faith

This past week in worship at Park United Methodist Church we encountered some of the words from Paul to the early church in Rome. Specifically we looked at Romans 10:12-17 and as I prepared for the sermon and, since I gave that message, the words of Romans 10:14 have been turning...

Old Country Church screening 'I'm Not Ashamed' March 11 The Old Country Church will screen "I'm Not Ashamed," the film about Rachel Joy Scott, Columbine High School Student. Scott grew up knowing the love of god but wasn't always ready to receive it. At times her faith was strong,...

Have we become a culture of complainers? We can watch various forms of complaint on the "news" 24/7 if we so choose. We whine and protest about our politicians (on either side of the aisle) far more than we pray for them. Our work, our food, our family and the weather are all regularly...

Stanley Hauerwas is one of my favorite Christian theologians. In one of his books he says that he doesn't believe that we should just accept people for the way they are. He went on to quote Mark Twain who once said, "About the worst advice you can give anyone is to be themselves."...

I recently heard the testimony of a medical doctor who fled his home due to severe persecution in his African village. Amongst great distress and confusion this doctor was asked, "What do you know for sure?" His reply, "I know that Jesus, my redeemer, is alive and knows my name."...

This week, people of faith have an opportunity to remember that we are first and foremost citizens of God's kingdom. And, while we pray for our own nation and our new President, we also pray for nations throughout the world. We pray for something bigger than our own self-interests....

As we herald the New Year, many of us reflect on what the year 2016 brought and look with hope for what 2017 will bring. For some, 2016 brought with it amazing blessings, answers to prayers and moments of peace. Others have looked over this past year and faced challenges, obstacles...

If you are anything like me, you are getting dog tired of all the noise, confusion and distress of our world. I have a growing discontent with all the nonsense and drama of this 21st century American culture. I am so tired of the seemingly everlasting political and social babble that...

Chuck Porta will speak about walking in a faithful covenant relationship with the Lord at a special service at 10 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 8 at The Old Country Church in Wadena.

Jesus Christ added humanity to himself 2,000 years ago, as he descended into our midst to establish his kingdom — a kingdom in which "he has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness...

What a difference a day can make. For much of this fall I wondered if winter was ever going to arrive. Unusually warm days, a lack of snowfall and grumbling deer hunters combined to make me often reflect on what an odd year this is. I have lived in Iowa (please don't hold that against...

It's a tradition. We always do it. My wife was the oldest of four. Next Thursday, Caroline and I will celebrate Thanksgiving with our youngest son. Her sisters Nancy and Holly and her brother Dave will be in three different places with parts of our extended family. One thing will...