Last week I was traveling south on Highway 75 and I was about to the Hartquist Funeral Home when I noticed a young high school student on his moped approaching Highway 75 from the east on Elm Street. When he came to a stop he immediately stood up reached into his front pocket and pulled out his cell phone. He looked at it for maybe two or three seconds, stuffed it back in his pocket, sat down on his moped and took off towards school.

The first thought that came to my mind; really kid, you’re so addicted to that phone that you can’t travel the distance from your home to school without checking to see if someone is trying to contact you; are you that starved for attention.

I know, that wasn’t a very nice thought, was it. So then I thought I would give him the benefit of doubt. Maybe he was running late and was just checking the time. Maybe he was new to the community and was still uncertain about how to get to school, so he was checking MapQuest. Or maybe he wasn’t sure if there was rain on the way so he was checking the radar.

Seeing the young man reach for his phone at the stop sign must’ve been quite an emotional hook for me since I kept thinking about it as I continued driving. And then the Spirit questioned me, “Mike, are you really much better. You seem to be checking your cell phone a lot more. You even check your phone while you’re having a conversation with Vicki. Are you that starved for attention?”

Jesus was right; the Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth, I was busted. I had to confess I have been checking my cell phone much more often, and especially Facebook. I began to wonder, am I feeling starved for attention. And especially, why do I check my phone when Vicki is sitting right across the table from me.

Now, although a cell phone can be useful for many reasons, I believe having instant access to social media feeds our longing for acceptance, security and significance. In fact for many people, their security, significance or approval ratings are often linked to who follows them on Twitter or by the number of likes they get on Facebook or Instagram.

As I continue to reflect on how social media has become a great form of deception and has created a false sense of identity and security for many people, I believe the Spirit prompted this thought. I wonder how our society would change if every time someone was feeling starved for acceptance, security and significance they would reach in their pocket and take a peek at a pocket Bible.

Imagine the boy on his moped stopped at the stop sign reading that God “liked” him, “You are my son, whom I love; with you am well pleased” (Mark 1:11). Or, “One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life…” (Psalm 27:4). Or “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor” (Isaiah 61:1) Or, and this was my favorite verse in high school, “Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body”  (Ecclesiastes 12:12).

When it comes to seeking your acceptance, security or significance, may it not be so with you that you would turn to social media, but that you would become addicted to checking God’s word. As Moses instructed Joshua, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

Mike Altena

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. I Pet. 3:15

Have you ever had someone share their faith with you when you least expected it? Or maybe the source of the testimony was very unlikely because it wasn’t someone who “fits the mold” so to speak? Of course it is pretty crazy to think that there is a mold…we tend to just think all Jesus followers are or should be like ourselves. So when we come across one that isn’t, it may come as a shock. However, when that happens it also sticks with you a long time. I wrote the following song a couple of weeks ago and it tells the story of two gentlemen who have completely different circumstances yet the exact same testimony and hope to share. One is an old man dying of cancer. The other is an immigrant.

Met an old man along a dusty road one day; he cracked a joke, but his eyes were glistening

When he cried, I wasn’t sure what I should say; so I stood there listening

“Got the cancer all through my bones; my mind is weak and the blood runs cold

I can’t sleep and the pain drives me insane…

My wife’s been gone for fifteen years, and I have cried a million tears

But I’m here to let you know, I’m at peace, and I’m ready to go (because)

There isn’t much in this world I know, but I can tell you one thing for sure;

This is true so listen carefully…

Only Jesus can save your soul, He’s the only one who can make you whole

He will walk with you and set you free…if you believe”

They hired a new man at work one afternoon; I welcomed him and asked if he was well

His clothes were old and his shoes were worn right through; It was clear he had a story to tell

“Please forgive my simple talk; I traveled here from a land far off

In my country I’m respected and esteemed…

There came a time when I had to leave; What man can watch his children suffering?

But I’m here to let you know, it was God who helped me go (so I could tell you)

There isn’t much in this world I know, but I can tell you one thing for sure;

This is true so listen carefully…

Only Jesus can save your soul, He’s the only one who can make you whole

He will walk with you and set you free…if you believe”

I find encounters like that to be very convicting. I think, “After all God has blessed me with by way of faith, health, family, freedom, and finances, I should be the one sharing my faith, but it is this person who has truly suffered who has the courage to speak up!”   I hope as we delve deeper into Experiencing God this Fall, we will all have stories to tell, and may we be bold enough to share them in places and at times that don’t make sense. Have your story ready to go when the time comes, and maybe each one of us can be an unlikely source to someone else along the way.

Cory Grimm

For the past 15 years when the sweet corn is finished, the apples begin to fall, and the eighth page of the calendar gets flipped over, I begin to plan and prepare for another year of teaching two year olds in our Toddler Sunday School class. Kairie Franken has been my helper in the classroom for most of those 15 years and it has been quite an adventure. When I prepare for a new group of youngsters that will come for the first time in September, it is fun to reminisce about the classes and students that we have had in the past.

Toddlers are an interesting crowd to work with. There is a vast array of personality styles, maturity, abilities, and comfort levels. Each year there are multiple children who won’t say a word. Sometimes their vocabulary is limited because of their young age and sometimes they are just too scared to talk. On the other end of the spectrum is the child that talks non stop. While that can be a killer in a group of older kids or adults, it is a life saver when you are trying to have a discussion with two year olds. It also provides great entertainment for the teachers when we hear stories that the kids tell! Add to this mixture the child that is having a hard time letting go of Mom or Dad and is crying profusely, the child who is not sure what this is all about and has their head pulled inside their shirt, the child who wants to run the show, the child who has the gift of comedy, and the child who has already developed a competitive spirit, and it can be quite the circus on Sunday morning.

But on top off all that, there is notoriously the child who walks into class on the first day and for whatever reason, latches on to you and won’t let go. They are your best bud, your helper, your shadow. Where you go, they go. They can’t take their eyes off you.

Part of our routine is to position carpet squares in a circle for the kids to sit on during story time. We try to keep enough room between the carpets to give the kids their own space and allow them to move without hitting the person next to them. Typically the kids pick a spot based on the color of the carpet or where one of their friends are sitting, but we had a recent graduate who would often wait until I sat down and she would pick up one of the available squares and move it directly next to mine, often overlapping the two spots and scooting in as close as she possibly could, often leaning over and resting her head or elbow on my leg.

This memory got me thinking about where I position myself in proximity to Jesus. I would like to think that I sit as close to Jesus as possible, that I lean in attentively to hear his every word, and simply rest in his presence, but that isn’t always the case. I often sit in the back row during His lessons and frequently try to change the topic of His discussions. I find myself daydreaming instead of paying attention, and looking around instead of looking at Him.

James 4:8a says “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” As we embark on this series of Experiencing God, my prayer is that we would all scoot a little closer to Jesus, open our ears to hear what he has to say, and then do what he says.

Erin Jacobsma

Some time back, I recall an elderly woman visiting our church. Several people visit our church from week to week, but for some reason this woman has remained in the back of my mind. She did not stick out in the crowd of people, she did not look any different than anyone else, and she did not necessarily do anything special to draw my attention to her; yet I have not forgotten her.

The woman was sitting with a family whose baby was being baptized. I can only assume she was the great grandma to the little one wrapped in white. What joy it must have been for her to watch her grandchildren present their child before the Lord, knowing the next generation of her family would be raised knowing His goodness. Yet, this is not what struck me about the woman. What caught my attention happened at the end of the service.

When Mike completed his message, we closed with a couple songs. The first was a praise song. As I was singing, I was interrupted when I caught a glimpse of the woman standing and just looking at the screen. She was not singing, just looking ahead with a straight face. At the moment, I thought she must not know the song. I watched a moment longer and returned my attention to the music and eventually found myself worshiping – allowing the words to sink into my heart and turning my focus toward God.

For me, praise music is something that speaks to me. It carries me through a rough day; I crank it up when I’m busy; I have it streaming through earbuds when I am mowing lawn; and it is a must when I am driving in my car. Perhaps it most speaks to me when our church family comes together in one voice – often moving me to moistened eyes. Why did she not feel the same way?

When we wrapped up the song, the praise team led us into a familiar hymn. As we began to sing, I saw something very different in this lovely, elderly woman. What I saw was a woman singing the beautiful old hymn with great joy. Her entire body moved with each changing chord and I smiled as I watched her sing. The hymn was speaking to her heart, just like the previous song had spoken to mine. She was joyfully singing praises to her King. It was this song that brought her before the thrown of God, each word penetrating her heart, praising her Father in Heaven.

I experienced a lot in those brief moments. I saw a gap in age, preference in music, and even experienced a slight frustration when she did not like the same song I did. Yet it was on this day, God revealed to me how He speaks to us all differently, through different experiences in life and yes, even in different styles of music.

May it be said of us that our heart is focused on worshiping God and not the choice of music. And may we rejoice when God tunes the heart of all his children to hear his voice.

¹Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. ²Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. (Psalm 95)

Becky Ossefoort

I’m sure everyone is looking forward to the completion of the Highway 75 project in Luverne. Actually it’s been kind of fun this past week not having any lane markings. Without the lane markings a person can have the freedom to drive wherever they want.

For example, one afternoon I was in a hurry and I was following a slower car and so I decided to pass it. So I moved way to the left side into the lane of oncoming traffic and stepped on the gas; boy you should’ve seen the look on that guy’s face in the oncoming car as I was coming right at him. He must’ve been impressed with my driving because he waved at me with one of his fingers indicating I was number one.

And then on another occasion, since there are no markings, I thought I would use my freedom to pretend like I was driving in the new three-lane configuration and so I decide to drive real slow right in the middle of the two right lanes. Well, it didn’t take long and traffic was getting backed up behind me and they started honking their horns; I could actually hear some guy yelling at me to move over. I thought to myself, hey buddy you better get used to it, this is the way it’s going to be once they paint the new lines. J

As I was reflecting on the fun and freedom I’ve been enjoying without the lane markings, I realized not everyone was having as much fun as I was, especially the guy I almost ran in to. I began to wonder, is freedom really being able to do whatever you want whenever you want, regardless of how it may affect someone else.

I began to reflect on the wisdom of Psalm 119:29-32. In this portion of scripture the Psalmist is reflecting on his need for guidance through life. He writes, ²⁹“Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me and teach me your law. ³⁰ I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws. ³¹ I hold fast to your statutes, Lord; do not let me be put to shame. ³² I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.”

According to these verses, true freedom is not doing whatever we want, whenever we want; true freedom is when we stay within the boundaries of God’s will. May it not be so with us that we would hurt someone else by abusing our freedom. (Oh and by the way, I just made up my examples).

And then one more observation from the highway 75 project that relates to our spiritual life. I’m sure you’ve noticed that the true renovation of the south half of 75 has been a long sloooooooow process. To replace the culverts, the water lines, the sidewalks and the road surface was deeply invasive. On the other hand, it took only a few days to patch the cracks and seal-coat the north half. And while it may look nice, it’s still really bumpy.

It prompted me to think about the difference of Adam and Eve and David. When Adam and Eve realize the brokenness of their sin, they ran and hid and covered up with some leaves—it was a quick, ineffective, cover up. On the other hand, when David realized how corrupt his heart had become with Bathsheba, he asked God to do deep invasive work in his heart. “Search me, O God and know my heart…See if there is any offensive way in me…” (Psalm 139). “Create in me a pure heart, O God…” (Psalm 51).

When it comes to conviction of sin, may it not be so with us that we would settle for a quick patch job, but that we would always allow the Spirit to do the deep invasive renovation of the heart.

Mike Altena

For the past several weeks we’ve been focusing on the joy we have in Christ in our worship gatherings. Again, for those who have been born again, because Christ lives in us, we can choose to live in a perpetual state of joy.

However, I’d have to admit for the past few weeks my sense of joy has been challenged. Ever since the news and videos have come out about Planned Parenthood selling baby parts my heart feels deeply saddened. This morning I watched the seventh video presentation about Planned Parenthood exposing the activities of a gal who shared how they cut through the face of a little baby boy in order to “harvest” his brain while he was still alive.

While growing up I always thought America was a Christian nation—“In God We Trust.” However I have come to realize America was only founded by many Christians who sought to instill a government that was guided by the Word of God. Obviously that is no longer the case. America is not a Christian nation, but rather a heathen nation being led by a majority of very confused heathen men and women.

Isn’t it amazing when you consider the subtle deceit of the enemy that our leaders have reached a point where they can justify and approve the killing of an innocent human being? Doesn’t that deeply grieve your heart to know that we live in a country that approves the murder of an unborn child and then chopping it up to sell the body parts for research? Is our government really any different than Hitler’s regime?

I also watched a video message by Matt Chandler on this issue and he shared that by 21 weeks, with a little help from machines, a baby could live outside of the womb, and yet nearly almost all of the 1,000,000,000 babies that were aborted in the western hemisphere last year were aborted after 21 weeks. And the truth is this lack of concern for these babies is driven purely by the exaltation of self.

One women Chandler interviewed acknowledged that the fetus inside of her was a human life, yet after aborting her child she said, “She is the boss. Her life and what is right for her circumstances and her health should automatically trump the rights of the non-autonomous entity inside of her. Always. Period.”

When I think of what our heathen nation is doing, I think of what God spoke to Israel after they turned their backs on God. “⁴Oh, what a sinful nation they are—loaded down with a burden of guilt. They are evil people, corrupt children who have rejected the Lord. They have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him. ⁵Why do you continue to invite punishment? Must you rebel forever? Your head is injured, and your heart is sick….When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look. Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with the blood of innocent victims. ¹⁶Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. ¹⁷Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows [and the unborn] (Isaiah 1:4-5;15-17).

May it not be so with us that our lack of outcry over this matter be a reflection of apathy and indifference. And may it not be so with us that we are so busy pursuing the American Dream that our consciences have become seared to the evil that is invading the country in which we live. And may we pray diligently that God would grant us repentance so that the joy of his salvation would be restored.

Mike Altena

We had a chance to get away for a few days this week.  The older two kids had a three day excursion known in our family as “Adventure camp.”  This is essentially some special time with grandparents doing treasure hunts, etc…  our youngest spent a couple of days with her cousin, so Lynn and I were free to spend two nights in Chicago.  Of course it is hard to use the word “free” and “Chicago” in the same sentence!  Wow, life is expensive there!  But we had a relaxing time and enjoyed hanging around the river walk area, mostly watching people and listening to their languages from around the world.

Probably the nicest building in that area is Trump Tower, a city within a city, or to put it more accurately, a rich suburb within a city.  The tower looms over the river walk with its shiny brilliance, offering a plush hotel and very high end condos.  Right where everyone can see are mounted the gigantic letters… T R U M P.   Lynn asked, “What kind of person puts their own name on the building like that?”  I joked, “the type of person who would make a wonderful president who can relate to common folks like us!”  Probably since Mr. Trump has been in the news so much lately, and because we found ourselves relaxing in the shadow of his buildings, I found myself reflecting on the nature of fame and influence.

When I was younger I used to think the only way to be someone who mattered was to become famous.  At one point a good friend confronted me on that character trait and said, “Not everyone can be famous, Cory.”  He also nicknamed me “David Koresh” because of my habit of getting large groups of people to do crazy stuff.  (Young people, check your 90’s history to get that reference.) That was a wake-up call to me and I began to take notice of people who make an impact without becoming famous.  Number one on that list is Jesus.

Jesus?  Not famous?  Yes that’s right.  We always have to remember that at the moment of his death Jesus was perceived by almost everyone to be, as my kids would put it, an “epic failure.”  Of course we know now that Jesus rose from the dead and began appearing to people, but as the masses headed home from that year’s Passover celebration, they surely had begun the process of forgetting about Jesus and looking toward the next big thing, whatever that might be.

And yet Jesus is now truly “the famous one” as Chris Tomlin wrote in his song with the same name which is based on Psalm 19: “The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”  The crazy thing is that Jesus became well known simply by maintaining a razor sharp focus on glorifying God, not himself.  Unlike the Donald, Jesus did not self-promote.

We live in a culture that glorifies the fantasy of making a name for oneself, for sticking out above the crowd, for being famous.  How many TV shows provide an opportunity to grab at that dream?  The streets of Chicago are full in the Summertime of performers trying to impress the crowds.  But there is no joy, peace, or happiness to be found in the adoration of people.  As much as they love you now is proportionate to how much they will hate you later.  John wrote about how many believed in Jesus but would not follow because “they loved praise from men more than praise from God.” May it not be so with us!

Cory Grimm

Last week Saturday night I was among the spectators of the Enduro Race at the Rock County Speedway. This was not my first experience at the race track. Our family has been filling the stands for many years cheering on fathers, brothers, sons, cousins, and friends.

For those of you who are not familiar with the local racing scene, the Enduro is not merely a race of speed. The winner of this competition is the first driver to complete the most laps within the two hour time limit or the first driver to complete 200 laps; whichever comes first. Before the race begins, the track is generously watered down increasing the challenges of maneuvering a race car on a small quarter mile track with 51 other automobiles. If you are thinking that it would be close to impossible to line up 51 cars in a quarter mile, you would be correct. By the time the first cars approach the starting line, the cars at the back of the pack haven’t even made it to turn one and already cars are slipping and sliding and crashing and dying.

Hopefully by now you are getting the picture that this a race of endurance; hence the name—Enduro. Drivers endure a bumpy ride, mud flying in their face, and hot temperatures. Radiators overheat, brakes fail, engines stall, and crashes happen. Having the fastest car, the best motor, or the newest tires is no guarantee of a win or even a finish. But for the ones who can make it to the checkered flag, victory is sweet. First place is the ultimate reward, both for bragging rights and the cash prize, but just to finish the race and make it to the end is an accomplishment in itself.

The same is true in our walk of faith. Listen to these words from Hebrews 12. “¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” (NLT) The life of faith is not a few quick trips around the track. If you have made the decision to follow Christ, you are entered in an endurance race. Often times we begin the race and profess our faith with a lot of energy and excitement, but with little conviction to stay in it for the long haul. When we hit a few bumps in the road or get spun around we are ready to call it quits. I have listened to people share about experiences they had on mission trips, weekend retreats, group studies, and other conferences that they claimed were life changing events, but those claims seem to fizzle as time goes by.

So what is the secret to enduring? The writer of Hebrews continues… “²We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith... ³Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.” During the race, the drivers must pay attention to many things going on around them, but they also keep their eye on the track official. He is the one holding the flag, giving them the green to go, the red to stop, and holding out the checkered flag at the end. Let Jesus be your race official. Keep your eyes on him. Keep on keeping on and don’t let the flat tires and fender benders along the way keep you in the pits and out of the race.

Erin Jacobsma

This past weekend I had the privilege to accompany 15 of our junior high students to Power Connection 2015. Not only did we have a ton of fun, we left with our hearts ignited on fire for the Lord. The bond this group now shares will be something treasured for a lifetime. During our time together, I saw the youth soaking in God’s Word, thoughtfully planning how to best apply what they had learned to their daily lives, and worshiping from their heart. Many committed to a deeper relationship with God and a few gave their heart to Jesus for the first time.

Each day during our main session we saw a short drama. One of those dramas started out with two friends chatting on the sidewalk. They were deep in conversation about the prior evenings events when their other friend walked in with a small box. When the friends asked what he had in his hands, he replied “Oh, this? It’s my God-in-a-box.” One friend laughed hysterically at how small his box was and turned to pull out his Super-Sized God-in-a-box on wheels. The third friend was not amused; in fact she had absolute sadness in her heart for her friends. The two friends argued that they could easily live without God, but it was important that they have their box available, so they could let him out when they needed Him. They would take God out of the box at church, while they were at Bible Study, or even at school while taking a test. If they were with friends, playing video games or other “fun” things they would neatly tuck God back in the box. They were determined they could live without God all the time.

Friends, do you keep God in a box only letting Him out when you need Him or when it will look good to those watching? Is God welcome to be part of your every day, every minute activity? Is He welcome to be part of your conversations with all your friends or just certain friends? Maybe you do not have God in a box, but are you allowing Him to drive your life or just sit in the passenger seat? Backseat? Maybe He is tapping on the trunk lid asking to be let out.

If we are in a real relationship with God, we need to let Him drive – we get to sit in the backseat. We cannot just whip Him out of the box whenever we need Him, only to tuck Him back in when we are done. Our relationship with God is not a job we can punch in and out of as we please.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” Colossians 3:23. Whatever you do…no matter who is around, no matter where you are, no matter how scared it makes you, do it as though you are doing it for the Lord. Whatever you do…in all conversations, during all activities, no matter what, allow God to be part of it. If we want to be used by God to conquer the world, we first need to let Him conquer us.

So now I’ll ask you, can you live without God? Perhaps a better question is this: Can you die without Him? You can’t live without Him either, my friend.

Becky Ossefoort

Get started today! Each of us at Power Connection was given a 21-day challenge and I would like to challenge you to take the same challenge. (Double dog dare you!) The 21-day challenge: read one chapter in the book of John for the next 21 days. Seems easy, right? Well, if you take that challenge, who are you going to do it with? Who will be your partner so you can study it together? Friends, God has called us into a personal relationship with Him, not a private one. His word is meant to be shared together. If you need a partner, let me know, I’d be happy to do it with you!

Several Saturdays ago I agreed to feed and check the cattle for the person who owns the feedlot where I used to work. As I approached the railroad tracks in Sheldon which run parallel with old highway sixty, I noticed a sign to the right of the roadway that said DO NOT STOP ON TRACKS. And although I’m sure I passed that sign hundreds of time before, this time the sign struck me as kind of strange. Why would the state have to put up a sign that warned people to not stop on the tracks? I mean, surely anyone who is smart enough to get a driver’s license is smart enough not to stop on the tracks, right. Wouldn’t it be obvious that, if you stopped your vehicle on the tracks, a train could destroy your life?

As I was reflecting on the necessity of warning drivers not to stop on the tracks, the Holy Spirit asked me this question. Mike, you might be wise enough not to stop on the railroad tracks, but what are some thought patterns or actions in your life that have the potential to bring about your physical or spiritual destruction. The question stopped me dead in my tracks. The Holy Spirit was right, after giving it some thought, the Holy Spirit reminded me of some thought patterns and actions I had to confess and repent of before they destroyed me.

And how about you, you too might be smart enough never to stop on the railroad tracks, but could there be some attitudes and actions in your life that have the potential to destroy you? Or at least have the potential to disable you?

I was thinking of some foolish ways we “stand on the tracks” as though it would never hurt us. Things like refusing to accept what God has defined as sinful. Thinking I’ll get more serious about my relationship with God later. Doing just enough to get into heaven. Trying to live independent of God. Comparing our trouble-filled lives to those who seem to have no trouble. Feeling sorry for ourselves. Holding on to offenses, and I’m sure you could think of many more.

Jesus often addressed the danger of “standing on the tracks.” To the woman caught in adultery he said, “Go now and leave your life of sin.” To the Pharisee he said, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.” To the invalid lying by the Pool of Bethesda he said, “Do you want to get well?” Later he said to him, “Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” To his disciples he said, “Why are you still afraid? Do you still have no faith?” To the crowd he said, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” To the one who thought he was saved, “Not everyone who says Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven.” And I’m sure you can think of others.

May it not be so with you and me that we would live an unexamined life, standing on the tracks, unaware that the roaring lion is about to destroy us. But rather, may we heed the warning of the Holy Spirit, DO NOT STAND ON THE TRACKS that leads to destruction, but rather may we stay on the narrow road that leads to life!

Just saying,

Mike Altena