It is freezing cold here in Rochester.  A couple of weeks ago one of the brothers mentioned that when it is bitterly cold you can blow a bubble (kids bubble mix) and then pop it and it will explode into crystals.  He tried it and it worked - amazing.  I haven't tried it yet - but maybe today!  

During the month of February we are focusing on missions in our preaching here at Calvary.  Here is the schedule:  

February 3     The Centrality of the Church in Missions Acts    13:1-3

February 10    Christianity: It's Contagious    Acts 1:8 and other scriptures

February 17    Incarnational Ministry    Matthew 9:35 - Pastor Kevin Barnhart preaching

February 24    Mapping Missions    Pastor Kevin Barnhart Preaching

March 2        Why Missions: The Lamb of God    John 1 - Pastor Kevin Barnhart preaching

Many of you are aware that from February 16th through March 2nd I am leading a group of 38 people on another study program to Israel.  I have done this about six times before.  Please pray that the scriptures would come alive for those on the study program.  

Dear friends,

Once again I have returned after a looooong silence on the blogging.  

This Sunday (December 23rd) I am preaching on Matthew 1:18-25 where I will focus on Mary, Joseph and the virgin birth.  There will be a powerful two minute video collage in the message recounting the conversion of the father of a Children's Heart Project girl.  He just came to faith in Christ last week! 

Christmas Eve I will be preaching from John 1:1-5 where the apostle John writes a theological description of the birth of Jesus Christ. 

Kevin Barnhart will be preaching on Sunday December 30th.  Kevin and Emma are on home assignment from the mission field in the Ukraine.   Emma has cancer and so they will be spending the next year here in Rochester praying for healing and getting treatment at Mayo.  Pray for Kevin as he preaches the last message of the year and transitions us into 2008.  

January 2008
January 6 - Challenge Sunday for the Capital Campaign - 1 Chronicles 29:1-9 

January 13 - Commitment Sunday - 1 Chronicles 29:10-19

January 20 - Sanctity of Human Life Sunday - Psalm 139:13-16    A live ultrasound will be a part of the morning message - thanks to the assistance of Emily Bawden and the New Life Family Services. 

January 27 - Stewardship of Our Bodies - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 and 1 Thessalonians 5:23.  This message will be team taught with Dr. Ed Laskowski.  Ed is a dear brother in Christ and a part of our church fmaily.  He is a sports medicine doctor and professor at Mayo Clininc.  Ed is also on the president's counsel for physical fitness. 

February 2008 Missions Month

Have a great week celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!  Matthew 1:21 

Dear friends, 

It certainly may have appeared that I dropped off the face of the earth, but that is not true.  I am back!  I have been extremely busy and as a result have not blogged for a long time.  My deepest apologies. 

At the very least I wanted to get the latest sermon series up on the web for you to think and pray about.  As always feel free to reply or to send me an email about anything related to the sermons, or for that matter about anything! 

On September 16^th I started a six week series in Exodus 33-34 entitled Returning to the Mountain.  Here are the Bible passages, sermon titles, and dates for the series.  I will get more information out next week. 

September 16               Exodus 33:1-6            BUSINESS with GOD on the MOUNTAIN

September 23               Exodus 33:7-11          MEETING with GOD in the TENT

September 30               Exodus 33:12-23        GUIDANCE from GOD in the JOURNEY

October 7                    Exodus 34:1-14          REVELATION of GOD in the CLOUD

October 14                  Exodus 34:15-28        BOUNDARIES from GOD in His COMMANDMENTS

October 28                  Exodus 34:29-35, 2 Corinthians 3:7-18         PRESENCE of GOD in our BEING

Please pray for me as I prepare to preach God’s Word each week and pray for anyone who listens and responds to Him because of His Word. 

Yours in the journey,

Todd

Once again I begin by apologizing for not blogging more often.  Yes, same excuse --- tooooo busy!  Anyway, here is where I am headed with the preaching for the summer. 

I have preapred a series (listed below) on the humanity of Christ.  What I mean by this is that Jesus was truly 100% God, but He was also 100% man while He walked here on earth.  With this in mind my goal is to encourage believers to walk in a deeper friendship with Jesus.  If He were walking on earth today, you and I would be able to relate to Him as we do any friend we have today.  I think often Christians see Jesus as a concept or theolgoical construct we relate to in our minds and not as a person we are in relationship with. 

Join me on the journey into deeper friendship with the God of the universe, Jesus the God-Man in this series entitled: Summer, Sandals and the Savior.  

 SUMMER, SANDALS and the SAVIOR

Walking with Jesus the God-Man

Pastor Todd Olson

 June 10            John 1:35-51             JESUS THE INITIATOR

 June 17            John 2:1-11               JESUS THE IMPROVISER

 June 24            Mark 2:14-17             JESUS THE FRIEND

 July 1               John 4:7-26                JESUS THE REVEALER

 July 8                                                   DR Report – MISSIONS         David Henry Preaching

 July 15            Mark 7:1-13 (14-23)   JESUS THE CONFRONTER

 Makeover Madness Month (actually 6 weeks) – Worship Services in the Gym

 July 22             John 8:1-11                JESUS THE GRACE GIVER

 July 29             Luke 5:1-11                JESUS THE CALLER         Pastor Darin Brown Preaching

 August 5           Matthew 14:13-21    JESUS THE PROVIDER

 August 12         Luke 18:35-43           JESUS THE HEALER

 August 19         Luke 7:36-50             JESUS THE FORGIVER

 August 26         John 3:1-21               JESUS THE SAVIOR