Musical Inspiration - by Bev Christensen

Martin Luther in 1538 was quoted as saying (or writing) “I truly desire that all Christians would love and regard as worthy the lovely gift of music, which is a precious, worthy, and costly treasure given to mankind by God. The riches of music are so excellent and so precious that words fail me whenever I attempt to discuss and describe them… next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in this world. It controls our thoughts, minds, hearts, and spirits.”

Wow, what an inspiration to all of us who love music! I can’t speak eloquently like Martin Luther did and I confess that I don’t know if he had a personal musical background, but isn’t life much more enriched if we allow music to flow into our lives? Doesn’t matter how – radio, TV, or ipad – beautiful Christian music, traditional hymns or contemporary, whichever you prefer. I personally think it can thrill your soul and lift your spirits!

Praise God for what He has given to us!

Good Samaritan - by Kim Metzer

On July 20 and 21, here at Redeemer Church, Pastor Rod spoke about loving our neighbor, why that’s so important and who our neighbor actually is.  The basis for Rod’s message was the parable of the Good Samaritan located in Luke 10:25-37. 

“Jesus is making a radical point.  He’s saying that mercy, or compassion, is blind.  It is non-discriminatory.  It does not make judgments about the person in need.  It doesn’t set limits on the help it gives.  It’s not quality controlled or value driven.  It is indiscriminate and even naïve. “

This past weekend I had my own chance to be the Good Samaritan.  I was carpooling to a retreat in Columbus, OH with a woman who, due to some inattention to detail, caused our group to be 2.5 hours late.  I could’ve ranted and raved and made her miserable the whole weekend but chose not to.  What purpose would it serve?  Throughout the weekend I thought I was just living an example of forgiveness but after listening to Rod’s message on Monday I realized it was a Good Samaritan moment.  This woman is different than me in a lot of ways.  I could’ve focused on those differences and been upset and resentful for the entire weekend but by putting those differences aside I was able to enjoy the weekend, and her.

We all have those moments when we feel put upon or inconvenienced in some way.  The Samaritan could have continued on his way, like the priest and the Levite did before him, but he chose not to.  We don’t know what plans the Samaritan had that day, if he had to be at an important meeting or attend to an urgent business matter.  What we do know is that he looked past his own inconvenience to serve one who truly needed help.

As we rumble through our busy lives let’s all take the time to do as Jesus instructed, “Go and do likewise.”  In our travels between our hometowns, whether that is DeWitt or elsewhere, and other towns we might not encounter a beaten man on the side of the road but we will encounter people in need – if we open our eyes to look and see, really see the people around us.

To hear Rod’s entire message via podcast on the Good Samaritan, which is part of the July Teaching Series “You Can’t Be Serious!” please visit our website www.dewittredeemer.org.

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:9 (NLT)

Spiritual Gifts - by Kelvin Fizzell

When I became a member of the Redeemer Church ministry staff in January, 2007, as part of my orientation, Pastor Rod asked me to fill out a Spiritual Gifts inventory. As it says on the front page of the survey, every Christian is given specific spiritual gifts for the purpose of building up the body of Christ…His church. God has granted to each community of faith all the people (each with their own individual gifts) needed to fulfill His vision of ministry through that community. The individual gifts of each member are needed to complete the mission. As disciples of Christ, it is our personal responsibility to discover and then purposefully use these gifts.

Taking the Spiritual Gifts inventory was a way to help me begin to discover my individual gifts. My top 3 gifts were not really a surprise to me. If I were to name my strengths prior to taking the survey I would have come up with a similar list. The surprise for me is how the list changed after serving in ministry for several years.

I took the survey again in early 2009. The surprise wasn’t that the original top 3 gifts moved down the list. The surprise was in the appearance at the top of the list of gifts that barely registered on the initial survey. In particular, the gift of intercessory prayer began to show up in a significant way…and not just on the survey. God not only uses our gifts (strengths) to further His vision, he also places opportunities in front of us to make us stronger where we are weak. Six months earlier, I had become a member of a newly formed prayer ministry small group. The mission of this group is to offer intercessory prayer on behalf of people in need within our congregation and the surrounding community. As I mentioned earlier, intercessory prayer barely registered on the first survey…yet here I was… a member of a group dedicated to intentionally spending time in prayer for others. God was using this ministry designed to fulfill His vision for praying for people in need to strengthen an area of my life that was weak. I’ve been blessed to be a part of this prayer ministry for 5+ years. While I’m in no way an example of an ultimate prayer warrior...prayer is a more significant part of my life that offers me a way to serve others in a way I never imagined I would be able to do.

If you have never filled out a Spiritual Gifts survey, I encourage you to do so. Taking a Spiritual Gifts survey is part of the Redeemer Church new member class. It will help you begin to discover your areas of strength and where you can purposefully utilize those gifts to fulfill God’s vision for the ministry at Redeemer Church. The next new member class is scheduled for October. Watch the worship folder for details. Begin to learn the gifts God is using in you today…and the gifts He may begin to use in you tomorrow.

One Small Step . . . by Susan Jensen

… Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁷ Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Summer is here, and it is a time of child’s play. My childhood was over 40 some years ago. But I have fond memories of laying in the yard with my mom and siblings calling out what we thought clouds looked like, or days spent creating forts out of everyday items. I even remember summers of enjoying Vacation Bible School similar to the one we just had here at Redeemer UMC in DeWitt.

I also remember those childhood Sunday School classes and hearing of Jesus and how much God loves us, and I absolutely knew with a childlike faith it was true. That is the childlike faith God still wants us to come to Him with today, whether we are 4 years old or 50, or 80+.

In our information overload world, we have almost a need to overcomplicate things. But the truth of the matter is, God is our loving father and He wants nothing more than for us to accept our place in his family. Such simple, humble faith is what God desires.

Eternity starts with a small childlike step of faith.

A Serving Congregation - by Ron Bekkering

As we close out the month of June; I am so amazed at the number of servants that have shown up and put love in action.  

Whether it was the 23 we took to Kentucky to bless the people of Mt. Carmel School with plumbing, roofing, painting, and flooring to just cover a few areas.  The fact that those that went served in areas they really didn't know that well, but still smiled and completed the task is truly being the hands and feet of Jesus. 

Then to arrive back in DeWitt and participate in one of the highlights of the Redeemer Church calendar, Vacation Bible School, was again amazing.  It was so great to see so many different servants serving joyfully with smiles on their faces in and spring in their step.  It carried me, being pretty tired from the week before, and allowed me to have all that energy that was flowing through the halls of Redeemer.  

I think Peter said it best in his first letter; 1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV)

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:  whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Thanks for all you do to make Redeemer in DeWitt, Michigan a serving congregation....May we never stop connecting people with the love and life of Jesus in all we do!!!

Let's see what July brings!!!! :) 

God Rocks and We Roll,
Ron Bekkering
Director of High School and College Ministry