A Mighty Fortress

"Good morning," Pastor Brad said to open the service. "I'm grateful for today. We're going to be looking at Psalm 46, this declaration of confidence in who God is.... Isn't it great to know we worship a great God."

Announcements
` Council meeting Tuesday
~ Mary Stauffer and her husband will be here to share their story on Friday April 4. It's an amazing story about her and her daughter's kidnapping off the street in St. Paul 30 years ago.
~ VBS will be the week of June 16 at the Twig Community Center

We opened the worship with two great hymns of the faith, Holy, Holy, Holy and A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.

After the offering we lifted up a host of needs in prayer, and praised God for the positive things He has done.

A Mighty Fortress

Brad began by reading Psalm 46, the foundation of this message, and then a story about an event in which Brad was canoeing through white water rapids and his experienced partner just gave up and let go of his paddle to get a grip on his canoe as they went over.

Pace of change in all kinds of ways is accelerating. Pluto is no longer a planet. Crimea, when did that happen? And will be a country tomorrow? Fashions changed, values seems to change. Technology changes... and guess what? We don't get to vote on it. Change happens.

Isn't it encouraging that despite all this change, there is an unchanging God in the midst of it, our refuge and strength.

If we're not clear on what is our anchor, our rock, our hope in this fluid, fluctuating world, we're in trouble. The only way to thrive in this world in flux is to hold onto that which is in firm and changeless. .

The first verse of the psalm says, "God is our refuge and strength." People are moody, circumstances vary, but God never has a bad mood day. God never wakes up on the wrong side of the bed. His faithfulness never changes. His holiness never changes. His character never changes. Through Malachi, God said, "I, the Lord, do not change."

The internet is vast, but think about this. Everything that has been known, can be known in all the universes that exist, are held with ease in the mind of God.

God's love is perfect, and forever. He is always infinitely wise. He is always there for us no matter how everything else changes. "God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in time of trouble."

Then we read verses four and five:
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, 
 the holy place where the Most High dwells.
 God is within her, she will not fall; 
 God will help her at break of day...

We are bombarded with information, but starving for wisdom. No matter how many books get written every day, this one book, The Bible, is sufficient for all our needs, a book without compare in terms of influence and power. It is a continuing outpouring of the sustaining Spirit of God, a river that nourishes us.

Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; 
he lifts his voice, the earth melts

What is amazing is how things all seem fine and in an instant all can change. We think we're in control but we are not. We live with an illusion that there will be a solution to the human problem. But all these technical and medical advances have unexpected consequences and do not fix it.

If you look at the history of utopian communities, they always begin with good intentions and end as train wrecks.

We need to pray, at all times and circumstances. When we work, we work. When we pray God works.

The wonderful climax of this psalm goes like this:
“Be still, and know that I am God; 
 I will be exalted among the nations, 
 I will be exalted in the earth.”

Isn't it good news that in Him is the hope of the world.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Politicians come and go. Administrations come and go. But none are the hope of the world. Jesus is the hope of the world.

As a church, we are not in the politics business. We are in the Jesus business.

Circumstances will always ebb and flow. That is why our anchor needs to be affixed to that which is unchanging. 

God Still Speaks

"Good morning. I am grateful you’re here to worship," Pastor Brad said, announcing, "We worship a big God."

There were two announcements this morning. First, to note the insert in our bulletin about prayer. The Covenant has always had a central message of calling people to hear, repent, believe… and praying for those who are far from Christ. Norm shared a second announcement about the need for volunteers March 23 to April 1 to go to Tuscaloosa in a re-building project there. Contact Mark Hudson (St. Louis County) or Norm.

Brad then asked, "Do you want to hear from God? Does God still speak? The answer is, yes, God still speaks." This would be the theme of today's sermon. Darlene then ushered us into worship this second Sunday in Lent with the "Here I Am To Worship."

Brad read a passage from the Pslams. “Out of the depths I cry… I wait for the Lord, more than the watchmen wait for the morning" and we sang the beautiful, "Knowing You>"

Brad shared how they were talking in the adult Sunday School class about how all that we have is a gift of God. “Now finish the work… according to your means.” The offering was taken while Darlene played a melodic song of thoughtful reflection.

The Scripture reading by Joanne was from Mark 9:2-9.

One reason for many new faces that were with us this morning was the Sacrament of Baptism for Braylee Frye, infant daughter of Sean and Kim. Brad shared how the Covenant church views baptism as a symbolic act but even though it is not a saving act, it is a picture of God’s initiative in a child’s life. God initiates, and we can look back to His prevenient grace, His sign of desire to bring to fulfillment His promises in and for us.

The prayer time, which included expressions of gratefulness and intercession, was followed by the sermon.

God Still Speaks

Is God trying to talk to you? Is God trying to talk to me? Does God actually want to lead our lives?

Is it possible some of you are saying, “I am having to make some big time decisions right now. I want to know if I’m where I’m supposed to be? How do I know?”

Some decisions in life are not that big. Oatmeal or Pop Tart? White shirt or blue shirt? These are not big decisions, but some decisions really are big and loom over us.

Back up a sec… Does God even care? I know God spoke to Abraham and Moses, but does God speak to ordinary people like me?

The Bible has many very practical principles around this topic. Knowing God’s will is not like trying to find Waldo in Where Waldo books.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you… plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for."

Prosper here does not mean being incredibly wealthy. It means God cares about our well-being. A hope and a future is promised here.

Brad said he wanted to share two principles today. The first is that God’s will is more about who you are than where you go or what you do. It’s not about where you’ll work or who you marry, but it’s about who you are.

What if you figured out the right place God wanted you, but never made yourself the person God wanted you to be. Even if you are in the right place, you can be out of God’s will if you are not the person God wants you to be in that place.

Give your whole life, completely, to God. Worship is this: being His always in all things. Romans 12:1-2 puts it this way...

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

I have to continually be in God’s word, I have to continue to place my life in His hands, on His altar.

“Brad, I know all this stuff. What I want to know is whether it should be Bachelor #2 or Bachelor #1. I want to know if it is door number two or door number one.”

But God says when we put ourselves on the potter’s wheel and let Him mold us, we’ll know.

God’s will… rejoice in all circumstances, praying always.

Many questions do not require deep prayer. The Scriptures spell things out in many areas. I Thessalonians 4 notes that it is God’s will that live lives that are holy and pure. Ephesians 5 speaks of walking in the way of love, putting aside sexual immorality, greed, foolish talk and coarse joking. We need to work on being more selfless and in verse 17 Paul says to be intoxicated by God, not wine.

God would rather be a sculptor in our lives than a traffic cop. God would rather be a watercolor artist than the answer man at the Mall of America who tells us how to find the bathroom. God wants to make each of us into something beautiful, His masterpiece.

The second principle Brad put forth was this: God wants us to desire Him more than we want to know His answers.

“Excuse me, do you really love Me, or do you really just want answers?” It is not God’s desire for us to be using God like a Google search engine. God wants us to know Him, not all the answers.

Brad then told us the story of Brother Lawrence, a lay brother who spent most of his life working in the kitchen at a monastery in France. He was not educated enough to become a cleric, so he washed dishes, but all the while he practiced the presence of God. His writings were later assembled into a book that had touched countless people since, The Practicing of the Presence of God. "There is nothing more holy than living in His presence," he wrote.

This, too, was David’s one request: “That I may dwell in the house of the Lord forever… “

It is out of that intimate friendship that God’s answers begin to flow.

“I will instruct you in the way you ought to go, and I will guide you with My eye upon you.” In order for us to have God’s guidance, we need to be seeking His face. Brad shared the example of being at a party with your spouse across the room and with her eyes she says it’s time to go… God wants to communicate this way with us, Brad said. It was a beautiful way for us to transition into Communion.


Our mission here at New Life Covenant: Connect, Grow, Become

Raising Our Children

"I'm delighted you're here today," Brad warmly exclaimed at the start of today's service, sunshine streaming in the windows.

Announcements today included:

1. Roger DeLoach has published a book called He Calls My Name about the Christian ministry that has been occurring in our local race tracks. A fundraiser will be held at Gethsemane Covenant on Wednesday evening.

2. The building committee has scheduled a meeting for Tuesday the 30th.

3. There will be an August 2nd Open House at the Crestman's after the service. More information coming soon... In the meantime, mark it on your calendars.

4. This week's VBS was wonderful. Thanks were extended to all those who gave of their time to help make it happen.

5. And don't forget next week's fundraiser Rummage Sale next Saturday. Bring your items to donate on Friday... and your wallets on Saturday.

There was an amusing comment made when Paula requested that people bring their favorite Sloppy Joe recipes. Joe Stapleton made this amusing request: "Can't we call them something other than Sloppy Joes?"

Darlene's introit was again meaningful. Familiar lines seeped through the melodious tune... "Create in me a clean heart, Oh God, and renew a right spirit within me." After enjoying some video footage from the week's VBS experiences, the offering was taken.

Today's Scripture readings were from I Kings 17:8-16 and Galatians 1:11-24. A hymn followed and Brad took the pulpit to give the message.

Raising Our Children

Today's starting point was Proverbs 22:6, "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."

Brad then shared how it seems we're constantly hearing about advances in genetics so that one day we may have the ability to define our child's traits in advance by genetic engineering. Tongue in cheek, he imagined a future Kids-R-Us Catalog where we make such choices.

The reality is, that as parents we have responsibilities toward our God-given children. Brad spent this morning's time with us outlining four objectives we should strive for as we raise our children.

1) Build strong self-esteem.

Just because building self-esteem became a buzzword in child-rearing manuals these past two decades does not mean it is unimportant. Children need to know that they are valuable, both to God and to their parents.

Brad shared a story about an 8 year old boy who attempted suicide because he did not believe he had value. In fact, he believed he was the source of all his parents' troubles. Strong self-esteem is an important quality for children as they move toward adulthood. They get this through three behaviors which are within our power to give. A word, a look and a touch.

Kids need to hear affirming words. Jesus, when He was baptized, heard these words from the heavens: "This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." Our smiles, our hugs, our affirming words are vital to our children.

2) Build sense of personal confidence.

Confidence is inter-related with competence. As we invest in our children, to learn skills in their areas of interest, they experience the inner satisfaction that competency brings. Whether it be art, music, sports, we as parents can foster confidence within our kids by investing time working with them.

I had many stories come to mind while Brad shared, of my parents investing in me, and our support for our own children's interests. Brad share how his own father taught him important lessons as they did things together. On one occasion, Brad was trying to chop down a tree but it wasn't going well because the axe was a bit dull and the tree a bit hard, so he gave up. Brad's father came over and used this experience as a teaching opportunity. "Brad," he said with his hands on Brad's shoulders, "in the real world you're going to find that almost everything you do is hard. school, athletics, marriage, church work. It's more complicated than you think, just like that tree you're dealing with. You can decide to quit, or find a new, better approach. Son, I'm expecting you figure out a way to get that tree on the ground even if it takes all day."

Brad did put that tree down, but he took a more important lesson away that day.

3) Teach them relationship skills.

One of the bi-products of our increasingly fragmented society is fragmented families. Both adults and children are challenged by the broken relationships and fewer than ever are learning how a healthy relationship works. There is more escapist behavior than ever these days.

There's a standard line that private pilots use when the navigation gets fouled. They say, "I don't know where I am or where I'm going, but I'm getting there at a very high velocity." Many young people are entering adulthood at a very high velocity, but velocity without direction can be a very dangerous thing.

4) Establish Christian values and spiritual foundations.

There's a strange notion that we should raise our children "values free." But school and television are not values free. They tear down the values we hold and replace them with alternates. So the question is, who will impress their values on our children?

We can't disregard or neglect this important truth: parents are the primary influence on their children. Deuteronomy 6:7 says, "Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." In other words, every experience shared with children can be a training experience."

Brad then told a story about one occasion in which a man drove by in a very chic Cadillac. Brad commented on how rich the man must be. Brad's dad replied, "That guy owes money to every man in town. He's got creditors lined up 20 deep and they're not getting their money. Yet that man's pride leads him to put on a show, but Brad, it's phony. It's phony to live beyond your means. It doesn't please God to put on an act, to pretend you're something you're not." Brad said that he can still remember the color of that car, and that influenced to this day the way he does personal finance.

The world is a theater through which we have the opportunity to teach God's values.

The world needs children with strong self-esteem, great competency, great relationships and strong spiritual foundations. Let's make a commitment to to turn it up a notch, with God's help.