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May 2023
“He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior . . . ” (Titus 3:5b-6) It’s all grace. Everything is a gift. And gifts bring joy! Beginning May 28th, we will embark on a season where we intentionally inject joy into our community. What kind of joy are we aiming for? Real joy. Joy is a permanent sense of wellbeing upheld by God’s grace. It’s permanent, because our sense of wellbeing is not shaken by......
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The Best Exercise for Lent
Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your custom (habit) toward those who love your name. (Psalms 119:132) The best way to start your day is with a good cup of...
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The Legend of Valentine
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:12-13) How...
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Change Work
16 “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in...
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Preparing for Advent
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The...
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Difficult Conversations
Have you ever had a time when you have wanted to avoid a conversation with someone because you just knew it was not going to go well? Maybe it was something that hurt you...
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What’s Next
I’m fascinated by all the places in the Bible that leave us to wonder what happened next. How did the formerly demon-possessed man live after Jesus removed his demons and he moved out of...
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Being A Disciple
We just returned from another wonderful, faith-building youth mission trip and we had a great time. Seven youth and five adult leaders traveled to western Kentucky for seven days of fun, fellowship, work, and...
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I Need You To Lead A Small Group
“Brothers, children of Abraham, and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent . . .” (Paul’s speech delivered at the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch recorded in...
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Faith In Action
For a number of years, I have been involved with an organization called Faith in Action. It is a national community organizing network that gives people of faith the tools that they need to...
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Peeling Back the Layers
“Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:3) Slowly, I’m making progress on bringing “Lazarus,” my 1951 John Deere...
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The Question of Morality
What is Morality? “We have been called on to live differently than the world around us. We are called to be in it without being like it.” If you are looking up the definition...
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The Seven Last Words
Our last words carry weight. You feel it at these moments:• In the words you speak when leaving the house to go to work• When heading off to war• When you’re at the bedside...
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What Is Real Love?
February has always been a very special month for me, not only is it the month of my birth, but it’s also the month most often associated with love. It is a time of...
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The Priesthood of All Believers
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1...
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A Harvest of Righteousness
Does it ever bother you when there is a problem, and no one does anything about it? I remember when I was young and seeing others bullied at school, it seemed at the time...
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The Crazy Rollercoaster in Your Heart
Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me! (Psalm 66:20) I had a few thoughts about what to title this article. One of the first...
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Connected to a Godly Culture
. . so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 3:10 Oh, here it...
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How To Get More Done
Is your world becoming busier and busier all the time? Having a hard time finding the time to get those necessary items off your to do list? Well maybe you should pray more about...
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Looking UP
As I was getting ready for bed, one of my daughters wanted to talk. I indulged her, and she talked without stopping for over 2 hours! A listening ear can be our most valuable...
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Trust Your Journey
By the time you read this article, I will be riding my bicycle across the state of Iowa. This is what the website says about it, “RAGBRAI, Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa,...
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Where Is God When Powerful People Are Out of Control?
Keep the words of the Lord in your heart; teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you...
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Faithlife App Bridges A Gap
Stay connected with your church and other believers. Share prayer requests, create and promote events, follow along with curated Bible reading plans, and more. Join our community – View the Newsletters and our...
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Practice Getting Uncomfortable
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran pastor and theologian. He was also part of the anti-Nazi resistance and died by hanging as a POW at the age of 39. He had a rich spiritual life...
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Keep Being WEIRD
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21) Ken Kuhn, our Church Council president, pointed me to a concern that’s been on my mind ever since. As we’ve trudged...
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Trust Yourself…
In the book of Galatians, chapter 3 we read that those who have faith are children of Abraham. Of course to the early believers in Galatia, obeying the Old Testament law was part of...
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Follow Me
While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 After the priests had assembled with the elders, they devised a plan...
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Train Up A Child
Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; and even when he is old, he will not depart from it.” What does it mean to “train up a child...
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Everything Has Become New
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and...
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Trust In The Lord
Can you think of a time when you reacted poorly to an inconvenient situation? Maybe it was while you were in the car after having a tire go flat, or in a traffic jam...
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Our Identity In Christ
For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13) It comes out of nowhere...
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Not By Might But Spirit
Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6b) When the above words were spoken, the children of Israel were a conquered people. They were under...
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Taking Time to Pray
Have you taken the time to pray today? I can just hear some of the thoughts going through the air right now. “Pastor Scott, are you crazy, we’ve been praying like crazy” or “Of...
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They Can’t Do That!
They can’t do that! That’s the refrain that is loaded and waiting in our minds just in case family gatherings are limited due to COVID-19 – or a mask order is put into place....
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Surprise!
Have you ever been surprised by something? Maybe a party thrown in your honor? Maybe an unexpected gift? How about that all important day when you were asked to be married? Now of course...
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Jesus Teaches and Heals
“I’m stuck and I’ll need a pull.” It was a distress call from a hunter who had gotten himself into a “pickle”. His four-wheel drive truck met its match when he tried to navigate...
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Looking for direction? Proverbs!
We are looking at the book of Proverbs for the next couple of months and I forgot how much I enjoy reading God’s words of wisdom. One verse I just read was Proverbs 24:27...
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Right Now Media Solutions
We continue to face concerns that isolate us. The political situation pulls us one direction & then another motivating us to point fingers at each other. We want to open every opportunity for you...
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Back to School Blessings
While we realize that we all have differing opinions as to how to provide Christian education in these interesting times, we do have a common goal. All of us want to pass our faith...
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Glory to God in the Highest
Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26...
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Choose Life
I made a joke that my time of Sabbatical was supposed to be a time of rest but afterward I looked in the mirror and noticed that I did not look very rested. But...
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Join or Die
For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the...
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Rooted in The Lord for 75 Years
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with...
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What Would Christ Decide?
What Would Christ Decide? Have you ever thought to yourself, for such a small decision, it sure seems to have affected a lot of things? I know at times in my life I’ve made...
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We Gather Together
But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 1 Corinthians 8:9 The last few months have presented us with a constant array of challenges...
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In Times Like These
This time in our country is unprecedented. Trying to do life, church, and community during the Covid-19 pandemic is a new challenge. The staff and Church Council of Gloria Dei are determined to help...
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Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Do you remember the date of your baptism? For most of us who were baptized as infant, it is not a date you recall. It is not like your birthday, which everyone knows immediately....
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How Do We Follow God in an Angry Culture?
Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 “I don’t even watch the news anymore. I can’t...
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No Other gods Before Me
I read an article the other day about idolatry. It’s a word you don’t hear much in casual conversation and the article talks about what an idol really is. It was written by Jennifer...
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Finding Trust
What is trust? The dictionary defines it as a firm belief in the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing; confidence or reliance. It goes on to say that trust is to...
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Do Not Lose Heart
“Getting old is not for sissies.” Aches and pains and sorrows pester us and try to take center stage in our conversations. But there is a blessing to growing older. Experience brings a bigger...
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Trust God’s Promises
With all the rain we’ve had lately, it’s had me looking for rainbows. And because of that, I took a fresh look at what the Bible has to say about therainbow. We all know...
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Gnats of Freedom
Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. (Psalm 3:7-8) ...
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God Bless America
You may not know it, but for American Christians, there might not be an issue more complicated or wrapped in history and politics than patriotism. I’ve heard many different opinions on the subject of...
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Encourage One Another
“Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” John 4:29 Little yellow flowers popping up in our lawns are a sure sign that snow is...
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The Big Reveal
11 While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 After the priests had assembled with the elders, they devised a...
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Take Time to Pray
Here we are and the Lenten season is almost over and soon Easter will be here with all of its promise and beauty. I pray that Spring is a true blessing to each of...
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The Last Words of Christ
Our last words carry weight. You feel it at these moments: When leaving the house to go to work When heading off to war When reading the last page of an autobiography When breathing...
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How to Be Strong
As I get older, I find it harder and harder to keep up my physical strength. Things I used to do with ease are not so simple anymore. How can I develop a spiritual...
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When the Right Time Came
During my short lifetime, I have witnessed the advent of the personal computer or PC, the change from green screens to full-color flat panel screens, from figuring out what the printout is going to...
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The Fear of the Lord
Wisdom isn’t a word you probably hear very often in casual conversation. It may not be a word you’ve heard very often lately, period. So, what is wisdom? And why is it so important...
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Pray for Guidance for the New Year
Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6b) The problem with resolutions is that they include a “forever” commitment. We’re going to lose weight, exercise...
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Choir Sign Up
We are starting a Choir!! Our first practice will be on June 28th at 7 pm (at the church). We are using the theme “Make a Joyful Noise” to launch this choir.
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Steppin’ Out In Pink Garden Tour Fundraiser
Thursday, June 29, 2023 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM Enjoy These Beautiful Flower Gardens, Snacks & Beverages $15 Donation for Gundersen Foundation’s Local Breast Cancer Research “Special Kathy” Steppin’ Out In Pink Team Advance Tickets May...
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Vacation Bible School 2023 – Twists and Turns
IT’S TIME TO LEVEL UP FOR THE 2023 VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL June 11 – June 14, 2023 5:30pm-8pm Welcome to Twists and Turns VBS which invites children ages 3 years old-5th grade to Parents,...
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Hunger Haven at Tractor Pull
Hunger Haven will be opening for the 2023 Season of Serving in June! Our little Food Stand is a great place to meet some new people, connect with old friends and share GOD’S love...
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Graduation Sunday
Join us as we celebrate Graduate Sunday on the 21st of May at the 10:30 am service, followed by a special lunch and celebration to honor our amazing students. The Baccalaureate service is at...
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