Pastoral Perspective - I have changed, and you can too!

We all welcome change. Well, that is until things start to change. The results of a recent challenge in my office environment reminded me of what happens when we encounter something worth changing. Or in this case, what can happen when our focus is on something other than the change itself. It happened almost unnoticed.

I recently got a big study chair. It is wonderful, except for the fact that it keeps me from getting very close to the left side of my L-shaped desk. It seemed to be in the way, until I realized that I was using the mouse pad on the right side of my keyboard drawer. By moving the mouse pad to the left side of the drawer which lines up with the rest of my desk, I had plenty of room. Problem solved!

It took a little getting used to the change, but it was worth the initial awkwardness. Then I remembered. I am left-handed and should have had my mouse pad on the left all along. For five years I had used my mouse pad on the right because of the desk I was using. In that desk setup, there was no room on the left and there was a pull-out drawer on my right that I had to use. I had gotten so accustomed to that arrangement that when I changed desks I automatically set up with my mouse to the right.

Office layouts may be irrelevant, but consider what happened. I changed, without even realizing it! My focus was on my study, so the inconvenience and clumsiness of the change was greatly lessened. Before long, the change was so complete that the former way of setting up was forgotten.

There is a direct parallel spiritually! 2 Corinthians 5:17 promises us "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

We rejoice in that promise and welcome the change, until things start to change. We are challenged in Romans 12:2 to be "transformed", and it sounds great. But often we find ourselves in the middle of a slow transformation, or a frustration that the "new creature" isn't quite what we thought it should be. Keep your focus on your relationship with God, and the renewing will take place in time!


I can change, and you can too!

Throwing It All Away, By Leonard Woeppel

It takes a special person to stay dedicated to their goal. Most of us are not special people. The failures we encounter in this life are, for the most part, caused by our own laziness or selfishness. If we have the FAITH to seek after Jesus, we should have the faith to finish the race and receive our reward. We fall by the wayside because we lack roots. There is no there, there, to our Christian walk. We were excited at first, but life wore us down and there was no one there to help us get back on our feet.

Events do not always work out the way we want. Many young Christians believe they are immune to the vagaries of life because they are disciples of Jesus. WRONG! Good and BAD things happen to everyone. Friends and family members are going to get sick and die. We all get old. Your car may be stolen. Your house may be broken into. YOUR CHILDREN ARE GOING TO DO STUPID THINGS.

We live in a world of sin and despair. The bad things in life will touch all of us. Our faith gives us the tools and understanding to get past the rough spots. JESUS WILL NOT FORSAKE YOU IN THE TOUGH TIMES. The biggest tool we are given is the Bible. The legacy of knowledge in the Bible is unsurpassed. If we can spend time in Bible study; we will find the answers to all of our life problems are there. The challenge we fail is in our reluctance to use the solutions given to us in the Bible. You may be able to recite chapter and verse from the Bible, but you need to put your knowledge to work. Your actions will always speak louder than your words.

The Great Commission is a call to action. The people the church wants to reach are outside the walls of the sanctuary. It will require all of us to play a part if we are to be successful. Jesus did not preach in one spot. He went to people where they were. We need to be open to the opportunity when it presents itself. A friend’s house, a wedding, a funeral, the hillside, or walking along the shore; Jesus was always ready to make the case. We need to be prepared and ready also.

We have been given a great gift. The truth we received from Jesus needs to be shared. We need to share the ‘LIVING WATER”   we are filled with. Our life will grow stale and sour if we do not share the truth of Jesus Christ. Do not throw away the gift (the pearl of great price) you have been given by Jesus. We make our own opportunities in the life we live. If we live a life of service to others; there will be open ears and hearts to hear the message of everlasting life through Jesus.

Now is the time and this is the place. If not now; when? We have the knowledge and tools. Let’s start using them to serve Jesus. If the church is truly the Bride of Christ; let’s start acting like it!

Spiritual Hoarding- By April Coonfare

Not long ago while visiting a relative in the hospital, I learned about a television series called Hoarders. It was appalling to see people live in such a mess of an environment that is unhealthy and nasty! To label it a little more plainly: they are people that have too much junk. Usually as a result of a tragedy or some deeply-rooted issue, but it’s about to kill them in one form or another.

Their pattern overtakes their homes and causing disease and disaster, their habit of holding on to things excessively is a seemingly unbreakable one. A dangerous situation is unfolding. The mode of their minds is such that, in the beginning, they are in denial, and they refuse to believe that things are as bad as they are. Then as the reality of their situation hits them, the bottom line is the same for each one: A change of mind and heart is imperative. The decision must be made to rip out the old and usher in the new, then trade the old habits for new ones.

I was thinking about this the other day, what about spiritual hoarding?

Many of us hold onto our old nasty habits that we just don’t want to get rid of. Some hold onto their past and can’t let go. Holding onto habits and past things can hinder us and hold us back from going forward in our walk with God. Maybe you have some emotional hoarding.

Has someone in your past hurt you, and even though it doesn’t feel good, it feels very safe to hold on to that unforgiveness? What other emotions do you hold on to? Anger, resentment, or perhaps bitterness? A friend has betrayed your trust. A loved one has hurt you. Your spouse has said some very hurtful things, and you’re still holding on to those. As long as you’re hoarding the past and all its trash it will ultimately pile up a lot of negative emotions and stifle our walk with God.

We need to be able to declutter the lives of our past sins, negative feelings, and emotions. We need to allow Jesus to clean deep within us. We need to repent of our past sins, put them in a black garbage bag and allow Jesus to throw them away.

Jesus died for our sins so we can let go of our “old things” and wipe our slate clean so we can start a new life with Him. Let go of your stinky past trash and take it to God. God didn’t endure the pain on the cross for us to cling on to our sins and negative events that have happened in our previous life. He went through the pain and suffering for us to let go of our “old garbage” and renew ourselves in a new life experience with Him. Allow His Spirit to cleanse you and free you from all the hindering “trash” you have been holding onto. It is time to do spiritual spring cleaning!!

Worthless by, Vicki Leonardson

"Just as the Lord has found great pleasure in causing you to prosper and multiply, the Lord will find pleasure in destroying you. You will be torn from the land you are about to enter and occupy. For the Lord will scatter you among all the nations from one end of the earth to the other. There you will worship foreign gods that neither you nor your ancestors have known, gods made of wood and stone! There among those nations, you will find no peace or place to rest. And the Lord will cause your heart to tremble, your eyesight to fail, and your soul to despair." Deuteronomy 28:63-65

There is much detail in Deuteronomy 28 regarding the destruction of Israel if they chose not to obey God. Unfortunately, they chose not to obey God. 

And so...

"This disaster came upon the people of Israel because they worshiped other gods. They sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them safely out of Egypt and had rescued them from the power of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. They had followed the practices of the pagan nations the Lord had driven from the land ahead of them, as well as the practices the kings of Israel had introduced. The people of Israel had also secretly done many things that were not pleasing to the Lord their God. They built pagan shrines for themselves in all their towns, from the smallest outpost to the largest walled city. They set up sacred pillars and Asherah poles at the top of every hill and under every green tree. They offered sacrifices on all the hilltops, just like the nations the Lord had driven from the land ahead of them. So the people of Israel had done many evil things, arousing the Lord’s anger. Yes, they worshiped idols, despite the Lord’s specific and repeated warnings.

Again and again, the Lord had sent his prophets and seers to warn both Israel and Judah: “Turn from all your evil ways. Obey my commands and decrees—the entire Law that I commanded your ancestors to obey, and that I gave you through my servants the prophets.”

But the Israelites would not listen. They were as stubborn as their ancestors who had refused to believe in the Lord their God. They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors, and they despised all his warnings. They worshiped worthless idols, so they became worthless themselves. They followed the example of the nations around them, disobeying the Lord’s command not to imitate them.

They rejected all the commands of the Lord their God and made two calves from metal. They set up an Asherah pole and worshiped Baal and all the forces of heaven. They even sacrificed their own sons and daughters in the fire. They consulted fortune-tellers and practiced sorcery and sold themselves to evil, arousing the Lord’s anger.

Because the Lord was very angry with Israel, he swept them away from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah remained in the land. But even the people of Judah refused to obey the commands of the Lord their God, for they followed the evil practices that Israel had introduced. The Lord rejected all the descendants of Israel. He punished them by handing them over to their attackers until he had banished Israel from his presence.

For when the Lord tore Israel away from the kingdom of David, they chose Jeroboam son of Nebat as their king. But Jeroboam drew Israel away from following the Lord and made them commit a great sin. And the people of Israel persisted in all the evil ways of Jeroboam. They did not turn from these sins until the Lord finally swept them away from his presence, just as all his prophets had warned. So Israel was exiled from their land to Assyria, where they remain to this day." 2 Kings 17:7-21

God was very specific.

"If you do this, you will be blessed beyond measure."

And He told them exactly how they would be blessed. 

"However, if you do this, you will be destroyed."

And He explained exactly how they would be destroyed.

I'm mystified as to why many folks choose not to serve God. 

"They worshiped worthless idols, so they became worthless themselves." 2 Kings 17:15 

Are you struggling with commitment to God? Are you an unbeliever? 

Why?

1. You simply don't believe.

"And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him."

Hebrews 11:6

2. You are living in delusion, believing a lie.

"And for this cause, God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:" 

2 Thessalonians 2:11

3. You are planning to serve God later in life. You are not ready to leave your current lifestyle which may be against God's word.

"How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone." James 4:14

4. You feel like God has forsaken you. Serving God hasn't worked out very well for you.

"Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8

5. You have been hurt by Christians or family.

"Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.” Luke 17:4

6. God is not drawing you any longer.

"For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me..." 

John 6:44

7. Living the Christian life is simply too hard.

"I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me." 

Romans 7:22-23

8. You are concerned about losing friends and/or family.

"Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close." Psalm 27:10

I'm sure there are more reasons for not serving God.

I can understand why you may feel like the bad sometimes outweighs the good for those who live for God. I agree, living for God can be difficult at times. But, if you are honest with yourself and God, you will find that the end reward, whether good are bad, is real. 

Look to the children of Israel and learn from their mistakes. Look to God for direction. He is waiting for you to lay all your doubts at His feet. Do you feel Him drawing you? I hope so. 

If He decides to cease gently tugging on our hearts, then we will no longer have hope. 

I'm reminded of another scripture. 

"He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.” Matthew 3:12

"Dear Jesus, there are those of us who are half-hearted in our walk with You. You continue to draw us and we continue to hang back. I pray that You will not give up on us! I pray that You will continue to draw us! We are helpless and hopeless without You, dear Jesus. We must continue to follow Your tug on our hearts, lest You stop drawing us. We don't want to become worthless chaff thrown into the fire. Forgive us, oh Lord! Thank You that You hear every prayer and see every tear. In Your precious name, we pray these things, AMEN." 

Four-wheeling For Jesus ~ Leonard Woeppel

 

Living for Jesus can be exciting in unexpected ways. The members of the church have diverse backgrounds and experiences. Church members need to be open to the opportunities that the world provides to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have to prepare ourselves for the unexpected and the dangerous if we are going to fulfill the Great Commission given to the disciples. Some people will knock on the doors of the church and say ’Let us in, but they will not be many. Disciplined missionaries are needed to reach all the rest.

Four-wheelers spend long hours preparing their vehicles and themselves for off-road trips. As Christians and disciples of Jesus Christ, we need to prepare as well. We need financial resources and reserves to sustain us while we are in the field. Four-wheelers often carry extra gas and repair parts when they undertake a difficult trip. As Christians, we need to gain a firm understanding of where we are going and what we should expect to happen. Four-wheel enthusiasts pour-over road and trail maps before they depart on a trip. They want to gain an understanding of the terrain they will encounter. Christians need to acknowledge that when we are missionaries; everything may not work out as we have planned. We need to be prepared for the unexpected. Four wheelers are notorious for being overly prepared. A rainstorm or a late season snowstorm can turn a pleasant drive in the mountains into a nightmare of danger.

Missionaries often encounter unexpected opportunities in their designated field of responsibility. They have to be wise enough and talented enough to recognize and take advantage of those things they encounter. Plans can change on the fly. Opportunities arise at inconvenient times. Are our eyes open to see all that Jesus has made available? Four-wheelers can encounter roads and trails not marked on maps. Short cuts around dangerous obstacles present themselves to those who have their eyes open. If a group of four-wheelers goes on a long multiday trip the journey requires them to find places of rest to restore themselves and repair their vehicles. Missionaries and church leaders need time off to recharge themselves as well. No one should expect a missionary to go on and on and on without rest and recuperation.

When four-wheelers finish a trip into the mountains they are quick to recount their adventures and the beautiful things they saw along the way. As Christians, we need to be prepared to testify about our personal experiences as well. Relevant and truthful information is needed to encourage other Christians to join in the struggle. Many hands make the work of a missionary easier. Personal motivation does not appear like magic. Individuals all want to find fulfillment in their work. Individuals who have been in the field need to inspire and encourage those who seek to serve.  Missionaries are the shock troops of the church. They go where no one has gone before; often into very dangerous places. The Christian experience is unknown and unwanted in large sectors of the world. Missionaries are people called by God to serve as the spear point of the church.

Four wheelers and four-wheel clubs exert power far beyond their numbers. They know what the uncharted regions of the world are like. They have been there and done that many times over.  They have conquered the dangers the rest of us are afraid to face. All Christians need to remember from where they came and where they are going. Personal experiences in the field can help shape and train those who are new to the struggle. Jesus wants all of us to help in the quest to fulfill the Great Commission. Are you prepared to do your part?

LOVE LIFE, LOVE GOD - By Leonard Woeppel

The culture is constantly telling us to love ourselves. Jesus tells us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. If you are thinking of all the times you had to pat yourself on the back because no one else would; you begin to see what Jesus was saying. We all need affirmation. We all need love. When you have done a good job; it is nice to have somebody else appreciate it. The world does not exist because of you but it would be nice sometimes to hear someone else acknowledge that you do exist. We need to feel needed. We need to feel like we are part of something bigger than ourselves. So does everyone else.

If you are kind to someone else; you are not showing weakness; you are showing strength. When you forgive someone else for what they have done; you are showing the world that you will not be a prisoner to someone else’s misbehavior. Anger, resentment, and fear are emotions that do not help you to become a better person. They bind you to your past experiences. They shackle (put in chains) your responses. If you are a Christian you realize that people; by their own actions; are their own worst enemy. Get out of the past and live in the present.

The past cannot be changed. Endlessly reliving your past in your thoughts is a waste of time. All of us have done many things we regret and wish we could do-over. Life does not give anyone a do-over.  Jesus gave each of us an opportunity to wipe the slate of our life clean and start over. Jesus came to earth to atone for our sins. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice. When Jesus dies on the cross He blotted out our past and gave each of us an opportunity to live a new and better life.

If you seek after Jesus with all of your heart and strength you will find him. The Good Life promised by Jesus in the Scriptures is still available today. Jesus has a good plan for our lives that will benefit us in ways we cannot comprehend. The future is a blank slate for us to write our lives on. If we will follow the concepts and commandments set down in the Bible; Jesus will reward us. Jesus has prepared a place for his children in eternity. Heaven is a real place and there is a place for you there.

Our lives are built on our choices. If you look in the mirror you will see the origin of those choices. If your life is an endless struggle to find new and better forms of momentary amusement; you are giving your life into the hands of the devil. Your spirit and your life have a hole in it that can only be filled by Jesus. If you let the devil and sin in you are heading to Hell. We need to grab hold of Jesus and never let go. If we stay the course Jesus will find us blameless at the final Judgement.

When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandments His answer was to tell the questioner to Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. Likewise, He said we should love our neighbors as ourselves. The 10 commandments simply amplify this response. If we are serious about a relationship with Jesus it is about time we started to do as He commanded!

Making Time for God ~ By Leonard Woeppel

When I was a young man I looked forward to my retirement as a time when I would have more free time to do the things I wanted to do. Surprise; it is not that way at all. I enjoy my retirement. I like sleeping in. I enjoy more time with my wife. I enjoy shopping when no one else is in the store. Doctor’s appointments are easier to schedule. There are some things I do not like. My eyesight is getting worse. I have more doctor’s appointments and so does my wife. My dentist has found lots of things that need to be fixed. Time seems to go faster now than when I was young.

I still want to do a lot of things but I find there is actually a lack of desire on my part. I have all the tools I need but actually getting started is another matter. I spend a lot of time thinking about trivial details from my early life. I often play the game of “What would have happened if…?” My mind if filled with apprehension for my wife and family after I am gone. Have I provided for them well enough? I miss my Mom and Dad and brothers. We used to get a lot of Christmas cards and now there are so few. I would think a lot of older people share my concerns.

My basement used to be filled with books. I had almost three thousand at one time. I read most of them but there was a fair share I was looking forward to reading. Got tired of building shelves and arranging books and one day I decided to simplify my life. I gave a lot of books away. Donated some to charity. I donated some more to the nursing home and junior high schools across the city. Some I just threw away. I have about 50 to 60 books now and most of them are different Bibles or other books on biblical subjects. I find I get more enjoyment out of reading the Bible now; than I did a few years ago. I also spend a lot of time writing. It was something I have wanted to do for some time and I have found other people actually enjoy what I write.

I have been getting rid of other distractions in my life as well. I stopped subscribing to all my magazines. I do not go fishing or hunting very often; if at all now. I would rather spend my time helping my wife around the house, or growing a garden, or taking a day trip to some local attraction. This last summer we went back to Lewis and Clark Caverns and Virginia City. Sure been a lot of changes in the last 20 years. I used to drive over 66,000 miles a year because of my job but now I am lucky to drive 6000 miles in a year.

The world is full of distractions. If you need more the devil will help you locate some more. I reached a point where I said enough of this silliness. I arranged an autopay on all my bills except one. I keep finding ways to get rid of the clutter that filled my life. I started looking at my relationships more. There were a lot of people that I knew because of my job. Now that I am retired we really do not have much in common anymore.

Like the Bible says; you have to sort the wheat from the chaff. Get rid of those things that have been keeping you away from what is important in your life. You will enjoy life a lot more. I know I do and suspect other people would also if they spent more time on the things that are important. I enjoy church a lot more now. I will be 68 in a few weeks and have been contemplating my future a lot more. Whatever time I have left I want to spend it in strengthening my relationship with Jesus. When I die and go to Heaven I want to hear Jesus tell me ‘Welcome Home.”

Each of us has to make a choice in our lives. Are we going to live in the world or are we going to grow up and establish and maintain a relationship with Jesus? We are never promised tomorrow. We need to be ready for whatever happens. Jesus created us. Jesus loves us. Jesus came to earth so that his sacrifice could wipe sin from the slate of our lives. The Bible makes it clear that Jesus is the only way into Heaven. Do not allow the world to sell you a pack of lies. Get ready now or death will close the door for you. You have a choice now. Don’t waste it!

Repent with Tears By, Vicki Leonardson

"You have wearied the Lord with your words."

“How have we wearied him?” you ask.

You have wearied him by saying that all who do evil are good in the Lord’s sight, and he is pleased with them. You have wearied him by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”

Malachi 2:17

Maybe you haven't said these words, but I know that I have. 

I have sarcastically said, "Thanks a lot, God!", among other rude phrases.  I'm not proud of that. 

"That is why the Lord says,
“Turn to me now, while there is time.
Give me your hearts.
Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
Don’t tear your clothing in your grief,
but tear your hearts instead.”
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is merciful and compassionate,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
He is eager to relent and not punish." Joel 2:12-13

Honestly, I return to God every morning. I repent every morning. With tears. I must constantly clean out my heart. 

He is merciful and compassionate to me. Always. His love never gives up on me. He rewards me with His sweet presence. How I love Him. 

"Thank You for Your constant love and compassion. Thank You that I return to You every morning, with tears, and You always show up. How I love You, Jesus. AMEN."

Running Away, Again- By, Leonard Woeppel

Running away from your problems will not solve them. Running away makes our problems bigger than they need to be. Fear is not your friend. All of us carry in our minds the flight or fight mechanism. It is part of us from the time of our birth. When we do not override our flight or fight mechanism; we open ourselves to needless consequences. Some scientists say the flight or fight mechanism in our minds is a survival mechanism hardwired into our bodies. We can learn how to defeat this mechanism. Imagine a world where police ran away from criminals. Imagine a world where firefighters did not risk their lives to save ours. Imagine a war where the soldiers on both sides were afraid to fight.

Courage is learning to stand your ground in the face of situations that imperil your life. Why do some families have long time traditions of serving as police or firefighters?  Military service seems to run in a certain family also. What makes these people different? Scripture tells us to avoid living our lives in fear. Jesus feared for his life but accepted HIS fate with joy because it served a higher purpose. It is clear to see that some people recognize a need that is superior to their personal safety or survival. 

Modern society makes fun of those who serve to protect them. Recent attacks on firefighter and police illustrate the fact that a lot of people are acting out of their own self-interest to the detriment of society. Even doctors are not immune to the attacks from people looking for drugs or money to buy drugs. We need to see the root cause (s) of our problems and find better ways of solving them. Again; running away does not help.

Jesus did not believe in living a life of fear. The Bible contains numerous verses mentioning fear. (Isaiah 43: 1-3, Psalm 23, John 14: 27, Joshua 1: 9, Mathew 6:34, Psalm 27:1, Psalm 56: 3-4) As Christians we know the Bible is the truth. Why then should we live a life filled with fear? The heart of the matter is our unwillingness to live out our faith. Faith is the answer to all of our questions. Faith makes us fearless. Faith gives us the strength to do what is right. If we wear the title of Christian with pride; we need to start acting like it.

Cowards never feel safe. Cowards blame others for their own
misbehavior. Life does not come with a guarantee. Bad things happen to good
people. People who live in fear will never achieve greatness. Look at your life
and ask yourself if you have been afraid too much. Mediocrity is the fate for
those who live their lives in fear. The disciples of Jesus lived with the fear
of persecution all of their lives. They persevered and succeeded because they
had faith in the promises of Jesus. The promises of Jesus are still true today
and should inspire us to live a life without fear. Do not run away from life.
Live life with the knowledge that Jesus is on your side and you will be a
better person and a better Christian. The Good Life that Jesus promised to
those who love Him will never be a reality in your life if you live in FEAR..

COVID-19 - What is our church doing?

UPDATED: May 10th 2020

Dear members and friends,

As you may be aware, we have been able to start meeting for service again in accordance with our governor’s reopening plan. While we are thankful and elated to be able to do so, now more than ever it is a high priority to make our church a safe, secure place for you and your family to worship. For at least the next couple of weeks, you will be able to choose between two identical services at 9:30 and 11:00 am. We offer a special invitation for those who are high risk or elderly to join us at the 9:30 service. Our 11:00 am service will be live on Facebook and YouTube. Those in Kindergarten through 11 years old will have the option of staying with their family or being a part of Kids Zone classes during the 11 am service.

Due to the ongoing concern about the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), we are exercising caution in every way we can as we take this seriously. In addition to the safety measures we normally follow, we are taking extra precautions during this time to help keep you and your family safe and healthy.

These measures include the following procedures:
•Wiping down high-traffic areas like door handles after every service.
•Keeping hand-sanitizing stations in bathrooms and at the front door full.
•Keeping the nursery, food, and fellowship areas closed.
•Operating at less than half capacity by having multiple services.
•Sanitizing the sanctuary and bathrooms between services.
•Utilizing alternate methods for giving and other usher duties.
•Altering the sanctuary seating to allow for social distancing.
•Providing face masks for those that would like them for service or elsewhere.


Our team is closely following news from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about best practices to contain the spread of the coronavirus. We’ll continue to update our policies and procedures with the latest information and communicate with you as necessary. Of course, we need your help too.

Here’s what you can do to keep yourself and others safe and healthy:
•Avoid skin contact. While we love giving hugs, handshakes, and high-fives, try giving an elbow-bump, a big smile, or a friendly wave instead.
•If you need to cough or sneeze, cover your mouth with your sleeve or a tissue.
•Wash your hands often in warm water for a minimum of 20 seconds.
•Use hand sanitizer often.
•If you or your family members are experiencing, or have recently experienced, symptoms associated with the flu or the common cold (fever, persistent cough, headache, chills, or unexplained rash), stay home.
•If you need to stay home from church, please watch online. We want everyone to stay connected to what the Lord is doing in our church. Together, we can do our best to make our church a safe place for everyone.

It is my sincere hope and prayer that you and all the members of your family will come through this crisis more prepared to live life to its fullest and more importantly, to be prepared for eternity. May it be true of all of us that we are becoming better equipped to minister and make a difference as we move forward together.

Looking forward to seeing you or hearing from you soon!

Pastor Sermon

The Altar, By Vicki Leonardson

"Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and evening sacrifices. Then in accordance with what is written, they celebrated the Festival of Tabernacles with the required number of burnt offerings prescribed for each day. After that, they presented the regular burnt offerings, the New Moon sacrifices and the sacrifices for all the appointed sacred festivals of the Lord, as well as those brought as freewill offerings to the Lord. On the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, though the foundation of the Lord’s temple had not yet been laid." Ezra 3:3-6

The returning exiles were fearful. The task of rebuilding the Temple was daunting and overwhelming. They dug through the ruins and found the site of the original Altar. They rebuilt the Altar and immediately began offering up morning and evening sacrifices. 

Are you in a spiritual funk? Are you not quite feeling it? Have you allowed the cares of this life to crowd out your joy?

This can happen so quickly. Why? Because we are humans, temporarily stuck on Earth. 

Despite your fear of whatever and whoever has stolen your joy, simply go back to your spiritual roots. The altar where you first found Jesus. Fall down on the altar and offer yourself a living sacrifice to God once again. 

Start with morning and evening prayer. Find a spot where you can devote to your altar of sacrifice. 

Begin with an honest, humble offering of praise and honor to God. Followed by honest and humble repentance. Pray Psalm fifty-one, allowing God's Word to wash you. Speak in tongues, allowing His joy to strengthen you. 

God will honor your morning and evening sacrifices. He will show up and accept your offerings. He loves you. He will lead you, step by step, and prayer by prayer, back into communion with Him.

I've been doing a lot of painting. At times, I feel overwhelmed with the task at hand. Beginning a big job is the hardest part. After plodding along consistently, I start to see the results of my labor.

We complicate things. Rebuilding our life is an overwhelming task. But its totally doable when we simply begin with morning and evening prayer. Start small. Build from there.

"Dear Jesus, please draw all of us back into close communion with you. We all slip into routine, ho-hum prayer at times. Thank You for continuing to draw us. I love you, Jesus. AMEN."

Life Is A Desert, By, Leonard Woeppell

The desert is not a place to get lost. The trails are few and often disappear after a wind or rain storm. Permanent sources of water are few and far between. Tanks of accumulated rainwater can run dry unexpectedly during a long hot summer. Food sources are few and far between in the desert. The lack of water changes the environment for all plants and animals brave enough to live or travel through the desert. If you make a mistake you will die from thirst or starve to death.

A desert filled with oasis. Some of the oasis have water. Sometimes the water is good. Sometimes the water is bad. When the water is bad it may make you sick or it may poison you and you will die. Our struggle is to know the difference. Pools of crystal clear water that looks so inviting are actually filled with poison. Trails are few and often vanish due to environmental problems. Trails are often lined with the bones of the unprepared. You need to have a good map to know where and when to go. The desert is a changing environment and you got to know your stuff when you travel through the desert. It is not a place for the foolhardy or the untrained.

Animals are the desert is unique. Many are poisonous. Many have adapted and need very little or no water. Many are active only a night or just before sunrise or just after dark.  Snakes and other reptiles abound. Many animals of the desert are found nowhere else. Many of the plant's horde water and will only bloom after heavy rain.

The culture we live in today is changing rapidly. The values (roads) of 5, 10 or twenty years ago are no longer valid (useful) for a large portion of society. The morals (climate) of today are getting worse by the minute. The maps are becoming outdated faster than we can change them due to poor morals. No one is really sure about anything.

The Christian stands out in modern society. The followers of Jesus has a good map (the Bible) to follow. Based on Scripture we know where the water holes are; and which ones are poisonous (Filled with sin). The trail is clearly marked by the life of Jesus Christ. The Bible is full of stories (wisdom) that give us real-life examples of people who have walked the trail before us. The rest of the world may be foolhardy but Christians are trail wise and have a fund of practical knowledge (older Christians) to rely on.

We are not alone on our journey because the Holy Spirit is within us and will not forsake us in times of trouble. We may be on a trail that is long and difficult; but we know we can make it if we will follow the concepts and commandment that our guidebook; the Bible; provides. This world is not our home and Heaven and eternity call to us. We will persevere. We will triumph. We will win the race as long as we put our trust and faith in Jesus!

The Hardest Part- By, Leonard Woeppel

Most folks know that the item offered for free really isn’t free. In most cases, a hidden CATCH means you are going to be stuck with something else you really did not want. Everything has a price. It may not be written in bold letters or numbers but the actual cost of so many things is too high when you realize the hidden cost is there as well. A lot of people do not learn this lesson until it is too late and sin has entered into their lives. Scripture tells us that the wages of sin are death. Once you plant the bad seed it is usually too late. The crop is going to grow and will not be stopped by wails of distress.
We tell others who we are by the way we act towards them. Scripture tells us that we should treat others as we wish to be treated. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. It sounds so simple but for many, it is the hardest part of their Christian walk. Do you have a neighbor who allows his dog to use your yard as a toilet? Does your neighbor play his music too loud? Does your neighbor keep his yard cleaned up? It doesn’t take much to get most of us on the warpath. It may be that a little help from you on a Saturday could lead to an opportunity to invite your neighbor to church and church could change their life for the better. Helping out a neighbor can turn a neighbor into a friend.
There is a cost to everything we do. As long as we are spending money or time on ourselves we are happy. Scripture tells us that it is more joyous to give than to receive. Are we closing ourselves off from a lot of joy and happiness because we are too stingy with our time and money? If you want to bless yourself; bless others. You will find more peace of mind if you stop worrying about what you have or what you may lose and allow Jesus to multiply your joy by helping those who really need it.
What is the price for your soul? How much time, money, and effort were expended by others to bring you into a relationship with Jesus? What was the cost to save you from Hell? Was the cost worth it? Stop looking for a free ride in life. All of us have to help pull the cart. We have a mission from Jesus that is not completed. Every opportunity we waste is not only a loss for Jesus; it is a win for Satan. We need to understand that the other side of the coin is always there in every decision/action we take.
What you pile up in life is not as important as what you give away. Riches on earth are not as important as the spiritual riches we store up in Heaven by our efforts. It is an odd fact that a rich person on earth is often the most unhappy person you will know while the poor person is often the happiest person you will encounter. The poor person has to depend on Jesus and has developed a closer relationship as a result.
There is a Hidden cost to all the choices we make. The hardest part is to determine the spiritual cost of our actions to ourselves and others. Jesus can discern the intent of our hearts. How will Jesus judge our behavior? Our actions will always speak louder than our words!!

Pastoral Perspective - Open Doors

Ecclesiastes 9:10   Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

Where is the Lord calling you?
What have you found that you can do?
God has something specific for you to do so He is definitely calling you somewhere.
It may not be for the rest of your life–it might be for just a short season, but He is opening doors today!

Doors with higher technology than those that only open when you get close to them.

Doors like Moses encountered after his best efforts resulted in him fleeing for his life.

Doors like the one Gideon encountered in his hiding place after he went on a rampage for righteousness and turned everyone against him.

How many stories in the Bible and in life begin with somebody wanting to something great for God, and then have their zeal, passion, and efforts seemingly backfire on them?

Peter was preaching the Gospel in Acts 12, but that didn’t keep Herod from locking him up. God knew he was there – and sent an angel to wake him up. There were locked doors that prevented him from walking out, but as he began to walk towards them they all opened.

In Acts 16 - Paul, Silas, and Luke launched their second missionary journey with the noble intention of evangelizing Asia Minor. With this in mind, they headed for the regions of Phrygia and Galatia, only to be forbidden to speak the word “by the Holy Spirit”. Their response was to set their sights on Bithynia, but Luke notes that “the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them” to evangelize there either. They then did what all of us would have done. They kept looking for a place to evangelize, so they set out for Troas. When they got there, Paul indicated that he was uneasy about that locale as well.

The doors kept slamming shut on the best of their intentions.

It seemed that they were repeatedly being shut down.

You can relate!

You have had a desire to do something for the Kingdom of God!

You have made plans and went to work – only to have doors slammed in your face!

You have wondered if you ought to accept what seems to be the obvious: you have missed God’s will and need to retreat.

Closed doors do not always mean that you have missed God’s will!

Shut doors certainly do not mean that God is through with you!

If they did, Paul and company would have never completed their journey, nor would they have seen God’s miraculous hand of provision and anointing upon their lives and ministry!

So what doorknobs are you turning today?

Pastoral Perspective - The Power of the First Step

Stuck. Trapped. In a rut. The new day’s dawn slowly illuminated the same bleak landscape as the day before. All that stood between the two armies was a narrow valley floor, and the ground rose sharply in every direction. Like opposing teams in bleachers on each side of a playing field, the Philistines and the Israelites could clearly see each other. From their hiding places, the men of Saul’s army could tell that every trail and passage out was blocked by the enemy. As the sun rose higher, the contrast was clear. Piercing light glinted off the Philistine weapons on one side as the dull surface of farm implements was visible on the other. No light reflected off the tools the Israelite army used as weapons, and the countenance of each man in the army was even dimmer. But this day would be different.

The writer says the men of Israel were “in a strait”. It was a distressing situation and a literal example of being “between a rock and a hard place”. If the terrain would have been more level, perhaps the enemy would have already annihilated them all. It was much easier to keep the Israelites trapped, as “the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits” (1 Samuel 13:6).

This day would be different because Jonathan took a step towards freedom. One man acted on the belief that God could work on his behalf, and everything changed. One step lined him up with the God that did not need a majority to do the miraculous.

It began as a frustration with present circumstances. This prince and his companion slipped away to the enemy garrison with nothing more than an understanding that God could do what they could not. A great victory was won that day, and it all hinged on a step being taken even though everyone else was hiding. God didn’t need their skills, but He provided victory when they took initiative to align themselves with what He could do.

It’s a spiritual principle that applies to every area of our life. If you want to see improvement, God will help you when you do what you can first. It is not presumptuous to attempt the impossible if it is anchored in a desire to see the hand of God at work. It may seem absurd to think that God’s involvement is contingent on our initial action, but it happened with Jonathan and it still happens today. It matters not if an individual is stuck or fearful, He is looking for someone willing to take a step in the right direction.

God had a great plan for Abram, but the details weren’t revealed until he took the first step.
The journey to the Promised Land involved crossing the Jordan River, but the children of Israel didn’t cross on dry land until after the priests took the first step into the water. Simon Peter had an invitation to walk on water, but first he had to step out of the boat.

There is a time to wait on God, but many times God waits on us. We want the entire journey mapped out in advance, but often the light for our path only illuminates the next step.
Many times we justify our lack of action with faulty thinking.

If God wanted me to stop engaging in this harmful behavior, then He would take away the desire.

If God wanted my marriage to succeed, He would fix it.

If God wanted me to eat healthy, He would close all the fast food restaurants on my drive home.

But God will replace desires when we delight in Him! He will get involved in our relationships when we invest in them. And He will give strength to be an overcomer when we resist what we know is wrong.
To show our faith that He will do the impossible we first show our commitment by doing what is possible.

In the book Great by Choice, author Jim Collins shares the story of two explorers, Amundsen and Scott, who led separate teams on a 1,400-mile expedition race to the South Pole in 1911.  While both teams would be traveling the same distance as each other through extremely harsh weather conditions, each team took an entirely different approach to the journey. Scott’s team would walk as far as possible on the good weather days and then rest up on the bad days to conserve energy. Amundsen’s team adhered to a strict regimen of walking 20 miles every day no matter what the weather. While on good days Amundsen’s team were very capable of walking further, Amundsen was adamant that they walk no more than 20 miles each day to conserve their energy. They wouldn’t walk as far as they could every day, but they would daily try to move forward. Which one succeeded? The team that took consistent action; the team that took a first step every day

It really doesn’t matter what area of life you face challenges. Take that first step today towards improvement and watch for God’s involvement! Don’t wait until the conditions are perfect. God will bolster your efforts when you take the first step in the right direction. Then do it again tomorrow.

Pastoral Perspective - Proof of the Promise

It is incorrect to assume that the Christian journey will become easier the further you travel. Consider your attempts at climbing a mountain or reaching a higher elevation.

Every time I have climbed to Mystic Lake, the last push to the summit was the steepest and the most strenuous part of the journey. According to my “Day Hikes in the Beartooth Mountains” book, it’s a 7-mile roundtrip hike from the West Rosebud Trail with an elevation gain of 1,200 feet. It hasn’t mattered if it was sunny, windy, rainy, or snowing, it still gets harder with every step I take.

On another level, it has been observed that “the more important the work, the more resistance you need to expect to feel.”

In Hebrews 10 the writer was addressing believers who had tasted fear. They were exhausted, their friends and family had been imprisoned or killed, and they were questioning their commitment. They were scared for their lives and families. And we read this encouragement - Hebrews 10:35,36 – Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

There is a time when there is a temptation to throw away what we have put our confidence in, and it is at that time when we need patience.

There comes a time when we have done the will of God and still not received the promise of God!

It’s not just you, and it’s not just now!

For every one of you that has trudged on up over that last steep incline before you rounded the corner and looked down on a mountain lake beach, no one had to tell you it was worth the climb.

For those of you who are currently on in an incline in your faith journey – it’s worth it!

You are almost to the summit and about to reach a whole new level in what you can see, expect, and receive in your walk with God!Stephen referenced a timeless truth we still experience today.
Acts 7:17-19 But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.          

The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.

It had been 400 long years, and all during that time the people of promise grew and multiplied.
But when it was almost time for the promise to be fulfilled, they really began to feel forgotten.
They became slaves whose children were taken from them. Even though things were getting harder, the children of Israel were nearing the time of their departure from Egypt.

If things are getting harder for you it doesn’t mean it’s over.
If you are experiencing greater challenges in your walk with God, you are right on time.
It means you’re getting closer to seeing your promise fulfilled and your prayer answered!The promise is still valid, and the reward is still real!

Pastoral Perspective - God knows where you are and where you are going!

In Isaiah 43:2, God says, “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you pass through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned up. It will not consume you.”

The giant standing before you as a mockery to everything you believe in is a result of the last battle you fought. You brought this on yourself by trying to do the right thing, by attempting to honor God, to worship Him, and to be faithful to His call.

You’re trying to do right; you're the one that loves God and tries to please Him
Engage the lion who threatens your flock, destroy the bear who tries to make off with your lambs, and you get more than just a warm rug and coat; more than the admiration of everyone who gives you the title – lion slayer. You get to face the giant!

In reality, you are more prepared than ever to face the obstacles in your path. But you’re still recovering from the last battle, and would gladly trade the battlefield for the hillside. The loneliness and lack of pressure in the pasture sounds good, and you began to wonder if it is worth it all . . .

Joseph – you believed the dreams God told you, and you did all you could to share them, to explain them, and to act on them. Look where it got you! Betrayed by your brothers, lied about by your boss’s wife, isolated in a jail cell far from home, forgotten by your friends . . . but God knows where you are!

Moses – growing up in the palace, you always remembered that you were not an Egyptian; that God had a plan for you and his people. When you tried to act on God’s promises, you ended up running for your life. Now here you sit in isolation in a barren and desolate land . . . but God knows where you are!

In Psalm 73 we read the confession of the psalmist who says, “…even though God is good, my feet were almost gone out from under me because I saw the wellbeing of the foolish and wicked.”

It wasn’t until he went into the sanctuary of God that it all came into focus.
It wasn’t until he went into the sanctuary of God that he understood their end.
It wasn’t until he got in God’s presence that He was reminded that the pressures of this life are temporary, and that in the end God would never forsake him!

It is disheartening when it seems that all is in vain, but you are in good company -and you will see another day!

Abraham, you were the one who obeyed God and left everything behind when you were 75 years old, but now there is a famine.

Gideon, if you wouldn’t have torn down the altar of false gods everybody wouldn’t be out to get you.

Moses, you wouldn’t be a wanted man in Egypt if you would have just turned your head and let things go on as they had.

Joseph, if you would have just kept your dreams to yourself, your brothers wouldn’t have gotten jealous and sold you into slavery.

Simon Peter, if you wouldn’t have responded to the beckoning call of Jesus, you wouldn’t be wet and cold right now.


You wouldn’t be where you are today if you didn’t have enough confidence in God to cast your cares on Him. He came through, even though it may seem that you got more cares thrown back at you, He’s still the wave walker, and He still speaks peace in the middle of the storms of life!

Your setback is just a setup! God knows where you are, and He will be with you where you are going!

The Trap of Anger

We’ve all done it! We’ve gotten angry. There are a lot of reasons to get angry. You may have not gotten a good grade on your math test and you’re angry at yourself for not studying more. You could be angry because you see someone at your school getting bullied, and you wish that people treated others with more respect. Or perhaps you’ve gotten angry because someone auditioned for the school play and got the part you knew you deserved. Anger can come to us from many different sources.

Anger in itself isn’t necessarily bad. Its your response to anger that can make or break you in life. For example, if you got angry that you didn’t get a good grade on your math test. And let’s say you used that anger to motivate you to study harder for the next test. That response to anger would be good. You channeled your anger into something productive, like studying harder for a test. Sometimes though, your response to anger can be bad. If you allow your anger to consume you you can do things you regret. The story of Cain in Genesis four is a good example of this. Cain got angry with his brother Abel and that anger drove him to ultimately kill Abel. The Lord asked Cain, "Why are you angry? Why does your face look sad? You know that if you do what is right, I will accept you. But if you don’t, sin is ready to attack you. That sin will want to control you, but you must control it."

Cain said to his brother Abel,

"Let’s go out to the field." So they went to the field. Then Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. – Genesis 4:6-8 (ERV)

Cain made a bad decision out of anger. He chose to kill his brother Abel. Now, we know that killing someone is wrong, and most of us aren’t tempted to kill someone, but what do you do when someone gets something you feel is unfair? Do you talk about them behind their back? Give them the silent treatment? Or maybe try to get even with them?

Doing these types of things will not help you in the long run. It might make you feel better in the moment, but trying to get even or not treating someone nice isn’t the right way to respond to anger. When you get angry, you have a choice to make. Will you sin when you get angry and do something you may later regret, or will you channel that anger into something positive in your life. Ephesians 4:26 says it like this:

"When you are angry, don’t let that anger make you sin," and don’t stay angry all day. – Ephesians 4:26

When you get angry, choose to not get even or hurt someone else. Choose instead to channel your anger into something positive.

Taken from our October newsletter, read it here...

Lessons on Growth from Stinky Shoes

There’s not many things that smell worse than stinky shoes. I’m sure you’ve come across a pair that has that odor with the extra kick. Maybe its your brother’s basketball shoes. You know the ones that make you gag a little when you pick them up? It seems like shoes can get stinky pretty easily. Its just the nature of them. You put them on, run around in them for a few days, and they start to accumulate that funky stinky feet odor. But many times, because you wear the shoes all the time, you don’t notice the odor. Its easy to become accustomed to the foot odor and not realize…your feet stink. You know that’s a lot like personal growth. Its easy to become so accustomed to your daily activities, routines and things that we can forget to grow personally. Unless we try to do something beyond what we’ve already mastered, we won’t grow. That principle can apply to lots of areas in our lives. If we don’t push ourselves to grow, we can easily become stinky and not realize it. The Bible says it like this:

All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize- 1 Cor 9:25 (NLT)

To win, you’ve got to be disciplined in training. You’ve got to push yourself beyond where you’re comfortable in natural things and in spiritual things. So decide today that you’re not going to become stinky like your shoes sometimes get. Decide to keep pushing yourself forward in your relationship with God and in your habits and routines. The secret to your failure or your success is found in your daily routines.

Taken from our July newsletter, read it here...

A Tale of Two Fathers

Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it

Proverbs 22:6
 

This is a command of whatever you teach your children, this is what they will be when they grow up.
Your children see and hear everything that you do, even if you don’t think they are. They pay attention to your reactions, your words, and how you live.

In Genesis there are two different stories of two fathers and how each one lived differently than the other. How they led the destiny of their family was dependent on the choices they made.
Let’s take a look at the first father. In Genesis 13 it talks about how Lot moved his tent in the valley toward the evil city, Sodom. Notice he didn’t move into the city, but toward it, as life went on it states in chapter 14 he dwelt in the city. It is not always a quick move, but a progressive movement when allowing things of this world to break your wall of values you once held. In chapter 19 it states two angels went to Sodom to warn Lot to move him and any of his family out of the city before God destroyed it. In verse 14 Lot went to his family and warned them to escape before it was too late, but they laughed at him and took him like he was joking. Lot lost his testimony to his family by the example of how he lived and how he raised them. He wasn’t a righteous man that walked close to God for his family to fear what was really about to happen. So when the time came Lot was able to just escape with his wife and his two unmarried daughters. As you know Lot’s wife couldn’t look away from the past sinful life, she had to turn and look at the city she didn’t want to give up. A pillar of salt is what she was left as. Because of the life Lot lived backslidden and allowing the worldly ways to sway him he lost everything. Jesus even told the Jews “remember Lots wife” it was Lot, the father who led them to this position.

Now let’s turn to the second Father, Noah. Noah was a righteous man, and in Genesis 6:8 it says that Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. In chapter 7 right before the water over flowed the earth the Lord said ““Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.” Because Noah was a faithful man, obedient a good and righteous father, his whole household was saved from destruction. His wife and sons saw how Noah lived and obeyed everything the Lord had told him, even when their neighbors would stop and mock him for building an ark. Noah kept going, and stayed focused on God and what He wanted him to do. He stood strong on what he believed and nothing made him twitch or doubt his beliefs.

Fathers today do make mistakes, but there is a choice to make on what kind of inheritance we want for our children, you can be in the church being a righteous, obedient man or out in the world leading your family  out of church. Planting the seeds in your children are important.

Ask yourself these questions: What things do I allow in my house or allow my children to see or do?Do my kids see me worship God? Do they hear me pray? Do I make God a priority in our lives? Do they see me read the Bible? Do the words that come out of my mouth, words of God?
Remember your children will remember the seeds you plant in their life, and you will see it reflect in their lives.

Taken from our June newsletter, read it here...