Good morning,

I need to apologize for not blogging earlier in the week as I said I would in last weeks blog. The shortened work week got away from me...and then the Turkey...and then...    We have enjoyed the week with having our two oldest sons home from college.  A quiet but grateful Thanksgiving together.  

Tomorrow I preach on contentment.  Imagine the fact that on "black Friday" millions of people and billions of dollars are spent shopping for Christmas.  We live in a culture materially blessed  by our Lord Jesus Christ.   We we live in a country that has experienced more material blessing than any nation in any time period in human history.  And yet, in my estimation our blessing is destroying our need for God.  Who needs God when you can buy happiness?  Or can we???  No matter how much we have, our sinful nature (the flesh) will always want more.  Left unchecked by the Holy Spirit, and without a firm understanding of God's Word and the principles of contentment, we will never be satisfied.  

True contentment comes in being satisfied with what you have, knowing that our existence on planet earth is temporary, and living in a real relationship with Jesus Christ who alone satisfies our deepest longings and needs. 

I just returned from our first Calvary Evangelical Free Church pastoral staff retreat.  We spent 48 hours together at Villa Maria near Frontenac.  The focus of the retreat was to share our personal stories, focus on what it means to function as a team and dicuss the implementaiton of Charting a Higher Course.  We all felt the time was very profitable for us personally, relationally and for the future of Calvary. We are excited about where the Lord will be leading us in the future. 

 This Sunday Pastor David Genberg is preaching on the theme of thanksgiving.  Pray for Pastor Dave as he prepares to bring God's word to the chruch family.  I look forward to hearing the message online as I will be out of town on Saturday and Sunday.  My family is getting together in St. Cloud for a two day reunion since my younger brother is home from Afghanistan for two weeks.  He is married with two children and has been in the military for a number of years.  His deployment was in June with his permanent return not being until next July.  I would appreciate your prayers for him and his family.  War gets real close to home when your own family members are involved in the conflict.  I would assume many of you have loved ones involved in the military as well.  Let's remember to continue to pray for peace and a resolution to the siutation in Afghanistan and Iraq.  

 A week from this Sunday I will finish the book of Philippians by preaching from chapter 4:10-23.  The subject will be that of "contentment".  I want to introduce the topic for now but I will  blog with more detail on Monday of next week.  It seems the subject is so appropriate in our culture where we have so many blessings and opportunities and yet seem so discontent.  What do you think?  

Have a great week in the Lord!

Pastor Todd 

Good morning!  Here we go with another week of life and ministry!

I want to begin today by responding briefly to the unfortunate news regarding Pastor Ted Haggard.  Ted was the president of the National Assocaition of Evangelicals, as well as the founder and Sr. Pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs.  The church has 14,000 members. 

Pastor Haggard has admitted to being involved in sexual immorality, as well as some drug use.  You can go online to the church's website and read the press release, as well as letters written by him and his wife to the congregation.  Please be in prayer for them, the Church and the Body of Christ at large.  When high profile Christian leaders fall it impacts many, many people.  

I received an email last night from somebody in our church family asking for advice on interacting with their children regarding this news.   My advice to them included an encouragement to converse openly (but discreetly) about our fraility as human beings, the nature of our flesh (even as believers), and the attacks and deception of the evil one toward our leaders.  If the devil can take down those with a high profile he can cause much reciprocal damage.  We also need to be reminded to extend grace and forgiveness to those who have sinned against the Lord and the Body of Christ.  A reminder for all of us that our personal sin always has corporate ramifications. 

In the context of this situation,  I would ask you to always remember to pray for our pastoral staff here at Calvary.  Pray that we would live in purity and with consistent integrity.  We all have feet of clay. And in the context of yesterday's passage, pray that we would stand firm (Philippians 4:1) in the Lord and finish well.  

This next Sunday I will be speaking on the subject of relationships within the church family.  In particular, my focus will be on relational conflict, praying for each other and about thinking and modeling those things that are most honoring to Jesus Christ.  The text is Philippians 4:2-9.  I would appreciate hearing anything along the lines of this first point, namely relational conflict among believers.  I see MANY Christians simply move from one church to another because of interpresonal conflcit with other believers.  How sad!   What can we do to more effectively help people work through relational issues rather than run from them?  

 In prayer and dependence upon Jesus for each day of life!

 Pastor Todd

Greetings friends,

What an awesome Sunday this last week!  God was so good in saving about 15 people in our two morning services.  There is a tremendous difference between "religion" and "relationship".  It is the desire of our Father's heart that people come into a saving relationship with Him (2 Peter 3:9).  Please pray for those children (5) and adults (10) who gave their lives to Jesus Christ.  Pray against the power of the Devil to cause doubts, and pray for the Holy Spirit to give a deep assurance of salvation in their hearts.  soli deo gloria!!!

This next Sunday I will be preaching from Philippians 3:12 to 4:1.  I am using chapter 4:1 as the key theme for this section of scripture: "stand firm in the Lord."  As always, I am asking what does the text SAY (Observation), what does the text MEAN (Interpretation), and what should we DO (Application).  

In this section of text we will address the subject of the Christian life.  I will focus on the process of sanctification, single minded focus in our walk, the corporate nature of sacntification and traveling lightly as ur true home is heaven.  

A few things for us to think about and repond to:  

1) What does it mean to "press on" in our Christian walk?  Paul uses this phrase twice in verses 12 and 14.  2) What is the prize in verse 14?  How can we keep our focus on the prize while living hear on earth?   3) In verse fifteen Paul refers to thos who are "perfect".  What do you think he means?  Are any of us perfect?  4) Are you eagerly awaiting the Lord's return (verse 20)? 

These are just a few questions that I ask as I approach a passage.  Many more could be raised in this text alone.  These should be enought to prime the pump.  What questions, challenges or issues do you see in this passage?  

In prayer...and coveting your prayers for my life, my walk and my preaching this weeked.  

Pastor Todd