It's Hard to Say Goodbye to Hope - The Lutheran Church of Hope...that is

I spent part of my morning, a few weeks ago, roaming the halls of the Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines, Iowa - it's been our church home for the past seven plus years for my wife and I - you heard the old saying, "Boy if those walls could talk."

Most of my closest friends from Hope have struggled with addictions - spent time in prison - suffered from divorce or loss of a family member and every one of them knows who Jesus is - you see - Hope is an oasis for those hurting just as Jesus planned through the Power of the Holy Spirit - you do recall that Jesus came to help the sick and the needy and that is exactly why Hope is a Biblical Institution following what Jesus said - following what God put in the Bible and what He would expect any Christian to do here on earth.

My brief trip back after a move to Florida gave me a quick glimpse of what I have called home for some time - my connections were with people like Chad currently studying at Seminary and my co-pastor in a ministry called Care Core along with Mickell and Jason - Hi's - hellos and hugs to people like Debbie and Mike - Matt, Dave and Andy - Katherine, Carol, Connie and Cindy and just a chance meeting and worship time with Dusty and Bela and Darrell & Marilyn just a row or two behind

Life long friends like Sparky & Linda - Chris & Kim - Darren & Roxie and Larry & Sharon or those who have moved on too like Loren & Shelly - Lisa & Derek and countless others that take a piece of Hope with them - not the building but the feeling - the connection to the Holy Spirit encouraged through programs like Alpha - like Core - like messages from Pastor Mike & Jeremy or Pastor Richard with his rock solid Theology...

Nowhere else - no place in time - have I ever had the connection with so many people and it's all part of a plan God has for me - because of Jesus - it's the Power of the Holy Spirit - encouraged by people like Pastor Caroline - Lora Trost - Mike Brangoccio - Dr Mark Mattes and John & Sherry

You can take the person out of Hope but you can't take Hope out of the person - I truly believe (and most others do) that we have been called there to be trained - to be repaired - to witness - to proclaim that Jesus is here and alive - that He is working in us through the Power of the Holy Spirit and that God, The Father is instrumental in His plan for all of us and all of you

There's a place called Hope - there's the physical building - there's the multi-campus one church Hope - and most importantly there's the Hope that lives in every Christian no matter where you are and who you are. As one of my Alpha friends stated when they new I was moving on - See ya in Heaven - Brother !!!

Photo of the Lutheran Church of Hope compliments of Matt

How to Keep Jesus in the Conversation

In 2013 I made the decision to purchase a license plate that would carry the name of Jesus. This license plate is a Grand View University plate that costs $50.00 the first time and then the cost is reduced. The plate bears the message below:



You can try to figure out how I came up with that message and I can tell you it wasn't easy. I tried to think of something that is a message to others when I am driving to work - going down the interstate or just sitting in a parking lot - it has the name of Jesus -

It felt like a nudge from the Holy Spirit, but I had negative feelings - like the devil was saying - Don't do it - I remember the day I went to pick up the license plates - I was nervous - you say - really? It was a feeling of something fighting me - things like people will say - who do you think you are putting the name of Jesus on your vehicle - I knew that's what God wanted -

I am The Lord - that is My Name - I will not yield My Glory to another - Isaiah 42:8

First I was going to use - Y H W H - I thought - people will think it's initials for a husband and wife and not know what Yahweh means - then I decided - 3 IN 1 - then I figured the guesses would be it's not a triple double in basketball or there must be some hidden message - Father - Son and Holy Spirit - three being one God

Since 1 Jesus has been out there I've witnessed many responses - in front of the Jordan Creek Theatre I stopped to let a man go through the cross walk - halfway through he stops and makes the sign - like we're number one - he continues to walk with his hand high and spins around - I thought - what was that all about - then I realized it was the message on the license plate - he was praising God -

A man working security at the gate at Menard's said - 1 Jesus huh - let me tell you how He saved my life one night - I know the moment and no man or book can ever tell me more about the Power that God showed me that night and it changed my life -

A group of construction workers met me at a 4 way stop in Denison waving their hands with thumbs up as they looked my way or the day I drove out of the parking lot with the license plate on for the first time - the lot attendant says  - how did you get that wonderful message on your plate - or the high school kid at Arby's - or the driver at Keck Airport Parking just saying - I like your plate

None of this story is about me - seriously - it's all about God - a simple way for others to be reminded there is One God - He wants His name out there - He wants Christians to proclaim the Good News -  a symbol for God - a Cross necklace - the fish symbol - a Cross tattoo - a shirt proclaiming the message - God's Not Dead - people see it and they respond - a reminder to make someone's day better

I will tell everyone about your righteousness - All day long I will proclaim Your Saving Power - though I am not skilled with words - Psalm 71:15

I think of the song - Lift High the Cross - I encourage you to lift high that message to anyone you can - He calls on us to make Him known to others !!!

The Storms of Life and then there's Nebraska

Twin tornadoes hit the Pilger and Stanton, Nebraska areas on Monday June 16th. It's hard to imagine such a force of nature unless you were there. First, our prayers for the families that lost loved ones and to all that lost property and memories. It can be a feeling of disbelief after such a catastrophe.

I went through a similar situation at age 10 in the late '60s when a tornado hit our family farm. No doppler radar - no warning or sirens from the local town - just the sound of the wind ramping up and sounding like a runaway freight train with a full load.

My Mom ran upstairs to close the window in my room and the wind normally would blow into the house but her skirt was being sucked into the window - she grabbed me out of bed and we got halfway down the stairs - I remember - "Mom - are we going to die?" She began to pray to God for protection as we could hear the wind powering through like a big jet as glass was shattering.

She thought she could get me to the basement, which was a door located outside of the house, but there wasn't time. My Dad and brother were in town at a 4-H meeting, but we knew we weren't alone. The stairwell had two doors at the bottom both closed and protecting us from the flying glass.

Our protector - our God was there answering our prayer and guiding that tornado with His mighty hand right around the house. Proverbs 10:25 - When the storms of life come - the wicked are whirled away - but the godly have a lasting foundation.

You see - the garage lost it's roof - two buildings behind the house were gone - the barn was three feet off it's foundation and the tractor and pickup were flipped upside down. We were not harmed at all. Looking back - I can see God's Mighty Hand keeping that tornado from sucking the house into nothingness with us inside.

It's a miracle and I don't use that term lightly, but I Believe! My Mom, who was called Home to Heaven last October, carried the foundation of Jesus in her heart and never hesitated to call on Him at all times and in all places - even in daily thanks and praise. She also shared the Good News at work and carried herself as God made her to be.

When you see tragedy on the news or in person you know people are in need of prayer. Next time you hear about people's lives being shattered just call on God on their behalf - He's listening - He's there and He's with you. He wants you to stay connected with Him in all circumstances - good or bad.

The disciples woke Jesus up and said - Master - Master - we're going to drown - When Jesus woke up He rebuked the wind and the raging waves - suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm - then He asked them - where is your faith? Luke 8:24-25

Where is your faith - are you in the storm - your storm of life - He knows where you are !!!

More Than Service to Their Country

My brother recently told me that his local Rommel-Conklin VFW Post 7064 out of Tabor Iowa was doing more than double duty on Memorial Day 2014. They were actually serving 9 different cemetery's on the same day - Waubonsie - Fairview - Hastings - Randolph - Tabor - Mount Zion - Thurman - Grand View and Sidney.

That's what I call serving those who deserve to be remembered for their service to our country. No cemetery too small, forgotten or too far away for these men who continue to serve beyond the call of duty.

When I think of Jesus I know He is someone that never forgets - never debates if someone is in need and wonders if He can or should reach out a helping hand. Isn't He really the First Responder - the One that answers to His Call of Duty at all times and in all places and for all people?

I know many people who are concerned with some of their family or friends wondering if they really know God - do they really believe in Jesus - or just think He isn't who He says He is. It is time now for you to answer your Call of Duty - to spread the Good News that Jesus lives and saves and is the only answer to eternal life. It's not always easy to share your beliefs but it is the right thing to do.

Thank you to Tom - Jon - Stan - Barry - Cal - Dave - Larry - Fred - Larry - Merrill - Art - Frank - Walt and all the others who served and continue to serve their God and country!

Lord, You alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine.

The land You have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance!

I will bless the Lord Who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me.

I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.

No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. Psalm 16:5-9

Go with God - He's the Way - the Truth - the Life !!!