Everlasting Father

Wet and dreary outside, warm and bright in the sanctuary. "Good morning! The Lord be with you," Pastor Brad said to begin our service. "I'm grateful you're here today."

The themes Brad has been speaking on during this Advent season revolve around the Names of Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor, the Prince of Peace. Today we will look at another of God's names, Everlasting Father.

Announcements
1. This afternoon is the Christmas Program & Dinner. Everyone is welcome. 4:00 p.m.
2. A sign-up sheet will be passed around during the service for gifts for a needy family we have adopted.

Darlene opened our time of worship with a melodious "Hark the Herald." The congregation sang O How Shall I Receive You and the Brad & Darlene sang a duet about Mary's prayer for strength to fulfill her calling in the challenging role for which she had been chosen. After singing O Come All Ye Faithful as a congregation, John and Kristina lit the Candle of Joy, the third candle of the Advent Wreath.

The children came forward and Susan Jessico led a children's time with a lesson about community and how when everyone pitches in, it makes everything easier. A time of prayer then preceded the message.

Everlasting Father

Brad began with a story about a young marine in the 1950s who was stationed in San Diego. This young man's father, who had been a mortician and politician in a small town in Indiana, was also an alcoholic who ran around on his wife and eventually just left her with three young kids.

This young marine's life was one of confusion until it turned around in a major way after attending a revival meeting. Eventually this man had three sons who all came to follow Christ, one of them becoming a pastor. That pastor is Brad.

We all have memories of fathers, and they vary because despite good intentions fathers also can make mistakes. Not all our memories are the same. We can sometimes mistakenly project our image of our father onto our everlasting father. The truth is that our Heavenly Father is not just like our earthly fathers.

Maybe the words "I love you" never came from your father's mouth. The result for many people is that they keep trying to perform for their fathers, trying to "earn" his love, to hear those words that he is proud of us. And then we turn this attitude to God, trying to earn His love, to be worthy of His approval.

Some of us may have had angry dads who hurt us verbally, shredding our hearts.

Let's look at Psalm 103 where it tells what our Heavenly Father is really like:
The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

And in another place it says, "Come to me you who are burdened and heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Rest.

God is not angry at you. He will not abuse you.

As it is written, "I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and give you hope."

God is love. He is on our side. He is compassionate and He cares for you. He is not angry with you. "And if that's all you get," Brad said, "I believe you're halfway home."

No matter how you mess up or how far you run, God's promise is this: "I will never leave you or forsake you." He's an Everlasting Father full of compassion.

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.

He Really Does Love Us And We Really Can Love Others

The Third Sunday in Lent

This morning Pastor Brad Shannon opened by declaring, “No matter what road you’re traveling, no matter what you’ve carried in here today, Jesus loves you indiscriminately.” His sermon theme today would be, “He Really Does Love Us and We Really Can Love Others.”

After Darlene's introit we enjoyed music by the trio, which included a reading of Philippians 3:7-11 by Chuck Vanderscheuren. We all felt blessed when they sang a heartfelt rendition of On the Jericho Road.

Today’s scripture reading was from John 4:5-42, the story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well.

He Really Does Love Us & We Really Can Love Others

Pastor Brad shared how in his reading of the Gospels he has been amazed by Jesus’ emotional strength. In addition, Jesus showed great physical strength as well, walking all day, often teaching late into the night, pouring Himself out with seeming tirelessness.

Drawing from the seventh chapter of Luke, today’s message unveiled three incidents in which Jesus is revealed as not only strong, but also empathic. Luke 7 begins after Jesus had shared His great sermon on the mount. He was undoubtedly tired, yet when he was approached by a Roman centurion, Jesus gave his full attention. This Roman soldier had not come on his own behalf, but to make a request on behalf of an acquaintance’s servant.

Despite the low station in life of this servant, for Jesus there were no nobodies. Jesus’ love was universal and unconditional, whether it be for a prime minister or prodigal son. To Jesus, every man, woman or child matters. And Jesus healed this servant boy.

After leaving the Centurion, Jesus got held up by a funeral procession. All too often, our focus is inward, on our own needs. But Jesus, by being sensitive to the situation in front of him, recognized that this woman who had lost her husband previously was now grieving at the loss of her only son. Her despair at losing his son now left her all alone in the world, and Jesus’ heart went out to her.

Jesus steps forward and instructs the dead youth to rise, and he sat up. They were all filled with awe and praised God. When Jesus’ sensitivity was stirred, his power was unleashed.

From here the Lord went to dinner at a Pharisees house, a gathering of A-list persons in the community. An inappropriate woman shows up and begins weeping on Jesus’ feet. She then begins to pour perfume on him, anointing him with expensive oil.
The host is thinking to himself, “If Jesus were really a prophet, he’d know what kind of person this was and would not allow it.”

But this was a woman who had made great mistakes in her life, and had great regrets. In coming to Jesus, she recognized that he had massive amounts of forgiveness for this kind of person, and her response was reciprocal, for one who has been forgiven much loves much. (vs. 47)

Who should be the greatest lover? The one who has been forgiven the most. You have been renewed in Christ and should become increasingly indiscriminate lovers.

Why are Christians often seen as the most judgmental? We ought to be recognized as the most loving. I want to be one who spills love over shoeshine kids and all who are need.

As the dinner party ends, the guests are abuzz with the question, “Who is this man?” It is a question people have been asking for 2000 years, and it is a most important question. Who is this man in your life? Have you decided who Jesus is in your life?

If you’ve been forgiven much, then love much.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Blessed Are You

After a very special time of worship Brian Muecke, executive director of Covenant Park Bible Camp, shared with us about the good things that God has done at the camp these past years. “Faith in Action” is the theme for 2008 at Covenant Park, based on verses from James 2:14-17.

Cheryl Borndal led several youth in an entertaining skit on why kids go to camp. Eric Borndal stated it was his desire and goal to see 50 young people from our church participate in camp this summer. For a relatively small church, we sent an impressive 38 kids to camp last summer.

Scripture readings were from Psalm 121 and John 3:1-17

Pastor Brad Shannon delivered a message on The Beatitudes this morning beginning with a story about an incident which he witnessed in a restaurant on a Sunday afternoon while he was in college. A waitress had the misfortune of accidentally spilling a gallon of thousand island dressing onto the head, face and chest of a man in a suit. Being dressed up on a Sunday, one could infer that this man and his family had just come from church, but his behavior resonated anything but Christian character. His rage included cutting and belittling insults, and the demand that the restaurant purchase him a new $350 suit.

Pastor Brad underscored that we, as Christians, are supposed to be different.

In Matthew 5:1-10 Jesus begins his first recorded sermon with the qualities that distinguish a follower of God.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs in the kingdom of God.” Happy are you when you discover you are spiritually bankrupt. This is the starting point. As Isaiah declared upon seeing the Almighty God in Isaiah 6, “Woe to me! I am undone.” When pride has been stripped away, we can only then begin to recognize our need of God.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” This is the second internal reality. When our hearts are broken, we can begin to be instructed of God. As David wrote in Psalm 51, God cherishes “a broken and contrite heart.”

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Meekness is not passive, is not weakness, Brad said. He compared the meek to bridled horses. It is an attitude of heart that is fostered in a manner very different from self-help books. It involves absolute surrender to God.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled.” This is also an inward matter. Sooner or later we must all learn that the things of this earth cannot satisfy this deep hunger. We are to hunger for the things of God. Only when we have this hunger will our lives truly begin to make a difference.

Christianity is not behavior modification, it begins with internal renovation.

The first behavior change that others see is revealed in this fifth beatitude: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

This is followed by “Blessed are the pure in heart.” Purity of heart means “what you see is what you get.” Again citing David, “What God desires is truth in the inmost parts.”

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” There is a difference between thermometers and thermostats. Thermometers adjust to the room. Thermostats, on the other hand, change the temperature of the room. They adjust the room. As Christians, we are not called to be like the world, reflecting the world. Our presence here is intended to change the world.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of God.”

We have been blessed. And it is our privilege as God’s people to be part of the fellowship of the unashamed.

Ash Wednesday, A Service of Penitence and Confession

Ashes remind us of our mortality. In the early days of the church Christians fasted for 40 days between Good Friday and Easter. In more recent times the Church decided that in the 40 days before Easter we will bring the cross into focus and call people back to the core commitments of following Christ, remind us that the cross costs us something, and cost Christ everything.

Darlene played the beautiful hymn Beneath The Cross of Jesus for the intro into worship.

I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place
I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of Thy face
Content to let the world go by, to know no gain or loss,
My sinful self my only shame, my glory all the cross.

Scriptures were read from Joel 2: 1-2, 12-17
2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10
and from the gospel of Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Pastor Brad’s meditations revolved around the heart. Proverbs 23:7 states that “as a man thinketh in his heart, so he is.” In the Bible the heart is considered the seat of emotion, as well as the seat of decisive action. Luke 6:45 speaks of good people bringing good from the good they have stored in their heart, and evil people bring evil from what they have stored within. Faith is a matter of the heart, an internal reality.

Every one of us will die one day. Our heart will stop. But you, your soul, your mind, your intelligence does not ever die, and our bodies will also be resurrected.

Brad gave a challenge to us tonight to consider whether our heart is right. He said he is not asking if your social life is good, if your intellectual life is good, or if your body is in good shape, but if your heart is right before God.

We often prepare for retirement with a 401K, we prepare for health emergencies by getting insurance. We need to be prepared for death by knowing that our hearts are right.

God created us in his image to live in harmony and fellowship with him, but we live in a sin ravaged world. We have been separated and alienated from God, and have turned our back on Him. Christ has broken the bonds of death and God’s gift of salvation is available but we must reach out and accept it.

“Yet even now,” says the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity. Joel 2: 12-13

We then went forward for the Imposition of Ashes, read a prayer of confession together from Psalm 51:1-17, and sang “As the Deer.”

“You alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship You.”