Tag: prayer

Blair
Blog

God’s Call

God's Call

By: Pastor David Blair

So, Pastor David, how did you know that God was calling you to serve here at Holy Cross as our Intentional Interim Pastor?

"I am so glad that you asked!"

The answer begins way back when I was in the 8th grade in public school. The teacher asked the class to write about “what we wanted to do” when we grew up and were adults. My answer, as I recall, was about a vision of helping people, much as the Peace Corps would go and make the physical lives of needy people better.

Over the years that vision became transformed from helping people through the profession of Social Work to the eternal vision of helping people become rich in faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. As I look back on my life, God was calling and preparing me for pastoral ministry even when I had other plans; not just of Social Work. I could have followed my father and become an attorney and maybe even a Judge. I could have become a professional football player (or at least college, so I would like to think!). I played the safest position in football: the center from 6th grade through high school and in the Shrine Football game for the state of Oregon. I could have become a professional baseball player. Now that is really a stretch! I did, however, pitch on the same mound as Randy Johnson, 10 years before he did! My highest strikeout total was only 12 however ☹. None of these plans were God’s plans. How do I know? No, God did not come down verbally and say, “David, thou shalt become a preacher!” Nor did he give me a vision of PC (preach Christ, not plant corn … I would not have made a good farmer!)

"God’s call and the answer to that call came through people, people just like you here at Holy Cross."

I was baptized as an infant, grew up in the church, at least a 5th generation LC-MS member through my mother’s side. Two of my great uncles became pastors in the Northwest District. In youth group (then called Walther League), in college and seminary, I and others saw the Holy Spirit work a fire and a passion in us to serve God to the best of our ability. I have seen the Lord work throughout 40 years of ministry with Calls answered “yes” and Calls answered “no.”

Unbeknownst to me, my mother had been praying, if it was the Lord’s will, that I become a pastor! Well, I guess that it was God’s will! How do I know? By faith. How did I know that I was supposed to answer “yes” to God’s Call from Holy Cross? Again, by faith and through people. God uses both.

God continues to call me and to call you till the day we take our last breath. My prayer for our brief time together is that we would all intentionally and intently listen to the voice of God so that we clearly hear what he has to say.

"How will we know? By faith! By faith we hear him speak to us through his Word AND through the voices of his people gathered here at Holy Cross!"

Marcy-Child
Blog

The Kid VBS Was Made For

By: Marcy Serby

When I was a child my father was an alcoholic, so things were rather chaotic in my home. We didn’t experience much love or kindness. God was certainly never a part of our young lives. My brothers and I loved Sunday mornings though, because on Sundays our family did something fun like bowling or putter golf. My Lutheran friend Christi didn’t get to do anything fun because she had to go to church – every Sunday!

When I was 8 or 9 years old Christi brought me to Vacation Bible School at her church. I cannot tell you one thing that we talked about, one craft we made, or one song that we sang; but I remember feeling “different” and “safe” when I was with this group of Christians, and I remember loving to hear stories about Jesus. I was so disappointed when the week was over because VBS was like a flashlight in my dark world.

“I was the kid VBS was made for.”

Fall came and Christi invited me to Pioneer Girls at her church on Wednesday nights. Yes, over 50 years ago a Lutheran church had Wednesday night programs. I guess some things never change. I was excited to hear the Bible stories and again felt different when I was at church.

Fast forward another year or two, and I asked my parents if they would drive me to church on Sundays. They enrolled me in a Sunday School at a church I had never been to, and I went to church and Sunday School by myself. They never walked inside that church.

Vacation Bible School and Pioneer Clubs played a major role in introducing me to Jesus – and for that I will forever be grateful. I will also always be grateful to Christi, whose initials are on the Ripple Effect banner in our sanctuary. 

I am a life that was changed by the grace of God through prayer, VBS and Pioneer Clubs; and I am so thankful there were people to shine their light on Jesus so I could see Him.”

Marriage Retreat Large Group
Blog

Marriage Retreat

By: DCE Dan Hampton

WAR! What is it good for, absolutely nothing!” These lyrics written by Edwin Starr in 1970 evoke an era that was in turmoil. America was involved in what many people thought was an unjust war in Vietnam. While this kind of war is hard to understand at the time, just wars do serve a purpose in this broken world. But we need to learn to fight the right way, with the best resources, because winning a war doesn’t happen by accident.

From February 15-17, 2019 twelve couples spent a weekend learning to fight. Often when we think about married couples fighting it is not a positive sentiment; but in this case we learned who we are really fighting against. It is not our spouse, children, friends, or other family members we are really fighting. It is the Devil! He is the one that wants to remain hidden, because when we realize that it is not our spouse we are fighting, then we can both turn and repel the Devil and all his evil works and ways.

God worked His Holy Spirit throughout this weekend. For many couples it was a great time to reconnect with one another. Our lives are so busy, just having an in-depth conversation can be very difficult at times. This get-away allowed each couple to slow down and be fully present with each other. The weekend also allowed couples the chance to get to know other people in the congregation and form new relationships over some games, delicious food, and relaxing in natural hot springs.

War is still a difficult subject. No matter what, we must recognize that we are at war with the Devil and all of his minions. Prayer is how we fight; we must learn to battle the Devil in prayer. “If God is for us, who can be against us,” Paul writes in Romans 8:31. Our God is bigger than we can possibly imagine, and he can perform many miracles and defeat the Devil in ways that we cannot even imagine. If you would like to learn more about this topic I encourage you to watch the movie “War Room” that was released in 2015. The church also has several Bible studies; and even if you didn’t attend the Marriage Retreat, you are welcome to use the materials on your own to begin to learn how to fight for your marriage in prayer.

Click here to see the Holy Cross War Room Marriage Study Guide.