Follow Jesus Today

Following Jesus is sort of like handing him a blank check.  We sign our names and Jesus fills in the amount.  We offer everything to him.  We resolve to do whatever he asks of us.  That’s a lot to get your mind around.  It’s hard for me to think about the really big things Jesus might ask me to do in the future.  What if he asks me to do missions overseas?  What if he asks me to serve in a way that is especially challenging?  What if he sets difficult circumstances before me?  

But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.  The real question is not: What might Jesus ask me to do someday?  The real question is: What is Jesus asking me to do today?  And it’s probably not terribly daunting.  He’s probably not asking you to sell all your possessions and embark on a foreign mission.  Rather, he’s asking you to speak a kind word or take an interest in someone’s life.  He may be asking you to send someone a quick text to let them know you’re thinking of and praying for them.  Jesus might ask you to do a favor for someone.  Following Jesus is not about what he might ask you to do in the future.  It’s about what he is asking you to do today.  Jesus will take a blank check just for May 15.  One day at a time.

Bifocal Kingdom Vision

According to the Vision Council, nearly 70% of adult Americans need some form of vision correction. It’s also common for those over 40 to require a corrective lens that aids in seeing objects both distant and near. These are called bifocal lenses. The focus for our 2022-23 Kingdom Investment is much like a bifocal lens. We are focused on making clear and tangible impacts both close to home and in places far away.

Our distant, or global, impact has been accomplished through our partnership with Filter of Hope. 15 FCC members traveled to Guatemala and were able to pass out over 85 water filters to families in need of clean water. On top of that, they were also able to share the good news of the Gospel.

Our near-home, or local, focus is through our work with Love In Action. LIA is creating what is known as a Food Co-op, which is a resource for those who are experiencing food insecurity but may not need the full service of a food pantry. This will allow many people to gain access to fresh, healthy food that they may otherwise not be able to afford. FCC has already donated money to this cause, but now it is our turn to participate as well.

There are several volunteer opportunities available for teens, families, adults, and seniors throughout May and the summer months. These include a postal food drive, working in a garden, and receiving produce from the Summer Grand Haven farmer’s market. If you are interested in signing up, please click here or call the church office. If you want to learn more about these opportunities before committing, talk to Bruce or Nancy Cook, Maggie Assink, or Kyle Mullin.

God Sightings

Earth's crammed with heaven,

And every common bush afire with God,

But only he who sees takes off his shoes;

The rest sit round and pluck blackberries. (Elizabeth Barrett Browning)

God is everywhere.  His presence fills the world.  Earth is indeed “crammed with heaven.”  It is ironic, then, that we so often fail to see it and behold it.  We look at burning bushes and only see blackberries.  Seeing God’s presence takes practice and intentionality.  That’s why we’re asking you to take the month of May to be on the lookout, to keep your eyes peeled for signs of God’s presence.  Rarely is it in a burning bush.  It might be in a flaming sunset or a powerful thunderstorm.  It could be in a friend who brings just the encouragement you need.  It might be a set of circumstances so perfect that only God could have pulled it off.

God sightings need to be shared.  Not only do they encourage you, they encourage our church family too.  We have paper glasses in the sanctuary for you to jot down your God sightings and put them on the board in the Commons.  We’re going to make sure that we don’t just sit around and pick blackberries.  We will take off our shoes, because this is holy ground.  Please keep your eyes open this week to the ways that God is present and write them down on Sunday.  You can also click here to share it with us and we’ll write it down for you.

Earth Day

We didn’t do anything with it in our worship service, but Saturday was Earth Day.  It’s a day when we renew our commitment to caring for the earth.  It’s a day when we celebrate this beautiful planet on which we live.  Yet it seems like there is controversy anytime the environment comes up.  Some Christians are suspicious that those who want to protect and care for the planet are secretly pagan.  Then there’s the science behind these issues.  Some believe that scientific data points to a day in the near future when the ice caps will be melted.  Others believe it’s a conspiracy to sell more LED light bulbs and electric vehicles.

To me the science and doomsday predictions have never been the issue.  Regardless of how you feel about environmental issues, for Christians one fact remains: our world belongs to God.  This is God’s creation - his masterpiece.  And if we truly love him, how can we not care for what is his?  Science and sustainability are great reasons to care for the earth.  But they must not be the main reasons we care for God’s creation.  Caring for God’s creation is one very tangible way to show our love for Him.  More than anything else, that should drive our creation care.

Light and Momentary

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4:17)

Really?  Snow?  I don’t like it either!  This weather is for the birds.  After being teased with a few days in the 70s, here we are again - highs in the low 40s.  It’s probably partially my fault for putting away the snow shovels over the weekend and jinxing our weather.  Nobody will blame you for grousing about a snowy day on April 17.  Despite this current inconvenience, in a few weeks - maybe even a few days - we’ll be in the 60s.  Leaves will be on the trees.  The tulips will be blooming in Holland.  We’ll look back on April 16 and 17 with far less anger and annoyance.  Years from now we may tell our grandchildren this cautionary tale if they get too eager for spring.  No matter how annoying it is now, it will fade into a far less painful, and maybe even comical, memory.

I suspect that the new creation will do the same thing to the pain we experience now.  Paul describes it as “light and momentary.”  A few days of sleet and cold temperatures compared to a long summer of warm weather.  That’s not to discount the deep pain and struggle you have experienced.  It’s to remind you that an eternal glory that far outweighs it all awaits us in God’s presence.

Easter Every Day

Yesterday we had a wonderful celebration of the resurrection.  We celebrated Jesus’ triumph over death with decorations, wonderful music, beautiful flowers, spoken word, and prayer.  FCC was not unusual in doing this.  Virtually every congregation in the world was doing something special to celebrate the resurrection.  In the Church, Easter is not just a special occasion.  It is THE special occasion.

There might be just one downside to all this celebrating: we can end up thinking that the resurrection is somehow less powerful today than it was yesterday.  We can believe that it was more significant yesterday than it will be tomorrow.  But the reality for us is that every day is Easter.  Every day is the resurrection.  Whether we gather to celebrate it in our church buildings or not, the power of Easter is just as strong.  No matter how you feel on any tomorrow, He is still risen.  And that makes any day a day worth celebrating.

Palm Sunday Unity

Hope is a powerful unifier.  People at political rallies feel a sense of kinship and camaraderie.  They are united by a cause or a person who promises to make things better.  There is a unifying vision for the future that connects people.  Sports fans who are complete strangers will often become dearest friends as they root for or celebrate their team’s victory.  As Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the scene was probably not all that different.  With one voice they shouted and cheered for an alternate future that they all desired - a desire that unified them in the refrain: “Hosanna!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

We celebrated Palm Sunday yesterday with greater understanding than the people who lined the road into Jerusalem 2000 years ago.  But we are just as united in our desire for a different future.  Together as God’s people, we long for the day when Jesus rides back into this world to bring restoration and wholeness.  That desire should bind us together with cords much thicker than those that bind political allies or people with a common rooting interest.  Our common hope makes us brothers and sisters.  Together with one voice we say, “Hosanna! Come, Lord Jesus!”

On Fasting

Perhaps more than anything else, to this world we are consumers.  Everywhere we turn, companies are trying to sell things to us.  If you visit a website or do an internet search for anything, you will see ads popping up for that very product on the next web page you visit.  It’s eerie!  But it must work.  The internet is essentially built on advertising.  And to it and the companies connected to it, we aren’t humans.  We are consumers.  Our identity is tied to what we consume: food, media, clothes, gadgets, and anything else that is marketed to us.  Our primary function in the eyes of the world is purchasing things. 

But not in the eyes of God.  To him, we are not, first of all, consumers.  We are his children.  Rather than being purchasers, we are the ones who were purchased by Jesus for God.  In this ad-driven world, it’s easy to forget that.  To help us remember, this week we invite you to choose something that you normally consume and take a break from it.  We call this fasting.  When we go without something, when we stop consuming something, even for a short time, we remind ourselves that our worth and identity isn’t in what we consume, but in who we belong to.  For some ideas on how you can practice fasting this week, click here to see our Lent practice guide.

Prayer of St. Patrick

Since Friday was St. Patrick’s Day, I thought it would be appropriate to share his famous prayer.  It shows that he was much more than clovers and green beer.  Take a minute to move slowly over these words.  Make it your own prayer to God today.

I arise today through God's strength to pilot me;

God's might to uphold me,

God's wisdom to guide me,

God's eye to look before me,

God's ear to hear me,

God's word to speak for me,

God's hand to guard me,

God's way to lie before me,

God's shield to protect me,

God's hosts to save me

Afar and anear, alone or in a multitude.

Christ shield me today against wounding - 

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,

Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ on my right, Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,

Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,

Christ in the eye that sees me,

Christ in the ear that hears me.

Prayer is Work Too

In just under 3 weeks, 15 people in the FCC community will be traveling to Santa Rosa, Guatemala to meet with families and community members, learn about their stories, hand out water filters, and share the Gospel. While we have a fantastic group of people traveling down, many of us remain behind. The good news is there is much vital work that can be done before, during, and after the trip in which every single person in the FCC community can participate. That vital work is prayer.

Prayer is not just speaking to God. Prayer is the work that opens doors, clears obstacles, and empowers believers to do that which God has called them. Without prayer, we would miss the opportunity to look back to God for the guidance we need. Without prayer, I would argue we would not have been blessed with the opportunity to work with Filter of Hope and go to Guatemala in the first place.

Even if you aren’t one of the 15 members traveling to Guatemala, you are still able to work towards the same goal as those on the trip. You can be a part of opening doors, clearing obstacles, and empowering the FCC Team to see how God is moving in Santa Rosa. There are 15 weekdays before this trip, meaning enough time to dedicate each weekday to a different member of the trip. If you’re interested, click here to sign up for the Mission Trip Prayer Email.

Guilt and Sorrow

Have you ever felt guilty for doing something? Well, you shouldn’t. Not if you belong to Jesus. Maybe I’m getting caught up in semantics here, but it seems to me that guilt is an un-Christian response to our sin. When Jesus died on the cross, He fully satisfied the punishment for our sin. He took our guilt upon Himself. In God’s eyes, we are no longer guilty. And so feeling guilty about our sin is an incorrect emotional response. Guilt may drive us to God in the first place, but it has no business in our lives after that.

A much better emotion is sorrow. Sorrow comes from the awareness that we sin against the God who sent His Son to die for us. Sorrow occurs when we realize that we have wronged a God who loves us more than we can imagine. But even sorrow is no place to get stuck. In 2 Corinthians 7:10, Paul writes, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret.” Our sorrow should be a productive force in our lives, moving us toward God’s grace and transforming power. It should never get stuck in regret. As you reflect on your sin and need for Jesus this Lent, I wish you godly sorrow. I wish you sorrow that brings repentance and helps you experience God’s grace and transformation more fully.

*Speaking of Confession, click here for our Lent Practice guide.

Intergenerational Breakfast

This Sunday we get to do two very important things: grow deeper in God’s family and grow louder in God’s world.  Our Filter of Hope mission team will serve us breakfast on Sunday morning before the service at 9:00am.  Let’s talk about what this will do for us.  First, it will be an excellent time for all generations of our church family to connect and deepen relationships.  We will welcome preschoolers and octogenarians.  We’ll share a breakfast, share conversation, and get to know people in our church family better.  We will be growing deeper in God’s family.

The second thing this will do is support our mission team.  In April, they will travel to Guatemala to distribute water filters and share the good news of God’s love.  At the breakfast, they will demonstrate the filters, talk about the need for clean water, and share the natural ways it will allow them to present the Gospel.  There will be hands-on opportunities to see and try out the filters.  Our Kingdom Investment is contributing $1,000 to each team member.  Your donations at this breakfast will offset the remaining $1,000 that each team member is responsible for.  You will be growing louder in God’s world by supporting these 15 people who will announce His kingdom in Guatemala.  We hope to see you on Sunday morning!

Stewards of Generosity

Most churches and charitable organizations have a certain set of decisions to make.  How do we navigate being “in the red”?  What actions do we take when expenses outpace income?  Being a good steward in these situations means making tough decisions.  For the past couple of years, our Council had the privilege of a different set of decisions.  Your generous giving has not only allowed us to meet expenses, it has helped us pay off our building loan early.  It has allowed us to take previously designated mortgage money and use it to sponsor the Benchuks, bring the Gospel and clean water to Guatemala, and come alongside Love In Action.

Once again this year your generosity has put us in a position to be good stewards of a surplus.  We ended the year ahead of expenses by nearly $30,000.  The very first thing we’ve agreed to do is send a tithe (10%) to World Renew to help their relief efforts in Turkey and northern Syria.  The rest will be used toward future facility upgrades and mission projects.  We take your generosity seriously and want to be good stewards of it.  We welcome your questions and input and are grateful to be your partners in announcing God’s kingdom.

Carrying Each Other's Burdens

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)

There’s a myth that’s been long associated with our American experience.  It’s the legend of the self-made man or woman.  The story portrays a person who has persevered against all odds without help from anyone.  They grabbed their bootstraps, gave them a good tug, and managed to lift themselves up.  But let me be clear: this is just a myth.  In real life, no one prevails all alone.  In real life, no one pulls themselves up by their own bootstraps or is singularly responsible for their own success.  Horatio Alger and Santa Claus are equally mythical.  We need each other.  We can’t live our best life without each other.

God in his wisdom designed us to live in community.  He made us social beings who need each other.  Our church family has a number of people who are carrying burdens right now.  Health burdens.  Grief burdens.  And we have the opportunity to help them carry those burdens.  How is God calling you to do that?  A card?  A meal?  A phone call?  A visit?  How can you carry another’s burden?  And if you are the one carrying the burden, please let your brother or sister help you with it.  Not only do you need them, you will be helping them fulfill the law of Christ.

No One Stands Alone

Note: This message is so important that I like to run it about once a year.  I think it’s a great reminder to our church family and worth repeating.

I want to issue our church family a challenge.  It’s called “No one stands alone.”  Generally speaking, we are a very friendly church.  Guests who worship with us typically report feeling very welcomed.  Every once in a while, someone slips through the cracks.  A guest exits the sanctuary, gets a cup of coffee, then stands by himself or herself for five minutes and leaves.  Ugh.  

So here’s the challenge.  Let’s work together to make sure that no one stands alone in our church.  Whether a first time guest or a member, let’s keep our eyes peeled for people or couples who are standing by themselves in our lobby before or after the service.  A simple handshake, a warm welcome, and a few questions to get to know that person will make all the difference.  In the family of God, no one should stand alone.  As an expression of God’s family at FCC, let’s come together to make sure it doesn’t happen here.

Welcome, Trisha!

At long last, we have a new administrative assistant! 

Trisha Wolovlek (pronounced “wohv-lek”) started last Monday.  Some of you have already met her.  She was raised in north west Ohio and also lived in Nevada before moving to west Michigan with her husband, Chris.  Together they have three children: Kellan (12th grade), Madelyn (8th grade), and Ella (5th grade).  They enjoy camping, boating, and being outdoors.  Trisha has worked in various administrative roles in the past.  We are excited to have her and her strong skill set on our church team. 

Welcome aboard, Trisha!

Fearfully and Wonderfully

For you created my inmost being;

    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13-14)

On the Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, we often recall these words from the psalmist to affirm the value of human life.  It points to God’s knowledge and providential care of us even in the womb.  Before our eyes saw the light of day, God was shaping and forming us.  While all of this is very true, the psalmist is not just making a case for the value of unborn life.  The psalmist is reminding us that God is active and involved at every moment of our existence.

This is not just convicting information about the unborn.  It is consoling information for all of us.  We are not just fearfully and wonderfully made by God.  We are fearfully and wonderfully kept by God.  He is just as involved in your life today as he was when he formed you in the womb.  This day and every day was planned in advance by the God who formed you and keeps you.

From “I Have A Dream”

So even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.

With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning: My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims' pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.

Epiphany

Yesterday was Epiphany Sunday.  Epiphany is one of the lesser known days in the Christian year.  It can’t hold a candle to days like Christmas, Easter, or even Pentecost.  More people know about Hanukkah than Epiphany.  So what is it?  Epiphany has been associated with the early events in Jesus’ life that revealed him as the Son of God: his presentation at the temple, the visit of the Magi, his trip to the temple as a boy, and his baptism in the Jordan River.  The word “epiphany” means to reveal something.  This is the celebration of Jesus being revealed as God’s Son.

This day should set the tone for all the days of the year.  If we pay attention, Jesus is constantly being revealed in our lives.  We see him whenever there is forgiveness and reconciliation.  We hear him in beautiful, soul-stirring music.  He is revealed in the concern of a friend and in the sacrifice of a family member.  Wherever there is goodness, truth, or beauty, Jesus can be found.  Epiphany is not just a day to recognize the Christ.  It is a reminder that the Christ is in every day.  It is an invitation to keep our eyes open.

Your Wonderful Life

It’s that time of year when classic holiday movies are being shown regularly. Foremost among them is It’s A Wonderful Life, starring Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey. He runs a bank in the town of Bedford Falls and spends much of his life making sacrifices for other people. After years of sacrificing for others, George finds himself on the brink of financial ruin and intends to take his own life. That is when his guardian angel, Clarence, comes and shows George what the town of Bedford Falls would be like if he had never been born. The contrast is staggering. George realizes what a difference he has made in peoples’ lives.

It’s A Wonderful Life is a fictional story. In our lives, we don’t get to see the way we impact others. We don’t get that glimpse of how our families and schools and offices would be different if we had never existed. But your life does change the story. God placed you in your family and neighborhood because of His plan for your family and neighborhood. You were designed to be who God wanted in your place at this time. Your life is a wonderful life. Not just because you’ve done some good things for others, but because God meant for you to happen right here, right now.