Posts by Andy Bratton
“Say cheese”
When was the last time you took a “selfie?” Here are some “selfie” statistics: I am someone who enjoys a picture much more when someone I know is in the picture. I want to see what they are doing, not necessarily where they are. In a meeting just today, one of our staff members mentioned their daughter noticed how many “worship” songs we sing are about us and what God will do for us. That sounds somewhat like a musical How COVID has affected us
Only God Knows
Israel has been in the news as it defends itself against outside forces. First, there was the attack from Hamas in 2023. And recently, Iran has decided to retaliate against Israel for the destruction Israel caused. Many see these attacks against Israel as signs that the end of the world is coming. Passages in Zechariah, Ezekiel, and Revelation are being used as Biblical proof that “Armageddon” is about to take place. I try not to feed into those beliefs, nor How COVID has affected us
The Catholic Pope
There is a new Pope of the Catholic Church. After the death of Pope Francis, a Conclave (or closed-door) was held to elect a new Pope. This practice was established in 1274 by a Pope who saw his election take 3 years and decided changes should be made. When a Pope is elected by 2/3rd’s majority of the Cardinals chosen by the previous Popes, he is asked whether he accepts the position. If he answers in the affirmative, he goes off to a quiet How COVID has affected us
Stoke the Flame
Do you remember when you felt God first working on your heart, convicting and letting you know how much He loves you? Maybe it was at church camp, VBS, CIY, De Colores, an Emmaeus walk, a random Sunday morning, or a walk you took in the woods. And you responded by surrendering your life to Him and becoming a Christian. The first days and weeks of our new faith walk are exciting. We are on fire! Which is ironic because How COVID has affected us
Don’t Wait for your Heart Attack to get Started
I had the pleasure of hanging out with some college friends last weekend. There were five of us and we rented a house in Nashville, IN. A beautiful part of Indiana with an awesome coffee shop. (Or so I’m told. I don’t drink coffee. But the owners are a nice Christian couple brewing “Julian’s Coffee,” another nice Christian man.) Anyway, one of my friends lives in Nashville, TN (not to be mistaken for Nashville as mentioned earlier). My friend was working out one day a few years How COVID has affected us
Get Lit
As I grew up here in Kalkaska, at least one if not two of my weeks in the summer were spent at church camp. And I loved church camp! They would assign us to groups or families. Each meal we would line our family up and they would decide who got to eat first based on the straightest and quietest line. And, as a family, we would earn points throughout the week to see who could score the most points. How COVID has affected us
WILL YOU PLEASE JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION!?!
Well, I did it! I shouldn’t have, and I wish I had two hours of my life back, but I did it. I watched the debate. So many other things I could have done, but I watched the debate. I even started reading a new book and set it down once the debate started and I should have just kept reading the book. Ironically, the book was about having a Biblical worldview. And the difference between a Christian worldview and How COVID has affected us
Immeasurably More
I attended the Michigan Christian Convention over the weekend. It was a great lineup of speakers, all speaking to the theme, “Immeasurably More.” Ephesians 3:20-21 was the core verse which reads, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Toward the end of one of How COVID has affected us
Let’s Move
I can’t get out of my head the whole idea of constant improvement. Some may refer to it as being a lifelong learner. I have a friend whose next-door neighbor was at a point in his life where he had all the money he needed and decided to start doing jobs he thought would be interesting. He got a job at a fast food restaurant because he always thought he would be good with customers. He left that job and How COVID has affected us
Happy Greatest Commandment Day!
It’s Valentine’s Day, so of course I need to write my article about love. In 1 John 4:8, it says that “God is love.” It says that if you don’t love you don’t know God. That seems pretty straightforward. Jesus said that people will know we are his disciples by how we love one another (John 13:35). Jesus also said, “Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friend” (John 15:13). When asked about what the greatest commandment was, Jesus answered, “Love How COVID has affected us