Pitch Standard
Yesterday we held a memorial service for a dear friend and member of Hope Church, Bill Gagnon. Bill came to Hope about five years ago, showing up at our Wednesday night Bible Study. Bill was a new follower of Christ and he wasn’t bashful about sharing his sin struggles, reminding us all of our need for a Savior. He also had lots of questions, and we eagerly searched through Scripture for the answers. In early April, Bill was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer that had spread into his...
Read MoreCommon Bond
I’m amazed at the things that create an instant bond between two strangers. It shows that we were created to be in relationship, that we are looking for ways to connect with others, and that it doesn’t take much to begin to form friendships. Here are some of the things that create common bonds between people: Birth/Birthplace If you are traveling in a different state or country and hear that someone is from your birthplace or hometown, no doubt you would approach that person and...
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I am thankful for parents who were pro-life! They not only gladly received me and my brother and sisters into their family, they fought to protect the lives of all unborn children. It was not uncommon to see MCCL (MN Concerned Citizens for Life) brochures around the house. Love for life was passed on to me – I am a passionate pro-lifer and I happily serve on the board of Amnion Crisis Pregnancy Center in Burnsville, Minnesota. This video is a great resource and a powerful tool in our...
Read MoreNew Suit
I remember buying my first suit after graduating from college. I had suits prior to this, but my mom helped picked them out and paid for them. Now I was on my own. Oh, the pressure! A few hours later, I walked out of the mall satisfied with my purchase and my accomplishment. I arrived home and began snipping the tags off. I was going to wear my new suit to church the next day! On the right sleeve, I saw a label stitched to the coat. It was a label identifying the maker of the suit. I...
Read MoreElegant Themes
I am neither a computer programmer or a graphic artist, but I still want a web site that looks good. I came across Elegant Themes for WordPress and was instantly impressed! They offer scores of fabulous themes, and they continually add more. For just $39 a year you can use any or all of them! Beautiful and elegant designs aren’t the only things that make these themes great. Each theme also comes with a powerful set of tools that will spoil you with the improved functionality they...
Read MoreSomething About a Storm
Tonight a thunderstorm rolled through our area, so I sat with some of the kids in the garage watching – and listening – to the storm. It brought back wonderful memories of my childhood in Afton, MN. When a storm came, we would sit on our back deck underneath the overhang watching the spectacular display of God’s powerful creation. There’s something about a storm: the pitter patter of the rain, the rumbling of thunder, the flashes of lightning. In an odd way, it’s...
Read MoreEaster is Here!
Shadows. This is what we’ve been examining this past week in anticipation of Easter. The Passover lamb, manna from heaven, the rock at Horeb, the water coming out of the rock, the bronze snake, and the high priest…all shadows pointing to the reality of Jesus Christ! We have this assurance because we know what took place on this day back in history. Jesus is alive! But think of the first followers of Christ. How quickly their joy turned to sorrow! The One they believed was the Messiah lay dead...
Read MoreAnticipating Easter: Saturday
After receiving the ten commandments and the Book of the Covenant (Exodus 20-24), Moses receives instructions for the building of the tabernacle. God said, “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you” (Exodus 25:8-9). The Lord goes into elaborate detail. Why? Because this is a shadow of the heavenly tabernacle. Up until this point in the Jews’ journey, God was with them in the cloud...
Read MoreAnticipating Easter: Good Friday
Slaughter. Sacrifice. Blood. Violence. You read the accounts of the Old Testament animal sacrifices and it’s almost too hard to read, let alone believe. The “enlightened” church leaders today write this off as a barbaric, man-made institution, a viewpoint that completely disregards Scripture. When we begin to undermine the authority of God’s Word, anything goes. The Bible is clear: the Sovereign God of the universe instructed the Israelites to slaughter innocent animals as payment for...
Read MoreAnticipating Easter: Thursday
Today’s shadow comes from Numbers 21: “The Israelites traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!’ Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, ‘We...
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