Obedience: Right Response to Who Jesus Is

This past Sunday I preached on Matthew 17:1-13 (Jesus' transfiguration). Although this was certainly an important event in Jesus' own life and ministry (confirmation from His heavenly Father), it was even more significant for His three followers (Peter, James and John) who witnessed it. The main point I believe they were to take from this event is found in the Father's last words to the disciples about His Son, "Listen to Him!" A true understanding of Jesus leads to listening to Him or to put it another way, obedience is the right response to who Jesus is. If you'd like to listen to the sermon click here.

By God's Grace, Jeff

Couda', Shouda', Wouda'...

My wife and I took an early morning trip up to Minot on Saturday so that we could get back in time to attend Central McLean's quarterfinal football playoff game. Unfortunately, they lost. Our star running back injured his ankle before halftime when we were up 8-7. We ended up losing 26-8. Now not to take anything away from Williams County, who has a very good team and an excellent quarterback, the game may have been closer if not the outcome different had we remained healthy. In 9-man football, when you lose one guy, you're in trouble!

On Tuesday the economic development group in town that my wife and I are part of held our community-wide kick-off. We had almost 60 people attend the free meal, intro to the program and first of three small group discussion sessions about alleviating poverty. On Sunday afternoon the group I am co-leading had our second meeting. We had a few less people than at the kick-off but still had a very good time of discussion. My wife and I are enjoying being part of a community in which you can really make a difference.

Well, after my ranting and raving about how I should think about the election...I ended up voting this morning. I am still not completely sure how to think about voting as a Christian but I came to the conclusion that if I don't believe Christians should vote then that only leaves non-Christians deciding the future of our local, state and federal government. I am just glad that God is in control and thus no matter what happens there's no need to be concerned. God is not in danger of losing His throne!

This past Sunday we were in the fourth week of our adult Sunday School series on the attributes/character of God entitled "The Joy of Knowing God". This week we looked at what it means that God is Good and Loving. We learned that God's goodness means that all He does is worthy of approval and that in fact He is the ultimate standard of good. We also learned that God being love means that He gives Himself freely to others and as a result it enables us to give of ourselves back to God and to others. Next week we'll be looking at God's Grace, Mercy and Patience.

By God's Grace, Jeff

Happy Reformation Day!

Most people think of the last day in October as a time to dress up in costumes and gather as much candy as possible in one night. However, something very significant occured on one particular October 31st. In 1517 a relatively unknown monk posted a document on the door of a church in Whittenberg, Germany listing a number of issues he wanted to have reviewed and discussed. Martin Luther's October 31st posting of his "95 Thesis" ended up sparking the Protestant Reformation.

So happy Reformation Day!

By Sola Gratia, Jeff

Spiritual Discernment is Essential to Saving Faith

This past Sunday I preached on Matthew 15:29-16:12. In this passage Jesus heals and provides a miraculous feeding to a gentile audience, rebukes some religious leaders for demanding a sign and criticizes His disciples for lack of faith in thinking about earthly realities instead of spiritual ones. The title of the sermon, and main point, is "Spiritual Discernment is Essential to Saving Faith." Spiritual discernment means thinking about things from a heavenly and not earthly perspective. If you would like to listen to the sermon click here.

By God's Grace, Jeff

Tumbleweeds

On Saturday the Central McLean football team (co-op of Underwood and Turtle Lake) had its first play-off game. It was a windy and cool day and we had some problems hanging on to the ball early on but rallied from a 7-0 defict to win 36-7. The game was in Turtle Lake which is about 15 miles east of Underwood. Both on the way there and back we had to dodge tumbleweeds being blown across the road. Much of the land between Underwood and Turtle Lake is owned by the coal mine and therefore is not cultivated like most of the surrounding land which is used for farming. Our next game is this Saturday. Go Cougars!

On Friday we made our semi-weekly trip down to Bismarck. I like to joke with my wife about enjoying date night with her in the "big city". Which is all the more ironic since we both have only lived in metropolitan cities before coming to small town North Dakota. But I think because of this we've grown an appreciate for, rather than taking for granted, things like Target, Starbucks, movie theatres and fast food. When the nearest McDonalds is 50 miles away you begin to value it more than if it's just around the corner.

While in Bismarck we saw the movie "The Express". It's about Ernie Davis who was the first African-American Heisman Trophy winner. He also died of leukemia at 23, after being drafted by the Cleveland Browns but before ever playing a down in the pros. One of the scenes I really appreciated in the movie was the grandfather leading a devotional time in the Bible with all the kids and grandkids around the table after dinner. One of the skocking aspects of the movie that my wife and I noticed was the severe racial hatred that Davis and other African-American players faced. Some people long to return to the so-called "Christian" times of the 1950s but I'd encourage anyone who is tempted to think this way to consider the widespread racial hatred that existed. Sometimes it seems that we can identify the sins of our own times but have a revisionist history when it comes to the past.

By God's Grace, Jeff

There's a little Cowboy in Everyone

Knock, knock...yah...see there's a little cowboy in everyone (If you did it right you should have said "yah who"). This was just one of the fun moments we had on Friday afternoon as we helped a family from church vaccinate and weigh their calves. Harmony filled syringes while I worked the gate. They picked a great day to work cattle as it was sunny and in the mid-50s. We had a great time but were certainly exhausted afterwards.

Saturday we had a really nice day (for this time of year in ND) and so I took advantage by getting in what may have been my last 18-holes until May (though I may get in some golf when we visit our family in LA). Then on Saturday night my wife hosted a teen night at the library. About 20 junior and senior high kids showed up for a night of video games and volleyball (among other activities). They seemed to have a great time and certainly want to do it again. I even rehashed my coffee-making skills by using our expresso machine to make decaf mochas. But I think the highlight was my singing of "Wanted Dead or Alive" by Bon Jovi (a.k.a. the theme song for the TV show "Deadliest Catch") on Playstation's "Rockstar" game.

What does a Pastor do all week especially if he doesn't have to preach on Sunday? Well, I found out this week as Troy Shirley who works with Campus Crusade in North Dakota visited our church and gave the morning message. It gave me extra time this past week to do some other things in ministry that I'm not usually able to get to, including planning for our upcoming elder board vision retreats. Also on Sunday the congregation thanked my wife and I for our service to the church and gave us a gift as October is Pastor appreciation month. We feel very appreciated here! And if you haven't thanked your pastor yet, it's not too late.

By God's Grace, Jeff

Your Heart Exposes Your Home

Last Sunday I preached on Matthew 15:1-28 which includes Jesus' confrontation with religious leaders from Jerusalem about human tradition vs. God's commands and His interaction with a Gentile woman. The title of the sermon is "Your Heart Exposes Your Home." This is a variation of the cliche "home is where the heart it" and explains that the main point of this passage as it relates to us is that what comes out of our hearts is what really matters because it shows what we really value and desire. If you'd like to listen to the sermon click here.

By God's Grace, Jeff