Today

Senior Pastor, Steve Thulson

 Our church family just lost a gift from God. His name was Bob Jepsen. On July 22, he succumbed to cancer, diagnosed just a few weeks before his death at the age of eighty. About nine years ago, Bob became one of our very first deaf attenders. He rarely missed a Sunday. Complementing his strong rugged physique – with big mustache and sideburns – was his childlike innocence, even “sweetness.” We’ll miss him.

Bob’s daughter Renee says he never tired of telling her and everyone else to remember this:

“Today is the first day of the rest of your life.”

We’ve all heard that line. Maybe so many times, you might even yawn or roll your eyes. And yet it’s undeniably true. And more than a thin greeting card cliché, it can carry a weighty reminder with a hope-giving invitation.

Bob Jepsen

Think about “today.” Yet one more revolution of the earth: 86,400 seconds – each a flicker of “present” that’s simply the rush of an unlived future into an irretrievable past. Yet that elusive sense of “now” can be seen not merely as a flicker of ticks on the clock, but as a flow of life. The river of “now” can be seen as an ongoing gift from God whose great love and unfailing compassions “are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:23). Each fleeting moment holds his infinite Presence and his ability to use our pasts and direct our futures for his glory, others’ good and our own joy.  

A man who seemed to have wasted his life was slowly dying in excruciating pain by inhumane execution. His “today” was the worst of all his days. Next to him, dying, was Jesus who turned and spoke. What was said totally redefined and redirected the man’s present: “Today, you will be with me in Paradise.”

“Today… with me.”

Today is probably not dying day for you. It probably does not seem a whole lot different from a thousand other days. Yet it’s a “first.” It’s “new.” If you’ll trust and welcome the risen Jesus, this is a day filled with him.       

Family Reunion?

What is the first thing you think of when you hear "family reunion?"

• Excitement to see family you have not seen in years? 
• Hope that there will be enough down time to actually talk and share a bit of your life's recent journey?
• Misgivings at being with individuals where there has been hurt or a broken relationships? 
• Dread at the idea of getting into your swimsuit?

Even with many mixed feelings at play, I hope there are anticipations of what God will do during such unique, set apart times. Let me share a personal example.

Forty-three "Thulsons" just came away from an amazing three days together.  While some individuals are struggling with health issues, lack of good jobs, and other issues as the result of living in a broken world, we loved being together.  I do not take for granted the foundation laid by my husband's parents, Roy and Lorraine, for the strength of faith and love in our extended family. 

As all of us shared Communion on Sunday morning, packed into our family room, I had a glimpse of the ultimate "family reunion" with our Abba, Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Imagine sharing stories of our life's journeys here, and how often -- just when it seemed as if God had given up on us -- it became evident that he was present. Imagine being held close to the heart of Jesus -- one unified family giving praise and honor to the Lamb, to our heavenly Father and to the Holy Spirit. That's a family reunion worth waiting for!

Adventure 2013: Into the Unknown

Karl Helvig, Pastor to Youth and Young Adults

Hiking, climbing, backpacking, camping, cabins, sleeping bags, tents, ropes, community, teamwork, campfires, worship, testimonies. These are just a few of the words that simmer in my mind when I think of a week at camp.  

I love going to camp.  God has a way of moving powerfully during these times apart.

In the past 15 years I have worked with over 600 students during more than 80 weeks of camp experience: backpacking trips, canoe trips, weeks at camp, weekend retreats.  Bearing that decade and a half in mind, I can confidently say that God moved in particularly powerful ways during our week together on “Adventure 2013: Into the Unknown.”

The entire week was full of honesty, teamwork, prayer, scripture and Jesus.  It was beautiful. 

In a lot of ways, the entire week gained momentum as our experiences built upon one another.  The team building on Monday prepared us for a 14er hike on Wednesday and everything helped cultivate the powerful times of worship and sharing testimonies around the campfire each night.  The trip was coming to a close when we arrived back at church on Friday night, ready for a final group of students to share their testimonies.  After a final late night time with God, a group of students began to pray together.  What proceeded from there was a four hour time of prayer and seeking God. While I was present, the prayer time was student initiated and student led.  We encountered God in a powerful way that night and I believe it was because, as a group, we had been drawing close to him and to one another throughout the week.  These four hours also stood out in a couple unique ways.  During the prayer time, we experienced a period of praying specifically against some dark spiritual powers working in the life of one student in particular.  This time ended with many of us in the group feeling a clear sense of peace and freedom in our spirits.  Following that, the group continued seeking God and then experienced what we believe to be a time when God spoke to our group in specific ways.

It’s hard to put into words exactly what happened, but we know that our eyes were opened to the spiritual realities around us and we know that we leaned into Jesus through prayer in a powerful and unforgettable way.

Experiences like this can be tricky.  They are both encouraging and confusing, yet we have seen a lot of fruit. We enjoyed a 2-hour time with about 75 parents, students, and church leaders debriefing and processing some of these extraordinary experiences. Students are eager to pray for one another and dig into God's word.  We are fully rejoicing in the ways God has been and continues to be at work.  However, we also know that we live in a fallen world and the reality of God's presence is much greater and more pervasive than any single experience we ever have.  There is no single experience that can fully and perfectly capture the work of God in us and through us.  So, we pray that God continues to clarify and confirm what he began that Friday night.

Our sermon series at church for the past weeks has been on BREAKTHROUGHS.  Even if an experience like this leaves us with as many questions as it does answers, we still pray that God would be creating breakthroughs in the lives of the students of Studio72.  May this be just the beginning of a work of God’s Spirit, breaking into our lives and into the life of our church.

Grace and Peace,

Karl