Holy Spirit, You are welcomed here – by Tammy Bowman

Vacation Bible School (VBS) has come and gone this past week at Redeemer United Methodist Church. There were over 250 kids who participated ranging in ages from 3 years old through 6^th grade. In addition, there were 120 youth & adult volunteers! The mornings were filled with so much excitement, energy and fun, it was quite a site to see and something really special to be a part of.

VBS planning begins months in advance and during this time many other things were going on which included wrapping up another year of Christian Ed, Youth Group, and planning for summer events & camp. These are all good things and they have been keeping me pretty busy. But in the midst of these good things I have been a part of several other really special occasions. I have attended four funerals in the past six weeks with another one this week. Each of these has been unique and has displayed the importance of relationships. I was able to stop and be a part (hopefully a supportive part) of people’s lives and their pain. It’s easy to talk about the fun stuff, and remember the good times and celebrate long-lived lives but so much harder to talk about the pain, sadness and sorrow that will continue long after the funeral. I never really know exactly what to do, how to act, or what to say to those who are grieving.

Over the past couple months my heart has been filled with joy and with sadness and through it all I find comfort knowing that God is with me.

Whether you are experiencing joy or sadness, my hope is that you find comfort and peace knowing that God is with you.

“There’s nothing worth more
That could ever come close
No thing can compare
You’re our living hope
Your presence, Lord
I’ve tasted and seen
Of the sweetest of loves
Where my heart becomes free
And my shame is undone
Your presence, Lord:
“Holy Spirit, You are welcomed here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord”

“Let us become more aware of Your presence

Let us experience the glory of Your goodness”        

                       Lyrics from:  Francesca Battistelli’s  “Holy Spirit”

A Man of His Word - by Debby Kloosterman

My father was not a believer. The alcohol and its long-range effects kept him from being the father and husband that he could have been.  He struggled with many demons including the trauma of his own childhood.  Even though he did not provide me with much of a model, God is good and put many other men in my life to teach me about His love.

My first husband, Pat, was as steady as a rock. He was to no one’s surprise, the complete opposite of my dad.  He was patient, consistent and not easily angered. He had a wonderful sense of humor which he shared with all three of his daughters. His death in 1984 forced me to grow up, take responsibility for my life and my children and face my own skeletons. He left me a legacy of knowing that I was loved and that I mattered to someone.

My first father-in-law was a marine. Charlie Bonner served in the Pacific during the World War II. He was fiercely protective and strongly patriotic. He loved his three sons and, by association, his three daughters-in-law. He was a wonderful “Barnabas”, always encouraging us and telling us that he believed in us. Throughout his 11 year battle with Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS), he taught us all about character. He modeled courage and selflessness.

My second father-in-law survived the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands and immigrated to the United States after the war. He was a man of strong faith and extensive Biblical knowledge. You didn’t want to play Bible Trivia with Hans Kloosterman!  Dad’s faith influenced everything he did. As the family gathered around the table with Dad’s oncologist, he affirmed, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.”

John, my husband of 29 years, is also a man of faith. We had long discussions before we married about where we would worship together. John came from a Reformed background and I from a Roman Catholic one. This was a decision vital to both of us and has led to great discussions on everything from Creation to salvation and more. Having a soulmate to love and laugh with is a blessing beyond compare! 

These men each have shown me a glimpse of what God is like. While different in their strengths, the biblical qualities they have possessed have inspired and challenged me to be a better person. Most of all, they have shown me a different meaning for the phrase, “He is a man of His word.”

Rock of Faith - by Suzie Unruh

On Sunday, May 24th during our 3 morning services we were joined by one of the missionary families that Redeemer Church supports, the Shephards. Steven, Kari Jo, and their 3 boys (Noah – age 11, Clay – age 8, and Cyrus – age 6) are just finishing their one-year home stay here in Michigan and will be returning to Nigeria this summer. We had the opportunity to offer up prayer for the Shephards and to hear their excitement for returning.

During this time in service I thought about Kari Jo and the strong faith she must have, as a mother taking her young children to another country where the threat of violence is present, malaria is a threat, English is not the first language, and chicken is a Christmas treat. This mother of these young boys knows God’s plan is so much bigger than anything they will encounter, that life in Nigeria will teach her boys so much more than I will ever be able to explain to my own children. I watched her stand up there and I wondered if I could do it, if my faith would be that strong to trust God fully or if fear and the unknown would be stronger.

I had the opportunity after service to talk to the boys, to hear their excitement about returning to Nigeria or as they would say, “their return home”. They are excited to see their friends, to check the mango trees in the yard, and to open the locked closet they stuffed with special items (like homemade swords) before they left. There wasn’t any fear, hesitation, or doubt. They know, just like their mother & father, that God is there, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and their faith is strong. Could I do it . . . I don’t know, but I know the Shephard boys inspire me to look at life for the joys and not the fear and that Kari Jo Shephard is a rock of faith.

The Creation of a Sandwich - by Kelvin Fizzell

“And do not neglect to do good and share what you have, for God is pleased with such sacrifices”. Hebrews 13:16, New English Translation

Many couples in their late 50’s and 60’s find themselves caring for 2 generations…their parents as they age and their children who still look to mom and dad for guidance and assistance. These couples have been called “the sandwich generation”. If you referred to them by a certain type of sandwich, I think it should be a “hero sandwich”. They unselfishly provide whatever is needed, giving no thought to the personal sacrifice involved, to meet the needs of others, in this case their family.

My mother is 92, still lives alone in her home, makes all her own decisions, and as she likes to describe it is still “very strong willed”. However, my aging mother is becoming more frail and requires more assistance with managing her everyday household…not to mention frequent trips to medical appointments, shopping excursions, and whatever else she may determine that requires immediate…if not sooner…attention. All of these things take time…often our time.

Our son and daughter-in-law are in their mid-30’s, both working full time and are raising 2 beautiful children. In today’s economy, sometimes they can use some assistance with unforeseen expenses i.e. car repair, home/yard maintenance, or time to help with do-it-yourself projects or days when the grandkids have only a ½ day of school, the day care is closed, or a child is sick and needs a grandparent to be home with them.

The amount of time and resources needed to help out family begins to add up – but we take comfort knowing that we are NOT alone. My wife Sally and I see many individuals/families who find themselves in similar situations. We draw our inspiration from God and the people at Redeemer Church who find their strength from scripture and apply it to their personal circumstance.

 “But if someone does not provide for his own, especially his own family, he has denied his faith and is worse than an unbeliever”. 1Timothy 5:8, New English Translation

Do Over - by Kim Metzer

In this season of graduations I’ve been thinking a lot about fresh starts.  Graduating from school is a chance to turn the page and begin a new chapter in life.  I sincerely hope that the dozen or so young people from Redeemer that recently graduated from DeWitt, or another area school, and the two young women very close to me who recently graduated from college, make the most of this opportunity for fresh starts.

A favorite author of mine, Jon Acuff, has a new book out – Do Over – which is all about reinventing yourself and not getting stuck.  In chapter 2 he talks about one of the “walls” that prevent people from having a successful “Do Over”.  That wall is your attitude and what he says about it applies just as much to new chapters in life as to the “Do Overs” that are the focus of his book.

“…I didn’t say, “Change your attitude.” That could take years. Choosing it, though, takes a handful of seconds. Tomorrow at work, choose to have a good attitude. Choose not to be cynical. Choose not to act like you’re doing them a favor by showing up. Choose not to complain. Choose to cheer for the accomplishments of your coworkers. Choose to treat customers like superstars.

Choose your attitude every day until eventually it chooses you right back. It’s not about feeling happy or feeling committed to your work or feeling like a good employee. Feelings are the flightiest things in the world, held to the whimsy of a thousand factors. .. Don’t listen to feelings. Make choices. Today, choose a good attitude.”

This choosing of attitude should apply to all areas of our lives, not just in the workplace.  How much more peaceful would the world be if we all just chose to have a good attitude?  As Paul reminds us in Romans 14:17-19, having a good attitude is the way to live in a manner pleasing to God:

For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.

I will be trying to CHOOSE to have a good attitude each day.  Who’s with me?

Change in Culture - by Diane Lantzy

Within the last year, I finally gave in and purchased a smart phone. It took me awhile to make that decision….not because I didn’t want one but because I thought I might like it a little too much (and wasn’t wild about the cost either J). The one thing that truly surprised me after I got my smart phone is how comfortable my 2 year old grandson is with it. He knows exactly how to find and browse pictures (funny, there are an awful lot of pictures of him on my phone) and he is able to find YouTube and play a Thomas the Train video. That is even more remarkable since his parents don’t often allow him access to smart phones or tablets (maybe his grandparents aren’t quite as strict.) That generation is being wired at an early age to be very comfortable with all sorts of technology.

But there are better reasons for me to have a smart phone then to play games or to have a multitude of pictures of my grandson at the ready. I have enjoyed exploring many apps that have the ability to improve my life. I have been using a health app that helps me to monitor my progress toward certain health goals, a medical app that helps me to keep my appointments and medical history handy, and Evernote which allows me to make and organize notes as I am thinking of them rather than writing thoughts down on scraps of paper and hoping I don’t lose them.

A wonderful new app that I just downloaded is the Redeemer App and it has already added value to my spiritual life. I can easily replay Pastor Rod’s messages for myself or allow a friend to listen to one I think they may find helpful and I can do this anytime - from just about anywhere. I can also quickly find out what is happening at Redeemer and find ways to get involved that will help strengthen my spiritual walk. I hope that Redeemer’s new app will also add value to your life. If you haven’t downloaded it yet, you can search DeWitt Redeemer at the ITunes or Google Play stores and download it for free!  As a special incentive to download Redeemer’s new app, anyone who stops into Pages & Prayers in June and shows the app on their phone, will receive a free item!

This app is not just a shiny new toy. As our culture changes we know that we need to adapt so that we can continue to be relevant – relevant to a generation that is being wired to relate through technology – and especially to those who do not yet know Christ as their Savior. We may often need to change the method though which we reach out but the message itself will never change – the Good News of the Gospel. If our app helps to ‘Connect People with the Love and Life of Jesus Christ” then it will be a success!

From Me to We - by Pastor Rod Kalajainen

“It’s not about you!”  These few words comprise the opening sentence in Rick Warren’s bestselling book, The Purpose Driven Life.  A simple phrase with a powerful message that for a season was the talk of the church world because it raised the perspective of a new culture that growing churches create.  It is the shift from a consumer culture that asks, ‘what can the church do for me,’ to a discipleship culture that asks, ‘what can I do for Jesus in the community and world.’"

After 37 years of ministry, I get frustrated when I hear statements like:  “I didn’t like the song we sang at church today.  It wasn’t one of my favorites.”  Or, “I didn’t get anything out of the Pastor’s message today.  It didn’t speak to my needs.” Or, “Why can’t the church offer more opportunities at a time that works for my family.”

In almost every church where I have been as a Pastor, Consultant or Coach I hear this sentiment expressed in similar words…because struggling churches are almost always focused inward and have a consumer culture where people ask…”What’s in it for me?”

I need to underscore a foundational fact: God’s goal is not to make sure we're happy. No matter how hard it is for us to believe this, it's time to do so. Life is not about our being comfortable and happy and successful and pain free. It's about becoming the man or woman God has called us to be. Unfortunately, we rarely hear that message proclaimed today. All the more reason for me to say it again: Life is not about you! It's about God.

We all have a purpose, a reason we are here on planet Earth, and that is what it is about. We are not here to be endlessly interested in our superficial selves and obsess over what we want, what we have and what other people think of us.

Rick Warren says, “The purpose of our life is far greater than our own personal fulfillment, our peace of mind, or even our happiness. It's far greater than our family, our career, or even our wildest dreams and ambitions. If we want to know why we were placed on this planet, we must begin with God. We were born by His purpose and for His purpose.”

“The search for the purpose of life has puzzled people for thousands of years. That's because we typically begin at the wrong starting point--ourselves. We ask self-centered questions like: What do I want to be? What should I do with my life? What are my goals, my ambitions, my dreams for my future? But focusing on ourselves will never reveal our life's purpose. The Bible says, "It is God who directs the lives of his creatures; everyone’s life is in His power.”

In the church, this is lived out in a new cultural mindset embodied in the phrase:  “what can I do for Jesus in the community and world.”  “I’ll do whatever it takes to help someone else come to know Jesus and live for Him.”  After all, it’s not about me!