New Member, Better Family - by Amanda VanKuiken

So here I am, laying in the dark. It’s late, really late, and I should be sleeping. But I can’t, because I have pregnancy brain and my mind is running wild. I’m 36 weeks pregnant this week, and while I know I should be resting in preparation for what will certainly be several restless months ahead of me, I can’t sleep. I can’t stop thinking about all the things I need to do to prepare before this new little person makes its grand debut. I have its room all ready (yes, I called it an “it” because that’s what it is! We don’t know if it’s a boy or a girl, so please --- will everyone stop asking me that same question already!  J If it makes you feel better, you can call it Bill. I don’t know why, that’s just what we’ve been calling it. And no we did not nickname it after Bill Schmidt, that was total coincidence, although I do hope my child has half the energy and vigor and Christ-like spirit that he does, what a great guy! ) Anyways, I digress.

Bill’s room is all ready, things are as ready as they’ll ever be I suppose; so tonight I find my mind wandering to another topic of uncertainty. How will Bill change our family dynamics?  I have to admit, we have a pretty awesome little family right now. I am quite content with the three of us. In fact, I can’t imagine anything better.  Funny, because I would’ve said that same thing 3 years ago when I was first married, before our daughter came into the picture. Brent and I had the perfect family.  We traveled. We didn’t spend any money on ridiculous things (like diapers, of course). We actually SLEPT PAST 6 AM ON A WEEKEND!!! Are you kidding me? Why would we want anything different? It was just us two and we didn’t need anything more – we were very happy with ourselves. And then little Hailey Joann came along and we realized that there was much more God had in store for our family. She brought more love and life to our home, more than we thought we needed or thought was possible.

I know this is going to happen all over again when Bill comes. That’s why I can’t sleep. I can’t stop thinking about all that I can give to him/her to make them happy and comfortable in this home. But beyond that, I revel in the thought of all the love and joy that “Bill” will bring to us.

This second time around, I am blessed to have the anticipation of knowing that a new family member will make us a better family. It’s an exciting concept, a true blessing.  Something I admit being naïve to before.

What about us though, Redeemer? We are a pretty awesome family. We do some pretty amazing things right now. Food pantry, mission trips, children’s ministries, the list goes on and on and on. But should we be content? Easter Sunday is almost here, and that will certainly mean NEW people coming to worship with our family. Let us prepare in excitement and anticipation for what a new person to our church might mean. Like I have prepared Bill’s room, let’s prepare for Easter Sunday with warm smiles and welcoming gestures. As you greet an unfamiliar face this weekend, let your imagination be filled with the possibilities of what this person could bring to our church family – as I have learned with my own daughter, it is certainly something far better than we ourselves could ever predict. In short, be hospitable to any new person you might encounter this weekend.

Oh yes, and don’t forget to ask them what their name is…just don’t be surprised if they respond with, “Bill.”

The Promise of Resurrection - by Pastor Rod

While on vacation recently with our family, our 3 1/2 year old grandson spotted a cat in a craft store where we were shopping.  He has been curious ever since last November when Grandma and Papa’s 20 year-old kitty died about why we no longer have a kitty and if we are going to get a new one.  So when he saw this cat lounging in the sunshine of the window sill, he shouted, “Papa, come here.  Here’s your kitty that died.  Jesus made it come to life again!”

Our best guess is that his Sunday School class has talked about the Easter story recently and resurrection was fresh in his mind.  So he somehow made a connection between our kitty that died and this cat that was full of life.

In the account of Christ’s resurrection in Luke’s Gospel, the question is posed:  “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?”  (Luke 24: 5) These are the words of the two angels to the women at Jesus’ tomb.  “Why are you looking among the dead…”  These women were terrified.  They had heard of resurrection, but never dreamed that there might be evidence of such a thing in their own life. Even though it was Jesus Himself who said on an earlier occasion:  “I am the resurrection and I am the life.  Those who believe in me, even though they die, yet shall they live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.  I died, and behold I am alive for evermore, and I hold the keys of hell and of death.  Because I live, you shall live also.”

This is a difficult Easter for our family.  Both Jan and I lost our fathers very suddenly this past year.  And we are mourning the loss of a former staff member here at Redeemer and some other dear friends.  But during this season of Easter, we are reminded again of God’s faithfulness.  Sometimes as we face grief and death, it seems that God has left us.  Then I recall the words of Mary Magdalene to Simon Peter on that first Easter morning:  “They have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have put Him.” (John 20:13)

However, the reality is that the resurrection had already occurred. Jesus was alive and had conquered sin and death – bringing hope to people in the midst of loss.  And it is in this same risen Savior that we find love and hope and joy.

St. Paul made a statement in his letter to the first century church:  “And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.  For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with Him the believers who have died.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14)

We do not grieve as those who have no hope!  St. Paul did not say that we won’t be sad or lonely or miss the people we love.  We are human.  But he did say that for Christ-followers, we will one day live with Him and be reunited with those we love.

Let that be our hope this Easter as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, our Savior and Lord.

Hymn of Promise – words and music by Natalie Sleeth, 1986.  Hope Publishing Co.

In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed an apple tree; in cocoons, a hidden promise:  butterflies will soon be free!  In the snow and cold of winter there’s a spring that waits to be, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody; there’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.  From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity; in our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity.  In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

 

National Day of Prayer on May 1st - by Kelvin Fizzell

Prayer has always been used in this country for guidance, protection and strength…even before we were a nation…or a handful of colonies. The Pilgrims at Plymouth relied on prayer during their first and darkest winter. Our founding fathers also called for prayer during the Constitutional Congress. In their eyes…our recently created nation and freedoms…were a direct gift from God. And being a gift from God…there was only one way to insure protection…through prayer.

Through the years…presidents have encouraged the American people to seek God’s help and deliverance during trying times.

When it came to the fate of the nation, Abraham Lincoln practiced what he preached. Before the battle of Gettysburg, he turned to God in prayer. It is the duty of nations, as well as men, to owe their dependence upon the overruling power of God. – Abraham Lincoln

As American troops stormed the beaches of Normandy, President Franklin Roosevelt called for our nation to unite in prayer. He also offered a prayer to prepare each citizen for the road ahead. Let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be. And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee. – FDR

Today the need for prayer is as great as ever. Our nation again faces battlefields, along with an epidemic of broken homes, violence, sexual immorality and social strife. As the heroes of our nation did in the past, we must again bow our heads in prayer. We must ask the Lord to bless our leaders with wisdom and protection, and that we will have the fortitude to overcome the challenges at hand. If the Pilgrims, Lincoln, and Roosevelt never underestimated the power of prayer, neither should we.

We would like to extend an invitation to you to participate as Redeemer Church will be celebrating the 63^rd annual National Day of Prayer May 1, 2014. It is our goal that you, your family, and friends would participate in the National Day of Prayer. We pray that the event impacts your life, and that praying for our nation moves from a one-day event to a lifetime endeavor.

We encourage you to invite: family members-friends-neighbors-or co-workers…to pray with you… to join us at Redeemer Church for 7:00pm prayer service on Thursday May 1, 2014…as we seek the continued blessings of Almighty God on behalf of…our community…our state…and our nation.*

*Excerpts from the 2014 National Day of Prayer web site.

Spring Break! Really? - by Ron Bekkering

Since some of you will be gone this weekend and you won’t get to hear my sermon on finishing up the Core teachings, I thought I would send you off with a little something to take with you.  Spring Break is all too well known as the monumental vacation for families all over the world. Every year multiple tens of thousands of people travel to top tropical destinations where they experience the most beautiful beaches and the most outrageous resorts!

Cancun, Acapulco, Panama City Beach, Puerto Vallarta, Daytona, South Padre Island, Siesta Key, and Myrtle Beach are just a partial list of the “hotspots.” Many companies offer huge discounts with complete packages offering the Ultimate Spring Break Experience. They advertise them boldly saying “You can’t miss this opportunity of a lifetime!”

Really?

Others will say, “Oh yes, Spring Break!” The times to kick back, relax, and not think about work, school and studying. Days filled with sleeping in, watching TV, lounging around wearing comfy clothes that just might have been slept in, and showering only when necessary. Weekdays filled with playing electronic games, shopping, movie nights, and maybe even sleepovers.

For many during Spring Break, it’s about eating whatever they want, waking up whenever they want, and doing whatever they want because they’re on vacation. Living the Spring Break dream. And no one judges them for it!

Again, really?

I mean, it’s good to rest and take a break! Relaxation helps us build up our energies for the things we face in life.  I am a huge fan of vacations, breaks, days off, and anything that gives me a chance to decompress, rest, recharge my batteries, and gives me a break from this hectic world.

But here is something we don’t want to forget while we’re on Spring Break. Or a vacation from work, or anytime, for that matter.

Do you stop spending time with God just because you are on vacation?

During this time God can be pushed aside, because, um, well, He probably would not want to do most of the things we are involved with Spring Break activities. Maybe you seem to have so many things to accomplish during your vacation that you are just too busy to stay connected with him.

One more time, really?

When you’re on Spring Break or any vacation time, remember it is not a vacation from your relationship with God, too. Vacations are great. Spring Break is fine, provided you remember and live the “Core” values God shares with you. Getting some much needed rest is icing on the cake! But remember: don’t take a break from God!

Continue to read the Bible. Continue to talk with God throughout the day in prayer. Continue to go to church if you are reasonably near a congregation. I would even dare to say… don’t sleep in every day. Wake up at a normal hour and rather than getting ready for classes, or work, grab a cup of coffee and your Bible, head to the pool or beach and spend time with God.

This week, enjoy your Spring Break or your vacation time. Just remember that it isn’t a break from God, too. He still loves us and wants to hear from us. He still wants us to live His way of life. 

And yes, He still wants to be a part of our lives… even while we’re on vacation! Enjoy!

 

God Rocks and We Roll,

Ron Bekkering

Director of High School and College Ministry

Redeemer United Methodist Church

Doing life TOGETHER - by Kim Metzer

“I tend to be busier than I should be

And I tend to think that time is gonna wait for me

Sometimes I forget and take for granted

That it’s a beautiful life we live

I don’t wanna miss the moments like this

This is a beautiful life You give”

 

These words are the lyrics at the start of the song Every Good Thing by The Afters.  This song came on the radio last night as I was returning home from a small group meeting.  It struck me as I listened to it that oftentimes we forget what a beautiful world we live in.  It’s easy to forget when sometimes it seems like we’re only surrounded by the ugly things of the world; the illnesses, the despair, the stress, the injustice.

“There will be days that give me more than I can take

But I know that You always make beauty from my heartache

Don’t wanna forget or take for granted

That it’s a beautiful life we live

I’m not gonna miss the moments like this

This is a beautiful life You give”

As Rod preached back in February, God will often give us more than we can handle so that we learn to rely on Him, not ourselves.  When Moses was crying out because he became overwhelmed, God said to him, “Then I’ll descend and speak with you there. I’ll take some of the spirit that is on you and place it on them. Then they will carry the burden of the people with you so that you won’t bear it alone.” Numbers 11:17 CEB

God wants us to lean on each other as well as on Him.  He wants us to be in community together, to do life together in order to support one another in His name.

“It’s our family, it’s our friends

It’s the feeling that I get when I see my children smile

You’re the reason for this life, everything we love

It’s You alive in us

You’re alive in us”

At our small group meeting we had been talking about how we came to be as a group.  As we reminisced about how each of us ended up at Redeemer and how our group was formed it was amazing to see God’s hand in all of it, how He directed our paths so that we ended up in this small group, this LIFE group, together.  What started as a group of parents with teenagers has morphed into a group of empty nesters tackling TOGETHER each life stage as it comes.

 “You’re the reason for every good thing, every heartbeat

Every day we get to breathe

You’re the reason for anything that lasts, every second chance

Every laugh, life is so sweet

You’re the reason for every good thing, every good thing

Every good thing, every good thing…”

 

I would love to see each of you in a small group, to see each of you have a group of friends doing life TOGETHER.   If this is your desire as well, please contact me!

-Kim