The Holy Spirit and Theology

Pastor Terry welcomed us, and thanked everyone who helped his family move last weekend.
Announcements included a reminder that Sunday August 13 we will be meeting at the home of Walt and Gwen Cressman, a service that will include baptisms.
Pam shared that we are seeking to fill a part-time office position on the staff. Contact Pastor White.

Terry read from Ephesians 1:3-14, to set us on fire for today's theme, the Holy Spirit. We spent time in worship,gave generously and were led in prayer by Pam Johnson.

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The Holy Spirit and Theology

We turned to John 16 for our message today. Terry began by noting that the Spirit is a part of the Gospel we do not talk about a lot, so for the next few weeks this is our theme.

In the New Testament the Holy Spirit is explicitly talked about as a seed planted within our hearts to bring us to salvation. In the Old Testament the Scriptures approaches this differently. In Book of Judges we see again and again how "the Spirit of the Lord came upon" so and so and they did mighty things for God.

The Old Testament also talks about the Spirit of the Lord in conjunction with prophets and prophecy.

To some extent the way we use the word "spirit" can create confusion. The Holy Spirit is a person, the third person of the Trinity. The way we use the word is different. "Jack is a good-spirited fellow."

In the New Testament, Jesus talks about how He is going to be leaving soon. (John 16:1-16) What He promises is that the Spirit will be coming in His stead, counseling, revealing, comforting and guiding.

One of the words to describe the Holy Spirit is advocate. The advocate is one who speaks on our behalf, watches over us to protect and represent us. The Holy Spirit is with each of us and can be with all of us at all times. Jesus, in bodily form, He reminded them, could only be in one place at a time.

The Holy Spirit inspired and drove the writing of the Bible while simultaneously illuminating our own souls as we read the Bible. The Holy Spirit is the one who makes the Bible come alive for us.

Another part of Jesus' last talk with the disciples is that the Spirit will receive from Jesus what He makes known to us.

In Acts 2 the Holy Spirit fell with flaming tongues of fire and they spoke in other languages. In another place Paul writes about the gifts of the Spirit and in Galatians he details the fruit of the Spirit. And in another places there is a command to be filled with the Spirit.

What is the meaning of all these things? In one place it is written that the Holy Spirit is a downpayment, or a deposit. In another we're commanded to be filled. How do we go from the deposit to the fulness, to the place where we are filled? This is what Pastor Terry will be talking about next time he preaches.

The Good News is that every time the Holy Spirit came upon people in the Old Testament it was for a great task that was humanly beyond them. God can do the same for us in this day and age.

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The Gospel, Freedom and Homeland Security

Chuck Vanderscheuren opened the service by welcoming us. As has been his custom this past several weeks he has given us an update on Brad and his family. They're doing well and Adventurous Christians on the Gunflint Trail is beginning to feel like home.

After the service we were invited to stay after the service and fellowship with us. Chuck also introduced Jeff Burton who will be delivering the message this morning.

The quartet ushered us into worship with the beautiful song "Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee" in its contemporary rendition. After a prayer consecrating the service to God they followed with "Give them all to Jesus, shattered dreams, wounded hearts and broken toys... and He will turn your sorrow into joys."

After several contemporary songs from the blue hymnbook and offering was taken as the quartet serenaded with a song about being led by the Master's hand.

Chuck invited us to share prayer requests and praises, and after a time of prayer he introduced the a guest speaker.

The Gospel, Freedom and Homeland Security

Jeff Burton began by saying he wants to go a different direction from the sermon title printed in the bulletin. The original message was going to be about the power of the Gospel to bring us freedom, but that freedom has to be guarded, by our own internal department of homeland security.

He quickly summarized the main points... Secure your borders, be alert to dangers, in certain situations don't travel alone, etc. Instead, his message today would be about what it really tales to move the world.

Today's replacement sermon began with an Archimedes quote: "Give me a lever and a place to stand and I can move the world."

The actual quote was originally, "Give me a place to stand and a lever and I can move the world." This quote is used frequently in graduation speeches, which often use only one side of the equation or the other. "This institution has given you a lever," or "This institution has given you a place to stand."

For Christians, the place to stand is the foundation laid by the Word of God, and of primary importance in the equation.

This Archimedes Principle served to introduce the familiar story of Jacob, but Mr. Burton succeed in making it fresh by having us look at it from a new angle. Jacob and Esau were brothers trying to build their lives. Jacob, the younger of the two, was asking himself what his place would be in the grand scheme of things. "What does my life consist of? What am I going to achieve with my life?"

In Genesis 27:5 his mother Rebecca steps in and helps Jacob deceive his father in order to obtain "the blessing" of his father, which would normally go to the firstborn. She suggested that while Esau was off hunting, Jacob could dress in Esau's clothes and put a hairy fur on his skin in order to fool his father who had now lost much of his sight.

Has his mother given Jacob a lever or a place to stand? Burton answered, Jacob had been given a lever. It was a clever lever, an angle. But he did not have a firm place to stand. Truth is a foundation. Jacob didn't get the blessing via truth, and there were consequences. Esau vowed to kill him.

The net result is that because of his treachery Jacob has to go into exile. And he does what a lot of people do. He gives a reason for leaving, another lie. Instead of just being honest he says he's going to find a wife. He flees to live with a relative of his mother's named Laban.

The story is well known. He works hard for Laban, falls in love with Laban's daughter and bargains to marry her. But Laban's a schemer, too. Seven years Jacob must labor, and the daughter will be his. Unfortunately, Jacob is not the only clever one. Laban gets the young man drunk and sneaks the older daughter Leah into the tent with Jacob. Jacob is forced to work seven more years to marry the daughter he worked for in the first place.

When Jacob left home years earlier he stopped at a place called Bethel where he had a dream about the future. In the dream God told him that his descendants would be a blessing to the whole world. God promised, "I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go and I will bring you back to the land."

Eventually, things got dicey with Laban, who had sons that were jealous of Jacob's successes in business. Jacob was between a rock and hard place. He could stay and be killed or go home and face Esau, risking the same outcome. Twenty years in the school of hard knocks taught him some important lessons. God tell him to go back home and that He would be with him. Jacob chooses to come back to his homeland with his wives and children.

On the return, the night before he gets home, Jacob was alone whereupon a man wrestled with him till daybreak. It's a famous passage and the implication is that he's wrestled with God. This time his encounter with God is not a dream. God dislocates his hip and for the rest of his life he walks with a limp as a reminded. He is also given a new name, Israel, because he "struggled with God and men and have overcome."

After this event Jacob, now Israel, takes a new approach to life. After being tricked multiple times Jacob grasps that it's time to change. He begins to tell the truth. He puts his scheming behind him. God has given him a place to stand and he knows God is with him. God has given Jacob a place to stand. Jacob goes back to clean up his past and God is with him.

The more you mature in your walk with Jesus, the more you will be wrestling with God. But here's a tip: you will always lose when you wrestle with God. But with God, in losing you win.

Jacob re-united with his brother and it was a beautiful reunion. As a summing up, Mr. Burton shared how Jacob went on to have another son, named Joseph, who never knew his father as a deceiver or a clever manipulator. Joseph lived a honest life, many insights can be gained from grasping the significance of this detail.

In our modern world there is a bias against foundations. Isaiah 33:6 states, "He will be the sure foundation for your times..."

In Matthew 7:24-25 Jesus exhorts, “Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock."

In another place Paul declares, "No one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ."

Let's move the world.

Harvest Fest

Our service was held at the Twig Town Hall in celebration of the new Sunday School season. The theme for this year’s Harvest Fest was Come Deepen Your Roots Wit Us. It’s one of the early autumn days where the sun warms by day and temps drop during the night. As we gather beneath the pavilion there are some in jackets because of the chill and some in short sleeve shirts soaking up the sun. The pillars and front of the makeshift sanctuary are adorned with orange and yellow sun flowers and maple leaves, splashed with sunlight.

“I’m grateful you’re here. I hope you can all hear me,” Pastor Brad said, informally attired in a blue-grey T-shirt. Announcements in the bulletin included… but other practical matters were addressed, such as the easiest way to reach the restroom.

Brad elaborated on the theme for today, deepening your roots, and then read from a passage in Colossians 2, “Be rooted in Christ… And put on love…” What does it look like to be rooted in Christ?

This was Elsa's last week with us and Brooke brought Brad an envelope with a card that included the gift of an oil change for the car Chuck helped her find. We all then prayed for her to be blessed as she went on with her life path.

Darlene, Chuck and Ken led us in some songs including I Saw the Light, You Are My All In All, and others.

Invocation, Offering, a Scripture Reading from Mark 7:4-8, 12-13 and 21-24, Prayers for needs in the Church Family and Special Music by Ed Newman carried us to the message Brad delivered this day.

A Few Words for Our Time

I read about a play on Broadway that opens in a smoke-filled hotel room. It is a political meeting and they were looking for a candidate. Once they identified their candidate, they began looking for a winning platform. Ideas are thrown around, and nothing sticks so they ask the chambermaid who says their campaign should be about love. "Everyone wants love. The platform should be Love."

Today’s politicians do the same thing, looking for a word that tells their story: Hope, Change, Integrity… But so often it all just feels like words.

But the early church did make their platform Love.

Love is essential, but not easy. I Cor 13:4-7 sums it up. What love does and things is does not do. In the midst of this, Paul writes that love always hopes.

The Greeks had plenty of everything but they did not have hope. Located in the center of Corinth was a Temple to Aphrodite, in which employed massive quantities of temple prostitutes so the very name Corinthian meant slimy.

Paul went there and preached with the aim of making an impact. Paul’s hope was not based on wishful thinking, but rather on his knowledge of the power of the Gospel and God's love which impelled him. Love always hopes. There are no hopeless people. Love always endures.

Brad told the story of a Muslim man who listened to the Gospel and noted what it would cost this man to become a follower of Jesus.Everything.

In one of Paul's letter's to the Corinthian church Paul outlined the extent of his own suffering on behalf of the gospel. Brad then noted that there have beeb more martyrs on behalf of Gospel this past century than the previous nineteen and shared other examples of what people have sacrificed for God.

Ultimately, we see Jesus in the Garden and his own anguish in the shadow of the cross. "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

Suffering is not going to make it as a plank on anyone’s political campaign, but God has a higher purpose for you... to make you like Christ.

Come deepen your roots with us.

Mary’s Song

On a brightly lit winter's morn we assembled again here at New Life Covenant Church in Saginaw. Brad greeted us with his usual "Good morning" and noted that it was the Third week of Advent
Announcements Today
1. This afternoon is our Christmas program at 4:00 p.m. followed by an International meal.
2. We've adopted a family through Salvation Army to help them enjoy a fuller Christmas. Those desiring to contribute, bring your things by Wednesday. Wrapped if possible, but not necessary.
3. To those baking Christmas cookies for St. Louis County Jail… let Ruth Anne know if you are baking cookies. We need them by Tuesday a.m.
4. Next Saturday there will be a family Christmas event… caroling for shut-ins followed by soup and sandwiches, then a bonfire.

After Darlene's introit Brad read to us from Isaiah 2:4 and lit the third Advent candle.

4 He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.

Our praise and worship time consisted of singing hymns and carols selected by the congregation, always appreciated at this time of year. The offering was taken and then we read from Isaiah 64:1-4, 8-11

After a time of prayer Elsa Holmgren was introduced to deliver today's message.

Mary’s Song
Elsa began by sharing how she's spent a lot of time thinking about the story of Mary, stimulated in part by an article by Scot McKnight which appeared in Christianity Today:

There are two Marys. One wears a Carolina blue robe, exudes piety from a somber face, often holds her baby son in her arms, and barely makes eye contact with us. This is the familiar Blessed Virgin Mary, and she leads us to a Christmas celebration of quiet reflection.

Another Mary—the Blessed Valorous Mary—wears ordinary clothing and exudes hope from a confident face. This Mary utters poetry fit for a political rally, goes toe-to-toe with Herod the Great, musters her motherliness to reprimand her Messiah-son for dallying at the temple, follows her faith to ask him to address a flagging wine supply at a wedding, and then finds the feistiness to take her children to Capernaum to rescue Jesus from death threats. This Mary followed Jesus all the way to the Cross—not just as a mother, but as a disciple, even after his closest followers deserted him. She leads us to a Christmas marked by a yearning for justice and the courage to fight for it.

Elsa took the nativity figurine of Mary and was studying it this week, noting how the Mary's gaze was directed toward the Child Jesus. So, too, Mary's words draw our focus to Jesus in her first exclamations after learning about the Lord's purpose for her.

What kind of God would choose Mary of all people? She was the first to receive the amazing news of this coming king, visited by Gabriel. (Luke 2:26ff) It is a grand proclamation with sweeping cosmic news that came to a 14 year old girl who had no status in society… ethnically wrong group, poor, living amongst a people waiting for deliverance from a foreign power.

By the world’s standard, Mary may have been the smallest person in the world that God could find. In terms of social stature and importance she was, in the grand scheme of things, equivalent in significance as plankton in the ocean. From a poor family in the humble estate of nobody.

Upon hearing Gabriel's announcement that she would conceive and bear a child who is son of the Most High God who would ascend to the throne of David and rule forever, Mary ran to her cousin Elizabeth's house and exclaimed,

“My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

All this was laying the foundation for a key point that Elsa strove to make. That is, to understand what the Gospel is, it helps to recognize what kind of Gospel it is not.

In those days, there was the gospel of Rome. In Rome's "Gospel" the Emperor was "the power." A system of roads and governance brought a form of peace to the civilized world which was under Roman rule. But in the true gospel, the Good News was that the son of God was an actual savior who would bring true peace…

It is interesting how God chose the powerless to shame the powerful…. And Mary’s song reflects the subversive nature of the Gospel: “God is on the throne and will crush all the Caesars.” Implication: A new king has arrived.

The Gospel of Rome says we have to wear the right clothes, have the right things. The true Gospel says we are not slaves to the Gospel of Rome. Jesus transforms us into heirs to the Good News… the path to Christ’s kingdom is to give up on the Gospel of Rome.

Not only did God become a baby, but He became a baby of the lowest of the low in social stature. He was a man of no reputation… and Isaiah writes of him, "He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him." (Isa. 53:2) All this is in stark contrast to the Gospel of Rome, focused on success, power and a winning smile.

Elsa stressed the importance of rejecting the world's value systems. Only by the grace of God can we have the strength to reject the Gospel of Rome. "Repent of Rome and run back to Him. Our God is not tired of forgiving."

In closing she reiterated that we have a glad invitation to reject the Gospel of Rome and Rome’s rat race… to embrace the Gospel of freedom, meaning and life.

That I May Have a Harvest Among You

It was a somewhat unusual service this morning. Saturday night word went out via the prayer chain that Pastor Brad was on his way to the hospital, most likely appendix related. Those of us who gathered at the Breakfast Roundtable learned that Pastor was heading into surgery. By the end of our discussion on the question, "Do I believe God's best blessings are before us or behind us?" we learned that Brad's surgery was already complete, went well and he was in recovery.

Chuck Vanderscheuren stepped into Brad's shoes to lead the service. Darlene was also out today and Ed Newman filled in on piano. Chuck greeted us, and began with announcements which included the following:
1. The Harvest Festival at Twig Town Hall is coming soon. There will be a whole host of activities on September 12 from 8:00 a.m. till 2:30 with a worship service sandwiched in the middle. Hot air balloon rides will begin early, but there will be plenty more, including food, games, art, and a treasure hunt.

2. Volunteers are still needed for the rummage sale.

3. JoAnn Winship talked about Christ formation in our Christian education program and additional programs that are being discussed by our leadership team. There may still be a need for teachers and assistants.

As an introit Ed played Majesty in Spanish on the piano, pronounced Majastad. Chuck led the congregation in a number of hymns, which was followed by an offering and a time of prayer.

That I May Have a Harvest Among You

Chuck began by talking about how sometimes we feel helpless, perhaps like a car spinning on an icy road out of control. He shared a humorous letter written by Eric Borndal from camp to his parents when he was very young. The food and accommodations were so awful he thought he was going to die. Chuck remembered the first day of kindergarten being that way for some kids who cried because they had to leave their parents and come to school.

With this we began a short study of Romans 1:1-17.

Paul begins his letter to the Romans with a little information about himself. This is a letter to the church of Rome, a church which he has never seen, a church which he was not involved in founding, like many of the others he wrote letters to. In the opening he makes reference to his new birth, and his status, "a bondservant of the Jesus Christ."

Chuck described what a bondservant is. In ancient times when a slave has completed his service and is released, he could stay on as a permanent servant/slave to the master. The man would place his ear on the master's door and have it pierced, making him legal property of the master.

Paul was also an apostle, a calling not a job one obtains through ambitious maneuvering. He notes that he has been set aside for the Gospel.

After going through Paul's resume, Chuck asked what our spiritual resume would look like.

Beginning in verse 8, Paul shares his sentiments toward the church in Rome, how he is grateful for them and longs to see them. Paul's aim in coming to Rome was mutual encouragement as they each shared their gifts.

In verse 16 Paul declares that through preaching the Gospel, the power of God is unleashed, and in the God's salvation the character of God is revealed.

This letter was written at a time when Paul was dreaming about the possibilities of the Gospel when he comes soon to Rome. When was the last time you dreamed about seeing God's power released here? The best is yet to come.

God's Guidance

On a gorgeous summer morning Pastor Brad welcomed us with an especially joyful, "I'm delighted you're here today." The leaders (including Brooke) and youth were back from their trip to Tennessee where they met with more than 5200 other Covenant young people for the CHIC convention. There was a good energy in the sanctuary as we gathered today. Perhaps, too, the fact that we were having a baptism also had Brad jazzed.

Chuck opened the service with a word of encouragement from Paul's letter to Timothy and then the quintet (quartet plus Levi) led us into a time of worship with some great Gospel songs.

The baptism of Brent Charles Peterson was, as usual, a very special time. The proud parent Brent and Arina, accompanied by son Jordan and daughter Cheyenne, presented their infant son to the Lord. Brad relishes these moments which he then shares with us all.

During the offering which followed our Quintet sang On the Jericho Road, to our great delight.

The youth who went to CHIC, along with Eric and Brooke, shared some of their experience with us, in slides and stories. The theme this year was Undone, with a whole range of applications. Some good quotes were relayed to us, include this one from speaker Shane Clayburn, "If you have two coats and your brother has none, you are stealing." Another insight from one of the speakers was how "Justice is God's love in public." Eric Borndal thanked the congregation for its support which made this life changing trip possible.

Today's Scripture reading was from Ephesians 2:11-22, followed by a time of prayer...

God's Guidance

Brad began with a humorous anecdote about how he (typical of many men) resists asking for directions when seemingly lost while driving. It was, of course, a setup for today's theme, getting guidance from God.

The Holy Spirit really does guide and lead and direct us. Throughout Scripture we see examples beginning with the way God led Israel in the Wilderness to numerous New Testament examples beginning with the commencement of Jesus' ministry to numerous examples from the Book of Acts.

It's interesting that everyone knows people can talk to God. But in our modern world when we say God can speak to us, it's called schizophrenia.

Brad then had us turn to the instructive passage in I Samuel 3:1-10 where the young Samuel first hears God's call.

1 The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.

2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the LORD called Samuel.
Samuel answered, "Here I am." 5 And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down.

6 Again the LORD called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
"My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down."

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD : The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.

8 The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!"
Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

Without amplifying the context, Brad pointed specifically to a key principle in this passage: listening to God is a learned behavior.

"What if we all," Brad said, "made this our prayer... 'Speak, Lord, your servant hears."

Next Brad had us look at a rich passage in the book of Numbers, the story of Balaam and his donkey. In Numbers 22:21-31 the prophet Balaam has a problem getting his donkey to go where he wants, but in reality the donkey is not being stubborn for no reason. He sees the Angel of the Lord standing ready to slay his master if he proceeds down this foolish path. Ultimately, God speaks to Balaam through his donkey. But would it not be strange for the donkey to start bragging when he got back to the stable as if he were something wonderful instead of just a... donkey?

Guidance from God is not intended to puff us up, to make us self-important and big-headed. God communicates with us because He desires to have a relationship with us.

Dallas Willard wrote a book called Hearing God in which he tells the story of a little boy whose mother had died. He could not be consoled and did not sleep well at night. He would come into the room where his father slept and ask to sleep with him. Willard said the boy could not relax and be at rest until he was not only with his father, but knew that his father's face was toward him. In the dark he would ask if his father's face was turned toward him and then he could fall asleep.

Willard then writes about how lonely life can be. Some people seem to get by in life with a silent God, but it's not much of a life and certainly not the life God intends for us.

So, how do we recognize the voice of God? How do we keep from confusing it with our own impulses and self-talk? First, through experience. How do we recognize any voice? The tone is consistent, the content likewise is so. Jesus, in John's Gospel (Jn 10:4) said of the Good Shepherd that "His sheep know His voice."

In another passage, Luke writes of the two men who encountered the Lord on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24). As Jesus clarified passages from the Scripture, their hearts burned within them. This, too, is a way in which we recognize His voice, by the effect it has on our hearts.

Brad closed by reminding us that we can't find God by always being in a hurry. We need to slow down. And we need to listen, and pray, "Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening."

And You Shall Receive Power

It was a cold one this morning as we bundled up for the 9:30 service, temperatures about twenty degrees below average for the first weekend in June. But things got warmer once we'd gathered for worship with many new faces in our midst today. Brad warmly welcomed all, and we quickly forgot all that chill outside.

I can't say enough about how much fun it is to hear the quartet sing for us to kick off the worship time. Thank you to Darlene, Chuck, Ken and Dale for their faithfulness. We're very blessed to have you and we don't take it for granted.

Amongst the announcements, two are especially important. VBS begins Monday June 15, a week from tomorrow. And the Church Rummage Sale is coming up, so bring your things to sell, and your wallet to buy.

Guest Alan Finnifrock shared with us about a ministry in Alaska called Alaska Christian College. ACC is a ministry of the Evangelical Covenant Church of Alaska. Its mission is whole life discipleship.

Today's Scripture readings were from Isaiah 6:1-8 and Romans 8:12-17.

Our prayer time revealed that we have a range of needs in our church to continue praying for. This was followed by the breaking of bread as we celebrated the sacrament of communion, a participatory even in which God says, "I am with you."

And You Shall Receive Power

Pastor Brad began the message with a series of questions. "Suppose you picked up a paper and read a story about a church where they had what they described as an apostolic outpouring of the Holy Spirit so strong that miraculous healings were commonplace. What would be your honest first response after reading an article like that? Would you tend to be skeptical? Or would you take it at face value?

"Suppose you were to see a television report about a church in downtown Duluth that had been dying and then they had some real dramatic services and people started speaking in tongues, and long time members said they'd been baptized in the Spirit and understood what Christianity was about like never before. Would that be a good thing or bad thing? How sure are you?"

Brad followed with more questions. When someone says we should expect a miracle every day, can I expect a miracle every day? Can God speak to us in dreams?

Finally, leading into our topic, "How certain and clear is your understanding of the person and work of the Holy Spirit?"

Brad began by reading this passage from John 16.
6Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. 7But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

Can you believe this? Jesus said it is better to live in the era of the Spirit than to have lived when Jesus was here on earth.

The Lord's very last words to His disciples after the resurrection and before the ascension were these: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

Jesus did not promise a starter kit or more instructions. He promised power. This was before Pentecost and the disciples no doubt talked about what it could possibly mean. Then it happened. These men, who had been hiding in fear, were no emboldened. Acts chapter 2 tells the details. Flames of fire, a mighty wind, and emboldened disciples preaching the Gospel in a whole assortment of languages including Greek and Egyptian and even Swedish, which Brad TIC called "the original language of heaven."

Peter, who only weeks earlier had betrayed Jesus three times, was so emboldened that when he stood and preached there were 3000 people saved in a single day. All barriers were torn down, and, according to the book of Acts, nobody claimed any of his possessions as his own, but they shared everything they had. "And there were no needy persons among them."

In short, when the Holy Spirit came, everything was changed and nothing would ever be the same again.

Brad cited Acts 19 where it is recorded that, "God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them."

In another place it was written that "everyone was filled with awe and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles."

He then returned to his theme. "You will receive power." For 2000 years Christians wrestled with this. What does it mean? What if we devoted ourselves to understanding this truth?

One thing it does not mean is that our church will look like a first century church. Here are some things we can take away from this promise from Jesus.

1) Reverence the Spirit's mystery. There are many things in life we can control and put into a box. The Holy Spirit is not one of them. While talking with Nicodemus in John 3 Jesus said "the wind blows where it will." Like the wind, the work of the Spirit is uncontrolled. It is not our genie in a bottle.

2) Align yourselves with the Spirit's work in your life. Mystery is not to be confused with randomness. The Holy Spirit operates on clear guidelines. For example, the Bible says "do not grieve the Holy Spirit." We grieve the Spirit when we knowingly and willingly sin. He is grieved when human beings choose to defy what is the good will of God.

3) Walk in the Spirit. Walking is a picture of fellowship and relationship. The idea is to engage in activities that keep you connected to the Holy Spirit.

4) Request the Holy Spirit in our church, to manifest his power in our lives. This is Brad's prayer and he desires it to be ours, that we earnestly ask the Holy Spirit to manifest His power in our lives and in our church.

Does anyone here need any power? Paul's prayer in Ephesians was that we would be strengthened with power in our innermost being. What if we had the power to heal marriages, the power to knit the hearts of parents and children together?

I don't know a lot about the Holy Spirit, Pastor Brad, but I do know one thing. Jesus promised... "You shall receive power."

This is the Gospel.

Loving the Lost

What a beautiful sunny Sunday morning here this Memorial Day weekend. Pastor Brad Shannon began by noting that this is Ascension Sunday, the seventh Sunday after Easter. During this period after the Resurrection there were many proofs that He was alive and that we would be His witnesses.

Pastor Brad commented on the Craig Groeschel's book It which Brad had been reading this week, which tries to define what "it" is in those churches which are thriving. One theme which Brad draws out is the importance of loving the lost, a theme to be highlighted in today's message. Do we love those people who are far from God?

Announcements began with noting that there is no more Jr. & Sr. high youth group for the duration of the summer, as well as no men's Bible study. The Building Committee will be meeting on Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m. at the church.

The quartet -- Chuck, Darlene, Ken and Dale -- led us in worship this morning, followed by the offering.

Brian Muecke was with us today and spoke to the congregation about the work that we are helping support at Covenant Park. This year is the 70th anniversary. The theme is Win, Build, Equip. That is, win people to Christ, build them up in the body of Christ, and Equip them for lives of service.

This was followed by a song by Levi Landsverk. Levi missed Confirmation last week and Brad said, kidding, that Levi would have to sing this week as a consequence. It turns out, Levi brought a CD and indeed performed for us a song that perfectly dovetailed with today's message about reaching out to others as Christ's body. The song had penetrating lyrics and it was a nice way to learn that we have yet another singer in the church.

The Scripture readings, from Acts 1:1-11 and Luke 24:44-53, were followed by a time of prayer.

Loving the Lost

Brad said he feels a little like One-Note Johnny as he repeats this ongoing theme that we need to love the lost. "It breaks my heart when people in churches say 'We need new members because we can't pay the bills.'" This and several other statements were cited to make the point that many non-Christians are far from Christ not because they were rejecting Jesus but they were rejecting the church.

One example of a problem in many churches is that the people are friendly, but often only to each other. That is, an outsider might visit, and instead of feeling welcome they can be made to feel unwanted, uncomfortable and awkward. This "inward focus" is a signal that the church is unhealthy. Healthy missional churches have a passion to share Christ with others.

Jesus was once asked what the greatest commandment was, and He said to love God. And the second greatest, "to love you neighbor as yourself." The two are actually one, because loving God means loving people.

All too often instead of loving the lost Christians insulate themselves from them because of the way they look, the movies they watch, the music they listen to, the clothes they wear, the cussing after a bad golf swing, the tattoos or piercings, or they are homosexuals. But these are the very people for whom Christ died.

Love propels us to reach out to the lost. "Do you love the lost?" Brad asked.

Brad pointed us to a passage in the New Testament from which important lessons could be drawn pertaining to this theme. One day, Jesus was teaching in someone's home. The door was open, which in Palestine meant you could enter, and when Jesus entered the house quickly became flooded with people. Four guys who saw that Jesus was here went to bring a crippled friend who desperately needed Jesus. They were thinking of someone else and not just themselves.

A healthy church can not just focus on itself, Brad said, and challenging us with the question, "How many meaningful conversations with non-Christians have you had this past week?" Fortunately, we can ask God to grow our heart for the lost.

Brad called these four men in the Gospel story the Fab Four. And he outlines four lessons we could take away from this account.

1. They recognized their friend needed Jesus.

2. We see that it took four people to get this one to Jesus. A healthy church recognizes it is not all the pastor's job. It's everyone's job. Outreach is a team effort.

3. The Fab Four did everything they could to get their friend to Jesus. The Gospel account states that they had to actually break in through the roof to get their friend to Jesus. They were determined to eliminate all barriers.

4. Faith that Jesus can actually change a person's life. The Fab Four had this kind of faith.

At this point Pastor Brad shared a line from the film The Guardian, in which Kevin Costner is an elite Coast Guard rescue diver. At one point someone asked Ben Randall (Costner) how many lives he's saved. The expectation is for a number in the hundreds, because his reputation is as one of the greats in this. He replies, 22. "That's the only number I ever counted." It was the number of those he'd failed to save. Instead of boasting of our achievements for Christ, healthy churches focus on how many more there are whom God wants to reach.

This is the Gospel.

Because We've Been Forgiven

Grey skies. The departing edge of winter attempted to re-visit the Northland with its gloomy face, but here inside New Life Covenant resurrection light continues to shine.

"Good morning! I'm glad you're here," Pastor Brad exclaimed at the opening of this morning's service. Brad went on to share how he had just returned from the Town & Country Commission in Chicago, a gathering whose aim is to create healthy, missional churches in rural settings. Rural areas are a mission field. There is much need in our rural communities.

Announcements were many this morning.
1. Cheryl Borndal reminded us that camp is coming. Please submit your registration forms. Those wishing to contribute for scholarships should call Cheryl.
2. There are two weeks left for Adventure club before breaking for the summer. The 29th of April we will have a special evening of showcasing the creative work of not only our kids but also our congregation. Please contact Susie Newman if you have anything you'd like to share, in any medium from knitting or quilts to carvings or scrapbooks to things you've rebuilt or repaired. We'd like to share the hidden creativity of our church family.
3. The Northwest Conference Annual Meeting will be held at the end of this week on the 24th and 25th.
4. A Men's Bible Study meets at the church on Saturday mornings at 7:30 a.m. Breakfast is included.

The quartet -- Chuck & Darlene, Ken and Dale -- led us in worship this morning. Chuck began by sharing the story of the healing of the blind man from John 9 followed by the song "Somebody Touched Me."

Our Scripture readings were both from the New Testament.
Acts 4:32-35
John 20:19-31

After a time of prayer the message followed.

Because We’ve Been Forgiven

Pastor Brad began by opening his heart saying, “I don’t have a strategy. I offer only the cross… which is empty.”

The message was based on a story from Matthew 18, which Brad reconfigures into a modern setting. It’s a story about a president/CEO of a software company. It’s the annual meeting and it has been learned that one of the executives had been embezzling. It wasn’t just a little amount, it was something on the order of “bazillions” (one of Brad’s favorite words.)

A witty aside here. Brad commented on how the Roman Flat Tax worked. “Pay your taxes or we’ll flatten you.”

So, this guy owes an enormous amount of money and gets the memo: the head man wants to see him. The picture Brad paints is of a crooked embezzler being called to account. He has no more opportunities to bluff, to deceive, to cover his tracks. The cards are on the table and he’s finished.

In Roman times, not only did the embezzler have to pay, but his family as well, and the offspring of his family, unto perpetuity.

In response the embezzler goes for a long shot. He grovels, throwing himself at the mercy of the CEO/president in who’s hand the power to absolve resides.

Unexpectedly, the old man gets choked up, even feels compassion, and surprises everyone by rescinding the sentence. The debt is forgiven.

Brad pointed out at this point that the forgiveness was costly to the CEO/owner of the company. He forgives, and accepts his loss. A celebration ensues because the embezzler has gone from death to life.

The application is self-evident. God forgives us when we lay our sins at His feet, and celebrates, because we have moved from death (which we deserve) to life.

In the words of the old negro spiritual, “It’s a-me, it’s a-me, it’s a-me Oh Lord, standing in the need of prayer.”

The parable is clearly a metaphor. God is this owner/CEO, and we ourselves, like the embezzler, have a moral guilt that is exceedingly great. Jesus paid our debt, on the cross. As Brad puts it, God forgives recklessly, extravagantly, without limits. His mercy is beyond comprehension.

The second part of this story is intriguing. Now that the embezzler is off the hook how will he behave? In no time he comes across another man who owes him money. It’s a small debt, and the man doesn’t have the money at this moment. The forgiven embezzler is so incensed that he has the man thrown in jail.

Interestingly, this latter debtor implores the forgiven embezzler with the very same words that the embezzler threw at the feet of the CEO. But in this second instance there is no mercy.

Authentic forgiveness is never cheap. We want the other person to pay, to feel the hurt we’ve felt. What we don’t realize is that non-forgiveness is also costly.

Pastor Brad reminded us that forgiveness does not always result in reconciliation. But it does mean letting go of your right to hurt them back.

There are consequences for not forgiving. Unforgiveness is a burden as is the bitterness it leads to. Don’t allow unforgiveness to choke all the joy out of your heart.

There is also a third part to this story. The embezzler who had been forgiven was ultimately returned to the board room. The CEO says, “You didn’t get it at all. I was willing to take the loss, and would still be, but you don’t want to take the offer.”

Instead the man is now sentenced to pay.

Jesus finished this story with these very sobering words. “And this is how My heavenly father will treat every one of you, unless you forgive your brother from the heart.”

Now, you must choose… no more explaining. Choose to forgive. Put that burden down, ‘cause otherwise it will kill you. Let it go. Choose life.

End of story. This is the gospel.

A Two Way Transaction

Editor's Note: It would be an understatement to say we regretted missing last Sunday's service due to weather. The Christmas hymns are a meaningful complement to the festiveness of this advent seasons. Likewise we were out of town for the Christmas Eve service... so my apologies for the absence here this past week. It's my understanding that we missed some special moments with our church family, including the sharing of Casie Ecklund's poem which was published in a 2008 poetry collection titled Brilliance. You may read the poem in the "comments" section at the end of this blog entry.

Today's service began with a reminder from Pastor Brad that Christmas is not a day, but a season. Beginning with the wonderful passage from John's Gospel, "We beheld His glory," Pastor then made personal for us the many ways in which Jesus comes to us as highlighted in the Old Testament prophecy concerning the coming Messiah. (Isaiah 9:6) Jesus, the "wonderful counsellor" can counsel us through hard choices. Jesus the "mighty God" can help us through the things that overwhelm us. Jesus the "everlasting father" is ever watching over us, accepting us as we are, His eyes ever turned toward us with compassion.

Following this warm welcome, the congregation shared in the selecting of Christmas hymns which we sang together. After the offering, Major Florence McArthur of the Salvation Army read the Old and New Testament Scriptures for us today. Isaiah 61:10-62:3 and Luke 2:22-40

A Two Way Transaction

The sermon began with Pastor Brad reading from John 1:1-14 which begins with these beautiful words, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." The verses Brad built his message around were these:

10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

"Can you imagine... being rejected by your own family?" he began. Brad cited a new problem that is occurring in Nebraska due to laws which allow parents to drop off their children, permanently, at hospitals or safe houses with "no questions asked." This past week a father discarded nine children, ages 1 to 17 at an Omaha hospital. Other parents have abandoned their teens.

The passage in John it says that Jesus came to his own people and they did not receive him. Another translation says "they did not want Him." The original Greek word is a verb meaning "take." They did not take him. They should have received Him into intimate fellowship, but instead rejected Him.

Another translation (Eugene Peterson's The Message) reads this way:

He came to his own people,
but they didn't want him.
But whoever did want him,
who believed he was who he claimed
and would do what he said,
He made to be their true selves,
their child-of-God selves.

Some did want Him, accepted Him, believed... and they became who they were meant to be.

Another passage was noted here as well. "He made His home with us that we could be at home with Him."

The were two key ideas Brad outlined based on these verses. First, our acceptance with God. And second, God not only approves of us but delights in us.

Acceptance with God
Robert Frost, in his poem Death of the Hired Man, gave a definition of home that Brad never forgot. "Home is the place where , when you have to go there, they have to take you in." It is one of the priceless privileges of being in a family. It involves a special kind of acceptance, the kind we find only at home. It is an unconditional acceptance.

Too often, in the world at large we're accept "if"... If we scratch their backs, they will accept us and maybe scratch ours. We're loved not for who we are, but for what we can do.

At home, we experience an unconditional acceptance that is sometimes in spite of ourselves.

Approval from God
Jesus gives us approval from God and actually takes delight in us. Our presence in His presence brings God pleasure.

What especially brings God pleasure is when we want Jesus so much that we will do what He says. It is in this new status as God's children that He takes delight in us.

God is glad to have us in His family. We are a delight to the Lord of the Universe, of incredible worth in God's eyes.

Some of our problems come in part from a misunderstanding of what it means to be "in Christ." To be "in Christ" is a theological term which Paul uses frequently. It has been compared to being a sheet of paper which has been placed inside a book. If you throw the book away, you throw the paper away. But if you place the book in a safe place, the paper is safe as well. And if the paper is stained, splotched, dirty, you don't see the paper, you only see the book. The same is true of our position in Christ. When God looks at us, he sees Christ. He does not see our dirt.

God not only accepts you, God delights in you. Do you believe this? Love Him so much that you'll do what He says, whatever that may be.

Don’t Despise the Day of Small Beginnings

Pastor Brad Shannon opened the service by welcoming any guests that were here among us, noting that this was a place to meet God and we’re glad you’re here.

The service was again conducted in a restructured manner, with announcements preceding the sermon, and the worship, offering etc. taking place after. Here were a few of the important announcements cited.

1. The CHIC Rummage Sale fund raining event will be held next Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Gethsemane Covenant. If you have items to sell, bring them to Gethsemane Covenant after 5:30 p.m. on Friday evening, or call Cheryl Borndal to arrange a pickup.
2. Joanne shared that there was a survey in the back of the church which she would like all to pick up. She is seeking to arrange a women’s Bible study.
3. Paula shared that the Circle of Life women’s group will be meeting monthly from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and (among other things) their next meeting will be Octrober 18.
4. Brooke shared that Adventure Club for kids will begin again, starting a week from Wednesday.

After an introit by Darlene, Dana Stroschein shared a song with us. But beforehand, Dana opened her heart and shared about an fresh experience she’d just had. Saturday night she participated in a “homeless night” event in which people spent the night in boxes or tents. Dana spent the night sleeping in a box. What excited her was that in the morning she had an unexpected opportunity to share her faith in a manner that came natural to her. The woman said she was not into religion, and Dana said, “I don’t do religion either; I do God.” It was a powerful testimony.

Don’t Despise the Day of Small Beginnings
Pastor Shannon began his sermon by talking about names, citing people whose original names we may not be familiar with, who became famous by other names. In the realm of sports Lew Alcindor we came to know as Kareem Abdul-Jabaar, and Cassius Clay became Muhammed Ali. In the world of entertainment, we know Reginald Dwight by his name Elton John, and Robert Zimmerman as Bob Dylan.

There are others with famous nicknames and some – like Dale Earnhardt – who were known by their numbers,

This morning’s sermon was taken from Revelation 3, the letter to the church at Philadelphia. The ancient city of Philadelphia had been built on an earthquake fault line and as a result had to be rebuilt many times, often with new names. It was a city with an ever changing identity. For this reason, Jesus makes a promise to these people in verse 12, “I am going to change your name to an unchanging name.” There is a future for you in which you will never have to move or re-build again.

Verse seven, which opens this section, begins with “These are the words of Him who is holy and true. My name… Holy and True. I am sovereign, holding the keys of the house of David. This reference comes from Isaiah 22, and to the Philadelphia church He is saying, “I’m that guy. I hold the keys, and what I open no man can shut, and what I’ve shut no one can open.”

Often Jesus opens doors for us, but we tend to want to go through doors that are locked. The key to getting it right is to listen, for Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice.”

Brad shared an example of a ministry that was started by two young people who simply listened and stepped out in faith. They used to go to downtown Minneapolis loaded with bag lunches which they dispersed to hungry and homeless people along Nicollet Mall which riding up and down the mall on skateboards. They called their ministry Shredding for Jesus. By stepping out, others became involved, and when they later moved to Chicago to go to Bible school, others took over the Minneapolis arm of this work. They started a second route in Chicago, expanding the circle of impact.

Open doors exist all around us. We need to be willing to walk through.

In this letter to the church at Philadelphia, Brad noted that there were no words of rebuke. “I know your deeds. I see your courage. You may not be the richest and most powerful, but I’m using you because you depend on me.” Jesus says to us. ”Never forget when you are weak that I am strong.” Small churches can be used in mighty ways.

God wants to use us to start serving our community. The enemy whispers lies to us saying, “You’re small, you’re weak. What can God do with your puny church?”

Pastor Shannon exclaimed that he wants us to embrace the motto, “We are willing to be inconvenienced for the Gospel.”

In the letter, Jesus says not to worry about that Synagogue of Satan. “I will be with you. I’m coming soon. Don’t let anyone steal your joy. Stay positive and hope filled.”

The close of this sermon was a reading from Romans 8, the resounding affirmation of Christ’s faithfulness and unfailing love from The Message.

So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:

They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.

None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

This is the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving Begins in the Mind

The service opened with Pastor Brad Shannon telling us the that today’s message is a continuation of the kingdom theme, and this week will be the introductory part for next week’s message on Jesus’ Magnificent Kingdom Courage.

This week the pastor received a call from Chuck Colson’s Angel Tree Ministry asking if we would “adopt” a 12 year old girl from Saginaw for Christmas this year because her father is in prison. Because of Colson’s incarceration due to his Watergate involvements, he discovered the grace of God and has a lifelong ministry to prison inmates. One facet is this effort to bring a measure of Christian charity to the children of inmates who cannot be there at this meaningful time. New Life Covenant will bring a little bit of Christmas to a girl named Ashley.

For the children’s challenge, Pastor Brad donned a bright orange hunting cap and used the example of camping to engage the kids, to illustrate God’s provision. And to remember those less fortunate than us who have been so blessed by His goodness.

Today’s Scripture readings:
Psalm 100 and John 6:25-35, which includes that well known passage where Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.”

There is no reason to ever lose hope when we are followers of Jesus. The kingdom of God is at hand, has broken through. That ‘in-breaking of God’s kingdom continues to this day and God wants to keep breaking into the world… through us.

Wherever this occurs there will be resistance, because God’s kingdom is a threat to earthly kingdoms.

Jesus was not a docile, inoffensive guru who went around saying, “Be nice.” If this is all that his life was about, it would not have ended on a cross. People get crucified when kingdoms are threatened.

Jesus’ life exemplified a magnificent defiance as demonstrated by his encounters with the powers of his day.

Pastor Brad detailed some of the leaders in Israel from that period of history beginning with Herod the Great whose life overlapped the birth of Christ Jesus, the man responsible for the slaughter of the innocents as recorded in Matthew 2:16. It is recorded that Herod had ten wives and 43 children. Despite his power, he lived a paranoid existence because of his cruelty and was always suspicious. As a result, he had his favorite wife, Mariamne, executed as well his mother and oldest son, among countless others. Thus it was said of him, “Better to be Herod’s pig than his son.” The historian Josephus notes that Herod was so cruel to those he didn't kill that the living considered the dead to be fortunate.

Because he knew that there would be no mourning for him when he died, Herod gathered the principle leaders of Judaism to Jerusalem in order to have them executed upon his death. In this manner he intended to have the nation of Israel mourn when he died.

Ultimately, Herod’s three sons – Archilaeus, Herod Antipas and Philip -- went to Rome to seek power and in return received regions where they each ruled. Like father like sons. Archilaeus maintained a cruel rule in Judea, Herod Antipas was given to rule over Galilee, and Philip procured power over Caesaria Philippi.

In one terrible event, Archilaeus purportedly executed 3000 Jews in an effort to maintain power. Fifty Jewish leaders went to Rome to make an appeal to Caesar: do not make this man king. But Archilaeus indeed became ruler and executed the fifty.

Against this backdrop we see the New Testament stories in a more vivid light. The Lord’s parables, as exemplified in the parable of the ten minas (Luke 19:11ff) show that He was not afraid to confront the authorities.

Earlier in this gospel account, Luke lays out the powers of this world at inauguration of John the Baptist’s ministry: Pontius Pilate governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee,
brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas. To whom and where did the word of God reveal itself? Not to the powerful and famous but to a hermit in the wilderness. The Word of God came to John the Baptist. (Luke 3:1-2)

So it is that we see the Law of Inversion in action. “The last shall be first and the first shall be last.”

When John the Baptist rebuked Herod the tetrarch for his heinous behavior, Herod had John placed in prison. Jesus at this time did not fear the powers. He set about to return to Galilee.

Where is your Galilee? Where is it hardest for you to manifest the Kingdom? In your job? In your family? In your neighborhood?

What is it you need to do to bring the Kingdom into your Galilee? Maybe you need to bear witness. Or confront. Or perhaps simply become humble.