Lasagna Food Fest

People are contacting me wanting to know what is a Lasagna Food Fest?

This is a Nebraska style food festival where you can find Pastor serving the people. Imagine that!

Come on down to United Faith Community Center 921 South Mayne Valley Nebraska on Sunday July 12 for 5:00 pm dinner and enjoy fresh baked lasagna with the salads, garlic and parmesan cheese breads and all the trimmings!

By the way, have you ever seen a Pastor help make lasagna before? Here is the untouched actual photo of this happening:

Lasagna Pastor

 

Welcome! Sinful Request Reflection

Welcome! Sinful Request Reflection

Prophecy for the Community

Everyone is Welcome!

Whatever you ask me, I will give you. Mark 6:23.

John the Baptist, Herodias & daughter, Herod
John the Baptist, Herodias & daughter, Herod

Here I am Lord. Dan Schutte. (1981).

Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord? I have heard You calling in the night. I will go Lord, if You lead me. I will hold Your people in my heart.

Prayer: Redeeming Sustainer, visit your people and pour out your strength and courage upon us, that we may hurry to make you welcome; not only in our concern for others, but by serving them generously and faithfully in your name. Amen.
They’ll Know We are Christians. – Peter Scholtes.
– honoring Takeri Tekakwitha

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord; And we pray that all unity may one day be restored; And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love. They will know we are Christians by our love.

Prayer: God of hosts, before whom David danced and sang, Mother of mercy and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom all things cohere; whenever we are confronted by lust, hate, or fear, give us the faith of John the Baptist that we may trust in the redemption of your Messiah. Amen.
Because He Lives, God Sent His Son. – Gloria Gaither.
– performed by David Crowder. Lyrics in English and Español.

God sent His son and they called Him Jesus. He came to love, heal and forgive. He lived and died to buy my pardon. An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.

Prayer:  Steadfast God, your prophets set the plumb line of your righteousness and truth in the midst of your people. Grant us the courage to judge ourselves against it. Straighten all that is crooked or warped within us until our hearts and souls stretch upright, blameless and holy, to meet the glory of Christ. Amen.
This next quick hymn calls upon all of creation, on earth and in heaven, to offer praise to the Trinity, in recognition that all good things come from The Lord.

Doxology
Thomas Ken (1674)

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

We are all stewards spreading the Word of Jesus’ blessings for His people.
Picnic Fellowship Activities for the Entire Family!
Of course lively discussion and activities will be available!
Perhaps you may prefer to sit and visit!

Contact Us with Special Requests!

 

Make Amends

Step 9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. 

How It Works: Although these reparations take innumerable forms, there are some general principles which we find guiding. Reminding ourselves that we have decided to go to any lengths to find a spiritual experience, we ask that we be given strength and direction to do the right thing, no matter what the personal consequences may be. We may lose our position or reputation or face jail, but we are willing. We have to be. We must not shrink at anything.  – A.A. Big Book p.79

Give and It Shall be Given to You. Luke 6:38.
Give and It Shall be Given to You. Luke 6:38.

Give and it shall be given you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Luke 6:38.

Luke 6:38 Rap

Step 9 completes what I started in step 8. I make amends to those that I have harmed. I pay back debts I owe. I apologize. I write letters. I find time to do and say things that would help heal the damage that I have done. I try to bring goodness where previously I had brought discord and destruction. It takes insight, courage and dedication to make such amends, but now I have the help of my God to knowp what to do and how to do it. I learn to earnestly seek the right way to go about this process from my God. I start to live the kind of life that my God has meant for me to live all along. – From 12Step.org

After we make a list of people we have harmed, we reflect carefully upon each instance, and we try to possess ourselves of the right attitude in which to proceed, we see that the making of direct amends divides those we should approach into several classes. There will be those who ought to be dealt with just as soon as we become reasonably confident that we can maintain our sobriety. There will be those to whom we can make only partial restitution, lest complete disclosures do them or others more harm than good. There will be other cases where action ought to be deferred, and still others in which by the very nature of the situation we shall never be able to make direct personal contact at all.

– Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 83

Give to the Lord and it will be Given to You.

Walk in the Light

Walk in the Light!

You need not fear the darkness if you are walking with the Light of the World. 
You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, … nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness. Psalm 91:5-6. 
When I was a boy, I delivered newspapers to about one hundred homes on two streets that were connected by a cemetery. Since I delivered a morning newspaper, I had to be out at 3:00 a.m. walking through that cemetery in the darkness. Sometimes I would be so frightened that I would actually run! I was afraid until I was standing safely under a streetlight on the other side. The scary darkness was dispelled by the light.
This psalmist understands the connection between fear and darkness, but he also knows that God is greater than those fears. He writes, “You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness” (Ps. 91:5-6). Neither terrors of night nor evil in the darkness need to drive us to fear. We have a God who sent His Son, the Light of the World (John 8:12).
In the light of God’s love and grace and truth, we can find courage, help, and strength to live for Him. – Bill Crowder. Daily Bread. 
Go Light Your World – Chris Rice. 

There is a candle in every soul; Some brightly burning, some dark and cold. There is a Spirit who brings a fire; Ignites a candle and makes His home. 

Prayer: Lord, I come to You, the Light of the World. I want You to bring Your light into the darkness of my fears. Amen. 
INSIGHT: Psalm 91 celebrates the safety and security of those who trust in God. The psalmist warns of danger from insidious schemes of men, uninvited troubles, physical attacks, sickness, and disasters. But the Lord protects those who trust in Him. This psalm does not promise immunity from danger, but security in the midst of it. 

Welcome! Faith of Our Fathers Celebration

Welcome! Faith of Our Fathers Celebration for the Community 

Everyone is Welcome! 

They went out and proclaimed that all should repent. Mark 6:12. 
Baptized in Water – Michael Saward. Jubilate Hymns. 

Baptized in water, sealed by the Spirit, cleansed by the blood of Christ our king; heirs of salvation, trusting his promise, faithfully now God’s praise we sing.

 Prayer: 
Dear Lord, Guardian of the weak, through the teachings of your prophets you have claimed our cities, towns, and homes as temples of your presence and citadels of your justice. Turn the places we live into strongholds of your grace, that the most vulnerable as well as the most powerful among us may find peace in the security that comes in the strong name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Faith of Our Fathers Living Still – Fredrick William Faber (1849). 

 alternate video graphics reflecting Independence Day. 

Faith of our fathers, living still; In spite of dungeon, fire and sword, O how our hearts beat high with joy whene’er we hear that glorious word! Faith of our fathers! Holy faith! We will be true to thee till death! 

 Prayer: 
God of grace and powerful weakness, at times your prophets were ignored, rejected, belittled, and unwelcome. Trusting that we, too, are called to be prophets, fill us with your Spirit, and support us by your gentle hands, that we may persevere in speaking your word and living our faith. Amen. 

This next quick hymn calls upon all of creation, on earth and in heaven, to offer praise to the Trinity, in recognition that all good things come from The Lord. 

Doxology – Thomas Ken (1674) 

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. 

We are all stewards spreading the Word of Jesus’ blessings for His people. 
Picnic Fellowship Activities for the Entire Family! 
Of course lively discussion and activities will be available! 
Perhaps you may prefer to sit and visit! 

Contact Us with Special Requests! 

Independence Day

Independence Day is an annual event celebrated by the citizens of a nation recognizing that nation’s independence from previous rule by another nation. In the United States of America we celebrate our independence as a nation from Great Britain now the United Kingdom which officially happened on July 4, 1776. This year the Federal holiday is observed on Friday July 3rd while the traditional holiday remains Saturday July 4. This gives us two days to join with the community and celebrate all that freedom has brought us. Now while we might not be thoroughly pleased with every aspect of life as we know it today that our government has brought to us, we do recognize that we are much better off experiencing our democracy that our independence is founded upon rather than another form of government. So we celebrate the Fourth of July as a community with picnics, games and fireworks!

Happy 4th of July!
Happy 4th of July!

Prayer for Independence Day:
Eternal Father, Ruler of all nations, on this day when my country celebrates its birth, I thank You for all spiritual and temporal blessings enjoyed in our land. In Your mercy, You have sustained this nation in times of trouble and preserved its liberties. Teach me anew to treasure especially that dearly won freedom of conscience and worship that is the cornerstone of this country’s principles. Let me not misuse this liberty nor forget that true freedom is freedom to serve. Give me willingness to share in the process of democratic rule, to respect my country’s laws, and to work for the preservation of its institutions. Forgive our past sins committed as a nation in the name of misguided patriotism, self-interest, or political expediency. Confound all those who, for the sake of partisanship or other motives, would sacrifice the greater welfare. Grant wisdom to our leaders. Strengthen all those who strive to do Your will. Increase loyalty to You and to our beloved country. Protect me and my fellow citizens from all subversive or terrorist acts. Above all, dear God, speed the course of Your Gospel among us, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, hearts are turned to that freedom from sin and death that You alone graciously give through Jesus Christ. Amen. – Lutheran Book of Prayer.

Independence Day 2 Celebration

Balloons Sculpture, Beach Ball Challenge, Bean Bag Tic-Tac-Toe, Cookie Frosting Decorations, Face Paint Extraordinaire, Family Movies, Food Festival, Hula Hoops Skill, Necklace Design, Piñata Sponge Bob, Planes and Rockets Design, Build and Fly, Sack Race, Sidewalk Chalk Art, SnoCones!, Water Balloons Every Which Way Imaginable Let’s Face It! It is pretty warm today! Good reason for cold water FUN!

Sponge Bob Piñata
Sponge Bob Piñata

Willingness to Make Amends

Step 8.  Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. 

Reconciliation definitions. Restoration of friendly relations. Making one belief compatible with another. Conversion, Confession, Celebration. 

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”  – Matt. 5:23, 24.

Honesty, Open Mindedness, Willingness to Make Amends
Honesty, Open Mindedness, Willingness to Make Amends

Reconciliation Song
– Morris Chapman. Promise Keepers (1998).

Oh let us be the generation of reconciliation and peace.

How It Works:
We have a list of all persons we have harmed and to whom we are willing to make amends. We made it when we took inventory. We subjected ourselves to a drastic self- appraisal. Now we go out to our fellows and repair the damage done in the past. We attempt to sweep away the debris which has accumulated out of our effort to live on self-will and run the show ourselves. If we haven’t the will to do this, we ask until it comes. Remember it was agreed at the beginning we would go to any lengths for victory over alcohol.  – A.A. Big Book p.76.

Learning how to live in the greatest peace, partnership and brotherhood with all men and women, of whatever description, is a moving and fascinating adventure. Every A.A. has found that he can make little headway in this new adventure of living until he first backtracks and really makes an accurate and unsparing survey of the human wreckage he has left in his wake. To a degree, he has already done this when taking moral inventory, but now the time has come when he ought to redouble his efforts to see how many people he has hurt, and in what ways. This reopening of emotional wounds, some old, some perhaps forgotten, and some still painfully festering, will at first look like a purposeless and pointless piece of surgery. But if a willing start is made, then the great advantages of doing this will so quickly reveal themselves that the pain will be lessened as one obstacle after another melts away.
– Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 77-78.

Step 8
Statists Anonymous

Reflecting on all levels of your awareness is very important to a thorough Eighth Step. When making a list of the persons you have harmed, consider the following:
The name of the person who has been harmed… Memories of harm done… Thoughts about the harm… Feelings about the harm… Intentions you now have… Amends you can make for the harm caused…

– A Gentle Path Through the Twelve Steps, by Patrick Carnes, p. 159-160.

Step 8 is the more specific person-to-person application of the shame-reduction that was begun in Steps 4 and 5. …
Implicit in both Steps 8 and 9 is the assumption that we carry a toxic residue of shame from virtually every incident in which we have hurt, rejected, or ignored others. Steps 8 and 9 provide us with the opportunity to reduce this guilt by setting things right again. We should be cautioned, though, that we need to work through and grieve our underlying resentment, hurt, anger, and pain before trying to make amends to those who have also offended us. Otherwise, we are putting a bandage on a festering, cancerous sore, because the toxicity is still there. Only after it has been excised can we release our resentments with a high degree of emotional integrity.

– Serenity, A Companion for Twelve Step Recovery, p. 58,59.

 

Our Lord’s Mercy Overcomes Our Resistance

Many years ago during a water safety class, we were taught how to save a drowning person who is resisting rescue. “Approach the person from behind,” the instructor told us. “Place one arm across the person’s chest and flailing arms, and swim toward safety. If you approach from the front, the person may grab you and pull both of you down.” Panic and fear can paralyze the ability to think and act wisely.

When two angels sent by God came to rescue Lot and his family from the impending destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:12-13), they encountered resistance. Lot’s sons-in-law thought the warning was a joke (Gen. 19:14). When the angels told Lot to hurry and leave, he hesitated (Gen. 19:15). At that point, the two angels “took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters,” and led them safely out of the city because God was merciful toward them (Gen. 19:16).

Gen. 19.
Gen. 19.

When we reflect on our journey of faith in Christ, we can see God’s faithfulness in overcoming our reluctance and resistance. When we encounter people lashing out in spiritual desperation and fear, may we have God’s wisdom to show His love to them, and to every person who is reluctant to be rescued by Him. – David McCasland. Daily Bread.

Prayer: Father, as I look at my own heart, I know I have resisted You and have been reluctant at times to come to You. Thank You for Your mercy. Help me to share with others who You are. Amen.

The Presence of the Lord is in This place. Lanny Wolfe

The presence of the Lord is in this place. I am surrounded by his love and grace. I feel that I am in a sacred space. Cos’ the nearest to heaven that I can be is knowing God is here with me, and praising in the presence of the Lord.

Where Believers Gather Together to Worship Jesus