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FIRST WORD – 1.16.25 “3 V 3”
1/16/2025
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get…
FIRST WORD – 8.29.24 “Egypt Mission”
8/29/2024
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35 (NIV) This week I’d like to share a recent update from our missionaries to Egypt, Anthony and Soyoung Sellari. I think it fits well with our reading…
FIRST WORD – 10.4.24 “Hurricane Helene”
10/4/2024
“Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.” Psalm 57:1-2 I’ve had quite a few people back in Iowa and Minnesota ask me if we were impacted by Hurricane Helene.…
FIRST WORD 1.2.25 “Grow in Wisdom”
1/2/2025
“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” Luke 2:52I have a lot of memories attending church when I was growing up. I was a very energetic child, what they’d call hyperactive, especially at church. It sure was hard to sit still for a whole hour during worship! Mrs. Stensland,…
FIRST WORD – 12.12.24 “Madonna and Child”
12/12/2024
There is a story about a man who was standing in line at the post office. Standing in line was not one of his favorite things to do, especially during the busy Christmas season. This day was no exception. He waited anxiously for the postal clerk to weigh his packages and give him his stamps.…
FIRST WORD 12.27.24 “Lessons and Carols”
12/28/2024
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1This Sunday we’re enjoying a special Festival Service of Nine Lessons and Carols for worship. It was born out of the grief and horror of the First World War, which had ended only 6 weeks before Christmas Eve…
FIRST WORD – 12.19.24 “A Savior has been Born”
12/19/2024
“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:11-12When I was a child, I remember spending a lot of time pouring over the Sears…
FIRST WORD – 11.23.24
11/23/2024
Fon the morning of April 9, 1945, in the last days of the Third German Reich, a tall man was led from his cell at Flossenburg prison to a rope hanging from a hook on a wall in a nearby courtyard and unceremoniously hanged alone. In the next few hours, his colleagues, Admiral Wilhem Canaris,…
FIRST WORD – 12.6.24 – Advent
12/6/2024
Every year during this season of Advent, we set off on a journey to Christmas. We often begin this journey through beautiful decorations, festive songs, delicious food, and of course, the gifts! But to get to Christmas, our Advent readings first take us into the wilderness of Jordan where we meet a strange and excentric…
FIRST WORD 11.7.24 “Basketball”
11/14/2024
Some of you know the story of former basketball superstar, Larry Bird. Larry was the third of six children, five boys and one girl. His father was chronically unemployed and an alcoholic who ultimately took his own life when Larry was in high school. Larry's mother was a strong, proud woman who held her family…
FIRST WORD 11.7.24 – “Suffering”
11/7/2024
“And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5 This is one of…
FIRST WORD – 9.27.24 “Roof and Courts”
9/28/2024
They say a picture is worth a thousand words! Here are some exciting pictures of progress on two special projects we’ve been patiently waiting for. The basketball courts and roof shingling. Praise God! And thank you to everyone who has helped make these things happen. Fencing going up around the two basketball courts, in partnership…
FIRST WORD – 11.2.24 “All Saints”
11/2/2024
Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” Said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” John 11:38-39 Death stinks,…
FIRST WORD 10.17.24 “Harvest”
10/17/2024
“He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Luke 10:2 You’ve heard me share a few farming stories since I came here from Iowa. This coming week, I’ll be heading to Minnesota to help my brother with…
FIRST WORD – 10.10.24 “Hurricane Milton”
10/10/2024
The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.” Luke 8:24 A week ago I wrote about hurricane Helene, how thankful we were that we missed it, and how we might help. This week,…
