice a huge difference in my attitude towards chaos. My natural response is to end the chaos using whatever means possible. When I react using my own strength I only cause more damage. But when I am leaning into Jesus…He gives me the strength to respond in a way that reflects Him.

Charles Spurgeon said it best:

“How seldom do we ask counsel at the hands of the Lord! How often do we go about our business, without seeking His guidance! In our troubles how constantly do we strive to bear our burdens ourselves, instead of casting them upon the Lord, that He may sustain us!”

The Lord will provide all the resources we need – we just need to ask for them!

This “shelter in place” order has impacted us in all different ways. I heard a quote from Friendship’s Connections Director, Lori McCormick, the other day: “We are all in the same storm, but we are all in different boats.” Some of us have more time on our hands than we have ever had before. For others, we are actually busier. But whatever boat we are in, we all need to prioritize time with Jesus . Let’s not squander this time. Let’s come out of this walking in closer relationship with our family and with Christ.

“The parenting journey that lasts a lifetime is not about doing everything right. Instead, it’s about radical reliance on the grace of the only One who’s ever parented perfectly.” ~Nancy Guthrie

Here are some other great resources from people more knowledgeable than myself:

https://connectedfamilies.org/siblings-oc/

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/meet-the-perfect-parent-and-perfect-child/

https://connectedfamilies.org/2020/04/08/god-is-always-up-to-something/

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/handle-family-conflict-holiday-season/

A Grandmother’s Influence

Tue, 05 May 2020 00:00:00 GMT

A Grandmother’s Influence

In early March, my husband and I embarked on a long-planned trip overseas, part of which was a reflective tour of the seven churches of Revelation. We had been looking forward to it for a long time, but as the time to leave approached, we realized that we would not see our grandkids (and the rest of the family) for at least three or four weeks, which is an unusually a long time for our family. We have seven grandkids ages 2 – 8 years, and they all live nearby.

Of course, the Coronavirus heated up in the US while we were gone, and upon our arrival back in the states we immediately self-quarantined for two weeks. And while we were self-quarantining, the state imposed the shelter-in-place order, further limiting our ability to connect with our family. So, like many others, we began devising unique ways to stay in touch, particularly with our grandchildren, some of whom are too young to understand why we can’t be physically close to them at this time.

Being restricted from seeing family members has caused me to think about my interactions with them before COVID-19. Sure, we’re doing phone calls and video chats, or even some short conversations when dropping things off at each other’s homes, but what will I do differently when I can again hug and play with my grandkids?

We all get busy in life, and sometimes it’s hard to focus in on a small child’s long story or incessant chatter. But as a grandmother, I have a unique opportunity to play a key role in the spiritual and character development of that child. I’m not the busy parent who is also responsible for disciplining the child. I’m not the brother or sister that fights with them and doesn’t want to do things their way. What I can be is a good listener, one who asks questions and offers insights to the child. I can weave spiritual principles into a conversation that reinforces what they may be learning at home or church or sparks new ideas. I can take time to do fun things with them and let them see that Grandma enjoys things that they do.

My mother has been a wonderful grandmother to my children, and now as a great-grandmother to their children. My kids were fortunate to grow up near their grandparents where the extended family gets together every couple of weeks for family dinner. My mom spent additional time supporting our kids in various ways: praying for them, swimming at the lake, trips to the zoo or Valleyfair, family camp in the summer, and as they got older, many sporting events. She was, and still is, a strong presence in their lives. And she is repeating this love and care with her great-grandchildren.

A grandmother’s influence can be so instrumental in the lives of the grandchildren. Consider 2 Timothy 1:5 as Paul encourages Timothy, a young man: “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.”

I desire to pattern my grandparenting after my mom’s example, especially in praying for them constantly. I need to make that extra effort to join in as many of their activities as I can, to try to adjust my schedule as much as possible to make that happen. I need to spend one-on-one time with each grandchild, to learn their hearts and to encourage them as they grow. I want to be a grandmother that they feel safe bringing their problems to as they get older and respect my loving input enough to help them choose right paths.

As Mother’s Day approaches, how can we honor our mothers, possibly from afar, for all they’ve done for us, our children and grandchildren? And how can we influence those that we are mother or grandmother to? After the shelter-in-place is lifted, what will we do differently in our relationships with our families?

Need some ideas? Here are a couple of websites that may get your creative juices flowing:

https://grandkidsmatter.org/
https://www.gospelshapedfamily.com/

As we’ve had time to reflect on the most important things of life during this unique time, let’s make the most of those relationships when we get back to normal.

Way Maker

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Way Maker

Volume increases. Instrumental strings sound out in combination of a low keyboard pad with the note progression D-F-G. The drummer comes in quietly with a minimal beat, only hitting on the two and four counts. By now, if you have heard the song before, you already know the lyrics that are coming.

You are here

Moving in our midst

I worship You

As the song continues, you might already be singing the chorus, because that is the catchiest part of the song, right? The piano intro replays again through another verse as a cymbal fade takes us to the awaiting chorus.

Way maker

Miracle worker

Promise keeper

Light in the darkness

My God that is who You are

The song Way Maker has over 160 million views on YouTube and has been introduced to many congregational worship settings, especially in the past year. Two weeks ago, Way Maker was projected in a parking lot at a hospital to encourage and support healthcare workers, while many joined in proclaiming the power of God over the world’s current state. This past January, 65,000 people gathered for Passion conference 2020 where Kristian Stanfill, Kari Jobe, and Cody Carnes led the song powerfully in a very crowded room. Over a year ago, I encountered the song for the first time at a worship night at North Central University and was challenged to proclaim the lyrics with boldness, finding myself unable to stop singing the words after worship was over. It is a moving song that is moving hearts around the world.

The most popular version of this song out today is by Leeland (released in 2019), which is a reimagination of the original released song in 2016 by Sinach Joseph. Sinach is a Nigerian gospel singer, songwriter and senior worship leader at Love World Church in Lagos, Nigeria. She has written over 200 songs and won several awards being recognized as one of the Top 100 influential Christians in Nigeria. She has performed and headlined concerts in over 50 countries across the globe. She has released nine albums since 2008 and has over 147 million views on her original release of Way Maker on YouTube. She lives and breathes music and accredits her many talents as a gift from God.

The Leeland version continues as the song builds through a rollercoaster format of dynamics, grooving through the second verse filled with more revelation of an omnipresent and all-powerful God. Refer to chorus at least four more times and leave room to breathe before singing the bridge.

Even when I don’t see it – You’re working

Even when I don’t feel it – You’re working

You never stop, You never stop working

Now we have arrived to where it gets personal. If you are singing along, we have sung about our realization that God is here and He is moving. In the chorus, we come together in recognizing an almighty God, ending in a personal declaration “my God that is who You are.” Imagine that while singing this bridge God asks you: “do you believe I am who I say I Am?” Wow.

I reflect back to that night at NC, in a stuffy sanctuary surrounded by a lot of sweaty college students where I sang this song for the first time and believed it. The bridge felt like a punch in the face, because if we are honest with ourselves, trusting God in absolutely everything is not always our first inclination. Thankfully, the worship team knows this secret about humanity and gave ample time (repeat bridge 6 times) for me to process this with the Lord before declaring these truths with an HONEST heart. I sang my all, and then I wept. God is mighty. He transforms. He shifted a deeper understanding of faith in the Great I Am in me that evening. Anytime that we turn our focus from ourselves and rest our gaze on the power of His presence, who He is, and our response to those truths, something changes.

Sinach has not published her personal story behind writing this song, but this we can know for certain. She had an encounter with the Lord and the rest is [His]tory.

May you be touched by our Almighty God and Father. He loves you so much. He is:

Way maker

Miracle worker

Promise keeper

Light in the darkness

My God that is who You are

Sinach Way Maker Original – https://youtu.be/n4XWfwLHeLM

Sinach Way Maker Live – https://youtu.be/QM8jQHE5AAk

Leeland Way Maker – https://youtu.be/iJCV_2H9xD0

The Importance of Youth Mentorship

Tue, 21 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMT

The Importance of Youth Mentorship

As a middle-schooler, I was full of energy and excitement. You would frequently find me spending time outside playing baseball or tearing around the neighborhood on my bike with my friends. Growing up in a small town with the population of barely five hundred people, gave me a limited scope of what it meant to have fun. I think we all understand that this can be both a good and a bad thing, simultaneously. The summer of 1990 was one that I will never forget. My local church of roughly 150 members had hired an intern for the summer from none other than Friendship church, to bring youth ministry to Grove City. Jason’s passion for Jesus was so evident and he challenged us with the gospel consistently. I can vividly remember the day that he spoke into my life a phrase that I never forgot. We were driving in his blue Pontiac Grand Am and he looked at me and said, ‘Jeremy you have the potential to be a strong leader. I want to challenge you to consider the influence you could have on your peers.’ Jason had been laboring hard to win our hearts and he used great wisdom in his approach. What Jason understood is that youth want someone who they can trust, as well as someone who sees qualities in them that they don’t see in themselves. As I look back in time, I can see with clarity the strategy Jason had in mind. He not only wanting to pass on confidence to me, he wanted to see me pass that same confidence on to my peers.

Here are some noteworthy stats as we consider the importance of youth mentorship. In an article from ScienceDaily in 2013, statistics tell us that when a young woman is mentored, she is two and a half times more likely to be confident academically. For a young man who is mentored we see them to be three times less likely to suffer peer pressure and anxiety, as well as two times less likely to develop negative behaviors. A mentor relationship nearly doubles the odds that the student will attend college. The same are 46% less likely to use drugs and 27% less likely to use alcohol. Now all these things are great accomplishments, but we know that our desires for our youth go so much deeper than their academic and may we say, even their moral success. If we are not pointing them to a radical commitment to follow Jesus, our mentorship has no eternal value and we are merely calling them to live for today just like worldly wisdom would call them to. This is where biblical mentoring comes in. There are two things that set this kind of mentoring apart from the world’s wisdom. First, it is a mentorship that points youth who may come from a functional family, or a more dysfunctional family, to the Father in heaven, while partnering with the parents as much as possible. Our mentorship should lead the youth into a confidence that goes beyond themselves and even beyond us as the mentor. It is vital that we set clear expectations for the mentoring relationship from the beginning, namely that we want to mentor them into a growing relationship with Jesus, as they grow in a relationship with us the mentor. The apostle Paul describes discipleship as both the sharing of the gospel and his very life with his followers with the tenderness of a mother and the strength of a father. (1 Thessalonians 2:7-12) In another place Paul says, ‘Follow me, as I follow Christ’ 1 Corinthians 11:1. This is a great opportunity for us as the mentor to grow, as we consider how our example can point them to Christ as we follow Him in utter dependence upon God’s grace.

Secondly, our mentorship should foster in our youth a servant hearted perspective toward others. We see another side to the equation in some other words from Paul as he exhorts Timothy to ‘entrust to faithful men who can teach others what he had heard from him’ 2 Timothy 2:2. Paul adds that it will take the ‘discipline of a soldier’2 Timothy 2:3-4, to stay the course. I can remember my football coach in high school saying, ‘When the fourth quarter comes, we will be a team whose gas tank is still half full, when the other team is running out of gas.’ Coach Karlsgodt, who is a godly man and was not ashamed to share Jesus with his team, trained us with a conditioning that gave us endurance, and we were a better team as a direct result, even though our bodies felt the pain. I had the opportunity to thank him for this just last month and he was thrilled to hear from me!

The youth of every generation need a challenge that is so much bigger than themselves. Something that calls them out of their comfort zone and into a deeper motivation that sustains their desire for the challenge. In this hour that we live, no matter where the platform your mentoring relationship is based, whether professional, or in the church, our ultimate obligation as a believer is to be a witness of the gospel and the Holy Spirit will strengthen you for the task. It may look different in each setting, but what is clear is that the impact you have is eternal! It took eight years for the seeds planted by Jason to sprout in me, but I was able to call him and thank him. My word of encouragement to you as a mentor is, ‘don’t lose heart; you are making an impact’! If you are not mentoring a youth at this time, I invite you to pray about how you may get involved with the youth ministry in the Flood or the River. We would love to have you join the team!

New Beginnings

Tue, 14 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMT

New Beginnings

(Key Verses: John 8:1-11, John 4:1-42, 1 Peter 1:3, and 2 Corinthians 5:17)

I think Easter is the best day of the year. I believe it’s the best because it’s the day we get to celebrate Jesus defeating sin and death! Easter is a wonderful day of celebration not just because of what Jesus did, but because of what that means for us on a personal level. Jesus paid my penalty so that I could have a relationship with Him and a second birth- a new beginning. That is the topic I want to focus on today, new beginnings. 1 Peter 1:3 says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”. Because of Easter, we have a “living hope” in Jesus Christ; one that has brought us out of death and into life!

However, there are many of us that may intellectually know that we’ve been made new but aren’t living like that’s true. So, I want to focus on the story of two woman from the Bible, we don’t know either of their names, but their stories are well known: the woman at the well and the woman caught in adultery. (If you are unfamiliar with either of the accounts, they are found in John 4 and John 8.) The first thing we find out about both of these women is that they are sinners, and not only sinners, but their lives are defined by their sin. The woman at the well has had many marriages and divorces, and is living with a boyfriend, and the woman caught in adultery is exactly that, caught in her adultery. Their sin, just like all of ours, has earned them the punishment of death, and by all rationale, they are the last people that Jesus should want a relationship with. Do you ever feel like that? Undeserving of the love of Jesus because of your sin and your past? What does Jesus want to say to us today, who know about Easter, but aren’t living like people who have been saved from our sin? I don’t think we need to look any further than how Jesus responds to these two women. Jesus gives a directive to one, and an opportunity to the other that I believe are exactly what we should do.

Looking first at the woman caught in adultery, Jesus says, “Go now and leave your life of sin.” The first thing we should do is to leave our life of sin behind. During our series on Colossians we saw in chapter 3 this call to “put to death” the things of the flesh. Both passages are saying the same thing, we need to actively choose to put the old self to death, and instead live in the new self, in the new beginning that Jesus purchased for us on the cross. This woman was defined by her sin, she was an “adulteress,” but Jesus tells her that that isn’t who she is any more. She can choose to leave that life of sin and believe in Jesus! We too need to make this active choice to leave our life of sin and to no longer let the name of any sin define us.

Jesus tells the second woman, the one at the well, that He is the Messiah. In doing so He gives her an opportunity. Did you ever notice what the woman’s response is to Jesus? John 4:28-30 records it as, “Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, ‘Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?’ They came out of the town and made their way toward him.” This woman who has been trapped in her isolation and sin becomes a missionary to her town! She is invited into the privilege of sharing Jesus with others, and that is what Jesus is inviting us to today. Not only are our sins forgiven, but we are invited into the beautiful adventure of helping others know who Jesus is so they can have freedom and a new beginning as well! 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Who in your life is weighed down by their sin? In a moment they could go from death to life, from guilty to acquitted, from slave to free, and you know the one who has the power over sin and death, the one who pulled off Easter- Jesus!

Jesus gave both of the women a new beginning, a fresh start, one defined by His love and grace and not by their sins or failures. Jesus offers that same new beginning to all who call on Him as Lord and Savior. As we enter spring and having just celebrated Easter, I think it’s the perfect time for us to reflect on both new beginnings and whether or not we are living like we believe we have been given one. Here is my hope for us all: That we would live in the reality of the new beginning we’ve been so graciously given through Easter! That we would leave behind the sin of our past, live as the new creation that we are, and take the opportunity to share with those around us the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

The ONLY Hope

Tue, 07 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMT

The ONLY Hope

All our Easter celebrations are going to look different this year. There will be no community wide Easter egg hunts. People will not gather for church on Easter morning with hundreds of other worshipers while being dressed in their Easter finest. Churches that bring in live animals on Easter will need to leave them in the barn. There will be no organized photo booths in church atriums. Easter is going to look very different this year because of all that is happening with the current pandemic.

Yet, amid this current situation there is no message that we need more than the message of Easter. As people spend time in greater isolation, with more time for thinking and contemplating, their concern grows over the future, their life and the lives of their loved ones. There is one great message that can speak eternal hope into this situation, and it is the message of Easter.

It is the message that because of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead we do not need to fear death. Jesus defeated sin and death when He rose from the dead. I Corinthians 15:17 says, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” If there is no resurrection of Jesus, then there is no hope of us being saved from our sins because sin has won. But that is not our reality! Our reality is that Jesus has risen from the dead and in so doing He has defeated sin and death. “Thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57)

The resurrection of Jesus that we celebrate on Easter is what gives us hope during every crisis and challenge in life because we know that we will be ultimately raised to new life with Him. Jesus declares, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26) If we believe in Jesus, His resurrection makes our new life and resurrection from the dead a reality. It is our eternal hope in the resurrection from the dead that allows us to hold our lives more loosely in the midst of a crisis like this one and to have peace that in life or death, God has good for us. It is absolutely true that for followers of Jesus “to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)

Because of that amazing truth that flows out of the Easter message we can live with peace and joy even as things look bleak around us. There is no message that is needed more right now, and at all times, than the message of Jesus’ resurrection to defeat sin and death, and the possibility of new life if we repent and place our faith in Him. We spread that amazing message of hope for all eternity this unusual Easter.

Join us this Sunday as we celebrate Easter and the HOPE given to us by of our resurrected Savior.

Join us online at 9:00am as we stream to Youtube at youtube.com/friendshipmn and 10:45am on Facebook at facebook.com/friendshipmn .

The Last Supper

Tue, 31 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMT

The Last Supper

“For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the Festival” 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 (ESV)

I can remember my favorite meal of all time. A friend had invited me on a trip to Germany, Austria and Switzerland. We had rented a car in Munich and drove to the Bavarian Alps. At lunch time we stopped in this mountain village, where my meal included farm fresh meat and vegetables. It was so delicious, that after 40 years I still remember it well.

Thanksgiving is another meal I look forward to every year. My wife creates a meal that is so amazing. Our daughter and our son learned from their Mother, and, when they take turns hosting Thanksgiving, they create a meal worth remembering.

When you think of Thanksgiving, what comes to your mind?

Thanksgiving is a time for us to invite family and friends over to celebrate the Thanksgiving meal. This is a time when we gather for two simple reasons: to share a meal and to remember. We remember how God has blessed us in so many ways.

Passover might be considered the Thanksgiving of the Jews. For the Hebrews, it was a time to remember how God rescued them out of slavery in Egypt and brought them to the Promise Land.

On the night of the great exodus God gave Moses specific instructions on how to prepare for The Passover. Read Exodus 12:1-29 .

That began the single most important of all the Jewish observances.

On His last night with His disciples, Jesus celebrated the Passover. Appropriately, He used that meal of remembrance to turn their attention to His own approaching death.

Preparations for His Last Passover
Matthew 26:17-19
Mark 14:12-16
Luke 22:7-13

The Feast of Passover was centered around three items: roasted lamb, bitter herbs, and unleavened bread. The roasted lamb was central. It was to remind them of the sacrifice of the spotless lamb and the blood spread on the doorposts of believing Hebrew homes. The bitter herbs were a mixture of lettuce or parsley, dipped in salt water. As the sting of those bitter herbs touched the tongue, they offered a vivid taste of the stinging years that their Hebrew ancestors had spent in slavery. The unleavened bread was to remind them of the haste with which the Hebrews had to prepare to leave Egypt.

But on this night, the night of the Last Supper, Jesus created a new tradition: He turned familiar foods into foreboding symbols.

The First Lord’s Supper (The Last Supper)
Matthew 26:26-29
Mark 14:22-25
Luke 22:17-20
1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Here in the upper room Jesus was preparing both Himself and His disciples for His death. As He led the Passover meal He gave new meaning to the bread and the cup. The bread and the cup represented His body soon to be sacrificed and His blood soon to be shed. And so He instituted the “Lord’s Supper.”

As the lamb was slaughtered in the first Passover in the days of Moses, and annually after that, Christ has been sacrificed on the cross. His blood protects believers from the wrath of God like the blood spread on the entrances to Hebrews homes in Egypt. The Passover celebration anticipated the final atoning work of Christ’s death.

The Old Testament Passover was a celebration, remembrance, thanksgiving and participation in God’s mighty acts of salvation for His people. The New Testament equivalent of the Passover, the Lord’s Supper, functions in similar ways for Christians today.

In 1 Corinthians 11:27-ff, Paul includes a warning and a preparatory step before we take “The Lord’s Supper.” We are not to participate at the Lord’s Supper lightly or flippantly. Such a person becomes guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. We should take the necessary steps to examine oneself in preparation of the Lord’s Supper. There should be a time of heart-searching. Ask yourself these questions:

Is there unconfessed sin in my life?

Does anyone have anything against me?

Am I walking in fellowship with the Lord in the light of His Word?

Warren W. Wiersbe has an outline of 1 Corinthians 11:23-34 that I would like to share with you in closing:

First, we should look back (vv. 23-26a)
Second, we should look ahead (v. 26a)
Third, we should look within (vv. 27-280
Finally, we should look around (vv. 33-34)

May the Lord bless you richly as you consider the Last Supper (the Lord’s Supper).

Please join us in celebrating the Last Supper as part of the Good Friday service on Friday, April 10. The service will stream online at 7:00pm on YouTube.com/friendshipmn.

You will want to have bread or crackers and some juice ready to use. We will lead you when to take the elements during the service that evening. We are looking forward to celebrating Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf, together as a church family.

Spring

Tue, 24 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Spring

If you’ve lived in Minnesota long, you know what it feels like to long for spring. We begin the count down in midwinter and by February 1 ^st , we are ready to put our spring expectations in the paws of a groundhog. Why do we long for spring? Is it just to be rid of cold and snow, or is it something more? Is there a purpose for winter?

In life we also go through seasons. This last year has been the longest season of “winter” for me. The song with the lyrics “four seasons of winter” resonated in my soul. I felt the darkness. Some days, I struggled just to breathe. I called out to my Father, “God, where are you?” I began asking; “Why? Why did I need to go through this? How long will it last? When will I see signs of spring?”

Rewind to December of 2018. I had recently been set free from a destructive and hurtful marriage. I was now a single mother to 8 kiddos; six still living in my home, one in heaven and my oldest, living independently. I was beginning a whole new journey. I didn’t know the trials to come. December 26, 2018 would begin the biggest trial. My son and I were at a routine pre-op appointment for a surgery he was planning to have. The surgeon walked in, popped up the MRI image of my son’s spine on his computer screen, and informed us that he saw, what looked like to him, a tumor inside my son’s spinal cord. The first season of winter began in my heart.

Throughout the next year, the trials continued, and I felt buried in grief. Heartache and loss seemed around every corner. Would spring ever come again? I longed to see the light and feel the spring breeze of newness. I felt God’s whisper in my heart that even in the darkest days of winter, He was there. He was allowing me to walk through the darkness but would never leave me. In His time, I am slowly beginning to see the light and feel the anticipation that spring is near.

I now have a new appreciation for spring. I had to go through the winter and learn to trust God’s plan. Deep in the darkness, He was at work. We often forget that before there is new life, there is always a struggle. In the dark, seeds sprout, chicks hatch and buds turn into flowers.

Is it hard? Is it painful? Yes, but God is the master of turning the ashes into beautiful masterpieces. I want God to use my struggles and ashes for His good.

As I reflect this Easter season, a season we associate with new life and springtime, I can see there had to be darkness and even death, for there to be new life. Jesus willingly walked through the trials and pain. He willingly gave His life for us. He willingly paid the price for our sins, so that we could be free.

As we enter the Easter season, I pray you find hope in the beautiful story of redemption and new life. If you are struggling to see the light of spring, the Bible tells us that “When you go through deep water, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. Isaiah 43:2

No matter how long the winter feels, God promises that He will never leave us or forsake us. He loved us enough to give us the gift of Easter.

Grace

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Grace

Have you ever had the thought “I wish my church could be more like the church of the first century?” What did you have in mind? Were you thinking of a closely knit community of believers who were radically committed to each other and they were turning the community upside down with the Gospel? Unfortunately, the reality of the first century church in Corinth wouldn’t live up to your expectations.

When Paul wrote his letter to the Corinthian Church, the church was in serious trouble. To begin with, there were members of the church guilty of sexual immorality; others were getting drunk; still others were using the grace of God to excuse worldly lifestyles.

If you want to know what life was like in the city of Corinth, read what Paul wrote in Romans 1:18-32 . Paul wrote the letter to the Romans while ministering in Corinth. All he had to do was look out his window and describe what he saw there.

Now take a moment to read 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 :

¹ Paul, called as an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, and Sasthenes our brother. ² To God’s church at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus and called saints, with all those in every place who called on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord-both their Lord and ours. ³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ⁴ I always thank my God for you because of God’s grace given to you in Christ Jesus, ⁵ that by Him you will be enriched in everything-in all speech and all knowledge. ⁶ In this way, the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you, ⁷ so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁸ He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ God is faithful; you were called by Him into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul did not attack the seriousness of the sin problem as he began his letter. Instead, he chose to take a positive approach and remind the believers of their high and holy position in Jesus Christ.

Notice how Paul describes the church at Corinth in the verses above:

To summarize:

Let’s examine Paul’s use of the word “grace” in his opening paragraph.

Grace has been defined by using the word as an acronym to describe what it is:

G od’s R iches A t C hrist’s E xpense

The word grace occurs 155 times in the New Testament, and Paul uses it some 110 times, more than all the other New Testament writers combined.

Grace: God’s unmerited favor, especially that which comes to sinful humanity through the saving work of Jesus Christ.

Paul’s use of grace and peace (peace flows from grace), emphasizes God’s actions in and through Jesus Christ. The work of the Father and Son are inseparable.

Notice the number of references to the Lord Jesus Christ in this text. We can conclude that Christ’s death on the cross is the greatest display of grace ever.

Paul is thankful for the effects of God’s grace. It is because of God’s grace alone that we are saved from our sins.

“Peace” is not just the absence of conflict. Peace is when an individual’s life with God and with everything else is in ordered harmony, both physically and spiritually.

Ask yourself these two questions:

Satan’s Lies:

1.Satan attempts to deceive us to think that we do not deserve God’s grace and peace. That we are not worthy of salvation.

Salvation is a gracious gift from God. There is nothing that we can do in order for us to be saved. It is by God’s grace that the Corinthian believers were saved.

2. For the believer, Satan wants to rob us of the assurance of salvation.

Every true believer has been set apart by God and for God. That knowledge should be all that we need in order for us to have the assurance of our salvation. This assurance is not based on our performance, but is based on the work of Christ.

In our text, Paul is thankful for the effects of God’s grace on the church in Corinth. God’s grace for the church on Corinth is evidence of God’s continual work in their lives. The Corinthian believers are described as set apart and in a holy position before God because of the grace that provided the spiritual union with Jesus Christ. Paul assures the Corinthian believers of God’s faithfulness. As God called them in salvation from their sins, so He is faithful in completing the work, granting them every grace for daily life.

The letters to the church at Corinth encourage me today in the need for grace in order to be saved, and in order for me to daily live a life in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Have you experienced the grace of God personally? He is waiting with arms of compassion to welcome you. If you have any questions concerning the grace of God do not hesitate to reach out to us at Friendship Church, we would count it an honor to explain the grace of God to you.

Missions Testimony

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Missions Testimony

After days of travel and training, we were finally settled into our camp nestled on the mountain at an old ski resort. It was a challenging afternoon of being pushed out of my comfort zone as I tried to make friends with teenagers that spoke an entirely different language than me; so, you could say I was feeling a little weary. It was my first time in the mountains, and I needed a quick escape to refresh, so I planted myself right on the edge, and slipped in some ear buds. Tired and feeling a little testy, I found myself saying “God, if you’re so real – then show me!” Now, bear in mind, I was 15 years old and on my first mission trip – so I was not yet familiar with the command in Scripture that says, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test” (Matt 4:7). But at that time I was listening to “Mighty to Save” by Hillsong, and it had just hit the climax saying, “Shine your light and let the whole world see” when right then, the sunshine burst through the clouds between two perfectly positioned peaks, and a powerful fog rose up from the valley between. At that moment I knew God was real, very real – and He wasn’t joking around when He brought me to the Czech Republic that summer, and as he sent me the following 12 years.

Fast forward nine years, I am planted in my English Class for the fourth year in a row, and there is this young gal with strawberry blonde hair, who errs on the side of shy. For years, she has faithfully attended this festival, watched and interacted with believers as she listened to story after story about their lives being changed by the God of the universe who has rescued them out of darkness. It was the last day of the festival, and I’m sitting on the patio and I’m nearly trampled by this girl running towards me. Her eyes full of tears, and a smile stretching from ear to ear, she throws her arms around me and says, “I finally did it! I finally decided to give my heart and my future to Jesus!” Those four years of preparing support letters, taking time off of work, attending long meetings, and writing class lessons was more than worth it for that one moment, for that one life saved by the grace of Jesus Christ. Jesus says in Luke 15:10, “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” What a privilege and an honor it was to rejoice with her and the angels in heaven at that moment!

Having spent so many years serving in Czech, I could write a whole book on the countless works of God I’ve witnessed, but the story above felt the most appropriate for this. You see, Jesus says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” (Luke 10:2) Missions (the harvest) seems to be very near and dear to Jesus’ heart as He refers to it several times during His time on earth. How many times do we see Him say, “Go?” We see this when he meets with the disciples on the mountain in Galilee, giving the Great Commission, saying, “Therefore GO and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20) But the word “go” seems to be misunderstood these days. “Go” can be as simple as walking out your front door and taking 100 steps to the left as you “go” to your neighbor’s house. Acts 1:8 says, “But you will receive my power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Whether the Lord is leading you to your Jerusalem (your neighbor’s house), or to Judea or Samaria (your country), or to the ends of the earth (foreign country) – we are called to, “Go!” Romans 10:14-15 says, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”

So, let’s go! Let’s move our beautiful feet and GO share the good news of our Lord and Savior!

Do I Need to Observe the Sabbath?

Tue, 03 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Do I Need to Observe the Sabbath?

My first thought when thinking about writing on the topic of the Sabbath was: “I shouldn’t be the one doing this, I don’t practice Sabbath very well.” My second thought was: “Well, maybe I should be doing it better.” And my third: “What exactly am I supposed to do to observe the Sabbath?”

The Sabbath means a lot of different things to different people. Things like:

What does it mean to you? While all the above are good things, which of them are intended for us to follow?

As I started thinking about my preconceived notions, I began to discover that there are many theologians with differing opinions on this topic, ranging from a very literal, strict interpretation of Old Testament law to the idea that there is no need for observance of the Sabbath today. So, what does the Bible say? Let’s start in Genesis.

Genesis 2:2-3 says: “And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.”

God rested from his work on the seventh day (Saturday) and wanted it to be a special memorial to his perfect creation. He didn’t need to rest because he was tired, rather he rested because his creation was complete. Man and woman lived in a world of perfect rest until the entrance of sin. They were created and loved by God, who rejoiced over them.

The Sabbath wasn’t commanded until the covenant of Moses. Previous covenants all had signs, and the first was with Noah (rainbow), the second with Abraham (circumcision) and the third with Moses (Sabbath). The Sabbath was not instituted for all people, just the Israelites, and its purpose was to remind the people of Israel that they had forfeited paradise when sin entered the world through man, as well as providing a day of physical rest for a people released from the bonds of slavery. Exodus 16:23 talks about the Sabbath being a day of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. And during the wandering in the desert, the Israelites were forced to depend on the provision of God, as there was no manna provided on the Sabbath.

Time passed and Jews observed the Sabbath and added many rules to it as the religious leaders instructed people how to practice it. Then Jesus came on the scene. How did Jesus observe the Sabbath?

When Jesus began his ministry, he challenged the religious leaders by healing people on the Sabbath and revealed his identity as God in Mark 2:28: “So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament law, of which the Sabbath was part, and his new covenant frees us from that law. Jesus was resurrected on the first day of the week (Sunday), Pentecost occurred on the first day of the week, Christians began to meet on the first day of the week and it was referred to as the Lord’s Day. Christians didn’t observe the Sabbath; although some Jewish converts may have continued to do so, there was no requirement.

The apostles taught that Christians were not obligated to obey the Sabbath any longer; however, neither should they judge those who still chose to observe the traditional Sabbath day:

Romans 14:5 -6a: “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord.”

Colossians 2:16-17: “Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.”

What does it mean for us as Christians? Hebrews 4:9-10 states that people who have believed in Jesus have entered God’s rest: “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.” Jewish tradition was working for salvation but accepting Christ’s free gift of salvation stops us from working to earn it, thus entering his rest.

We are to find our rest in Jesus and that is how we honor the idea of Sabbath rest. Going to church on Sunday, spending time in the Word and prayer, interacting with family and fellow believers are all ways we honor him and find rest for our souls. We can remember the original rest of God, that he loves and rejoices in his creation – us.

Maybe we should strive for every day to be a “Sabbath” day!

The Forgotten

Tue, 25 Feb 2020 00:00:00 GMT

The Forgotten

As a young girl growing up with an alcoholic father, I often wished that I had siblings to share the ups and downs of my childhood journey. Although I never had a brother or sister to share these difficulties, I learned that even though I felt alone, I always had my Heavenly Father beside me to face each day.

As I watched my family break apart through divorce, my mom did the one thing that she knew would bring me stability. She brought me to church and surrounded me with families that loved God and welcomed me. The songs that I sang at church each week reminded me that God was good when things I was facing at home were not. Friendly smiles and candy from “church grandmas” reminded me that life could be sweet again despite the uncertainties with my parents. Encouraging teachers at Sunday school taught me about the resurrection, reminding me that God the Father always has a big picture in mind, just like He did when things looked bleak in His own son’s life on the cross.

Like many children from broken homes, I found myself on a journey that I didn’t personally choose, facing circumstances that I could not change due to decisions made by the adults in my life. Thankfully, my little heart was filled with hope that God remembered me in the times I felt forgotten, through the prayer and loving actions of the Body of Christ in my life.

Today in the state of Minnesota, there are around 10,000 children on a journey that they did not expect, cannot change and would not desire to be on. These children are either in foster care waiting for their biological parents to become more stable so that they can provide care for them or are waiting for an adoptive family to step up and become their “forever family.” Starting the journey into the foster care system is always unexpected and often leaves the child feeling alone and unloved.

While most of us pack for a trip in a duffel bag, backpack or suitcase, these children often begin their journey into foster care by throwing their belongings into a trash bag as they are quickly rushed out of everything familiar. For children that begin their journey due to their parent’s drug abuse, they are often required to dispose of all their clothing and toys because of the drug residue, which leaves them without a single belonging that brings familiarity or comfort.

Hearing about these difficult situations may leave us with questions like, “How can hope be found in such dark places? What role can we as the Body of Christ have in showing the Father’s love to these forgotten ones?”

As always, looking to Scripture gives us the answers we need. We see in Psalms 68:6 that “God in His holy dwelling is a father of the fatherless and a champion of widows. God provides homes for those who are deserted.” This passage helps us remember that God cares for those that are forgotten and is a reminder that we too are called to remember them.

We acknowledge that our own sin had separated us from God, yet in His rich love and kindness He adopted us into His family. In Ephesians 2:4 we see that, “God being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace we have been saved-and raised up with him.” As children of our loving Heavenly Father, we have experienced the tenderness of His sacrificial love and the hope that the Gospel brings to our current situation as well as for all of eternity.

The Scriptures are clear that God the Father cares for each child in Minnesota that is facing an unknown journey. As the Body of Christ, we have an opportunity to show these forgotten ones that the Lord himself remembers them and that there is hope! What better way for children to start their journey into foster care than by taking the first steps with a loving and God-fearing family, that delights in caring for them and with a church family that welcomes and prays for them. Some of us may feel a desire to learn more about the waiting children in our state. Others may want to help in a short-term way through foster care. As a church body, we will have the opportunity to serve these children through a special event.

This March, we will be partnering with The Forgotten Initiative to minister to foster kids in Scott County. The Forgotten Initiative is a ministry that brings awareness to churches regarding the needs of the local foster community. Through an advocate, they identify ways that the local church can partner in meeting these needs. For three weeks at both campuses of Friendship Church, we will be collecting supplies to be used in a packing event to create “Journey Bags” for children and teens entering foster care. These bags will be distributed by the Scott County advocate as needs arise. To bring donations, visit the website to sign up, or pick up a tag from the display at either campus. Then, drop the items off in the red bin at either campus until Sunday, March 15.

On Saturday, March 21 at 9:00am at Friendship Church-Shakopee Campus, the Women’s Ministry will host a Girlfriends Gathering: Serve event for women and girls in grade 6 on up. Together we will prepare freezer meals, make blankets and assemble journey bags for youth and children. In addition, we will take time to pray and hear from Friendship Church members that are fostering.

Will you join the journey in loving these little ones?

Click here to learn more about The Forgotten Initiative

Click here to register for the event or to donate

All of us can care for these children through prayer!

Confronting the Contemptible

Tue, 18 Feb 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Confronting the Contemptible

I belong to Jesus, which is sufficient for me to handle all that the world can throw at me. I truly believe that. However, I have real struggles with much of what I see around me. The chaos in our government and in every political camp. The abuses of people and the malicious uses of power that have corrupted otherwise decent institutions. The degradation of our educational system and the twisting of history that has taken place. I get angry with the breakdown of families, not to mention the 63 million lives taken since Roe vs. Wade. It’s easy for followers of Christ to be angered by the persecution and marginalization of faith and the 24/7 attacks on truth and common sense.

I know I’m not alone with my indignation, because many people I know share these same sentiments. Some of my friends have become consumed with it. I also have at times, and being a news junkie at heart, it’s difficult to avoid constant negative distraction. If I’m not careful, this distraction can lead to anxiety and anger. Social media feeds all this negativity and if I and others don’t control our consumption of and response to all the madness around us, we can end up as angry and uncivil as some of the people whose ideas and actions bother us the most.

How do you confront the contemptible?

Left to my own devices I cannot respond graciously to everything that is divisive or toxic in my surroundings. I must continuously re-center myself on Jesus. Without Him, I am both hopeless and helpless. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 reminds me that I need to trust God’s plan on a scale way beyond what I can see.

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

As Christ’s followers, we have chosen a path to eternity with our King. Our decision to follow Jesus is a lifetime covenant to grow in our relationship with Him and to learn all we possibly can about Him. Through Scripture He has revealed Himself to us with words that have life and truth in them and the eternal freshness of His breath on them. And with our humble and prayerful submission to Him, He offers us fellowship like no other, now and forever.

He is in control. He wants me to focus on who He is, as in 1 Peter 5:6-11, and have a different perspective on what I may perceive as wrongdoing or suffering:

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Without prayer and time alone with Him I am destined to become swallowed up. I will fall into my own worldly form of “righteous indignation” that will be loaded with anger and self-righteousness.

Most believers are quite familiar with Galatians 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. However, verse 24 reminds us that by belonging to Jesus, we have crucified all of the flesh (my flesh) that would otherwise occupy, distract or consume us (me). Galatians 5:24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

That means I can stand firm in truth, while still loving others (love, peace, patience, self-control). It means I can be confident that my creator is truly in control of the things that I can’t control.

Keep Christ in Marriage

Tue, 11 Feb 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Keep Christ in Marriage

A few weeks ago, I married the love of my life, Chelsey. So far, it’s been great and if I were to tell you the secret to marriage at this point, it would be something like, “Have fancy parties celebrating your relationship and go on vacations non-stop.” Unfortunately, life doesn’t work that way and we eventually must go back to work and pay the bills.

God has blessed us a lot in our marriage. We’re not fighting with each other, we’re not in financial hardship, and everything is calm and content right now. But Chelsey and I both know that this won’t last forever, and it’ll start to feel less like marital bliss and more like marital hardship at times. We also know that just because times might get tougher, it doesn’t mean that God will love us any less. God’s love isn’t based on our earthly success or emotional state – it’s constant – it comes from the love He showed us on the cross.

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10 (NIV)

When we were going through our pre-marital counseling, one lesson that stuck with us was that we need to put each other first, before ourselves. Since the day we were born, we both were used to putting ourselves first, so learning how to do this isn’t going to be easy. God has been doing this the whole time for us. He has been putting us first since the day he created us, while we fail daily in putting Him first in our lives. Because of our sin, we fail to always love each other, as opposed to God’s eternal love.

“We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.” 1 John 4: 19-21 (NIV)

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve been given is to pray every night with your spouse before bedtime. This will help keep Christ at the center of the relationship. Let’s just say that this is a routine that we’re still working on. Once we get better at being consistent with daily prayer together, it will prepare our hearts and minds for the hardships that will come. It will help us keep Christ at the center of our marriage, even when we fail to put Him first or each other above ourselves.

This Valentine’s Day, I encourage you to make a commitment to getting more into the Word with your loved ones. Christ isn’t just the center of marital relationships, but of all relationships. Invite your friends and family to make a routine of daily prayer and devotions. Let God’s love flow from Him through you, to everyone around you.

Photo by: Alyssa Pearl Photography

Born to Run

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Born to Run

My family and I were recently in Duluth, MN for the Beargrease Dog Sled Races. The first time we went a few years ago, I was amazed at the whole process. The athletes, which are either Alaskan Husky, Malamute or Siberian Huskey, are so excited as they are getting connected to their line – it is hard to keep them contained! The dogs will jump, howl and pull in excitement and it takes a bunch of people and a four-wheeler to hold them back behind the line until it is time to go! I think about my girls when they are getting ready to race in Cross-Country or Track and imagine how funny it would be if they did the same thing!

Their trainer, the “musher”, gives each one of the athlete’s individual attention, making sure they are well cared for and healthy. They are fed healthy meals of real meat, given rest when needed and of course, lots of love. Having the privilege to work alongside a team, I have been able to be involved and see firsthand how much these athletes love to run. It is what they were born to do; this is what they have been training for. They each soak up the love and attention that they receive. Giving them love is my favorite part of their care. Like us, they each have their own personality and talent that helps determine where their spot is on the team.

A team consists of one or two Lead dogs , Swing dogs , Team dogs and Wheel dogs . It is the Lead dogs’ job to steer the rest of the team and set the pace. The qualities that this team member must have are intelligence, initiative and common sense. The Swing or sometimes called point dogs are directly behind the leaders. It is their job to swing the rest of the team behind them in turns or curves along the trail. Team dogs are next on the line. It is their job to power the team. Last in the line and closest to the sled are the Wheel dogs . Their job is to help guide the sled around tight curves. A wheel dog needs to have a calm temperament so as not to be startled by the sled moving just behind them.

Like us, each of these athletes has a gift or talent and it is the job of the trainer (musher) to discover what that gift/talent is, as they spend time with their team. Like us, talents can be easy to see or can take some take trial and error to discover. One thing is known, they each belong and when they do find their happy spot, they give everything they have!

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 says: “Do you not know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. However, they do it to receive a crown that will fade away, but we a crown that will never fade away.” In this verse Paul is using this metaphor of racing to encourage the church by telling us to “run in such a way to win”.

This makes me wonder, are we each using our gifts in a way that we will win the race? Are you “jumping with excitement” when you can use your gifts in serving? Have you discovered what your gifts are? Are you using them to serve God’s church body and help grow His kingdom? There are many things that we as God’s people can do to be a part of the big picture. At Friendship Church, we are many different ministries all working together to form one team. If you haven’t found your place serving in a ministry yet, talk to any one of us here and we would love to help you be a part of God’s big story!

Making a Real Connection

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Making a Real Connection

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:18 (NIV)

Today’s world moves faster than it ever has before. We have devices that can send photos of our kids to distant family in an instant and a Google search for “orange shoes” pulls up 1,570,000,000 results in 0.83 seconds. In the craziness that comes with this pace of life, we often forget to slow down and appreciate the moments that we are in and to appreciate those around us.

As our lives continue to accelerate, how can we slow down to love those around us with the supernatural love of Christ?

Lately I’ve been thinking about people who deserve our appreciation and gratitude. In fact, I have come to be intentionally thankful for the men and women that provide service. They are the men and women who ring you out at the grocery store, those who miss the big game because they’re busy making your hot pizza for halftime, the people that clean up the sticky lunch tables at sports bars, and the people that have filthy hands from changing your oil in between your kids events. These sustainers are around us every single day. They provide us with services or products that have become essential to our pace of life.

These people are often in thankless positions, often receiving negative feedback from an angry customer or a sassy comment about their attitude or speed. Rarely are they are praised for their work in a genuine way that shows they are valued. Having worked at a large, blue, electronics retail store in college doing customer service, I have experienced this firsthand.

I have made a habit of thanking the people who work at a drive-thru for the meal that they and their team have prepared. Not just a mindless thank you, but I make eye contact and say, “Thank you for preparing my dinner. It really saved me a lot of time tonight.” It’s amazing to see how the wait staff perks up in response to my acknowledgement, understanding the importance and value in the work that they are doing.

I am a regular at Von Hanson’s to buy beef jerky. It’s a great snack when playing disc golf with friends. The staff will now inquire weekly as to where I am going and remind me how crazy I am for playing in the winter. Recently, we had extra doughnuts from Hangtime between services at Friendship Church. Instead of bringing them home to get stale on the counter, I decided to bring them to Von Hanson’s as a thank you for their service and friendship. In a turn of events, they were quite surprised to receive treats and their joy and appreciation only encourages me to continue to think of who else I can bless with surprise snacks.

I’ve spent the last 6 years working in corporate IT. Looking for ways to shine the light of Christ can sometimes be hard, but I found a practical way to do that in an office setting. I started acknowledging and verbally thanking the people who work nights, cleaning the office and bathrooms. Most people tend to ignore them. I learn their names and thank them for their hard work every time I see them in the hallway. It has become a great way to start conversations and bring life to their jobs in a new and fresh way.

The day after Christmas my wife and I went out to eat at a local chain. The place was packed and the wait was out the door. Apparently, people hadn’t eaten enough carbs, ourselves included. Our server took a little longer than I would have preferred. I took this as an opportunity to have a real conversation with Micki about her day and not just the weather or traffic. Turns out she was on her ninth hour of a likely thirteen-hour shift on her feet, serving upwards of ten parties at once and was quite aware that things weren’t moving at the speed that everyone wanted. Micki let her guard down and connected with us on a human level, instead of constantly being in service mode. It was a refreshing time to connect with a stranger over the chaos of a busy restaurant and to acknowledge that she was working hard to assist everyone the very best that she could.

The value in real connection

It’s important to look for opportunities to encourage and love others. When the love of Christ is shared, people walk a little taller in the work they are doing, they engage in authentic conversation and feel valued. I believe this is how Christ would operate in today’s world.

How can we, together, intentionally show Christ-like love in our daily routines?

Let’s begin to change the way we operate when we start to feel entitled or impatient. Let’s create an interaction that is led with love.

Mental Health – It’s a Thing.

Tue, 21 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Mental Health – It’s a Thing.

Sometimes mental health is the thing that gets pushed away, an afterthought, almost judgmental in some ways. “If he (she) only trusted Jesus more, all would be well.” “If he (she) read the Bible more, they would be fine.” There are many other phrases that we could put in this spot. And while trusting Jesus and reading the Bible more are important parts of our spiritual AND mental health, other things also enter into the picture. Most of those are things we probably don’t know about in someone’s life.

What does good mental health look like? How should people be during certain seasons of the year? Why can’t they be happy like me? I don’t know what’s wrong with him? He has a beautiful wife, terrific kids, wonderful grandkids, a beautiful house, a good job. Why is he depressed? I have heard most of these personally.

People had no idea what I had been dealing with.

The winter months can be hard on some people. For real. Some folks don’t do well with shorter daylight hours or cold winter months. Others have a hard time in the hot steamy months of summer. Some people are dealing with chemical imbalances that make them depressed or bi-polar or whatever. This does not make them bad people or even people to be pitied. When someone is dealing with some sort of mental health issue, it is hard to find the “good” among the “bad.” And what makes it worse is when those they love are not supportive. I am not talking about enabling bad behavior. I am talking about a true understanding of what someone might be going through.

How can we understand? That is the question.

Here’s a thought. Dive deeper and really get to know someone. Get to know who they are, what they like, what they dislike. As we get to know each other, really know each other, things start to become clearer.

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)

Exodus 17:12 gives us a beautiful picture of Aaron and Hur bearing the burden Moses was carrying.

Ever been driving and you are going through something tough in your life and then you do something stupid and the guy behind you is laying on his horn? Maybe even shaking his fist at you or worse? He doesn’t know what you are going through at that moment. His only thought is “what a stupid driver.” Now, have you ever been the driver with road rage? Laying on your horn because of the “stupid” driver in front of you or beside you? And you don’t really know what that person might be going through at that moment? I am not justifying poor driving habits. I am just pointing out that we don’t know what people are going through.

If we stop, think, pray and get to know someone, things would be so much better. Relationships matter.

There are all kinds of mental health issues. Depression and anxiety are some of the more “common” types. Personality disorders (Bi-polar, Schizophrenia, etc.), Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), PTSD and the list goes on. If you mix any of the “normal” stressors of life with any of those mentioned above or others, you have a really bad situation. Unfortunately, when things start to get really bad, we tend to isolate. That’s when things get worse. It truly seems like there are no good options. One feels very helpless and hopeless. Hopelessness is the absolute worst thing for that individual.

See the spiral downward? Depression (or any other mental health issue) + stress + isolation leads to hopelessness. Hopelessness feels like there is no answer.

How can we offer hope to those who are struggling right now?

Praying for each other is huge. Reaching out to those we know are going through very difficult times provides hope. Being a friend to someone struggling lessens the isolation. Pointing them in a direction of help, like a good Christian therapist (I know one if you need a name) or ministries like Celebrate Recovery and Ministry of Reconciliation can be a huge benefit to someone who struggles (which would be most of us). Being a good listener is a big deal. Undistracted listening goes miles in someone’s life who is struggling.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

I know we can’t dive deep into everyone’s life. But we can dive deep into one person’s life who is struggling, if they let you dive in, that is. We never want to force ourselves on others in an attempt to help. Remember, relationship matters first. When we know someone really cares about us, we tend to be more open about the things in our lives.

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:4)

There are many contributing factors that lead to mental health problems; trauma, brain disease, chemical imbalance, sin. Depression has been a part of the human condition since the fall. Sin has created all human brokenness. Throughout scripture, we see God’s people struggling with this reality, such as…

We know from Psalms 32 and 51 that unrepented sin can lead to depression, affecting body, soul and mind. We learn from David that healing from sin-caused depression can come with confession and repentance.

The subject and understanding of mental illness is very complex. Thankfully, we have a God who is bigger than all of this. He knows. He understands. He is in it with us. He pours out His grace and mercy upon us. And He calls us to love and walk alongside those that are walking through this difficult journey.

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. (Psalm 34:17-20)

If you are struggling with any mental health issue, please don’t go it alone!

There is hope!

Trust me when I say that. There is hope! Someone will help you walk through this. Celebrate Recovery or Ministry of Reconciliation or a professional Christian counselor are good options. We also did a sermon series called ‘The Worry War” recently. Take a listen online as the talks are inspiring.

Above all, turn your thoughts to God, the Giver of Life!

Loving Our Kids in 2020

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Loving Our Kids in 2020

I believe all parents want to love and raise their kids well. Our desire is to give them the best, provide wonderful opportunities for them to experience, and face each challenge with care and love. Parents often seek out many resources: books, podcasts, trainings, many tools. It can become overwhelming and bring to mind all the failures as a parent. I know, I’ve had many failures in my parenting choices, and pursued my fair share of parenting resources. Not that parenting resources are bad, they can just be overwhelming at times.

As I reflected on this topic, a recent morning with my own parents came to mind.

I was blessed to be sitting with both my parents at their kitchen table (they are ages 82 and 81.) The conversation bounced around various topics such as struggles my family is facing, my kids, our extended family and in subtle twists and turns as we talked; topics of Christ enveloped the conversation. My mom shared a book she was reading and how there are still many unreached people. My dad shared how scripture tells us that God is seen in his creation (Romans 1:19-20). Dad shared why he loves farming, “There is a lot of time to think in the tractor. I watch a seed go into the ground, add moisture and a plant bursts out and yields 300 fold or more. God’s provision is bountiful, and He can be seen everywhere in nature.” I then shared how my daughter Oliviah and I saw a double rainbow on our drive into school, and how we talked about Noah and that rainbows remind us of God’s promises and my favorite promise.

I’ve always wanted to be a great parent, but I only see my failures. My parents made mistakes with me and my siblings, but we don’t see those now. Growing up my parents didn’t have family devotions, or a family motto hung on the wall. However, I remember all the ways they brought Jesus into our home. It was by how they lived their lives. My dad saying every Sunday night; turn off the TV we’re going to church! I often sat at my mom’s feet as she studied for her CEF Bible lessons, and on her knee at the neighborhood mom’s Bible study. We watched as my parents cared for a single mom and her kids and allowed young adults to live at our house. Scripture was spoken in our home and referenced often throughout these events.

I saw my mom and dad loving the Lord with their whole heart, the best they could. And I truly believe it is the most powerful form of love we can show our children. When we love God with our whole heart and seek Him out every day, he will show himself. And when we see God and share what we saw with our children, I believe it shows them the most precious love of all.

There are many great tools available to give us support and tangible strategies for raising children. But this year, I want to love the Lord with my whole heart and share “God Sightings” each day. (God Sightings are an old Group VBS saying I learned years ago.)

Maybe you will also consider that as a resolution, the best parenting tip for this year: to focus on loving the Lord your God with your whole heart and sharing it with your children .

Deuteronomy 6: 5-10

^“ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

Social Media Addictions

Tue, 07 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Social Media Addictions

As a child, I learned quickly that jokes and nicknames were a part of our everyday life and identity as the Johnson family. The name that stuck with my dad, Leighton, was that he was “late-a-ton.” Many of my memories as a middle schooler were staying late at church, waiting in a parking lot, or sitting at the Dairy Queen waiting yet again as my dad carried on and on in conversation with someone. He would treat them as though they were lifelong friends and my dad would laugh and smile and give them a hug sometimes. Though I was often annoyed, I would ask my dad, “How do you know that guy?” or “Who was that man?” My assumption was that my dad had met them somewhere before and had just lost touch through the years. More often than not, Dad would explain that he had just met them that day and yet somehow, they had just shared their life story! He would typically pray for them and sometimes shed a tear or two when we left. Through the years, I learned that being late-a-ton wasn’t such a bad habit as long as it was because you were taking the time to know and love people like Jesus would.

One of the difficulties thirty years ago was that if friends or family lived across the globe, or even in another state, our connection with them was more difficult to develop than with people that lived near us. Yet today, with the power of technology at our fingertips, we can see a post on a social media platform and immediately connect with missionaries needing prayer in China, or chat on a video call with a long distance relative and see their face while they say, “I love you!”

We can make a Gospel connection with a stranger in the mall, through opening a Bible app to share a verse in a language that we’ve never even heard of before. The power of technology is undeniable! Yet it goes without saying that with that power also comes a great potential for danger.

Most people would agree that what we value the most is what we naturally give the most time to. When we give our time to relational connections through technology, we are often left wondering, “Why do I feel so empty and alone?” Similarly, the temptation to make comparisons with others and the proverbial whiplash we experience through our feed leaves our hearts and minds with far more than we signed up for when we logged in. It’s not hard to grasp what countless studies have demonstrated: Increased social media usage leads to increased feelings of loneliness, envy, anxiety, depression, narcissism and decreased social skills. In a like manner to drug and alcohol abuse, an addiction to social media drastically impedes our ability to interact with others in healthy ways.

As individuals, and especially as parents and grandparents, we are eager to see solutions to this modern-day challenge. The Psalmist says, “Your steadfast love is better than life!” Likewise, the apostle Paul mentions consistently throughout his writings that God teaches us to love one another, and that the Holy Spirit fills our hearts with this love. The only way we will truly be able to overcome social media and like addictions is to find a deeper satisfaction in God Himself. The satisfaction found in an ever-deepening relationship with God is the source of strength and power to overcome any addiction.

As we pursue the God who pursues us relentlessly, we must remember that the love we experience from Him is meant not just for us but also for others! The direct overflow of a growing intimacy with God is the desire to build a deep relationship with others. Friendship with God fills us with joy and satisfaction, which fills us with love for others. The secret that my dad learned was that true friendship is God’s design for life! Though my dad was always late, he was always on time for loving others as Christ would.

A new year has just begun, and with that comes a fresh start and opportunity to evaluate our personal use of time. In the Flood, our middle school ministry at Friendship Church, we will be spending time learning about how to be wise with social media. During the CONNECT-U sermon series, the youth will hear a call to connect deeply in relationship with God and others. Please pray for the youth as they face the challenge of learning how to break with addiction to social media and to grow closer to Jesus by being satisfied in Him alone.

We welcome all people of Friendship Church to join us in this challenge. Consider these things: How much time you spend building friendship with God. How much time do you spend on social media platforms and other technological devices? The deeper question is: Just how satisfied in God do we want to be, and can we put down the device out of love for others?

Looking for a New Read for the New Year?

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Looking for a New Read for the New Year?

Google “Leadership Books” and you will find that there are over 15,000 books on leadership. The question to ask yourself is: Which books have the most to offer in order to develop me into a better leader?

If you have ever seen the many overflowing bookshelves in my office, you know I love to read! Out of all the books on leadership I own, my favorite book is James Merritt’s book, “9 Keys to Successful Leadership: How to Impact and Influence Others.” The reason I value this book on leadership is summarized with this statement, “The level of your leadership will never rise above the content of your character” (page 7). Most books focus on skills, but Merritt states “Character ultimately trumps competency” (page 8). He goes on to write that, “Great leaders don’t just produce great results; they portray great character and inspire others to become better people by the way they lead their own lives” (page 9).

James Merritt is currently the Pastor of Cross Pointe Church in Duluth, Georgia, and host of the Touching Lives television program. He is the author of nearly a dozen books. Previously, he served as a two-term president of America’s largest Christian denomination.

In this book, the Nine Keys to Successful Leadership and their principles are:

Principle One – Lead with love and people will gladly follow.

Principle Two – Joyful leadership produces happy followers.

Principle Three – Stay calm on the inside when things are chaotic on the outside.

Principle Four – The end zone is reached only through patience and perseverance.

Principle Five – The road to best effort is paved with kindness.

Principle Six – Doing good always produces the best.

Principle Seven – A leader faithful to his team will see a team fulfilled in their jobs.

Principle Eight – Every organization loves a kinder, gentler leader.

Principle Nine – Quality control flows from self-control.

Did you recall that these Nine Keys are found in the Bible? Galatians 5:22-23 reads “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (HCSB)

What fruit comes more naturally to you? What fruit do you need to work on?

How do you use fruit in the workplace? At home? With your family and friends?

Referring to the fruit of the Spirit, he writes, “Those who have God’s Holy Spirit living in them, have the supernatural ability to be winners who can influence anybody.”

Merritt writes in the conclusion that, “We are all influencers, and we are all influenced.” He goes on to say, “The greatest influence and impact you have on others comes from who and what you are.”

In order to have the influence and impact on others that God would desire of you, “Ask the Holy Spirit to make you into a tree that will bear fruit of blessing on all that you meet.”

On January 5, you and your family will have a special opportunity to ask God to help you bear fruit. The highly anticipated event, Blessing Sunday, will offer a growth station for you to declare your growth goal for 2020. This is a chance for you to reflect on the fruit you want to cultivate in the new year, to be prayed over, take communion and visit multiple interactive stations. All are invited to this powerful annual worship service which begins at 9:00 and 10:45am at both campuses. Blessing Sunday is a wonderfully personal and significant occasion that you and your family won’t want to miss. Come, start the year off right!

9 Keys to Successful Leadership How to Impact and Influence Others by James Merritt. Published by Harvest House Publishers. ISBN 9780736965644

Previously published as How to Impact and Influence Others.

Significance of Christmas

Tue, 24 Dec 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Significance of Christmas

Every year as December approaches the call goes out among Christians to remember the “real reason for Christmas.” As television specials about Rudolph, Frosty and The Grinch are joined with songs about rocking around the Christmas tree and grandma getting run over by reindeer, it is easy to feel like Jesus’ birth gets lost in all the commotion and competition this time of year. As we approach Christmas, I would like to encourage each of us to think deeply about the real reason we celebrate Christmas and not settle for lesser motivations.

Don’t Settle for Consumerism

It is easy for Christmas to become about the gifts. When we are young, Christmas can be all about what we are going to get. I remember not being able to sleep past 5:00am on Christmas morning as a kid because of the anticipation of what I was going to get under the tree. As adults, Christmas can become all about the stress of making sure we meet the required social obligations with our gifts, while blowing our kids or grandkids minds with the greatest gift they have ever received.

In our minds we say Christmas is all about Jesus, but in our actions, it can seem like it’s all about the gifts. It is important for us to make sure that gifts never become the center of our celebration around the Christmas holiday. Christmas is all about a great gift, but it isn’t one that is found under the tree.

Don’t Settle for Sentimentality

It is often communicated in TV specials and songs on the radio that Christmas is about a special feeling. A warm, fuzzy feeling that comes from a roaring fire, a cup of hot chocolate and having your family together. When sentimental feelings become the focus, Christmas is said to have its own spirit and the feelings that come with it become what is most important about the holiday. While we should enjoy the amazing feelings that come with gathered family and a cup of really-good hot chocolate, we should never allow having sentimental feelings to be what Christmas is about. Christmas is so much more important than sentimentality and good feelings.

Don’t Settle for Tradition

Many of our families have wonderful Christmas traditions. For some it is the gathering on Christmas Eve that has taken place for years and years. For other families it is the eating of certain foods on Christmas morning. Traditions are wonderful ways for our families to bond and spend time together, but they can never become the focus of Christmas. Christmas should never become about participating in and passing on family traditions. The real meaning of Christmas is so much bigger than any tradition.

Christmas is About the Gospel

As followers of Jesus, every December we remember that Christmas isn’t about gifts, sentimentality or tradition, but that Christmas is about the gospel. Matthew 1:21 says that Jesus came to earth to “save people from their sins.” In Luke 2:14 the angels declare that Jesus’ coming is to bring peace with God for those who please Him. Our focus during the Christmas season isn’t on the cuteness of a baby but on the purpose of that baby. He is Immanuel – God with Us – who gave His life so that we might be set free from penalty and practice of our sin . The real reason for Christmas drives our attention to the cross and the empty grave, because it’s all about the gospel.

Christmas is a Great Chance to Share the Gospel

The Christmas season provides unique opportunities to share the gospel with others. I was getting my hair cut last week and while I was talking to the lady who was cutting my hair, she mentioned that she was probably going to spend the night watching Christmas specials on TV. I told her that my favorite Christmas special was the Charlie Brown Christmas special because it does such a great job of hitting the heart of Christmas. She asked me what I meant, and we spent the next few minutes talking about Jesus coming to earth and its significance in saving me from my sins. It turns out that she was a believer and she shared her own story of how God has saved her from a life of sin and selfishness. This conversation flowed out of the Christmas season and it could have happened with a fellow believer or a non-believer.

Last week, my wife bought gifts for a handful of neighbors that we haven’t met yet with the hope that we might get a chance to meet them, serve them and share about Jesus with them. Christmas provides all kinds of wonderful conversation connections that allow us to talk about the heart of Christmas. There is nothing we want to share more than the hope of salvation that is ours because of Christmas.

How will you share the gospel of Christmas with others in the coming days?

Showing Up for the Next Generation

Tue, 17 Dec 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Showing Up for the Next Generation

I’m a doer. I have checklists and I find great satisfaction checking off my little hand-drawn boxes on lists. I’m also a busy mom – with three kids, a dog and a husband, a full-time job, a home to care for and everything (and everyone) else in between – busyness calls the shots in my life most of the time.

But in the midst of busyness, my husband and I have encouraged one another to find the time to serve in the church. We have worked in ministry for most of our married life – almost 18 years now – he as a pastor and administrator, and me as a graphic designer for various churches across the country. While we have “front row seats” to see first-hand the impact of those who give and serve others, we are called to serve too.

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10

As a newly married young mom, I found myself serving in the church nursery. It was something I sort of fell into – my son had horrible separation anxiety – and it was easier to be there while taking care of the other “littles.” Over time, I realized the impact I was making, giving parents the time to connect with God. I knew how busy and demanding their lives were – just like mine! I could see it on the parents faces when they picked up their kids – they were refreshed and had met with God, some for the very first time.

This will be my 15th year serving in kids ministry. But this summer I felt God asking me to step out and make a larger commitment. God was asking me to lead a group of 6 ^th grade girls EVERY WEDNESDAY night. I thought of so many excuses, including inadequacy and fear, wanting to selfishly keep my time to myself. But understanding the significance of showing up for young girls drowned out any excuse. I remember people showing up for me when I was younger, and that shaped how I saw Jesus.

Showing up is half the battle. It isn’t always easy to show up. But I do it, because I remind myself that my presence and commitment show God’s faithfulness to these girls. I may not think they’re always listening, but they know I’ll be there and speak God’s truth into their lives.

Serving is an act of obedience. I sometimes think of it as a sacrifice, but it is what God asks of us. It’s easy for me to see it as another item on my to-do list. I’ve recently gotten better at taking a deep breath, praying and focusing on the people rather than the task. It’s the people that matter to God. The fact I show up matters to God. I’m serving Him above everything else: No matter where any of us serve in the church, it’s for Him. So, fill in the holes, be the missing piece, serve with a heart for people rather than for the task. Maybe make a larger commitment. Ask God where He wants you. Everyone needs someone to show up for them.

Pray with me:

God, give me open eyes, an open mind, open hands and an open heart so that I can continually be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ here on earth. God, give me a spirit of generosity, kindness, humility, compassion, a thankful heart, and an ever-willing heart for serving You and others.

Take Time to Slow Down

Tue, 10 Dec 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Take Time to Slow Down

I love the holidays! I love the hustle and bustle of the season, the twinkling lights, houses smelling of cinnamon and evergreen. Our family traditions, all the parties and celebrations, the anticipation of my kids receiving their gifts. I even love the added task of the dreaded elf on the shelf. I love to go, go, go and make sure we get to all of it!

Several years ago, I heard “Joseph’s Song” by Michael Card and it stopped me in my tracks. The glitter and glam, the hustle and bustle faded away; and I found myself in wonderment and awe of the true Christmas story. I was brought back to the time of Mary and Joseph. Two people so young, so ordinary, called to a much higher calling than they ever expected. I listened intently to the words and imagined Joseph deep in prayer, questioning why, how, when? The song says, “How could it be this baby in my arms, sleeping now, so peacefully, the Son of God the angel said, how could this be?”

I reflected on these words for a long time. I listened to the song again and again taking in all that it had to say. The prayer Joseph may have prayed: “Father show me where I fit into this plan of yours? How can a man (just a simple carpenter) be father to the Son of God? How can I raise a king?” I tried to put myself in Mary and Joseph’s shoes. Frightened, unsure of what the future would hold. Now, starting out together with a new baby; who is in some ways just like every other baby. But it wasn’t just any baby, it was the Son of God! The song also says, “He looks so small, His face and hands so fair and when He cries the sun just seems to disappear. But when He laughs it shines again.”

I also thought about Mary and all her worries. Not only about becoming a wife and a mother, but about the ridicule that she would face not having been married. How she would tell Joseph? Would he believe her, would he leave her? And her response through it all: “I am the Lord’s slave,” said Mary. “May it be done to me according to your word.” Luke 1:38 (HCSB) Yikes! I can only pray that if, and when God calls me to a higher calling than I am expecting, I will follow in Mary and Joseph’s shoes with the same obedience.

Every year since then, I wait with anticipation for the song to come on. For years this has been a reminder for me to stop, to listen, to pray and to reflect on these two, real people whose life in an instant was changed, and without hesitation, said yes to God’s great calling for them.

Michael Card: Joseph’s Song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT4VDAIaMwU

A Spirit of Giving

Tue, 03 Dec 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A Spirit of Giving

As we enter the month of December and the Christmas season, I’d like to explore the spirit of giving.

When I think of giving, especially this time of year, I think of God.

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish, but have eternal life. – John 3:16.

He gave. He gave His best. He gave His one and only Son. He gave Him for me. He gave Him for you. No strings attached. A gift. A free gift. A gift to pay for our sins; past, present and future on the cross through the blood of Jesus. A gift that allows us to be reconciled to God. A gift that offers me eternity in heaven. Done. There is nothing I can do to earn the gift. And that, I believe, is the spirit of giving. We give out of love. We give with no strings attached. With give without expectation of getting anything in return.

But I certainly haven’t always thought that way about giving.

I grew up not learning anything about money; spending, saving, or giving. If I needed something, money was given to me in the form of cash or even a blank check. Nothing was ever discussed about it. I’m pretty sure mom gave something at church each week, but that too, was never discussed. There were always lots of gifts for us on our birthdays and Christmas. But I never saw giving to others outside of our family or to someone in need. That was totally foreign to me.

As I got a little older and married, we moved away. Our neighbors lived the spirit of giving. She sent her kids and ours to shovel and mow another neighbors yard in return for nothing. What?? People she didn’t know were able to use their house. Are you kidding me?? She took in a young boy from the inner city that had little chance of even graduating from high school and she poured her time, talent, treasure and touch into him. Who does that?? I had surgery. People brought me some meals. Never heard of such a thing. A friend lost his job right before Christmas. Other friends started collecting money for the family for gifts. They asked me to give. Ugh…I gave something…begrudgingly.

I certainly didn’t have a spirit of giving.

We eventually moved to Minnesota. It was here that I heard and understood the gospel. I came to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I started to read God’s Word.

The earth is the Lord ’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; – Psalm 24:1

Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest. – Proverbs 3:9

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ – Matthew 25:40

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. – 2 Corinthians 9:7

I had no idea that God had so much to say about giving.

The Holy Spirit began to work on me. We began to give more generously at church. We began to support a child through World Vision. We gave to a missionary.

I began to have joy in giving!

Throughout my years at Friendship Church I have seen the spirit of giving over and over. Sacrifice to pay off our debt and renovate our Prior Lake Campus. Cars given to people in need. House payments made for someone. Envelopes of cash handed to a pastor to give as God leads. Meals, rides, a place to live provided to people with need. People with little financial means, giving out of their poverty.

It’s easy to get into the spirit of giving during the Christmas season, but God calls us to this lifestyle on a daily basis and I believe He will put opportunities in front of us each and every day.

Do you know Him? Is Jesus your Lord and Savior? Have you received the free gift He wants to give you? If not, consider the verses below.

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. – Romans 10: 9-10.

Today, you could be the recipient of the true spirit of giving.

History of Thanksgiving

Tue, 26 Nov 2019 00:00:00 GMT

History of Thanksgiving

It is easy to pass right over Thanksgiving today. Christmas music is already on the radio and the stores have had their Christmas displays out since October. If we do think about Thanksgiving our thoughts are usually consumed with details for family gatherings, turkeys, green bean casseroles and football. But Thanksgiving was originally designed as a time to stop all activity and think about God and express our thankfulness for all His provision.

The First Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was first celebrated in 1621 in Massachusetts as a harvest feast thanking God for his care and provision. English Pilgrims left Plymouth, England on September 6, 1620 for the New World seeking freedom. After two months at sea, they landed in what is now Massachusetts in November 1620.

Sadly, unprepared for the brutal and unforgiving environment they faced, half the settlers died before winter’s end due to starvation and disease. However, by persevering in prayer and with the help of Native Americans, they planted crops and reaped a harvest to carry them through the second winter in the New World.

Although their hearts were still heavy from the losses suffered the previous winter, there were at least three areas for which they felt particularly grateful to God.

1. With the arrival of spring, the sickness that had immobilized the community and taken many of them in death had lifted.

2. With the arrival of spring, God providentially sent to them an English-speaking Native American, Squanto, who became their interpreter and guide, helping them establish friendly relations with Massosoit, chief of the Wampanoag, the nearest and most powerful tribe in the region. In March 1621, they had signed an agreement of peace and mutual aid with Massosoit, which resulted in both peoples moving freely back and forth in friendship and trade.

3. Through hard work and Squanto’s advice about farming and fishing, they experienced abundant harvests during the summer and fall of 1621.

The first Thanksgiving included English Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians. Not only did they enjoy meals together with thankful hearts, but they engaged in games, foot races and wrestling matches. It was such an enjoyable time that the one Day of Thanksgiving was extended for three full days. The Indians brought deer that they had hunted and prepared, and the Pilgrims provided fowl which probably included turkeys.

The Nationalizing of Thanksgiving

The early days of Thanksgiving were observed at various times in different places as deemed appropriate and necessary by the colonists. As the colonists began to form themselves into a nation, these days of Thanksgiving began to be nationalized and made part of the national calendar.

The Continental Congress met between 1774 and 1789 and issued several calls for days of humiliation, prayer and thanksgiving. The first one was to be observed on November 28, 1782. The proclamation reads in part:

“It being the indispensable duty of all nations, not only to offer up their supplications to Almighty God, the giver of all good, for His gracious assistance in times of distress, but also in a solemn and public manner, to give Him praise for His goodness in general, and especially for great and signal interpositions of His Providence in their behalf.”

Shortly after being sworn in as president, George Washington issued a proclamation designating November 26, 1789 as a Day of Thanksgiving wherein all citizens should offer gratitude to God for His protection, care and many blessings. It was the first Thanksgiving Day designated by the new national government of the United States. The proclamation reads in part:

“Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor, and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me ‘to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.’

What is clear from these early national proclamations is that the pilgrim’s original intention of directing all thanks and praise to God was upheld by our nation’s earliest leaders. Thanksgiving is intended to be a day of prayer and gratitude to God as our great provider and we want to focus on Him and how great He is on this holiday.

We would love to invite you to Praise, Pie and Gratitude on the night before Thanksgiving as a way in which our church remembers that Thanksgiving is about our amazing God and his provision in our lives. We will come together that night for a time of exalting Him and thanking Him because all good gifts come from our God. Please join us at 7:00pm on Wednesday, November 27 in Prior Lake Campus Worship Center.

Colossians 2:6–7 : “as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving .”

What I Experienced Fasting

Tue, 19 Nov 2019 00:00:00 GMT

What I Experienced Fasting

I remember when I used to live in St. Paul and the city would periodically turn off the water on our block for maintenance. It was during these times that I realized how often I needed water to live. I couldn’t shower, flush the toilet, or even fill a glass of water to drink. It may seem obvious how frequently we use water in our daily lives, but it wasn’t until it was gone, that I realized that I took water for granted.

Friendship Church announced a day of fasting for their ‘Rhythms’ sermon series a few weeks ago . Fasting was explained as an effective way to set aside distractions, to focus more on God. My first thought was, “I think I would be too distracted by the starvation, that I wouldn’t be able to focus on God.” I wasn’t totally sold on the idea until I heard there would be a guided list of Bible passages to read during the fasting. I did not have a routine of reading the Bible, so I thought the fasting would give me a good excuse to open my Bible.

The fast was to go from Friday night after dinner to Saturday night’s dinner time. I told my fiancé that I was thinking about doing a fast and she encouraged me to go ahead and do it. She also wanted to get more into the Bible with me. There were so many passages that Pastor Matt Clausen assigned, that it looked like we signed up for a night course in theology!

Friday night we read Ephesians chapter one through two, which was Paul’s letter to the church of Ephesus. In those chapters he praises God for all the blessings that God has given us. By sacrificing His Son, we are made redeemed through His blood.

“ In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace ⁸ that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding”

-Ephesians 1:5-8 (NIV)

These passages led my fiancé and I to discuss the many blessings God has given us. When God gives blessings to us, we can’t help but feel His love and want to convey that love to others in our lives.

Saturday morning started out like any other Saturday for me. The only weird thing is that I didn’t have any breakfast. I committed myself to only consume liquids and not solid food. So of course, I drank water, I had a cup of coffee, and I also decided to have a couple of protein shakes. You may think that’s cheating, but believe me, the taste of these shakes was awful! Punishment fits the crime, I guess.

I had a lot of video editing to do on Saturday, so I didn’t have time to delve too deep into my Bible. I did however get a chance to read the book of Malachi and it was pretty much the opposite of what I read the previous night. The book of Malachi is about how the people of Israel took God for granted and weren’t offering their best sacrifices for The Lord. The priests were accepting these sub-par sacrifices and The Lord wasn’t having it with these priests. He was so enraged with the priests that he wanted to rub literal excrement on their faces.

“And now, you priests, this warning is for you. ² If you do not listen, and if you do not resolve to honor my name,” says the Lord Almighty, “I will send a curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not resolved to honor me. ³ “Because of you I will rebuke your descendants; I will smear on your faces the dung from your festival sacrifices, and you will be carried off with it.”

-Malachi 2:1-3 (NIV)

When reading through this book, it’s easy for us to look down on the Israelites and face palm ourselves at what disappointments God’s chosen people have become. Every time God proves His love and keeps His promises, the Israelites have forgotten and disobeyed him anyway. But how often have we sinned in our own lives and God still forgave us? How many times have we sinned the same sins and God has still forgiven us? If God decided to not keep his promise to Israel and forsake them because of what they did in Malachi, what chance do we have?

I wondered out loud to my fiancé if fasting was worth doing. I wasn’t totally focused on reading the Bible, I was working on other things. However, I realized that feeling of hunger was a reminder of the many blessings that God has given. Not only has God blessed me with food, clothing, shelter, my fiancé; He has given His ultimate blessing, His Son.

It’s funny, I thought hunger would distract me from learning more about God and being closer to Him. The opposite happened when I went through with it. It was the hunger that made me more focused on Him, it was the hunger that reminded me how much I needed Him. Just like the water that was shut off in my St. Paul residence, it’s easy to take God for granted.

Veterans Day

Mon, 11 Nov 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Veterans Day

On November 11, we observe Veterans Day. We pause and give appreciation for all veteran service members from all military branches. We honor them, both those that died or survived in our wars. Typically, local schools invite veterans to honor them in gatherings, stores have huge sales, restaurants offer free meals for veterans, many have parades, there are different drawings for free items, and the list goes on.

Its origins

Veterans Day did not start out with this intention. It was originally called “Armistice Day” because it was on November 11, 1918 that World War I ended. It was a day our nation looked back on to be thankful that the war was over and to appreciate those that served. In 1938, legislation was passed recognizing it as such and it was “dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day.'” As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans exclusively.

Then came 1954, after the nation had fought again in Europe with World War II and fought an additional war in Korea. The 83 ^rd U.S. Congress, being urged by veterans’ service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by removing the word “Armistice” and replacing it with “Veterans.” Hence, with the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, November 11 ^th became a National Holiday to honor American veterans of all wars.

Why does the observance jump around?

You may have noticed that it isn’t always celebrated on November 11 ^th . That is because if the holiday falls on a non-workday (Saturday or Sunday), it is observed the following Monday. Additionally, United States Senate Resolution 143, which was passed on August 4, 2001, designated the week of November 11 – November 17, 2001, as “National Veterans Awareness Week.” The resolution calls for educational efforts directed at elementary and secondary school students concerning the contributions and sacrifices of veterans.

Its distinction from Memorial Day

Some confuse Veterans Day with Memorial Day. It is very simple to distinguish the two. Memorial Day strictly observes the ultimate sacrifices that service members gave, their lives. We remember the fallen. Veterans Day, on the other hand, honors those that have both given their lives and more specifically honors those that are still alive that served honorably in wartime or peacetime.

My challenge to the world

This year I want you to consider that service to one’s country is what has created and maintained our great nation’s freedoms that we share. In every war there was the horrible possibility of loss and the consequences of losing our way of life in some capacity. Normal people from all walks of life and races took voluntary time out of their lives to defend what America is all about: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Someone had to serve!

There is a satisfaction within every veteran that knows that they fought for these ideals, and for many of us, as service members, we fight for each other , as we look at each other as the literal embodiment of the best America offers.

Veterans have taken the hard road voluntarily. They have chosen a life of sacrifice and risk. They realize that tomorrow is only paid for in the blood of today’s volunteer. Veterans don’t expect gratitude or elevation. They simply want people to enjoy and appreciate the freedoms that veterans have sacrificed to secure.

I think of the spouses that have been forced to attend to their families with long deployments. I think of the children of military members who have moms and dads absent for months. I think of the long hours service members put in. I think of sacrifice.

This year consider going out of your way to thank a veteran with verbal encouragement, a note, a hug, or however you wish. Consider educating your family with this blog. Consider making a donation to your local VFW or Legion. Most of all, consider the freedom that you enjoy every day and silently appreciate the veterans’ contribution to your life.

In the words of Dan Lipinski: “On this Veterans Day, let us remember the service of our veterans, and let us renew our national promise to fulfill our sacred obligations to our veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much so that we can live free.”

Happy Veterans Day.

Loving Youth Cross-Culturally

Tue, 05 Nov 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Loving Youth Cross-Culturally

A few years ago, my wife and I had the privilege of visiting her sister’s family on a mountain ledge in Papua New Guinea, where they live and serve the Pal tribe. As missionaries with Ethnos360 (formerly New Tribes Missions), they live deep in the jungle, 30 minutes by helicopter or a three-day hike. Living in this new environment was a huge culture shock for us. We were not used to the food, the clothing (or lack thereof!), the homes, the animal and plant life, the daily rhythms of the people, and the tools they used. The differences in culture were overwhelming, yet we loved my sister-in-law and her family so much, we wanted to support them in their work and see the people they were serving first hand.

Over the course of our visit, God began to grow in us a fresh love for the Pal people and the unique challenges they face. We celebrated the birth of a new baby in a nearby village, while also mourning the loss of someone’s farm that got destroyed in a mudslide. We saw the inauguration of a language school to help with literacy and saw the daily challenges of tribal life.

In many ways, God gave us eyes to see this culture as similar to our own—full of people in families with hurts, hopes, dreams, fears, and loves. The cultural aspects that we weren’t used to became less noticeable as we grew in our love for the Pal people and started to catch a glimpse of God’s heart for these people, made in His image.

Crossing cultures is hard work, but necessary for Gospel advance and Gospel transformation. Every tribe, tongue, and language need to hear the good news, but the good news must also take root in those bearing the message. In God’s sovereignty we see missional ministry wonderfully sanctifying those involved as they humble themselves before another culture and follow Jesus’ own incarnational example (Philippians 2:1-11).

As I work with parents and adults who love students and are trying to minister and disciple them in today’s world, I see a number of parallels to the cross-cultural work of global, tribal missions.

Adults today often have a hard time understanding youth culture. Moreover, recent factors from the Internet to the ubiquitous smart phone have helped create a global youth culture phenomenon that reinforces this “strange new culture.”

According to Ben Pierce, the globalized youth culture is defined as “Those between the ages of seventeen and thirty-five and can be found in every major city. They represent more than one billion people, and, despite being spread out all over the world, they are more connected than ever. They generally dress the same, watch the same movies, and listen to the same music, and, as a result, they look and act alike.” [1]

Ben Pierce goes on to explain why the global youth culture have a shared sense of identity from several unifying factors. For example, they are connected through the Internet with an unprecedented access to entertainment, information, and social media. They are socially isolated, often from the ironic reality of being constantly connected electronically, without developing the natural skill of translating that connection in the physical, social world. They are obsessed with fame and popularity as they are being shaped by their daily, digital appetites to see value attached to certain actions of the famous, beautiful, and “happy.”

They are sexually broken from constant exposure to a pornographic culture and growing up believing “sex is meaningless, gender a personal choice, and monogamy a joke.” [2] They are confused about reality without the morals and framework of biblical categories for ethics, human value, and God-given meaning. And they are consumers, who often treat people like products because their consumption has moved from a hobby or lifestyle to a religion. [3]

In many ways, this growing global youth culture seems very different to what many older people in the church are used to. As a church who loves students and wants to embody Jesus in how we love, live, and serve, we have a tremendous opportunity in front of us!

Two examples that come to mind are learning to understand the tools of the culture and pushing against the culture in strategic ways. First, regarding tools, I was terrified when I first arrived in Papua New Guinea with my wife and every male I saw was holding a foot-long machete. I came to learn how important these tools were for everything from farming to traveling throughout the jungle terrain. After a week in the tribe, I began seeing this tool as more than a weapon, but helpful on many levels.

In the same way, we need to think about more than just the dangers of smartphones and being digitally connected, to see ways of harnessing these tools for discipleship and ministry advance. We need to think theologically about how these phones are not only shaping students, but also shaping us. A resource I highly recommend is Tony Reinke’s book, 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You .

Secondly, we need to push against the culture in strategic ways. Introducing literacy to the Pal tribe was an important push against their oral-only culture because it enables them to read, write, and study God’s precious Word. They have been coming to faith by the written truths in Scripture and are learning to teach others to read and study God’s word and establish a church with indigenous, literate leaders. Even though the work is slow and uphill, missionaries see the long-play of building a healthy, bible-studying, literate church.

In a similar way, we need to find ways as a church to push against the diminishing effects occurring from the technology of the global youth culture. We need to address the inability to concentrate and a loss of literacy among our young people who are being formed by their digital habits.

Ethicist Oliver O-Donovan describes how the digital age hurries us and shatters our concentration into a million little pieces making the greatest challenge to literacy our short attention spans: “Caught now by one little explosion of surprise, now by another. Knowledge is never actually given to us in that form. It has to be searched for and pursued, as the marvelous poems on Wisdom at the beginning of Proverbs tell us.” [4]

We need to help young people recover an ability to have sustained reading of God’s Word, “as a deer pants for flowing streams” (Psalm 42:1). This happens in personal Bible reading but also in corporate worship. Unless we drink from God’s Word and spend regular, formative time beholding his glory through the written and preached Word, how will we be “transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18)?

There are so many factors stacked against having today’s global youth culture sit for regular, extended times in weekly worship services. And yet, God equips us all with the same faculties that should be exercised for what is not only best for us, but will ultimately provide us the deepest joy.

Tony Reinke explains, “God has given us the power of concentration in order for us to see and avoid what is false, fake, and transient— so that we may gaze directly at what is true, stable, and eternal. It is part of our creatureliness that we are easily distracted; it is part of our sinfulness that we are easily lured by what is vain and trivial. Our joy in God is at stake. In our vanity, we feed on digital junk food, and our palates are reprogrammed and our affections atrophy.” [5]

God is inviting all of us towards deeper humility, wisdom, and passion as we incarnationally engage the global youth culture. May we learn to be more effective cross-cultural workers who love, live, and serve the global youth culture like Jesus.

For those ready to take the next step, we have a tremendous opportunity this week to hear from a national expert on the global youth culture who will be speaking at Friendship Church on November 10. David Pierce is the founder of Steiger International, a worldwide mission organization that is called to reach and disciple the Global Youth Culture for Jesus.

Steiger raises up missionaries and equips the local church to proclaim the message of Jesus in the language of the Global Youth Culture and establishes long-term presence in cities through ongoing outreach, discipleship and local church partnership. Come learn with us how to be gospel-focused, cross-cultural lovers of today’s youth.

[1] Ben Pierce, Jesus in the Secular World: Reaching a Culture in Crisis , 23.

[2] Ben Pierce, Jesus in the Secular World: Reaching a Culture in Crisis , 30.

[3] Ben Pierce, Jesus in the Secular World: Reaching a Culture in Crisis , 23-34.

[4] Tony Reinke, 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You , 85.

[5] Tony Reinke, 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You , 86.

Changing Plans

Tue, 29 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Changing Plans

As a little girl, I often dreamt of what my life would be like in the future. I envisioned living my happily ever after with my own prince charming, two happy kids, a house in the country and a job that I loved going to everyday. At that point, I hadn’t decided yet if I wanted to be a dance teacher, pastor, or a secretary. Despite my varying and odd job aspirations, I was convinced my life as an adult would go exactly as planned.

Now as I look back, I chuckle at myself and the diary pages I filled with the plans I had for myself. So far, my life course has not followed anything close to the roadmap I had drafted up at the age of 8. But now, I understand that there is a greater and wiser Creator who has written my story. In fact, it was written long before I was even born.

June 1, 1996, I took my first breath on this earth, the first-born child to my parents. Within my first month of life, I experienced complications and was diagnosed with a respiratory disease called Cystic Fibrosis.

Currently, there is no cure to Cystic Fibrosis. I live a pretty normal life thanks to incredible technology and advancements. I manage my disease with at home treatments, medications, and an incredible healthcare team. There are many times, however, when my health declines and I experience a lot of fear and pain. It’s hard to come to terms with the fact that in the matter of days, I can lose a lot of my lung function and fall sick to infection. I often feel like I have no control, which has driven me to try to plan and control as much as I can. This past summer, God has especially been working on my heart and the fears I so tightly cling to.

My summer was a busy one. I had been planning a wedding, trying to balance my health – yet still enjoy our quick Minnesota summers – and anxiously waiting for my newly graduated fiancé to find a job. My life was filled with to dos and what ifs. What if I get sick? What if my fiancé finds a job out of state and we have to move? What if I don’t finish everything for the wedding?

And then, one of my fears came true. A few weeks before the wedding I ended up in the hospital. My lung function was declining, I was losing weight and energy. I performed a lung function test and I couldn’t make it through without coughing and being short of breath. I saw the numbers appear on the screen and my eyes immediately welled with tears. I knew exactly what it meant. It meant hospitalization. It meant sleepless nights not in my own bed. It meant getting a PICC line placed and administering my own antibiotics. It meant tests. It meant poking and prodding from strangers trying to take care of me. It meant I had to pause on my to do list. It meant I had failed myself.

That day and the few days following, I was angry at God. How could He do this? Couldn’t He have protected me? Where was He in all of this ? In return of my anger and questions, I heard nothing from God. I couldn’t feel His presence. I didn’t have an answer. This was never how I imagined my life to be just two weeks away from my wedding. I was supposed to be finalizing décor and binge watching Say Yes to the Dress while counting down the days to my fairytale! Instead, I was tied to my treatment machine each day and suffering through my persistent cough and self-pity in the same PJ’s I had worn for the past couple days. This was definitely not a part of the plan.

Within 5 days, I was able to go home. My lung function jumped nearly 10 percent! I bounced back so quickly, it was truly astounding. The best part, I hadn’t felt this good in a long time. I hadn’t realized how bad I felt, until I realized how good I felt now. I didn’t realize the healing and rest I needed.

In the days before my wedding, I was able to reflect and look back on the last few weeks of my life. I had reached a low – questioning what God was doing in my life. And now, I was about to experience the highest of highs – marrying my favorite person in the world, surrounded by our loved ones. As the last details came together for the wedding, I had some revelations:

God took care of me in ways I didn’t even know I needed.

I had suffered through low lung function, illness, and hospitalization so that I could be healed, restored, and feeling my very best for some of the most treasured days of my life. This hit me like a ton of bricks. God had not abandoned me. In fact, my Creator took care of me. What felt like suffering was actually needed healing. I am reminded that God works in unimaginable ways and I think of Isaiah 55:8-9.

“ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

We often don’t have answers or closure about the suffering in our world and in our lives. But this verse reminds me that it’s OK that I do not understand the way God works, because His power and love go beyond our understanding.

My need for God becomes evident when I see weakness in myself and the world around me.

In my weakness, in my illness, in my anger, and in my self-pity, I have found how much I need Jesus. I can’t trust that my treatments will keep me out of the hospital. I can’t trust that my plans will work out. But I can trust Jesus and His promise to be with me during my time on this earth. I need HIM because His promises are the only solid truth I know I can lean on. I often refer to 2 Corinthians 12:9.

“’ My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

While I haven’t been able to “boast” in my weakness; I have been able to see the ways I have been able to grow closer to Christ in my weakness, in my questioning, in the moments I have to call out to Him when my life doesn’t look the way I had planned it. That same type of growth doesn’t often happen when I am feeling content.

I don’t know how well MY plans will work out, but I do know God’s plan for me.

Life may not look the way you planned or hoped. I don’t think it does for most people. Strained relationships, financial hardships, and everyday struggles often find us in this broken world. But the story doesn’t end there. We can find hope and peace which surpasses all understanding because of our heart-mending Savior, Jesus. We may not know how our plans and hopes for our lives will turn out, but we do know the ending of our story. It ends with us meeting with Jesus face to face for the first time and spending eternity in His glory. That is the hope I continue to hold onto. No matter what unexpected circumstance you are facing, I hope you can hold onto that too.

Support One Another

Tue, 22 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Support One Another

God did not create people to do life alone. We all possess a basic human need to have relationship with others. This is why we create friendships and support one another.

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. – Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Did you know that your support system can be enlarged by joining a LifeGroup at Friendship Church? A LifeGroup is a small group of people that meet 2 – 4 times each month in homes, coffee shops or various other locations. It’s a chance to know others and to be known by them. It’s a chance to share in each other’s lives… the ups and the downs… and gain support though prayer, relationship, and spiritual growth.

No matter what life stage you’re in… from single to married, young to old, with kids or without… there is a LifeGroup for you at Friendship Church.

Many lives have been impacted by the support they receive in LifeGroups. Here is a sampling of the benefits of deep, supportive relationships:

Lifelong Friendships, Like a Family

“Our LifeGroup came together in 1990 out of our friendship with each other, much like how Friendship Church started. My LifeGroup has become more like a family. We help each other, pray and have fellowship together. We look forward to getting together each time we meet. The Lord has been so good to us, keeping us healthy and being able to get around in our 70s and 80s.” ~Karen

Safe Place to Share

“LifeGroups are a safe place to share life. Centered around God’s Word, we learn and grow in our faith together. We lift each other up in prayer and celebrate praises together. Knowing we have many people praying for us and our family, means the world to me! Friendships run deeper in LifeGroups as we have time to develop them through living life together. It is through smaller LifeGroups that my faith is challenged, and I am held accountable to grow and mature in my faith walk with Jesus! I am so grateful for those in our LifeGroupthat pour into my life!” ~Ruth

Acceptance

“The LifeGroup I am in began in September 2016. I joined a LifeGroup because Friendship Church was encouraging us to do so. At that time, I only knew one person in the group, vaguely. But now, this group of people are the best group of people I have ever called friends! God assembled a group of random people that are hungry, thirsty, and broken. God opened our hearts for the same desire to grow a deeper relationship with Him. God gave us the wisdom to know that we can’t do that alone.” ~Roxanne

Comfort of Prayer

“LifeGroups are the best way to fellowship, pray, study and get to know each other better. Fellowship is better because the conversations go beyond the casual conversations we have in the short time together on Sunday mornings. It enables us to get to know one another better and pray for each other. The prayer is better because as you get to know each other, we are more comfortable with sharing more personal needs and praises. It also enables us to have deeper discussions because we feel more comfortable sharing with people we know well. God meant for us to build each other up with prayers and support. In our busy lives, we need a more intimate group of people to get to that level.” ~Rolf

Growth comes through a support group of friends in which you can go on a faith journey together. The lives of these individuals have been deeply impacted by the support they have received in their LifeGroups. We at Friendship Church encourage you to join a LifeGroup. Visit http://friendshipmn.org/lifegroups/ to learn more.

A Believer’s Response in a Hungry World

Tue, 15 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A Believer’s Response in a Hungry World

Food is often the centerpiece of fun and fellowship with friends, family or coworkers. Meals anchor events of big and small proportions. People’s lives are scheduled around eating, be it consumed in solitude or among large crowds. Sometimes the very homes people live in are designed primarily around eating spaces. Without question, food and daily decisions go hand in hand.

Yet for about 800 million people, decisions they make surrounding food are not, “What will I eat now?” Instead, they question, “How will I survive?” Approximately 12 percent of the world’s population do not have sufficient nutrition to lead healthy lives. In many third-world countries, the extraordinary toll on childhood development and life expectancy has tragic implications with loss of human potential for generations.

The magnitude and complexity of world hunger is daunting. Advances in food science and distribution during the last 30 – 40 years have been offset by corruption and political unrest, as well as war, severe weather and other natural disasters. Some areas of the world have experienced unimaginable depletion of natural resources alongside the drain of hope for millions already living at a poverty level we cannot begin to comprehend.

Many of us get stuck in our thinking. On one hand, we know intellectually that in our community and around the world there are hungry people who desperately need our help. Perhaps we allow ourselves to get caught up in the politics of hunger? Or maybe we think, “There will always be hungry and poor people in the world, and I can’t change that?” Or some of us might be asking, “How can I – just one person – make a difference?”

Scripture lays out clearly how God intends His followers to treat the hungry, the poor and the oppressed:

Isaiah 58:7 – Share your food with the hungry and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

Isaiah 58:10 – Feed the hungry and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.

James 2:14-18 – What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also, faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

Matthew 14:15-21 – Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.

There are many choices we can make as individuals or collectively that honor God’s call for us to act on behalf of and for the benefit of hungry, poor and disadvantaged people. Those people are in fact a very special part of His creation.

Such an opportunity exists with Feed My Starving Children, a mobile pack event November 6 – 9 at Friendship Church, 12800 Marystown Road, Shakopee. I encourage you to participate with friends, family, co-workers or church and school groups. By signing up and donating a few hours, you will experience great joy and unity of purpose as you fulfill God’s heart for hungry and needy people.

https://www.fmsc.org/

Signs

Tue, 08 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Signs

I started to notice the first signs of fall while mowing my lawn in late July. The leaves on the sumac bushes had a hint of yellow to them. Now in October, the brilliant mosaic of red, yellow and orange leaves on the trees are eye candy and an obvious sign of the changing season. Fall is here!

Why do the leaves change color anyway?

Here’s the process God put together. During the long days of summer, plants use water, carbon dioxide, sunlight, and a molecule called chlorophyll in a process called photosynthesis, which helps the plant to grow. Chlorophyll gives the leaves their green color.

As the days get shorter, it is a signal to the trees to get ready for winter. They rest and live off the food stored during the summer. As chlorophyll disappears from the leaves, the underlying red, orange, yellow and brown pigments appear, providing us a landscape full of colors that people travel from far away to see!

I love that the secrets of why leaves change color in the fall have been uncovered and understood. There are other things we have discovered, like weather patterns. Have you heard the expression “Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning. Red sky at night, sailors delight. ”?

This is a not only a fun saying, but in places where the weather generally moves from west to east (like Minnesota), it’s true!

A red sunset happens when the rays from the sun, 93 million miles away, travel through a high concentration of dust particles. This usually indicates high pressure and stable air coming from the west. It’s a good indication that tomorrows weather will be fair.

Similarly, a red morning sky occurs when the sun’s rays travel through yesterday’s fair weather. You might want to throw an umbrella in your car on those days, since clouds and precipitation often follow.

There is a lot about God’s creation that is inspiring and mind blowing. As cool as that creation is, you may be thinking, “I use a weather app. What does all of this mean to me?” The truth is, it is much more important to recognize spiritual signs than the physical signs of nature. Jesus says so in the Bible.

The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.

He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.” – Matthew 16:1-3

In these verses, the Pharisees and Sadducees were not asking Jesus questions with sincere hearts, looking to learn. They were hoping Jesus would give an answer that they could use to accuse Him of doing something unlawful. In Matthew 15:14, Jesus refers to the Pharisees as “blind guides.” They were blinded by their own sin, which made them unable to see what was going on around them spiritually.

In order to be able to interpret the signs of the times, we need to be seekers of spiritual vision. We need to pursue God by reading His Word, understanding it, and doing what it says. We need to spend time in prayer and ask that the truth of Scripture be revealed to us. We need to ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit and to have our faith affect every aspect of our lives. Jesus called this kind of life, “Life to the full.” – John 10:10.

When you look at the beautiful fall colors, or the stunning red sky at sunrise or sunset, by all means enjoy! But I would encourage you to not stop there like the Pharisees and Sadducees. Let these signs of nature remind you to be watching for spiritual signs that are around you as well.

In closing, here’s an encouragement for you. Just as there were observable signs in July announcing that fall was on its way, there will be signs in the early days of March telling us that spring is coming! Despite the cold weather and snowstorms that can still provide challenges, if you are observant, you will notice that many migrant birds start arriving back in Minnesota. Their presence is not only fun to see and their journey an amazing marvel, but they can serve as a reminder for us to be watchful for the spiritual signs all around us.

Baptism

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Baptism

I have a book in my library called The Waters That Divide. It isn’t a book about the Red Sea but rather about the waters of baptism and how churches have understood baptism differently over the centuries. Some churches have tied their practice of baptism to church tradition while others have been swayed by what is popular in the culture. At Friendship Church, we always want our understanding and practice to be drawn from the Scripture.

What does the Bible teach us about baptism?

In the Bible, baptism is an act of obedience for those who have given their lives to God through faith and received His forgiveness. Faith always comes before baptism in the Scripture (Matthew 29:18-20; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:36-39; Acts 16:30-34). When we are baptized, we are being obedient to God’s command and we are following the example of our Lord Jesus who was baptized at the beginning of His earthly ministry (Matthew 3:13-17).

The New Testament expects that everyone who places their faith in Jesus will be baptized in His name. Baptism was immediate for those who placed their faith in Jesus. As a matter of fact, the Ethiopian eunuch who was baptized in Acts 8 places his faith in Jesus and as soon as he sees some water. He asks, “What is to prevent me from being baptized?” In Acts 16, the Philippian jailer places his trust in Jesus and is immediately baptized as a symbol of his new life in Christ.

While the New Testament expectation is that every follower of Jesus will be baptized, baptism is not a cause of a person’s salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 and Titus 3:5 make it clear that there is no work, including baptism, that is the cause of our salvation. Salvation comes only by God’s grace through faith. Baptism is an initial act of obedience to Jesus that expresses our new-found faith in Him. It is evidence, not the cause of our salvation.

When a person is baptized, it identifies them with Christ’s death, burial and resurrection (Romans 6:3-7). When we identify with Christ, it means we have accepted what He did on our behalf, the Holy Spirit dwells within us, and we are committed to His kingdom. The old self is buried in the water and the new self emerges forgiven and free. We baptize by immersing the person in water because it was the New Testament practice (Acts 8:38) and because it is the best picture of what baptism represents.

Parent-Child Dedication

Because the New Testament teaches us that baptism follows faith in Jesus and forgiveness of our sins, we do not practice baptism of infants at Friendship Church. Instead, we do dedication ceremonies in which children and their parents are dedicated to the Lord.

In a parent/child dedication, we:

If you are interested in speaking more about baptism or child dedication, please call the church office (952-447-8282) and speak to a Pastor. We would love to help you take these steps.

Men and Power – Biblical Principals

Tue, 24 Sep 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Men and Power – Biblical Principals

Looking Back

Growing up as I did in an intensely competitive environment presented opportunities, challenges and questions for me and my friends. For everyone in school, there was extreme competition to get the best grades and to excel in sports. Most of this was driven by parents. Then there was intense effort to get into the best colleges. For most of us, competing well was our insurance policy for getting a good job and for the prestige, recognition and ultimately the power our culture had defined as necessary for males. In my time as a young man growing up, such achievements were associated with manliness, strength, and courage – that ultimately translated into self-worth. I worked at it and was caught up in it. What I didn’t understand was the hollow side of power and achievement.

What Culture has Done

Today, the cultural pendulum has swung the other way to the extreme. Men who behave in any of the ways that could be considered stereotypically male are often viewed as toxic. Furthermore, men who have achieved an unusually high measure of power, success or influence are at risk for being blamed for the misfortunes of less fortunate people. “Power corrupts,” as the old saying goes. So, what are men supposed to do?

For believers, you would think it would be easy. We have the Truth of God’s Word as our handbook for life. Scripture uses powerful illustrations as it shows us the fallen state of all mankind while at the same time painting a clear picture of the character of God and His relentless love for us. Yet despite all the instruction from our Creator, so often we still fail to lead and serve responsibly and with compassion and Christ-likeness. In order to lead and serve responsibly, we need to be fully engaged with what the handbook says.

Not Much has Changed Over Time

Sadly, there are distinct and timeless patterns of the abuse or misuse of power that emerge over and over, and most often among men. They are selfishness and greed, failure to lead and take responsibility, poor self-control, failure to provide and protect, and finally, prideful arrogance. These are all too often the trademarks of power. The most prominent abuses of power are by men in the spotlight of the media or of history. The digital age dramatically accelerates and amplifies this behavior. Financial abuse, sexual abuse, modern slavery, political corruption and street and domestic violence are in the limelight all the time.

The price to individuals, families and society is enormous when men are disengaged from scripture and the pattern it lays out for them. Those who lack Christ-focused role models are lost in this life and lost into eternity. They are least likely to understand the equation of power (worldly manliness) and a path toward hurt and destruction for themselves and others. Their pain and loss will multiply and will manifest as pain and loss in others for generations.

What Must We Do?

Men can make a difference in their own lives and the lives of others, but it must start with us in our own homes and it must start today! We must honestly come to grips with our need to be restored and transformed through Christ. To achieve that requires humility, from humility can come an entirely new perspective on power and strength, and how God would have each of us use what He has given us.

From humility must come obedience to how the Holy Spirit will direct us in difficult situations. And from that obedience and the direction He provides can come the beginning of restoration and transformation to reconcile with others and to understand who God truly wants us to be. Only then will we be able to shed the pride, arrogance, selfishness, greed or insecurity that can masquerade as power.

What might a new perspective on power look like for men? Perhaps it is as simple as a new level of self-confidence that will neutralize the tendency to be overly sensitive or self-defensive with others? Perhaps it is a conscious decision to not exercise power or authority in a given situation where we have a choice and there exists potentially a better outcome? Might it be a new role as peacemaker or an untried approach to a challenging coworker or family member? Will our renewed understanding of Christ’s power in us be an encouragement for us to put His power to work for Him every day and not for ourselves? When we are certain our own house and family are in order, should we be sharing the Gospel, mentoring and discipling others for His purpose and for His glory, right where we are today? Let’s boldly accept the challenge to do exactly that!

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3)

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1)

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. (1 Corinthians 6:14)

If you desire to be the man God created you to be, please join us for the Men’s Breakfast! The event will be held on Saturday, September 28 from 8:00 – 10:00am at Friendship Church, Shakopee Campus. The speaker will be the Family Ministry Pastor Nathan Miller. For more information, visit friendshipmn.org/breakfast

Finding Jesus in Busyness

Tue, 17 Sep 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Finding Jesus in Busyness

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42

What thoughts stir in your mind as you read this passage? What feelings are going on inside of you? What does this passage mean? What is God trying to teach you? What do you and I do with this?

We live in a world where achieving is important, busyness is admired, long to do lists greet us each day, a filled calendar gives us a feeling of status, social media calls to us. And we are taught we can have it all and we can do it all.

There is a job to go to, laundry to get done, groceries and meals are necessary, the toilet needs to be cleaned, the kids need to go to the dentist, someone needs to coach the t-ball team, there is a fundraiser to organize, my friends need to talk, the dog needs a rabies shot and it goes on and on.

A family day would be fun.

A date night is so needed.

I’m so exhausted. How do I keep going? Time with Jesus? Read the Bible? Pray? Serve in a ministry? What? When? I can hardly keep my head above water.

Martha seemed to face the same things we do in a completely different time and culture. Jesus and his disciples were in her home. There was cleaning to do, bread to bake, veggies to wash, meat to roast. And where was her sister? Are you kidding me Mary? You are sitting down talking with our company? There is work to do! Look at the to-do list Mary. Help me! What will our Facebook friends think when they see the pictures of you sitting down and me doing all the work? That’s it. I’m telling Jesus on you. He will be on my side. He will get you up and get you accomplishing something.

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” What do you think was going through Martha’s head with that statement? Mary has chosen the better? What would you have been thinking? How would you have reacted?

How do we sort it all out? The Martha/Mary dilemma is very real for many. This is something I struggle with on a regular basis. I love to get things done, cross off the finished tasks, accomplish, be productive, work, try new things, achieve goals. It’s very hard for me to sit still, relax, just be, and settle down.

When speaking to Martha, I don’t believe Jesus was telling her that what she was doing wasn’t important. He wasn’t saying that we shouldn’t clean, cook and take care of our responsibilities. I hear Him encouraging Martha to prioritize what is truly important and not worry about the lesser things.

How do I prioritize Jesus and my time with him? Is He my priority only when it is convenient, and He fits in my schedule? Do I prioritize Him when I’m really busy and worried about many things? Do I rush around “doing” and miss my time “being” with Jesus? Do I fit Him in to my schedule or do I make my schedule around Him?

Could Jesus being saying, “Lori, Lori, you are filling your day with many things to get done and be concerned with, but first spend time with Me. Make Me a priority each and every day”.

Over the years I have found that it is best for me to spend time with Jesus, reading His Word and praying first thing when I get out of bed. If I start the task list first, Jesus gets pushed aside. I also have found that I need to be up first and have the house quiet. Once there is noise, I am very easily distracted. I am far from perfect, but I continue to work at wanting what is best, time with Jesus.

We all need to worship, praise, pray, and listen to our Savior. He fills us up, refreshes, teaches, and encourages. He gives us peace, forgiveness and wisdom. He directs our steps. He showers us with His love and grace. But in order to receive all He has for us, we need to be still and quiet ourselves from all the distractions. We need to invite His presence. As Mary did, we need to choose what is better.

On Thursday, October 3 we are holding a night of worship for ladies and teen girls. We invite you to come and “be.” Spend time worshiping together, with stations available for you to privately spend time worshiping God on your own. We’re excited to also hear a short devotional on the importance of community and why it is vitally important to our faith walk. You will find more information here .

Behold Israel

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Behold Israel

On September 22 ^nd , we will be hosting my brother-in-law, Amir Tsarfati, at Friendship Church. This year he will be teaching from the Prior Lake Campus, which will be simulcast live to our Shakopee Campus, and it will be the third year in a row that he and the Behold Israel team will serve in our midst. The uniqueness of this year is that I will be on Behold Israel staff as the Director of Operations, a position that has been pursuing me for the past two years.

Behold Israel is all about teaching the Word of God, providing Bible experience tours, and utilizing Social Media by connecting the times to the biblical prophecies. Very few ministries do this well because it requires an extensive knowledge of the Bible, history, languages, and events that transpire in the worlds, especially the Middle East.

Amir Tsarfati is a native Israeli with Jewish upbringing. He came to faith in the 90s through the Jesus Film and was trained as a tour guide. Amir was also the Deputy Mayor of Jericho for one of his assignments in the Israeli Army. Being a tour guide and his military service produced a deep understanding of the situation in the Middle East and contributed to an awareness of the political, social, and religious agendas of the nations toward Israel.

Many of you have heard me talk about the meaning of certain Hebrew words and phrases as I speak from the pulpit and I often refer to Jewish culture, which is the primary culture of the Bible. These elements create deeper clarity in understanding what the Bible originally meant and ensures an accurate interpretation and application.

You will love how Amir unpacks his topic, “Seek the Things Which are Above.” These are the end times and Satan is working double time to distract the church from our mission to make disciples. Satan knows that if he can get us comfortable, spiritually apathetic, and busy with non-eternal activities, then he can hurt the Kingdom of God. This is a wakeup call, especially when one considers the worldwide events aligning to biblical prophecy, giving us a strong sense that the Rapture is near.

Consider coming early for a seat because we have been promoting this day for several weeks on both the Friendship Church and Behold Israel websites, as well as, social media, so we expect a packed building!

Listen and Pray

Tue, 03 Sep 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Listen and Pray

One night, as I checked on my sleeping preschooler before going to bed, out of nowhere – a vision of her almost being hit by a car popped into my mind. I was scared to death. It felt so real. I started praying immediately, begging God to protect her and save her life. I covered her in prayer, from head to toe. My prayers went on for nearly a half hour until I felt at peace and was able to go to sleep. Have you ever had a similar experience? How did you react?

This situation reminded me of Romans 8:26 “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. We don’t know what God wants us to pray for, but the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” It was as if I didn’t know what needed to be covered in prayer, but the Holy Spirit did, and He brought me to my knees to pray in that instant.

The next morning, my little one and I started our daily routine by going to the YMCA. As usual, I pulled into the lot, parked the van and started gathering my purse and gym bag. But this time, instead of waiting for me to open the van door and get her out, my daughter quietly undid the buckle, hit the button to automatically open the door, and ran towards the street! It happened so fast. She had never done that before. I yelled “stop” and tried to reach her with my hands, but she was just beyond my reach. There was a van coming that slammed on the brakes as my daughter froze in front of the approaching vehicle.

By the grace of God’s protection, the van stopped in time. My heart was racing. I picked her up and held her tight as I thanked God and started sobbing. The driver got out of the vehicle to make sure my daughter was ok. I thanked her for being alert and stopping in time. You will not believe who the driver was – it was someone I had served with 20 years ago, on a Teens Encounter Christ retreat. Only God could orchestrate that!

My daughter and I were both shaken and learned a valuable lesson that day – she learned to wait for me and pay attention, and I learned to heed the Holy Spirit and pray, immediately when prompted.

We had one errand to run on the way home. This time, my daughter walked close by my side, and we held hands tightly. Good thing we did! As we approached the crosswalk, I paused us because I didn’t trust the oncoming car who seemed to be going too fast. Sure enough, the driver blew through the stop sign at the crosswalk. Another near miss! God was so good to us that day and I truly believe the Holy Spirit led me to pray because of what was to come the next day. God heard those prayers and answered, keeping my daughter safe.

So today, I encourage each of you to listen to the Holy Spirit that God has placed inside of you as a believer. Take everything to the Lord in prayer. From the smallest detail of your life – to a pressing issue…God wants to take care of you. He desires a relationship with you, and He has blessed you with the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide you.

Here are some additional verses to reflect on:

Acts 2:38 – Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 13:52 – And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

1 John 2:27 – But you have received the Holy Spirit, and He lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what He teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as He has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.

2 Corinthians 13:14 – May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Back to School

Tue, 27 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Back to School

Backpacks, schoolbooks, iPads, lunches, tennis shoes, gym clothes, fees for sports and other extracurricular activities, field trips, shopping for school clothes, “Who’s my teacher going to be this year?” and the list goes on and on! Gone are the “relaxing” days of summer. No more last-minute family fun days to the lake or pool, fishing, swimming, or going on vacations. The school year is upon us and can bring excitement or anxiety into our homes.

The school year brings a different routine to our days, which can be a very good thing. For some, having a place for your kids to go while you need to be at work and not having to pay child care costs is a huge help! For others, they don’t like being set to the school schedule and would rather have the freedom of doing last minute activities.

Some of us have children who LOVE school! They make it easy for us because they get up right away, get dressed, have their things ready to go and run out the door when the time comes. They might even have their clothes laid out the night before! Yes, this really does happen in some homes! But eventually that excitement wears off even for these kids. They tell you late at night as you tuck them into bed that they don’t have any clean clothes for gym in the morning. They forgot to plug in their iPad and aren’t even sure exactly where they put it. The question is, do we, as loving parents, get the laundry going so they don’t have to “stress” about it? Do we go on the hunt for the iPad so we can be sure that it gets plugged in? What about when you get that text or phone call from school that they forgot something? Do you go to the rescue and bring to them whatever it is that they forgot? Is that even an option with your schedule? Can anyone relate to this?

Then there are kids who do NOT enjoy school, it brings about a great sense of anxiety and fear. They literally cling to you and cry when it is time to go. They might even act out in fear and anger that you are making them go. They accuse you of not loving them because if you did, you would not make them go to school! You have meetings with the school counselor to help decide what the best course of action is to help your child with this transition. Then of course there is the homework. For a child who does not like school and then needs to come home and do more???? You try reward charts. Maybe you restrict TV and video games. You try to sit with them and help them through their schoolwork which has now turned into homework for you as well. Can you relate?

Perhaps your children do not leave the house for school. You wake each morning, get dressed, have breakfast and hit the books! You work through subject after subject with your children, helping them to learn everything they will need to know. You are the Science teacher, Math teacher, English teacher, Art teacher, Music teacher, Gym teacher, cook, lunch lady and janitor just to name a few! It is all YOU! You have the joy of watching them complete every milestone, accomplish every goal, or start over and try again when they don’t quite reach the outcome they were hoping to. Watching the looks on the faces of your favorite little people as they finally understand a concept they have been struggling with for so long is priceless! The field trips you get to take them on are so much fun when it is just you and your littles. You are able to protect them from the ways of the world and bullies. You can help them to process things as they see them happen in the world around them because you are always there. Then of course you have to make sure you have all of the supplies you are going to need for tomorrow’s art project and science lab. Did you do your own homework and prep yourself for tomorrow’s lessons? You may have to relearn concepts and subjects yourself; it has been a few years since you learned some of this stuff. Is tomorrow a Co-op day? Do you need to teach a class and are you prepared? Do you have the necessary supplies? If your children do not do well in a subject there will be no meeting with the teacher necessary, it is all YOU! Your own children will not hesitate to cry and complain if they don’t like something. How are you going to react? You might question if you are teaching your children well enough or wonder at times if maybe you are sheltering them too much? Can you relate?

These are just some of the pictures of what school looks like in our homes. Yours might be the same in some elements and different in others. Whatever your first day of school and those following is like, remember one thing. YOU ARE NOT ALONE! There are many of us doing the same thing, dealing with the same issues or joys that are happening.

The most important thing that we can do is take a step back and look at how we are going to respond. How we respond sends a message to our children and those around us. How do we handle our anxiety, frustrations, anger and rushed mornings? Do we respond in a way that shows our children that they are important to us and we are here to help them get through the rough times? Do we model them a righteous way of living in God’s way? Acting out of love, patience, grace and mercy? How can we respond in this way when we too are feeling anxious, frustrated and getting upset because we should have been on our way to work by now?

The most important thing you can do for your children and those around you is take time for yourself. Spend time in God’s word each and every morning and again at night before going to sleep. You can take 5 minutes or 50 minutes. Every small moment spent with God can change how you view your struggles. It will help you take on what the world is throwing your way.

Do devotionals with your kids. Family devotionals bring about great conversations! Your kids will start to open up to you and talk to you about things they might not have otherwise mentioned when they see that they have 100% of your attention and you are helping them know God’s love and God’s way of living. It will help them feel more safe and secure knowing that you love them enough to take time out with them in a meaningful, relaxed environment away from the hustle and things that the world is throwing at them.

Don’t miss these moments you have with your children . Each moment of excitement, eager anticipation, anxiety, frustrations, late night laundry, homework, goals being made and accomplished and even those that are missed are times that we have been given with our children to help mold them into God loving beings that can go on to Love, Live and Serve like Jesus.

The time we spend with them matters. The way we react to different situations matters. The time that we spend with God so we can be full of His love and return that love to others, matters. The time we have with our children in our homes is so small compared to the time they spend out in the world on their own.

An insightful read is a book called Don’t Miss It by Reggie Joiner and Kristen Ivy. In this book they point out to us that from the time our children are born until they turn 18 we have less than 1000 weeks with them in our homes.

We won’t always react to each moment in a way that we are proud of and that is ok. The important thing is that we are willing to admit it. When our children see that we too are human and need a Savior in our lives, they will be more willing to accept the Savior into theirs.

As believers in Christ, we are not promised an easy life, but we are promised that God will walk through every struggle or triumph we face. In the opening verses of John chapter 16, Jesus is talking with the disciples and preparing them for the time that is coming when He will no longer be with them; but back in the presence of the Father. Jesus tells of an advocate that He will send to them; and we know this advocate and comforter is the Holy Spirit. John 16:33 says, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” We have the certainty that God is always there to walk us through this world’s troubles; and that He has won.

We too have help from the advocate, the Holy Spirit. When we believe Jesus is our Savior and ask God to be in us, giving up control and trusting in Him, we are given the Holy Spirit to help guide us. We can’t do this alone, but we also don’t need to!

We are praying that during this school year, you will have opportunities to point your kids and others to Christ in times of anxiety and excitement. Our prayer for your family this school year is, “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

If you would like a copy of Reggie Joiner and Kristen Ivy’s book Don’t Miss It we have some available for a suggested donation of $10. If you would like to get a book but are not able to spend $10 that is ok! You can order a book online at friendshipmn.org/book .

College Relationships

Tue, 20 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMT

College Relationships

Are you a student about to head off to college? (Or a parent about to see your baby go off to college?) Do you want to see your faith not just survive in this new stage of life, but thrive? You may ask, what is the most important thing to my faith, and the answer may surprise you…relationships.

In your life there are, and will be, many important relationships that will have a major impact in developing who you are and what you do. As you go through your college years, there are two relationships that you need to prioritize: With Jesus and with fellow followers of Jesus.

One of the top reasons young people “lose” their faith is because their faith was never theirs to begin with. Many young people who grow up in the church will cling to their parent’s faith or assume that they are Christian because they go to church. For those of who this is true, when then leave home, they find that they have no ties and no reason to keep going to church or to pursue Jesus. That is why the most important thing you can do for your faith is to prioritize your relationship with Jesus. This is true regardless of the stage of life you are in; however, now more than ever, you will be asked to assess who you are, what you believe and what you are going to live for.

So, who are you? Who is Jesus to you? When you think of God, what comes to your mind?Start thinking about these questions now and be ready for some version of these questions to come your way this year.

When it comes down to it, if you want a confident answer for who are you, what you believe, and what are you living for , t hen you must prioritize your relationship with Jesus! In Jesus we find who we are, understand what we believe, and know what we live for. In John 14:6 Jesus says, “ I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me .” And a chapter later in John 15:4-5 Jesus says, “ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ” If you want to thrive in your faith, then it starts with your relationship with Jesus; remain in Him, pursue Him, spend time with Him in His word and in prayer.

The second relationship that you need to prioritize while off at school is fellow believers. One of the first things you should do in your first week in a new town is find a local church to get plugged into. Make sure it is a Bible-based church that you can get to regularly, and once you find it, commit. Make it a priority to make it to Sunday morning service, start to meet those who attend there, find a place to serve where you can use your gifts, and if they have them, join a small group or LifeGroup! On top of finding a local church, I would strongly suggest looking into the faith groups that meet on campus to see if there is a Bible study or small group that you can plug into. God created us to be in community, we are not meant to do this on our own, so if you want to see your faith grow, then you need a strong faith community around you! (Look for a community that is trying to live out Colossians 3:12-17, and Philippians 2:1-8 and similar verses.)

If you prioritize these two relationships, then I can guarantee you will see growth in your faith. In college, and for the rest of your life, there will be good days and bad, joys and trials, uncertainty and security. But for those of you who abide in Christ, stay in His Word, and stay connected to a biblical community, you will find that there is always an underlying peace and confidence that comes from our Lord Jesus Christ.

One last relationship that I want to touch on is the relationship with a significant other. Does anyone else find it odd that many of us will go to four or more years of schooling to prepare for a career, and yet most of us spend almost no time preparing ourselves to be a husband or a wife? So, as you get ready for college, one thing I strongly encourage you to do, is to put time into three things:

1. Pray – Start daily/weekly praying for your future spouse. Pray for their character and over them in general. Pray for yourself, that God would grow you into the husband/wife that you’re created to be.

2. Study God’s Word – Read passages like Ephesians 5, and pursue becoming the kind of person who looks like the description of a Godly husband/wife.

3. Keep Jesus First – If Jesus is your priority, then your relationship with a significant other will flourish as you follow Him together.

Too many people in our culture are consumed with the next date, or having a significant other, but I promise you that it is worth the effort to pursue a marriage, not just a date.

We become like those we spend the most time with – so yes, your relationships in college are important! Spend time with Jesus, spend time with those who love Jesus, and pursue a marriage that will have Christ at the center – if you do you will find a faith that thrives in college and beyond.

Purpose, Meaning and Spiritual Gifts

Tue, 13 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Purpose, Meaning and Spiritual Gifts

“Getting in Touch with God’s Plan”

Since the beginning of time, people have been searching for meaning and purpose. Exploring “what is the meaning of life” is innate in humans and that is exactly what God wants us to do. It often starts in early childhood when we demonstrate skills, traits, qualities and giftings that prompt parents or others in our lives to point us in a particular direction toward a career or hobby. None of this is random or accidental. Our Creator knows precisely how He desires to equip us, and He creates us accordingly.

As followers of Jesus, we should seek His wisdom in discerning what He has given us to use specifically for His glory and His purposes rather than our own. Scripture is rich in the ways God defines spiritual gifts and how our Heavenly Father desires we use them:

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:

1 Peter 4:10

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.

1 Corinthians 12:4-6

The key distinction between talents and genuine spiritual giftings lies in how closely our use of such gifts are aligned to God’s calling and if our gifts are actually used to glorify Him. Super-talented people are generally easy to recognize, especially in sports, entertainment, academia and the sciences. These talents are often genetically granted among believers and non-believers but are not necessarily acknowledged as coming from Him or used for His purposes. Gifts appear to flow naturally out of some people with an effortlessness that is inspiring. We all know people who display mercy or service toward other people on a scale that is so high you can’t miss it. However, we must remember that mercy or service, along with other gifts also characterize many non-believers.

Excellent tools are available for personal assessment of genuine spiritual gifts. These range from straightforward written questionnaires to comprehensive online evaluations. Friendship Church is currently utilizing an online spiritual gifts assessment that shows promise. The written assessment that is a part of every Alpha course has been a popular and useful spiritual gifts indicator and has encouraged thousands of people to begin a journey that allows them to pursue God’s bigger plan for their lives with focus and confidence.

Don’t let busyness, cultural distraction or even spiritual warfare get in the way of the time that should be spent with God. He has a unique purpose intended for your life, and He created you to be in alignment with Him. God has blessed you with spiritual gifts and desires for you to embrace and use them.

I encourage you to take that first step.

There is great joy in serving a God who created us for His purposes and desires eternal fellowship with us!

40th Anniversary Celebration

Tue, 06 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMT

40th Anniversary Celebration

Can you believe that it’s been 40 years since Friendship Church was officially registered in the State of Minnesota? What amazes me more is the amount of ministry that God had done through our church. Over these 40 years, we have seen thousands of lives changed and mine is one of them.

Since I first walked through the doors of the Prior Lake Campus in February of 1987, it was clear that Friendship’s vision was to reach Scott County. My first encounter was with our youth ministry, led by a young man named Pastor Mark Gold. I instantly was intrigued in the message of how one can know God in a personal sense. This fascination led to a life decision to fully follow Jesus and I haven’t looked back.

The eighties laid firm foundations in many ministries that would lead to an unprecedented outreach in Scott County. I remember the hiring of several new pastors that were instrumental in spring-boarding the Gospel message into our local communities. Ones that come to mind are Worship Arts, Children, and Financial Pastors with their abilities. Growth was aggressive and our tagline was “Bible Based – Family Building.” We lived these core values and still do today.

As we transitioned into the nineties, God blessed us with creative ideas that brought about our notorious Bethlehem and Christmas Productions, which made local news. Bethlehem was a well-researched first century rendition bringing people back in time, while the productions were near Broadway quality, evangelistic plays that brought hundreds to professions of faith in Jesus. Many churches began doing the same and even consulted with us.

More and more families came, and we had to add substantial staff members to accommodate the load. In the late nineties, God led us to begin fund raising for a “Second Fishing Pond” in Shakopee, which at that time, was in need of more churches.

I came on staff in February 2003 right after the completion of our Shakopee Campus and we saw continued blessing of the Lord. We had two sites, but the same church. I remember that there were only a few churches doing multi-site ministry in the nation! We ran many programs and saw a lot of marriages improved, youth on fire for God, and care ministry grow to a nationally respected level.

We’ve also experienced hard transitions and the losses that those incur. I’ve seen resilience and God refreshing Friendship through every challenge that we’ve faced. I have come to the conclusion that God has a special place for Friendship Church in our community due to the fact that we are still here and prospering in ministry, while other churches have had to close their doors.

One of reasons I think God has blessed us is because of our non-compromising stand on missions. Throughout the 2000s and into this decade, we’ve added mission trips, missionaries, and expanded our local outreach substantially. We have sister churches in Haiti and the Czech Republic. We have home-grown missionaries that are running cross-cultural ministry. We spend over 10% of our General Funds to missions and God continues to bless.

This blog merely outlines my brief observations of God’s hand on Friendship Church. There are an abundance of stories and inspiring examples that I couldn’t capture. However, if you’re reading this and have this Wednesday evening available (August 7, 2019), we are celebrating our 40 ^th Anniversary at the Prior Lake Campus. We will have tons of memorabilia, photos displayed on all of our monitors, an engaging program and refreshments. I personally invite you. Doors open at 6:00pm!

Prophecy

Tue, 30 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Prophecy

When I was a kid, I grew up in a church that frequently spoke about prophecy. We had prophecy weekends, special prophecy speakers and prophecy studies. The teaching and studies about prophecy always related to the events around the second coming of Jesus and almost always included charts, graphs, specific fulfillment dates and predictions related to obscure images in the book of Revelation. From my experience as a kid, I thought the primary purpose of prophecy was to bring division in the church. Church members argued with the pastor about dates of fulfillment or the meaning of different symbols in prophetic books. Pastors argued with other pastors about whose graphs and charts were the most accurate and whether we should associate with people whose timelines don’t match our own.

It wasn’t until I was an adult reading the New Testament for myself that I realized that God had a more exciting purpose for prophecy than people arguing about dates and charts. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t have opinions about dates and charts but perhaps God has a greater and more unifying plan for the prophecies He has given to us about the return of His Son. In this blog I want to share a couple of ways that prophecy is meant to work in the heart and mind of every believer to help us grow in our relationship with God.

First, God has given us prophecy about Jesus’ second coming to give us hope and encouragement.

1 Thessalonians 4 is a famous prophetic passage about Jesus coming again that states clearly the reason prophetic information like this has been shared with us.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 – But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. ¹⁴ For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁵ For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Why has information about Jesus return been given to the church? It isn’t so that we can argue about dates or get lost in the details. We have been given assurance of Jesus’ return because it produces hope in the future that the world does not have. God intends for us to use this hope in our future to be a constant encouragement to our fellow believers as we struggle through the trials of this world.

Life on this earth is hard. All of us deal with difficult circumstances and pain. Our soul knows that we are broken, and this world is broken, and it longs for something better. Our hope, as believers, is not that Jesus is going to make all of the pain and heartache go away in this life but that He is coming back and will bring us with Him to something that is far better.

Without the hope and encouragement of Jesus’ promised return, life on this planet is brief and meaningless. Famous author and playwright George Bernard Shaw wrote the following about his own life as he approached the end. “The science to which I pinned my faith is bankrupt. Its counsels, which should have established the millennium, led, instead, directly to the suicide of Europe. I believed them once. In their name I helped to destroy the faith of millions of worshippers in the temples of a thousand creeds. And now they look at me and witness the great tragedy of an atheist who has lost his faith in atheism.” (Shaw – Too Good to Be True, 1932) Shaw, like so many without faith in Jesus, looked at his life and said, “What is the point?” He could only look back at his life and experience regret because he did not believe there was any future to look forward to beyond this life.

As followers of Jesus we have ultimate hope and encouragement that comes from the future we have with our Savior when He returns and calls people to His side. This life is hard and full of pain. We all long for something more and something better. The only promise that something better is on the way is that Jesus is alive and is coming back and is calling us to live forever with Him.

If prophecy isn’t producing greater hope and encouragement in our future, then we are using it wrong. God has given us these promises about Jesus’ return so that we will live with ultimate hope amid a deeply broken world.

A second reason that God has given us prophecy about Jesus return is to encourage holy living among His children.

2 Peter 3 addresses the end of our world as we know it. God’s plan includes a new heaven and a new earth and so this earth and all that is a part of it will pass away. How is this information about judgement, destruction and Jesus return meant to impact us?

2 Peter 3:11-13 – Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, ¹² waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! ¹³ But according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

We have been given information about judgement, the end of this world, and Jesus’ return and that information is meant to inspire greater holiness and godliness in our lives. I will need to give an account to my perfectly holy and loving Maker about how I used the life and gifts He has given to me, and the fact that I will stand before Him face to face to give that account inspires me to use this life in love and purity.

2 Peter 3 says that we are looking forward to a new earth in which righteousness dwells. As we look forward to that new, perfectly righteous, existence it motivates us to live in godliness right now as we prepare for our eternal future. As 1 John 3:2-3 puts it, “ Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him , because we shall see Him as He is. ³ And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure.” Prophetic passages like this one promise us that we are going to be made totally and completely like Jesus in our character when we see Him. If this is truly our hope for our future than we get busy purifying ourselves now. Prophecy about the future encourages our current righteousness.

If we are spending time studying prophecy and the primary focus is the superiority of certain dates, charts and graphs to others then we are missing God’s big picture for giving us this information about Jesus’ second coming and the events that surround it. A proper study of prophecy should always produce (1) hope and encouragement and (2) greater holiness in our lives.

I hope you will join us on Sunday, September 22 as Amir Tsarfati comes to grow our hope and encourage our hearts by sharing with us about prophecy related to Jesus’ return and the events that surround it. You can hear Amir in Shakopee and in Prior Lake that day at 9:00 and 10:45am.

Community

Tue, 23 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Community

When I was growing up in south Minneapolis, my family knew everyone living on our block and many near our home. During the summers, we kids played outside all day long and into the night. One of our favorite games was kick the can. As families, we would have picnics with others living on our block. Someone would make homemade ice cream and all the neighbors would come and share the ice cream.

Now because of air conditioners, garage door openers and the internet, we don’t ever see our neighbors. We have lost community.

God has wired us for community. Scripture describes the kind of community Jesus wants us to create:

I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must love also love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. – John 13:34-35 (CSB)

Therefore accept one another, just as the Messiah also accepted you, to the glory of God. – Romans 15:7 (HCSB)

Carry one another’s burdens ; in this way you fulfill the law of Christ. – Galatians 6:2 (HCSB)

And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works. – Hebrews 10:24 (HCSB)

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect. – James 5:16 (CSB)

This is our goal at Friendship Church. We desire to build this type of community in our LifeGroups.

A LifeGroup is a small group of people that meet 2 – 4 times each month in homes, coffee shops or various other locations.

In LifeGroups, we share ourselves, are real in every relationship, get to know others and be known, bring our struggles to light and fulfill what the Scriptures says a community should look like.

There are three key elements to a LifeGroup at Friendship Church: WORD – PRAYER – CARE

WORD: Each LifeGroup is to be studying God’s Word

PRAYER: Praying for one another

CARE: Caring for each other, and serving others together

How each LifeGroup fulfills these key elements and builds community will be different. As they build community they might go camping, go bowling, play miniature golf, go to a movie, serve at Feed My Starving Children, volunteer at Second Harvest or call on someone who is in the hospital or at home. The list is endless.

How are you at doing community?

Do you feel connected to others as God desires?

If not, please call me and I would be happy to help find you a meaningful community through LifeGroups.

Hope and Healing

Tue, 16 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Hope and Healing

Started back in 1991 by John Baker at Saddleback Church in California, Celebrate Recovery has grown to over 30,000 churches and 20 languages! It’s in over 32 countries and in prisons as well. This program/ministry really works. The CR curriculum is based on the actual words of Jesus, is biblically balanced and proven effective in helping people experience freedom from hurts, hang-ups and habits.

When we say, “Celebrate Recovery”, most people think, “I am not an addict, so I don’t need that.” But, CR is really for everyone. Most of us have hurts, hang-ups or habits of some sort such as pride, low self-esteem, dysfunctional family issues or codependency. Some people are dealing with sexual abuse in their past or some physical abuse they have experienced. Some are dealing with anger or a gambling addiction, while others are working through some serious grief. Some are tired of the alcohol or pornography addiction, so they seek help from the family of Celebrate Recovery. As we heal from the things of our past or things we are currently dealing with, we are able to help others move on in life and get free from their struggles as well.

We call ourselves “your forever family.” A life of recovery is hard work and we are not made to do it alone. Being around others who are open and transparent in a confidential setting is a wonderful thing. Knowing that you are not alone is so helpful in the recovery process.

Our night starts with an amazing dinner at 6:00pm at the Shakopee Campus. Around 6:30pm we spend some time worshiping together. We boldly proclaim Jesus as our higher power and we love to worship together. He is truly where our help comes from! After that we have either a testimony or a teaching from a proven curriculum. Both are incredible and hopeful. At 7:30pm we break into small groups of men and small groups of women. Things that are shared in this group setting are confidential and non-judgmental. Sharing your struggles with others and hearing from others is a powerful thing.

As I was dealing with the repressed memories of some sexual abuse from my past, I found a CR family that cared about me and helped me through one of the most difficult times of my life. It was not easy. I found others who had been through similar situations and they could actually talk about it! That was incredible to me. It filled me with hope – that I could move out of the darkest time of my life – into a more beautiful time than I could imagine. I finally had HOPE! I did the hard work of recovery. Between Jesus, my CR family, my therapist and my amazing wife, I found hope and healing. God used some wonderful people to bring me back to a hope-filled life.

Romans 8:28 says “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, those who are called according to His purpose.”

Since that time of healing, I have had the privilege of helping others who have experienced similar past hurts. And to be able to talk about it is so helpful. These people go through the program and they get healing and then they help others. And on and on it goes.

So, what is your struggle? What is your pain? What is your hurt, hang-up or habit? Friends, there is hope! There is help! There is a forever family waiting for you at Celebrate Recovery. Monday nights from 6:00-8:00pm at the Shakopee Campus. We would love to see you there!

Finances, Generosity and Spiritual Growth

Tue, 09 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Finances, Generosity and Spiritual Growth

The subjects of money and finance seem at times all-consuming in the way they occupy our attention. Culture and the media celebrate wealth and accumulation and often associate it with intelligence, physical attractiveness and creativity. We cannot make it through the day without being bombarded with advice on personal finance, investments, the most favorable cash-back credit cards on the market and plenty of dubious and entrapping choices like reverse mortgages or the lottery. We live in an economy that is both global and digital, offering countless ways to create, enhance and preserve wealth. The calls for us to borrow and consume are persistent and deafening. These messages create confusion in our lives.

Marriages have failed due to not enough money or too much money. Families have been divided ideologically, emotionally and spiritually over the handling of money. The discussion of wealth is not new. Nine hundred years before Christ’s birth, the great King Solomon had a thing or two to say about the invasive and destructive power of wealth and lives that were dedicated to wealth-building. Salt – not cybercurrency – was the currency of choice in that period, and barter was a big part of the daily lives of people. But in most other respects, the lure of money was no different than it is today.

As believers, what posture should we take with money?

If we genuinely believe scripture is God-breathed, we should take note of what Jesus says as money is mentioned more than 800 times in God’s Word. Clearly, it is important to have a healthy, Christ-like view of money, rather than a sinful view.

The historical framework on tithing is important to understand, as early Jewish law was hard-edged and precise on the subject. The very word “tithe” was rigid and synonymous with words like tax, burden or duty. There was the customary tithe of ten percent. Then, there was also the tithe for the Levites, widows and orphans every three years. And finally, there was the tithe to support the sacred meal. It was this preoccupation by the Pharisees and scribes with the various mandates of tithing that Jesus rebuked, because it missed the bigger picture of freely giving to demonstrate care and compassion for others in need and to promote the spread of the Gospel message. Matthew 23:23 speaks squarely to Jews: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.

Giving should reflect our free choice to give our first and our best, and to give it with cheerfulness. The path that believers take along the way to Biblical generosity can have many turns and roadblocks. Generosity and giving are not necessarily intuitive for all people. We have probably heard phrases like: “It’s all God’s money.” or “You can’t out-give God.” Yes, those statements convey the truth of Scripture. However, the concept of sacrificial giving and the act of writing the check may collide in the face of harsh financial shortages or other life events.

2 Corinthians 9:7-8 says “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.’ And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need, and plenty left over to share with others.”

So how do we get there?

Prayer: Growth toward Biblical generosity for some people will follow growth in their prayer life. Talk to God and seek His guidance.

Relationship: Growth in generosity may follow a path toward experiencing a deeper relationship with Jesus – worship that is intimate and focused, and free from distraction.

Trust: The journey may become one of passing over spiritual or emotional thresholds like fear or anxiety, that allow us to move forward as we learn to trust the provision of our Creator.

None of us have fully arrived, nor will our gifts come close to the love He has lavished upon us. At some point, we desire that our lives will reflect Biblical generosity that may be characterized as not only cheerful, but as full of thanksgiving, praise and peace.

Explore the rich and diverse perspectives on Biblical giving found in God’s Word. Listed below is just a small sampling. But most of all, trust Him on this exciting journey!

Luke 6:38; Romans 12:12-13; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4; 1 Timothy 6:17-19; Hebrews 13:16; James 2:15-17; 1 Timothy 5:17-18 Acce

The Fourth of July

Tue, 02 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMT

The Fourth of July

Freedom!

Is that the first thought that comes to your mind when you think of the Fourth of July? Or do you think of a day off, fun with family, grilling or travel? There is great significance in The Fourth of July – it’s about independence from the British Crown, or in other words, freedom.

On July 4, 1776, the 13 colonies claimed their independence from England, an event which eventually led to the formation of the United States.

Conflict between the colonies and England was already a year old when the colonies convened a Continental Congress in Philadelphia in the summer of 1776. In a June 7 session in the Pennsylvania State House (later Independence Hall), Richard Henry Lee of Virginia presented a resolution with the famous words: “Resolved: That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.”

Lee’s words were the impetus for the drafting of a formal Declaration of Independence, although the resolution was not followed up on immediately. On June 11, consideration of the resolution was postponed by a vote of seven colonies to five, with New York abstaining. However, a Committee of Five was appointed to draft a statement presenting to the world the colonies’ case for independence.

Members of the Committee included John Adams of Massachusetts; Roger Sherman of Connecticut; Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania; Robert R. Livingston of New York; and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia. The task of drafting the actual document fell on Jefferson.

On July 1, 1776, the Continental Congress reconvened, and on the following day, the Lee Resolution for independence was adopted by 12 of the 13 colonies, New York not voting.

Discussions of Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence resulted in some minor changes, but the spirit of the document was unchanged. The process of revision continued through all of July 3 and into the late afternoon of July 4, when the Declaration was officially adopted. Of the 13 colonies, nine voted in favor of the Declaration, two — Pennsylvania and South Carolina — voted No, Delaware was undecided and New York abstained.

John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, signed the Declaration of Independence. It is said that John Hancock signed his name “with a great flourish” so England’s “King George can read that without spectacles!”

But why would our forefathers want to be free from the Crown? England had tons of resources to start up the new land, it had policies and procedures, a State Church, infrastructure and so much more. Why reject all that and choose to forge a new country that was independent? Also, you can see that not every colony was in agreement. So what drove them? In a word, freedom.

Gratitude

As a pastor and military member, I do a lot of reflection on what my fellow servicemembers have sacrificed for our freedom. Have you considered that true freedom costs blood? Someone died to give you the privilege to speak your mind without penalties, to possess your own faith in God instead of a mandatory allegiance to a State Church, the right to bear arms, and many other freedoms that are unique , in comparison to many countries of the world.

Imagine living in a country where you couldn’t hold to your faith convictions? Imagine not having racial equality. Imagine not being able to travel freely, get loans for your life goals, pay low taxes, say and write what you think; all without the government monitoring you. Welcome to the Unites States of America!

This year, as you celebrate the Fourth of July, consider observing it with appreciation for all the privileges we have in comparison to the other countries of the world…to observe it with gratitude.

Quoted resource: https://www.military.com/independence-day/history-of-independence-day.html

On This Rock

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMT

On This Rock

My husband and I were privileged to be part of the group that went to Israel in January on a trip led by Pastor Mike Golay. The trip provided new context to many of the Bible passages we have read over the years.

We traveled to Caesarea Philippi in Northern Israel, a place full of nuances in Jesus’ teaching. It’s where Jesus foretells the coming clash of good versus evil and the victory that He will achieve through His church in Matthew 16:13-23 and Mark 8:27-30. But first, the history of Caesarea Philippi.

In Israel’s earliest history, this was the land of Canaan, the land God promised to the Israelites as their inheritance, a land flowing with milk and honey. The area around Caesarea Philippi was part of the Israelite tribe of Naphtali’s inheritance, who never fully drove out the Canaanites as God had commanded. The Israelites were a shepherding people, the land of Canaan was a farming area. Is this part of the reason Israel soon began following the Canaanite gods of Baal and Asherah, believed to be fertility gods?

The Canaanites believed that Baal was the god of the sea, storms and death, and Asherah the god of fertility, the combination of which was thought to be of value to a farming community. The pagan worship practices tragically included child sacrifice and religious prostitution.

When the Greeks conquered the land, Baal and Asherah were replaced by Greek gods (Zeus, Artemis and Aphrodite), and others were added. Hades was the Greek god of the underworld, or death, and Pan, half man and half goat, was the god of shepherds, flocks and rural areas, who lived in caves and was said to play a reed flute. He was known to make scary noises in the forests and incite fear, and the word “panic” is derived from this god.

When the Greeks first settled the area known in Jesus’ day as Caesarea Philippi, they named it Panias after Pan. When the Romans later conquered the area, they adopted the Greek god Pan and the associated rituals, even building a temple there.

Caesarea Philippi is located at the base of a cliff near Mount Hermon, where underground springs make up one of the major sources that form the Jordan River in the north. In ancient times, the spring came out from the mouth of the Panias cave, and the pool in the cave was so deep that a cord dropped in could never find the bottom. This was believed to be a dwelling place of the gods, specifically Pan, and pagans saw water as a symbol of the underworld and believed their gods lived in the underworld during the winter, traveled there through caves, and that it was literally the gate to the underworld (hades or hell). This area, though within the borders of ancient biblical Israel, was predominantly occupied by Gentiles with a history of pagan worship. God-fearing Jews avoided the area.

Imagine the disciples’ surprise, then, when Jesus took them right into the heart of this pagan community! Matthew 16 records that in this setting, Jesus asks the disciples who they believe He is, and Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16) Jesus tells Simon, as spokesman for the disciples, that he is now called Peter (rock) and declares that He will build his church on this rock, and the gates of hell (death) will NOT prevail against it. He also gives Peter (and the entire church in Matthew 18:18) the keys to the kingdom of heaven, which open the door of the kingdom to those who respond in faith to the gospel message.

There is much symbolism in Jesus choosing this location to reveal Himself as the Messiah. The “rock” of this location includes the cliff where the cave is located with the deep pool which was known as “the gates of hell” (death), the declaration of the truth of who Jesus is was made by Peter (rock), and the statement itself represents the rock of the Word of God. Jesus will overcome and build his church on all three “rocks.” Jesus charges his disciples with spreading the message of truth and salvation not only to Jews, but to the Gentiles at the ends of the earth.

Today, Caesarea Philippi is the Banias Nature Reserve, with trails for hiking and ruins of the ancient Greek and Roman temples to the false gods, including five niches carved out of the cliff that are the remains of a shrine built by the Greeks for Pan. The cave is there, but the spring water no longer flows from its mouth due to earthquakes that moved it to the foot of the natural terrace.

Viewing this area as a tourist brings conflicting thoughts and emotions. Such an evil place with a dark history is definitely sobering, but saturating it with light brings deep meaning and understanding of the ultimate victory. The transfiguration of Jesus, which occurred within days of this visit to Caesarea Philippi, likely occurred on Mount Hermon towering above the “rock” of this place.

Jesus’ word is true. This physical rock has been overcome, Jesus has overcome death and the church is spreading to all corners of the world. Amen.

Hope

Tue, 18 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Hope

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon in May. The year was 2006. I was at a women’s retreat in the southeastern part of Minnesota. The focus of the retreat was spiritual, physical and mental health. The presenter was talking about depression and suicide.

There was a knock on the meeting room door and someone got up to see who was there. They came back and got me. I walked out of the room and into the kitchen and there stood my two sons. I saw the looks on their faces and their body language. Questions raced through my mind. Why are they here? What happened? My husband is out of town, did something happen to him? What could possibly be going on?

And then I heard one of them say Molly. And I knew. I don’t know what else they said. But I knew. Molly was dead. My sister was gone. Her battle with depression was over. Molly had ended her life.

Over the days, weeks and months ahead, we grieved. We wept. We were devastated. We were hurting and broken. How do we make sense of this? Where were the answers to our questions? How do we go on? What could we have done? What could we have said? The what ifs were endless.

At the same time, there was something else happening within us. There was hope.

We all need hope.

We had hope that Molly was healed and with Jesus. We had hope that we would see her again. We had hope that in her death, others would come to faith in Jesus. We had hope that God in His mercy would comfort us. We had hope that God would bring beauty out of the ashes. We had hope that he would give us peace. We had hope that when we were weak, He would be our strength.

So, what is hope?

One type of hope could be called “wishful thinking.” They are desires in our lives that we want. Maybe they can happen. I hope I win the lottery. I hope I get a pony for Christmas. I hope I get the promotion. I hope she likes me. I hope the Vikings win the Super Bowl. We hope for many things in this life.

The other type of hope is grounded in our faith in Jesus. It is based on the promises God has given to us in His Word. And as we place our hope in Him and His promises, we see our faith grow. As our faith grows, we have even more hope. We experienced this type of hope.

Over the years:

We still have hope that Molly is healed and that we will see her again.

My dad came to faith and died three years later. We have hope that we will see him again!

God has and continues to comfort us in our loss.

God brought beauty out of the ashes through some family members starting a suicide support group. We had the opportunity to share, love, minister to and support others in their journey of depression and loss through suicide with our yearly Walk for Hope.

We have experienced the peace that passes understanding.

God has continually strengthened us.

All of the things we hoped for have been and continue to be fulfilled.

“Hope is the expectation of fulfillment that is anchored in God’s promise to meet my need. Hope is not based on my emotional or mental determination. It is rooted in God. Quite simply, we are optimistic because we have faith in who we have placed our hope.” Marilyn Meberg, speaker at Women of Faith

We live in a fallen, broken, hurting world. We all have our own Molly story. But because of Jesus we have hope. I like the way Hebrews 10:23 reads in the Passion translation: “So now we must cling tightly to the hope that lives within us, knowing that God always keeps His promises.”

It’s ok to have hope and wishful thinking for the desires in your life, but it’s most important to have true hope in Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Imitating Dad

Tue, 11 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Imitating Dad

Growing up, my parents would purchase a matching suit, shirt, belt, tie, socks and shoes for my father and me. Every Sunday we would wear our matching clothes, greeting people at church and hand out bulletins. My Dad and I were so proud.

Do have memories of when you were a child and you would dress up in your parent’s clothes? We were imitating our parents.

Ephesians 5:1-2 says “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (ESV)

What does it mean to be “imitators of God”?

The thought could be rendered “you must act as He does” or “you must follow His example.” This would be more than just pretending to dress like God.

We are to share in the love of God. What does that look like?

Believers are to imitate God’s love:

-By acts of compassion and mercy

-Practicing hospitality

-Caring for the poor, orphans and widows

-Showing kindness and forgiveness

-By walking in love, as Christ loved us

Christ gave us the ultimate example to imitate love.

He gave His life for us. He died in our place. He sacrificed His life for our benefit.

How do we begin to live our lives in this fashion?

Our lives must be controlled by the love of God imitated in and through us.

How would you describe the phrase “a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God”?

Christ offered His own life to God as a sacrifice on our behalf. Christ loved us and surrendered His life to be killed for us. In this way His life was pleasing to God.

This is the beginning of how we need to imitate God.

Notice that imitating God’s love for others means avoiding sins such as, immorality, greed and foolish talk. Instead, we are to live a life of goodness, righteousness and truth, allowing the Holy Spirit to control us.

Love means to mutually submit to one another, and to always keep the best interests of other in mind.

Ephesians 6:1-2a says: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother…”

Children are observing their parents, and will imitate them. What do your children learn from what they observe in your life?

Whether or not you have children of your own, you are around children of extended family or friends. You are having a profound influence on children.

Moms, Dads, adults, how are you imitating God in all your relationships? If your children are to imitate your life, what does that look like?

Sweeter than Honey

Tue, 04 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Sweeter than Honey

There are a lot of enjoyable activities to do in the summer – golfing, fishing, gardening, barbequing, going to the cabin… my list includes taking care of bees.

My husband Brian and I are apiarists. That’s a fancy name for beekeepers. We put on gloves, boots and bee suits that cover us from head to toe, and spend time managing the dozen beehives that we have set up on our property.

Here’s how the process works. In the spring, we travel to Stillwater and purchase boxes of bees from a distributor. The boxes come with about 5,000 worker bees and one queen bee.

The queen comes in a special cage of her own with a cork in the end of it. When we put the bees into their hives, we cannot immediately release the queen in with the other bees. The queen bee gives off a pheromone, a special smell that all the other bees are not familiar with yet, but they are learning to recognize it. If she was released too early, the other bees would kill her. What we do is replace the cork with a marshmallow and place her little cage in the hive with the rest of the bees. The bees eat their way through the marshmallow, and by the time they get to her, they totally know the smell of her pheromone and they serve her and her only.

The hive grows to a full capacity of 60,000 bees. The majority of those bees are called worker bees, which are all females. The queen bee is confined to the bottom boxes of the hive and has the job of laying eggs. Lots and lots of eggs, up to 1,500/day! The hive also includes male bees or drones. They are mostly produced in the spring and their job, you guessed it, is to mate with the queen.

The bees spend their days visiting flowers and collecting nectar and pollen. They travel up to three miles from their hive in search of their treasure. When they come back to the hive, in the darkness of the hive boxes, they perform a special “bee dance” that communicates to the other bees where to find good sources of nectar, what direction to fly and how far to go.

As the bees continue their work, we add boxes to the top of the hives, which the bees use to store their honey. They create perfect six-sided waxy hexagons into the pattern of the honeycomb. They deposit the honey inside the comb, beating their wings above the honey to remove water, and when the moisture content in the honey is just right (<17.8%), they seal the honeycomb with wax. We use a special instrument to check the moisture content of the honey. The bees get it right without using a fancy gadget.

After Labor Day, the days get shorter and cooler, and the amount of nectar producing flowers is reduced, it’s time to harvest the honey. The reader’s digest version of this process is that we remove the honey boxes and sweep off the bees into the lower boxes with the queen. We bring the boxes inside, cut off the wax with a hot knife and spin the honeycomb in an extractor. We pour the honey through a couple of filters and then pour it into glass jars, ready for us to enjoy throughout the year. It’s a sticky, delicious process!

The incredible complexity and intricacy of the beehive is something that we can all see and experience, and the remarkable design and organization is truly amazing!

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! – Psalm 119:103

When Psalm 119 was written, over 2,000 years ago, I’m guessing the writer did not know about all the intricacies of the beehive. I think he saw bees go into a hole and knew that delicious honey could be harvested and enjoyed. Since he did not have the option of going to Hy-Vee and easily getting any type of food item he could imagine, the ability to have the delicious, sweet honey available was both a luxury and a delicacy.

The psalmist writes about his love for God’s word. How it gives him wisdom, insight, understanding, purity, freedom from sin, delight, truth, freedom, and hope. That’s quite a list! At one point he compares the sweetness of God’s Word to honey, making the point that as delicious as honey is, God’s Word is sweeter.

I love verses that refer to the created world in order to make a biblical point. My husband and I call these “Visible Verses.” We love them because they help us to experience and remember God’s Word by viewing the things around us. For example, when I am putting a teaspoon of honey in my tea, or spreading some on toast, instead of thinking only about the food item I am about to enjoy, I think of God’s Word and the sweetness of it. How it is truth that brings life and sustenance. How it can guide my steps and strengthen my faith.

If I’m putting honey on a graham cracker for one of my precious grandkids, I can not only give them a delicious treat, but also teach them about how the Bible compares God’s truth to the sweetness of honey.

The next time you enjoy honey, give praise to God for His amazing creation and good gifts! Thank Him for the sweet and saving truth of His Word. Ask Him to help you to grow deeper in your faith as you see truths from scripture come alive in the world around you.

Fun Facts:

Common questions:

Q. Do you get stung?

A. Sometimes. The bees are calm in the spring, when their hives are new and not filled with honey. They are busy gathering pollen and nectar, and don’t mind so much when we mess around near their hive. When it’s fall and they have spent the whole summer making honey, they get quite cranky when we take it away. You can hear it in their angry buzz! And sometimes their little stingers make it through our bee suits. Or if we aren’t careful with our zippers, we can get a bee in our bonnet!

Q. Do you take all the honey from the bees?

A. No. We leave them with enough honey to eat and live on in the winter. We wrap the hive in a thermal blanket before the temperature gets cold. If all goes well they will huddle up in a ball around the queen for the winter, beat their wings to keep her warm, and come back out of the hive in the spring.

Q. Are there other Bible verses that refer to honey?

A. Yes, honey is mentioned in the Bible many times. A nice devotion would be to spend time looking up those verses and pondering the word pictures scripture uses between honey and biblical truth.

Memorial Day Sacrifice

Mon, 27 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Memorial Day Sacrifice

Memorial Day used to be called “Decoration Day.” It originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971.

According to history.com:

On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan, leader of an organization for Northern Civil War veterans, called for a nationwide day of remembrance later that month. “The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land,” he proclaimed. The date of Decoration Day, as he called it, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle.

Memorial Day, as Decoration Day gradually came to be known, originally honored only those lost while fighting in the Civil War. But during World War I the United States found itself embroiled in another major conflict, and the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars.

For decades, Memorial Day continued to be observed on May 30, the date Logan had selected for the first Decoration Day. But in 1968 Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May in order to create a three-day weekend for federal employees; the change went into effect in 1971. The same law also declared Memorial Day a federal holiday.

Memorial Day is observed by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings, participating in ceremonies and holding parades. It also unofficially marks the beginning of the summer season.

It is not unusual to smell bar-b-ques and see families gathered outdoors. Most stores will have distinct sales. From the perspective of a present service member and ministering to numerous veterans, I’m glad that our nation pauses to remember our fallen. Who amongst us doesn’t know someone who has paid the ultimate price in one of our wars?

This season I want to challenge everyone in our church and our community to raise the bar in how we view Memorial Day. Did you ever consider that the discount that you will receive, or the meat that you throw on the grill, should remind us of the very freedom we have to do those things in the first place?

Freedom is a precious commodity that is unique to the United States. Unlike other countries, we are innocent until proven guilty, we are able to speak our minds in the public square without reprisal, we are able to shamelessly hold to our faith without government infringement, we are able to bear arms and pay low taxes.

Our fallen service members’ blood should remind us of the privileges that some of us take for granted every day.

For those of you who remember Warren Rylander, who attended our Prior Lake Campus for many years before he recently passed on to the Lord, you’ll recall that he was the quintessential model of a Christian and Veteran.

On one such occasion, as I was visiting him in his home, I commented to him how wonderful the U.S. Flag looked on his deck. He explained to me that he takes care of his flag and that every evening he takes it down, folds it and then stows it. Every morning he un-stows it, unfolds it and posts it. He did that as long as he could, before his health failed. This has nothing to do with worship or idolatry; but everything to do with respect, honor, and remembrance. Warren was a WWII veteran and served in the Navy Seabees. He captured the true value of freedom and leaves us a clear picture of appreciation for it.

But even more profound was his faith in the Lord Jesus. In a very parallel way, Jesus was the ultimate soldier that waged war in the spiritual realm and gave Himself on the Cross. Through His sacrifice, all are welcome to have their sins forgiven and experience an eternal relationship with God. Spiritual freedom isn’t any more free than national freedom.

As we celebrate Memorial Day this year, let’s pause to remember the fallen, but even more importantly, let’s remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the ultimate giver of freedom. Let’s pause in prayer to recognize these sacrifices before we eat a bar-b-que, shop, or relax. Let’s walk our families through the history of Memorial Day to pass this precious holiday on to the next generation.

May God bless you and yours. Happy Memorial Day.

Pastor Mike Golay

Chaplain, USAFR

Bring Jesus Into Summer

Tue, 21 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Bring Jesus Into Summer

Summers in Minnesota are short; and even shorter this year, as snow fell throughout most of April.

I wonder if the feeling of fleeting, wonderful weather catapults us into a frensy of filling our summer calendars? We try to squeeze in every ounce of sun, fun, family and outdoors we physically can sustain. Families become very strategic in their planning of summer calendars, often starting plans for sports and swimming lessons as soon as the Community Ed booklet is released in March.

Friendship Kids Ministry would like to challenge you to put similar thought and strategy into Loving, Living and Serving Like Jesus all summer long!

How do we put Jesus into the center of everything? We are hoping a few of these ideas will spark some thought and conversation with your family.

Share your “God Sightings” around the dinner/picnic table. How did you see God at work today? Here are bible verses to reflect on:

Jeremiah 29:13
The Lord Spoke to Elijah, 1 Kings 19:9-15
2 Corinthians 5:17

When hiking or biking and you need a rest, stop and read Bible verses that talk about God’s creation:

Genesis 1 & 2
Proverbs 3: 5
Matthew 22:37 or Mark 12:30
Romans 1:20

Skittle Prayers are when you take a skittle and pray accordingly to its color.

Green: Name something you love about your family, then pray for them.
Yellow: Who was your favorite teacher? Pray for all your teachers.
Orange: What do you like best about church? Pray for your pastors.
Purple: What are your favorite things that God has made? Thank God for His creation.
Red: Who do you know that needs help? Pray for them.

Take a Prayer Walk around your neighborhood. Pray for the people you know, and for those living in the houses that you do not yet know.

Galatians 6:2

Take the Family Vacation Serve Challenge. Place each family members name in a hat; and then everyone draws a name. During the vacation; look for ways to share God’s love by serving the person whose name you drew.

Here are examples:

Open a door.
Allow them to choose the next activity or game.
Share a kind word of encouragement.
Ask God to help you find ways to show love.

Take the Serve Your Neighbor Challenge. Place your neighbors’ names in a bowl and draw a name each week. How can you share Jesus by serving their family this week?

Invite them to dinner, bring a meal over.
Provide childcare for them, so the parents can go out on a date.
Help mow the lawn when they are on vacation.
Watch their pets when they are gone.
Have a game night to get to know them better.

Read these Bible verses:

Matthew 28:19
1 Peter 4:10

Join us in sharing where Jesus takes your family and how He uses your family this summer through the Flat Jesus project.

As Christians we are called to place Christ in the center of our lives and spread the gospel everywhere we go. This summer, Friendship would like to challenge you to Love, Live and Serve like Jesus while sharing your adventures with our church family.

Flat Jesus is inspired by a national school project called Flat Stanley, based off the book series written by Jeff Brown. Just as Flat Stanley has helped children with literacy and geography, churches began the Flat Jesus project in 2015 where the goal is to encourage kids and families to keep Christ in the center of their everyday lives.

As you are out and about this summer, take Jesus along for the adventure. Families can have fun taking photos of Flat Jesus at the zoo, camping, play grounds, wherever you and your family go. Then create a fun journal, scrapbook or picture memories that you can share with our church family. Friendship Kids would love for you to share pictures of you with Flat Jesus on our Facebook page by tagging @KidsFMN. Remember, this project is for EVERYONE, not just families with children. Click here to download Flat Jesus.

Pray for the Lord to lead your family in creative ways to share Christ’s love this whole summer. Whether you take a picture of Flat Jesus, or just share a picture and a story, we want to hear how your family was impacted by placing Jesus in the center of your summer!

“And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:20

Mother’s Day through the Generations

Tue, 07 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Mother’s Day through the Generations

When I hear “ Mother’s Day ” I get excited! It’s a time to pause and celebrate mothers everywhere. Look around at all the women you know, and think about the countless hours women have helped, provided, encouraged, served, supported, cared, prayed, etc. for people all around the world. It inspires me!

GENERATIONS

This Mother’s Day, I am reflecting on the generations of mothers that have impacted my life. I reminisce about celebrating with my Grandma in Florida. When she was alive, I called her on Mother’s Day to tell her I loved her. I can still hear her sweet voice in my head and remember all the fun memories we shared when we got to visit. I remember writing a paper in elementary school about how I looked up to her because of her strong faith in God.

I think of celebrating with my mom when I was a kid – making her crafts and breakfast in bed. I am grateful for the faith that my mom helped instill in me and how she was dedicated to sending us to church camp and developing strong faith and community at church. I also appreciate my mother-in-law and what she has taught me about unconditional love and support.

I relive the excitement of when I was married and pregnant with my first child on Mother’s Day and how miraculous it felt to have a human being growing in my body. I reflect on how my kids celebrated in their younger years by making me fancy macaroni necklaces and adorable handprint artwork that I still treasure. Now that they are teenagers, it’s the day I am spoiled by my family. No cooking, no cleaning, no working, no planning, no decision making, nothing. One whole, beautiful day to relax and spend time with my family doing my favorite things. It is very therapeutic for my soul.

I dream about the future of my daughter growing up, getting married and becoming a mother herself one day, and my son finding a wife and starting a family of his own. I see the joy in women around me about their grandkids and great-grandkids and long for that day as well.

I realize for some, this day is not full of generational blessings. It may be a day full of pain and loss. But, it may also be a day where another woman like a teacher, aunt, neighbor, co-worker, etc. that has made an impact on your life can be honored.

REFLECTION

Mother’s Day is also a time that I reflect on the woman described in Proverbs 31, an epilogue known as The Wife of Noble Character. It is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The sayings of King Lemuel, which were taught to him by his mother, depicts a woman after God’s own heart, over a lifetime of motherhood.

Please take a moment to read Proverbs 31:10-31 and appreciate the moms in your life.

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.
She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

When I read this, I soak in the following:

Mothers are priceless, truly a gift from God.

Mothers are confident.

Mothers have the best intentions.

Mothers provide.

Mothers make wise choices.

Mothers are hard workers

Mothers are generous.

Mothers love.

Mothers are strong.

Mothers are good teachers.

Mothers care.

Mothers are loved and appreciated.

Above all, Mothers trust and follow God.

What we do as mothers matters. Motherhood provides a legacy that passes from one generation to another. God has entrusted us with a great calling and Proverbs 31 is a wonderful example of how a woman can be blessed and be a blessing to others. God provides His supernatural power to those who seek Him, so mothers can have joy in the beautiful times and find strength and peace in the messy times.

I am thankful that faith in Jesus Christ has been passed down throughout the generations. It is the greatest blessing that we can share. It reminds me of Paul’s writing:

2 Timothy 1:5 – “ I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”

This Sunday at church, look around at all the amazing women who have impacted so many lives. Smile at them. Hug them. Thank them. Encourage them. God has truly blessed the world through moms and has uniquely gifted them for His greater purpose.

I hope you feel so very loved and celebrated this Mother’s Day!

Love Strangers

Tue, 30 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Love Strangers

The word hospitality invokes many different ideas, thoughts and expectations. As you think about this word what comes to your mind?

Do you have pictures of being invited to your friends’ home where you are met at the door? Is the home sparkling clean? Is it beautiful? Does it look like it could be featured in Pinterest? Were you served a gourmet meal on fine china? Are you given hugs? Did they take your coat and hang it up? Are you offered something to drink? Are you engaged in meaningful conversation? Are you introduced to the other guests? Do your friends attend to your needs? Do you feel welcomed, accepted, and loved? Were you treated with kindness? Were you cared for?

Or do you think along the lines of being greeted by a person inside the doors at Walmart? Or a cashier at Caribou that looks you in the eye and smiles at you. Is it the customer service clerk who pleasantly gives you a refund for a purchase you return?

We have many ideas and examples of hospitality in our everyday lives. Throughout the Bible we find stories of giving and receiving hospitality and we find scripture that commands that as Christ followers we are to show hospitality. So, what does that look like?

Biblical Hospitality

Nancy Leigh Demoss writes, “The word ‘hospitality’ in the New Testament comes from two Greek words. The first word means ‘love’ and the second word means ‘strangers.’ It’s a word that means love of strangers. Does biblical hospitality look like what we imagined above? Maybe. Or is there more? Are there differences?

Showing love to a stranger is different and much more than a sparkling clean, beautiful home with Pinterest looking decorations and a gourmet meal. While there is nothing wrong with any of those things, biblical hospitality involves our heart and our hands. We reach out to people who may be different than us. We take a risk. We step out of our comfort zone. We step away from what is normal and comfortable. This hospitality can happen many places both inside the church or out in the world.

The parable in Luke 10:25-37 is a beautiful example of biblical hospitality. A man is beaten, stripped, robbed and left along the side of the road. A Samaritan man, a total stranger, who would typically not have any contact with the beaten man, stops to help. He truly loves this stranger as he attends to his needs physically. He takes additional time to take him to a place where he can rest and heal. He pays for his care and a place for him to stay. He then promises that he will check back in on him and take care of any additional costs.

Think about the biblical hospitality shown by Boaz to Ruth and Naomi in the book of Ruth. The women, Naomi and her Moabite daughter-in-law Ruth, are returning to Naomi’s homeland of Judah. They have lost their husbands and they have nothing. As Ruth goes out to glean in the fields to provide food for the two ladies, Boaz takes notice. He doesn’t know Ruth, she is a foreigner, but he sees her and provides biblical hospitality as he protects her, makes sure she is able to gather grain, invites her to eat with him, and makes sure that food is provided for Naomi.

Throughout the New Testament, many provided biblical hospitality for Jesus and his disciples in the form of a place to sleep and food to eat, as they traveled to share the gospel.

There are many verses that speak to us today on how we are to provide biblical hospitality. Here are a few for you to look up and consider:

Romans 12:13 – Always be eager to practice hospitality.

Hebrews 13:2 – Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers.

1 Peter 4:8-10 – Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

There are many possibilities for us to show biblical hospitality. Sunday mornings at church is a great place to start practicing biblical hospitality through small steps:

*Greet someone you haven’t yet met. Introduce yourself, get their name. Engage in a short conversation.

*Introduce someone you know to someone else. Help to build connections within the church.

*Follow-up with someone you met recently.

*Thank someone for a job well done. Look around at all those people serving on a Sunday morning. Take time to say thank you for giving of their time, talent, treasure and touch.

*Join a Sunday morning serve team. There are many areas that you can serve that will help you to meet “strangers” and give you the opportunity to love them.

Take a couple of minutes now to ask God to show you and prompt you how to begin showing biblical hospitality both at church and in your daily life.

Imperfect Church – Perfect Savior

Tue, 23 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Imperfect Church – Perfect Savior

As I reflect on a lifetime of church experiences, I am reminded that none of the church buildings, faith communities or people I have connected with have ever been remotely close to perfect.

In my naïve quest to find the perfect church, I witnessed again and again displays of pride, arrogance, discord and even scandal that kept creeping back into the church communities I had been seeking to become a part of. Along the way, I encountered churches that could be characterized as exclusive, legalistic and full of gossip. One faith community was completely overwhelmed with the needs of desperately lonely people, poor families and a disproportionately high level of chronic illnesses. Another church taught only the happy gospel where truth never stood a chance against the forces of grace. Finally, there was one church with a perfect building, the latest in programming and the most prominent of leaders. That church spared nothing in its effort to produce the “absolute experience” with everything it did. However, there was little evidence of the presence of Jesus in those places, or the simple honest expression of genuine worship of Him above everything else. Sin seemed to flourish in all the ways that are contrary to what Jesus taught and demonstrated. More and more frequently, I was questioning, “where is Jesus in all this?”

Last year I was part of a team that had been tasked to develop a new mission statement for Friendship Church. We had already discovered how complex our ministry had become with events and programs. We were exhausting our staff and the faithful in our church family. We were in fact competing with ourselves by trying too hard to become all things to all people. It was time for us to get back to the basic questions of complexity or simplicity with events and programs and seek the best answers about what discipleship should look like. Scripture tells us a great deal about the first century church and the emphasis Jesus placed on relationships. And furthermore, the Gospel message of the early church was simple.

Our team settled on the mission statement of Love , Live and Serve Like Jesus. How utterly simple yet powerful was the concept that committed believers could genuinely understand the essence of Jesus’ relationships, the love He showed and the sacrificial deeds He performed. And that they could follow the practices of Jesus with daily prayer, obedience and intimate connection with the Holy Father. The picture of Christ-likeness as a lifestyle for our church family became clearer.

However, loving, living and serving like Jesus starts with me. I must shed my pride and my sin, and not just do so in church or on Sunday or at work, but in the marketplace and the neighborhood and everywhere else as well. For me to genuinely include Jesus and submit to Him in all that I do requires that I be in touch with Him daily through prayer both individually and corporately. In brokenness to Him, I must accept that, as His rescued child, I am powerless without Him and the sin I am capable of looks no different than the sin of a nonbeliever.

Ministry can and will always be messy at times. Christ-likeness as a lifestyle takes effort. It takes action and means I must love Him more than I love knowing about Him. It means exalting Him above all else and especially exalting Him instead of exalting me. And it means trusting in the absolute power of His Word, even when its truth is hard for me or others around me.

Please join me and others in this wonderful yet imperfect family of Friendship Church, as we pursue expanded relationship with Jesus and conformity to Him. Don’t miss the joy and contentment of seeing Jesus show up in remarkable ways. Because He is indeed the perfect Savior.

What You Didn’t Know About Easter

Tue, 16 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMT

What You Didn’t Know About Easter

As you know, Easter is an annual celebration where Christians around the world gather to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Many of us dress up, hold egg hunts, paint eggs and consume tons of candy. In fact, besides Halloween, Easter season sells the most candy and chocolates of the whole year!

When I grew up, my mother would prepare Easter baskets full of gifts. At that time, I believed that the Easter Bunny showed up while I was sleeping and left these wonderful goodies. It was a season filled with excitement and joy and many of us have similar traditions.

But where did all these traditions come from? What is their connection with Easter and the resurrection of Christ?

What you may not know, and come as a shock to some of you, is that Easter is originally a holiday named after an Anglo-Saxon fertility goddess called “Eostre.” Legend has it that Eostre was worshipped every spring and would promise blessings of fertility to people, animals, crops and land. The pre-Christian continent of Europe counted on this season to bring success for the rest of the year.

However, as the church grew and advanced through the Roman world, people renounced this goddess, and worshipped Jesus instead. Church leaders changed the meaning of the season to celebrate the resurrection and power of Christ over paganism and its practices and Eostre lost the territory to Jesus. You could say that Christ and Christian belief “over wrote” the pagan culture, demonstrating sovereignty over the pagan holiday!

So, what about the Easter Bunny and eggs?

We know that the ancient Europeans viewed bunnies as “enthusiastic procreators” due to their ability to quickly reproduce. In our vernacular language, we use a specific phrase that I can’t publish in this blog to illustrate this point! But the exact origins of the Easter Bunny are unknown.

What we do know is that bunnies were a symbol to Europeans for fertility, new life, and the concept was likely imported to the Americas in the 1700s. Since then, “Peter Cotton Tail” has been an integral part of pop-culture every Easter season.

It may come as no surprise that eggs were also seen as one of the best metaphors of new life, and of course fertility. It is believed that the early practice of painting eggs was a family and community event. When the nations of Europe became believers, they would often paint them red to symbolize the blood of Christ as the true way to new life.

But all of these practices are ultimately irrelevant to the power displayed by Jesus and the Cross for you and me in reality.

While businesses make millions of dollars selling paraphernalia to pop-culture and the Easter trends dominate advertising, we know that there lies at the heart of our faith the unswerving fact that Jesus defeated death, demons, and sin in one weekend in c.30 AD. The impact of this is far reaching.

Consider that not only does the resurrection event write over culture, as we’ve discussed; but it insures our eternity, provides daily transformative power, gives understanding as we read Scripture, and so many other things that we’d run out of ink to print!

Easter is about new hope, life, and fresh starts. But most of all it’s about a person and an event that transformed history, culture, and eternity. No other faith group in the world can produce the similitude of the power of Christ’s Resurrection!

This year make Easter Sunday a priority to meet with God in a supernatural way. Let this year’s Easter message inspire and lead you to a deeper life in Christ.

Palm Sunday

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Palm Sunday

The Sunday, one week before Easter, is often referred to as Palm Sunday. For centuries it has served as a day that the church remembers Jesus’ final entry into Jerusalem before His death and resurrection.

It was just before this entry into Jerusalem that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. John 11:18 teaches us that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead in Bethany, less than two miles outside of Jerusalem. Bethany, like all towns near Jerusalem, would have been overrun with people coming to celebrate Passover. The Jewish historian Josephus estimates that 2.7 million people came to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. Even if this number is exaggerated, Jerusalem and the surrounding towns must have been packed to the gills with people. News of Lazarus’ resurrection spread like wildfire through the hundreds of thousands of people that had come to the region for this most sacred celebration.

According to Mark 11:1, Jesus began to make his way through Jerusalem’s eastern suburbs, Bethpage and Bethany, and stopped at the Mount of Olives. From there he sent two of His disciples to go and get a young donkey. He mounted the donkey and rode toward Jerusalem. As He entered the city a great crowd of people lined the streets. No doubt, there were people standing many rows deep along his projected path and they were holding palm branches and shouting Hosanna as Jesus rode in front of them.

There are important symbols in this account of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem that teach us about Jesus’ purpose for coming to Jerusalem and how we are to approach Him.

The Donkey

Can you imagine what it must have looked like as Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey colt? Donkeys are awkward looking animals with their long pointy ears and stocky bodies and Jesus rode a young small animal where His feet probably dragged on the ground. Jesus intentionally sent His disciples to get this donkey so there must have been a reason that he wanted to ride a donkey into the city.

The donkey signified Jesus’ purpose for coming to Jerusalem. When a king approached a city, he would ride on a horse, a large stallion, if he came to make war. If the king approached the city to make peace he would not ride on a war horse but on a donkey as a sign of his intention to make peace. Five hundred years before Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem the prophet Zechariah prophesied this event when he wrote:

Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!
Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and having salvation,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Zechariah 9:9

Zechariah wrote that Jesus would come gently and for the purpose of salvation and the symbol of His peaceful intention was His riding on a colt.

Jesus came to Jerusalem to make peace between God and sinners by dying on the cross. Romans 5:10 says, “ For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life.” We were God’s enemies because of our sin, but Jesus came and reconciled us by His death so that we can have peace with God. According to Revelation 19:11-16, there will come a day when Jesus comes on His white war horse leading the armies of heaven to vanquish His enemies, but 2000 years ago he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey as a sign that He was there to make peace.

Palm Branches

It has always been perplexing to me that so many people could greet Jesus with praise and adulation as he entered Jerusalem one day and then do nothing or even chant “crucify him” as He was killed a few days later. How did the crowd of tens of thousands turn from praise to hate or indifference so quickly?

Perhaps the answer to that question is in John 12:13 and the items those who came to see Jesus were holding in their hands. John 12:13 says that thousands who came out to honor Jesus carried palm branches as they chanted Hosanna while Jesus passed by.

Why did they bring palm branches out to see Jesus? Why branches at all? Why not branches from another tree? The answer is that palm branches were significant to the Jews and to those among them that wanted a Messiah that would overthrow Rome. The palm branch had been a symbol of Jewish desire to throw off the bonds of their oppressors for over two centuries by the time the crowds brought them out to cheer Jesus.

When Antiochus IV desecrated the Temple (168BC) by setting up an alter to Zeus and sacrificing pigs on the Altar of Incense, it led to a rebellion against the Greek king by the Jews. This revolt was led by the Maccabean family and was successful at driving out the forces of Antiochus that occupied Jerusalem. After the invading armies were driven from the city, the Temple was rededicated, and people brought palm branches to the rededication to celebrate successfully vanquishing the oppressors from their land. Later, in 141BC, when Simon the Maccabee drove Syrian forces out of Jerusalem he was greeted on the streets by great crowds of people singing music and waving palm branches. When the Jews finally did rise up against Rome in 66-70AD they printed coins with palm branches on them as a symbol of their desire to be free from Roman occupation. The palm branch was a symbol of the Jewish people’s desire for a Messiah to lead them to victory over Rome.

As we read these accounts of Jesus’ entry, the palm branches are a reminder of a group of people who wanted Jesus to conform to their understandings of a savior. They wanted a military and political Messiah, like the Maccabees, who would use His miraculous power to drive out the Roman oppressors and restore economic prosperity and circumstantial comfort to their lives. When Jesus refused to do that, instead focusing his last few days on Jewish hypocrisy, the crowds abandoned Him and left Him to be crucified. The palm branch is a reminder of a group of people who were only willing to follow Jesus as long as Jesus conformed to their understandings and helped them gain better circumstances.

Jesus is unwilling to be used by people to realize their dreams. Instead He calls His followers to give up all of their desires and adopt His desires as their own. In Luke 9:24 He says, “ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it .” The follower of Jesus isn’t like the palm branch carrying crowds. We don’t exalt Jesus as long as He accomplishes what we want but abandon Him if He doesn’t. As followers of Jesus we are committed to Jesus and His total rule in our lives in every situation. Does the fact that palm branches were used in misidentifying Jesus’ identity and purpose mean we shouldn’t celebrate Palm Sunday or use palm branches in our worship? No, I don’t think so. We just need to be intentional about our focus. We need to remember Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was to make peace between God and people. We need to remember the lesson of the palm branches that God calls us to complete submission to Jesus, not to submit to Jesus as long as He does what we want. If we choose to wave palm branches, we don’t wave them in solidarity with those along the road 2000 years ago who followed Jesus only if He helped them accomplish what they wanted. If we are going to waive palm branches, we wave them to acknowledge Jesus is the conquering king who has overcome sin and death and given us new life.

We will be talking more about palm branches, what it means to follow Jesus, and how God made that relationship possible on April 14. So join us on Palm Sunday as we dig deeper into the radical love of God that makes relationship with him possible.

The Passover Connection to Good Friday

Tue, 02 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMT

The Passover Connection to Good Friday

For many years at Friendship Church, we have conducted both Good Friday services and Passover Seders. Good Friday services are a great way to usher in the Easter weekend with worship songs, a sermon and a time of reflection with a Communion experience. Good Friday finds its roots on the foundations of the Scriptures when, on a Friday, Jesus endured suffering on the Cross for our sins. Good Friday is also known as “Holy Friday,” “Great Friday,” and “Black Friday.”

Passover Seder is a Jewish holiday that offers an interactive experience focusing on scriptural metaphors of redemption. These metaphors explain what the nation of Israel went through in Egypt when they were slaves, how God redeemed them with miracles, and how God brought them to the Promised Land. A Seder is an excellent way to understand what Jesus was doing at the Last Supper because He was walking his disciples through all the Passover elements, demonstrating that He is the fulfillment.

The word “Seder” is Hebrew for “order” and referred to the “order of service,” or “program,” as Jews celebrated Passover. It is what Jews all over the world would do on Passover eve. They would simply follow an order of items to teach through, while stopping to eat certain items along the way. This gave them a sensory experience to remember the great things God had done on their behalf.

The Seder includes retelling the emancipation from Egypt as slaves in the days of the Pharaohs, a full meal, songs, and interactive food designed for an immersive experience. God commanded Israel to celebrate it as an “everlasting ordinance.” Everything had symbolism, especially the four cups that would be drank throughout the program.

In addition, Passover centralized around the slaying of a lamb, whose blood would provide immunity to God’s judgement of killing the firstborn of a home in the days of Moses. The Israelite household was to put the lamb’s blood on the doorposts of the home and the Spirit of God would “Passover” the home.

In the First Century, when Jesus was conducting His “Last Supper,” or alternately “Last Seder,” He defined the elements of the Seder as fulfilled. Communion was born and became an ordinance to all believers.

Do you know what is behind the communion elements with the biblical metaphors? Have you been through a communion service where everything is clearly explained to give you a full picture of what went into Christ’s sacrifice? If not, we have a special Good Friday service for you!

This Easter season, Good Friday and Passover Eve happen to land on the same day. And I am excited to guide us through a communion experience including elements of the Passover Seder to more deeply grasp the cultural metaphors, leading to an increased knowledge of Scripture and history. Please join us for this unique Good Friday worship at the Shakopee Campus on Friday, April 19 at 7:00pm. friendshipmn.org/easter

Lent – How could we observe it?

Tue, 19 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Lent – How could we observe it?

Hello Friends. I am excited to introduce our first ever Friendship Church Blog. It is the first of many. We will be posting a new blog every week with different topics related to God, the church, daily life and growing in our faith. We trust that these writings will be helpful to you knowing more about Jesus and His Word.

Lent

In this blog I would like to share a little bit about the practice of Lent. Over the last couple of weeks, I have had several people ask me why Friendship Church doesn’t observe Lent. Some of us may not even know what Lent is. I remember being totally confused on the one Wednesday per year when my friends would show up at school with ash on their foreheads. We hear a lot about Lent this time of year so let’s look at this practice a little more closely.

What is Lent and when did it start?

The practice of Lent as we know it began within the Catholic Church in the late 6 ^th century under Pope Gregory the Great. He proclaimed that the 40 days before Easter, starting with Ash Wednesday, would be set aside for the increased practice of prayer, fasting and giving to the poor. As the years passed, this original decree for greater prayer, fasting and giving to the poor was overshadowed by specific rules like fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and abstaining from eating meat on Fridays during Lent.

Why doesn’t Friendship Church observe Lent? The Historical Answer

In the 16 ^th and 17 century, during the Reformation, many church leaders broke away from the Catholic Church and began to put practices in place for their congregations. There were two schools of thought that governed their decisions related to bringing Catholic practices and traditions into their churches. Some of the Reformers, like Martin Luther, believed that their new churches should hang on to as many Catholic traditions as possible and only expunge those practices that directly contradicted Scripture. Since the practice of Lent didn’t directly contradict Scriptural commands, Luther and other like-minded Reformers continued the practice in their churches. Lutheran, Anglican and Orthodox churches continue the practice of Lent to this day. These Protestant churches have different ways of observing Lent than Catholic churches, but it is a part of their annual church calendar.

At the same time, another group of Reformers like John Calvin and Ulrich Zwingli were establishing practices for their own churches that had broken away from the Catholic Church. They adopted a different view than Luther held on how to handle Catholic traditions and practices. While Luther upheld any Catholic tradition and practice that didn’t directly contradict Scripture, Calvin and Zwingli thought it best to throw out all Catholic traditions and practices except what was directly taught in the Scripture. Because Lent didn’t appear in the Scripture, Calvin, Zwingli and other like-minded Reformers didn’t practice it within their churches. Friendship Church, and Protestant denominations like Baptist, Evangelical Free and Assemblies of God churches, draw their lineage back to this set of Reformers that refused to bring any traditions and regulations into their practice unless they saw them directly in Scripture. Thus, no Lent.

Could we observe Lent at Friendship?

We could absolutely observe a time of focused prayer, fasting and giving to the poor to prepare for Easter if we choose to. The word “choose” is key. We will never observe a time of prayer, fasting and special giving because we “have to” but we could do it because we “want to” for the sake of growing in our relationship with Jesus. We will never observe the practice of Lent just for the purpose of completing a ritual. We will never observe Lent as a way of trying to earn favor with God. We will never observe Lent in a way that is based in law and judgement.

While we won’t practice Lent for the sake of ritual tradition, we may someday choose to practice a time of prayer and fasting together as a church for the purpose of drawing closer to God as we approach the Easter season. The practices of prayer, fasting and giving can be very helpful to our growth if they are done for the right reasons (Matthew 6) and practicing these things together as a church family is healthy for the unity of God’s people.

If you choose to individually practice a time of prayer, fasting and giving leading up to Easter, make sure you are doing it for the right reasons. We don’t pray, fast and give to be seen by others, and we don’t do it to earn favor with God. Lenten practice isn’t a second chance to accomplish your New Year’s resolution that went by the wayside in mid-January. If you are going to dedicate a special period of time to prayer, fasting and extra giving, make sure you are doing it to honor God and grow closer to Him. If exalting God and drawing closer to Him is your motive, then these practices will be exciting and life-giving for you!

Pastor Matt Clausen

Friendship Blog

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HAPPY ASH WEDNESDAY!

So… What Is Ash Wednesday?

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Well… What Does This Have to Do With the Season of Love?

In Advent, we waited for Christ’s arrival.

In Lent, we walk with Christ toward His sacrifice.

Advent stirred our hope. Lent invites our surrender.

Advent proclaims, “The Light has come into the world.”

Lent invites us to ask, “What in me still needs to be brought into that Light?”

What in my life needs to be released, surrendered, or repented of so I can better receive and respond to God’s love?

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BE HAPPY

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﻿ HOPE IN THE SEASON

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Outwit.

Outplay.

Outlast.

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HOPE IN THE SEASON