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.

Just Between You, Me, & God 6/11/2012

June 10 1972, 40 years ago, a young (20 year old), thin, red headed kid popped another Tums in his mouth as he waited.  Lined up beside him were his older and younger brothers and a close friend.  It was almost 7:00 in the evening and the candles around the altar area flickered in the breeze of the air conditioner.  The preacher stood there in his robe waiting as was everyone seated in the church, then one by one, the matron of honor and the two brides maids slowly came down the aisle followed by the ring bearer.  My stomach was in knots as I waited for what seemed like hours before the bridal march began to play.  Everyone stood up and looked to the back of the church in anticipation and then she appeared from around the corner with her Dad by her side.  I gasped for air and could hardly make her out through my blurry eyes.  She took a step forward and I thought, the most beautiful girl in the world is fixing to marry me!  She took another step...what in the world would someone like her see in someone like me?  She took another step...what if I forget my lines or faint or what if the Tums don’t work?  She took another step...how am I going to support her, I’ve got to be in school Monday and I don’t even have a job?  She took another step...what if her Dad won’t let her go?  She took another step...what if she changes her mind and just turns around and walks away?  She took another step and stood beside me, everyone and everything just melted away and it was just me and her and the preacher.  The preacher started, “We have gathered here today in the presence of God and these witnesses…”  Oh My Gosh!  I forgot that God was going to be here too, no pressure now!  I couldn’t take my eyes off of her and within what just seemed like a few minutes I was kissing the girl of my dreams in church, in front of all of those people, and God.  Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  It took me a long time to realize that God’s prosperity is not monetary but spiritual.  He has blessed my bride and me through the good times and the tough times, He has given us supportive parents who set an example of 63 years of marriage each, two wonderful children and some beautiful grandchildren, but most of all, He has given us each other, to have and to hold, till death us do part.  Happy Anniversary Jeannie, I still can’t believe you said yes.  Pastor Dean 


Pastor Dean Hanssen is the Ministries & Outreach Pastor for LHF, and has set the bar very high for the rest of the husbands out there by writing this.

Just Between You, Me, & God 6-4-2012

I had the pleasure of attending the wedding of my niece Lisa and her fiancé Josh on Saturday.  It was a simple and beautiful wedding filled with laughter and joy on both sides of the aisle.   I liked their emphasis on friends and family and not getting caught up in all the hype.  Many weddings on TV are shown as extravagant, over budgeted affairs where everyone is at each other’s throats and no one is focused on the spiritual outcome which will help guide the couple through inevitable rough times and help preserve their happiness through Christ.  Weddings play a major role in the Gospels and throughout the Bible.  God instituted marriage with Adam and Eve.  Genesis 2: 24, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh."  Jesus very first miracle was performed at a wedding that He was attending when He turned the water into wine.  Matthew chapter 22 tells the parable of the wedding banquet where those who were chosen by God to be His chosen people refuse to follow and believe, in fact they reject the offers of God to come to His wedding banquet.  Now God opens the wedding feast to any and all who will believe and follow.  Jesus is depicted as the Bride-Groom and the Church (that’s us, the believers) as Christ’  bride.  In Revelation 19, starting in verse 6, John witnesses in Heaven, the wedding  between Christ and the Church.  “Hallelujah!  For our Lord God Almighty reigns.  Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory!  For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.  Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.”  Then the angel said to me, “Write:  Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”  I don’t know about you, but that’s one wedding I don’t want to miss.  As unworthy as we are, through His crucifixion and resurrection we have been made clean and presentable as the bride of Christ.  The Grooms Father has paid for and arranged everything in order that we may celebrate this ultimate relationship with Him, forever and ever.  Embrace Jesus today as your Lord and Savior and 1000 years from now we will celebrate our wedding to Christ together, around the table at the wedding feast.  God bless you Lisa and Josh, Pastor Dean


Pastor Dean is the Outreach & Ministries Pastor for LHF. 

Catalyst Dallas 2012 Retrospective Day 3: Main Event 2

The last day of Catalyst Dallas was a bittersweet time. On one hand, you know that the speakers, the entertainment, and the worship will be as awesome (or more so) tha the previous two days (one day if you don't attend the Labs), but still, it's coming to an end and trust me, you don't want it to.  There's fun and games, and the emcees Trip Crosby and Tyler Stanton are hilarious. Once again, each speaker brings their "A-Game," and blesses the socks off the attendees. 

"In the gap between what is and what could be, there is an intercessor." - Nancy Duarte. Nancy is a consultant, founder, and CEO at Duarte, which offers presentation and design for churches, companies, and non-profits. She spoke on the common lack of presentation power among pastors and speakers in church. While much of her presentation was instructive with awesome graphics illustrating famous speeches, there was a passion for the spoken word and intense desire to help us learn to present the Gospel in a rich, compelling way. She pointed out that we can do anything, show anything, and accomplish dreams of reaching others when we give up our tired ruts, trust God, and allow ourselves to be dynamic.


Video 1: Family Dynamics

"Fear makes us posers. You are the kid of a King, and you gotta live like that!" - Bob Goff. If being around Bob Goff, the author of Love Does, for about 5 seconds doesn't get you excited and hyped-up, then you need to check your pulse. This man is clearly on FIRE for Jesus. His words nearly burst from the passion and zeal contained within them. He has a heart for Uganda and its people, and his organization has been the instrument of great and mighty change for the innocent there. He also has a heart for inspiring others to boldly...no, BOLDLY!! go forth in faith and follow the call of Jesus to love those around us, whether in your backyard or beyond an ocean. He spoke of how we hide in our comfort zones, safely integrating into our surroundings and changing NOTHING. Hearing him speak made me consider just how much I've been loving my fellow man and consider what I could do to pass that love on to others.

Video 2: Compassion International

"Engage before judging..." - Pastor Rudy Rasmus.The pastor of St. John's (Methodist) Downtown Church in Houston, this somewhat soft-spoken man with a beaded beard and grandfatherly air brings wisdom, depth, and love wherever he goes . He spoke honestly and openly about his troubled past and healing. He was emphatic that "being present" was acting in love first, and not in accordance to our preconceived ideas about people based on what we see. His words struck may of us, even if we had thought we were non-judgmental before. I personally would love to visit his church and see the great work they do with the homeless in downtown Houston, Texas.

Video 3: FaithVillage.com

"God's not bothered by your big request, He's bothered by your small faith" - Perry Noble. Southern as they come, Perry Noble spoke with power and presence. He talked of being bold, that in our bold presence we can do great things. He reminded us that we have a God with us more powerful than the world in which we live and that we have the ability to affect change. He also spoke of our frustrations when things aren't what we expect--"We don't follow [Christ] for what He gives us, but for who He is." Who is He? The sovereign One who created it all and gives us the strength to bring change to others. 


Video 4: Hello Somebody

"The grass is always greener where it's watered!!!! - Judah Smith. An intensely powerful speaker, Judah Smith shared an unusual and compelling message--GO HOME! Intertwined with jokes about bacon, parenting, and shouting "Amen!" in church, he brought a message that was unexpected after a series of speakers that spoke of global influence and traveling to help those around the world; while there are those who are called to do these things,, for majority of us, our ministry is right at home. Our hometowns, our families, and our friends. He points out that many Christians would more eagerly go across the oceans to minister to strangers than have coffee with an atheist family member. He reminded us that not everyone is called to travel the world and instead of being envious of those who pastor megachurches in big cities or build orphanages in Africa, we should look in our sphere of influence and "water our own grass"--bring that passion and desire to those in our neighborhoods and communities. This was especially impacting for me because I spent my teenage life planning and plotting to escape the small-town part of Texas I grew up in. I even did escape for awhile, living in Austin, texas, with a comfy city job and a duplex in a fun neighborhood, only to find myself right back here, somewhat kicking and screaming inside. I see how God places us where He wants us, and instead of pining over what we wanted, we need to love what we have and minister to those right in front of our noses.

Video 5: Amazima

And so, Catalyst Dallas 2012 ended with people empassioned, excited, and carryig a LOT home to mull and pray over. I pray that the nuggets I shared here bless you as much as they blessed me.


Melissa McGinnis is the Children's Ministry Director for LHF.

Just Between You, Me, and God 4/2/2012

I’m sure you’ve all heard that “denial is not just a river in Egypt.” To deny something is basically saying one thing, when deep down inside we believe or know something else. For instance, I know that I’m not bald. I’ve got just as much hair as I always have. It’s just repositioned itself on the side of my head instead of the top. Denial causes us to avoid things or put them off. That can be real serious when it starts to ruin your health, your marriage, or other relationships. The Apostle Peter had a very strong personality and often became the unelected spokesman for the other Disciples. He was very protective of Jesus and spoke of how he would lay down his life for Jesus. Jesus however, knows our hearts, our frail human nature, and He knew that as strong and as loyal as Peter thought he was, he would still deny knowing Christ if he felt endangered or cornered. Mark recalls the story in Mark 14:27-31, “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’”… Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “today – yes, tonight- before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.” But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.” Of course we know that Jesus’ prediction was true and at three different occasions Peter had the opportunity to stand up for Jesus and yet he denied knowing Him each time. How could he do that, how could he not admit that he was a follower of Jesus? Let’s ask some experts on the subject of denying Christ. Self, why do you deny Christ? Who me? I wouldn’t deny Christ, I would die for Him. Sound familiar, the river of denial is rising. When we know what Jesus has taught and commanded us to do, in the way we live our lives, in the way we treat others, in the way we are to worship and study His word, and we do the opposite or accept the way of the world instead, then we are denying Jesus. The laws of God have not changed and will not change. Marriage is to be between one man and one woman. Living together is not marriage. You shall not murder and that includes the taking of innocent lives through abortion. You cannot serve two Gods; you will love one and hate the other. Step out of your denial today and choose Jesus. Have a blessed Holy Week and a Happy Easter, Pastor Dean.