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10
Jan 2024
Mary, Did You Know?

Greetings in love to all; With the New Year, we all make plans and try to fix what didn’t work last year. As parents and grandparents and mentors in the family of faith, we are probably preparing for whatever is next in the life of our future generations. We want to be ready. But there are periods during parenthood when we aren’t sure what the future holds. The obstacles we face in parenting may include illness, behavioral issues, or developmental delays or only God knows what else. One moment we feel confident......

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09
Jan 2024
Who God Called You To Be

We are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. (Ephesians 2:10) I have received many good gifts in my life. I count all of you as one of the best! You inspire me so much – as you come together in Bible study, in prayer; as you come together to accomplish another effort of culinary art – enjoying fellowship with each other while giving the community another little taste of heaven, as you bring your gifts to......

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06
Dec 2023
God With Us

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14b   Life is complicated, and the older I get, the more alarmed I become concerning the state of my country and the world. . . And that is why we read so much of Isaiah this time of year. In Isaiah’s day, the people of Israel wrestled with the same things we do. They wrestled with ambitious leaders whose foreign policy was questionable and who hawked their own ideas of economic and......

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06
Nov 2023
Love In Chaos Pt 3

“When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.” Ephesians 1:13b.How do you reflect Christ in a world that is a mess? How do you show “Love in Chaos”? We’re in the middle of the Fall series, “Love in Chaos.” So far we’ve had our eyes opened to a few things: Culture has always been in chaos ever since Adam and Eve. Sin creates chaos. God’s purpose is to bring order to the chaos through the work flowing from Jesus taking our sin to the Cross.......

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02
Sep 2023
Love In Chaos

“ Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my Pharisees and to us. Humanity left on its word and believes him who sent me has own is bent on death. You and I are a piece eternal life, and does not come under of work. For as smart and skilled as we are, judgment, but has passed from death to you and I cannot save ourselves. In fact life.” John 5:24   The above Scripture passage is part of a trial scene recorded by John. Jesus has been accused of “healing......

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12
Jul 2023
A Season of Jubilee

Our “Summer of Joy” takes us squarely through the season of parades, sidewalk sales and brat fries. This is a season of celebrations. Celebrations are a wonderful way to openly thank God for freedom, safety and prosperity. . . For those who don’t like parades, it’s at least a break from the normal grind, if not healthy for the soul. In times past, if the celebration was grand enough, it would be called a jubilee....

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31
May 2023
A Season of Joy

“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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03
Mar 2023
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 coffee — at least that is what the Folger’s Company would want us to believe. For some, this may be true. Smelling the aroma of hot water passing through ground coffee beans may be the perfect way to gently raise tired eyelids from sleep. This is part of a routine. We all have our methods of taking ourselves......

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03
Feb 2023
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 would you complete this sentence: Interesting times call for _________________________. . . . a good investment manager? Prayer? Diligence? Creativity? How about a steady hand? A bowl of ice cream wouldn’t hurt! Maybe it requires a bit of everything. What is certain, interesting times cause a lot of soul-searching. Our reading through The Story has caused us to......

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10
Jan 2023
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 Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:16-17) What is going on? I just got into the habit of writing “2022” on everything, and now it’s already “2023”!Time and change happen. One very prominent illustration is that as a church, we’re going to say “Good Bye” to Pr. Scott......

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05
Dec 2022
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 law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. 5 Come, descendants......

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14
Nov 2022
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 or aggravated you, maybe it was something that concerned you yet you felt it didn’t bother the other person, or so it seemed. Proverbs 15:1 gives us some good advice when times like these arise, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” In Hebrew the word for “gentle” in this verse is......

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07
Nov 2022
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 the cemetery, and returned to his family and his town? How did Lazarus live once Jesus restored him to life? What was Zacchaeus’s life like after he became a follower of Jesus and, against the advice of his friends and started giving back money to those he’d robbed? What happened to his business? What happened after the woman......

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19
Aug 2022
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 worship. We began our travels on Sunday morning July 10th, traveling 8-1/2 hours to Le Center, Kentucky where we stayed the week at a church with several other church groups from around the nation. Each morning would begin with breakfast and prayer after which we would load up the van and head off to our work sites. We’d......

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14
Aug 2022
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 Acts 13:26) Do you know the story??? I have in our home, a spiral-bound stack of paper. It was published about 25 years ago. On the outside, it’s not very impressive. Simple black and white text announcing what it contains – the story of the Eastwold and Winslow clans – an odd joining of two family lines –......

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04
May 2022
Faith in Action Trusting God is not a spectator sport by Pastor Scott Mann

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 fight for justice and work towards a more equitable society. I worked with a group in the Wausau area for a few years and along with driving people to their medical appointments, they would help with building ramps to make homes more accessible for those living there. In Tomah, I am the Vice President of the Board for......

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04
May 2022
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 B, back to full operating capacity. It’s a long road full of details. What amazes me doing this work is how much corruption hides under what originally looked to be solid. Cracks have shown themselves as the cleaning process moves forward. The removal of the top layer of paint has revealed rust and pitting of the sheet metal.......

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19
Mar 2022
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 of morality you will find that it refers to the set of standards that enable people to live cooperatively in groups. Morals are what society determines to be “right” and “acceptable.” It seems that morality isn’t fixed. What is considered acceptable in your culture might not be acceptable in another culture. Geographical regions, religion, family, and life experiences......

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13
Mar 2022
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 of someone who is near death• When breathing your last breath Beginning Ash Wednesday, we are going to experience the last words Jesus spoke from the cross. They comprise what we often call “The Seven Last Words.” The Seven Last words of Jesus are actually seven statements:I. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.......

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12
Feb 2022
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 the year we think about those we love and quite often we’ll see in store windows hearts and little cupids with their bows and arrows.We start seeing cupids and hearts in the stores and begin thinking of what to give the one we love. Valentine’s Day, also called Saint Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is......

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10
Feb 2022
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 Peter 2:9) Here’s everyday life: Roust the kids; get them to school; go to work; help with supper, dishes, cleaning . . . Every day is filled with rushing, cleaning and maintenance. So what does everyday life have to do with anything? There is an important concept in the Bible that puts everyday life in a whole new......

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04
Nov 2021
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 that nothing was being done but I hope that others were watching at the time. When was the last time you said or heard someone say, “Why doesn’t someone do something about that?” During the time of the prophet Zephaniah, most of the people of Judah are beginning to believe they have a “do nothing” God. During this......

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04
Nov 2021
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 titles that came to mind was “Ruminating on Despair.” That was pretty dark. But at the same time, its very real . . . but not very upbeat. So I’m going with “The Crazy Rollercoaster in Your Heart.” The heart of our current American culture beats for independence: I want to get what I want, do as I......

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13
Oct 2021
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 comes . . . “Dad, why do you make us go to church anyway?”Two points:1. Life only makes sense when you’re connected to God.2. Church is true family, and you need family to get through life. I know . . . no family is perfect – and teens are quick to point out the hypocrisy. Still, Church is......

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09
Oct 2021

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 it. Martin Luther once said, “I’ve got so much work to do today, I’d better spend two hours in prayer instead of one.” Luther was type of person who knew that with God’s help all things are possible, even if you need to spend a little more of that time in prayer with him. We’ve been going through......

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08
Oct 2021
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 possession. My hope is that my daughters know that their Heavenly Father listens to them with even greater interest than I am able to. ...

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16
Aug 2021

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, is more than just a bike ride. It is an epic seven-day bicycling adventure that tests endurance, showcases community and builds lasting friendships. The longest, largest and oldest bicycle touring event in the world, it is one-third bicycling, two-thirds fun!” The entire 7-day ride is 454 miles in length.   So, for the past three months I’ve been......

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10
Aug 2021
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 rise. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7) The regular habit of reading the Bible has saved my life more times than I can count. The previous night, I put my head on the pillow after indulging in a large dose of world and national news. It was a feast of political finger-pointing by the well-connected and the rich and powerful exerting their......

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10
Aug 2021
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 Bulletins from your phone! Do you want to be able to see the bible readings from your phone or tablet in real time? Want to view the newsletter in digital color format? Read the Bible together, post prayer requests, stay current on events, listen to our sermons and send messages on the Faithlife app! Scan this QR code......

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14
Jun 2021
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 and was a prolific writer. He believed there were some specific things each Christian needed to do to maintain their relationship with God and enjoy God’s peace: to take time each day for reading and meditation on Scripture, spend time in prayer and to allow God to intercede. Bonhoeffer also believed that faith is not to be taken......

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07
Jun 2021
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 through COVID and social upset, church membership in the United States has dropped below 50 percent for the first time in 80 years, according to Gallup. Through the 20th century, membership in churches, synagogues, and mosques hovered around 70 percent. Beginning around 2000, however, membership began to drop rapidly, finally reaching 47 percent in 2020. The trend is......

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12
Apr 2021
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 their life and upbringing. If they were Jews, the commandments were drilled into them. But even for people who were not Jewish, the laws of Abraham and Moses were a part of their society and everyone’s upbringing. Even today, with fewer people than ever attending church or reading their Bible, the law still does its work in many......

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06
Apr 2021
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 to give a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 telling them, “You must say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were......

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22
Mar 2021
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 in the way he should go”? It seems pretty straight forward, doesn’t it? It is certainly one of the most quoted verses in the Bible and people often use this verse as a guarantee that if you raise your child with discipline and instruction that they are going to turn out all right. As parents, we all want......

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15
Mar 2021
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 has given us the ministry of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:17-18) St. Patrick’s Day is almost here! Green beer and Shamrock Shakes for everyone! . . . or is it something more?Who was Patrick? Hmmm. I sense an inspiring story unfolding! It was a long time ago . . . over 1,500 years ago! A teenager was kidnapped, taken......

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17
Feb 2021
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 somewhere or even with the kids acting up in the back seat after you’ve had a less than perfect day at work. Sometimes the best judge of someone’s character is how they respond to challenging times.  From beginning to end, the Bible teaches us that our actions and attitudes indicate the content of our hearts. Think about Jonah......

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10
Feb 2021
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 and at the strangest times. You see the news and hear of a city burned and looted or national monuments vandalized. The words come quickly: “Why? Who do they think they are?” The “why” and the “who” are important words. They are identity triggers. Just pause for a bit and ask yourself, “Why do I do the things......

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09
Feb 2021
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 Persian rule. The temple had been destroyed. Jerusalem lay in ruins. They knew they were up against insurmountable odds. How would they survive? God spoke to Zechariah, “’Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.” It’s not by human grit or by mustering an army that guarantees success. It is God,......

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09
Feb 2021
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 course we have, there’s a pandemic going on!” I believe that we are living in a time when more people than ever are praying.  Maybe some for the first time.  I hope their prayers continue.  We all live busy and hectic lives the way it is and now with the anxiety and fear produced by Covid-19, it can......

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12
Dec 2020
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. The shadow of the pandemic has affected all of us, limiting our closeness to each other and our ability to interact, play games and share meals. These are not small matters. It pushes us to either get ornery or creative.So I invite you to ponder another situation: What if baking with butter, cream, eggs and sugar was against......

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05
Dec 2020
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 these are all surprises with happy endings (at least I hope so). But what about those surprises where the ending isn’t so happy? Like a diagnosis at the doctor, an IRS audit, the termination of a job, or the end of a relationship. This is also important when acknowledging that Jesus is truly and fully God. Throughout Jesus’......

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26
Oct 2020
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 a sloping drive on the way to his deer stand. Pastor Dahl writes about getting unstuck >...

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24
Oct 2020
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 which states, “Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.” Now at first you may think I am getting at the fact that fall is in the air, it is harvest time and we need to get our outdoor activities done before winter sets in. But that is not quite......

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25
Sep 2020
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 to know what it means to follow Christ in every situation....

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19
Sep 2020
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 on to the next generation in a meaningful way while keeping our children safe. Learn More >...

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17
Aug 2020
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 but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 16:25-27) Tough times, civil unrest, social agendas . . .......

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03
Aug 2020
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 the fact is that I did enjoy some good rest....

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10
Jul 2020
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 heavenly places.(Ephesians 6:12) Do you like your country? What’s helped me answer that question is spending time in other countries. Every time I’ve returned, I come back wanting to kiss the ground of this nation. Compared to any other nation, we have institutions that can be depended upon. No, they’re not perfect. But if I’m in trouble, 9-1-1......

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06
Jul 2020
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 thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7 We have great news! Mark VanderTuig is coming to help us kick off our celebration in July! So please mark your calendars, pray for our Nation’s healing and look forward to July 12, 2020. Due to the “safer at home” state and national guidelines we decided to shorten our original plans of May 2020 to......

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03
Jul 2020
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 some decisions that didn’t seem like such a big deal at the time. But then later on down the road I discovered that the decision had bigger ramifications than I would have thought—both for me and for the people around me. We all have decisions to make. It’s part of living in free society. If some type of......

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08
Jun 2020
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 as a church. The latest challenge may be the trickiest yet: how to wisely resume in-person gatherings. This is my plea to you: Please pray for your Church Council and your pastors as we navigate the course ahead. We’ll be talking about these days for decades to come. So what do you want to remember? Let me volunteer......

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19
Mar 2020
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 you to navigate the challenges you’re facing. Paul wrote to Timothy when facing challenging times, “for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7 NRSV). May God’s Spirit inspire us to face these new circumstances with power, love and self-discipline. We are......

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05
Feb 2020
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. It was not all that long ago that I looked up my baptism date and found out that I was baptized on September 29, 1963. Like most of you, even though I am getting older, I still celebrate my birthday. But now I also celebrate my baptismal date. In the Large Catechism, Martin Luther explains that the Holy......

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03
Feb 2020
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 take the negativity.” Thanksgiving and Christmas are holidays where we celebrate coming together as a family and as a nation. These last few years – and especially this past year, we did not have that experience. On the contrary, the networks projected images of our elected leaders arguing, name-calling, finger pointing and the like. We also felt the......

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01
Feb 2020
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 Slattery, a writer and speaker who has addressed women’s groups, writer’s seminars, church groups and conducted Bible studies. She talks about how idols are anything we treasure more than God; anything that drives our thoughts and actions in life. Her list surprised me in many ways, mentioning things that I never really thought of as an idol. Here’s......

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16
Dec 2019
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 believe, to expect confidently or hope, like “I trust that the job will soon be finished.” When I think about trust as it pertains to the Bible, the verse that always comes to mind is from a song I’ve sung in worship. It’s from Proverbs 3, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean......

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13
Nov 2019
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 perspective. Questions about our larger purpose loom larger in our minds and the answers to those questions become more urgent. I follow certain people on the web. One of them is David Powlison. He’s written a lot of stuff concerning the intersection of psychology and God. I’ve found him to be a true disciple of Jesus. David passed......

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08
Jul 2019
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 that God put the rainbow in the sky as His covenant that He will never again destroy the earth with the waters of a flood. And for manypeople, the rainbow is a symbol of hope, but the rainbow is so much morethan that. It’s God’s promise. And for us, it should also be seen as a demonstration of......

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05
Jul 2019
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)   Gnats. Gnats everywhere! Such tiny creatures can make us so uncomfortable so fast. But stop and think a moment. . . Our forefathers and foremothers would help us to know that such inconveniences are small problems. Take the years following the Revolutionary War, for instance. We often think the Revolutionary War ended with the signing of the Declaration......

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24
Jun 2019
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 patriotism. A love for one’s country is looked on with both respect and disgust, both by the world at large and those who are Christian. So, is there a right way for the Christian to think about patriotism? Is there a Christian response to patriotism? And how can faithful Christians merge their love for country and their primary......

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10
Jun 2019
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 gone and summer has begun. A number of us regard these hardy little gems with contempt as weeds in our lawns. In fact, we spend good sums of money to rid this curse from our yards. This curse has a name. It’s the dandelion! “Dandelion” comes from the French “dente de lion”, for “tooth of the lion”. It......

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15
Apr 2019
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 plan to give a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 telling them, “You must say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money and did as they......

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08
Apr 2019

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 you and that all our flooding problems have subsided. When I say the words “I’ll pray for you,” or “You are in my prayers” what comes to your mind? Do you know that I will hold you up in prayer? Are you confident that you are being prayed for? Oftentimes when someone tells us about a struggle they......

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25
Mar 2019
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 your last breath God, my God, why have you forsaken me? … I thirst. … It is finished. … Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. To help us feel the depth of Jesus’ last words, we’ll hear from the Paralytic Man, the Rich Young Ruler, John the Beloved, Martha – the sister of Lazarus, Matthew –......

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11
Mar 2019
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 strength that is greater than my physical strength? Learn More>...

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18
Feb 2019
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 look like from the commands you see on the screen. Pastor Dahl discusses how time changes but God doesn't....

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04
Feb 2019
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 to us as we live out our lives in the Christian faith? In the book of Ecclesiastes Solomon makes it very clear that having wisdom allows us to understand life itself. From God’s view, to “get wisdom” is better than receiving gold. Those who get wisdom find life and receive favor from the Lord. The Teen Study Bible......

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28
Jan 2019
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 more, get out of debt, stick to a budget, stop smoking, save for the future, and spend more time with family. We want to improve ourselves and our quality of life and have some kind of impact on the rest of the world. I remember a few years ago, I made a resolution to work out 3 times......

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