Faith & Fellowship - July 2013

Faith Fellowship

Church of the Lutheran Brethren

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July/August 2013

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Vol. 80, No. 4

Intimacy with the Infinite

Hubris to Faith • Hearing God • Hard Decisions www.ffmagazine.org

In This Issue 4 6 8 10 11 12 13 14

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Hubris to Faith Randall Paulson

Time Together

FAITH & FELLOWSHIP

Ruth Christenson

Volume 80 - Number 4

Hard Decisions Roger Viksnes

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ROY HEGGLAND

Windows of the Soul Connie Christensen Our Thirst is Quenched!

Dan Venberg Journey to Chad Part 2 of 6 Danny Bronson Confirmation: Outside the Box Matt DeKok

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Surfing through Seminary Seth Leivestad CLB News

Update: Bagirmi - Szobody Matthew Rogness re:Think Brent Juliot

Director of Communications: Tim Mathiesen tmathiesen@clba.org | twitter: @ffmag Editor: Brent Juliot bjuliot@clba.org Publisher/Graphic Designer: Troy Tysdal ttysdal@clba.org All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Pray On!

Faith Comes First MARTIN LUTHER

The Christian life has two dimensions: the first is faith, and the second is good works. A believer should live a devout life and always do what is right. But the first dimension of the Christian life, faith, is more essential.

The second dimension, good works, is never as valuable as faith. However, people of the world adore good works.

They regard them to be far higher than faith.

Good works have always been valued more highly than faith. Of course, it’s true that we should do good works and respect the importance of them. But we should be careful that we don’t elevate good works to such an extent that faith and Christ become secondary. If we esteem them too highly, good works can become the greatest idolatry. This 2

has occurred both inside and outside of Christianity. Some people value good works so much that they overlook faith in Christ. They preach about and praise their own works instead of God’s works.

Faith should be first. After faith is preached, then we should teach about good works. It is faith—without good works and prior to good works—that takes us to heaven. We come to God through faith alone.

Dr. Martin Luther was born on November 10, 1483 and died on February 18, 1546 at the age of 62. He was Doctor in Bible at the University of Wittenberg and a central figure in the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century.

Luther, Martin, By Faith Alone. Iowa Falls, IA: World Bible Publishers, 1998.

The CLB Prayer Team is on-call to pray for requests from our family of churches. E-mail: pray@prayclb.org

Faith & Fellowship

Glimpse The Wedding Banquet Several years ago I received an invitation to attend my brother-in-law’s wedding.

He and his fiancée had picked a day in June to publicly declare their love for one another and to become united in marriage.

I remember reading the invitation and telling my wife, “I won’t be able to go!”

At that time, I was a sales representative for a seasonal products company and June was our tradeshow season. Tradeshows meant long hours, weekends in hotels and plenty of travel. I would be on the road for stretches of fifteen to twenty days at a time and didn’t think I could afford to be distracted by a wedding. My priority was work, and work is important. It pays the bills and puts food on the table.

In the Gospel of Luke we are given the unique story of Mary and Martha. Martha believed she had her priorities straight.

She knew there was work to be done and believed it was her responsibility to complete the tasks before her. Jesus saw things differently.

LUKE 10:38-42 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.

She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.

But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

At first it appears that Martha has a legitimate complaint against Mary.

Martha is working hard, tirelessly to prepare her home for Jesus. But Mary is sitting at his feet while there is still work to be done. www.ffmagazine.org

Jesus hears Martha’s complaint and his response challenges her to realign her priorities. You see, Mary is listening to the Lord of lords, the King of kings!

Mary understands that the work can wait.

She understands that what Jesus is saying is more important than sweeping floors or preparing food. You see, Jesus was talking about what he always talked about—his father in heaven, the Kingdom of God, the wedding banquet that will never end.

Like Martha, we often place more value on action, on work, than on listening. We dive into projects designed to better our society. We clean ditches and build parks.

We knit quilts and shingle houses, and these things are good, work is good, but work alone is not the Gospel.

The Gospel is the story of the Son of God, who left heaven, was tempted by Satan, and conquered. The Gospel is the story of a Savior who walked in our shoes, was crucified in our place and three days later rose from the dead, thereby removing the sting of death. The Gospel is the story of a perfect and holy God calling out to sinners who are helpless and lost in darkness. Are you listening?

Work is good, but when we place work ahead of the Good News—the fact that we are saved by grace alone through faith

TROY TYSDAL

alone, then we are in danger of missing the point. And if we miss the point, we miss the wedding banquet of the Lamb.

A few months after my brother-inlaw’s wedding, a family portrait taken at the wedding appeared on the wall in my father-in-law’s home. It was a photo of great joy and celebration. I was noticeably absent from the picture. My heart sank as I looked at the photo and my priorities were realigned, but it was too late. I’d missed the wedding!

In heaven, there is a book that lists every individual invited to the wedding banquet of the Lamb and his bride. No good deed can put your name on the list; no amount of work can earn you a seat at the table. It is by faith alone that you are invited to the celebration, and faith comes from hearing the message, the word of Christ (Romans 10:17). Are you listening? He who has an ear, rejoice, for your seat in eternity awaits.

Rev. Troy Tysdal is Church Resource Coordinator for the Church of the Lutheran Brethren, and serves as Publisher for Faith & Fellowship Magazine.

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‘Apostle Saint Paul’ — Paris

Hubris to Faith RANDALL PAULSON

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onfronted by our perfect Lord in all of his exalted holiness, the young sinner Isaiah was instantly terrified (Isaiah 6). Completely hopeless and helpless, openmouthed he watched as God mercifully removed his guilt. Wow! What a relief! Then he heard God ask, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” So naturally, believing that he was up to the challenge, he responded, “Here am I! Send me!” Talk about naïve hubris!

It brings to mind that familiar story of the kindergarten teacher observing her children during art time. Coming up 4

behind one little girl, she asked what she was drawing. The young artist answered, “I’m drawing God.” The teacher objected, “But no one knows what God looks like.” To which the young theologian confidently announced, “They will in a minute.”

Thankfully, God has always used such exaggerated self-confidence. He just patiently smiles, knowing that real-life future turbulence will mature the faith of his impetuous child. If Isaiah had known where his proud commitment would lead, he might not have been so eager to go. To

begin with, God wants a “willing” heart, one that’s thankfully responding to his loving mercy, but is also quick to turn to him for help when failures mount up.

Saul (Paul) never forgot his horror near Damascus when Jesus confronted him with his sin. A persecutor of Jesus’ Church, he was the epitome of naïve hubris. He brazenly thought he was serving God. Instead, with a burst of perfect light, Jesus relieved him of his arrogance and left him with only the certainty of doom. But shockingly, Jesus then forgave even him! Talk about relief!

Faith & Fellowship

“It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”

Philippians 2:13

Wow! This motivated him too—to want to give back! Like Isaiah, Saul was now prepared to hear God’s call, but also had no clue where it would end.

Years later, writing his letter to the Philippians, Paul was now a veteran of his Lord’s surprises, but was still uncertain of what his end would be. God had led him into the unknown, doing the impossible, planting churches across Asia (modern day Turkey) from Antioch to Ephesus and Troas and then still further west around the Aegean Sea into Macedonia and Greece. His God-given vision had been to introduce Jesus to those who had not yet heard, telling them that Jesus’ amazing free gift of forgiveness and eternal life was for them too.

Writing to the Romans from Corinth, Paul shared his plans to visit them on his way even further west to Spain—but only after he first delivered an offering from the Gentile churches to the Jerusalem church. He was convinced that God wanted him to first visit Jerusalem, despite all of the advice to the contrary from believers along the way. He went to Jerusalem anyway, not expecting to be detained in prison in Caesarea for two years, and then detained in Rome for two more years while he awaited his appeal to the Emperor. That hadn’t been in his plan!

If even the author of Romans continued to be surprised by God’s direction for his life, it’s unreasonable to expect that it will be any different today. Reading about biblical saints like Isaiah and Paul www.ffmagazine.org

is like looking in a mirror—although making such a comparison might also qualify as hubris. Still, it is evident that God recorded their failings and surprises for a reason. He wanted us to see them.

And seeing their childish self-confidence, we have to admit: “That’s me too!”

It’s been this way since the Church began. After Jesus’ ascension his disciples returned, according to his instructions, to Jerusalem where they then met daily awaiting that promised gift from the Father, the baptism of the Holy Spirit (whatever that meant?). But God’s servants have always been an impatient lot, especially leaders like Peter. So, always thinking about what should be done, Peter came up with a plan for what to do this time: Replace that traitor Judas!

Matthias was chosen. Yet we do not see Matthias again in the Biblical account.

And we are left wondering… God’s plan?

Peter’s hubris? We don’t know.

But when the circumstances were just right, the Spirit did arrive in power! And as they were swept up by his plan, the distractions were quickly forgotten. They then watched the Spirit plant churches in Jerusalem, Antioch, Ephesus, Corinth and more. And Peter, Paul, and the other Apostles just went along for the ride, witnessing what the Lord was doing and telling others what they had seen.

After 39 years as a Lutheran Brethren pastor, I must now confess to participating in most of the new evangelical methods that leaders have dreamed up over this time. Their manuals and books line the

top shelf of my library: Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts, Evangelism Explosion, How to Plant a Church, Small Group Bible Studies, The Purpose-Driven Church, and on. And no doubt, each was a demonstration of God’s Spirit at work in some specific place and time.

Yet I must also confess that it’s been naïve hubris to think, “If I just follow this new, improved method, then I too can build a huge church.” Hello! God has never worked that way! No, as with Jesus’ disciples, he still simply calls us to pray, to read his Word, and to then await his Spirit’s direction.

At last in prison in Rome, Paul once again demonstrated it. God had turned his naïve hubris into expectant faith. Paul serves, wonders, waits, and patiently asks, “Where next, Lord, and when?”

Thankfully, God never does it our way.

No, he turns our hubris to faith.

Rev. Randall Paulson is senior pastor at Rock of Ages Lutheran Brethren Church in Seattle, WA.

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Time Together RUTH CHRISTENSON

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ears ago, when I was a child, the Lord brought a new pastor to our church, along with a parsonage full of children. One of those “pastor’s kids” became a dear friend. Although years of time (nine years since the last face to face visit) and miles of distance had passed between us, when opportunity came, we were able to pick up our friendship right where we left off. So what builds such a friendship? For us, it was time together: riding bikes, telling stories, playing Monopoly, laughing, crying, listening and planning. Now our time is often spent over coffee at some Perkins wherever our paths unexpectedly cross.

My friendship with God grows in much the same way—time together. He already knows me—my past, present and future. Still, he patiently listens while I share the concerns of my life. He shares 6

in my joys, and cares about my sorrows.

However, this would not become much of a friendship if it were to stay so onesided. How can I get to know him? Do I listen to what brings him joy, and to what causes him grief? Jesus says in John 14:21 that “…he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”

God has always wanted us to know him. He reveals himself through his Word. As I read, I have learned to ask, “What difference does it make that God works like this?” If he means what he says—and he does!—then how should I live or think? When God shows me his power, do I allow him to expose the areas of weakness in my faith? When I see his ability to provide, do I acknowledge his gifts, and live with contentment? Am I quick to be grateful? When he shows me his holiness, do I allow the Spirit

to examine my life for unconfessed or unconscious sin? Do I agree with God about what he calls good or evil, and alter my life’s choices accordingly? Jesus says in John 15:14, “You are my friends if you do what I command.” I want to be known as his friend, and obedience is key.

Time in his presence also builds our friendship. Jesus says, “Abide in me,” as if to say, “Pitch your tent in my presence and live with me.” Unfortunately, my life has not been characterized by sitting still for long periods of time. There is always so much to do. Still Jesus invites me. I can imagine him sitting and waiting for time together with me, but I only give him a quick nod, and run off to the next thing on my list. Thankfully, God has often stopped me in my busyness, by showing me my emptiness. I remember when my children were small, praying that God would “give me a day that no Faith & Fellowship

one else knows about,” so I could have uninterrupted time with him. Amazingly, someone called and asked to take my children for a day. What a blessing to be refreshed with time to read, time to pray, time to worship! God is so good!

God has also changed how I understand prayer, teaching me that I need to be a better listener. He tells us to pray, for everything, and to not be anxious, and like any father, he loves when we run to him for help. Sometimes I empty my heart and mind of my concerns, but then I run off before he can speak. I am learning to intentionally listen, for there are times his Spirit answers in a still small voice.

There are times when he prompts me to act, or to speak, or to be silent, in order to see his answer. I just have to stop and pay attention.

Recently I had to prepare a message for a women’s luncheon. I spent hours in the www.ffmagazine.org

Word. I was so full of truths to share that we would have needed a whole weekend to scratch the surface. I had been praying for God to filter my preparations, and to give me his message for this particular group of women. So I sat down at about midnight with a pen, my Bible, and a notebook and prayed for God’s direction.

I dozed off for a few minutes only to be awakened with a specific part of my studies in mind. I wrote them down and fell back asleep. A few minutes later, I knew what needed to be said next. And so it went all night. By morning, I had the whole message ready to share, and I knew this was his message. I was intentionally listening!

One of my favorite verses is Psalm 5:3, “In the morning, O Lord, you will hear my voice; in the morning I will order my prayer to you and eagerly watch” (NASB). It may be early in the morning

before I go to bed, or else when I wake up, that I stop and sit in his presence.

This starts a conversation that continues throughout the day. God delights in our time together. Someone once called this time of fellowship “an uncommon communion” with the Lord. I am learning not to take this time for granted, but to treasure it as a meeting between special friends.

He is waiting for time with you! Pitch your tent in his presence, sit at his feet, and get to know him better!

Ruth Christenson attends Mount Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church in Mount Bethel, PA.

Visit Mount Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church online at www.mountbethelchurch.org

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Hard Decisions: from a Christian Perspective ROGER VIKSNES

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ids wants to grow up fast because they think grown-ups get the fun of making all the decisions, such as, “Is there going to be dessert tonight?” or “When is bed time?” And it’s true, as adults we get to make decisions, but it is also true that we have to make decisions.

Little do kids know that along with the 8

“fun” decisions come a whole host of hard decisions, not to mention the painful ones that keep us up at night.

So the question is, how do we make those difficult decisions that we come face to face with in life, and how do we make them from a Christian perspective?

Well first of all, what does it mean to

have a Christian perspective? It means I look at life from the perspective that there is a Christ who has come to rescue me, and his name is Jesus. But Jesus is not only the Christ; he is also my Lord, my Master, my King. I am not my own man.

I am not the captain of my own ship. I have a King and I belong to him. And lest Faith & Fellowship

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9

we think of that as a negative, we need to keep in perspective that this King is good and gracious. He is a king of precious promises.

So the simple answer to the question of how to make hard decisions from a Christian perspective is… to make decisions from a Christian perspective.

Sorry for the obvious statement but that is where we need to begin. We are called and invited to make decisions in connection with King Jesus, and to do so involves dependence, humility, courage, and joy.

Notice what Jesus promises in John 14:13, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.”

Some years back I was really wrestling with a difficult theological question and its practical applications.

How was I going to make these decisions? I started by calling people, seasoned pastors and professors, asking their advice. And that is a healthy thing to do, for one answer to our question is to follow the instruction of Proverbs 11:14, “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety” (NKJV).

The frustrating thing for me however was that for every answer I found in one direction, I found another answer telling me to do the opposite.

The truth is, as much as I was able to know my own heart, I wanted to do what God willed. I didn’t have an agenda, but I also just didn’t know what the right answer was. And I can remember sitting in my study feeling frustrated and overwhelmed, and saying, “I wish that I just had a phone in my office that was a direct line to God so I could call him and he could let me know what I should do.” www.ffmagazine.org

But then I remembered the promise of the King, “Ask whatever you wish and it will be given to you.” And that is what I did. I dropped down and prayed. I sprawled out face down and helpless on my carpeted floor and I prayed.

And then I knew what to do. I really did. I was so at peace with what I was supposed to do next. My only question was, “Why did it take me so long to get to my knees?”

Now that is not to say that God will give us an immediate answer every time we pray, but it is a reminder to me as I write this and I hope to you reading that we are invited to start a search for answers in dependent prayer.

But as I mentioned before, Christian decision making also takes humility. In Luke 18 we find a parable of two men praying two completely different types of prayer, and we can do the same when we are looking to make a decision. The one prayer approaches the Lord with a list of what we want to do. The other comes humbly asking the Lord what we should do.

Regarding this question, Romans 12:12 gives us critical advice: “Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God— this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good pleasing and perfect will.”

As we humble ourselves in submission to the Lord and allow him to wash clean our corrupted thinking with his truth, then we will be able to test and approve what God’s will is for us.

And how is God’s will defined? By

the words good, pleasing and perfect.

Remember that, especially when you are faced with the reality that God’s will is not necessarily the easy answer.

Christian decision making also involves having courage to do what is right. Watch yourself when making a decision that you are not simply drawn to the easiest choice.

As we read in Joshua 1:9, “Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Finally, lest we think that in decision making we should always do the very thing that we don’t want to do because that must be from God; Christian decision making involves joy. A professor in Seminary helped me make a difficult decision about which ministry call to take by asking me what I thought at the time was a crazy question: “What do you want to do?” Well I always thought that what I wanted to do must be the wrong thing. But that is not true. God very often puts the desire on our hearts in the first place, seeking to lead us in a particular direction. Like a good shepherd, God loves to lead us in joy.

Perhaps Solomon has the best advice on how to make a difficult decision from a Christian perspective (even if he didn’t always take his own advice). “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NLT).

Rev. Roger Viksnes is senior pastor at Bethany Lutheran Brethren Church in East Hartland, CT.

Visit Bethany Lutheran Brethren Church online at www.bethanylbc.org

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Making Time Count ROY HEGGLAND “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water… Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you… On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.” —Psalm 63:1,3,6

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ime is measured by the revolution of the earth around the sun and the rotation of the earth around its axis. It is constant (at least until you approach the speed of light, which most of us never do). When we are young, time seems like it will last forever. Everything takes a long time. We can’t wait until we are old enough to ______ . But as we get older, time seems to go faster. Most of us have had the experience of thinking back on our lives and wondering where the time went. It’s almost as if we have lost time. It’s missing and we can’t make sense of how it could have slipped through our fingers so quickly.

Is there a remedy for this problem with time? Can we Christians experience the brevity of this life in a way that doesn’t bring that sense of loss?

I believe that David knew the answer to this riddle, and it is this: the human heart needs to be connected to something greater than itself. It needs intimacy with the infinite. David says in verse 1, “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” David is saying, “My entire being cries out for connection to God.” He says, “My soul needs transcendence like my body needs water.” It is as deep a longing as that.

Knowing the transcendent God is an end in itself. It is our highest priority.

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David says, “…your love is better than life.” If the reason we want to experience God is so that we’ll have the life we want to have here on earth, we will never know the transcendence of God or experience intimacy with the infinite. No, knowing God is an end in itself. Knowing his love and serving him and pleasing him are what it’s all about.

In Christ, knowing the transcendence of God is our right as his children. David says, “O God, you are my God,” and everything else in the entire psalm is predicated on that. He says, “Because you are my God, I want to know your love which is greater than life itself.”

David is talking like a son. Sons don’t say, “Do I have a right to ask my father for something?” They just come right in.

Finally, we experience the transcendence of God as we meditate on our bed, remembering him at night… seeking him every morning. David says, “Earnestly I seek you.” Both day and night David reminds himself, “You are a ONLINE:

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son of God. You are an heir of eternity.”

We can do the same today as David did; day and night reflecting on this thought: “God loved you so much that he died for you.”

As stewards of our time, it’s important for us to understand that Christ has connected our time to the eternal.

Knowing God makes every moment transcendent. Knowing God makes every moment count.

Roy Heggland serves the Church of the Lutheran Brethren as Associate for Biblical Stewardship.

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Women’s Ministries Church of the Lutheran Brethren

Windows of the Soul

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CONNIE CHRISTENSEN

Several CLB churches this past year have developed local church women’s retreats, focused on fostering relationships, delving deeper into God’s Word together, or encouraging one another in their personal walk with the Lord. Some utilized their own church buildings, others met at off-site locations. Connie shares what her church did.

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iving Word Lutheran Brethren Fellowship hosted a mini-retreat on Saturday, April 13, 2013.

“Windows of the Soul/Encounters with God” saw forty-six women of three different churches in the Dickinson, North Dakota area come together to celebrate their unity as Christian women in a retreat which moved through three different “windows.” Adapted from the book Windows of the Soul by Ken Gire, these retreats use the rooms of a house as windows where God provides a glimpse of himself as we look past the surface to what he wants us to see.

Windows encountered at this retreat were the Office Window—encountering God through our time, schedule and priorities; the Family Room Window—encountering God through relationships; and the Broken Window— re-encountering God through our own devastation and finding our way back after turning away from him.

In the Office Window, women were treated to an imaginary trip in a flying car back to when they first became Christians, reviewing the paths their lives took, seeing where God took a front seat, then a back seat, and ultimately being left at the curb with all that life throws in the way. They created schedules of their busiest day, made magnets to remind them to take time for God, created revised schedules including time for God, compiled “Challenge Cards” to challenge www.ffmagazine.org

them to return to the path God has for them to walk.

Next came the Family Room Window.

Beach balls flew as women tossed them around, stopping to read funny sayings when they received the ball. They received information and Bible verses supporting the joy of family. Coffee filter peonies were made to demonstrate the flower’s example of a family structure— the bud receiving its nourishment from the stem just as Christ is the nourishment for the family, and through him the family blossoms and becomes a beautiful flower.

Following a wonderful lunch, participants encountered the Broken Window where one of the Windows Team gave her testimony which touched hearts to tears, and then gave them hope and the desire to create needed changes in their own lives. The craft designated for this window was broken glass mosaics, but it was cancelled when the plaster set up too fast! Every good retreat needs a little glitch, right?

Plans for this retreat began in October 2012 with the formation of the Windows Team. Preliminary work and information was given through weekly e-mails, along with a Bible study on Ruth— Be Committed by Warren Wiersbe. In January, weekly meetings began in earnest, with decisions on which windows would be presented, and preparation for

them. Each window is completely written and developed by the Team with the idea that no two windows will ever be alike and all will be inspired by God’s Word.

It was interesting to see God’s handiwork in the selection of the windows. Our decision for the three windows we used was unanimous. As members of the Windows Team, we were also blessed with lessons whenever we struggled to bring this event to fruition.

When God gives his approval to a project he is faithful to carry it through to its completion. And he can work much better when we trust him rather than try to do his work in our own strength and wisdom. We were truly blessed.

This was the second retreat in this series; the first one was in 2010, and it also met with great success. The windows covered during the first retreat were the Bathroom Window, because that is where we begin our day, followed by the Kitchen Window and the Dining Room Window.

Plans are already being made for the next retreat with a date yet to be determined, as the Lord wills. Anyone interested in learning more about the retreats can call or e-mail Connie Christensen (701-2600478, daleandconnie@ndsupernet.com).

Connie Christensen in a member of Living Word Fellowship in Dickinson, ND.

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Lutheran Brethren

International Mission

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BRINGING THE GOOD NEWS TO UNREACHED PEOPLE

Our Thirst is Quenched!

DAN VENBERG

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inally, after 47 years, our thirst is quenched!” The statement came from an elderly gentleman whose gnarled hands and weatherbeaten face testified to a hard life lived in the oppressive heat and dryness of Chad’s climate. He was the chief of a small village called Naara-Bousso.

Around him were gathered 15 other men from the community. I sat across from him on a straw mat, along with four other Americans. Brandon Pangman and Wes Vlcek hailed from Bethesda Lutheran Brethren Church in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Eddy and Shane Newman represented Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.

We were all sitting under a tree, which provided a little relief from the equatorial sun beating down on us. Between us was a well-used tin basin, filled to the brim with cool, clean water. On the surface of the water there floated a bowl-shaped gourd used as a communal drinking vessel. The water had just been drawn from a new well installed with donated funds from a Lutheran Brethren congregation in North America.

The basin was passed around and we relieved our parched lips and throats with the cool water. And we talked. We visited about the well, and the blessing that it was to this community. We listened to stories of how, previous to this well, their women and children had to spend five hours a day walking to and from a distant river in order to fetch as much water as they could carry in basins on their heads.

We heard that the water was often dirty, contaminated by the waste of cattle and goats drinking and wading in the same river.

We talked about more than water.

We learned about their hopes for their people, for health and education for their 12

Dan Venberg speaking with the Naara-Bousso village chief (photo by Brandon Pangman)

children. We learned about their faith in Islam. We heard them give thanks to Allah for our visit and for this well. And we shared with them our faith, our hopes, our joy at meeting them face to face, as the neighbors that God has called us to love and to have relationship with. And we shared with them the words of Jesus, who said that whoever drinks the water that he provides will never thirst again in the spiritual sense.

A couple of hours later, as we said our goodbyes to these newfound friends, the chief made another comment: “I know there are other organizations that help Chadian people by putting in wells. But no one has come to us like you have, from so far away, and sat down on our mats with us, drank our tea and talked with us face to face, as brothers do. This is a miracle that can only be from God.” With encouraged hearts, we traveled on. Over the course of a week, we visited

twelve communities, each of which had received a well due to contributions from CLB congregations. We targeted those communities and people groups that our churches have adopted, namely the Fulbe, the Bagirmi and the Bilala. And we had many similar conversations.

This is what the adoption of a people group looks like: It is engaging the people on a relational level, as Jesus did for us.

It means meeting them where they are at, as Jesus did for us. It means sharing the story of the one who can quench our eternal thirst, as Jesus did for us. As these relationships are built with our newfound friends, the Gospel goes forth and thirst is quenched. That is a miracle that is truly and only from God! Dan Venberg serves with Lutheran Brethren International Mission. He and his family are currently living in Fergus Falls, MN.

Faith & Fellowship

Journey

to Chad PART 2 of 6

Homeless THE JOURNAL OF DANNY AND MANDY

W

e are officially homeless. Not because of any hardships that cause many to be homeless, but we’re still homeless. This is how it’s going to be for the summer. We’re spending some time with Mandy’s parents before heading to Colorado for some training. We’ll be with more family for most of August, but during all this time, we still have all sorts of details to arrange.

Along with being homeless, we have gotten rid of most of our belongings, especially the furniture. When we eventually get to our new home, most of the things that we have will be new to us. This might be exciting, but it can also be a big change to get used to, especially for the kids. I think of the other things that have changed for them. We won’t be going to the same places anymore.

No playgroup with Mom on Wednesday mornings or swimming or gymnastics with the other kids on Thursdays. No more watching the seniors curl during the winter, or golfing with Dad during the summer. No going to Grumpy’s for ice cream or Tim Horton’s for “little donuts” as a special treat. No going to the Youth Center (where the church office is) to run around and play games. No going to the familiar playgrounds in town. No ringing the bell at “Country Church” or running around the Civic Center after “Library Church” (it’s next to the library).

The kids will also miss many of their toys. Already, Zeke has had a few sad moments as he thought about enjoying a certain toy, and then realized that we have given it away or sold it in our garage sale.

The memory of these things we’ve parted with will fade over time, but it’s still fresh now. And Jonah was just starting to look for our dog, Tobie, when we mentioned her. He was really starting to love her. At www.ffmagazine.org

The ------ Family: Theo (2), Ezekiel (4), Jonah (1), Mandy and Danny looking to the future.

least we have found a good home for her.

Since she’s 10 years old, it’s fitting that the home we found is a nursing home.

Of course, we can also look forward to new things: new parks, new places to explore, new friends to meet and play with. And during the summer we will be able to spend some good time with family before we leave. For almost a year now, Theo has prayed for Papa and Elmo (Mandy’s parents, it’s a long story) almost every time we pray, especially at meal time. I’m sure that spending a few weeks with them will only strengthen that prayer, so that is a plus in all of this.

One other benefit of being “homeless” is that it can remind us as Christians that this world is really not our home anyway.

With all the changes in location and schedule it may be a challenge at times to fit in the important routines of the day, such as prayer, Bible reading, talking about what we are thankful for, and just

playing together. But it’s also good to remember that as we do those things, we will be more connected to our true home, God’s home. And that home is the reason that we’re doing all this.

Rev. Danny ------- and his wife Mandy are preparing to work in Africa with Lutheran Brethren International Mission. They most recently served Birch Hills Community Church and Saron Lutheran Church in Saskatchewan.

They are spending the summer in preparation and training, to be followed with a year in France, before moving to Africa with their children, Ezekiel, Theo and Jonah.

Last names were removed online for privacy concerns.

Watch the Video online at: www.clbnetwork.org/journeytochad

13

North American Mission

Confirmation: Outside the Box MATT DeKOK

I

t was the first of three special Confirmation services for my family.

My oldest daughter, Nicole, was to be confirmed in about a month, along with her best friend, Samantha. I asked Nicole if Pastor Gary Kitchin had given her catechism questions and Bible verses to memorize. Much to my surprise, Nicole responded, “We’re not doing that. We’re going to present a skit during the service instead.” I smiled politely and said that it was an interesting idea… But in my mind, I wasn’t so sure I was going to like this.

I thought back to my Confirmation over 25 years ago, along with the numerous Confirmation services held since then at Bunker Hill Church. Confirmands nervously standing on the platform reciting in their minds the various creeds, catechism questions and Bible verses.

One by one, they would be called up to the pulpit by the pastor to demonstrate to the congregation what they’d learned over the previous two years of study. I assume this format has been fairly typical for most Lutheran Brethren congregations throughout their histories as well.

Since I am on the Elder Board at Bunker Hill, I figured a call was in order to ask Pastor Gary about this change in format.

I just wanted to make sure we were prepared for any backlash from breaking “tradition.” Was I still a little skeptical of the idea? Sure, but I also wanted to support Pastor Gary on this and see how it worked out.

Pastor Gary explained how the idea 14

for a Confirmation skit came about: A few months earlier, he had discussed with Nicole and Samantha what would be expected of them on Confirmation Sunday. He presented them with lists of Scriptures, creeds, and other items to memorize and told them he was also preparing questions from the small catechism for them to learn. As they talked about this, their enthusiasm waned and they both looked like he had made them sick.

About the same time, Nicole and Samantha were taking part in a school musical. Pastor Gary went to the performance and saw the girls were very passionate about drama. Seeing that their passion for drama allowed them to firmly and joyfully memorize and recall songs and lines, Pastor Gary thought this might be an effective way for them to take their Confirmation to heart, rather than just rote memorization. He suggested the idea of a Confirmation skit to Nicole and Samantha, and they were both very enthusiastic about the idea.

The next task was to create a skit that would not just entertain the congregation, but be sure to demonstrate the biblical foundations each girl had learned throughout the past two years. From the very beginning of Confirmation, Pastor Gary had set a major goal that each girl would be able to understand salvation by grace through faith well enough, so they would be able to share the gospel with an unbeliever and lead him to Christ. As part of this process, they worked through

the evangelism course “The Way of the Master.” The girls really enjoyed the course and suggested it be the basis for the Confirmation skit. Pastor Gary agreed and that laid the foundation for the script of “The Lost Waiter.”

Confirmation Sunday came and I was very excited for this special day in Nicole and Samantha’s lives. I was also cautiously and curiously looking forward to seeing the skit, as Nicole and Samantha had kept it a huge secret from everyone. Would I like this new format?

Would it display the girls’ understanding of their biblical foundations? Would the congregation like it?

Granted, I have a somewhat biased view since my daughter was part of the service, but it was a wonderful Confirmation day.

The girls opened the service with the call to worship and a prayer, sang a beautiful duet, and shared a testimony of what they learned the last two years. Then they presented “The Lost Waiter” skit, as the girls took their places at a table in a restaurant setting at the front of the church sanctuary and Pastor Gary, the waiter, came to serve them.

Despite being a bit of a traditionalist, I really thought the skit was an effective way for the girls to share with the congregation what they learned the past two years. It wasn’t nervous memorization. It was something that seemed life-changing—preparing them for future service for Christ.

The congregation loved the new format as well. People told Pastor Gary they were Faith & Fellowship

Canada: www.LBCANADA.org United States: www.CLBA.org

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

Proverbs 22:6

realized a burden for some of their lost acquaintances at school. I think it was a good lesson for them to able to present the Gospel in a practical way through a situation that could routinely happen in their lives.”

As Nicole’s father and an elder at Bunker Hill Church, I’m also glad that Pastor Gary took a risk with our most recent Confirmation service. It wasn’t like mine or my parents’ Confirmation, but it was an effective and meaningful way to impact these young ladies (and those in attendance) as they prepare for the rest of their lives serving the Lord.

The format may have changed, but the biblical message was the same and God was glorified.

Matt DeKok is an elder at Bunker Hill Lutheran Brethren Church in Princeton, NJ.

Pastor Gary Kitchin with confirmands Nicole DeKok (left) and Samantha Stanford.

amazed at the girls’ understanding of the Scriptures and how clearly the Gospel was communicated through the service.

They were very appreciative that Pastor Gary was willing to risk doing something different.

In writing this article, I asked Pastor Gary why he thought the skit would be a good alternative to the standard Confirmation service. He responded, www.ffmagazine.org

Visit Bunker Hill Lutheran Brethren Church online at www.bunkerhillchurch.org

“I know that people learn differently. I sensed these two girls could really benefit from using a format that incorporated their gifts and passion. I feel strongly that through the preparation and the execution of the skit, Nicole and Samantha really got a firm handle on the Gospel, its effect in their own lives and how they could share it with unbelievers. The girls told me that through the skit they had 15

EMBRACING THE WORD. REACHING THE WORLD.

www.LBS.edu

Surfing through Seminary

SETH LEIVESTAD

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” —Romans 8:28

I

hoisted my laptop bag over my shoulder, preparing to head home from seminary. As I was passing through the lounge area I overheard a conversation: Calvary Community Church in Fullerton, California was looking for an Associate Pastor. This news piqued my interest because my wife received a promotion at her job and they expressed interest in having her transfer to the headquarters of her audit group in California. Hearing the news about Calvary, hearing my wife’s news, and discovering that her work headquarters was within close proximity of the church—the Holy Spirit overwhelmed me and ignited a fire within me to seek out this position in Fullerton.

After an e-mail and an interview with Pastor Jim Erickson, the church decided to fly our family out to candidate for the position. The whole candidating experience only confirmed what the Lord had in mind for Calvary Community Church and my family. A week later we received a letter of call, and on Mother’s Day I wrote my acceptance letter.

From the first e-mail of interest to the acceptance letter, the process took about two months. The same week I sent out the letter of acceptance, Shelly’s transfer to California was approved. God opened doors so fast on this process that the two months felt like only two weeks. Now, as if that wasn’t enough to make our heads spin, God had one more surprise for our family. At Shelly’s twenty-week prenatal appointment, the ultrasound tech announced, “Twins!”

Shelly and I were shocked and excited.

Our ten-year-old son Leif is thrilled to be 16

Shelly, Steven (nephew), Leif and Seth Leivestad at Disney Land in California.

moving to California and to be a brother to twin sisters.

With all this going on, what makes the move possible for us is Lutheran Brethren Seminary’s newly accredited online learning program. I can be a part-time student and a part-time pastor because this new program will allow me to finish my schooling while I serve God and his church in Fullerton, California.

In my opinion, being in Fergus Falls, Minnesota to attend seminary would be the preferred choice. The technology cannot duplicate being involved within the seminary community and taking part in the friendships that form there.

Yet, the administration and faculty

of our seminary is to be congratulated for implementing distance education for those seeking full time or part time learning. Today’s demands on families, churches, and pastors make it so that a three-year stay in Fergus Falls can be difficult, if not impossible. Distance education makes it possible for my family and others with similar stories to serve God and be trained up “according to His purpose for them,” wherever we may be.

Seth Leivestad is a third year seminary student completing his education while serving as an Associate Pastor at Calvary Community Church in Fullerton, CA.

Faith & Fellowship

NEW@LBS

DISTANCE LEARNING Designed for students unable to participate in an on-campus program

Technology + Real-time participation in the classroom through video conferencing

+ On-line office hours with the instructor and other distance education students

+ Lecture recording system for later viewing

+ Flexibility to fit the student’s availability

218-739-3375 • www.LBS.edu

+ A local mentor

EMBRACING THE WORD. REACHING THE WORLD.

Fellowship with one another

JULY/AUGUST 2013

Purifies us from all sin

Walk in the light

The blood of Jesus

1 John 1:7

LBS Launches Distance Education Program On April 19, 2013, Lutheran Brethren Seminary received the announcement from Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) accreditation commission that LBS had been approved to offer a distance education option for its students.

According the TRACS website,

the substantive change to its current accreditation to offer its programs by distance education was approved (www. tracs.org/files/2013AprilCommissionAct ionSummary.pdf).

TRACS is recognized by both the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education

Olsen Ordained

Accreditation as a national accrediting body for Christian institutions, colleges, universities, and seminaries.

For more information visit: www.lbs.edu/programs/distance-education

Growing in Grace

(L to R): Pastor Evan Langlois, John Olson, Regional Pastor Warren Geraghty, Kirk Lillestolen, Jeff Olsen and Pastor Roger Viksnes

On April 28, 2013, Jeff Olsen was ordained as an elder at Bethany Lutheran Brethren Church in East Hartland, CT. Regional Pastor Warren Geraghty performed the ordination.

Johnson Ordained as Elder

Grace Lutheran Brethren Church in Bismarck, ND would like to invite you to an Ice Cream Social and program on September 7, 2013 in celebration of its 40th anniversary. A worship service will be held the following morning at 10:30 a.m. All are welcome!

Elders Ordained

(L to R): CLB President Joel Egge, Brad Johnson and Pastor Luther Mathison

Elders: Merlin Allerdings, Dave Forthun, Pastor Dan Chell, Dennis Schmidt, Regional Pastor Gary Witkop, Charles Strand, Pastor Pete Pederson, Richard Gravley and Tim Chell.

On May 5, 2013, Brad Johnson was ordained as an elder at Zion Lutheran Brethren Church in Maddock, ND. CLB Pres. Joel Egge performed the ordination.

On May 5, Our Redeemer’s Church of Minot ordained Merlin Allerdings, Tim Chell, Dave Forthun, Richard Gravley, Dennis Schmidt, and Charles Strand as elders.

18

Faith & Fellowship

UPDATE: Nathanael and Carrie

MATTHEW ROGNESS

L

ast August at the Biennial Convention of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren, Nathanael and Carrie were commissioned as missionaries to the Bagirmi people of Chad (Last names removed for online versions of this article due to privacy concerns). Together with their children, they traveled to France for language study. By God’s grace they have now finished their language study in France and have moved to Chad.

Thank you for your prayer support for Nathanael and Carrie as they have taken this major step in preparation for ministry among the unreached people group in Chad (the name of the people group has been removed, as well).

They will spend the next several months at our Lutheran Welcome Center in Ndjamena, the capital city of Chad.

They will begin the process of learning about the culture and people of Chad and specifically the people group they wil be living with. Because they have arrived during the rainy season, they will not be able to locate to a village until late in the fall of this year.

We are in the prayerful process of planning and making decisions about the next move. At this point, we believe that it is wise to consider and maybe take advantage of the fact that there is a home of a Korean couple in one of the villages that is available while they are on home assignment for the coming year. Because this is available, it would allow Nathanael and Carrie to begin learning Barma, the language of the people group, without the details of an

(L to R): Cyril, Nathanael, Selma, Carrie and Adelynn

ultimate choice of a village in which to live and minister from. This would also give them the advantage of some language ability as we do a survey and make a decision about a place for them to put down their roots among the people group.

“May God give us wisdom” is the prayer we ask you to pray.

Rev. Matthew Rogness serves the CLB as Director of International Mission.

Faith & Fellowship is the official publication of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren, 1020 W. Alcott Ave., P.O. Box 655, Fergus Falls, MN 56538-0655, issued six times a year (January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, September/October, November/December) by Faith and Fellowship Publishing, 1020 W. Alcott Ave., P.O. Box 655, Fergus Falls, MN 56538-0655. Phone (218)736-7357. The viewpoints expressed in the articles are those of the authors and may or may not necessarily reflect the official position of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America (CLBA). Periodicals Postage Paid at Fergus Falls, Minnesota 56538.

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FF 19

Rev. Brent Juliot is Editor of Faith & Fellowship Magazine, teaches math at Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, and serves as senior pastor at Stavanger Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls, MN.

FF

T

here is a pitfall that comes with church work, whether one is a pastor or a very active parishioner. You serve the Lord Jesus and his people, the Church, because you love him. And the more you serve, the more serving opportunities come your way. (As they say, if you want to get something done, ask a busy person.) You can be so involved with projects and planning and Bible studies that, when you have down time, the last thing you want to do is pray or dig into God’s Word on your own. You love the Lord and you love serving him, but you also just need a break!

We express love to our loved ones in many different ways.

The specifics depend a lot on our personalities. Martha and Mary, for example, in Luke 10, both loved their Lord Jesus, and both expressed it to him, one by busy service and one by rapt attention. All “love languages” are equal, aren’t they? Yet Jesus, in this case, said one was better than the other. Why? Earlier in the same chapter, Jesus sent out 72 of his followers in pairs on a mission to proclaim his Good News. Luke records the aftermath: “The seventy-two returned with joy and said, ‘Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.’ He replied, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven’” (Luke 10:17-20).

What they accomplished for the kingdom of God was wonderful! Jesus acknowledged that. But more important than what they did was who they were. Children of God by his grace; names written in heaven. In fact, unless they were who they were, they could never do what they did.

So, a few verses later in Luke 10, Jesus commends Mary for sitting at his feet, listening, learning, knowing him better and better. And Jesus explicitly tells Martha, who is busily serving him, that Mary has made the better choice.

God’s servants in his Church cannot do what they do, unless they are who he calls them to be. And that comes from knowing Jesus better and better, day by day. When those days come where the last thing we want to do is pray or dig into God’s Word on our own, it’s a pretty good sign that it should have been the first thing we did. So relax, and listen.

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Relax, and Listen

For change of address: Faith & Fellowship P.O. Box 655 Fergus Falls, MN 56538-0655

by: Brent Juliot

Faith Fellowship

Church of the Lutheran Brethren

•

July/August 2013

•

Vol. 80, No. 4

Intimacy with the Infinite

Hubris to Faith • Hearing God • Hard Decisions

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