What's Your Story?

This past weekend was one of those “WOW” weekends for Calvary!  With more than 100 of our youth leading the 10 and 11:15 a.m. worship services, there was an excitement and an exuberance that was beyond the norm.  I don’t know about you, but I walked out of church on Sunday praising God for who He is and for how He is working in the youth of Calvary.  If our youth are any indication of the next generation, all I can say is look out, world!  


The readers, the faith stories, the singers, the choir, the musicians and the heart-felt worship that our youth shared with us last week made me so proud--not in a boastful way, but in a faith-filled way.  Our youth get it!  They take what they learn on Wednesday night at WNL and on Sundays and live it out on the other days.  The youth testimonies demonstrated a maturity of faith.  For many adults, the idea of writing a testimony seems daunting.  Last weekend, the youth set the bar super high for all of us and Pastor John’s sermon also challenged us to write “our story of God’s glory” in our lives.  


Now for the question you know I will ask.  Did you write your testimony on Sunday night as Pastor John challenged us to do, or did you decide that it could wait?  


I still remember the first time someone actually asked me why I believed with such certainty and asked me how they could have the same level of certainty about God in her life.  It was a close friend of mine who had lost her job, her house, and she was getting divorced.  She was a strong agnostic – still open to the possibility that there was a God, but highly skeptical.  We both graduated only a couple of years earlier from college when this conversation happened.  We were having lunch at a restaurant when she broke down in tears and said, “I want the peace that you have – how do I get that peace?”  Then she asked how I know that Jesus is real and not a fairy tale.  


Well, sadly, as a life-long Christian who should have been able to share my testimony,  I was unable to articulate my faith and my relationship with Jesus in a way that made much sense to her that day.  In fact, I went home that afternoon and asked God to forgive me for not being able to articulate my faith and my love for Him.  I loved Jesus, but I didn’t know how to share Him with others in a powerful way.  Sure, I shared Him in a lukewarm way with my friend that day, but she wanted the Good News of the Gospel and I was not able to give it to her that day.


That night, I wrote my first testimony of sorts, it was pretty basic, but it helped me to explain why I believe, who I believe in and how my faith in Jesus Christ affected my day-to-day life and actions.  It was simple, but I was ready for the next opportunity that God might present to me.  That was more than 20 years ago and, ever since then, I have been prepared to share my testimony with anyone and everyone with whom God nudges me to share it.  


Your testimony – your personal story about your faith and your relationship with Jesus Christ – can be a powerful tool for God to use to reach people, especially your friends, family and co-workers.  So why not give it a try; write your testimony today.   


Here’s a song by Matthew West that talks about sharing your story about God’s grace and love in your life. 

In His Grip!

Pastor Carol

The Sacramental Nature of Coffee

Pastor Steve’s sermon perhaps touched too close to home for some people last week.  I heard from many of you about the “coffee incident” he shared in the sermon.  If they would have only trained me in seminary to understand the almost sacramental nature of coffee, I would have had a theological response all ready to go for the questions and comments asked of me this past Sunday morning about coffee.  After all, Lutherans like their coffee!  You can mess with the design of the bulletins, change up the songs, move the prayers of the church before the sermon, park our cars in the shuttle lots, but never mess with coffee!  Sometimes it’s the little things that become BIG things, isn’t it?

However, in the defense of coffee, wonderful things happen when we gather together to eat or to just have a cup of coffee.  Coffee usually brings with it not just cookies or donuts, but also conversation between at least two people.  That’s a good thing!  I have found that healing of relationships and deep conversations happen when we sit at the table and have coffee.  I know that’s been true for myself!  I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate those coffee conversations with folks here at Calvary on Sunday mornings. 

I have also met plenty of people at Dunn Brothers or Caribou to talk about difficulties, problems, hurts, wonderings and the list goes on and on.  It’s amazing how God can use a small table and a couple of cups of coffee to remove barriers and to enable ministry to occur.  I use to laugh at my mom; she would always have the “gals” from the neighborhood over for coffee once a week to talk and to provide therapy for each other.  Not until I was an adult did I realize how much those coffee gatherings with friends can do to lift your spirits and minister to you. 

As many of you know, my mom passed away a few years ago, but God has generously placed in my life a few, special adopted moms who actually “claim me” – weird as I am – as their adopted daughter.  I so appreciate their advice, support and love.  We share a lot of time at kitchen tables drinking coffee or tea – at their home or mine.  We laugh, we talk, we listen, we pray, we cry, and we work through the struggles in both their lives and in mine.  It’s amazing!  Coffee is a powerful vehicle to remove barriers and to bring spiritual, relational and overall newness of life and healing to those around the table. 

Coffee, anyone?  Why not invite a friend or person that has been put on your heart today for a cup of coffee (or tea)?  Maybe coffee is the nudge God uses to bring two people together to minister to each other. 

“May the God of hope FILL you with all joy and peace as you trust Him…” 

Romans 15:13

Here is an amazing video that will leave you with a “fresh” look at coffee and at life.  You will never look at a cup of coffee in quite the same way again. 

Remember to savor the coffee, not the cup! 

Soli Deo Gloria! 

Pastor Carol

Simply Jesus!

Amid the amazing music, the cross of lilies, the singing of the “Hallelujah Chorus” and the overwhelming scent of flowers at the Easter Sunday worship services at Calvary, Pastor Steve challenged each of us not to live our faith on the sidelines, but rather to live out our faith every day in all that we do.  After all, God was willing to sacrifice everything He had, even to the point of sacrificing Himself for us.  And, God is calling you and me to be willing to do for Him what He was willing to do for us – to go ALL IN for Him; after all He went ALL OUT for us. 

This morning I attended the Minnesota Prayer Breakfast at the Hilton downtown with several members of Calvary, along with 1,700 people from businesses, churches, non-profits and various faith communities.  The keynote speaker for the event was Dr. Richard Foth.  In his presentation, he talked about the fact that we sometimes add so much to Jesus and make faith so complicated for people, that they lose sight of who Jesus really is.  “When you add ‘too much stuff’ to Jesus you don’t make Him better, but you dilute Him and even make Him toxic.”  Wow!  I thought that was a profound thought and have been noodling it all morning.  How many times have we made faith and a relationship with Jesus so complicated for people that they miss the “real” Jesus? 

We are all called to go and to share Jesus with others.  Are you and I willing to give everything for the One who is willing to give everything to you and me?  The wonderful news for us today is this – God is among us, He still lives, and He is reigning. 

Often times before one of the pastors goes up to preach ,one of the other pastors will whisper in his/her ear – “Give ‘em Jesus!”  What a perfect reminder that is for ALL of us.  Just give people Jesus!  That’s it!  No need to make things complicated by religion or theology; just give people Jesus!  May we always remember that Jesus is all we need; He is calling you and me to be on the field sharing Him with those who do not know Him and living out our faith in all that we do.  Are you willing to go ALL IN for Him today? 

Here is a song by Jeremy Camp called Give Me Jesus that reminds us of the fact that all we need is Jesus. 

Soli Deo Gloria! 

Pastor Carol

Who Me? I'll Never Be a Betrayer or Denier!

Today we are moving ever closer to the Cross as we come together to remember Jesus’ final night with His disciples.  It has come to be known as Maundy Thursday.  The name “Maundy” comes from the Latin word mandare, which means “to command” or “to mandate” and refers to the Gospel of John 13:34-35 where the events in the Upper Room focused on the washing of the disciples’ feet. 

“A new command I give you;  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Last Saturday night, I had some close friends over to my home for dinner and to watch the The Passion of the Christ DVD.  While it is a “tough” movie to watch, I have found that this movie helps me to draw even closer to the Cross and to Jesus.  Following the movie, those of us who were gathered in my home, wiped our tears, hugged each other, lifted up prayers, prayed together the Lord’s Prayer and shared the wonderful gift of Holy Communion.  As a pastor, the Words of Institution come fairly easy for me, but on that night, after watching The Passion, I could hardly get the words out as huge tears rolled down my face.  Because the movie doesn’t “sanitize” the suffering of Jesus and it shows the real horror of crucifixion, all of us who were watching that evening were confronted with the reality of the immense love Jesus had for all of us and has for all of us. 

In The Passion, there is a wonderful scene where Jesus is in the Upper Room with the disciples.  How I long to have been at that table with Jesus and the disciples as they enjoyed one last meal together.  I like to think that I would never betray Jesus like Judas.  Oh, and I, would certainly never deny Jesus like Peter did.  And, I know I would load-up on enough coffee soI would never fall asleep like the disciples did when they went with Jesus to the Garden of Gethsemane.  Who am I fooling?  If I was really honest with myself, I too would have been just like those disciples long ago.  In fact, if we are all truly honest with ourselves, we are all deniers and betrayers of Christ to varying degrees.  Ouch!  Sometimes the truth can sting a bit.  We are all sinners unable to help ourselves. 

Yet, despite everything we have done in our lives, despite the fact that we are ALL deniers and betrayers of Christ, Jesus still invites ALL of us to His table each week.  The Lord’s Table is long and wide.  There is room for ALL who wish to receive forgiveness and to receive the real presence of Jesus found in the bread and wine.  What a gift Holy Communion is to us all! 

On this Maundy Thursday, we come to the table as broken, hurting sinners, just like the disciples 2,000 years ago.  And the promise that Jesus made that night to them is just as true for us today.  Jesus has a place for me at His Table and He’s got a place for YOU as well.  The question is:  Are you going to say “yes” to the invitation?

Here’s a song called “Worthy Is the Lamb” that reminds us of the amazing love Jesus has for you and for me.  

Soli Deo Gloria!

Pastor Carol