'Kalkaska' Tagged Posts
Forever Changed
Following Jesus is not merely adopting a new set of beliefs; it is a journey of spiritual rebirth that results in an everlasting change. This transformation is rooted in the promise that “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The old self, governed by sin and worldly desires, gives way to a new life with an altered nature and renewed desires. This change is How COVID has affected us
The Wind Blows
“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.” My wife and I were recently on vacation in Estes Park, Colorado. We had a beautiful cabin located within the YMCA of the Rockies at the mouth of Rocky Mountain National Park. Each morning I sat outside on the porch with an amazing view of the Rocky Mountains. Most mornings were still, with practically not a sound except for an occasional How COVID has affected us
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
You Don’t Clean Up Before a Shower
We don’t wash our hands before washing our hands. We don’t scrub the dirt off before stepping into the shower. We bring the mess with us—that’s the point. Too often, people think baptism is for those who have “got it all together.” They feel they need to stop sinning, clean themselves up, prove they’re good enough, and then step into the water. But that’s not what Scripture teaches. Romans 6:4 says, “We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into How COVID has affected us
The Power and Practice of Prayer
Have you ever felt like your prayers were bouncing off the ceiling? Maybe you’ve wondered if God was really listening, or if your words are even making a difference. Prayer is not just a religious thing you do—it’s a living, ongoing conversation with God. It’s how we bring our joys, struggles, and questions before Him, and how we hear His heart for us in return. The Bible gives us a clear foundation for prayer. Paul tells us, “Do not be anxious How COVID has affected us
Middle School on Mission
This Saturday, 18 of us will leave the parking lot of KCC and head to Crandon, Wisconsin, for our middle school mission trip. We will be working inside two area reservations (the Potawatomi and the Chippewa), pouring the love of Jesus into the kids through various games and activities. Our middle schoolers will get a taste of what it is like to be ‘on mission’ for Jesus. They will spend an entire week not thinking of themselves, but rather serving 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
Tell The Story Anyway
There’s a strange tension that comes with sharing your story, especially the messy parts. Maybe you’ve felt it. That little voice that says, “No one needs to hear this.” Or worse, “If they knew, they’d walk away.” But the truth is, your story – your testimony – might be the very thing God wants to use to reach someone who’s hanging on by a thread. “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of How COVID has affected us
YIELDING A GOOD CROP
This year we had an amazing VBS! There is so much work that goes into prepping an event that only lasts a week, but I always pray that the impact that Jesus has on the kids that week will last forever in their lives. This year, I prayed that each child that was here would share their stories of how you can trust Jesus with at least one other child. We had 100 kids at VBS this year, so that How COVID has affected us