A Life of Integrity is Evidence of Redemption

Sunday I preached on Psalm 26 as part of our series through the first section in the OT book of Psalms called "The Spiritual Life". The main point that I saw in Psalm 26 as it applies to us is that a life of integrity is evidence of redemption. If you would like to listen to it, click here.

By God's Grace, Jeff

A Day with Walt Kaiser

Yesterday I took part in the one-day conference hosted by the Northern Plains District of the EFCA in which Dr. Walt Kaiser spoke on various issues regarding Christians are ethics. Included in his talks were gambling and greed, cohabitation and adultery. Although he taught at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School for many years, he had moved on a decade before I arrived. So it was a great opportunity to sit under his teaching, if only for one day. The conference was held in Dickinson at a 4Cs Congregational Church that partnered with the NPD in hosting Dr. Kaiser. In addition to the wealth of information on pressing ethical issues of our day, I also greatly appreciated his passion for expository preaching (where the sermon gets its form and content from a single passage in Scripture). All-in-all it was well-worth the 2:30 hour drive each way!

My wife and I had some great fellowship opportunities this past weekend. Saturday night we drove out to one of the families in the church that lives in the country and played Settler of Catan with them. We picked up Settlers at our previous church and have since been able to pass it on to at least one family here in Underwood. In fact, they not only have the original game but also the Seafarers expansion. Neither my wife or I had ever played this version but were able to pick it up pretty quickly. Then on Sunday evening we were invited over to the house of a new family to our church who are our age and have three young kids. We had fun discussing theology with them, playing with their kids and enjoying a wonderful taco bar. They joked that both times they've had us over it's been for Mexican food. We explained that being from Southern California, we believe that you can never have too much Mexican food!

On Sunday I announced to the congregation the plans for hosting a Community Carnival on October 31st. In our discussions the past couple weeks at our weekly Community Group, I have been so encouraged at how our people have responded very positively and have been coming up with great ideas for the event. This will be a large undertaking for such a small congregation but I believe that if we're faithful, God can use this event to have an impact on our community. Please continue to pray for our planning of this event and that it would be a success.

By God's Grace, Jeff

Whoever Hopes in the Lord is Blessed

On Sunday I preached on Psalm 25 as part of our sermon series through the first book within the OT Book of Psalms called "The Spiritual Life". The main point of the sermon was "whoever hopes in the Lord is blessed." If you would like to listen to the sermon, click here.

By God's Grace, Jeff

First Trip to the Groomers

On Monday I took Lewis to the groomers for the first time. Suffice it to say that one of us came away wet and hairy and the other now has a clean, short coat! He's five months old and so you can imagine how much hair came off! Since it was his first time, I stuck around to help hold him in place while the groomer trimmed his hair, washed him, dried him and clipped his nails. As you can see from the picture, he came out looking much more silvery than before. I told my wife that he reminded me of suede (If I rub him one way he's black but the other and he's silver).

On Saturday my wife and I drove down to Bismarck for their annual Downtowners Street Fair. A bunch of local and out-of-town craft vendors and tons of food sellers descend into downtown Bismarck where they block off a few streets for this event. The weather was great and we were actually able to find a parking spot one block away (the only time it's ever hard to find a spot)! We didn't buy much but did enjoy strolling around, "window-shopping" and enjoying the day.

On Tuesday I went golfing in Washburn (our city town 15 minutes south) with Pastor Dean. Washburn has a very nice and well-kept course, even though it's only nine-holes. I had a coupon for half-priced and so was able to golf nine holes with a cart for $14 (beat that you city folk!). It was a bit chilly and more windy than I'd anticipated but if I used those as excuses for how I played I'd be lying. I haven't been hitting the ball well the past couple times out. Hopefully my game will improve in a few weeks when we visit our family and friends in LA and my Dad and I hit the links (probably at least a couple times).

We had our third community group meeting last night and we finally finished going through the opening chapter from Pastor C.J. Mahaney book "Why Small Groups?" talking about the biblical principles and goals that should govern why and how we pursue small group ministry. Also, we discussed for a second week putting on a Community Carnival on October 31st. Nothing like this exists anywheree around and I believe this could be a great opportuinity to serve and love our community (and especially in giving families something fun and kid-friendly to do). Please pray for us as we contiunue to plan for this event.

By God's Grace, Jeff

One Pooped Pup

This past Saturday we had another family from the community over for a BBQ. They have three kids (13, 8 and 5) and our goldendoodle puppy Lewis (now five months and 43 pounds!) counldn't contain his excitement. He was a bit jumpy for the first half-hour or so but then calmed down and played nice for the most part. Although when I went to check on the BBQ, he inadvertently pulled my wife right out of her lawn chair! We had a great time hanging out with them and by the time they left nearly three hours later, Lewis was dead tired. He fell asleep as soon as they left and essentially didn't wake up until 6:45 Sunday morning (an hour later than usual). Even then I think it took him a few days to fully regain his energy (which he has now!).

Our church had our first "Community Group" this past Wednesday. In a sense this small group ministry is nothing different than what we've been doing during Wednesday night prayer and Bible study except with a greater emphasis on why we're meeting together and what we want to accomplish. We didn't finish talking about the purposes and goals but that was because we had such great discussion. Even people who normally don't say too much participated. I am excited as we continue pursuing life together by building community with us and God (spiritual maturity), with each other (fellowship) and with those around us (service and evangelism). Please pray for us to be open and honest with one another thus fostering authentic community.

I am extremely excited about a potential upcoming outreach event. Ever since we moved to Underwood I have noticed that there is nothing for families on Halloween besides the traditional trick-or-treating. In the Chicago-area numerous churches hosted outreach events around the end of October that were very successful. I've thought at different times about how our church could serve and love our community around this time of year. We've had a guy in-town visiting in-laws who's worshiped with us the last couple weeks. In addition to being very encouraging, he mentioned a carnival that his daughter's church in Bismarck hosts each Halloween as an outreach event. Ever since that conversation the wheels in my mind have been spinning. I presented the idea of us hosting a community carnival on Halloween at our Elder meeting on Sunday and am going to pitch it at our Community Group tonight. Please pray for wisdom.

By God's Grace, Jeff

Worship of our Creator King is a Privilege

This past Sunday I preached on Psalm 24 as part of our current sermon series through the first book within the Book of Psalms. The main point that I saw in Psalm 24 as it applies to us today is that "worship of our Creator King is a privilege." If you would like to listen to it, click here.

By God's Grace, Jeff

Those who Trust in the Lord, need not Fear

The sermon I preached this Sunday was based on Psalm 23 with the main point being that those who trust in the Lord do not need to fear. They don't need to fear want because God provides. They don't need to fear danger or even death because God protects. And they don't even need to fear the future because God blesses. If you would like to hear the whole thing, click here.

By God's Grace, Jeff

A Visitor's Encouragement

At our corporate worship service this Sunday we had a visitor from out-of-state, who was in town helping a relative, join us. After the service he and I got the chance to talk for a few minutes and I came away from our time together very encouraged. Not only was he appreciative of the Christ-centeredness of my sermon but was excited about the work that our church could do in the community. In fact, he mentioned something (prophetically?) that I had been pondering ever since we arrived in Underwood two years ago; our church hosting a alternative Halloween carnival. There is nothing like that in the area and it could provide a tremendous service and outreach to our community. Please be praying about whether this is God's will for us or not as I plan on bringing it up at our Elder meeting this Sunday.

This past Wednesday we concluded our four week book club study of Pastor John Piper's book, Don't Waste Your Life. I have read this book at least three times now and have been personally challenged each and everytime. Even though our attendance at the book discussions was low, given the number of people from the congregation who purchased the book, I believe those who did attend walked away with a renewed desire to glorify God is all they do (as I did). Please pray for ongoing spiritual fruit in my life and the lives of those who participated in this book club.

Labor Day was the official last day for the Crab Apple ice-cream shop in Pick City and Burger Stop in Riverdale. Although my wife and I didn't get to eat at Burger Stop this summer, we did make it up to the Crab Apple at least a few times (with the puppy!). And so Sunday afternoon we took a drive up to Pick City (20 miles) to get an ice-cream cone (or in my case a shake) before the Crab Apple closed until next summer. It's fun to have some summer related shops around but it would also be nice to have a few more year-round businesses in the area.

I am very excited for the kick-off of our church's "Community Group" this evening. We have had a Bible Study and prayer time on Wednesday evenings for many years but this summer we took a break and this gave us the opportunity to revamp what we do and why during this time. We want this time to be intentional about building community between us and God (spiritual maturity), between each other (fellowship) and with our community at-large (service and evangelism). Please pray that I would communicate the purposes and goal of this new "Community Group" clearly as we spend the first few weeks discussing what we're doing and why. Also pray that it would be successful and that God would use it for His good purposes.

By God's Grace, Jeff

God Never Abandons those who Trust in Him

Psalm 22 was the passage I preached on this past Sunday in our series through the first book in the Book of Psalms entitled The Spiritual Life. The main point that I saw in Psalm 22 as it relates to us today is "God never abandons those who trust in Him." If you would like to listen to the sermon, click here.

By God's Grace, Jeff

Something Bit Me

To quote the movie Forest Gump, "Something bit me!" On Monday evening we were preparing for our usual routine of doing some dog training in the backyard before him taking us on a walk around town when all of a sudden I felt a sharp pain on the side of my leg. I don't know if it was a bee or wasp or something else. Now I am jumpy every time I go outside without long pants on. I haven't been stung by a bee since freshman year at college while walking in Birkenstocks to a football game. By the way, does anyone still wear Birkenstocks? They seemed to be all the rage when I was in college but come to think of it, I can't recall seeing anyone wearing them recently.

Yesterday afternoon I had to opportunity to hang out with a couple of junior highers. They asked some amazing questions about the afterlife, what heaven will be like and about other religions. I am quite certain that I was not thinking those kind of thought when I was thirteen. I'm pretty sure the kind of deep, thoughtful questions I was pondering were realted to how to get girls to like me. I had a fun time hanging out with them, getting to share the gospel and hopefully shed light on some of their questions. I made it a point to let them know that I don't have all the answers but I know the One who does and can at least point them to Him.

Last Tuesday was a teacher inservice on the day before school started. The Ministerial organization in town hosted a luncheon for the teachers and staff to show our appreciation for all of the hard and important work that they do because we know they rarely receive the recognition that they deserve for molding young minds. It was fun to hang out with the other pastors in town while serving hamburgers and hot dogs and encouraging our local educators.

Next Wednesday will be the kick-off of our "Community Group." We took a break from our weekly bible study and prayer time this summer and it gave us an opportunity to rethink through why we meet together mid-week and what we want to accomplish during that time. I hope that renaming our time together will enable us to communicate more clearly what it is all about to our congregation. We want to be intentional about building community between us and God (sanctification), between believers (fellowship) and in the community as a whole (service). Please pray for us as we kick-off our Community Group in the next couple weeks.

Please pray for me to continue growing as a leader, especially of a predominatly older congregation. All of my previous leadership experience had been with those my own age or younger. I want to especially grow in being quick to listen and slow to speak (James 1:19). Pray also for my wife and I to grow in our love for our community and our commitment to prayer.

By God's Grace, Jeff