Posts by Andy Bratton
Insert Law & Order Song Here
My wife and I are in the habit of ending our days watching an episode or two of Law and Order. The first half of the show is about a couple of detectives trying to solve a murder and find a suspect. My favorite is Lenny. The second half of the show is about the prosecutor building the legal case and presenting the evidence to a jury in hopes of getting a conviction. As I sit here watching an episode, How COVID has affected us
Same Ol’ Same Ol’
School is back in session, the sweet corn is being harvested, football season is upon us, and the temperature just shrunk from the 70s and 80s to the 60s in what seems like a breath. Life seems to be spinning by faster and faster. And things are changing that quickly as well. Artificial Intelligence, the influence of the internet and social media, and the immediacy of information make my head spin. Because life is fleeting and because change is happening How COVID has affected us
“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