What Is Love? In America, we use the word “love” for many things. We tell our spouses and our children that we love them. We joyfully exclaim that we love pizza, ice cream, donuts, gardening, listening to music, or reading. We are called in Scripture to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind,… Read More ›

New Year’s Resolution I usually make a New Year’s Resolution. Often, it’s something like, “I want to get in better shape.” or “I want to spend half an hour a day in personal devotions.” Sometimes I get ambitious and resolve to do both of these things, and more! This year, the Lord is pointing me… Read More ›

What Season Is It? When I worked at Scheels, Christmas essentially started in November. The decorations started coming out shortly after Halloween, and the leadership team started preparing us all for the rush of customers we were about to get as they came to buy their Christmas gifts. Scheels, and many other retailers, do that… Read More ›

Psalm 127:1-2 1 Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his… Read More ›

Set Apart & Sent Off Pastor Matthew Nelson  “Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and… Read More ›

Back to (Sunday) School My internal clock (as well as all the commercials) will always tell me that this time of year is “back-to-school time,” even after I’ve been out of school for 3 years now. This season always reminds me of when I was returning to school, seeing old friends, telling them about my… Read More ›

Pray for all people. Yes, even those people. “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is… Read More ›

From Parish Worker Pam Twedt Come away and rest awhile!  That sounds like an offer that would be hard to refuse.  This was the seasonal theme a number of years ago at the AFLC’s Association Retreat Center (ARC).  Our family attended family camp at the ARC for many summers when our kids were younger.  This… Read More ›

From Pastor Onstad Last month I had the chance to participate in a “Stump the Pastor” session with the After School Program. They wrote down their questions, and I was given their questions a week in advance so that I would have a chance to prepare my answers. I must say, these kids are asking some… Read More ›

From Pastor Nelson And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you…. Read More ›