Video: The Rich Young Man

At Living Hope Fellowship, our pastors have been jointly preaching a series called "Close Encounters with Jesus." Below is the message from August 19, 2012 entitled "The Rich Young Man," delivered by Pastor Dean Hanssen, our Ministries & Outreach Pastor.

Enjoy and be blessed! (You might have to turn up your volume; Pastor Dean is a little soft-spoken.)

Just Between Me, You, & God 9/28/2012

How many of you looked in the mirror this morning? OK, how many of you liked what you saw? Oh wow! Not very many of us, now is that before or after you fixed yourself up for the day? It must be the mirrors. I remember a time when the guy looking back didn’t have to put on his glasses to see me, and when he could actually run a comb through his hair, and when there wasn’t as much of him standing there. When I step away from the mirror and glance around myself I still pretty much look the same as I always have, to myself anyway. Why are we never satisfied with our looks? With a diet here and an exercise there, here a nip, there a tuck, everywhere a nip tuck… Genesis 1: 27 says, “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Next time you look in the mirror you might think, “Wow God, you’re looking a little rough there this morning.” Remember, it says we were made in His image, not exactly like Him. Let’s look in God’s mirror for a moment remembering that He is more interested in the heart. We are to love God “with all of your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” It doesn’t say with all your looks. Loving God with all of our heart and soul and mind is putting Him above all other things. Don’t like yourself, Jesus has an app to change that. Click on and download 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” In reality, we must be born again in Christ. Believe me, the change will be noticeable to others around you and as they begin to see the difference in you they will tell you. You’ll notice it also. Those things that used to be so appealing just don’t interest you anymore. The shows you watch, the jokes you tell and hear, the music you listen to suddenly sounds foreign. That is the new you in Christ. You are starting to see things in God’s mirror and not the mirror of the world. The Words of the Bible are suddenly making sense to you. Here’s another app you can download, James 1:22-25, “Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--- he will be blessed in what he does.” Our bodies will continue to change as we grow older but the image of Christ in us is never changing and always beautiful to behold. Lookin’ good, Pastor Dean.

Pastor Dean is the Ministries & Outeach Pastor for LHF.

Grooves

"If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there you hand guide me, and your strength support me." Psalm 139:9-10 NLT

(The following cartoon is based upon the Footprints poem. If you've never read it, click here to read it first.)

Ever felt this way? I certainly have. When I struggle, feel afraid, or just plain don't want to do what I know God wants me to do (like, apologize when I'm wrong...that stung a little just to admit it actually happens), I feel almost like God's dragging me kicking and screaming. Of course, I know I'm just fighting my own fleshly inclinations, but still, pushing on in faith is a good thing. It's a pretty "groovy" thing (in the cool 70s sense).

There are grooves that aren't so great though. Like the daily groove. The distractions that keep us from prayer, from church and fellowship with like believers, the patterns we let ourselves fall into, the "grooves" that make life "easier," "predictable," and "comfortable." We so easily let ourselves fall into those grooves, and they slowly take us more away from God, one day at a time.

The "trick" is to make prayer, reading our Bible, worship, and fellowship our "groove," the thing that we train ourselves to do, and we will find ourselves in a very "groovy" (cue 70s meaning again) place--a relationship with God. No sandy feet necessary.

Melissa McGinnis is the Children's Ministry Director for LHF. She does not like the feeling of sand between her toes.

Just Between You, Me, & God 8-20-2012

I often get easily distracted. When I was growing up we didn’t have ADD and the myriad of other initials that indicate you have a hard time paying attention. We just called it daydreaming, easily excited, high spirited, lazy, or just can’t pay attention. Let’s see, where was I, Oh yeah, distractions. I often wondered why they put windows in schools if they don’t want you to look out of them. One of the leading causes of car accidents today is some kind of distraction, not paying attention to what you’re supposed to be doing as parents and teachers used to put it. We have the radio blaring, eating or drinking something, texting or talking on the phone, yelling at the kids or other drivers, talking to the traffic lights, trying to see what’s going on in the other cars, etc. I was always told that you can’t do two things at once, like walk and chew bubble gum. 

Yet now, if you are not a multi tasker you are deemed inadequate to keep up. We continue to pile task onto task onto task. We keep planners or PDA’s to help keep up with everything so that we don’t forget or get farther behind. In the process we are forgetting about personal relationships. I’ve seen kids in the same room texting each other instead of have a simple conversation. People with Facebook accounts have hundreds or thousands or some even millions of “friends”. I thought a friend was a personal acquaintance, someone that you actually knew face to face and they knew you, and your parents had to know their parents or you couldn’t be friends. Oops, seems I got distracted again. It happens when I pray also. I start out talking to God about something really important and the next thing I know, my mind has wandered a hundred miles off course and I’m not even praying anymore. Jesus had the same problem with the disciples in the garden. Luke 22:45-46, “When He (Jesus) rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” He asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” There are distractions and temptations all around us. Our Churches today are struggling because people have found too many distractions to occupy their time instead of gathering and worshiping with other believers in an effort to refocus their attention on what’s important and to receive some guidance for the coming week. Hebrews 10:25 tells us, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another---and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” What are the distractions in your life that are keeping you from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ or, has Jesus just become another distraction in your life? Jesus gave you His life that you might have life everlasting life; why not give Him some of your time. Pastor Dean

Pastor Dean Hanssen is the Ministries & Outreach Pastor for LHF. He is a really awesome guy and--ooh look! A bunny!

Just Between You, Me, & God 8/13/2012

I was a middle kid with an older and a younger brother. As three boys often do, we could get in trouble pretty easily. When brought before the judges (Mom or Dad) and asked "Whose fault is this?", I could point in either direction and lay the blame accordingly. Likewise, they could point at each other and I would be caught in the middle. Truth be known, we all usually had some kind of part in the mischief. It seems to be our human nature to want to blame someone else for our troubles. Zig Zigler pointed out that "when you're pointing a finger at someone else that just means that there are three more pointing back at you. In Matthew 7:1-6, Jesus gives a lesson to His disciples on judging, mercy, and protecting what is sacred. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye. How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from you brother's eye. Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces." Jesus is telling them that they set their own standard of judging on themselves by the way that they judge others. It doesn't mean that some things do not demand judging but if you do, you'd better have your own house in order. If our own lives are in disarray, then we are hypocrites for judging others for their way of life. When we as Christians take the standards that God has given us (pearls) and disregard them ourselves but expect others to live up to those standards, then we are giving them excuse that we don't even live up to God's laws so why should they, how can anybody if we can't. If we as Christians expect to see marriage continue as one man and one woman as God intended, then we need to look at fixing our divorce rates, our unfaithfulness, and our acceptance of living together outside the bonds of marriage. Maybe if our kids could see how God intended marriage to be representative of our relationship with Christ then they would grow up with a better self-image of themselves and how to relate to others. When our image in the mirror becomes more clearly then we can start to show others by God's example through us. Pastor Dean

Pastor Dean Hanssen is the Ministries & Outreach Pastor for LHF.

In the Storm

And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me, and they will never leave me. (Jeremiah 32:40 NLT)

I found this picture on the internet today (specifically, Facebook, posted by a friend), and feel it to be inspiring. I'd like to share it with you today. ~~ Melissa McGinnis, LHF Children's Ministry Director

Rosaleen Reviews: In Jesse's Shoes (book) by Beverly Lewis

This book, written at a roughly first- to second-grade level, deals with a sister who gets frustrated dealing with her brother Jesse, who is disabled. Below is a video of how Rosaleen, a five-year-old member of Living Hope Fellowship, felt about the book after having it read to her—she is still an early reader and not able to read it by herself. She does, however, enjoy flipping through and looking at the bright watercolor illustrations.


Since Rosaleen is still learning to read and cannot truly "write" a review, I recorded a video where she answered my questions about the book.

One additional note: Rosaleen’s friend Hunter is not mentally disabled, as Jesse is in this book. He does have Aspberger’s Syndrome (“highly functional” on the Autism Spectrum), and Rosaleen has learned to understand that he sees the world differently, and the two enjoy spending time together often.


I personally love this book. Beautifully illustrated, it also is well-written, articulate but easy to understand, and shows a definite familiarity and appreciation for disabled children. The story deals with a “normal” child’s frustrations in a way that is simple, but realistic, and overall was an enjoyable read for myself as well as Rosaleen. I would definitely recommend that parents purchase it for their children, grandparents for their grandchildren, and teachers for their classrooms.

Melissa McGinnis is the Children's Ministry Director for LHF. This book was received from Bethany House for review. The opinions expressed, however, are those of the reviewer and person posting.

Just Between You, Me, & God 8/2/2012

Throughout different stages of our lives there are people that come along and influence us in what we think, how we act, and how we relate to others. I’ve had many in my life. There was a Sunday School teacher when I was in the first or second grade, Mrs. Nelson, who taught me that no matter how old you are you can relate to and have fun with children and age is not a barrier to learning. There was my Boy Scout leader, Mr. Charlie Johnson, who taught me that we are all good a different things and that when we work together we are stronger than when we stand alone. My first real job bosses were Jack and Peggy Waldie who taught me to take pride in my work no matter what I was doing, that others depended on me and what I did, and that hard work was not just what you did when others were watching. There were others including family members, peers, clergy, and different parents. Often we grow up and feel like we know it all, that we no longer need guidance or influence by others but that’s just not true. We are constantly influenced by others every day. Why do you drive the car you do or wear the clothes you do? Because an advertiser influenced you by the way they presented the product. In my adult years, which are now more than the years of my youth, there has been an individual that has been a beacon to me, drawing me in to my relationship with Christ through his relationship with Christ. David Bleakley, known to most as Daddy Dave, has been that influence in my life. His kind and gentle spirit has helped to sand down some of the sharp edges and burrs in my life. His desire to share Jesus with others through multiple ministries has helped to lead me into ministry. His faith and hope in the promises of Jesus Christ has given me peace and comfort at the loss of loved ones and during different trials in my life. His passion to help others and to share God’s love with them has encouraged me to serve the Lord by serving others. His love for family and the willingness to turn things over to God and His control has caused me to make amends and to rely on God’s will and plan and not my own desires. Daddy Dave’s life has not been perfect nor has it been without tragedy, hardship, and heartache, but it has not been his alone. He walks closely with his Lord, stays in His Word, and humbles himself to the authority of God in all situations. I hope that you have just such a mentor in your life that will lead you to the Lord through their thoughts, words, and deeds. Thank you Daddy Dave for loving Jesus and loving me, forever and ever. Pastor Dean 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.

Pastor Dean Hanssen is the Ministries & Outreach Pastor for LHF.

On the Trail: the Eagle Scout turns 100

5th grade had just started and I was in good spirits I got to Mr. Gattis's class for Science.  In the fall of that year, my mother helped start a Cub Scout den at my elementary school with the help of  areal-life Air  Force officer named Robert.  As the leaves began to turn there colors all around my hometown I was asked by Mr. Gattis: Did I want to be an Eagle Scout?  An Eagle Scout? What was that, a Scout that flew like eagles high overhead?  I decided that year to that one day I would be this Eagle Scout and it took me another eight years to reach this goal. 

Today is the 100th anniversary of the first Eagle Scout Award given in the USA to a young man by the name of Arthur Eldred.  2,151,024 Scouts (and counting) have followed in his footsteps since it was first awarded in 1912.  These young men have blossomed into the leaders of today and the future. These include Mike Rowe, star of "Dirty Jobs" on the Discovery Channel, Gerald Ford - U.S. President, and Steven Spielberg - movie director and producer, from Scottsdale, AZ, who made a movie of his troop while getting one of the first ever-awarded Photography Merit Badges.  See a more detailed list here.

I am thankful to the Lord for the chance at being a Scout and for all those who poured into my life that made this happen.  No Eagle flies solo; there are many others who provide the winds for this flight.

Congratulations to all Scouts--past, present, and future--who have reached the highest acheivement of Eagle, making them among the top 4% of Scouts everywhere. Please pray for these young men who are honing precious leadership skills (even if they don't actually attain Eagle), and for those who lead and guide them on their way.

And thank you, Mom, and Mr. Gattis, for putting me on a path that made me who I am today.

For more informatin about the Boy Scouts of America, click here.

Erin McGinnis is the Media Arts and Services Coordinator for LHF. He is married to a one-year Brownie (Girl Scouts), and together they have...a cheerleader.