Awhile back, Erin had a letter in the archive on the “Not So With You” page about paying attention to what God is trying to speak to us about.

I’d like to tell you a story… about lions. After my dad, Dick Dreesen, passed away in February of 2014, I started seeing lions. Not right away, but a few months after he passed. I saw lions on TV, in magazines, in stores, and on the coffee cups from Glen’s Gas Station. My man and I even saw a couple of stone lions at the Maplewood Cemetery for the first time after driving by them many times before.

Finally one day I asked myself, “What is a lion supposed to mean?” The only lion I could think of was the lion from the Wizard of Oz. What was it he needed? Then it dawned on me… he needed COURAGE! And that’s what I was needing too. My dad was a dear friend and I missed him so much. We all missed him. He always had good advice if we asked and there were decisions to be made after he passed that were hard at times. After I realized that God had been telling me to be brave, I didn’t feel so afraid anymore.

The final part of my story is when I went to the local eye doctor to get some new glasses. Crystal helped me find the perfect pair. They fit like a glove—very comfortable. I asked her what the decoration was on the side of the glasses… sure enough—there were lions!

So what is God trying to speak to you about? Is he showing you something over and over, trying to get your attention? Be brave, be strong, be courageous… Look for lions.

Jeane (Dreesen) Leslie

In last week’s editorial, Andy invited me to explain more about grace, mercy and the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. I appreciate that he has been encouraging us to be reading our Bibles. One of the points of weakness that Pastor Mike pointed out last week to us was the increasing amount of Bible illiteracy. Historically Christians have been called people of the Book.

Many people find Bible reading hard. One of the many factors in this has to do with the hidden nature of the Bible. Andy pointed us to some New Testament scriptures on this. Even in the Old Testament this idea is often mentioned: Isa 29:10, 43:8, Jer 5:21 and even by Moses in Deut 29:4. This is why Andy’s first point in his first article is so critical to grasp: “The Bible is meant to be an interactive book. You actually need the Holy Spirit to guide you into the truth.”

Both the Old and New Testaments are equally important in opening up the mystery. You can not fully understand the Old Testament without the New and you can not fully understand the New Testament without the Old. For example, when Jesus uses the phrase “son of Abraham,” you do not know what that means unless you have knowledge of the Old Testament. Jesus taught and did ministry in the context of the Old Testament.

Likewise, you can not understand many passages in the Old Testament without knowing about the New. People wondered for 600 years what Isaiah was talking about in Is 52:13-53:12, the most vivid description of Jesus suffering on the cross. Many other Old Testament passages can only be understood by the life of Jesus.

You can see God’s grace and mercy and His Spirit at work whether you are reading in the Old or the New Testament. I once shared the gospel to a Jewish Synagogue Sunday School class that was studying other faiths only using Old Testament references.

The need of knowing the Old Testament has been shown by missionary research. The Chronological Method of evangelism was developed because it was found that people did not understand what Jesus was about until they had an understanding of God working in history though the Old Testament. Jesus as a “sacrifice” or as the “Lamb of God” just do not make sense without a knowledge of the Old Testament. This approach is used in the Bible course that has been released by the Transformational Education Network I work with.

I find it sad that so many people find the Bible hard to read. And especially the Old Testament which is 2/3 of the Bible. Admittedly, the Old Testament does have some parts that are hard to read. But most of it is clear and it is full of examples of God’s mercy and grace. Having a study Bible that explains the history of the times can be very helpful for those harder to understand passages.

In the Old Testament we see God’s grace and mercy in the numerous rescues, many times not deserved, from the forces of evil that came against God’s people. We see delays of punishment over and over again giving people more time to repent. For those who suffered under the oppression of others, including from their fellow country men, those punishments were God’s mercy, finally some relief from injustice. So many readers only seem to see the punishment and miss the mercy of God in these stories. We especially see God’s mercy in the many stories of restoration of individuals and the community of faith after failures. While the best known story of restoration is the exodus from Egypt, maybe the most stunning example is the return from exile after God’s people totally blew their relationship with God.

Although the work of the Spirit is not highlighted in the Old Testament as much as the New and may not been as wide spread, we see the Spirit at work in creation, with every “Thus says the Lord” and every miracle of Moses, Elijah, Elisha and others. And He was working in the ordinary lives of people as we see when David asked God’s Spirit not to depart from him (Ps 51:11) and in Elisha asking for His presence (2 Kings 2:1-9).

Ask the Holy Spirit to show you something each time you read the Word. He will help you understand the mysteries in the Bible, whether in the Old Testament or the New.

Kenneth J. Klay

In my last archive article I passed on three key points I learned that helped with my Bible reading goals. I got some great feedback and would like to expand more on point two. Point two was: Don’t spend a lot of time reading the Old Testament (OT) until you have a strong understanding of the New Testament (NT).

The Apostle Paul teaches in his letters that the OT, is “hidden” (1 Cor 2:7,Eph 3:9,Col 1:26) and incomplete (Heb 8). It is very easy to misunderstand God’s true merciful character in the OT, as it is “hidden”, especially if you aren’t aware that the first couple chapters span several hundred years. Let me explain.

In the beginning there was no law. God walked with his kids on Earth and had a very personal relationship with them (Gen 3). Adam and Eve sinned. God in his mercy goes to find them (Gen 3:9). Cain kills Able. God in his mercy protects him (Gen 4:15). Eight verses later (Gen 4:23) Lamech, Cain’s great, great, great, great, grandson records the second murder in the Bible. Next verse he says, “If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times.” Eight verses span several hundred years which show us how corrupt the thinking of God’s children became. They knew that God was a merciful father and began to abuse his love. Several commentators believe that hundreds if not up two thousand years may have passed before the law came into existence on the Earth. “Love is patient…” (1 Cor 13:4 on)

So what is the point of the law you ask? 🙂

By biblical definition the law: makes sin come alive, it arouses sinful passions, gives power to sin, makes us feel guilty and condemned. It was created to destroy our pride and selfishness. (Rom 7:4-9, Rom 8:2-4, 1 Co 15:56, Gal 3:10,13,23-24, Ja 2:10, Col 2:14,) The purpose of the law was to break us down to the point of surrender and need of a savior which could restore us. This is like today’s military training. They break you down to build you back up. The OT law is meant to break us down and NT grace is meant to build us back up even stronger. All the stories of the OT were to show us that we can’t “work” our way into relationship with a perfect God. They are a setup to reveal our true need for a savior. (Luke 24:44)

Very few people, even Christians, really understand this. Many today still live under the law.

Do you remember the 80’s movie Footloose? Ren McCormick played by Kevin Bacon fights for the ability to have a dance during the school prom. His initial opposition was from Reverend Shaw Moore. Do you remember Rev Shaw’s daughter, Ariel, and how rebellious she was? This is what the law does. Rev Shaw was a “legalistic” preacher and parent which made sin come alive in Ariel. He thought he was teaching the right thing but was ignorant of how the law works and almost destroyed his daughter along with their relationship. Thankfully God used Ren McCormick to teach them grace and mercy. In the end, it was grace that saved all of the relationships in town. A whole new spirit emerged. This is God’s desire!

Grace, mercy, and the Holy Spirit can be found at work in the OT. However it is “hidden” therefore you have to be very attentive to find it or you need to be taught where to look. With this being said, I have asked Ken Klay to do a follow up article next week revealing God’s grace, mercy, and the Holy Spirit through the OT. Please stay tuned.

To learn more about how NT grace reveals mercy in the OT, I encourage you to dive into the NT books of Hebrews, Romans, and Galatians. They all speak directly about this. The fulfillment of truth is visibly found through the life of Christ in the NT. (Col 1:19, 2:9-10,Eph 4:3,) Through Christ we have been shown the fullness of God’s character and a better way to live! (Col 2:9, Jhn 14:6, Gal 4 & 5, Rom 8) We are no longer under the law, but under grace. Thank you Jesus!! Grace and Peace, Andy Anderson

This past week I went to the Sanford Surgical Towers to pray with one of our members before her surgery. I was a bit early so I found a nice comfortable chair in the lobby to sit down and rest in. Although there was seating room for about twenty people, I was the only one sitting. After a few minutes a hospital employee who was walking past stopped and politely asked, “Are you finding your way?” I quickly assured her that I indeed was in the process of finding my way.

After she left, I began to reflect more deeply on her question. I wondered, are the people who sit in the section of chairs I was sitting in notoriously known for being lost? Did I appear to look like someone who wasn’t finding their way? Was she trained to ask that question? If there were ten people sitting with me, would she have asked everyone the same question? Is it okay to stop and rest along the way? Obviously by her question, it was clear that people who sit in those chairs haven’t reached their intended destination.

The Spirit prompted me to think more deeply about the question, now as if Father himself were politely asking me, “Mike, are you finding your way?” I began to reflect on my present journey, could I respond as quickly and confidently as I did with the hospital employee; “Yes, Father, I am indeed finding my way.” I wondered, am I confident of the current path I am on, or could there be a better way?

I began to think about Jeremiah 6:16a, “This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” This verse reminds me that there are two ways; a good way and a not so good way. Proverbs 14:12 supports this truth, “There is a way that seems right to man or woman, but in the end it leads to death.” (May it not be so with you and me 🙂

Jesus also had much to say about finding our way. In Matthew 7:13-14 we hear Jesus saying, “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The road that leads to destruction is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.”

Here Jesus teaches us that finding the “good way” is not so much about reaching a destination, but rather it’s about discovering a relationship. Remember Jesus words from John 14, “I am the way the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father, except through me.”

So when thinking about finding “your way,” “the good way,” or the “narrow gateway,” I am so grateful that the Holy Spirit has revealed to me that finding my way is to be in relationship with Father through Jesus.

May it be said of us who gather to stop and rest each Sunday at ARC that we are indeed finding our Way, and in doing so, also find rest for our souls.

Joyfully following the Way,

Mike Altena

I always cringe when I hear people complain about the government in this country, which happens quite frequently. It seems to be a very popular topic. “The government is too big!” “The government doesn’t do enough to help us!” “That Obama is a crazy person!” You’ve all heard similar comments and worse, no doubt. Just take a step back for a second and think about a few of the ways the government uses our taxes to actually fulfill the commands God has placed on us as a church:

• (James 1:27) Caring for widows and orphans (also mentally-handicapped and disabled individuals)
• (Prov. 22:6) Providing educational opportunities
• (II Cor. 8:14) Supporting individuals who lose their jobs or go bankrupt
• (Luke 22:36-38) Providing protection from enemies through military, police, etc…
• (Matt. 25:35-36) Providing food and clothing for those who are in need
• (Luke 10:34-35) People are guaranteed to receive emergency medical attention
• Also, freedom to worship, freedom of speech, and many other important freedoms…

Now imagine all of this important framework and resources provided by the government was suddenly stripped away? Would we be prepared as a church to fill that void? We complain about the government not doing these programs well or efficiently, but are we ready to take them over ourselves? Would we have the generosity, compassion, and energy required to meet these needs?

That was the situation in which the early church found themselves, and how did they respond? In the early 200s, Tertullian reports that Christians had a voluntary common fund into which Christians monthly deposited what they could. The common fund was then used to support widows, the disabled, orphans, the sick, the elderly, shipwrecked sailors, prisoners, teachers, burials for the poor, and even for the release of slaves. (Apology, 39).

This passage comes from the Apology of Aristides (130 CE). “And if there is among them (the Christians) any that is poor and needy, and if they have no spare food, they fast two or three days in order to supply to the needy their lack of food.” Also, according to historian Michel Riquet, “It has been calculated that at Rome in 250, under Pope Cornelius, ten thousand Christians obliged to fast so they could provide, from a hundred days’ fasting, a million rations a year.”

Maybe we should take on more social issues in our day and run more programs out of the church to take care of those in need in our communities, our country, and around the world. That could possibly be a great thing for our faith. Or maybe we should start by being thankful that we live in a country where so much of that work is being done fairly well, freeing us up to focus more on direct evangelism, discipleship, and worship.

Three more thoughts to think about:

Consider spending some time in a country like Haiti, Somalia, or North Korea…poor health care (and you have to pay up front or your get denied), poor security (military, police, financial), no programs to help the elderly/orphaned/poor/disabled, scarce educational opportunities, etc…

(Rom. 13:1,6) “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.”

(Phil. 2:14-15) “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe…”

To sum up, we really have it very good in this country, God has commanded us to respect our authorities, and we are not to complain as the world does. So next time the grumbling and complaining about the government begins at coffee or a family get-together, tell everyone that Jesus said, “Not so with you.”          Cory Grimm

It has been a little over a year ago that a new website for ARC was launched and the front page of the Archive changed from a picture of a beehive to the cross themed logo that we now use. Since that time the idea of a new theme and title for this editorial page has been bouncing around the emails of several staffers and assistants. After much thought and prayer, we present “…not so with you”.

Well, that’s an odd name… I could have come up with something better than that… One more change – I don’t know why we can’t ever leave anything alone… I am assuming that at least some of these thoughts or similar ones might be going through your head right now. So let me explain…

“…not so with you” is taken from the Gospels – Matthew 20:20-28 and Mark 10:35-44. The scene leading up to Jesus’ words begins with a request and some hard feelings. It seems as though there was a desire among some of the disciples for Jesus to pick favorites and assure them that they would be greater than their teammates, and this did not sit well with the others. Before a fight erupted, Jesus steps in and calls a time-out. Jesus reminds his disciples that this is what other teams do… they are concerned more about themselves than the team, they bicker and complain, scramble for the top without care of who they step on to get there, and exercise authority over one another. But he goes on to say, “Not so with you! Don’t be like that. Among you it is going to be different! Whoever wants to be most important among you must be your servant and in order to be first, you must be last.”

I can sense the twelve were a bit shocked to hear these words. Imagine thinking that you were part of a select few, residing in the inner circle, close friends with the future king, and now you are told that you need to be a servant. “Come on, Jesus, you’ve got to be kidding.” To which Jesus replies, “Follow my example; I did not come to be served. Instead, I came to serve others and to give my life as a ransom for many.” Jesus’ words aren’t just for the motley crew that followed him around in sandals many years ago, they are for each one of us. If you have accepted Christ as your Savior, these words are spoken to you also. Jesus says, “James, John, Peter, Erin, ( insert your name ), NOT SO WITH YOU! Don’t be like that! Be in the world, but not of the world. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

For many years, this has been a page in the Archive that was written by the Pastor of ARC with the purpose of encouraging the congregation in their journey with Christ. The purpose is not to impart some superior wisdom from a pastor that the rest of us can only dream of experiencing. Over the past year, the entire staff has been invited to contribute to these writings and share examples of a “not so with you” lifestyle. I would like to extend that invitation to anyone in the congregation to submit an article to the church office of how God is saying “not so with you” in your life. You do not need a title or degree to share a   God-story. Yes, it requires some time, but mostly it requires one to pay attention. As followers of Jesus, we would all do well to pay attention: to our lives, to our neighbors’ lives, to God’s life in this world. Maybe writing isn’t your thing, but if you find yourself saying that God doesn’t speak to you like that, think again. Perhaps you just need to pay a little bit closer attention.

Trying to do things different,   Erin Jacobsma

Last week in Sunday School our lesson was about Jesus as a child. I asked the group what kind of kid they thought Jesus was. The Bible doesn’t share much of Jesus’ life as a child, so it was interesting to hear how the kids answered. I’m not sure many of them had ever thought about the fact that Jesus was a lot like them. They thought I was crazy when I suggested that Jesus probably played baseball with his friends, had chores, went to school and had toys to play with. During our conversation I could tell some of the kids were really thinking, “Wow, he was a lot like me.”

Have you ever really considered that? Jesus came to this earth fully human. He literally was just like us…only without sin and was perfect. As we read the Bible, we see several times when he is sleeping or resting, times when Jesus is sitting around a table sharing a meal and eating food with others. The Bible tells us while he was in the desert, he was tempted by the devil (sound familiar?), ate nothing and in the end was hungry. All little pieces of the love story God has given us revealing that he ‘gets’ us, he understands the trials we face. As I think of these different Bible stories I often neglect to remember that while Jesus was special, he was also a lot like me. Pretty amazing if you think about it!

This past year has been a big year in the Junior Department. We’ve completely twisted around the way we have always done Sunday School. All in an effort to better teach our children about who our God is, who his Son Jesus is to us and that the Holy Spirit is with us always to lead and guide our life. To sum it up, we are trying to continue to build a solid and secure foundation. Reminds me of one of my favorite childhood Sunday School songs, The Wise Man Built His House. Recently, during Bible study, our group read from Matthew 7 where Jesus teaches about building on a solid foundation. I enjoyed how The Message put it very bluntly:

“These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who builds his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit – but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock.

“But if you just use my words in the Bible studies (or church) and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.” Matthew 7:24-27, The Message

It is my prayer that as we work in our ministry here at ARC that we don’t just use these teachings at church, in Sunday School or Bible Study, but that we work these words into every moment of our lives both in church, at home, in the world around us…and in our children’s lives.

I leave you with these questions: What sort of foundation do you have? Is it firmly in place on the rock or perhaps closer to the beach than you would care to admit? Are you actively and lovingly checking for cracks not only in your own foundation, but also your family’s? Perhaps most importantly, if these questions make you uncomfortable or question yourself, what are you going to do about it?

Inspecting my foundation, Becky Ossefoort

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates to even dividing soul and spirit…it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Heb 4:12)

Is the Bible alive to you? I confess for many years the Bible wasn’t alive to me. I read it often but didn’t experience very much life transformation through it. It wasn’t until I was taught three key points that this life took place in my heart. These points are:

• The Bible is meant to be an interactive book. You actually need the Holy Spirit to guide you into the truth.
• Don’t spend a lot of time reading the Old Testament until you have a strong understanding of the New Testament.
• Learn the end of the book/story first. The Bible is written as a mystery. Until you have the right understanding of the end, the plot in the middle will remain unclear.

The Bible is meant to be an interactive book. You actually need the Holy Spirit to guide you into the truth. The Holy Spirit…will teach you all things… (Jhn 14:26)

If you want the Bible to become alive in your soul, I encourage you to continually pray as you read through the Bible. Before you even start reading, ask the Holy Spirit to awaken your mind and heart to new realities.

…this mystery, which is Christ in you. (Col 1:27) Do you really believe the spirit of Christ is in you? When I was younger, praying used to be me mostly speaking to God. I have since learned that prayer is mostly God speaking to me. I had a mentor tell me, “God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason. We are supposed to listen twice as much as we speak.” Talk to God about what you are reading. Ask questions, and then learn to listen to the quiet promptings of the Spirit. He is in you! He will take you on an experiential journey through the Word. I promise. The Word of God is living and active. When you invite God into your Bible study and talk to him like you would any other person in your study you will begin to experience the living Word. It will awaken you to a whole new relational experience.

Don’t spend a lot of time reading the Old Testament until you have a strong understanding of the New Testament.

He said to them, “This is what I (Jesus) told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me (Jesus) in the Law of Moses (Old Covenant), the Prophets and the Psalms.” (Luk 24:44)

But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. (2Co 3:14) These verses teach us that every verse in the Old Testament is pointing to Christ. When we read the Old Testament we now need to be looking for Jesus in every chapter. If we don’t try to interpret these stories through Jesus it will eventually just put us to sleep.

Learn the end of the book/story. The Bible is written as a mystery. (Eph 3:9, Col 1:26) Until you have the right understanding of the end, the middle will remain unclear.

If you study the last chapter of every good mystery novel you can then understand all the chapters leading up to it much easier. The same is true for the Bible. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy (Revelation), and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. (Rev 1:3 Italics mine)

I hope this helps your New Year’s Bible reading goals!

Grace and Peace, Andy Anderson

There are many activities I have enjoyed through the years. Some of the activities were more physical in nature such as playing intramural basketball with the guys in high school, working on the farm (some jobs not-so-much), learning to water ski with Ralph & Loretta, or golfing with the ARC guys.

There are other things I also enjoy such as reading a book, playing cards with friends, visiting/sharing with others, or sitting by a lake or ocean and relaxing by the water and enjoying a sunrise or sunset.

Sharon and I have been able to enjoy many bodies of water over the years, ranging from the stream which flowed through the pasture on the farm to the oceans of the world. Probably the most unique body of water was when we went to the Dead Sea in Israel.

The Dead Sea was different because it was so salty that you could actually sit on the water. So that got me thinking about what the Bible says about salt. Matthew 5:12, 13 says, “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.”

Salt has three primary purposes. It preserves, heals, and gives flavor. We who follow Christ can demonstrate these purposes:

PRESERVES—How do we preserve what is right, good, and positive as Christians? We can lead by example when we speak up for someone who is down and out, or to any injustice we see, or share our Christian values with others.

HEALS—There are many hurting people in our families, our churches, our community and our world. As “salty” Christians, we can be God’s hand to help heal individuals through/with encouragement, befriending those who need a friend, loving the unlovable, all through the love of Christ.

GIVES FLAVOR—Someone once said that salt gives the salty flavor, but also brings out the natural flavor of the food. We, as salt, can bring God’s love to the world and a good flavor to people looking for a recipe for hope.

This warning… if the salt has lost its flavor it is no longer any good. Let’s not lose our desire to be the people who can add flavor (Christ) to this world.

George H. Bonnema

I hope you have enjoyed the Advent season and all of your Christmas and New Year’s Day celebrations as much as I did. Christmas is such a special time as we celebrate that God so loved the world that he gave us the most precious gift of all, the gift of salvation through his Son, Jesus.

Following the example of the wise men, we also celebrate Christmas by giving gifts to our loved ones in honor of the new born King. There is always so much excitement in the room as those gifts are unwrapped, especially among the children.

One exciting gift that Vicki and I received for Christmas was a significant cash gift from my dad; he is so generous. But now, what do I do with a gift like that? Invest it in some stock and hope it grows? Invest it in a ministry? Go on a nice vacation? Maybe just pass it along to our sons? Buy Vicki her own Harley? Save it for retirement? So many options to choose from.

What has surprised me is how much time I’ve spent thinking about what to do with this gift. We do that, don’t we? We spend a lot of time thinking about investing our time, talents and financial resources in things that might not have any eternal value. In comparison to the gift that God gave us at Christmas, a large cash gift isn’t really that important.

Instead I began to wonder, how much time do I spend thinking about how I’m going to invest the spiritual gifts that God has give me. What have I been doing with my free gift of salvation? Have I been keeping it to myself, or have I been sharing my gifts with others?

In 2 Timothy 1:6 Paul reminds Timothy to “fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you….” Below are some possible ways you and I can fan into flame the gifts that God has given us in this New Year. And don’t let the list overwhelm you, just choose one.

• Plan for a time of daily worship in song followed by the reading and study of God’s word.
• Memorize one new Bible verse each week.
• Increase your investment into the Kingdom by one percent.
• Set aside a day for a prayer retreat or a weekend to attend a spiritual renewal weekend or to develop leadership skills. (Promise Keepers, Women of Faith, Cursillo, Dunamis, etc.)
• Consider a short-term mission project.
• Identify a neighbor, friend, or family member to encourage throughout the year.
• Find a ministry in American Reformed Church that you can invest in.

How have you been investing God’s generous gifts of grace to you? Let me encourage you to join with me in this New year in giving careful thought as to how we will invest the greatest gift that we could ever be given; the gift of God’s Son and the spiritual gifts he gives each one of us that empowers us to live and love like him.

Seeking first the Kingdom of God, Mike Altena