Sometimes It's the Little Things

Another missions conference has come and gone. We'll be sharing on Sunday about how tremendous this year's Faith Promise total is, but first I want to tell you about something that is so important when it comes to our daily lives. It's not a big thing, but what a difference it makes! Here it is: Don't ignore the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Let me tell you why.

As we were planning this year's conference we learned that we would have a rare opportunity. Not only would we have a missionary for almost a full week, but we would have both husband and wife here. Alliance missionary couples normally tour separately, but for some reason they would be at our church together before heading their separate ways again.

What should we do? As we prayed and talked about it we came up with some new meetings and ways of doing this year's conference. Then the idea came to mind that we needed to send our missionaries out for a nice private dinner and then put them up in a hotel for the night. As we prayed about it we became convinced that we should "squander" part of this rare opportunity by sending our missionaries away for a day.

When they arrived here, we told them of our plans. They were stunned and amazed that we should do such a thing. They could tell from the number of events that we had planned that it wasn't a case of not wanting them around, instead it was a case of our wanting to bless them. So Thursday afternoon off they went. Harry would return Friday evening, Jane would head to Milaca Friday afternoon.

Here's the thing that made this little gift on our part so wonderful. When Harry arrived back from their "mini-vacation", he told me how wonderful their time had been and that it was the first time that they had a full 24 hours alone with each other since they arrived home from Japan in May. It was a real blessing all made possible because we were willing to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's gentle voice.

How might the Holy Spirit use you to bless others this week? Listen for his still small voice and then obey him. That little thing he asks you to do for someone is probably bigger than you think!

The Christian and the Governement - Part 3

This week we are continuing our study of Romans 13:1-7. So far in our study we have seen that the basic attitude of the Christian toward government should be one of submission. Government is something designed by God to punish evil doers and administer justice. As Christians, we should, as a general principle, submit to its authority. As the text says, "there is no authority except that which God has established."

The next thing we discovered was that the Bible teaches that governing authorities have responsibilities that come from God...and which they will be accountable to God for fulfilling. We discovered that government is to be for the good of the people. It should enact and enforce just and righteous laws. It should be concerned for the poor and powerless in society. In a democracy, Christians have a role to play in assuring that government fulfills its responsibilities.

This week we are going to look at another aspect of the relationship of the Christian to government. The question we are going to be asking is, "If the basic attitude of the Christian to civil authorities is to be one of submission, is there ever a time when the Christian should defy governmental authority?"

An Open Door - Day Eight

During today's worship service missionaries from Kiev shared what God is doing in their lives as they seek to reach others with the love of Christ. These C&MA missionaries have a heart for God and have walked through an open door into the Ukraine. How awesome it is to be a part of the team!

Thank you for taking the plunge this week and making a Faith Promise. Let me remind you of a three things. First, the total amount of our church's Faith Promise has been forwarded on to the National Office to help them plan the missions strategy for the coming year. Second, to give to the Great Commission Fund you simply make a check out to Nashwauk Alliance and put "GCF" in the memo field. We'll forward it on. Alternatively, you can give through the national website. Third, the amount you promised and the fulfilling of that Faith Promise is between you and Jesus. We won't be sending reminders or barrel-chested "collectors" after you. Keeping your Faith Promise should be a fun adventure that you take hand in hand with the Lord.

As Missions Conference ends, let us recommit ourselves to being a vital part of the team that takes the gospel to our neighborhood and to every neighborhood around the world. Let us continually remind ourselves that the greatest thing we can do is nudge someone closer to Jesus. Whether a person has known Jesus a long time or is far from him, they can use gentle encouragement to take a step closer to him. May that encouragement come from us.

An Open Door - Part Seven

Seeking God to discover how he wants us to support missions is a part of being a member of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. It is a recognition of God's call on our lives to take the gospel "to the nations." It is helping people take the life-giving gospel message places that we cannot go.

Most of our lives are not lived with a concern for what is happening "over there." Sometimes that's due to selfish shortsightedness on our part. That's wrong. We need to be concerned about what is happening around the world. As one person put it, "This generation of believers is responsible for this generation of souls all around the world." We dare not lose sight of this fact.

At the same time, we cannot be so focused on "over there" that we lose sight of what is happening around us. If you have truly surrendered your life to Christ and are willing to go wherever he sends you, there is a reason that you are where you are today. He has you strategically placed to reach a certain group of people. All around you, in your current circle of relationships, are people who need to hear the good news of the gospel. They need to hear of the redemptive love of Christ...from you. What "open doors" exist in your world?

Perhaps that single mom desperately needs to know the love and provision of Jesus.
Perhaps your coworker needs help dealing with the anger that is destroying their home.
Perhaps a classmate is struggle to know that they are worthwhile.
Perhaps the successful business person needs to be reminded that in the end you cannot take your stuff with you.

Take a risk! Pray this simple prayer: "Lord Jesus, you have called me to become a fisher of men. I ask that you would teach me today more about what this means. Point out an open door today and give me the courage to walk through it. Amen."

Then get ready...God is looking for people willing to walk through the doors he opens!

An Open Door - Part Six

Over the past several days, you may have found these devotionals to be a bit dramatic in their call to follow Christ. However, this radical call to deny self has always been a requirement of the followers of Christ (Luke 14:25-33). In a society overflowing with luxury and entertainment, the call to total commitment to the cause of Christ is all the more essential, but ever harder to hear amid the din of the pleasure-seeking crowd. The one who responds to the call with reckless abandon will seem odd to those around them (1 Peter 4:4), yet will find that they can stand in the day of trouble and will yield tremendous fruit for the Kingdom of God (Matt. 13:18-23).

Such preparation is absolutely vital when it comes to completing the Great Commission. In order to finish the task, the Lord needs people who are willing to do whatever he tells them to do.

Take some time to present yourself to God for his service today (Romans 12:1-2).

The leadership team here at Nashwauk Alliance believes that one of the ways that God wants to challenge us this year in completing the Great Commission is through the Faith Promise. Making a Faith Promise is a matter of spending time alone with God and asking Him, "What do you want me to give to the Great Commission Fund over the next 12 months?" What's the right amount? The answer to this question needs to come from Him!

A.B. Simpson, founder of the C&MA suggested that as we seek God, we ask three questions:

1. What can I afford to give? (based on our ability to give)
2. What can I sacrifice from my ordinary expenditures? (based on sacrificial giving)
3. What can I trust God to provide in unexpected income (based on faith in God).

Take time today to begin to seek God for the answers to these questions.

An Open Door - Part Five

Most of us would love to have the clear guidance that Paul received in Acts 16:9-10, don't you agree?

But let's look carefully at what happened after Paul and his friends left for Macedonia. Acts 16:11-15 tells us that they arrived in Philippi and presented the gospel to some women who had gathered to pray. One of them, Lydia, responded to the gospel and was baptized. Cool! What a sign that they were "right on" in following God! Look at the blessing!

Some time later, they were going to the place of prayer and they encountered a demon-possessed slave girl so they cast the demon out of her. This made her owners so mad that they took Paul and his friend Silas to court. The authorities severely flogged Paul and Silas (Acts 16:16-23). We tend to read too fast. Here's what Wikipedia says about flogging:

Typically, the one to be punished was stripped naked and bound to a low pillar so that he could bend over it, or chained to an upright pillar so as to be stretched out. Two lictors (some reports indicate scourgings with four or six lictors) alternated blows from the bare shoulders down the body to the soles of the feet. There was no limit to the number of blows inflicted - this was left to the lictors to decide, though they were normally not supposed to kill the victim.

After being flogged, Paul and Silas were taken to a dark and dank cell in the recesses of the Philippian prison. Their feet were locked in stocks as further punishment and to prevent their escape (Acts 16:24). Not cool. Had they somehow missed God?

We know the story, the Lord causes an earthquake which somehow opened every prison door and caused the chains (and stocks?) of every prisoner to fall off. This leads to jailer and his family to get gloriously saved and the missionaries are escorted out of the city (Acts 16:25-40). Cool.

From there, they went to Thessalonica. They led a large number of people to Christ. So many, in fact, that the religious leaders started a riot and turned the city upside down looking for Paul and Silas. After their hosts were hauled before the authorities, Paul and Silas waited for the cover of night before sneaking out of town (Acts 17:1-10). Cool? Not cool?

Imagine this scenario: You've picked up a brochure for a missions trip. Here is the advertisement: "Some people will get saved, but you will be severely flogged, thrown in jail and hunted by an angry mob. Still suffering from the effects of the flogging, you will be forced to run for your life in the middle of the night."

Ask yourself this question: Would you even consider such a trip?

The disciples, who had left everything to follow Christ (Mark 1:14-20) embarked on just such a trip. In fact, they would eventually all be killed for their faith in Jesus. Read Acts 20:23-24 then let me challenge you to truly "leave your nets" and follow him. He wants to radically change the priorities of our life. Is being with Him and bringing others into the Kingdom truly our greatest concern? Or is it our "nets"...our security, comfort and ease?

An Open Door - Part Four

In the taking the gospel to the nations or across the street to our neighbors, the Holy Spirit is absolutely indispensable. To this statement, most Christians would agree. Yet the sad reality is that for many believers the Holy Spirit plays no active role it their conscious experience. This was not true in the early church. The early church knew the power of prayer and their desperate need for the Holy Spirit to empower and direct their efforts.

Take Acts 13:1-4 for example. The believers in Antioch was worshiping the Lord and fasting. While they were doing this the Holy Spirit spoke to them. The Spirit told them to set apart Saul (Paul) and Barnabas for a specific missionary task. There is no indication here that the church was holding a "brainstorming" session or had called in missions experts to give them counsel. No, the Holy Spirit spoke and they obeyed. It was as simple as that.

Or look at Acts 16:1-10. Paul is traveling from town to town strengthening the churches. They are experiencing daily growth. Notice Acts 16:6. They were going to go to the Roman province of Asia, but the Holy Spirit kept them from doing so. Look at that again. Paul, one of the greatest missionaries the church has known, wanted to go to Asia, but the Holy Spirit prevented him from going. Paul knew the work of the Holy Spirit as a living reality in his life.

They kept traveling, and tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. Now here is something new. In verse 7 the Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Jesus. It is important to remember that the Holy Spirit is co-eternal and co-existent with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus.

Let's link these lessons together.

1. Jesus calls us to follow him and he will cause us to be fishers of men.
2. Jesus teaches that if we find ourselves in a position of being unable to meet the needs of others we are to seek God and he will provide what we need to serve others.
3. Jesus teaches that what God will give us is the Holy Spirit. He tells his followers to wait until they the Holy Spirit comes on them before they begin making disciples.
4. The Holy Spirit that leads and empowers the disciples in the book of Acts is nothing less than the Spirit of Jesus.

Therefore, the our task is the same task as the disciples: Follow Jesus and he will make us fishers of men. Only now, instead of following Jesus' physical presence, we follow the Spirit of Jesus...the Holy Spirit. As Paul puts it in Galatians 5:25: "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." We are to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit just as Simon and Andrew followed Jesus.

Again, have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?

An Open Door - Part Three

Yesterday we talked about how inadequate we can feel about reaching others for Christ. Jesus said we would become "fishers of men" yet we can feel like we've never seen water, much less a fishing pole! We discovered that Jesus tells us that we can go to God and that by persistent prayer we can obtain what we need to meet the needs we see around us. Of course, the greatest need people have is to develop a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Let's look again at the passage we looked at yesterday, but continue on until verse 13 (Luke 11:5-13). After telling the story about the friend who had a guest arrive late at night, Jesus assures us that if we ask, seek and knock we will receive what we need.

But Jesus knows our hearts. He knows that as we contemplate this story our experience with sinful human nature tells us that we need to be wary. Having awakened our friend in the middle of the night pleading for bread, just what might be in the sack that he handed us? Could the bread be stale and moldy? Might the apples have worms in them? What might we put in the sack in similar circumstances?

Jesus assures us, "If your child asks for a fish, would you give him a snake? If he asks for an egg, would you give them a scorpion?" Of course not. His conclusion: If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Isn't it fascinating that the Lord, after talking about a man with nothing to set in front of his guests, tells a story about how the Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? He later goes on to tell his disciples that "they shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you shall be witness..." (Acts 1:8).

The Holy Spirit is absolutely vital in accomplishing the Great Commission. Unfortunately, there are many Christians who know nothing of the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives. The Holy Spirit is at best an abstract theological concept rather than a living reality in their lives. To the question "Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?" they must honestly answer "No." (Acts 19:1-7).

What about you? Have you received the Holy Spirit? This filling of the Spirit was so important that Jesus told his disciples not go "fishing for men" until they had received it (Acts 1:4-5). Do you know the reality of the Spirit in your life? Can you honestly say that you are filled with the Holy Spirit...that you are under his control and influence?

If not, then ask, seek and knock until the door has been open and you receive what you need to be able to spread before your guests what they truly need.

An Open Door - Day Two

As this week begins, you may wonder where this is going to lead you. As you look at the people you know, some of them seem far from God and reaching them for Christ seems impossible. As you ponder the Great Commission and the responsibility of taking the gospel to the difficult places like Japan or other difficult countreis, the despair seems to grow within you. How is it possible to accomplish such a task?

Let's take a look at Luke 11:5-8. Jesus tells the story of a man whose friend is knocking on the door in the middle of the night, asking for bread. The man is inconvienced, even irritated, by the request. Yet because of the the friends's boldness, the man gets up and gives him what he needs.

Notice three things about the story. First, the friend was not asking for himself. He had unexpected late-arriving guests who needed to be fed. This was not a selfish request. It was the request of a friend desperate to meet the needs of others. He was not asking for himself. He was simply in the position of desiring to help others and lacked the means to do so.

Second, notice that the friend instinctively knew the place to get what he needed. He knew, that though it was the middle of the night, if he asked he would receive what he needed from his friend. He knew that his friend would have abundant resources to meet the need.

Third, he wouldn't take no for an answer. The Bible says, "though he wouldn't get up because he is his friend, because of his boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs." The Greek word translated "boldness" carries with it the idea of shamelessness or audacity. He came at a time when everyone was in bed and he kept pounding on the door until he received what he needed to meet the needs of his guests.

Does this sound familiar? Surrounded by people needing the bread of life, we wonder "how can I possibly meet these needs? I have nothing to set before them!" We have a friend who has more than adequate resources. What we really need is the boldness and audacity to pound on the door until it opens and we receive what is necessary to meet the needs.

What conclusion did Jesus draw from this parable?

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks the door will be opened."

Are you asking? Will you ask, seek and knock until you have received what you need to meet the needs of others?

An Open Door - Day One

The theme of this year's missions conference is the Open Door. This series of blog entries will help you take to heart the message of the conference and put it to practice in your own life.

Let's start by looking at Mark 1:16-17. It is a familiar story. Simon and Andrew are fishing, using large nets in the Sea of Galilee. Jesus, walking along the shore, beckons them and calls, "Come on! Come follow me...I'll make you fishers of men!" The Bible adds, "at once, they left their nets and followed him."

Jesus is calling again to day. He's beckoning you to join him in the adventure of a lifetime.

I want you to ponder a several things. First, Jesus was interested in a relationship with them. He is interested in a relationship with you. He is inviting you to join him. He knows all about you: your gifts, your fears, your sins and your situation. Still, he calls you into a relationship with him. This isn't about joining a church, or becoming more "religious", whatever that means. Its about accepting an invitation to "do life" with Jesus.

Second, Jesus promises that something else is going to happen: they will become fishers of men. Jesus is going to change their priorities. No longer will they be working to bring fish into the boat. Instead, they will be working to bring people into the Kingdom of God. Jesus is going to take their relatively mundane lives and transform them into something powerful. Their lives will have an eternal impact. Jesus wants to do the same thing in our lives.

Finally, Simon and Andrew were forced to make a decision. They had to decide whether they would follow Jesus or not. I suppose that it would have been possible for Jesus to sit down with them and spend some time letting them get to know him and talking to them about how this whole "fishers of men" thing was going to work. Or perhaps the view of some scholars that Simon and Andrew had met and talked to Jesus before the encounter at the Sea of Galilee is right. In that case, they already knew something about Jesus and fishing for men. In the same way, Jesus might allow us to get to know him and to learn something about "fishing for men" by going to church, attending Bible studies, or reading this blog article.

But there is a time when Jesus will start walking (Mark 1:19, 21). Then we will be faced, like Simon and Andrew were, with the decision of whether we are going to follow him or not.

The time will come when we have to decide whether this "Jesus thing" is actually going to affect how we live. Will we leave our nets to follow him? Where is he going? If we follow him, where will he lead us? Jesus didn't tell them. And he doesn't tell us. He simply promises to be we with us as we become fishers of men...fishing among all the nations of the earth (Matt. 28:29-20).

Are you willing to follow him?

I'd Rather Cancel Christmas...

Each fall as the Missions Conference rolls around I stand in front of the church say something like, "I enjoy the missions conference so much that if I had to choose between Christmas and the missions conference, it wouldn't even be close. The missions conference would win by a mile." I've never really explained why that is so. It goes way beyond the over-commericalization of Christmas.

At its best, Christmas is a time to reflect on one of the most incredible events in all of human history. The fact that God became a man and made his dwelling among us is worth contemplating and celebrating. The incarnation is one of the most central parts of the Christian faith. Without the incarnation there would be no cross, no resurrection, no forgiveness of sin, no reconciliation with the Father. It is worth remembering in a special way.

The missions conference, on the other hand is not about the past at all. It is about what God is doing today...in our day. Whatever part of the world we focus on in our missions conference, exciting things are happening. Missionaries are knocking with increasing fervency on doors long closed. Other doors are beginning to open for the very first time. Still others are wide open and multitudes are flooding into the Kingdom. Other doors have been open so long that new missionaries are flooding out of those countries, carrying the good news around the globe. This is worth learning about and celebrating! But that's not the real reason I prefer the missions conference to Christmas.

As much as I enjoy contemplating the incarnation at Christmas, my deepest longing is to see Jesus face to face. My greatest hunger is for HIM. He himself told us that "this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to the nations, and then the end will come." You see, with every new people reached, every new church planted where there was no church, every soul gathered, we are just that much closer to seeing Him. The missionary effort paves the way for his return. The missions conference is about what God is doing now to prepare for that day.

As much as I cherish his first coming, my greater desire is for his second coming. On that day my greatest longing will be fulfilled, for I will see Him. THAT is the reason I prefer the missions conference to Christmas.

An Outward Focused Week

This week is one of those weeks where the "outwardness" of our church was on display. Let me mention a few things:

• Sunday afternoon our team returned from Mexico. Thirteen youth and five adults spent a week in Reynosa ministering alongside the Alliance church there. They arrived, sleepy and tired after spending thirty hours on the bus. As usual, Joel Nelson's Harvest Ministries did a great job lining up ministry opporunities including a VBS, youth jail ministry, construction, evangelistic Bible studies and more. The stories the team shared are incredible!
• Also Sunday afternoon we learned of tragedy. Nathan Junker, the son of Grand Rapids Alliance pastor Randy drowned on Pokegama trying to rescue a struggling youth. Three women from NAC have volunteered to help with the nursery duties for the visitation and funeral.
• Wednesday evening we hosted A Night of Prayer for Missions. Approximately 60 people attended from several churches. The NAC team outdid themselves in preparing materials for prayer and crepes to fuel it!
  
• Friday night we are allowing people to park in our lot to watch the fireworks. More than a dozen people have volunteered to help with parking and pass out tracts and information about the church.
• Saturday's parade will feature a float and clowns from NAC.
  
• All this on top of ending a week and a half of non-stop prayer in the prayer room! We have some people who simply "make it happen."

Needless to say, I continue to be amazed by God and the wonderful people here at Nashwauk Alliance. In fact, writing an short post about this week is scary, because I don't want to leave anything out and I KNOW that this is just the tip of the iceberg.

We are the Body

This past Sunday at church we continued on through our journey of Romans.

Romans 12:3-8

Do you use the gifts that the Lord has given to you? Are there gifts He has given you and you don't even know are there. Perhaps the gift of teaching -- have you ever tried? Perhaps the gift of encouragement -- have you encouraged someone today. Read Romans 12:3-8. Pray and ask God to show you gifts that you have that you might not be using to their fullest. Ask him to give you opportunities to use your gifts!

Praying for Eli...

A little one from our church is in the midst of condition called HUS. He is in Children's Hospital in Minneapolis right now. Our church, along with all of their family and friends from across this country are in constant prayer right now that this battle will be quickly won - and that he will get to come home soon.

I just thought I would share the link to a website that they have set up to keep us all posted; but I also wanted to pass along a passage from a recent journal entry that his parents entered. They have personally blown me away with their strength and faith throughout this ordeal.

"As we enter into day day 18 of this long battle the following verse jumped out to me tonight.Isaiah 40:28-31 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

This has been a very long and exhausting time for our little Eli and our family as a whole. We appreciate your comments, thoughts and prayers. God's love is flowing through all of you. "

If you want to read more from them and learn more about what is going on with little Eli you can check out this website they have set up.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/elisaylor

K.Olson

How Did it Happen?

While doing my study of Romans in preparation for this week's sermon, I came across something that really made me pause. I'm not sure that I'm even going to bring it up on Sunday, but it has caused me to follow a line of study personally that I think I'll write some posts about.

Paul is dealing with the fact that most of the Jews of his day rejected the gospel message. In Romans 10:18 he asks the question: Did they not hear (the gospel)? His answer is "Of course they did." Then Paul quotes Psalm 19:4: "Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the end of the world."

The astonishing thing to me is that Psalm 19:1-6 is about the stars and sun proclaiming the character of God. What Paul is claiming is that by the time of the writing of Romans (somewhere between 55-57 A.D), the gospel message had been so widely proclaimed among the Jews that it was like the stars or the sun...known by everyone. Paul says a similar thing in Colossians 1:23. While there is a degree of hyperbole in his statement, it is still amazing that the gospel message had become so widespread in 20-30 years that Paul could make these statements.

It made me wonder what it was about the early church that made it so effective and powerful. What were its secrets? How did it happen? How can we recapture the power of the early church?

Over the next several weeks, I hope to share some of the things I come up with as I study the Scriptures. Then will come the adventure of seeing them come to pass in our lives together.

Staying a Family as the Family Grows

Easter Sunday someone came up to me and told me that we had served over 180 people communion that morning. I have no idea what the total attendance was, because I'm not one to count heads each week, but I know that many children didn't take communion and there was a whole bunch of little ones in the nursery. We could easily have been over 200.

It made me stop to ponder the changes that I've seen in the ten years I've been here. Frankly, there have been a lot of them. I remember candidating here in July of 1999. Pretty much the whole church was at Rick and Chris Holland's place for a barbecue. Most of us fit in the garage. At church the next day, there were lots of extra chairs stacked up in the back of the old sanctuary. I recall preaching, and getting to the end of the message and having no idea what to do next. Thankfully, we all laughed and Chris Wright came to my rescue and started a worship song. He's been a friend ever since.

Truly we were a small church family.

Things have changed, and as we have grown we have many more opportunities for ministry and outreach. I'm excited about that. At the same time, I've been pondering how to keep the "small church family" feel even as we grow. I've come up with a few thoughts I'd like you to try on for size.

Get to know your new "in-laws." Most of us have experienced someone marrying into our extended family and we know that we have a responsibility to welcome and get to know the newest member of the family. It's the responsibility of the members of the family to dispel the awkwardness that the new addition feels and start to build a relationship with them. It's the same way with our church family. As new people come, we have a responsibility to welcome them and to get to know them. Working at that has a wonderful way of turning a room full of strangers into a family.

Build special relationships, but not to the exclusion of others. In an extended family, there are always those relatives who get together and do things in smaller gatherings. Three brothers that hunt together, the aunts that get together to quilt, etc. While not excluding everyone else, these relationships are usually closer than others. In the same way, we need to foster some closer relationships with people that we "go through life with." These relationships don't really exclude others, but they recognize that you cannot be best friends with everyone.

Don't forget the "chores"! We are not a theater that puts on a weekly show for the entertainment of others. We are a family of people that, among other things, meets together to worship God once a week. As a family, there are things that need to get done. Just like at home there are mundane, sometimes unpleasant, tasks that need to be done. As family members, we pitch in and help. It is part of the deal.

Part of maintaining that "small church" feel means committing ourselves to servanthood. To doing things that need to be done even if we don't feel like it at the moment. In a strange way, it's doing those things that make a church "ours" and change it from being something we attend to the family we belong to.

Need some examples?

• How about doing something about the garbage next time you notice it overflowing? (See what I mean? It's just like home.)
• Did you notice a bunch of rocks on the sidewalk? The broom is between the doors. (See me if you don't know how one works.)
  
• What about the nursery? What kind of family member says "I don't like kids. I won't help watch them once or twice a year."?
• What about picking up the paper you notice on the floor?
• Maybe you can stick around to help clean up when people are done drinking coffee on Sundays?
  

An old John Denver song includes the line, "It's the little things that make a house a home." Well, its the little things done by each of us for others that makes a church a family. Sometimes as a church grows we forget that and wonder where the "family feeling" went. If you've felt that way, let me suggest that you stick out your hand and find out who your new "in-law" is, get together with some favorite "relatives" and do a "chore" that needs to be done. You'll be amazed at the result!

Wear and Tear

"It is finished!" is what they said when the saw was finally still, the hammer put away, the paintbrush cleaned, and the polyurethane dried. (See blog post of February 4.)

The trustees definitely celebrated this accomplishment at their first meeting in February. In addition, they couldn't help but think of Bill Hansen, their head trustee, who did not live to see this. Bill, a man with a servant's heart, had spearheaded much of the work that was done to build this new complex containing a spacious gym and fellowship hall, beautiful new tables, classrooms newly painted, carpeting clean and fresh, bathrooms and fountain polished clean, a shining kitchen filling the air with delicious smells, and most importantly a sanctuary filled with men and women, youth and kids, lifting their voice in praise to the God who gives us life.

I wonder what Bill would say now if he walked around to survey the building and assess its needs. Would he see the the finished brightness or would he be distressed by the obvious "details of trusteeship" and see only the:

• Fresh black heel scuffs on the gym floor?
• The dings in the sheet rock in the hallway?
• The nail hole behind the information center?
• The damaged wall on the left side of the stage?
• The rust on the floor in the far corner of the Cedar room?
• The crayon marks on the table in the nursery?
• The fingerprints on the entrance doors?
• The packed snow on the doorstep of the east entrance?
• The garbage can full of dirty drink cups and paper plates?
• Dust in the sound booth?
• Library books spilling out of the book return basket?
• The empty "candy drawer" at the Information Center?
• The coffee stains at the Welcome Desk?
• Chairs in the sanctuary weaving oddly askew in a none-too-perfect arrangement?
• The refrigerator "packed" to the max?
• The toys scattered in the nursery?
• The water splashes around the drinking fountain?

No, I don't think so, not at all! Bill would see each little mar as a sign that this building is throbbing with life and fulfilling the job it was designed to do.

• The black heel scuffs on the gym floor are proof that Gary's class was having a good time.
• The dings in the hallway are proof that a large crowd was filling the corridor on Sunday morning.
• The nail hole behind the information center was made to hang the deer head during the Northwoods Revue and would soon be used to display something else.
• The damaged wall on the left side of the stage was rubbed raw by the suspenders of our energetic drummer during a performance to a packed house.
• The rust on the far corner of the Cedar room is only proof that Debbie's class had a successful craft and the cleanup mop spilled a bit of moisture under the cabinet. It will wear off.
• The crayon marks on the table in the nursery was made by a happy three year old designing a work of art.
• The fingerprints on the entrance doors were made by the 75 kids racing to catch the bus after Release Time on Wednesday morning.
• The packed snow on the doorstep of the east entrance was tromped down by the 168 entrances and exits in and out of the prayer room during winter snows during a week of prayer.
• A garbage can full of dirty drink cups and paper plates is proof of the expanding youth activities on Wednesday evenings.
• Dust in the sound booth is a result of the magnetic draw to "little particles of nothing" when music and life is pulsing through those electrical wires.
• Library books spilling out of the book-return basket only indicates that someone was reading inspirational literature.
• The empty "candy drawer" at the information center is proof that kids love to be loved.
• The coffee stains at the Welcome Desk were made by the jostling crowd after church, talking, laughing, building a brotherhood and family of believers.
• Chairs in the sanctuary weaving oddly askew in a none-too-perfect arrangement means that each chair was warmed by a worshiper several times this week.
• The refrigerator "packed" to the max with foodstuff is in anticipation for the next youth fundraiser.
• The toys scattered in the nursery are for the "church-of-tomorrow," the little ones who are always welcome.
• The water splashes around the drinking fountain are a symbol of people who are not just thirsting for water, but thirsting for righteousness.

So yeah, of course, the trustees are gratified to see the pulsing signs of life. We will just keep fixing every spot, each scuff, the bumps, those drips. God is definitely using this place, and we will do are best to take care of it.

"Oh no, we are NOT finished! Out comes that hammer, out comes that saw, and let's see, where did they put those paintbrushes?

Contributed by Doris Yoder, trustee

Who Is My God?

We live in a land of endless choices, where we can fashion most things to be the way we want them to be. Just think about how the decisions we make have become more complicated:

• Coffee: It used to be either black, with cream, or with sugar. Then they added decaf. But now, you have to decide what type of coffee "obsidian, java, hawaiian, etc.", what flavor creamer, whether you want a latte or an espresso...
• Television. I won't even mention the different types of TVs, but think about the programming that is available. If you don't like what you are watching, press a button and find something you like. If you want to watch it later, push record and "presto" you can watch it when ever you want.
• Toothbrushes. Why are there so many kinds?

My list could go on, but you know what I am talking about. These choices are created by companies looking to segment the marketplace to make room for their particular product. It gives us, the consumer, a chance to tailor things to exactly how we want them. It's kind of like a mailing I received from a store recently. It was a "flip book" where you could change the hair, face and shirt to find the combination that you liked best.

I think that this flip-book living spills over into our religion sometimes. Instead of searching to discover who God is and developing a relationship with Him as he really is, we fashion our own "god" to meet our preferences and needs. We take a little of this or a little of that and make our own god. It's a little like playing with Mr. Potatohead, only with a halo.

Some people's "god" is like a rich uncle who, if asked in just the right way, might get them out of a jam. For others, "god" is a loving teddy bear who gives everyone a warm feeling. For still others, "god" is a cruel tyrant who allows suffering to run amuck in this world. Some people have the god who only likes classical music, or the god who helps them stay motivated to make money, lose weight, whatever.

Why do we do this? I believe that the heart of it is rebellion against God himself. We would rather be in control of God than have to submit to the fact that He is our maker and we are responsible before him.

I struggle with idols, too. Sometimes in my sermon preparation I am studying a passage that makes me extremely uncomfortable. God has revealed who He is in the Bible, so when that revelation runs contrary to what I desire God to be like, I have a decision to make: I can either submit to who God truly is, or I can form an idol...a caricature of God...that makes me more comfortable.

Over the years, I've discovered two important truths. First, God is good at smashing idols. He refuses to be Mr. Potatohead. When they have formed in my life, God works through my circumstances to demolish them. He wants to be worshiped for who He is. Second, the aspect of God that I "dislike" is actually beautiful. As I begin to see Him more clearly, that facet of his nature becomes incredibly endearing to me.

I've taken to asking God to reveal more of Himself to me, and to point out the smallest of idols in my life that would detract from His glory.

How about you?

The Eye of the Tiger

He sat in my office the other day with a steely determination that brought goosebumps. "Pastor, do you have any idea how many hurting people I know? I'm going to singlehandedly force you to open the door." (The rear of our Sanctuary opens into the Fellowship Hall. The two rooms are divided by a twenty foot high folding door.) There was no hint of pride or arrogance. He understood that salvation is a work of the Holy Spirit. What I saw was a passion for the gospel and a determination to do whatever it takes to reach people for Christ. He would pray, he would build relationships, he would share his testimony, explain the gospel and exercise a holy boldness in order to see people discover a relationship with Christ.

He came close to the words of Paul in Romans 9:1-2. Paul found himself in constant internal agony because of the people he knew who hadn't turned to Christ. He was willing to do anything that people might come to faith in Christ.

Do you have that passion? Where does it come from? How do you develop it? We'll talk about it this Sunday.

What would happen if the whole church had that passion?

The early church did...and they turned their world upside down.

What's on My Wall?

In the world of Facebook, a person has a "wall" that you can design to communicate with others. In my real world, I have an office that I have designed. I'm not much of a designer, in fact, one of the ladies on the Decorating Committee volunteered to help me...after I was done! It reminds me of a friend of mine in college who took pity on me as she watched me try to make a poster.

Actually, I like my office...because the things on my walls have tremendous meaning to me.

• A graduation picture of my son taken in an alley in Minneapolis by a dear friend of mine.
  
• A framed quote of Abraham Lincoln saying that he had been driven to his knees in prayer many times because he had nowhere else to go. Not only am I a Lincoln fan, but I can relate completely to how he felt.
• Three small quilts made by a cousin of my mother-in-law. They are beautiful pieces of art that depict the end of winter.
  
• A quote by Thoreau about why he moved to the woods. Living in the north country is an adventure in life itself.
• A framed pastor appreciation gift describing the role of a pastor.
• A picture of the BWCA...my favorite get-away place.
  

But the most important thing hanging on my wall is a map of the world. It's right above my desk and is a constant reminder of what it is all about: reaching the world with the gospel. I really believe we can do that from little old Nashwauk, Minnesota.

What's on your wall?

Spiritual Heart Surgery

In yesterday's sermon, I said that I felt like I was undergoing "spiritual heart surgery." I thought I would take a moment to explain what I meant.

As we grow in our relationship with Jesus, changes begin to take place in our lives. Usually, these changes are slow and steady. Occasionally we'll zoom ahead, but more often than not spiritual growth happens fairly gradually.

There are times, though, that God wants to take us deeper in our relationship with Him, but in order to do so He must shake up some of the foundations in our lives that are preventing us from going where He wants to take us.

That is where spiritual heart surgery takes place.

The first major surgery I remember undergoing was in my mid-twenties. I had been walking with the Lord for some time, and had been extremely active in the church. I was leading a small group, teaching the Sunday School class, attending prayer meeting, etc. Over a period of several months I noticed a couple of things. First, the joy in these activities was slowly evaporating. I found I was doing these tasks with less and less satisfaction. Second, I was tired. Everything I did seemed to require extraordinary amounts of energy. If felt like I would collapse under the burden of one more church activity.

I tried everything I knew to come out of the drudgery that had become my walk with God. I read "refreshing" books. I tried praying and studying the Bible more diligently. I spent more time worshiping. I tried everything I knew how to do, but nothing helped.

Then a series of events occurred at church that finally caused me to collapse spiritually. It was at that point that God taught me about grace. We are saved by grace, sanctified by grace, and will be glorified by grace. I had slipped into a performance treadmill. God simply increased the speed and incline of the treadmill until I couldn't take it anymore. Then He laid a foundation of grace in my life.

A second major heart surgery occurred shortly after becoming the pastor of Nashwauk Alliance Church. I had arrived ready to "go for it" as a pastor. I had been involved in churches for years and had just graduated from seminary armed with the latest and greatest theories about pastoring churches. I was ready to rock!

Nothing worked.

The great theories simply didn't fit our small town iron range culture. My experience in trendy suburban churches wouldn't buy me a cup of coffee at the Wauk-In Cafe. Now what was I going to do? I sat at the end of the dock feeling totally helpless and crying out to God in desperation. I simply didn't know what to do.

In those times, God taught me the absolute necessity of spending time with Him and getting my marching orders daily from Him. The reality was that I didn't know how to pastor NAC. I still don't. All I can do is try to hear His voice and do what I believe he is telling me to do. I cannot tell you how liberating it is to know that I don't have to rely on my own experience or learning. God uses them, sure, but really the bottom line is hearing and obeying the voice of God.

You see, God wants us to not only know the truths of His Word, he wants us to experience them first-hand. He not only wants us to know about grace, he wants us to experience grace. He not only wants us to know that He answers prayer, he wants us to experience answered prayer. He not only wants us to know that He will lead us, He wants us to experience His leading. Sometimes He needs to do surgery to help us experience Him more fully.

So today I'm having those "chest pain" feelings again. Yesterday I described some of the pressures I'm experiencing as the church grows as being the cause of the spiritual "chest pains." Today I read something in my journal that explains the real reason. Here's what I wrote last fall:

"Father, I ask that you would mold me into the pastor you want me to be. Help me learn the lessons that you want me to learn. I want to understand the way to lead the church to the 'next step' in our journey. You have brought some things together, but I sense that there is changing to be done in me..."

God is answering my prayer. I've learned that I can trust my "surgeon" to perform successful surgery. I'm not sure what the lessons will be, but I know that the end result will be a closer walk with Him. That's all I really want.

Don't worry about me. Pray for me, yes, but don't worry. I'm in good hands.

At the same time, let me encourage you to make an appointment with the "heart doctor." The results are worth the surgery!

"It is Finished"

"It is Finished." Famous words uttered by Jesus on the cross. They were also uttered by Craig Nelson this afternoon as he put away his tools after trimming the last window. The building project is done.

I'm not going to land on an aircraft carrier under a giant "Mission Accomplished" banner, but I do want to cheer yet another milestone. It's awesome to be able to say that the construction is done.

The "mission" is just beginning.

The Lord has provided this awesome building as a tool to be used to build His Kingdom, both here in the Nashwauk area and around the world.

Now that the building is done...it's time to get to work!

All Things Work for Good

Romans 8:28 is a verse that is one of the most familiar verses in the Bible. It adorns the refrigerators of Christians from Maine to California. Sometimes I wonder, though, if it is commonly understood in a way that actually undermines our belief in God.

For example, do we really think that all things work for good? Did Hurricane Katrina work for good? What about the flat tire you had last week? Or the job you just lost? Or the unemployment that just ran out? Or the cancer they just discovered?

If "good" somehow equates to "my benefit", then how do we deal with adversities that never seem to end?

It makes us wonder sometimes where God is.

I think that's because we don't understand the verse. As we catch a glimpse of what God is saying to us, I think we will be massively encouraged and motivated to worship Him.

Why not join us this week?

A Part of the Grand Story

Tomorrow we inaugurate the 44th President of the United States. This event is always filled with meaning...and a wonderful demonstration of the health of our democracy. Once again, we will show the world that the people of the United States have chosen a new leader. And the old leader will step away from power and the bright lights to live as a citizen.

One of the things that makes this inauguration particularly meaningful is that the new President is African American. Standing in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial, Barak Obama talked about how American is still a place where anything is possible. For a large segment of the American population, whose heritage includes being enslaved, the fact that the President is African American carries with it a depth of emotion that is difficult for most white Americans to understand.

One of the things that it highlights is the fact that each of us wants our lives to be somehow connected to the "grand story" of our times and of history itself. We yearn to have significance in the world. We want our lives to count.

There are several tragedies in life. The first is to think that our lives are insignificant. That we are not important enough, strong enough, smart enough or talented enough to make a difference in the grand scheme of things. We live our lives on the sidelines, never getting involved, never taking risks to make things different than they are today. The end result is a life of boredom and shadow living.

The second tragedy is to decide that there is no real "grand story." The result is that we live without context, and without a need to make an impact in anyone's life. We choose to live selfishly, doing what benefits ourselves and gives little thought to other people. We'll cheat and lie and claw our way to what we want...all at the expense of others. It's an "eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die" mentality. Such a person contributes little to the lives of others. A society of these people will only survive if the fences are tall and strong, because there will be no trust and no desire to know one's neighbor.

The third tragedy is invest one's life in the wrong "grand story." Think of those who invested their lives to create Nazi Germany or Stalinst Russia. These people generally felt that the time like they are causing humanity to "progress" when in actually they were ruining the lives of others. The destruction these people leave in their wakes staggers the imaginations. This is the tragedy of the instigators of 9/11.

This week we will be looking a the true grand story that we are all invited to be a part of. In Romans 8:18-25, Paul waxes almost poetic as he describes the reality of life. He speaks of the beginning and end of the story and helps us understand our important and vital role in the plot of this story. In fact, we have lead roles in this grand drama.

Come this Sunday and discover more.

What a Week...What a Church

This past week has been one of those weeks that makes me glad to be a part of Nashwauk Alliance. In some ways, it was a terrible week. The chairman of our Trustees, Bill Hansen, suffered a massive stroke a week ago. Fred and Sandy instantly drove down to Duluth to be with the family as I started the prayer chain. I spent Saturday with the family and came home Saturday night emotionally drained.

During Sunday's service I got a phone call that Bill was fading...fast. We changed the direction of the service, and again the Whytes drove down to Duluth and were there with the family as Bill went home to be with Jesus.

The funeral arrangements were well handled by our deaconesses and a crew of people who set up tables and chairs, brought food and took care of all of the details.

As I step back and look at all that was done, I have to say that I am proud of the people here. I'm glad that the elders took a step of faith and called Fred to be Assistant Pastor. His smile, concern and wonderful way with people was much used by God this week. The deaconesses and other volunteers who gave of the their time in order to minister to the Hansen family were inspiring. The building seemed to pulse with the love of Christ.

What really amazes me is that this was happening on top of everything else that was scheduled for the week. Bible Studies, Release Time, the Ladies Ecumenical Dinner, setting up for 2 weeks of non-stop prayer, a Board Meeting...the list goes on and on.

There are times that the Lord really blows my mind. Frequently he does it through the people of this wonderful church.

Thanks for being you.

Karl

Why Can Things Be So Hard?

Over the last several weeks we have been looking at the incredible provisions that God has made for us. We have see how our Lord's death and resurrection defeated the power of sin. We have learned how the Holy Spirit has been given to us to guide and empower us in holy living. Last week we looked at how God has adopted us to be a part of his family and discovered what an amazing person our Heavenly Father truly is.

I don't know about you, but in some ways I have felt like a football player, getting more and more excited to run out onto the field and play the game. I know we are going to win! In fact, there have been times I could imagine running out of the tunnel through the corridor of cheerleaders and see the giant paper team banner stretched out ready for us to burst through. Romans 8 has been great!

Now in Romans 8:17 Paul brings up suffering.

Perhaps there is a brick wall on the other side of that paper banner.

Or maybe we need to discover more about the nature of living the Christian life. We need to learn something about suffering. We need to learn that while we will emerge victorious, the "game" we are called to participate in is not for the faint of heart. It is going to demand extraordinary amounts of courage, persistence and fortitude. Courage, persistence and fortitude seen most clearly in our Lord Jesus.

Join us this week for an amazing journey into God's Word.