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The Power of Story

3/24/2014

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Our church is going through the series, Just Walk Across the Room, written by Bill Hybols.  The premise is that giving the greatest gift of introducing someone to the God who created them, loves them and has purpose and destiny for their lives is our PRIMARY mission as followers of Jesus Christ!

Stories and the words used to tell them are powerful. I asked our church if they knew the theme song from Brady Bunch. They not only knew it, they sang it! Even the younger generation knew the song. The Brady Bunch theme song tells the story each episode of the two families coming together as one family.

Jesus is the greatest story teller. Some of the most striking and intense stories Jesus told were of people just like you and me.
>A business owner needed some work done, so he hired people for the day.
>A woman was standing in her kitchen one day, baking homemade loaves of bread.

Every person alive has a story and it is awesome when we realize our stories fit into God’s greater story.
>I can be found like a lost son.
>I can be cared for by a Good Shepherd too.
>My deepest needs – like the sick person – can actually be met.
>I can receive abundant life just by having the tiniest amount of faith.

What if you were asked why you go to church and pray so often? How would you answer? This is defining moment. We should be able to answer naturally, sincerely, and with clarity in a space of about 45 seconds.
1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…

Our goal is to learn how to tell God’s story and your story well. When telling God’s story, pictures often work best. A simple drawing which shows people at one end of a canyon and God at the other end illustrates that corrupt and imperfect humanity is separated from a perfect and holy God. The only way to reach God is through the cross of Jesus Christ.

Every follower of Jesus has a before and after story. Before I met Jesus, I was this way. Now that I have met Jesus I am this way.
“I was striving … but now I’m grateful.”
“I was self-destructive … but now I’m healthy.”
“Guilty, but now liberated.”
“Fear-stricken, but now confident.”
“Despairing, but now hopeful!”

  Keys to telling your faith story well:
>Search your heart and soul to firm up a three point foundation of your story
1. Key word or concept describing you before Jesus
2. Fact that you came into a relationship with Jesus
3. Key word or concept describing you after walking with Jesus

My story:
I was a lonely, heart-broken boy who lied and was mean to my brothers and sisters. I knew I needed Jesus, but thought He would have me go to Africa or do stuff that I would not like. I guess I doubted that He was good and loving.
I finally accepted Him into my life, wanting to have my sin gone even if it meant Africa!
I have discovered Jesus wants the best for my life, He is my closest friend, my loneliness is gone, I have gone to Africa and it was the best experience!
96 words

Write your ‘Before I met Jesus – After I met Jesus’ story in 100 words or less. I believe you will have opportunities this week to point someone to Jesus this week.
“If you speak in a way no can one understand, what’s the point of opening your mouth?” 1 Corinthians 14:9 (The Message)


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Christmas Aftermath and Rescue

12/26/2013

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The days after Christmas are a unique blur of crumpled wrapping paper, containers of goodies, and a return to normal activities. The more days off you have over Christmas, the greater discombobulating of normal routines you experience. Returning to a regular work or school schedule can be a good feeling of a return to normalcy. It also carries a feeling of disappointment.

The aftermath following Christmas involves a sorting out of how well your expectations of Christmas were met by the meal, gift giving, and relationships of family and friends over the Christmas holiday. The important people in our lives are not going to remember this year’s Christmas by the quality of the meal or the quantity of gifts. Memories are strongest by the unexpected.

Christmas Day, my son cleared a patch of ice off on the pond. He and I were skating while my oldest son did a little more snow-blowing of the rink. His sudden yells brought our attention to my son’s dog struggling to get out of the water where she had broken through. She was exploring around a muskrat den and broke through where there was thin ice at the muskrat’s entrance.

My son pulled his dog out and went up to the house, skates and all, to get his dog into the warmth of our home. The pungent smell of musty swamp and wet dog filled the basement where soaked towels lay in heaps.

The birth of Jesus was the result of Father God having sent Him to rescue you and I from drowning in our sinful ways. Jesus carries us to shelter and warmth. He removes the pungent smell of your sin with His forgiveness. The best aftermath of Christmas is to celebrate your rescue and live out the special destiny God has planned for your life.

Psalms 103:2-5
Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and forget not all His benefits--
3 who forgives all your sins
    and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.



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The Brief Exchange 

10/23/2012

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When your car breaks down, you are not interested in the technical mechanical reasons why it is not running. All you really want is for it to run smoothly and get you from point A to point B. There is a technical mechanical reason why cars run and do not run. Emotionally, we just want them to run well all the time. In the back of your mind, you realize a car or motor does not last forever; eventually, it wears out.

A funeral last week and another one coming up reminds me that we will not last forever. At funerals, we do not want to hear spiritually technical language about whether our friend, relative and loved one is in a holding place until judgement or if they have a new body or if they have to wait someplace in some body-less state until a certain time.At funerals we want to know that the person we care about is in a better place. We may feel confident if they attended a church, read their bible and prayed. We may feel anxious if the person disregarded church, prayer and the bible.

The bible does tell us that after death there is a brief exchange with the Lord. Some will point to amazing things they did, but the lack of a true relationship with Jesus prevents them from entering.
Matthew 7:21-23
 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’


The real deal is a relationship with God.
1 Corinthians 8:3
But whoever loves God is known by God.


What do you think the Lord will say to you in that brief exchange?
Why will the Lord say that?

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Family Resemblance

10/17/2012

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Have you ever met someone who resembles their parent in appearance, voice and mannerisms? My friends' daughter was at a family gathering that my wife and I were also invited. I commented to my wife, who also noticed how much mother and daughter were alike.

Last week, my wife and I went to the volleyball game of the team our daughter was coaching. A parent who knows my son, but had never met me remarked how much my son resembled me. How does that happen? Appearance and voice similarities occur by genetics. Word choices and mannerisms come by spending hours in the presence of the parent. Similarities can happen among people who spend hours in the presence of a coach, mentor, or friend.

Jesus invites us to be like Him. The only way to resemble Jesus is to be related to Him and to spend time with Him. Becoming a Christian makes us related; a blood relative.
John 1:12-13
Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.


The more time you spend talking with Jesus, listening to Him and watching what He does around you, the more you will resemble Him. You will have His mannerisms and His voice.
1 Corinthians 2:15-16
The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct Him?”
But we have the mind of Christ.


What is one or two ways that you resemble Jesus?
How strong is the resemblance?
What is the most enjoyable way you spend time in the presence of the Lord?

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Why is Water Baptism a Big Deal?

8/13/2012

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This past Sunday we had a water baptism for eight people in a lake near our church.  Water baptisms are very impacting for the person getting baptized and for those observing the baptism. In the transformational journey of a person following Jesus Christ, there are significant events that stand out. When a person commits their entire life to Jesus Christ, accepting His work on the cross for their sins and making Jesus their Lord it is a big deal. When a person invites the Holy Spirit to be more than an agent of their salvation, but asking the Holy Spirit to be their moment by moment guide, counselor, and teacher of their life it is a big deal. So what is the big deal about getting immersed in water as an outward symbol of something that has already happened inwardly?

Chris Shinnock, the Connections pastor at Manna Church in Fayetteville, North Carolina, says it is a big deal and uses the acronym of DEAL to tell us why.

Demonstration – it is a beautiful demonstration of the gospel; believe and be baptized.
Expectation – it is an obvious expectation of the gospel. Two ordinances the church is commanded to carry out is Communion and Water Baptism. It is expected that every Christian is to be water baptized.
Amplification – it is a radical amplification of the gospel. It signals loud and proud an identification with Jesus Christ.
Liberation – it is a liberation by the gospel. Sin habits and fears can be left in the waters of baptism.

Water baptism is a big deal and was evidenced by the moving experience we had Sunday as a church family celebrating what Jesus has done in the lives of eight individuals. Tears, cheers and prayers gave thanks and glory to Jesus Christ who has changed us by His love.

Matthew 28:18-20
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”


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Spiritual Lessons from the American Revolutionary War #2

7/5/2012

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(This is the second of a three part blog.) The American Revolutionary War (1775-1781) also called the American War of Independence or the Revolutionary War offers some spiritual lessons which I will present in three parts:
1.       Revolution, Declaration and Freedom
2.       Prisoners of War
3.       Allies and Enemies

During the first months of the war, the British were cautious in their treatment of prisoners, captured towns and countryside. The British had the challenge of fighting the war while building the allegiance of Loyalists (American colonists who remained loyal to and fought for Britain). They did not damage or destroy buildings, they did not ravage or burn the countryside and they treated prisoners well. They offered freedom to the captured soldiers if they either signed an oath to serve as soldiers for Britain or pledged not to return to battle as an opponent to Britain.

That policy changed as the brutality of war grew. Both sides gained and lost captured cities. The British held only a few places of strength for long, so locations for prisoners were limited. They used at least sixteen obsolete, captured or damaged ships as prisons for thousands of American soldiers and sailors. The conditions on the ships were appalling and many of these prisoners died from neglect; their corpses were often tossed overboard. More soldiers died aboard the infamous prison ships than died in battle. An estimated 25,000 American Revolutionaries died during the war; about 8,000 died in battle, about 7,000 deaths were from disease, and over 10,000 died aboard the prison ships.

There is an enemy on the shores of your life today that has a prison ship waiting for you. Perhaps you are already a prisoner on this ship. Once captured, you are invited to change allegiance from God – the giver of life to join sides with the devil – the destroyer of life. The ships bear the names of Doubt, Discouragement and Depression.


Hopelessness surrounds each prisoner like a heavy chain. Despair and neglect are two of the main guards holding people hostage. More people perish imprisoned on these prison ships than those who die in victory and freedom.

The modes of escape are simple, but bold.
#1 Jump ship. Leave the ship of death and board the ship of life by accepting the free gift of salvation offered by Jesus.
#2 Move from isolation to participation. Go to church every Sunday. Participate in a small group sharing your struggles and supporting others in their struggles.
#3 Eat. Reading the Bible, talking to the Lord, worshiping the Lord by giving your time treasure and talent brings spiritual nourishment to your spirit and soul.

Hebrews 2:14-16 (NIV1984)
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil — 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.


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Free and Valuable

6/28/2012

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There are certain mornings each week that I go walking and praying. I spend time praying for my family, our church and the community. Praying, while walking keeps me alert and often opens up Spirit directed focuses of prayer. Exercise is a side benefit of my prayer walks.

During the walk this morning, I came across a unique display. At the curbside just a few feet away from the homeowner’s mailbox was a weatherproof box atop a post a little higher than the mailbox height.  It was about two feet wide and a foot deep with a clear door on the front. It contained about a dozen books and had a sign that read, “Little Free Library”.

I admired the creativity of this homeowner making books available for free or exchange to anyone and promoting literacy. I discovered that Little Free Library is an organization whose mission is to promote the love of reading (learn more at http://www.littlefreelibrary.org/index.html).

Oftentimes free items at the curbside are one step away from the landfill; free junk. Floral couches, used carpet, and broken exercise bikes are relics left at the curbside with a sign that reads “FREE” with hopes that someone can make use of them someway, somehow. The “Free Library” made me appreciate this person or family for offering something valuable for free.

God offers a free gift that is not junk, but is valuable beyond belief. It is better than walking by a brand new car at the curbside with a sign that says, “FREE”. It is better than a reality sign on a million dollar home on beautiful lakeshore property that has an acrylic box with all the information about this home. You see photos highlighting all the amenities and when you look at the listing price it says, “FREE”. God has even better.

The free gift offered by God is a forever relationship with Him, the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the Great “I Am”, Creator of the universe and Lover of your soul! How much would you pay for this relationship? But wait, there is more! Not Ginsu knives or an amazing vegetable peeler. God will take away your guilt and shame. He will fill you with His Holy Spirit when you ask Him. God will adopt you into His family and share His inheritance with you.

Romans 6:23 (NLT)
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Titus 3:4-7 (NIV) But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Romans 8:15 (NLT) So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”


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Hail and Revival

6/15/2012

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Our state (Minnesota) was under a severe thunderstorm warning yesterday. The southern portion of our state had the most activity. My rain gauge showed 6/10” of rainfall, while some southern areas received seven to nine inches of rainfall and hail. We got large raindrops at the office and a person less than a half mile away got hail. Hail or hailstones are produced in strong thunderstorms with intense updrafts. Precipitation is lifted thousands of feet into the cloud, freezes, falls and is lifted up again by the updrafts. This is repeated until the hailstone becomes too heavy or catches a downdraft. Hail can be very spotty and sporadic.


The apparent randomness of hail has similarities to spiritual revival. We have heard revival defined in a variety of ways, so I will use the definition from dictionary.com:
re·viv·al  [ri-vahy-vuhl]  noun
1. restoration to life, consciousness, vigor, strength, etc.
2. restoration to use, acceptance, or currency: the revival of old customs.
3. a new production of an old play.
4. a showing of an old motion picture.
5. an awakening, in a church or community, of interest in and care for matters relating to personal religion.

There have been notable spiritual revivals in the past such as the Evangelical Revival, the Welsh Revival, and the Hebridean Revival. Each of these lasting one to three years with thousands saved and the characteristics of entire nations transformed. Recent revivals such as the Toronto Blessing, Brownsville Revival/Pensacola Outpouring, Kansas City Revival and Redding Revival have impacted thousands of lives as well.

We are learning more about weather patterns and are better prepared to sense when conditions are present that bring a potential for hail. Is there spiritual weather patterns that allow us to be better prepared to sense when conditions are present for revival?

Unstable atmosphere: conditions in our nation such as intentional harm by another person to a pregnant mother and her unborn baby results in a double charge: mother and unborn baby, but she can legally abort the baby without any charges. There are many double standards such as this that makes for a very unstable atmosphere in our nation.

Intense updrafts: There are more houses of prayer, 24/7 prayer, boiler room places of prayer, and small groups of prayer creating intense updrafts to the LORD. Students gathering before school, families praying around their dining room table, business men and women meeting to pray, and ministry leaders from different denominations cross pollinating for the purpose of prayer.

Do you believe your state and our nation may be under an intense spiritual revival advisory?
Comment here:


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A Cemetery Perspective 

6/5/2012

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I took a fairly long prayer walk in the community this morning. I needed to purchase some supplies for the church, so I walked to the store. While walking, I prayed for my family, the church family and our community. While at the store, I heard good news about a store worker’s son whom I was praying for.  On the return walk, I enjoyed more talking and listening to Jesus.

I decided to walk through Union Cemetery partly because I saw it on the news last night. Thieves had taken bronze markers which were on the graves of those who served in the military. The high value of metals is the assumed reason for the thefts. A generous business owner in the community is providing the funding to purchase new markers to replace the ones stolen. During the interview by the reporter, the business owner told that he felt he had been given much and wanted to pass it on.

Even on a beautiful summer morning, walking through a cemetery changes your perspective. It reminds us that we are not here forever.

I am thankful for the spiritual leaders in our community who helped make a special place in the cemetery for those babies that were never born or lived very briefly. There is a large grave stone which reads, “In remembrance of those who were never born.” Babies that miscarried, were aborted, or made such a brief appearance that there was not a service or burial can be grieved for and remembered. Parents have placed gravestones with one date on it, their child’s name, and sometimes a verse or note of love. One family comes on the anniversary of their daughter’s/sister’s birthday and releases balloons into the sky. They wonder what she is experiencing in heaven with Jesus and they look forward to a wonder filled reunion.

There are lots of questions and mystery about life on the other side of eternity that a walk through a cemetery arouses.

1 Corinthians 15:50-57 (NLT)
50 What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.
51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.
54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is your victory?
    O death, where is your sting?”

56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Tell me about your perspective from a recent walk through a cemetery.
 Comment Here:


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Newborns and Born-Agains

4/11/2012

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This morning I saw a newborn baby less than one day old. She is beautiful and perfect. One of the great things about being a pastor is the privilege of sharing joyful celebrations. The beauty and wonder of a newborn child surpasses anything else. You can hold and look at a baby for as long as your arms can bear. They are so amazing.

A man named Nicodemus, was talking to Jesus, and Jesus told him that no can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again, reborn. The passage of becoming a Christian is so amazing and beautiful that Jesus describes it as being born again; a wonder and beauty that even the angels in heaven celebrate.


Nicodemus is trying to understand how a person can be physically born again. Jesus tells him that this is a spiritual new birth. Nicodemus is still stumped. The next words Jesus tells Nicodemus have become the most significant and the most memorized words in the Bible, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” John 3:16-17

When our sins are forgiven we are perfect, beautiful and amazing because of this spiritual birth which has transformed us.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

When we become a Christian we have changed from being a sinner to being a saint. This does not mean that we no longer sin, but we do sin less and the sins we commit are no longer counted against us. We have become born again.

Is it hard for you to consider yourself an amazing person in Jesus Christ?
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    Mark Radeke

    Husband of one, father of five, pastor and friend of many.

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