I often read “His Unfailing Presence” at our church’s New Year’s Eve service. Another year I enter Its history unknown; Oh, how my feet would tremble To tread its paths alone! But I have heard a whisper, I know I shall be blest; “My Presence shall go with thee,...

Over these last years, I’ve found something to appreciate that many folks may not notice as amazing … to be known. First of all and best of all, God knows us. He knew about us before we were even in our mother’s womb. He has a count of every hair on our head and is acquainted with all of our ways. To be known by God is fantastic and to be known by the ones we love is also a gift...

John 1:1-3, 14 “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. … And the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”...

Christmas was always a part of God’s plan. Earlier in December, I spent a week and a half meeting with pastors in West Africa, talking about the big story of the Bible. Over the course of our time together, we saw time and time again that God’s plan as revealed in the Scriptures has always been to save people through Jesus. ...

My mother collects nativity sets and has one of about every kind you can imagine. However, for all their differences of materials or appearances, they all have a lot in common. There are three wise men (though the Bible doesn't give a number and suggests they weren't at the manger). ...

My favorite perspective of the Christmas nativity has to be that of Joseph, the stepfather of Jesus. Matthew’s gospel begins with Joseph’s genealogy, revealing that he was a descendant of kings David and Solomon, through whom it was prophesied the Messiah would come. The list continues with names of the kings of Judah, up to the last name of the royal lineage mentioned in the Old Testament, Zerubbabel...

I am priming myself for the holidays … my wife has family on the far right and I have family members on the far left. At some point during our Christmas gatherings the conversation will turn toward the four horsemen of the holiday apocalypse: politics, human sexuality, religion and COVID, ensuring doom, destruction, fire and fury...

‘Tis the season! Christmas trees and light displays are going up. News reports include when to get your gifts in the mail in time for the big day. My kitchen is heating up with cookie baking and meal planning. The push is on. But at least on Sundays in Advent (Nov. ...

This week over 300 million people celebrate Thanksgiving in America, If you Google thanksgiving origins, you will find a mass of historical information regarding the start of a holiday we relegate to big meals and family gatherings. From harvest festivals to pilgrims, there is an abundance of information that gives an idea of how this holiday started. On a spiritual level, our holiday is only a shadow of a profound reality. The truth is that Thanksgiving started before America was ever born...

Have you ever heard someone say, “Your breath stinks”? I don’t know about you, but that’s somewhat offensive to hear. True? Maybe! Even likely, but certainly not the words of affirmation that we “words” people like to hear. Over the past year, wearing masks has caused me to smell my own breath more than I care to!...

I am thankful that we can celebrate Thanksgiving Day. I am especially thankful for the reason given by President Abraham Lincoln when our nation was setting aside a day of Thanksgiving and Praise. The Congress of the United States of America, as proclaimed by Lincoln on October 3, 1863, passed an Act of Congress designating an annual National Day of Thanksgiving:...

The month of October is typically an enjoyable month. That has been true this year. Farmers are busy bringing in the harvest, and temperatures have even been in the 70s. The change of color in the trees is coming slowly. One of the fun things that happens in October is trick-or-treating. ...

Onward Christian Soldiers Ephesians 6:11-13 “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God.”...

I remember when I was younger, being 8 or 9, not really wanting to go to heaven. It’s probably because I had an incomplete understanding of what heaven would be like. The thought of existing in an ethereal state didn’t sound all that appealing to a young boy who was notorious for getting covered in dirt and his own blood from playing hard. ...

I’m a father to three boys. My life is full of rowdiness, snickers induced by adolescent flatulence. Not only are they rowdy but they’re beautiful, intelligent and winsome human beings. Even though they’re sometimes functional mini-human beings, it still doesn’t mean that I don’t often wonder about what life would be like if I weren’t a parent...

In Luke’s gospel, Chapter 18, Jesus tells of two men who went up to the temple to pray: one was a Pharisee, a religious leader in Israel; the other was a person very much despised by most people — a tax collector. The Pharisee very proudly stood and prayed, thanking God that he was not like other men: extortioners, adulterers, the unjust or even the loathed tax collector. ...

There has been a lot of talk lately about freedom of choice. We debate whether it is right to mandate vaccinations and wearing masks. It is tempting to expand the concept of individual freedom and equate it with the freedoms we enjoy as citizens of the U.S., or as Christians. However, they have different characteristics. I would like to briefly explore “Christian freedom” in this space...

Did you know that upright walking is an incredible feat for humans? While walking, our brains are constantly working to create stability and spatial awareness, in addition to adjusting our gait on a neverending terrain. For example, a few nights ago I walked through my dark house not knowing that my daughter left a Nerf gun on the floor. ...

R. Kelly once told us in a song that if we “believe it” we can achieve anything or even fly. The song goes on to say that it is a matter of working up a belief in ourselves in order to accomplish anything and “there is nothing to it.” Well, as much as I liked the original “Space Jam,” this type of believing has nothing to do with gospel or saving faith in biblical Christianity...

Doctrine. It’s what saves us. It’s what filled the city of Jerusalem (Acts 5:28). It’s what we pray will fill the City of Spencer. Many doctrines are found in the Holy Bible. Today let’s look at the doctrine (and examples) of miracles. Isaiah prophesied that “the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped, the lame will leap, and the tongue of the dumb will sing (Isaiah 35:5-6)...

The book of Proverbs provides wisdom for Christian living and this world would be a different place if everyone had God’s wisdom. Wisdom is seeing and responding to life’s situations as Jesus would. Several years ago we would frequently see WWJD or what would Jesus do? A Christian should be like Christ and according to Proverbs 1:2,3 should know and receive the instruction of wisdom. ...

Mark 6:1-6, “‘Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?' And they took offense at Him.” The death of a very important person happened this past week. Unfortunately, it almost went unnoticed. ...

The other day I was talking with my 6-year-old, who asked one of Christianity’s massive questions: “Why does God save people?” How would you answer this question? Surely there are lots of “right answers,” according to the Bible. We would be in line with the Bible if we said, “Because he loves people” or “Because he wants to fix a broken creation” or “Because in his mercy, he knows we have no other hope.”...

Recently my family played a cooperative game, meaning that everyone is on the same team and we all win or lose together. After the one to whom the game belonged instructed the rest of us how to play, we then played together … and lost together. Following our agonizing defeat, we then read the instructions and found out that the player, who we thought had been eliminated, had instead only become wounded, and we most likely would have won the game in just a few more turns. ...

“God doesn’t need our exhaustion.” That is one of the lines that got my attention in Kirk Byron Jones’ wonderful book, “Addicted to Hurry.” It is a striking thought for us in a culture that values achievement and busyness, which leads to hurry and stress...

My maternal grandfather suffered from the debilitating effects of Parkinson’s disease in his later years. One day, he and Grandma had an Oral Roberts revival on the radio when they heard that if anyone in the listening audience needed healing, “to lay your hand on the radio.” Grandpa asked Grandma, “Do you think I could be healed?” I don’t know the rest of the story — whether or not Grandpa laid his hand on the radio. I do know that he took his PD to the grave...

In August of 2017, I went through commissioned officer training with the United States Air Force in Montgomery, Alabama, to become an Air National Guard chaplain. I used to hate hot weather. In fact, I would nearly pass out when it got to hot. After my time in Alabama I cannot stand being cold. Luckily, I have been told that Spencer has remarkably warm winters...

2 Corinthians 3:6 (NASB95) “… the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” We live in a world focused on other’s faults, seeking approval through social media and allowing other people’s opinions of us to determine our sense of well being. ...

Even though COVID-19 has caused disruptions for us here in the United States and around the world, we are thankful that God is not limited in the same way we human beings are. God's Spirit continues to move, and the kingdom of God continues to reveal itself in new and exciting ways...

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. ...

Are you ready for summer? I have not talked with one individual that is not ready to enjoy an Okoboji summer. God wants us to enjoy the lakes, the sun, the warmth, his creation ... summer! Just the other day, I heard someone point out this observation of God. One day after He created Adam and Eve, they rested. How much do you rest, relax and enjoy a time of recreation? We need to take time off. God says it is a must. Doctors who study us say it’s unhealthy not to kick back and relax...

Jeremiah 20:7-8 “I’ve been made fun of all day long. Everyone mocks me. Each time I speak, I have to cry out and shout, “Violence and destruction!” The Lord’s word has made me the object of insults and contempt all day long.” If ever there was a man with a career crisis, it was the prophet Jeremiah. ...

Many of us are at least passingly familiar with the legend of King Arthur. According to legend, Arthur was a British king in the 5th or 6th century who led the people of Britain to a time of untold peace, prosperity and justice. Now there are intense historical debates about whether Arthur actually existed. But the story of King Arthur has captured the imagination of people for over a millennia. Why?...

I made a comment to a friend the other day, “It’s almost like I forgot just how much Jesus loved me.” I assure you it’s not as concerning as it may sound, but don’t we get a little lazy in our rumination of Jesus and his affections for us? Aren’t we apathetic at times when it comes to rehearsing the truth of the gospel to ourselves? Sometimes I do become a tad indifferent, and waves of guilt set in — “I should be doing better," or some other condemning statement about worrying that I’m an imposter. ...

Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, said, “The only constant in life is change.” We face change every day. The question is: Is the change we face forced or chosen, difficult or pleasant, deadly or life-giving? Heraclitus also said, “No one steps into the same river twice, for it is not the same river, and he is not the same man.” The flow of life is fluid and ever-changing...

In the beginning, God created the universe and everything in it, including the planet earth, where upon he created mankind in his own image — both male and female he created them. God concluded his six days of creation by stating that “it was very good,” a true indication that in God’s sovereignty he created everything perfected and without sin. ...

Recently I was in a spiritual group that was asked to share the Bible stories that mean the most to us right now. We talked about how these stories resonate with our understanding of what God is like. The story I chose is in Luke 5:17-26, where Jesus heals a paralyzed man who is lowered through a hole in the roof because his determined friends figured out a way to get him what he needed. ...

I am frequently reminded that the Bible speaks volumes about justice. The prophet Amos (5:14 and 15) presents a classic expectation for justice: Seek good and not evil, that you may live;
and so the Lord, the God of heavenly forces,
will be with you just as you have said. Hate evil, love good, and establish justice at the city gate.
Perhaps the Lord God of heavenly forces will be gracious to what is left...

Harry Houdini, David Copperfield and David Blaine are names of incredible magicians. Andre Kole, also an amazing magician, a consultant to David Copperfield and a Christian evangelist, describes David Blaine’s power to rise above the floor by levitating in two words: “It’s convincing!” Yet Kole wrote: “The unexplained is usually nothing more than the unexamined.” This is a good reason Jesus said to search the scriptures (John 5:39). ...

Romans 8:28 we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. Have you ever said something to someone in a conversation that was misunderstood? I believe this verse sometimes fits into the category of being misunderstood. Many times people understand this verse as meaning all those who love God will have good things, then they are surprised when things do not go well or even go very badly in their lives...

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. Hope is extremely important!...

In the temptation story, there’s a really interesting moment when Satan takes Jesus to the top of the holiest spot in Jerusalem, the temple, and challenges him to jump. Satan’s case is that since Jesus is the Messiah, God would not allow him to be harmed. ...

Ephesians 5:14 “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you.” Paul gives us a Lenten warning, “Wake up! Rise and shine! Open your eyes!” It is like he wants us to understand — as if in a moment of danger that requires an immediate response, like, “Wake up! Watch out! Be careful!”...

I think it was Mark Twain who famously said, “Kindness is the language the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” And yet everywhere we look today, it seems as though kindness is in short supply. We live in a contentious culture — one that you can see virtually anywhere you look. From the internet to cable news channels to bumper stickers and flags and yard signs, both Christians and non-Christians alike could use a lesson in being kind to others...

I grew up a Minnesota Twins fan cheering for players like Ziolo Versalles, Bob Allison, Jim Kaat, Harmon Killebrew and Tony Oliva. In 1965, I watched the Los Angeles Dodgers defeat my beloved Twins in the World Series. One of the heroes for the Dodgers in the Series was their left fielder, Lou Johnson. ...

When I was growing up, one wall of the nursery at church had a mural of a man with a beard and a robe and a big smile sitting on a log in a wide green pasture with a fuzzy sheep cradled in his arms. I don’t know if it was intended to be a picture of Jesus or just a generalized painting of a good shepherd, but it was the image I most associated with Jesus as a child. ...

My last column posted on Jan. 15, entitled “Watch and Pray” was an attempt to ease political unrest in our nation and to shed light on how current events appear to align with biblical prophecy. In no way was I attempting to promote one party or person over another, but rather to show how God uses people to fulfill his plans regardless of our submission to him or not. Neither Trump nor Biden is the Antichrist or the Savior; they are only pawns used by God...

This week we embark on the journey to the cross, with Jesus. It is the season of Lent that began on Wednesday with the ashes smudged on our foreheads, a sign of our mortality as well as God’s great love shown to us on the cross. All of it involves following Jesus in the way he calls us to live, the road of great suffering in the service of great love...

Have you had a time or two the past 11 months when you’ve wondered where in the world you are? It may seem like you’re living in a strange place; in a foreign land. Well, you are; we are. For over 30 years I lead groups to process grief, which is a very normal reaction of a human being when we lose something. For example, a very young child might cry when they are weaned. They have “lost” their source of food; and very likely some amount of emotional comfort as well. So they cry...

Timothy Leary once taught his followers to “Turn on, Tune in and Drop out.” His intentions were to advocate LSD usage in order for people to enlighten themselves in some way. Many people were negatively affected and some even lost their lives. A young man jumped from a three-story building after taking LSD during a lecture by Leary. Other lives were impacted or lost by his drug induced teachings. Leary spent time in prison for drug charges in the late 70s...

I’ve noticed so much around us, these days are things that we throw away. It was never designed to be long lasting. Bottles, diapers, dinnerware, table linens are all a part of the new throw-away world. Even COVID-19 has made things much more disposable. ...

With the political unrest currently in our nation, let’s look at what this might mean in light of biblical prophecy. First, according to Romans 13:1, “there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God,” meaning, “we go cast our ballot, but God determines the outcome.” Ideas may exist why one candidate won and the other lost, but ultimately it comes to an “appointment by God.” Let us therefore be subject to our governing authorities...

I was in a meeting the other day when someone remarked that turning the calendar to 2021 felt hopeful. I wondered aloud why a simple change in numbers would give anyone hope. “It’s a mindset,” another person explained. Fair enough. Perspective really does affect our health, our relationships and our behavior. If starting a new year helps you let go of anxiety and sadness from a terrible year, that is great. New beginnings do feel hopeful, in whatever form they take...

I’m planning to retire in June after 37 years in parish ministry which began after eight years of teaching and 13 summers of construction. It’s a time of life when a person, quite naturally, is reflective. So I wondered: What has been a repeated “theme” after 37 years of leading congregations through Advent & Christmas? My answer? The ethical implications of Christmas...

Bah-humbug! That's my general feelings around Christmas songs, Christmas hymns, and most music that has to do with Christmas. A little Scrooge-y? Perhaps. Whatever the reason for my disdain for Christmas songs, I've grown to appreciate them this year. ...

In the book of Revelation, Chapter 3 Verse 20 our Bibles have these words of Jesus, "Here I am! I stand at the door, and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me," (NIV translation). These words remind us Jesus does not force himself into our lives. ...

Some time ago, preparing for the Christmas season at the church I was serving, it was decided we would run a full-page ad in the local paper celebrating the season and informing folks of our Christmas Eve service times. I asked a young couple who had just been blessed with a son to take some pictures of him in a manger setting. ...

I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing — Genesis 12:2. While I was reading the 12th chapter of Genesis, the words of the second verse struck me with new meaning. Whenever I studied this particular passage of Scripture before, my mind was so occupied with the promises to Abraham and the nation of Israel that I overlooked a practical application for every Christian...

I’ve visited houses where the walls are painted fun colors; cheery pictures hung. Carefree and whimsical fun-loving souls reside here. Some houses have shutters falling off, windows boarded up and gates chained and padlocked. These home dwellers are shut up and locked down. Well maintained yards, perfect trees and complementary architecture show these people are ordered and structured...

Selected article by Rev. Calvin Rigdon “In everything give thanks: For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you,” I Thessalonians 5:18. The scene of the first thanksgiving is a village of seven log dwellings. The logs have been cut in the forest a mile away and have been dragged, rolled, or carried to the site where the buildings were to be erected. ...

"Cold water to someone who is thirsty — that's what good news from a distant land is." (Proverbs 25:25) This week I received the kindest and most timely phone call from a friend who used to live in my town. They are forever friends yet I don't talk to them as often as I used to since they moved away. ...

My son is an Eagle Scout. After earning the merit badges, rising through the ranks, participating in various Courts of Honor, and completing his final project, he was awarded the Boy Scouts' highest rank not long after he started high school. At pretty much every step of the way, he was reminded of BSA's motto and asked to explain its relevance to whatever he was up to at the time: Be prepared...

Rev. 21: 27 “Nothing impure will ever enter it (heaven), nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life." There is satisfaction in a confirmed reservation. You walk into a restaurant and there is a table waiting for you. However, how does it feel when they lose your reservation? Has that happened to you? Can we ever be confident that our place is truly secure?...

My oldest child is 5, and as such, this is one of his first real exposures to the election season. Now as a typical 5-year-old boy, my son loves superheroes and sees the world relatively black-and-white. The other day while watching football, a political ad aired during the commercial break for one of Iowa’s senate seats. My son stopped playing with his superheroes to watch the ad and asked me, “Dad, which of these people is the good ‘guy’ and which is the bad ‘guy’?”...

“Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it,” (1 Corinthians 12:27). Poet T.S. Eliot wrote, “With the drawing of this Love and the voice of this Calling, we shall not cease from exploration, …” (Poem “Little Gidding”). Perhaps these words describe the mission of Christ’s body in the world...

If you are like me, you are tired of talking about the coronavirus. You are tired of news reports that focus on it; you are tired of the seemingly endless debates about the best responses to it; and you are especially tired of the way it is disrupting your life. It would be nice, maybe, to read a column about something else. But the coronavirus continues to affect the way we live, so it seems that the thing we keep talking about needs to be the thing I write about here...

With the outbreak of COVID-19 causing an estimated 911,000 deaths worldwide as of Sept. 11 (according to Johns Hopkins University), we live in a time of uncertainty. For many people, their primary concern is safety: how they and their loved ones can be safe and protected from a virus that may cause death. In general, we hide behind sanitizers, masks, shields and even walls, isolating our families and ourselves. But should physical safety be our No. 1 priority?...

“The soul must long for God in order to be set aflame by God’s love; but if the soul cannot yet feel this longing, then it must long for the longing. To long for the longing is also from God.” (Meister Eckhart) We do not need to “long for the longing” right now. ...

Much of our lives we go from one thing to another asking, “What’s next?” Like children on a vacation travel adventure, after seeing a mountain the first time and playing in snow in July, they get in the car and ask, “Where are we going now?” I don’t want to suggest John the Baptist was childish, but that seems to be his spirit, as we have it expressed in Matthew 11: John “sent word by his disciples to Jesus, asking, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Jesus’ received those disciples warmly and listened to their query. ...

Two thousand years ago, in the early church, the first century disciples had to put up with a number of obstacles and impediments to ministry. There were many who were receptive to the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but there were also many who opposed it. And those who opposed it could be pretty persuasive...

The world is rapidly changing and it will continue to do so. Elections and leaders will come and go. Countries and kingdoms of this world will rise and fall as history continues to be written. Trials, tragedy and loss will also continue to occur in our personal lives regardless of how hard we attempt to prevent them. ...

"You have heard that it was said, 'love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'" Yes Jesus, we have frequently in both discrete and indiscrete ways heard it said. "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:42-43). What a strange new reality Jesus presents — love for your enemy. Is that possible for people who love hating their enemy?...

The city of Spencer is the greatest city in the world; “the center of the universe and the funnel of the rapture!” I know that this is not an opinion piece, and I also know that my opinion will not be asked on Judgment Day. With that out of the way, and a whole column in front of me, I want you to recognize why Spencer is the greatest city in the world...

There had to be a reason why our nation had the motto “In God We Trust” and had it placed on our coins. Our Founding Fathers trusted in God and they must have wanted a continual reminder for themselves and those who would follow. The Scripture has a lot to say about our trust in the Lord. ...

Luke 12:13, “Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!” What if everything we did and everything we said was made public? This could be really good or … really embarrassing...

Not long before Jesus went to the cross, he left his disciples with some important words that would be vital to their success in taking the message of Jesus to others. This information is still vital in introducing others to Jesus. Without it, people are likely to remain lost. These words of Jesus are found in John 13:35: "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."...

Mark 6:30-34, “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.” --- Does God really care about us? That is a question that many people are asking. ...

I am still a relatively new resident of Spencer. So, I thought I would begin by introducing myself. My name is Rev. Jeff Geiger, and I am the pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church here in Spencer. I began my time at Bethany back in January. As I am sure many will agree, January is a fine month to move! I am a native Midwesterner, having been born and raised in northeast Ohio. ...

As a country, we have witnessed astounding acts of injustice. We saw the cruelty of police officers who misused their authority to take the life of George Floyd. In response, we watched the looting, rioting, and burning of our cities. Over 700 police officers were injured, some killed. Huge numbers of police were defunded in order to weaken their ability to provide law, order, and protection...

So, think for just a moment about the different roles one person can play: my father died in his sleep about 25 years ago, but I am still John’s son. That will never — can never really — change. It is a fact not in dispute. I am also father to Kari, born in 1980 at Martin Luther Hospital in Anaheim, California, and I am also father to Michael, born in 1987 at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar, Minnesota — both hospitals where my wife, Kim worked at the time as a registered nurse. ...

Ravi Zacharias passed away last month. You may not recognize the name, but Zacharias was a renowned Christian apologist. An apologist is not someone who is good at saying “I’m sorry,” but someone who defends the intellectual foundations of the Christian faith. Zacharias spoke regularly on university campuses and engaged non-Christians in constructive debate...

Matthew tells of Jesus entering a boat with his disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee: having given them instructions, he retired to the stern of the boat and fell asleep. But soon a great windstorm arose causing waves to fill the boat with water; insomuch that the disciples — experienced seamen — thought they might sink. ...

I heard a casual remark the other day that started me thinking about our cultural atmosphere, both right now and before the quarantine measures began. Three months ago we were still in the throes of the vicious political rhetoric that has despoiled public discourse as well as family mealtimes and friendships. ...

Americans are lousy at lamenting! That’s the case for persons with a stated faith — even though the Judeo-Christian tradition has a text in our sacred writing titled “Lamentations.” But the struggle to know what to do with loss and grief, how to mourn, is also common among people with no avowed faith. We are taught — or brainwashed? — from a very young age that improvement is the way of life. We are encouraged to always “do better.” Failing to do “better” is ... failing...

I would like to share a prayer from the Abingdon Worship Annual. Visionary Creator, give us your vision. Show us our hearts,our homes, our communities and our world through your eyes. Wash away our blind spots, and help us to see where we do not see. Allow us to see creation as you see it now, and as you envision it to become. Help us realize your vision, and walk the road of life — the way and path of Jesus. Amen...

1 Peter 2:17 (NKJV) 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. Regardless of what denomination you belong to, if you profess Jesus Christ as Lord and call yourself a believer, you are called to a lifestyle of honoring people. This is countercultural in a world that breeds hatred, strife, power and greed...

“Changes happen to alter our world. Altars happen to change our world.” Church buildings are empty. Altars all around Spencer were empty last Sunday. What has changed? How has our world altered because of a tiny virus? Jesus Christ has not changed! He is the same yesterday today and forever — Hebrews 13:8...

Tony Campolo preached a message and wrote a book by the same title: “It’s Friday, But Sunday’s Coming.” Jesus was crucified, shed his blood and died on Good Friday. “Good” because of the atoning sacrifice of the Lord as Saviour of mankind. So, we can look to the cross for hope, yet knowing, it was the worse day in the history of the world. ...

If your recent weeks have been anything like mine you've found yourself trying to juggle amid your regular duties all the public health ordinances as to what you should or shouldn't be doing. Scribes of the Jewish tradition would have needed to be familiar with a wealth of laws too, many of them pertaining to cleanliness and disease prevention...

As I think about the time and circumstances we find ourselves in today I am reminded of Psalm 121. “I lift up my eyes to the hills — from where will my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord, The Lord ... he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in
 from this time on and forevermore.”...

In every life we have some trouble, When we worry we make it double. Don’t worry. Be happy. --- I wonder if you remember this simple song that reached No. 1 on the charts about 10 years ago. The artist recorded it using only his body to create all the sounds; whistling began and ended the piece, cementing its quirkiness and its charm...

Over the past year, the church at which I serve has been working our way through the life and ministry of Jesus as described in the Gospel of Mark. This coming Sunday, we are considering a passage that I have read countless times, but has particularly stuck with me this time around: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”...

Ash Wednesday marked the beginning of the season of Lent. The word comes from a Saxon root word meaning “length.” This season, therefore, corresponds to the lengthening of the days as a sign of new life, and the promise of spring appearing soon. Spiritually, Lent is a 40-day season leading to Easter, when Christians around the world take time to reflect on their relationship with God, repent of their sins, and listen as the Spirit calls us to a closer walk with the Lord...

Kelly had a vision for reconnecting with her husband Ben, making time for just the two of them. So she set out to make Friday night date night. The first week it went pretty well. But the second week, they couldn’t find a sitter because all the high school kids were at the basketball game. The third week, Ben was out of town on a fishing trip with some buddies. The fourth week one of the kids was down sick. By the fifth week Kelly had forgotten all about date night, and the vision had died...

Passover was instituted by God 3,500 years ago and is the oldest festival known to man. Most people know very little about Passover, let alone celebrate it and even question what it has to do with modern Christianity. I marvel at the lack of knowledge even among Christians about one of the two most Holy days that God constituted for his people to observe. Hopefully this will give light on Passover...

Will there be any advertisements after the caucuses? Will we have anything in our mailbox? In the spring how many candidate flyers will be uncovered as the snow melts from around our front entry? Ah yes, life after the caucuses ... It’s hard to imagine. It may be a relief to get back to ads for corn hybrids and hemorrhoid treatments. Attend the caucus of your choice. Celebrate...

Grace and peace be with you today. Whom shall we fear? That is a question brought up in Psalm 27:1. I know that many of you just made a list in your head of things or people we should fear. What does it mean for you to be afraid? We take our eyes off of our goals and only see what could be and we don’t see what can be. We look around instead of focusing our eyes on the one who calls to us and see only despair and heartache...

I am continually amazed at the grace of God. Around 14 years ago, I had no idea what that word meant. I was on the streets and addicted to drugs. I was a self-proclaimed atheist after losing my father to suicide and having discovered his lifeless body on a dark morning only a few years earlier. ...

"Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them — to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set foot, as I promised Moses ... as I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, ..." (Joshua 1:2-3, 5-6)...

Many years ago while in high school I attended the Illinois summer youth theater program offered at the University of Illinois in Champagne/Urbana. There I was introduced to a number of trust exercises meant to enhance my own ability to trust others and to be deepen my own understanding of how to be more trustworthy. ...

“2020 will be the most disappointing year ever! I just know it will.” This type of negative statement really bothers me — even typing it sent a chill down my spine. I am an optimist! I believe in people, plans and progress. I believe that there is always a way to see good in a bad situation. Even in very bleak situations, there is good to be found — somewhere. That’s perhaps why I believe in miracles!...

Christmas is wonderful for many reasons. The main reason for Christians should be Jesus. “Jesus is the reason for the season.” There would be no Christmas if Jesus had not been born of the virgin Mary in Bethlehem. But Jesus was more than a baby born in a stable. ...

Sunday marked the beginning of the new year in the church. The “liturgical” or church calendar starts each year with the season of Advent. Advent starts on Sunday four weeks before Christmas. Advent is a season of preparation. The church prepares to celebrate the birth of Christ and also reminds members to be in a state of preparation for the return of Christ...

The Pilgrims held the first Thanksgiving Day in 1621. However, they did not celebrate for one day. Instead, they dedicated three days to giving thanks to the Lord for all he had done for them. It was not until the year 1777 that George Washington declared the first national day of Thanksgiving. Twelve years later in 1789, George Washington declared another national day of giving thanks to God...

You are what you read. Do you prefer fiction? Nonfiction? (Make-believe or true?) No matter what you are reading, the themes are usually about greed, scheming, loving, living, dying, adultery, coping and hoping. A new word I've discovered is "supertexts." (The Contrarian’s Guide to Leadership, Steven B. ...

Built in 1920, the four-story Tangney Hotel opened its doors and began welcoming guests and travelers. Owners added the fifth floor in 1936. Now standing on the threshold of our 100-year anniversary, the Tangney Hotel is becoming a refuge for many people needing a little “tender loving care” and an encouraging hand lifting them up...

We live in a celebrity obsessed culture. We have entire news organizations — like TMZ and People magazine — which exist to report on the happenings of celebrities. Some of the most famous people in our society are famous simply for being famous. Celebrities gather huge followings on social media and have an enormous impact on shaping public opinion, selling products, and generally determining what is popular and what is not...

Harvest time is upon us. Farmers are working their fields, trying to beat the weather in order to harvest the yield of their earlier work of sowing. Yes, before you can reap, you must sow, and you sow what you reap. Seed manufacturers make their claims to the type of return one should expect if they plant their brand of seed. ...

As an interim pastor, I do a lot of thinking with church leaders about how they can have an impact in their communities. Critical question: What are the concerns and needs around us, and how can we help address those needs as followers of Jesus? Many Christians are fond of Jeremiah 29:11 that reads, “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” This was a word for the nation which had been taken into exile. ...

Have you ever seen someone drive on the “wrong side” of the road to get their mail out of the mailbox? It happens in town, on country gravel roads and even on state highways. To be clear: It’s always illegal. We once lived in a town where the elderly lady across the street had a fairly steep driveway. ...

I don’t know if you noticed but it is getting cold out. Time to bring out the blankets, sweaters, hot chocolate with marshmallows, and coffee, lots of coffee (even though most of us drink coffee all year round). We all have our routine to stay warm. We have our place to hunker down and wait out the winter. No matter how warm your house is, no matter how fluffy that blanket is if you are not warm inside the cold whips right through you...

Did you know that many people are only really half alive? You may think that sounds crazy but it is true. Believe it or not, you are reading this column and existing in two different worlds. There is the physical world that you can see, hear, touch and experience. ...

We’re in a season of transition, here in our community, from summer activities that are now behind us. School has started, and even the Clay County Fair has come to an end for 2019. In the next few weeks moving into October and November harvest will be under way for our farmers. ...

As I write this the Clay County Fair is in full swing. The fairgrounds is a busy hub of activity. Some people sauntering along, others stepping quickly and who seem to be late for something — perhaps a volunteer role, a musical act they don’t want to miss, or meeting a special someone. And some days this year everyone stepping over puddles until the “puddle vacuum” comes along...

Luke 12:16-21: Jesus told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought, ... 19 “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”...

If you open your Bible to almost the exact center, you will find Psalm 8. It begins with these awesome words that have inspired generations of musicians: “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” You see, God has a reputation. God has a reputation for majesty, for greatness, for awe, and for wonder...

It was a situation that I am sure many of you have found yourselves in — I was beginning a new house project, and it was not at all going the way that I had hoped. As the minutes ticked by and my progress continued to stall, my temper got worse and worse. As I was reflecting on this moment later, I was appalled by my attitude. After a bit of reflection, I audibly said to no one, “Where on earth did that come from? That’s not like me!”...

The year was 1970. Joni Mitchell, Canadian songwriter and musician, recorded and released the song, “Big Yellow Taxi.” I am remembering the lyrics, “Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone . . . Pave paradise, put up a parking lot.”...

It’s a weighty question. Not an easy one to answer. For some, it might be a very timely question. You may find yourself, right now, in the midst of great pain and tragedy. And I realize that any answers I give may seem shallow. I do not want, in any way, to make light of the circumstances you may find yourself in. And I pray, that by the Holy Spirit’s help, what I write will bring you some hope and some comfort...

Recently, I was in another state to attend the wedding of a family member. I was invited to a bachelor's party, of sorts, which consisted of going to a business in their area. This business, to say the least, was interesting. Now, before our minds wander, it was just a glorified arcade. ...

I don’t like guns. I think of them as designed to kill, injure and destroy. But what I’m forgetting is that they also function positively: to feed families through hunting, to protect us from danger, and even to save wildlife by injecting tranquilizers. Like most tools, they can be used for good or evil. And I have to admit that I don’t like guns because I don’t understand them and don’t know how to use them well...

Last week some people from our church were helping out at Lake Okoboji United Methodist Camp. We were cleaning, staining, painting, making fence, cutting down a tree, splitting wood and, well, I was accused of driving around looking busy while avoiding work but I was headed after supplies. ...

Place the word “only” anywhere in the sentence: She told him that she loved him. Don’t worry, try all the ways. I will be here when you get done. This was on analytical grammar's page this last week. We use words every day. We speak to people, we Facebook message, twitter, snap...

After Jesus Christ rose from the dead and ascended to heaven, the church was established to carry on his works until the end of time. The church was left empowered and inspired by the historically recorded events that took place when Jesus Christ walked the earth. ...

A message came to me through our Spencer Ministerial Association that Grace Townsend Goreth will be in town over Flagfest. She will be speaking at the Fly-in breakfast on Sunday, June 9, and she will also be speaking at the Grand Avenue Community Outreach on Monday, June 10, at 4:30 p.m. ...

An interesting exercise and discussion starter is asking people to write their obituary. You look at how you want to live by imagining looking back at it! I have done this with youth. They have much more of their life ahead of them than those with many decades behind them. Writer David Brooks, author of The Road to Character, speaking at Dartmouth College commencement in 2015, distinguished between resume virtues and eulogy virtues — and pondered how do you get there?...

Recently I was afforded the privilege of sharing a sermon with another pastor during the Lenten services held at Faith Pentecostal Church. Following are my notes from this message. I hope that you will both enjoy reading them and that they make you a bit uncomfortable...

What a week it was last week! Holy Week is a journey that starts with joy and celebration, goes to dark despair, and ends with a joy like none we ever experience any other time with the celebration of Easter and our Savior’s victory over death. This year Holy Week was different for the world as we watched in horror on TV as one of the most iconic worship places in the world burned before our eyes. ...

Traditionally Christians held Easter Sunrise service in a church cemetery. That is right, in the cemetery itself, and there are good reasons for holding it there. After all, the first Easter took place in a graveyard where the Lord of life rose to defeat the shackles of death...

When is the last time you were desperate? When is the last time you found yourself at your wit’s end no matter how hard you worked or how much effort you put in? While it is hard to admit, desperation is a part of being human. We aren’t all-powerful, we aren’t all-knowing, and so when things outside of our control occur, it is a great (though very painful!) reminder that we are not as powerful as we have deluded ourselves into thinking we are...

This week I ran across a poem by Ruth Harms Calkin, which always challenges and inspires me. I’d like to share it with you. “You know Lord how I serve you With great emotional fervor in the limelight. You know how eagerly I speak for you At the women’s club...

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians, “I have learned in whatever state I am to be content.” Have you ever thought of contentment as something you learn? I imagine that most of us would consider others and ourselves as either content or not content, but not as one who has learned or is in the process of learning contentment. Do you consider your life’s path as one of learning contentment?...

Over the past few weeks, I have been cultivating new habits in an online program called “Whole Life Challenge.” I was invited to join a team with six other women. We have eliminated sugar, wheat and other flours and most dairy products from our diet. We also worked at incorporating several other healthy habits into our daily routine. It is a self-improvement plan that is not for the faint of heart! But it has also revealed to us both our unhealthy habits and our capability to seek better health...

Grace and peace to you! I hope that this finds your soul well. I pray that this will be a service to you. I don’t know if you have noticed but our world has a lot of ideas about service. What does that word really mean? Service, Stephan Graves has given the definition as: Finding the focus and energy for others that you have for yourself. ...

I heard someone say once, “There is no such thing as a pointless pain, in the life of the child of God.” Thinking of that statement has really encouraged me through the years, not because I like to suffer pain, but I’m reminded that the pain I go through has a purpose. ...

Back on Dec. 20, 2018, my husband, Tom, known to many throughout our community as “Pastor Tom” or “Coach Tom,” depending on what venue he happens to be living out his passions and gifts, underwent a serious open heart surgery at St. Mary’s Hospital at Mayo in Rochester, Minnesota. ...

Revival is not a product or a program. Revival is a move of God. We cannot design a program good enough to give God a send-off toward revival. We can’t work it up. We can’t predict it, but when it is present you know it is here. In our community there is a revival of the good news of Jesus Christ; his death, burial and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). ...

The following article presents an important proposal that can benefit each of us throughout this new year: “People think differently at the beginning of a new year. Reviewing the past, taking inventory, making plans, promising to improve — all of these seem to make all of us think more soberly than perhaps at any other time of the year. I have a proposal for this new year: While soberly considering the new year, let us seriously consider the new commandment...

Lately, in my prayer time, I have been enjoying the thoughts of something brand new this year. I also know that something new might involve changes that need to be made and well, that means stretching. And I’m not talking about the stretching that involves which pants I’ll put on for the holiday eating that give me room to stretch but stay comfy! No. ...

Are you planning to make a New Year’s resolution? I have read that forty percent of us do, and, on average people make two of them. By far, the two most popular resolutions are to lose weight and quit smoking. How do people do with their resolutions? Not very well. Eighty percent break them. That is probably why most people do not make resolutions in the first place, but with that in mind, I would like to offer you, “The Greatest Resolution.”...

Radios and iPods blast festive music; TVs show seasonal specials. Commercials stream while stores offer sales; packages pile under our trees. Turkeys and hams and meatballs are chosen; Scandinavian sweets hide in freezers. Cards come in the mail and cellphones vibrate with plans for holiday travel...

When the angel, Gabriel, visited Mary, she knew this would be no ordinary child. Quite the contrary, the child would be fathered by the Spirit of the living God. A virgin girl would birth the Most High, in the line of King David. The arrival of this king was long anticipated with prayerful hope. The oppressed people in darkness needed a deliverer...

Christmas Sale! Black Friday door busters! Get the latest, greatest, hottest, newest, best gizmo the world has ever seen! To me, one of life’s greatest ironies is that every year we use the occasion of the birth of one of the simplest, humblest, poorest men who ever lived as an excuse for societally approved covetousness...

Have you ever had one of those “unfortunate” blessing? By that, I mean something that starts out as a complete disaster or hardship, something that really puts a person “through the wringer” and yet on the other side of the unfortunate part there is a blessing we would not have had unless we had gone through the fire. That is sort of how my year has gone...

“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household. 26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. (Matthew 10:24-26)...

Today you might be experiencing a syndrome many of us had after the 2016 presidential election: Post-Election Stress Disorder. The deadline for this column was the day after the elections. The first thing I did when I got up on Wednesday was to look up the results for Iowa online. ...

Perhaps the best-known scripture verse is John 3:16— “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whosoever believes in him shall never die but shall have eternal life.” Even if you do not quote the words when you see “John 3:16, many people have seen it often enough on large signs at football or basketball games. ...

If I were writing my own paraphrase of the Bible, we might read the following passage from the ninth chapter of the Book of Acts like this: “The Lord said to one of his disciples, ‘Go, meet up with (insert your name here); for he/she is a chosen vessel unto me, to preach my name anywhere and everywhere by any method available!’”...

We know the Bible is a love story telling us how much the Lord loves his creation and especially man who Isaiah said was created, formed and made by God for his glory and for his praise, Isaiah 43:7,21. The Lord has a reason and gives a purpose for living. ...

This week will be the 17th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy, and perhaps you remember the headlines that day: "Doomsday!" "War Comes to America." "America Under Siege." "We Saw Evil." Every headline, every news report, every talk show host, every time the subject came up we were beckoned, summoned, called — but to what? To what was this devastating destruction of property, this destruction of our American sense of invulnerability, this senseless and appalling loss of life calling us? It was calling the people of God to prayer! Do you remember how believers in Christ gathered in prayer? Do you remember how the church suddenly became important again?. ...

God has a heart for the poor, and so must we. In the whole history of Christianity, the church of Jesus Christ has also had a heart for the poor. The term “poor” in scripture is multifaceted. It can mean those who recognize their need of God and cry out to him. ...

Deuteronomy 30:1 – 6, “Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death. ...” Song of Solomon 8:6. Jesus died to take away the distance between God and individual persons. He died to remove the reservations that alienate us from our relationship to him, to eradicate the hindrances that keep us apart. ...

I remember watching The Miss America Pageant as a youth, something I haven’t watched in over 30 years now. My siblings and I would pick our favorites, usually including our home state of Iowa, and watch as the contestants were narrowed down to the top finalist, with the official judges, in my estimation, usually making poor choices. ...

A popular TV show in the wasteland of summer options is “America’s Got Talent,” aka “AGT.” Last week the Angel City Chorale appeared on the show. One hundred sixty members strong, the choir is led by Sue Fink. When Simon Cowell asked her what the choir is about, she replied, “I want to bring together people of diverse backgrounds and build community when we make something beautiful together. That’s the goal, and it’s working.”...

The gnats are crazy! When riding bike one needs to be sure to ride at a pace that doesn’t require breathing through your mouth. If you do ride with your mouth open, gasping for air, going through a swarm of gnats can feel like a complete meal, toothpick needed. Yuck!...

My wife and I have been serving in Spencer for just about a year now, and it has been a privilege to get to know people, not only within our congregation, but throughout the community. There are so many places that you meet people, and you get acquainted on a surface level. ...

I wonder what you might be waiting for? Does your family have a big vacation planned for this summer? You’ve begun to think about the suitcase you will pull behind you, the clothes you will take, the specific ways you’ll be spending your days. Maybe you’re in the process of waiting for medical test results. ...

“You must be this tall to ride. ...” Have you seen this sign at an amusement park? The minimum height for you to be able to ride this ride is indicated by one of “Goofy’s” outstretched fingers. This can bring relief or disappointment. I really didn’t like roller coasters as a child, so I was seldom disappointed when I wasn’t tall enough to reach the minimum height requirement. Now I’m less concerned about the height requirement and more concerned about the weight limit ... but I digress...

Memorial Day in May, Flag Day in June and Independence Day in July These special days provide wonderful opportunities to be reminded of some of the things that have helped to make our nation, our state and our community great. I’m proud to be a resident of Spencer, Iowa. I’m grateful for our pastors and churches, our schools, our businesses, all the organizations and all others who have helped to make Spencer what it is...

Read Matthew 25:14-30 Consider the Parable of the Talents. You know I have heard a sermon or two that just gets this parable all wrong. Of course, it is another parable about the end times and the Judgment Day, when the Master comes to settle accounts with his servants. ...

Imagine yourself in a room with a lot of people who have very different opinions, viewpoints, or ideas on just about any topic. All of a sudden, the conversations become louder and filled with passion. Faces become reddened. Arms are gesturing. Smiles become fewer. You sense a conflict brewing...

Like the arrival of robins, tulips pushing through snow, trees budding or farmers going to the field to plant their crops — spring is a season for love. One hallmark of spring in most high schools of the Midwest is prom, the formal dance. Certainly, not everyone attends or wants to go, but many are aware of the invitation to the dance...

“Not everybody is called to do great things; but we can all do little things with great love.” — Mother Theresa. Preachers often ask people to take big risks for God. Sometimes I’ll use this space to challenge you to do something extraordinary for Jesus. ...

Just a couple of weeks back, many people around the world celebrated Easter — or as I prefer to call it, Resurrection Sunday — but what exactly did we celebrate? The simple answer is: “The resurrection of Jesus from the dead.” There is a greater richness to this celebration than just that. ...

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus ... 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:19, 22)...

A beloved Bible verse that comes to mind on Good Friday is John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” It encapsulates the gospel story, and it reassures us of salvation at the same time. Because of this verse, we understand the cross to be a symbol of God’s deep and eternal love...

News flash this morning is “the Austin bomber” blew himself up in his car. It would be possible to write an article centering on Proverbs 11:19 which reads, “The righteous are headed toward life, but those who pursue evil, toward death.” (CEB) But the prevalence of violence makes me too sad. ...

Saint Patrick’s Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick, is a cultural and religious celebration held on March 17, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick (c. AD 385-461), the foremost patron saint of Ireland. He accomplished a great task even through a bad situation. I read that in a historic article that said, “When Patrick was 16 years old, he was captured by Irish pirates. They brought him to Ireland where he was sold into slavery in Dalriada.

As we have been praying heavily for our friend Randy Cauthron this week, I am reminded of the power of intercessory prayer in the life of a believer. John Wesley once said that “God does nothing but by prayer, and everything with it.” In order for us to see people healed, delivered and saved, we must be engaged in a lifestyle of intercessory prayer. ...

Throughout the season of Lent in our church, we will be preaching a sermon series on the Lord’s Prayer, so we wanted to share some ideas which come from Homileticsonline.com that we believe might prove to be useful to you and your household in the practice of praying this very special prayer given to Jesus’ followers:
1. ...

Renowned theologian Professor Karl Barth visited the United States in 1962. His appearance at the University of Chicago attracted ministers, theologians and students from all over North America. The press was also on hand. “Dr. Barth, you are recognized as perhaps the greatest theologian of this century,” one reporter began in an interview ... ...

Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! The dictionary defines unity as the state of forming a complete and pleasing whole. Synonyms for unity are harmony, accord, cooperation, collaboration, agreement, consensus and solidarity...

Imagine the scene of Genesis 1 — the freshly minted creation in all its “very good” glory, the animals according to their kinds, the garden planted by God as a paradise for man, and the innocent and noble Adam, and his helper Eve, both created in the image of God and set above creation, blessed to be fruitful and multiply. ...

Your stomach may be growling right now telling you to open your refrigerator and fix a meal. If you are reading this newspaper, you are probably among the majority of people in the Spencer area who can afford three or more meals a day. But what if your refrigerator and cupboards are bare? Or what if they are stocked with items that have more preservatives than nutrition? There is a startling number of people — especially children — who have no certain or consistent availability of food that helps them live a healthy, happy life.. ...

Beginning a new calendar year brings a surge of fresh optimism into many hearts. This year will be different! This year will be better! This year life will change; I will change. But how? Most resolutions involve behaviors. But, what if change does not happen with renewed determination to do better or try harder? What if our new resolves begin from inside out? What if our resolves begin with attitude changes?...

I read an end of the year article on the internet entitled “The Year of the Apology.” It noted the large number of famous and powerful people who were disgraced by scandal this year. And it also noted that most of the apologies that have come from these scandals have appeared to be less than sincere...

If there is one day of the year that the world stops to observe, it has to be Dec. 25. On that day most businesses shut down; most people find themselves at home. Even those required to work roam home, because “home” doesn’t necessarily mean a place with a roof and four walls, but rather a place where our thoughts follow our heart and our heart is with those we love — those we care about — whether family or friends. ...

I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (John 17:23) If I were the devil and wanted to disrupt the work of God, there is no question about what I would do. I would attempt to keep all human beings from discovering that self-giving love for which they were made. It is this self-giving love with which Christ desires to surround us and in which he desires to include us...

On Oct. 31, 1517, in Wittenberg, Germany, Martin Luther posted his thoughts about some theological topics and the practices of the Church. That simple action began the Reformation — a movement that changed Western society. One man stood against the corruption of the establishment. ...

I wonder if our culture would be better off if we identified and named the pervasive presence of attitudes and behaviors exemplified in the song, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?” It is totally contrary to the basic message of Christmas, at least from the Christian perspective...

You ready for a challenge? The countdown has begun toward Christmas. Retailers, news broadcasters, memes on social media all are reminding us there are “x” number of days until Christmas, putting some people into a panic. You can choose to jump on that merry-go-round of consumerism or you can shift gears, slow down, and with intentionality refocus your month of November on thankfulness — not just one day, Thursday, Nov. 23, but 30 days of thankfulness...

Everyone seems to have an opinion — about wind farms in Clay County, immigration on the border, the Mandalay Bay Massacre or tax reform. The list of opinions goes on and on and is as flavored as the coffees served where people slice and support those opinions. You will know that I too have an opinion ... legion!...

Harvest time 2017 in northwest Iowa is drawing to a close as the weather cooperates. It seems only yesterday that farmers were planting. Time has a way of getting away from us and according to James 4:14 life is a vapor. There is a wonderful promise way back in Genesis 8:22. ...

1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” One day while children were waiting for the school bus, they talked about the money they had in their pockets. The first child bragged, as he held out his change, “I have 20 cents.”...

Natural disasters headline our news. The strongest earthquake in one hundred years has hit Mexico. It's been 10 years since three hurricanes occurred in the Atlantic. Hurricane Irma broke all historical records for velocity and endurance. At least nine U.S. states are currently battling wildfires...

As the Clay County Fair celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, many of us have celebrated with great exhibits, entertainment, fellowship, and most importantly, great food. What is it that draws so many people from so many states and even countries to celebrate the Clay County Fair? Perhaps its because it’s a small taste of the life to come...

We are approaching the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. On Sept. 11, 2001, foreign zealots, radical islamists, fueled by a flawed, extreme religious ideology hijacked three American passenger planes and used them as weapons of mass destruction. ...

God likes a good party. In fact, there are several places in the Bible where God commands his people to drop everything and simply celebrate. For example, Leviticus 23 contains instructions for the six major festivals on the Jewish calendar plus the weekly observance of the Sabbath. ...

Time to hit the books! For some students, it’s a time of excitement and anticipation, but others would rather visit the dentist. It’s one thing when we refer to subjects like reading, math, science, history and the like, but it is another when the subjects are faith, eternal life, godliness, salvation and sanctification. ...

“In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old,” (Isaiah 63:9). Have you ever thought about the possibilities that come with the presence of God in our lives? The guarantee of that presence, though, can never be assumed. It is conditional. All of the Old Testament illustrates this...

This month I enjoyed hiking with friends in the Rocky Mountains near Estes Park. As hiking “veterans,” sometimes we devise ways to entertain ourselves on the long hikes back to the trail head. For example, sometimes we challenge each other to name movies or books beginning with every letter of the alphabet...

The Psalmist relates the plight of many people, perhaps each of us at some point in our lives, when it is written: “Wake up! Why are you sleeping, Lord? Get up! Don’t reject us forever! Why are you hiding your face, forgetting our suffering and oppression?” (from Psalm 44:23 and 24)...

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...