Posts from 2022
DISTRACTIONS
Focus on the Team – Part 3 This month we are wrapping up “Focus on the Team” with part 3, Distractions. We’re going to be talking about distractions that occur in the Christian life. If you missed part 1 and part 2, you can read those on my blog, Writer’s Block. Just a little recap before we just into this month’s topic. Using a baseball comparison, Christians make up a team which is the church. Our coach is Jesus Christ and He is our How COVID has affected us
Of Candy and Toothaches
Every Halloween I have to stop and ask myself whether we should, as a church, be promoting, encouraging, and participating in this holiday. Let’s face it, when you think about Halloween the mind quickly goes to scary, witches, ghosts, and goblins. I know it’s fun and there are many other costumes that have nothing to do with scary themes. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:22-23, “To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all How COVID has affected us
Going to the Source
Do you ever find yourself reading a book or watching a movie and everything is going along great and then there is some big misunderstanding and everything falls apart? I find myself yelling at the TV screen….”Just go ask them!” Alas! No one ever does and there is a whole chapter of turmoil because of it. I have saved myself TONS of drama and anxiety in my life by following a very simple rule. GO TO THE SOURCE. You may How COVID has affected us
Youth Sunday
The school year has started and fall is here; the end of October is rapidly approaching and we all know what that means…Halloween! Whether you cringe and hide in your basement, or deck your halls with decorations and lights as if it were Christmas time, it’s undeniable that Halloween is a big deal in our culture! I could talk about carving jack-o’-lanterns and how the Holy Spirit is like the candle inside. We are dark and dreary without Him, and when He How COVID has affected us
Focus on the Team – Part 2
Who Is Our “Team”? I wrote last month about Aaron Judge and his New York Yankees. Aaron was laser-focused on his role on the team and their goal to win baseball games. (Update: The Yankees made the post-season playoffs and are currently leading their best-of-seven series against the Cleveland Guardians by 1 game to none.) The New York Yankees, aka Bronx Bombers, are arguably one of the most successful sports teams in the United States. They have won 40 American How COVID has affected us
KCC to help put on new roof
KCC is part of a roofing project for a local widow. She was been living in a house with a leaking roof, using buckets to catch the water when it rains. Freedom builders of Traverse City, members of the Amish community, and KCC have all committed to putting a new roof on for her. The schedule, weather permitting, is: Thursday, October 6th at 9:00 am – Stripping existing shingles Friday, October 7th at 9:00 am – Roof Repair and Weather How COVID has affected us
Armrests
Do you have good armrests? You may be thinking…in my car? In a movie theater? On my recliner? I’m referring to some Moses armrests. In Exodus, Moses was dealing with some grumpy Israelites. They were thirsty. So he took them to find water, but while trying to get water they were attacked by the Amalekites. Moses sent Joshua to lead the Israelites into battle and remained on a hill with his staff in his hands, praying and crying out to How COVID has affected us
All it Needs is a Little Miracle-Gro!
We all know what Miracle-Gro is. You use it in your veggie garden, flower garden and even your lawn to get bigger and better plants. Miracle-Gro boasts that if you use it (as Directed) you can grow plants twice as big! Double the yield, that’s quite the improvement! Jesus and the New Testament uses a lot of agricultural analogies. Jesus describes those who believe in him, the gospel, and the kingdom of heaven in many ways. People who believe in him are How COVID has affected us
Focus on the Team – Part 1
On Monday, August 29, Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees hit his 50th home run of the season. He leads the MLB in home runs this year as the Yankees pursue the World Series pennant. The post-game interview went like this, “It’s just another number,” said Judge, who was intentionally walked twice Monday before going deep. “It’s great, but I’m kind of upset we lost. It’s a close game we could’ve won.”“I’m not downplaying it. I just don’t like How COVID has affected us
They’re Baaaaack
Yes, the students are back in school. The teachers and admin folks are back in school (and that group has probably been back for a couple of weeks). And, yes, our discipleship programs are back and getting ready to kick off (have you signed up yet?). So, let’s look at a comeback story in the Bible. In the book of Exodus, chapter 2, we read that Moses was born, his mother hid him in a basket by the Nile river, How COVID has affected us