If you'd like to see a movie about what small farming towns like ours have been going through with the dramatic changes in farming and the economy over the last 20+ years, check out "The Final Season". It stars Sean Astin and is based on a true story about a small farming community in Iowa with a great baseball tradition who puts together one last season before being merged into a larger town nearby. This seems to happen every year in North Dakota. Once a town's school is shut down it's only a matter of time until the town itself is wiped off the map. The question is posed of whether it really is in the best interest of a town to merge. Check out the movie and let me know what you think.
By God's Grace, Jeff
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
A Reminder not to wait until Tomorrow
The Los Angeles Times reported yesterday that one of the authors of "100 Things to Do Before You Die," Dave Freeman, passed away at the age of 47 and after only having accomplised about half of his list (click here for the story).
What a great reminder to not leave for tomorrow what you know you should do today! You never know what tomorrow will bring so instead seek to do what you need to today.
"Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." - James 4:13-15
By God's Grace, Jeff
What a great reminder to not leave for tomorrow what you know you should do today! You never know what tomorrow will bring so instead seek to do what you need to today.
"Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." - James 4:13-15
By God's Grace, Jeff
Top 5 Worst Summer Olympic "Sports"
Here's my list of the 5 "sports" that should not be a part of future Summer Games:
5. BMX Racing - Fun to watch...in the X-games
4. Equestrian - The athlete is the horse, not the rider!
3. Trampoline - Something done in the backyard can't be in the Olympics
2. Rhythmic Gyumnastics - Dancing with ribbons/hula-hoops...come on!
1. Syncronized Swimming - Enough Said!
Let me know what you think.
5. BMX Racing - Fun to watch...in the X-games
4. Equestrian - The athlete is the horse, not the rider!
3. Trampoline - Something done in the backyard can't be in the Olympics
2. Rhythmic Gyumnastics - Dancing with ribbons/hula-hoops...come on!
1. Syncronized Swimming - Enough Said!
Let me know what you think.
Mercy Takes Priority
This Sunday I continued our church's preaching series through the Gospel of Matthew by preaching on 12:1-21. The sermon was entitled "Mercy Takes Priority" and in this passage we see the emphasis on doing good and seeking mercy through Jesus' interaction with the Parisees regarding the Sabbath and Matthew's application of Isaiah 42:1-14 to Jesus' own life and ministry. If you'd like to listen to the entire message (including the issue of whether or not Christians should "keep the Sabbath") click here.
Please pray for me as I've been having some issues with my lower back recently and will be going to my second visit with the chiropractor in town today.
By God's Grace, Jeff
Please pray for me as I've been having some issues with my lower back recently and will be going to my second visit with the chiropractor in town today.
By God's Grace, Jeff
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Olympic Company
This past weekend (actually Thursday through Monday) my wife was in LA visiting family and friends but specifically to attend the wedding of a close friend. Thanks for all your prayers as God kept her safe during her time in LA as well as her travel there and back and she was able to have some good times with both family and friends.
I, on the other hand, did not realize how quiet it was going to be around the house without her present! Fortunately I had the Olympics to keep me company this weekend. And what a Summer Games it has been! From Phelps' eight gold metals to USA gymnastics to surprises in water polo and dominance (so far) in volleyball. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching the 29th Olympiad (although it's made me want to visit China and pet a panda even more).
On Sunday I preached on Matthew 11:20-30 and the sermon was entitled "Jesus Afflicts the Comfortabe and Comforts the Afflicted." If you'd like to listen to it click here. Last Thursday the ministerial organization in town hosted an appreciation luncheon for the teachers and staff at school. We served burgers, brats, salads and bars (cookies) and were able to encourage and thank them for all they do, as they prepare for the new school year (started 8/20).
Please continue to pray for my growth as a leader, knowing when and how to speak, and for Harmony as she trains the woman she hired to help in the library over the next two weeks.
By God's Grace, Jeff
I, on the other hand, did not realize how quiet it was going to be around the house without her present! Fortunately I had the Olympics to keep me company this weekend. And what a Summer Games it has been! From Phelps' eight gold metals to USA gymnastics to surprises in water polo and dominance (so far) in volleyball. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching the 29th Olympiad (although it's made me want to visit China and pet a panda even more).
On Sunday I preached on Matthew 11:20-30 and the sermon was entitled "Jesus Afflicts the Comfortabe and Comforts the Afflicted." If you'd like to listen to it click here. Last Thursday the ministerial organization in town hosted an appreciation luncheon for the teachers and staff at school. We served burgers, brats, salads and bars (cookies) and were able to encourage and thank them for all they do, as they prepare for the new school year (started 8/20).
Please continue to pray for my growth as a leader, knowing when and how to speak, and for Harmony as she trains the woman she hired to help in the library over the next two weeks.
By God's Grace, Jeff
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
I'm MCd Out!
This past Saturday was the Underwood Harvest Fest. Thanks for everyone who prayed for our church's booth in which we gave away bottles of water and freeze pops. We actually ran out of water bottles and I think I saw every kid in town with a freeze pop! We also had some very good conversations with people who stopped by the booth and picked up some of our free literature about having a relationship with Jesus, growing as a Christian and about the church. However, I was so busy doing other things during the Harvest Fest that I didn't even get to man the booth! I co-MCd the parade with one of the other pastors (he did the play-by-play and I added the color commentary). I participated in the horse-shoe tournament for the second straight year...and didn't do much better but had a good time and met some new people. Then I was asked to also MC the Corn Pageant in the afternoon. By about 4:30, I was exhausted!
The beginning of August also marked us having been in Underwood for a year! It certainly hasn't seemed that long. We are still very much enjoying life in small town North Dakota and the church and community have continued to be warm and welcoming. Praise God!
On Sunday afternoon I played in a "backwards" golf tournament. We played the course in reverse teeing off on one hole and shooting to the green from the previous hole. We had a fun time and our team (myself, Pastor Dean, and another couple) ended up taking fourth!
On Sunday I preached on Matthew 11:1-19 as part of our year-long series through the Gospel. The main point of the sermon was the questions of whether we will believe our doubts or Jesus. We all have quetsions or desires for answers from God but will we allow those to derial our faith or will we persevere in trusting Christ in spite of our doubts and concerns. If you'd like to listen to this sermon, click here.
Thanks for everyone who has been praying for my growing as a leader. At our Elder meeting this past Sunday evening I certainly felt your prayers. Please continue to pray for me in this. Also pray for Harmony's trip back to CA this weekend and for me as she is away.
By God's Grace, Jeff.
The beginning of August also marked us having been in Underwood for a year! It certainly hasn't seemed that long. We are still very much enjoying life in small town North Dakota and the church and community have continued to be warm and welcoming. Praise God!
On Sunday afternoon I played in a "backwards" golf tournament. We played the course in reverse teeing off on one hole and shooting to the green from the previous hole. We had a fun time and our team (myself, Pastor Dean, and another couple) ended up taking fourth!
On Sunday I preached on Matthew 11:1-19 as part of our year-long series through the Gospel. The main point of the sermon was the questions of whether we will believe our doubts or Jesus. We all have quetsions or desires for answers from God but will we allow those to derial our faith or will we persevere in trusting Christ in spite of our doubts and concerns. If you'd like to listen to this sermon, click here.
Thanks for everyone who has been praying for my growing as a leader. At our Elder meeting this past Sunday evening I certainly felt your prayers. Please continue to pray for me in this. Also pray for Harmony's trip back to CA this weekend and for me as she is away.
By God's Grace, Jeff.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Late Night and Early Morning Wake-up Calls
Twice this week the tornado siren went off. And not at convenient times either - Wednesday night, just after we'd gone to bed, and early Sunday morning (before the alarm!). No tornados actually materialized during either of the storms but when either the wind associated with a thunderstorm reaches a certain level or if it seems that the clouds are forming into a funnel, the alarm sounds. Our house is only one story but has a large fully finished basement that include a bedroom, bathroom and den. So when the alarm sounded, we crawled out of bed and went downstairs into the basement, turned on the news and waited for the all-clear.
We had a very busy Saturday. We got down to Bismarck at about nine and went to a monthly flee market in Mandan (just across the river). It was smaller than we had hoped and didn't really have much we were interested in. Then we went to the Bismarck AKC dog show at the convention center. Again, it was smaller than what we were used to having been to the Chicago dog show a number of times and there were no PBGVs being shown so the question arises if it can truly be called a dog show without arguably the best dog being present! We had a good time walking around and seeing some different breeds being shown. After that we went to the Bismarck capitol grounds for a nice sized art fair. They had an area for food vendors so we grabbed lunch and then spent an hour or so waking around the fair. By the time we got home late Saturday afternoon, we were spent!
Sunday I preached on Matthew 10:16-42 and the sermon was entitled "Discipleship is Costly but Priceless". If you'd like to listen to the sermon audio, click here. Sunday night I thought it would be a good idea to participate in the open gym with the high school basketball team. The last two days my legs have been regretting my decision. It was good to reconnect with the kids and show them that their coach still has some moves.
Please pray for our church this Saturday as we host a booth at the town harvest fest. We'll be passing out free waterbottles and freeze pops. Pray for our conversations with people. Also, pray for our Bible study this week as we are changing from studying a separate book of the Bible to studying the passage from the previous week's sermon. Finally, pray for my leadership of the church, that I would grow esepcially in leading older Christians and in particular for our monthly Elder meeting this Sunday evening.
By God's Grace, Jeff.
We had a very busy Saturday. We got down to Bismarck at about nine and went to a monthly flee market in Mandan (just across the river). It was smaller than we had hoped and didn't really have much we were interested in. Then we went to the Bismarck AKC dog show at the convention center. Again, it was smaller than what we were used to having been to the Chicago dog show a number of times and there were no PBGVs being shown so the question arises if it can truly be called a dog show without arguably the best dog being present! We had a good time walking around and seeing some different breeds being shown. After that we went to the Bismarck capitol grounds for a nice sized art fair. They had an area for food vendors so we grabbed lunch and then spent an hour or so waking around the fair. By the time we got home late Saturday afternoon, we were spent!
Sunday I preached on Matthew 10:16-42 and the sermon was entitled "Discipleship is Costly but Priceless". If you'd like to listen to the sermon audio, click here. Sunday night I thought it would be a good idea to participate in the open gym with the high school basketball team. The last two days my legs have been regretting my decision. It was good to reconnect with the kids and show them that their coach still has some moves.
Please pray for our church this Saturday as we host a booth at the town harvest fest. We'll be passing out free waterbottles and freeze pops. Pray for our conversations with people. Also, pray for our Bible study this week as we are changing from studying a separate book of the Bible to studying the passage from the previous week's sermon. Finally, pray for my leadership of the church, that I would grow esepcially in leading older Christians and in particular for our monthly Elder meeting this Sunday evening.
By God's Grace, Jeff.
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