These are stressful times- economically, politically and perhaps for you, personally. As a pastor, people often ask me, "Why, Why is this _ (fill in the blank) happening to me?" This question is one we all ask during times of stress and/or experiences of deep pain. Behind the question is a sense that life or even that God has somehow singled us out for the painful situation we are facing. The question is normal and natural and one which everyone asks...

Summer is here, officially here! Those budding artists who arrange flower beds of beauty are enjoying some of the early fruits of their labor. The children for the most part, too, are enjoying the reward of their labors — summer break. This also means schedules and routines are broken and left to wither until fall season. For me, summer means camp! I can't think of a year that has gone by in my entire life that I have not attended or helped to staff a summer camp...

What is one of your favorite things to do in the summer? What are you looking forward to doing this summer? Anything special or out of the ordinary? Will you be riding RAGBRAI? Or helping to offer hospitality to the thousands who will be in town on July 23?...

shared the following story with a senior group this past week where we spoke of memories of our fathers. By J. Grant Swank Jr. One evening our son Jay, who was then seven years old, had misbehaved, and we were not seeing eye-to-eye on the matter. I felt as if I had botched it, and I didn’t like the feeling at all...

Ask virtually any Christian about prayer, and they will likely respond that they wished they prayed more. Prayer can often seem like an unattainable goal, something that we can always improve upon. What is the key to fruitful prayer? Jesus describes this in John 15:7: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you (ESV).”...

I want to share a profound pearl of wisdom with you — a spiritual life truth. Every time you fall, get up! People with more sophisticated language call that resilience. Resilience is an essential life quality. What is it? I have read numerous definitions. ...

As a protestant Christian, I believe that salvation is by grace alone. That is to say, salvation is entirely a free gift of God that He gives in Jesus Christ irrespective of anything we have done to deserve or earn it. You don’t become a Christian based on your behavior. You become a Christian by accepting the gift...

We are told that the veil of the Temple that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place was torn in two from the top to the bottom at the time of Jesus’ death. Before you say, “Oh, big deal!” consider that this veil was of woven fabric a foot thick. ...

Scripture focus: Ephesians 4:20-5:2. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love. ... (Ephesians 5:1-2, ESV). God must have a sense of humor. When you read those words, you might chuckle a little bit. After all, Ephesians 5:1 says, “Be imitators of God.” How can someone like me imitate God? Many of his attributes immediately came into my mind...

As human beings, we can never be sure that things will be all right in the end. We may believe they are going to be all right, we may have faith in the future, but there's always that nagging doubt. And there are times that are so horrendous that we can convince ourselves things will never be all right again...

Have you ever read “The Chronicles of Narnia?” “Or Alice in Wonderland?” Surely you are familiar with "The Wizard of Oz." In each story, the characters step through a wardrobe, a mirror, or a screen door to enter a different world. The cross of Jesus Christ is such a portal, but it is not a fantasy. ...

I wonder what Jesus is up to during Lent? It is very likely that if you’re reading this column, you have a relationship with a Christian church. (I have lived in Spencer less than a year so I’m new to this rotation. This is my first time writing an article. ...

In just a few weeks we will be observing Easter. I think that it is safe to say that Resurrection Sunday or Easter, as it is commonly called, is the most important holiday that the Christian Church celebrates. Other holidays — like Christmas — may have more sentimental value, but Easter Sunday has by far the most theological value. ...

Americans love to shop. We are bombarded with advertising designed to lure us into buying products that will fill specific “needs” we have in our lives. Our consumerism often spills over into our spiritual life. The worship may not be our style so we allow that to hinder our entrance into the presence of God. ...

Since many Christians participate more frequently in worship during the Lenten season, it might be a good idea to consider what worship involves. In worship, man ascribes worth to God. In worship, man bows the knee and acknowledges God’s holiness and sovereignty...

Yes, friends, we are now in what is called the season of Lent, a 40-day period between Ash Wednesday and Easter. It excludes Sundays because every Sunday is like a little Easter where Christians celebrate the resurrection power of Christ which not only happened 2,000-plus years ago, but is happening all around us wherever and whenever we invite Christ into our hearts and our lives...

In our home, we all like different things for supper. Mom will fix spaghetti and inevitably someone will wish we had cheeseburgers. If she fixes noodle soup someone will want fried chicken. Our tastes are all different, yet one thing we all agree is good (and vital) 100 percent of the time: food. We all like food. We agree food is the thing that we all like...

Heart month is a good time for a heart exam. Several years ago my wife and I read some testimonials in the Spencer Daily Reporter of what Planet Heart could reveal with its widely popular screening program. The screening can help identify heart related health risks and can then enable them to treat patients to prevent serious medical conditions. ...

God created life. Therefore, I want to take this time to talk about the issue of life. To get our topic going consider the lifeboat exercise. I was first introduced to the lifeboat mentality in junior high. I’m sure you’re familiar with the exercise. ...

Is anyone else noticing a silence? No longer is Christmas music blaring from mechanical Santas with swivel hips. No longer do we hear Burl Ives chuckling his “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas!” The worry over grandma’s close encounter with a reindeer’s hooves is over. Secular radio stations, book stores and shopping areas no longer play carols of praise...

With the new year comes new resolve (at least temporarily!) to better ourselves. Of course, the statistics make us wonder what good these resolutions are. Of the 133 million Americans who make resolutions each year, only 9 percent are successful in fulfilling their resolutions. Nearly half of those who make resolutions have already given up on their resolutions by the end of the first two weeks of the year!...

Any of you remember Linda Ronstadt singing, “What’s new? How is the world treating you?” I am amazed that turning the page of the calendar stirs hope that this new year will be better. It creates fresh resolve for us to become what we always hoped and dreamed we could be. Are you happy with yourself? I do not mean your looks or your weight. I mean your character, your inner soul...

A few years ago I read an excellent book by Ross Douthat called “Bad Religion.” His argument is that the problem in America is not that we are becoming irreligious (surveys show that Americans continue to claim more faith in God than most other nations) but that we are practicing bad religion. ...

There is a particular political ad which I have not seen, but it evidently features Ruline Steininger who is 103 years old. She was born seven years before women could vote and she has lived long enough to see a woman running for president. She said, “In my first century of life, I have seen many incredible things.” The way she phrases that, it sounds like she expects to live for at least another century. ...

This is like a double header; a win-win. The birth of Jesus Christ, the son of God, is celebrated on Sunday. And the resurrection of the same crucified and buried Jesus Christ is celebrated on Sunday, also known in the Scriptures as the Lord’s Day, or the First Day of the Week. What a reason to celebrate Christianity...

I’m thankful for Christmas. Christmas is probably the most celebrated event with its longevity in our world. My mother and others have shared stories, poems, articles, cards, books, etc. with me down through the years that carry a message and have made an impact on my life. I would like to share the following for my article this week in the Spencer Daily Reporter. We thank Randy Cauthron for making this space available to pastors...

In light of the beautiful season we are approaching in which we continue to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, here’s some sage advice about interacting with friends and family. There's probably at least one more fact that we know nothing about in every person’s situation. ...

Advent is a season to focus on the coming hope we have in Christ. The prophet Isaiah cried out to God, "O that Thou would rend the heavens and come down. ..." Indeed, God has come down and has already visited us in the person of Jesus Christ. The Word has taken on human flesh, and now we have hope. ...

Are you a good listener? Think of a recent conversation that had some substance to it. Did you interrupt the other person? Were you preoccupied with waiting for them to finish so you could say what you wanted to say? Then you probably have some work to do on your listening skills. If you focused on them and asked questions to help them express their ideas, you are probably a good listener...

Thanksgiving comes but once a year, but it can carry a different significance for different people. For some, it is a time to spend with family and eat too much. For others, Thanksgiving is a time to watch football games that very few people actually care about (sorry Lions and Cowboys fans). And still for others, Thanksgiving means very little beyond serving as the final checkpoint for when it becomes socially acceptable to listen to Christmas music...

The beauty of autumn is all around us. The harvest is being gathered in. Pumpkins are all around and we have been enjoying the apples and cider. We can see the fruit of labor and the fruit and vegetables that have grown all year which we now enjoy. The Christian faith also talks about fruit. ...

Read Ephesians 1:7-10, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. ESV...

Your value as a Christian is not in who you are, but who Jesus Christ is in you. Many believers deem themselves unworthy to do anything for God. Your value is not in who you are but who Jesus is in you. As you humble yourself you will be exalted. As you surrender your will to the Father's will you will be spirit empowered to do the greater supernatural works...

The Bible makes things very clear; we are real sinners -- real sinners, who need real forgiveness. Since we have real sin, we need a real Savior. Romans tells us: "All have sinned. ..." I don't like to hear that I'm a sinner -- do you? I like to think of myself as a "nice person." And, if it weren't for the cross, I would probably be able to convince myself that I'm not all that bad...

What do we want for our children? If you are reading this pastor's column, my guess is that you want your child/teen/adult offspring to have faith in God. Right? And you probably also value the wisdom and teachings of the Bible. So, when Jesus says, "Let the little children come to me," (Matthew 19:14) we are warmed by the image of his open, welcoming arms...

The tale of Jonah is one of the most well-known stories in the Bible; with numerous adaptations and allusions, from Veggie Tales to Pinocchio to George Orwell to John Milton's "Paradise Lost." This well-known tale tells us that Jonah was called by God to do ministry in Nineveh (modern-day Iraq) but instead Jonah heads for Tarshish (modern-day Spain). ...

"Beloved, let's love one another, for love is of God, and everyone that loves is born of God and knows God." 1 John 4:7 The most predominant understanding of love in American culture is associated with feeling. The feeling of love is good and beautiful. Don't you smile when people say, "We fell in love?" Sounds like there is a big pit just outside of town and they fell in. Ha! But, it is more than feeling. It is also commitment, serving, sacrifice, and miracle...

The Clay County Fair will begin in two weeks! The fairgrounds is an increasingly busy hub of activity as the day draws near. People have various thoughts on the Clay County Fair: -- Oh I hate it! It's noisy, and dusty, and concerts and the fireworks drive my pets crazy. ... I don't like the greasy food -- I don't need to eat anything on a stick for heaven's sake -- I am trying to reduce fried foods in my diet, and I always buy something I don't need!...

If you want to live in the perfect will of God and experience His richest and best blessings for your life, you need to desire to do the perfect will of God. This requires honoring and obeying God and His Word, the Bible. In order to honor and obey the Bible, you must first find out what it has to say...

I want to talk about confession of sin. Let me begin by asking a question. If we confess our sins, is that sufficient for salvation? If we go through the routine, "Lord, I'm a sinner. Forgive me." Is that sufficient for salvation? Not necessarily -- because merely acknowledging our sins doesn't wipe them away. ...

Sometimes we wonder why there has to be pain. What is the point of discomfort or outright agony? Yet pain is a gift. It is a signal, telling us that something is wrong. Pain is like a gauge that warns us, tells us to take care of ourselves. Either you are not functioning properly, or there is a threat from the outside. Your shoe is rubbing against your foot because you have a bunion. That is a problem of dysfunction. Your hand is on a hot burner -- get it off! That is an external threat...

NBC's sitcom "Parks and Recreation" chronicled the story of the parks department of fictional Pawnee, Indiana. The show oftentimes pokes fun at the bureaucracy that paralyzes governments despite the best efforts of those involved. At one point, the main character Leslie is running for office and is being helped by one of her co-workers, Jerry, to stuff envelopes for mailing. ...

My wife, Denise, and I recently returned from a vacation to Glacier National Park and Portland, Oregon. We enjoyed an awesome trip with many new experiences and wonderful memories. I'd like to share one with you. We journeyed to Portland to visit our son, Luke, and his wife, Liv. ...

The last time I wrote in this space I discussed how we listen to sermons. Specifically, I challenged you to listen like the Bereans. Acts 17:11 tells us that when Paul preached the gospel in the Greek city of Berea: 11The Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true...

In the Bible we read of times when people are on the run, seeking shelter, seeking peace in the midst of chaos. We too can be literally or figuratively on the run, feeling caught up in things beyond ourselves that seem to take over us and seek to take our lives. ...

A prophet that we read about in the Bible said, "And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry." (Habakkuk 2:2-3). A New Testament writer said, "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." (1 Corinthians 14:33)...

It has been said that man can live 40 days without food, three days without water, nine minutes without oxygen and only one minute without hope. It has also been said, if you could convince a man that there is no hope, he would curse the day he was born. So, hope seems to be an important part of everyone's life...

I can't really blame my genetic roots for my mouth. I actually CAN blame my mouth for my words which came from my brain so... my brain is in big trouble with me. What I say is often exactly what I don't want to happen. Even the Bible tells me in the book of James that our tongue is unruly and needs a spanking! No man can tame it without concentrated help from the Bible. ...

Romans 8:14-17, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." ESV...

(Note: I had the privilege of giving the baccalaureate message this week for the Clay Central-Everly School District. Some of us like to hear this kind of hopeful message but don't go to a baccalaureate service, so I thought I'd share a condensed version in my column this time.)...

What do Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Martin Luther King Jr., and untold Chinese church leaders have in common? Each of them had to wrestle through the ways that their faith intersected with politics. Throughout history, Christians have had to wrestle with this intersection between faith and politics. ...

What is so precious to you that you would never let it go? A wooden cross sits in my study. It is 10 inches high, hand-carved out of cedar wood. It is a beautiful gift from Carlton Quee, a 90-plus-year-old retired carpenter, a very gifted wood carver. Especially fascinating is that the cross is firmly gripped by an intricately carved hand...

I have been doing some thinking about preaching, and particularly, what makes us good listeners when the Word of God is preached. My hope is that we will listen like the people of Berea, who the Bible says were people of "noble character" because "they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." (Acts 17:11)...

A newborn baby cannot live without the sweet nourishment of its mother's milk or some facsimile. As the child matures so does its digestive tract and the desire and, in fact, the need to consume solid food. In the movie from 2002 "Antwone Fisher," directed by Denzel Washington, a young Navy man is forced to see a psychiatrist after a violent outburst against a fellow crewman. ...

It seems that as the temperatures of the cold winter days are rising, the clothing that people wear to maintain decorum of modesty is rapidly plunging, leaving only the bare essentials that the store keepers require. (Thankfully there is a standard of shirts and shoes, although a minimum standard.)...

Ah, the Tower of Babel. When we read that story in Genesis, we smile to ourselves and think (somewhat pridefully), "Silly ancient humans. Did they really think that they were going to be able to make it to heaven by building a tower? Didn't they know that God doesn't live 'up there?'"...

From this Saturday it will be just three weeks until "Love Spencer." I look forward to seeing all of the participating churches and fellow believers uniting together to share the love of Jesus in a tangible way throughout our community. I really think these simple acts of random kindness impact many of the recipients in a very positive way...

Jeremiah 31:34 "'The time is coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers . . . I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.'"...

Here we go again. "God's Not Dead 2" is soon to hit theaters. As a minister, some people expect me to eagerly expect its release, and to encourage people to see it. I might tell people to see it, but not for reasons you might think. I urge Christians to see it so that you will look at it from a different perspective than your own. Look at it through the eyes of all those yearning to know God, to be forgiven, to belong to a community characterized by compassion...

At our church we are doing a sermon series based on Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son. You probably know the story: A young man asks his father for his share of the inheritance, now. He basically wishes his father dead. He says that his father's stuff is more important to him than his father. ...

You may see a person around town this week wearing a simple bracelet of elastic with black letters on white cube beads, reading LIVE IT. People who attended the Community Lenten Service on Wednesday, Feb. 17, had the opportunity to make such a bracelet, and then were invited to wear it, share it, or use it as a tool for prayer, like prayer beads...

A new commandment I give unto you, "That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another," John 13:34 KJV. I wonder if I am the only husband that gets a nervous cold sweat when reminded of Valentine's Day. There was a day when I really thought that I was suave and I said and did the right things for Valentine's Day. ...

Many of us have heard the quote "Don't worry about anything, pray about everything." In the day in which we live, that is often easier said than done. Many nations of the world, including America, are experiencing chaos through terrorism, economic upheaval, weather extremes and a multitude of life issues...

What is it like to be an Iowan in January 2016? It is to be bombarded with messages of aspiring presidential candidates. Terrorism and migration are hot topics this year, but they are only two examples of the complex issues facing our nation and our world. Those seeking the presidency claim to have answers, but we all know that any U.S. president has limited power and wisdom to make a real difference...

As we stand at the beginning of a new year, many of you may find yourself standing at a place of new beginnings. Perhaps the year 2015 was a rough year for you, and you are looking forward to a new start. As the calendar turned from Dec. 31 to Jan. 1 a sense of optimism was in the air, and you were determined to make this year count...

All of us enjoy the Christmas tradition of exchanging gifts with loved ones. It is a rhythm of giving and receiving. What would be your favorite Christmas gift of all time? The very first Christmas, wise men brought gifts for the baby Jesus. The gifts we give and receive express love...

The events of the past month have shaken us deeply. The attacks in Paris, France, were so random, so arbitrary. Streetside cafes? Concert halls? How do you prepare for someone who decides to open fire on a pedestrian mall? But at least Paris is "over there." I think Americans felt empathy for the French, but also took comfort in the fact that attacks like these were taking place an ocean away...

When you feel like you just can't wait -- take a breath. Be still. Slow down and savor the in-between time where something is germinating, growing, however imperceptibly. As Gertrude Mueller Nelson says in her book "To Dance With God," "We equate waiting with wasting ... ...

I am thankful for our heritage. The Congress of the United States of America on Oct. 3, 1863, as proclaimed by President Abraham Lincoln, passed an act of Congress designating an annual national day of Thanksgiving: "I do, therefore, invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States ... ...

Your relationship with Jesus Christ affects every aspect of your life and defines who you really are. Who are you really? You are the living life-giving manifestation of the love of God. You live in a body that sees, hears, tastes, smells and touches but none of these natural senses will produce spiritual results...

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:28) People of faith worship! Worship is the central fruit of faith. ...

Boy, am I ready for November to come! It is out of character for me to say that, because I dread the approach of winter. But the calendar can't get past Oct. 31 too soon for me. For the past few weeks, we have been subjected to many commercials for scary movies and TV programs on a horror theme. ...

Yes, I was in prison. My experience there is always physically and emotionally draining, but spiritually exhilarating. Last week, I went to prison for four days at North Central Correctional Facility in Rockwell City, a minimum security prison. Though it is a bit unsettling to watch and hear the huge barbwire gate lock shut behind you, I found that the men inside are beautiful souls who have the same hopes and dreams, human emotions and basic needs as any of us. ...

This is my favorite time of year to drive across Iowa. With the arrival of autumn and the coming harvest, the landscape always seems covered in every green and earth tone. Light green, dark green, yellows, tans, oranges, browns, and all under a brilliant blue sky ... despite not being heavily forested the state of Iowa has its own colors and characteristics of autumn. This is a time for seasonal change. School has begun, the Fair is complete, fall sports seasons are well underway...

The hold-out signs of "Back To School" and our routine is the Clay County Fair. Fall is here and I love it! Fall meant to me as kid: summer is over and it's back to school, pompous grass in the ditches waving to a bus of sleepy school kids stuck to sweaty "pleather seats" (plastic made to look like leather), a brand new box of nontoxic crayons, safety scissors (the kind that always cut like they were lefties in a right hand), and fall football practice...

Harvest in northwest Iowa is upon us. It seems only yesterday that our farmers were planting. Time has a way of getting away from us and according to James 4:14, life is even a vapor. There is a wonderful promise in Genesis 8:22, While the Earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. ...

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV) "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." In the above verse, if you are a believer, if you will pray with humility with the intent to seek God's way, and if you will repent of any wicked ways, then you have God's promise that He will hear your prayer, He will forgive the sin or sins that you repented of and He will heal your land.. ...

Hebrews 11:1-3 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible...

Two weeks ago I accompanied 14 youth from Hope (Everly) and Bethlehem (Royal) Lutheran Churches, our youth director Chris, and his wife Alyssa, to Kansas City, Missouri, for a week of urban mission work. We had the privilege of meeting Marty, an urban gardener who helps supply food, teach children to garden, and raise funds for the Niles Children's Center. ...

On a recent vacation to the north woods of Minnesota, Denise and I turned onto the sand road called 'Hideaway Lane' as we neared our family cabin on Big Wolf Lake near Bemidji, Minnesota. Less than a mile from our destination, I slammed on the brakes and skidded to a stop in the sand. We almost wiped out a momma skunk and four nearly grown young ones crossing the road. Relieved, we waited as they slowly waddled into the brush. "Cute" was not the word which came to my mind...

A while back my family went out to eat at a nice restaurant. When we got there, there were several people milling around in the entry area, so we knew there might be a wait. We went to the hostess stand and we were told the wait would be about 15 to 20 minutes. We gave them our name and went to find a place to sit...

Back in the '50s and '60s, family life was closely linked to the church. The church provided a place not only for worship and Christian education, but was a center for social times -- women's luncheons and study groups, cradle clubs, youth sports leagues, men's study groups, quilting and sewing bees. The face of Christianity has changed with the cultural shifts of secular humanism, technology and the never-ending thirst for meaning and significance through what we do and what we possess...

While my mom and dad were here in Spencer last week, I heard again a story that I really liked. She reminded me of a time when my older brother came home from boot camp; a U.S. Marine. He was wrestling with me showing me how strong he was. I didn't think much about it at the time, but my grandfather, a University of Iowa college wrestler, had shown me a few take-down moves during my junior high school years. ...

Born in 1776 with the Declaration of Independence, America has had only one form of government. Neither our closest allies nor our fiercest enemies have experienced the stability with which God has blessed America.
When the founders approved the Declaration of Independence in 1776, John Adams suggested the way in which the day should be celebrated. ...

Whenever I meet new people, and through conversation they discover that I am a pastor, they are always quick to let me know what church they attend. I respectfully hold to the opinion that for a Christian, there is only one Church. The apostle Paul tells us that Jesus Christ is the head of the body, the Church (singular), who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He, Jesus, may have the preeminence...

As believers in Christ, we have the most magnificent heavenly Father. Father's day is this Sunday. You dads out there certainly love your children. You don't give them a phony love. You love them and you mean it. However, we are only human. As human fathers, we may say and believe one thing and then turn around and let our children see us doing something else. ...

There once was a beautiful palace where a king lived in splendor. However, this ruler spent a great deal of time among his people. He disguised himself often in the garb of a field worker, wandering through the markets, riding through the countryside, and watching the children at play. Because he was so familiar with his subjects and their needs, he was able to provide for their needs and listen to their concerns, passing judgment with compassion and wisdom...

Studies have been showing that when most youth leave home they stopped attending church, even if their parents have been faithful in attending a church. So I looked into some of this statistic and I was surprised to find out that the average church attendance for a family in the United States was only to attend church about half the time. ...

Both Sarah Palin and Paula Deen are launching subscription-based online networks. Apparently, it's a "thing." The two, one a disgraced cooking show maven, the other a politician whose 15 minutes are over, both cited the freedom the new media opportunity offers them to "be themselves." Those who like the uncensored Deen and Palin can, for a fee, have access to their content 24 hours a day...

Most of us are probably very familiar with the themes we celebrate during Easter. We know that Easter celebrates the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We also know that Jesus' death on the cross pays the penalty of the sin for all those who trust in what Christ did. ...

The year 2014 is right around the corner, and while you might not be a person who makes New Year's resolutions, the diet and exercise industries bank on a fair amount of people turning over a new leaf in January. Why not? A new page on the calendar is as good a reason as any to shed unwanted pounds or at least develop healthier habits...

Lots of people like to think of Jesus in good terms, but is just saying good things about Jesus enough, C.S. Lewis wrote in his book "Mere Christianity," "I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: "I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God." That is the one thing we...

Our world today provides many reasons for skepticism and negativity. Perhaps that is why Jesus declared, "be of good cheer I have overcome the world." He also reminded us that we are in the world but not of it. In a few days we will celebrate Thanksgiving. As I have been considering this particular holiday's name, I am reminded of the lyrics from a couple of songs. Hopefully for some, this can be an encouragement to put a more positive spin on our world and the day in which we live...

It seems to happen every month: somewhere in our world, tragedy strikes and hundreds - if not thousands or millions - of people find their lives suddenly turned upside down. Right now it is in the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan, perhaps the strongest storm ever measured. Earlier this year it was tornadoes in Oklahoma and a fertilizer plant exploding in Texas. In addition, there are the man-made tragedies such as the Boston Marathon Bombing or the Newtown, Connecticut school shooting...

A few weeks ago I came across a wonderfully uplifting story about a canceled wedding in Atlanta, Ga. Just 40 days before her wedding, Carol and Willie Fowler's daughter decided to cancel the nuptials for reasons that remain unknown. Of course, that close to the wedding date, the family's deposit on the reception hall and the caterer was non-refundable...

Hebrews 12:28-29 "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire." Dear friends of Christ, faith worships. Worship is to faith as breathing is to the body. ...

Harvest 2013 in northwest Iowa is drawing to a close. It seems only yesterday that farmers were planting. Time has a way of getting away from us and life is a vapor, according to James 4:14. There is a wonderful promise way back in Genesis 8:22. "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." Jeremiah had some Spiritual insight for harvest and summer in 8:20. ...

In a conversation about what our adult children are doing these days, a friend mentioned that her daughter and son-in-law are trying to find a church to attend in their new community. They wish there were some kind of service or directory that could tell them what each church in their city is like. They half-joked, half lamented that there wasn't a kind of rating system, or an app, for finding a church...

Today is the Spencer High School homecoming celebration. The community is abuzz with excitement for the Tiger Football team to take the field. The players will play their hardest, marching band will play their best, the spirit squad will pump up the crowd, and the fans and alumni will cheer their loudest. Everyone will take to Dale Norton Field in hope, rather expectation, of a big win for the home team...

In each of our lives, we have a God-given mandate to do some specific thing. He didn't forget to assign a task to you or retire you to the bench to watch the game, no participation required. Each of us has a role to fill designed by God. He formed us to fit what He created us to do...

I love the fair. We live near the fairgrounds, so right about the time the "No Parking" signs spring up on our lawn I know it is time to start planning my week. I set my schedule for volunteering as Fair Chaplain and working at the Kiwanis booth and manning a Nutty Bar stand. I get a fair brochure and start planning out the free shows I want to see. I make a list of mealtimes and chart out which foods I need to eat before the fair closes...

Summer's over. School's begun. And, despite last week's oppressive heat, fall is on its way. That can only mean one thing -- Clay County Fair time is nearly here! Beginning on Labor Day weekend, the collective pulse of the Clay County community rises. Schedules shift, making time for display set-up, project completion, baking, sewing, flower arranging. Everyone, it seems, has something special to do to get ready for the biggest show around...

I want to talk about a few ridiculous stories -- at least they sound ridiculous -- but in reality they are true events from the lives of people of great faith in the only true and living God. The first ridiculous statement is made in Hebrews 11:3, "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command." Did you catch that? "God's command ..., so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." How many people in our world believe that today, that God created the world out of nothing? Not many. ...

CHNG. Can you guess the word I have shortened? It's change. Why shorten it? Well, it seems as though change is a four-letter word to a lot of people. Change is hard for all of us, but there is something that is even more difficult: changing someone else...

Many people do not feel close to God because they are not sure they are right with God. King David struggled with how to get right with God after he sinned and felt this great separation from God. When David was king he committed adultery and then had the husband of the woman he cheated with killed in what he tried to make look like an accident...

A famous author once wrote, "I didn't go to religion to make me happy. I always knew a bottle of Port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don't recommend Christianity." His name was CS Lewis. Some of you would recognize a few of his works like "The Chronicles of Narnia." He might be surprised to find out that a few awesome movies were made out of his books. Entertaining is not what he was about most of the time...

Dear friends of Christ, what does it mean to be free? Are you free spiritually? What do you feel when you see the cross? Do you feel that excitement of freedom? Or are you bound to sin? Do you know and understand the flag of Christ's redeeming love that forgives all sin? Do you understand the words of Paul from Romans 6, "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin -- because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.". ...

The Fourth of July holiday is quickly approaching, and I know that many are digging out their red, white, and blue clothing and making plans with family and friends to celebrate the birth of our nation. There will be community celebrations, barbecues, swimming, and dazzling fireworks displays overhead to dazzle us with their beauty...

It is wonderful to have a child or children show appreciation toward their parents while they are still living. The following letter was penned by such a daughter, a pastor's wife, and was an expression of the love, appreciation and memories she had of her father which represented the feelings of the rest of the family...

What does Jesus mean when He said He was the bread of life? Well, bread was the most common food source of Jesus' time and bread became associated with basic food. Give us this day our daily bread means more than just bread but the food we need. We might say today that Jesus is the meat and potatoes of life...

Anyone who is a parent knows what it feels like to lose sight of your child for a few minutes in the grocery store. Terrifying. You'd want to yell, "Lock the doors and everybody comb the building! My child is missing!" Even if you're the shy type, you could become loud and demanding if you couldn't find your kid. ...

A few days ago I woke up to the strangest sound: birds. Even now as I write this article I can hear them singing outside of my window, and they are beginning to become regular visitors to the trees around town. Birds, of all things, are a sound that I had grown unaccustomed to hearing...

Revelation 21:4 "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain for the old order of things has passed away." Dear friends of Christ, how many things have you broken throughout life? I don't know about you, but I've been guilty of breaking plenty. ...

We are living in a day when it is hard to know who you can trust and what you can trust. Christians know that they can always trust in the Lord and in His Word. Hebrews 13:8, Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and forever. 1Kings 8:56 ... there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, Psalms 34:4 The Word of the Lord is right .....

A couple of years ago my husband and I went to see "Knowing," a suspenseful movie about someone who discovers a code that predicts disasters. It is a page filled with numbers, which turn out to be dates, and the location and number of casualties for each major disaster...

Palm Sunday. The Triumphal Entry. It is a story we are all familiar with. One we love to commemorate on our Church calendars and in our Church services. It is a real pivot point in the season of Lent. Here is the beginning of Holy Week, the start of the roller coaster that brings us hurtling at breakneck speed toward the cross. ...

Almost everybody is looking for happiness. It is strange that the Bible tells us clearly how to find great happiness, but rarely do people follow God's advice. Maybe we have become so convinced by advertising that happiness is found in security, money, things, or human relationships that we don't trust the Bible anymore. The Bible is clear that there are forces working against us to find any lasting happiness (or an abundant life) in this world. John 10:10 The thief...

St. Francis of Assisi said, "Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words." Jesus said the world will know that we are Christians when we demonstrate brotherly love. If there is anything that the unsaved person needs from the Church, above all else, it is to be loved, accepted and forgiven. ...

Chris Tomlin has a new song on his latest album that has been getting some airtime on Christian radio and which we recently began singing at our church. It's called "Whom Shall I Fear," and the chorus goes like this: I know who goes before me I know who stands behind...

In late January, I had the pleasure of attending Re-Mind and Re-New: A Conference on Faith and Civil Discourse at Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I always enjoy my time at the seminary because of the deep, lasting relationships that I have formed there, as well as the opportunity to be challenged and pushed in new and exciting ways. ...

On Ash Wednesday Christians come to have ashes placed on their forehead and to hear these words: "Remember - you are dust, and to dust you shall return." But not many churches have Ash Wednesday anymore. It's kind of humbling walking around in public with a black cross on your forehead, isn't it. The ashes mark you as someone "different." And who wants to be "different?"...

Heart month is a good time for a heart examination. From what I have read, Planet Heart is a widely popular screening program. The screening can help identify heart-related health risks and can then enable them to treat their patients to prevent serious medical conditions. That is wonderful news for our physical hearts, knowing that heart disease is the number one cause of death in our nation. Everyone wants to be healthy...

My husband and I like to watch the show "American Pickers" together. Two men from Eastern Iowa travel all over the U.S. looking for "treasure" in people's old sheds and attics. It's fun to see what they can uncover that has some value. What looks like old junk to me, they rescue and sell for decent money...

If someone asked, "Do you live in a good place?" we would all say, "Absolutely! Spencer is a fantastic community, for a whole variety of reasons." We enjoy excellent quality of life, outstanding schools, great businesses, good employment opportunities, high-quality civic leadership, numerous service clubs, good churches, and good opportunities for youth and adult recreation. All of us could add to this list of high praise, reasons we are glad and proud to say, "I live in Spencer."...

The other day I was listening to a fascinating radio program about the etymology (or origin and meaning) of different common phrases. Well, it was fascinating to me, anyway. They discussed the phrase "the whole nine yards" and all the various myths and rumors about where "the whole nine yards" came from. ...

Most of us get the after-Christmas blues. The holidays are over, the bills are due, the vacation time is usually spent, and we have the cold winter to look forward to. If we viewed life just from this world's narrow perspective, of course we should get depressed. That is why the Bible calls us to see things from God's perspective. In John 4:36 Jesus says, "Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together."...

Pastor Barb - Recently, I had an injury to my back that kept getting worse. It seemed like it altered my life almost instantly. I couldn't do the things I wanted to do and even needed to do because of the debilitating throb! What was strange about it was that the pain I was feeling was not in my back; it was in my leg! The injury originated in my back but, because everything inside of me is attached, it caused the pain to be felt all the way down my leg! Weird! But that's a body...all the parts are attached to each other. ...

When you think about Jesus, what picture comes to your mind? Having just come through Christmas, a lot of people think of the Nativity. They have an image of Jesus as a tiny infant, laid carefully in a manger. The Word of God made flesh. Other people most commonly think of Jesus in His passion, hanging on a cross with a crown of thorns upon His brow. ...

We celebrate Christmas every year with awe and wonder, as we consider what really happened 2,000 years ago in a stable on the other side of the world. How incredible it must have been to see God's plan of redemption coming to life; to witness history and the Bible blending together as one. ...

Christmas continues to be an exciting time of the year. It is a time of great celebration for many Christians and non-Christians all over the world. It was all God's idea. He so loved this world that He gave, John 3:16. And we are to follow His example. ...

We do good things during the Christmas season. We shop at a Target store and drop a dollar in the Salvation Army kettle out front. We bring a few canned goods to the 4H dinner. We buy a pair of mittens for the mitten tree. We send a few extra dollars to the children we sponsor around the world. Sometimes we might ask ourselves, "It is such a small thing to do. Am I a fool thinking that it can make a difference?"...

Remember when we were children in church school and asked to memorize a Bible verse? How many of us chose John 11:35? You remember? "Jesus wept." It was short. But this shortest verse in the Bible is a word of dynamite in a small package. It stirs all kinds of questions and thoughts within me. "Why did Jesus weep?" "Do I ever cause Jesus to weep?" "What things in the world cause Jesus to weep today?" God weeps with us; God weeps over us...

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I enjoy the time with family and friends. I love some of the holiday traditions. And, of course, I love the food. It's wonderful to be able to spend some time set aside for the purpose of giving thanks for God's many blessings...

In 1777 Congress adopted the Thanksgiving declaration from a draft by Samuel Adams. It is interesting to read the document and note the original design they had for of what they determined would make our country great. The start of the second paragraph of that document says:...

Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." This Bible verse reveals the importance of every believer having continuous fellowship and literally being yoked to Jesus. Your life is an outflow of Jesus living in you and through you. Living in vital union with Him empowers you to touch people with His love, supernaturally impacting them through simple acts of kindness...

It's an election year. I know, because my phone rings more than it ever does otherwise. In the last few weeks, much has been made about the IRS rule that prohibits tax-exempt organizations (like churches) from endorsing a particular candidate or party. ...

Eph. 2:7-10, "In order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - 9. Not by works, so that no one can boast. 10. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."...

2Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation...

I've been whitewater rafting a few times, and I hope I get the chance to do it again. It is soothing to float down a river and peacefully glide by the trees on the riverbank. Then it gets exciting, when the group obediently and quickly follows the instructions of the guide to make its way through the rapids. It's about as "extreme" a sport as I care to undertake, but I love it...

It is harvest time in the country. Though I am not a farmer, I can only imagine that when the fields are ripe and ready, all farmers have a power surge flow through their bodies, and they shift to a totally different gear. Weather conditions could change, the quality of the grain could be compromised, or the beans could begin to shell out. ...

Internationally known author and speaker Donald Miller recently wrote about a friend of his who has an interesting and unusual email signature. Every email he sends has a simple statement at the bottom next to his name: "No Drama." Drama is a big part of our lives, unfortunately. ...

How hard it is to control our tongues. We have all probably been victims and victimizers in the use of our tongues. In fact, the Bible describes the difficulty of controlling what we say in James 3:2. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. ...

I became a Christian as a young boy, maybe 8 or 9 years old. I was very active in church and Sunday School. Then I got into my teen years and I began to be less interested in the things of God. My folks didn't push me and I got fairly wild and crazy...

I am scheduled to run in my first marathon this Sunday morning. Lord willing, and the cramps in my leg don't get too bad, I'll run 26.2 miles in somewhere around five hours. I'm a little bit excited, a little bit nervous, and quite a bit scared. Preparing for the marathon, I've thought a lot about the verses in the book of Hebrews that mention running. They are Hebrews 12:1-2:...

"Only one life will soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last." These words have a way of getting my attention. The older I become the faster life seems to be zooming by. Someone has well said: We shall not pass this way again, any good that we can do, let us do it now, let us not detour nor neglect it because we will not pass this way again. It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. Hebrews 9:28...

We follow signs every day of our lives. We become so accustomed to it that we don't even think about it most of the time. We make sure we're at the right wedding by looking at the church sign out front. We look for restroom signs in restaurants. We see a frown on someone's face and react to it as a sign of anger or confusion...

No doubt most of us are watching the Summer Olympics, enjoying the competition of the world's finest athletes going for the gold. I am continually amazed at their physical condition, their effort to win, and how smoothly they run, swim, or dive. Even in my dreams, I am not that good. I am also struck by the raw emotion: the joyous celebration of victory and the agony of defeat...

Rain is an interesting subject in the Bible. It is a subject that is tied very closely to prayer and to people coming back to God. In James 5:15-18 it says, "And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. ...

Do you need a good washing? The Bible talks about how Jesus washed the Church with the water of the Word. He filled a whole book with words just for us! It shows us how meaningful words are to God. Think about it... He spoke everything into existence. ...

The story is told about Princeton Seminary professor Robert Dick Wilson: One day, one of Dr. Wilson's former students was invited to preach at the Seminary chapel. Dr. Wilson came and sat near the front. When chapel ended, the old professor came up to his former student, cocked his head to one side in his characteristic way, extended his hand, and said, "I'm glad that you're a big-godder. ...