Elevation North has News for YOU!

CHILDREN! What an incredible gift from God they are … straight from His hands to our hearts! We love them all the days of our lives, having discovered upon their arrival a new passion birthed within us that was before unknown. It’s an unmatched, unrivaled passion that enriches every experience our children bring to us. They make us smile, they make us laugh! Sometimes they make us cry and they can break our hearts. They amaze us and they delight us! Sometimes they drive us crazy and we’re not sure just what to do with them. They drive us to our knees in prayer … either for the joy of thanking God for them and claiming His blessings and favor for them – or because we’re at our wits end and know that the needed answers we’re desperate for lie only in the power of Almighty God. They make us ever so proud of them and they bless us more than they can ever know. From their cutest antics as toddlers to their wisest insight as adults, they are never far from their parents’ thoughts. They enrich us, stretch us, challenge us, grow us, and fulfill us. Because of their presence in our lives we seek to be more like Jesus, so that as they follow us, they can follow the example of Christ in us. From the wondrous moment we first gaze upon their pure, fresh, baby faces – so perfect and so beautiful, we’re enraptured with these tiny ones who have been placed in our care. We fall in love with them … we hold them, kiss them, cradle and cuddle them, feed them, watch over them, clothe them, change them … and then do it a seeming million times over. But that’s alright, because we just cannot get enough of these precious little creations. With each passing day, they change and grow just a little, but come 365 days later, here they are a little person running all over the place – discovering life through wide open eyes and showing pure excitement at each corner they turn! Flip the calendar pages a mere 18 times, and they’ve wiggled out of the childhood cocoon in many stages. They now emerge as a confident young adult ready to take the world on and spread their wings enroute to their future. Those precious years, no matter how much you cherish them and clasp every moment close to your heart … they race by at lightning speed! In a few blinks of the eye, suddenly your own children have children of their own. Your heart melts all over again when you hear a soft, little voice forming the words, “Grampa” and “Gramma”! I really think God outdid Himself when He created children and grandchildren … they are a gift like none other! It is such a privilege to lift them in prayer every single day – sometimes several times a day. I love praying God’s Word over them; and I love claiming God’s anointing and divine favor in their lives. What great value our children and grandchildren have; I hope they know that! They are loved by God and given fresh power from the Father above for each new day. One of the scripture verses I pray over them is from Ephesians 2:10, “Help my children develop a strong self-esteem that is rooted in the realization that they are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus.” What better understanding could we wish for our children? So many times, my mind recalls ways that our sons ministered to us during their childhood and early adulthood, with truly profound wisdom beyond their years. I hear their voices yet, and I am ministered to all over again as I remember. They spoke affirmations, they spoke boldly, and they spoke God’s Word back into our lives … and they still do. Years later, enter their wives … and a sweet joining of ministry from each of them to us. Some of that is being manifested now to the third generation – we see God revealing Himself to our grandchildren, using them and working through them, even the very young ones. Our hearts overflow with gratitude to God! Our prayer is always that God’s Spirit will fall on them, and that they will be ever so aware of His deep, abiding presence. Our prayer is that all of us will always be available as willing vessels for God to use in any way He chooses. We believe God’s Word – that in these last days, our children and grandchildren will be used of God greater than ever before. And just what does God’s Word say about this? “ … this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.’” (Acts 2:16b, 17, 18, NIV) How interesting, the footnote for those verses reminds us that God Spirit is poured out on everyone, regardless of their age or their gender or their rank. What a privilege for our families that God has promised to give us and our children and our grandchildren His Spirit and His power, for His glory! How exciting to be used of God together as a family! Look out world … here come the Joneses empowered by the Spirit of God! And your family can give the same shout!!! To our sons and daughters and grandchildren … we love you more than we can tell you; and we are so thrilled to be a team – serving God together … today, tomorrow, and into eternity! HAPPY CHILDREN’S DAY!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- WHAT A SPECIAL SURPRISE to be honored by our church family this past Sunday with a beautiful, delicious 40th Anniversary cake! Thank you to all of you for your love and prayers and special wishes and gifts! You truly make us feel loved! We had an incredible celebration! God’s blessings to all of you!
- OUR DEEP APPRECIATION goes out to the family who donated a custom made Communion table for our church; it will be a blessing to us each time we “partake and remember Jesus and what He did for us!” Thank you for such a meaningful gift to our church family!
- OUR GRATITUDE goes out to our Power Point team who blesses us each Sunday as we worship: Isaac, Rogelio, and Tina! May God bless you for sharing your time and talents with us!
- BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES to Aleana on her 5th birthday; she celebrated on June 7th! May God bless you with a very special year, Aleana!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 12TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, honoring our kids for CHILDREN’S SUNDAY … with a part of the service focused on their songs, along with a story and a Bible lesson just for them! Come and be a part of this fun, uplifting time – and practice childlike faith along with our little ones!
- KIDZ/TEEN TIME following the service – with lunch at McDonald’s and swimming at the Serengetti Park at the Holiday Inn! Please bring your own money for lunch, and the church will provide the tickets for swimming! What a fun afternoon … invite your friends today!
- NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 19TH: FATHER’S DAY! How awesome to come together to honor our dads on this Lord’s Day! Pastor Doug will be preaching a special message for our dads that also points to our Father in heaven! Don’t miss it! (Guys, a special celebration is in the works for you – watch for details!)
- COMING SOON: WOMEN OF FAITH planning meeting; MEN’S EVENT; SUMMER PICNIC; SPECIAL MINISTRY OUTREACHES; and A NEW LOCATION in the works! Be in prayer for the life of our church!!!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- WE SEE GOD AT WORK each week in so many ways, and yet there are always new opportunities for being on our knees in prayer! This week, let’s continue to hold each other up, praying for the needs we are aware of, and for others that are unspoken. Let’s also be in prayer for Johnny in his Bible Study program, for Wayne as he recovers from neck surgery, and for Lundstroms and Seykoras as they serve God here and abroad! Great is our Lord!

- REMEMBER . . . “When we appeal to God as a helpless infant, He picks us up in His gentle hands and cradles us in His powerful arms … We have nothing to lose by leaving it up to Him.” ~ Vincent F.Collins


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

WE THANK GOD … FOR YET ANOTHER BLESSING!!! For 40 years of marriage (on this Sunday, June 5th!) … our God has paved the way! Up lots of mountains and through lots of valleys (we could write a book!) – He’s never left us alone on the path! He’s walked ahead of us into unmarked, unknown-to-us territory … leading the way and clearing the path, as our Guide and Trail-blazer. He’s walked beside us through 14,600 new days, not a one alike, over hundreds and thousands of miles in lots of different places, as our Friend and Companion. He’s walked behind us, flanking us on the rear, watching for the enemy and protecting us from dangers of every kind (He didn’t have to be in front to see what might cause us to trip and fall or be harmed – He can see right through us!), what a Defender and Battlefield Commando He has been! Most of all He has been our God, our Father. He has been closer than a brother, as Jesus, God’s Son. He has been present in every aspect of our lives as the Holy Spirit, revealing more than we can put into mere words. Can you tell how much we love Him? Can you tell how much we need Him? Can you tell how much we depend on Him? And never once has He let us down! While our boat has been rocked nearly to the point of despair during many a storm in our lives … God has been with us in every single storm! We could talk for hours of the miracles He has worked in our family’s lives! How very faithful He has been! God has led us every step of the way through nearly 40 years of ministry in six churches … two of them accounting for nearly 30 of those years! God has held the two of us close to each other, through a precious, close relationship that has weathered its own storms. Yet, in spite of our own human weaknesses, He has kept us true to Him and to each other. Today, I can truly say, “Honey, I love you more than I did forty years ago on our wedding day … in fact, I love you more today than I loved you yesterday!” Together we’ve experienced God at work in our lives in divine, supernatural ways. Our lives have always been dramatic, filled with extreme, over-the-top happenings. A friend once said, “Your lives are definitely not boring. Whenever something happens, it’s always dramatic and almost unbelievable!” I guess we’d have to agree. (Hang in there with us, and maybe someday you’ll get to read that book! You won’t be able to put it down!) God held us close when our baby grandson nearly died in a military hospital. He held us close when our son was in the bombing in Saudi Arabia, and we didn’t know we nearly 8 hours if he was dead or alive. He held us close when our son’s fingers were nearly severed in an accident with a power tool. He held us close when we felt totally displaced in ministry, once being homeless and totally at the mercy of friends and family … and again, finally having our first home ever but with job and salary being stripped away without warning. He held us close when our children went through deep struggles and we knew God would be the only answer. He held us close and healed and provided and comforted. He embraced us and nurtured and taught us as a Father does. He carved away in us so much of what hasn’t looked like Him – and hopefully we are now a clearer reflection of Him. But He’s still working on us, carving away yet more in order to bring about a better likeness of Him. He held us close when the miracles and joys came, when the fun and laughter decorated our lives, when the blessings rained down. You see, in our 40 years of marriage, we cannot pen a love story without writing about Him. Who we are as a couple is all about Him; what we share that is so wonderful, is all because of Him! How I thank God for the gift of an incredible man who is a precious, devoted, loving husband! Honey, I am so blessed in countless ways each new day by your love and your life! I love seeing how God uses you to touch others. I love seeing how He anoints your gifts to make a difference in the lives of so many people. I love how you depend on God for the strength you need as you work so hard. I love it that while your heart is longing to return to full-time ministry, you faithfully care for scores of tenants … repairing and painting and cleaning, mowing and trimming and landscaping … even cleaning toilets. There you have it. My husband truly has a servant’s heart … he’ll do whatever it takes to make something work. And in this unique chapter of our lives, he’s doing things that he never thought he was called to do. Yet he does it, and he does it well, as unto the Lord! Doug, you are amazing! I love seeing you sit with the Bible in your lap as you read and study and taste of God’s Word. I love hearing you preach with passion and power and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. I love seeing you get down on your knees to be eye-level with the little ones in church; I love seeing you get crazy with the youth; I love seeing you share your heart with singles, couples, and families; and I love seeing you stand at the hospital bedside of the elderly as they breathe their last breath and are ushered into the presence of the Lord. I love it that you care about people’s souls … whether rich or poor, powerful or down-and-out, fashionable or wearing rags. It’s their heart that matters to you, and for that reason and a million more … I love you with all my heart! You can count on me standing with you and loving you for as many more years as God gives us together, honey! Happy 40th Anniversary to the love of my life!!!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- EXCITING TIMES ARE UPON US … not just on the stage of the world as we see Christ’s return approaching … but also here at Elevation North! God is bringing in a supernatural financial harvest as we see our new location approaching – He is laying all the groundwork in ways far beyond what we can even imagine! We are accepting His leading by faith – detours and all! What a sweet time we experienced in God’s presence this past Sunday!
- A SPECIAL WELCOME to Kristen as we joined us for praise and worship on Sunday for the first time; we pray that you were blessed and uplifted and that you will come again soon! May God bless you!
- LOVING ANNIVERSARY WISHES are sent to our son, Dana and his wife, Stacey, as they celebrate their 20th Anniversary on Tuesday, June 7th! May you experience God’s continued blessing and favor upon your lives and the love you share!!! We love you both so very much!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 5TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, with a message from Pastor Doug that will have you following along in your Bibles … titled, “Following Christ in Baptism.” See what God’s Word has to say, and join in on the joyful singing and warm fellowship! Exalt the Lord with us as we seek to draw closer to Him!
- 11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION TIME … don’t miss out on this rich family time as a body of believers!
- NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 12TH: 10:00 A.M. – CHILDREN’S SUNDAY with the service being planned especially for our kids … but aren’t we all a kid at heart? Be in prayer even now about who your child can invite, or who you would like to bring (age 3 through 5th grade), to be a part of a great time in God’s House, with McDonald’s lunch to follow, and swimming after that! We will be announcing the final details this Sunday!
- MORE TO COME: FATHER’S DAY SERVICE, WOMEN OF FAITH PLANNING, SUMMER PICNIC, SPECIAL MINISTRY OUTREACHES, and so much more! Be a part by helping coordinate these events!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- GOD IS DEFINITELY ON HIS THRONE! God is continuing to answer prayer in so many ways: Julia is doing much better, as is her brother who was in need of the liver transplant; Sean received a great report from the specialist following his brain surgery; and Shirley is making great improvement with her knee replacement! This week we have the privilege of praying for Tina’s mom who has leakage in a heart valve and may need surgery later; for Julia’s daughter, Tammy, with liver problems and possible diabetes; for Stacey’s dad, Mark, with a lesion on his kidney; and for several unspoken requests; as well as our upcoming re-location as a church in this community! May God’s perfect will be accomplished in all these things, that He might be glorified!

- REMEMBER . . . “There’s a song that says, ‘The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows’. We hope you feel like that in your walk with God! It just keeps getting better and better!”


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

ON DIVINE ASSIGNMENT! I think that’s how all of us at Elevation North are feeling right now. We know that God has given us a divine mandate for the existence and ministry of our church. But the timing of making a move to a facility that will offer us the capability of reaching so many more people is definitely being orchestrated by God’s hand, without a doubt. For so long we have searched for a building that would offer us classrooms and additional space for increased ministry, to no avail. The doors were always closed or the cost was not even feasible to consider for a church our size. It hasn’t been for a lack of faith – we’re all about stepping out in faith and believing and acting. But God’s people must be sure they are being led by God when they make a decision that ultimately affects His Kingdom work – and not just chasing whims and wishes. We never want to put God’s work at risk – or tarnish His Name and His reputation. And at the same time, we don’t want to hold back and lag behind what He planning to accomplish through us! We’ve prayed, actively searched, and prayed some more, all the while actively pursuing every open door. Finally, one door has stayed open. And in faith, together we are walking through that door into this next chapter of God’s destiny for us. Only the final documents remain to be signed by both parties … and we will be ready to make our move! How we’ve been praying that God’s will in all of this would be done on earth, even as it is in Heaven! We want nothing less than His perfect will for Elevation North and for each of us! We are seeing things being manifested right before our eyes! Giving to God’s work is being increased greatly – from within the church and without. And some of this giving “from without” was in the works just prior to all of this coming into existence. Who could have known? Not us. Not them. But GOD KNEW! And He was stirring things up inside of His people here in our church and all over the country, for this moment in time. Do we still have a ways to go? Yes, oh yes! While there is still the matter of obtaining funds for chairs to sit on and tables to use … the sign on the front of the building to let people know we are there – and who we are … already He is sending in finances and volunteers that this might come to pass! Talk about our faith being boosted up to yet another level … what an amazing God we love and serve! Already there is an individual who has committed to purchasing all the paint and supplies, and another individual has offered to do all the painting. Someone else who lives hundreds of miles away called us on the very same day that we had hand-delivered our proposal to the owner (they had no knowledge of this timing) and told us that God was leading them to send us the $800 tithe from their bonus at work … to purchase a piano or keyboard for Elevation North since we’ve been using a borrowed one all this time – and what a blessing that has been to us! Now we can return that one, and we will be blessed with our own. One family is planning to provide needed items for the little ones in the nursery; someone else has already kicked off the fund with $100 for new chairs! A young couple surprised us with the news and a check, saying that they were renewing their pastoral support to us – and shortly after, God laid on our hearts to significantly increase our giving – in faith that He will provide all that He asks us to do! Do you see the divine thread running through all of these commitments … connecting it all together for the glory of God? What a privilege for all of us to get on board this divine assignment and give for the sake of reaching people for Christ – for eternity! What better investment could we ever make that will reap eternal dividends, than to give faithfully and joyfully as our God leads us! To be completely open and honest, this has not come without some moments of human apprehension and questions like, “Can we really do this? Will enough finances come in to sustain the increased obligations?” Yet, we’ve never wavered in realizing that it is not US that will do this … it will be Christ IN us and THROUGH us as He provides! And we have no doubt that if we are to move forward to the next chapter of this ministry journey, this is the time to take the leap of faith and allow God to be God. Romans 4:17 talks about “God calling things that are not as though they were.” Read that again and let it sink in. Read the next few verses about Abraham. I believe God is calling us as well, to “not waver concerning the promise of God, but to be strengthened in our faith and give glory to God, being fully persuaded that God has power to do what He has promised.” The Message Bible explains it this way: that God with a word made something out of nothing. And about Abraham: “When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn’t do but on what God said he would do.” The Bible says, “And so he was made father of a multitude of peoples.” What is Elevation North’s “AND SO?” What will God make of us? Get ready and get on board for what God has in His mind to do with us and through us! Let’s be a people of faith and action, giving our all for the sake of our God and His work on this earth! And stay tuned … for what’s just ahead!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD! What a precious time we had last Sunday as we joined together to thank God for His faithfulness and His miraculous work in our midst! What a wondrous God we serve … and how we long to draw closer to Him than ever with each passing day! May He continue to give us God-opportunities to bless His Name!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, MAY 29TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, with a very special Memorial Day service being planned for the Lord’s Day! Pastor Doug’s message on “Memories”, the songs, and partaking of Communion will all point us to remembering what God has done for us – as well as our loved ones and those who protect our freedoms.
- 11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION TIME … enjoying the fellowship of our brothers and sisters in Christ, bringing encouragement and support to each other!
- MONDAY, MEMORIAL DAY – Enjoy the day with your family and friends – as we remember!
- SATURDAY, JUNE 4TH: YOUTH MOVIE MATINEE – see Pastor Doug for details! Invite your friends!
- NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 5TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, with Pastor Doug preaching a message on “Following Christ in Baptism” … if you’d like to know more about this outward expression of our inward experience with Christ, don’t miss this sermon from the Word of God!
- SUNDAY, JUNE 12TH: CHILDREN’S SUNDAY w/ lunch at McDonald’s & swimming after/age 3 through 5th grade!
- COMING SOON … FATHER’S DAY SERVICE, WOMEN OF FAITH PLANNING, SUMMER PICNIC, SPECIAL MINISTRY OUTREACHES, and lots more!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- HOPE AND TRUST go hand in hand with PRAYER – we ask, we believe, we expect! Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen.” With this knowledge, let’s trust for God’s hand to be upon Justin as he leaves for an overseas military tour of duty, for Johnny & Cherry, Sean, Julia, Shirley, and for our entire church family! May our missionaries and evangelists experience extra strength and anointing as they serve so faithfully, and may each of us be engaged in sharing Christ wherever each day takes us!

- REMEMBER . . . “God puts each fresh morning, each new chance of life, into our hands as a gift to see what we will do with it. Praise God for all that is past. Trust Him for all that is to come.”


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

SPIRIT OF EXPECTANCY! I think that’s how we pray at Elevation North! And I believe it’s the only way to pray … meaning, if we pray without expecting God to answer, then why even pray? If we pray without asking for God’s will to be done in our lives and in our circumstances here on earth today – even as it is done in Heaven, then why pray? If we pray without fully believing that God will absolutely bring to pass what is best for us, then why pray? This past Sunday morning, we called one of our teen boys to the front of the church, and invited our church family to join us in special, fervent prayer. Sean was facing brain surgery on Wednesday; an intricate, tedious surgery – not without risk. He was looking at 10-12 hours in surgery and recovery, with an amazingly gifted surgeon and her skilled team of medical professionals. So, there we stood and united our hearts in prayer, believing God for an incredibly successful surgery to come! We asked God to be with Sean, present with him in the surgical room, guiding the hands and minds of those who would be performing surgery on Sean’s brain. We asked for divine skill and wisdom for them – above and beyond their own. And as we prayed, we sensed the presence and anointing of the Lord! Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday passed, and then before Wednesday morning daylight dawned, we were on our way to the University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis. The staff hovered around, busily checking Sean in, paying attention to every detail as the necessary preparations were made for this unique surgery. A medical condition known as “dystonia”, short circuits the messages that Sean’s brain sends to his arms and legs, especially on the one side of his body. And the surgery they had initially done some time ago, left the implanted wires fractured inside his body due to his rapid growth rate these past few years. So the messages were no longer getting sent properly or efficiently, thus his body was not responding like it should. That’s where this surgery came in – a reconnection of wires to a newly placed device that would help transmit the messages and new batteries in the device! But think about how incredible a surgery like this is … a large portion of the scalp has to be laid back through a carefully shaped incision so that the necessary work can be done on the brain with wires being strategically placed and connected to the device in the upper chest area. To those of us not skilled in this medical arena, we can hardly imagine how this could be done! And yet, it is so amazing, the extent of knowledge that God has given to surgeons and physicians – especially in this critical setting. There is no room for error. A fine line divides a successful procedure and one with even a tiny mistake. The end result could be night and day difference in the brain’s ability to function properly. So, here was Sean, fifteen years old, being taken to the surgical room for anesthesia. My husband had already prayed with him and for him in the pre-surgery room; the number of people allowed in his room was kept to a strict limit of one at a time – plus mom and dad. And then he was on his way. The tedious, intricate process began. Sean’s parents, friends, and the two of us kept vigil in a nearby waiting area … continuing to pray off and on all morning, into the long afternoon that was now drawing into the evening. The hours passed slowly. Other families filled the area, waiting for their loved ones who were also in surgery. We soon crossed paths with another believer – and what a great conversation we had talking about God and how He is at work in our lives and in our churches! What an encouragement and breath of fresh air in the midst of all that waiting! How awesome it is to connect with other believers, and within moments of meeting, you feel as if you’ve known them all your life! That connection is the Holy Spirit living in them and in us – and it draws us together, making us truly brothers and sisters in Christ! Ten hours, and the waiting was getting to be grueling. A few complications in recovery sent all of us to fervent prayer. Eleven hours passed … and finally more than twelve hours since we had seen Sean in the morning, we were allowed in his ICU room. He was awake and bandaged, and he said he felt “like he’d been run over by a truck.” But he looked pretty great for feeling that way! And the next thing he purposefully said very slowly was, “The last thing I remember before I passed out was … I saw Jesus!” All of us in that room with him were teary and filled with an overwhelming praise to our God who sent Jesus to Sean to reassure him that He was with him! I have no doubt but that Sean will never, ever forget seeing Jesus in those last moments of consciousness before the anesthesia put him to sleep. What a gift of peace, sweet peace … a peace none of us can explain! But with God’s divine touch and skilled physicians, Sean was on his way home about 16 hours after he shared with us in the ICU room following surgery and recovery! We prayed … we expected … and God ministered as only HE can! Wondrously, supernaturally! And now our hearts praise Him and exalt Him and we lift Him up with overflowing thanksgiving! And we add, “Sean, God has some really special plans in store for you! May you pursue Him with all of your heart – all your life long!”

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- STEPPING OUT IN FAITH is exactly what God enabled us to do last Sunday – in our worship of Him … and in our decision to pursue a new location that will provide not only sanctuary space, but classrooms, and fellowship space so that our church family can continue to grow and meet the needs of God’s people! We step out boldly, yet aware of the greater commitment that we are making to minister within and without! God, we are trusting YOU to help us, and to enable US to do OUR part! All for YOUR glory!!!
- SPECIAL BIRTHDAY HUGS are sent to our little grandson, Miles, who will be celebrating his 3rd birthday on Monday, May 23rd! May Jesus bless you, Miles … thanks for all the ways you make us smile!!! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to Harold and LaFawn who are celebrating this Sunday, May 22nd! And special birthday wishes are being sent to Melony on May 26th! May God bless all of you with His love and joy!!!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, MAY 22ND: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, with Pastor Doug continuing in Hebrews chapter 12, this week focusing on the second half and the “Warning Against Refusing God”. You’ll definitely want to dig deeper in God’s Word as this message is preached! Bring your Bibles and follow along!
- 11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION TIME ... in a world that is so disconnected, join in on the fellowship and encouragement that keeps us all connected in Christ!
- NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 29TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, with a special Memorial Day message honoring those who have gone on before – the patriarchs of the faith, our loved ones – friends and family, and those who have fought for and secured our freedom in this land. May we never forget the impact others have had in our lives!
- THERE ARE NEW THINGS JUST AROUND THE CORNER … so watch for a print-out of events and ministries to come, including the WOMEN OF FAITH conference in October; plan now to be saving for your tickets & hotel!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- ONLY THE LIVING GOD can do what we’ve experienced and witnessed this past week! Miracles and blessings from His hand to us! Thanks be to God! Let’s continue to lift up Sean, Shirley, Hazel and her sister’s family in their recent loss, Johnny & Cherry, Julia, Cierra as she begins her summer with her family, Justin as he prepares for his overseas military tour of duty, Landon’s as they prepare to move, and for our entire church family!

- REMEMBER . . . “From the dawn of time, your Father has known you and loved you!” ~ Bruce Wilkinson


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

ARE YOUR EARS AWAKE? LISTEN. Those are words taken right from my Message Bible as I was reading the Word this morning in the first several chapters of the book of Revelation. With all that’s going topsy-turvy in our world these days, I could hardly put it down. The relevancy of the long-ago written message seemed even more urgent and timely for today. I had to run to work early this morning for a short cash-office shift on my day off, and as I was driving home I could see that the sunshine and high temps of yesterday were but a memory and today’s skies were painted by a brush dipped in drab grays with a touch of blended white. The forlorn look was dotted with clouds that looked a bit angry and upset as they twirled and churned following a downpour from the sky’s watering can. But … my eyes were drawn to the one and only bright spot in the entire atmosphere. There was a circle of light that was piercing through the morning dinginess and no matter where I looked as I drove, my eyes kept coming back to the light. Of course, I could have easily chosen to focus on the 99 percent of gray in the sky … but because of the Light living in me, I was naturally drawn to the light of the sun. It seemed as if God was saying, “Run to the Light, My Light! Follow the Son, My Son!” You see, there is no darkness so thick that the sun cannot peek through. And there is no Darkness so impossible to penetrate that the Son cannot burst through with His brilliant Light. Light always trumps darkness. In the end times, though, we have been warned that people will be blinded and will pursue their evil ways. They will love darkness rather than light. And if we, the church, are not careful and discerning, we will also become blinded to what God wants us to see. And we will become hard of hearing in the spiritual realm. Why else would God say more than once to us in the first part of Revelation, “Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches.” That’s not just a suggestion – it’s an instruction. Christians: those of you who call yourselves by Christ’s Name, are you listening? Are we really listening as we stand on the global threshold of the last days about ready to be ushered into Heaven and the holy presence of the Living God? There is so much that we need to know, so much we need to be wise about. There is so much we need to be doing – as we are about our Father’s business. Our lives need to be marked with an unprecedented urgency to reach the lost – because as real and wonderful as Heaven is … Hell is just as real and even more horrendously awful than we can ever imagine. What is God trying to get across to us in the first part of this book that records His message to the seven churches? Can we be nonchalant about our faith? Can we leave the preaching of the message of Christ’s soon return to someone else? Can we choose to not invite others to make the choice that can gift them with Heaven and spare them from Hell? If we choose to have a heart like our Father’s – then the answer on all three counts is a resounding “NO!” In these chapters God tells us who He is … the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the God who is, the God who was, and the God who is about to come. The God who is Alive! Forever! He tells us He sees what we’ve done, all our hard work, and how we’ve kept on and didn’t quit. Yet He sees how some have lost their first love – Him! And He tells us to turn back to Him and not to fear anything, including anything we will suffer. He warns us to stay on guard and not quit – even if the cost is our life. He reminds us of the Crown of Life that He has awaiting those of us who hang in there believing! And again He tells us to LISTEN. To listen to the Spirit blowing through the churches. He’s aware that we live under the constant shadow of Satan’s evil, and yet we continue on claiming our power in the Name of Jesus and never denying that precious Name. He sees. He knows. He understands what we’re going through here on this earth in 2011. While He sees our love and faith and service and persistence, He also sees what we do for appearance only, and ulterior motives will only bring His disappointment and wrath to us. God doesn’t mince words when it comes to what He expects of us as His children. He tells us, “Up on your feet!” And He calls us back to Himself, to a life energized with participation and action that will bring His Kingdom to this earth. If we stand true and prove our worth, then this is what Jesus promises to us, “Conquerors will march in the victory parade, their names indelible in the Book of Life. I’ll lead them up and present them by name to my Father and His Angels.” Wow, what a moment in eternity … being presented by our name … to the King of Kings and His Angels! He even says that He will make us ”a pillar in the sanctuary of God, a permanent position of honor. Then I’ll write names on you, the pillars: the Name of my God, the Name of God’s City – the new Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven – and my new Name.” Can you believe it?! I have no tattoos on my present body – but God is going to write on my glorified body … even His new Name! What an honor to bear the inscription of His Names on my very body! To that goal, may we ever keep our ears awake and be listening! May we listen to the Spirit blowing through the churches! Precious Holy Spirit … blow through Elevation North! We’re listening!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- LIVING IN THE POWER OF THE LIVING GOD … that’s what we experience each Lord’s Day at Elevation North! He has so much to offer us, His children … so it’s just natural that when we come together to worship and honor Him that we reach out in faith believing and take everything that He says He has for us! We were thrilled to bless our moms with a special message and beautiful roses on Mother’s Day ~ we appreciate each one of you so much!
- BIRTHDAY WISHES are sent to Mitch who celebrates on May 12th; and to Isaac who will be celebrating his birthday on May 17th! We so appreciate all you do for Elevation North, Isaac! May God bless both of you young men and continually shape you into warriors for Him!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, MAY 15TH: 10:00 A.M. - WORSHIP & PRAISE – to our God on high! Come with your hearts prepared for an awesome time in His presence, setting all else aside and focusing on Who He is, hungry and thirsty for MORE of Him! Pastor Doug will be preaching a powerful message straight from God’s Word, and you won’t want to miss it! Your hearts will be encouraged and uplifted as we sing the songs of faith and bow before Him in prayer! Plan now to invite someone to come to church with you – this may be their day of invitation to come to Christ and begin a new life in Him!
- 11:15 A.M. – SPECIAL VISIONARY CHURCH MEETING to pursue the building opportunity we have – with prayer and planning. We will be sharing financial details of our present treasury status, as well as financial obligations for the building, all couched in the desire that God’s will might be done for Elevation North here on earth as it is done in Heaven!
- NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 22ND: 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE / 11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION TIME
- WOMEN OF FAITH CONFERENCE in October – remember to be inviting family and friends to this special event!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- WHAT A PRIVILEGE to be sons and daughters of God, to pray for each other, to believe in faith for the answers! This week, let’s intercede in prayer for Sean, one of our teenagers who will be having brain surgery on the 18th. We are trusting God for a safe and successful surgery with miraculous results, all for His glory! Pray also for Hazel whose sister passed away this week, for comfort for her and all the family. Continue in prayer for all of the other known needs – as well as many unspoken. God KNOWS THEM ALL, and He loves it when we ask of Him! And we will exalt Him and give Him the glory!!!

- REMEMBER . . . “Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us.” ~ Samuel Smiles


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

MOTHERS! Is there any other word that evokes such images and feelings of beauty and love and devotion? Is there any other word that draws from us such a depth of undying gratitude for her unwavering faithfulness and untiring dedication to her cherished role? She’s like the Energizer Bunny … she just goes and goes and goes. She never stops. Once a mother, there is never a time when you are not a mother. Someone has said, “The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.” (Rajneesh) And from that moment on, she embraces her new God-given role in life … and she pours herself into the lives of her children … from their very first cry – to her very last breath! There is never a single moment when she no longer looks at things through a mother’s eyes – or when she no longer responds with a mother’s heart. She can be a hundred years old, and her children can be eighty … but she’ll still be their mom, and they’ll forever be “her kids”! And what a bond is cemented between a mother and her children. Each stage, each chapter, each happening … every hour, every day, every memory ~ all gets stitched together to create the on-going job of being a mom. It’s a job that can boast of on-the-job training, surprises and unexpected adventures, lack of boredom, and delightful blessings at the most-needed moments! A woman named Mildred B. Vermont once stated, “Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field, since the payment is pure love.” And did she ever get it right! Do you know the “pure love payments” I treasure the most? It’s when without saying it first, my sons tell me, “I love you, Mom!” It’s when our sons call us, and they ask me, “Mom, will you pray with me about this?” When they ask me to pray, it’s the highest form of love they can give me. Mt heart jumps for joy at being invited to participate in such a great privilege – that of praying for our children – and with them! I hope they NEVER stop asking! And then, when the answers come – we get to share in the celebration of praising our Almighty God for His wondrous works! I believe that moms who live out Christ before her children can give them both roots and wings. She can lay their steady foundation by leading them to know Christ early in their lives, and upon that unwavering personal faith, they can build and put wings to their own God-given dreams. If only every mom could grasp how far-reaching her influence really is. Do you think George Washington’s and Abraham Lincoln’s mothers ever comprehended just how far-reaching their motherly influence would be when they were teaching and training those normal, sometimes naughty little boys? I’m sure the last thing to come to their mind was that George or Abraham who they just spanked – or kissed good-night, would someday serve as President of the United States of America and help birth the destiny of this great nation. But every morning as they awakened and lived out their lives and their beliefs so consistently all day long, their sons were being shaped and gifts and talents were being nurtured. Every scripture they had read to them before they could read themselves … every prayer they heard prayed by their moms from little boy to grown-up man …made a significant difference in their personal lives and who they became as leaders of this incredible nation. Look at your own children. The greatest successes you see being achieved in their lives, can in great part be pointed back to the times you’ve been on your knees – to the promises in God’s Word that you’ve claimed on their behalf – to the late-night prayers, the day-time prayers, and the many, any-time prayers that rolled from your lips and ascended heavenward. I fully believe that God takes those “mother prayers” and mixes them with the God-given gifts of our children and their own passions and dreams – their own initiative and drive … and turns it all into amazing results in every facet of their lives! So a heartfelt thanks to our own godly moms who have faithfully taught us through the years and still teach us … to our sons who have given me the precious privilege of both teaching them and learning from them … and to our daughters-in-love who are so ably and wonderfully teaching our grandchildren! We thank God for each of you ~ and we love you all! Happy Mother’s Day!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- WE ARE LIVING IN EXCITING TIMES … and some of the most exciting experiences are being together in the presence of the Lord on Sunday mornings in His House! We thank God for each of you who are so faithful to Him and to our fellowship together at Elevation North. Together we can do everything He has called us to do in this community! It was exciting to go and look at a possible facility for our church, so please continue to pray with us that God will show us clearly what His perfect plan is! We want nothing less than what HE wants!
- FUN BIRTHDAY WISHES go out to AJ, who will be celebrating his 7th birthday on May 10th; God bless you, AJ!!!
- A BIG THANK YOU to the adults and youth who volunteered their time and efforts to help clean the yards of some senior citizens in the Medford Community on Saturday morning! We know your hard work was appreciated!
- RE: FUEL YOUTH enjoyed a fun outing to the Grand Slam Recreational Center in the Cities with Pastor D following the yard work!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, MAY 8TH: SPECIAL MOTHER’S DAY WISHES are shared with all of our mothers … how we thank God for each of you! May you enjoy this day as we honor you and lift you up in prayer!
- 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE – with a special message for our moms! This is a great time to invite a friend or family to come with you and experience the Word of God, worship from the heart, and warm, genuine fellowship!
- 11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION TIME – your opportunity to reach out to others and make a difference in someone’s life!
- NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 15TH: 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE
- 11:15 A.M. – SHORT MEETING following worship to discuss more details of the building we are looking at for Elevation North. We desire your prayers and your input!
- WOMEN OF FAITH CONFERENCE – to be held in October in St. Paul … if you can help us reach our first goal of 20 of the 50 tickets in the next few weeks, each person will receive a free Women of Faith CD! See Debbie for more details!
- WATCH FOR SUMMER MINISTRIES/EVENTS that are being planned now - more information to come!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- IT IS SUCH A JOY to pray for others, isn’t it? This week, pray joyfully with expectation of God’s work and His results! Remember to pray for Julia, Tina, Sean, Wayne & Verla, Hazel’s sister, Megan’s grandpa, Johnny, Harold & LaFawn in their recent move, our college students finishing exams, including Cierra, Shirley’s knee recovery, several unspoken needs, for Seykora’s in Australia, for Lundstrom’s in rallies, and for our nation & world in its need of God!

- REMEMBER . . . “Among God’s best gifts to us are the people who love us!” ~ Unknown


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

DID I SLIGHT YOU, JESUS? I surely didn’t mean to! I look back at the days of this week in retrospect and can recall SO many times how the longing to just sit at Your feet in complete stillness and quietness washed over me until tears welled up. It’s not that I miss YOU … I feel You with me ALL the time. Yet I miss being with You more – more than I am now at this point in my life. I find myself in so many different places, and yet You are there with me in every one of those places … without a doubt! This week saw me celebrating Your resurrection with Your people in Your House on Sunday, and then preparing a specially home-cooked Easter dinner for my husband and me and our mom. It was priceless, actually being at home long enough to do that and to actually sit down in a chair and relax and visit for awhile … and chatting with our family via cell phones as if they were right in the room with us! A taste of heaven! And You were with us! We were so very aware of You! I just didn’t get to sit down at Your feet and listen in complete silence. I was busy all day, and while I dedicated all I did to You to honor You … I longed to just curl up in Your lap and converse longer than we got to! Then Monday morning dawned and my feet hit the floor running, facing a 60-hour work week with long lists stuffed in between work and sleep. As always, I invited You to go with me, and I could tell You were sitting beside me as I drove to work. You walked alongside me as I stepped it up a notch and walked at a near-run pace up and down the aisles and in between fixtures in my department. You went and tapped on a few shoulders and put it in their hearts to come and offer to help me out now and then. I was so aware that You brought them to me that I just had to stop and thank You! You showed me Your favor – over and over and over. And again … I just had to stop and thank You! It was so clear that You were behind every accomplishment I completed … yes, I knew it was YOU! But, my body was in full fast-paced motion, and I just wanted to stop and fall at Your feet and lay my head on Your knees and have You pat me on the back reassuringly. I couldn’t, so I did the next best thing and just visualized it as if it was, and worshipped You with each racing footstep! You kept pace with me and never left me alone – not once, all week long! Then we found ourselves sitting in the hospital waiting room while mom was undergoing knee replacement surgery, and we knew You had walked in there ahead of us! You provided a doctor who loves you and serves you and prays with his patients. You provided friends who came to sit with us while we waited and that blessed our hearts so much! And we were so excited that as mom recovers and gains increased mobility through therapy, she will again be able to walk and move without excruciating pain in her knees! You were definitely there. You were guiding the doctor’s hands; and in those waiting hours - even giving us the added bonus of some rare time to sit in a chair and rest our bodies. We knew You were all throughout that hospital, in so many places at once. So many people needed You, and You did not disappoint them! You showed up and with those nail-scarred hands laid Your special touch on mom and a host of others who had also called on Your Name. You’re incredible, Jesus! Again, I did not find the time or place to pull aside from everything and experience our time in Your inner chambers, but You raced off to work with me again and told me I didn’t have to go alone. The weekend was approaching and the Mother/Daughter Tea was just about here. There were still final plans to implement, final touches to make, final preparations to undertake … and when it felt like time was running out, You ran to help. You stayed up late with me and helped me do everything that needed to be done so we could bless our ladies and remind them how loved and valued they are. You gifted us with a gal who takes this project on almost single-handedly, and then you gave us another special gal who came alongside to fill in the gap! You provided a group of women to come and share a worship concert with us, and we hadn’t even met some of them before! Now, we call them friends! You were there in every tiny detail. You were there in all the time-consuming, hands-on, actual labor – and we loved doing it for Your daughters! How You smoothed the way at every turn! You were there! It’s such a privilege and so much fun to be where You are at – and to get right in the middle of it with You, Jesus! And finally, late on Saturday night when the blog hadn’t been touched … the energy poured in because You knew I needed a refill … and You gave me words to place not just on the pages, but words to encourage the hearts of Your people. You were so present and so close, when I took a break to do laundry, I had to stop and smile at You and say thanks all over again! No, I didn’t mean to slight You, Jesus … and I still want MORE time with You in that place of personal sanctuary with just You and me … but in the meantime, You and I have been inseparable through it all. And I have a feeling You know exactly what’s in my heart. Yes, we’re both looking forward to even MORE time together, but loving the present as we take one day, one moment at a time … together!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- WOW! Isn’t that an appropriate word to use to describe Easter worship?! God brought His people in the doors until we filled nearly every chair we had, and then He stayed with us and accepted our worship and praise as we celebrated His resurrection! What a glorious time in the life of the church, and in our lives individually! Our time of connection and fellowship was especially sweet as we gathered to enjoy a light Easter breakfast and watch the outdoor enjoyment of the children as they searched for their Easter eggs dotted on the grassy lawn and tucked up in tree branches! We trust that all of you were as blessed as we were!
- OUR HEARTFELT THANKS & APPRECIATION to Hazel for her magnificent catering capabilities in providing the gourmet refreshments for our Mother/Daughter Tea along with everything, and we mean, everything else! All we can say is, we pray that God will pour His divine blessings and favor into your life for blessing the women of Elevation North so richly! Our special thanks to Tina and James for their constant help throughout the entire event … before, during, and after, and for working with the take-home favors, and printing programs and menus! A big thank you to my sweet husband for all his assistance in setting up and taking down – and for being a constant encouragement to us all – comedy and all! You’re the best, honey! Sonya, thank you for coming and sharing the invitation and information about the upcoming Women of Faith conference – and for being our able group leader this year! And to Heirborne … your music was anointed and precious, as were your spirits as you ministered to each one of us! You blessed us immeasurably! May God continue to bless and use you for His glory! What an unforgettable afternoon it was!
- FUN BIRTHDAY WISHES are in order for Lylia, who will be 5 on May 2nd! May Jesus bless you extra good, Lylia!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, MAY 1ST: 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP, PRAISE, & COMMUNION … come and participate in every part of honoring our Lord! Pastor Doug will be preaching on “The God of Second Chances” from John chapter 21.
- FOLLOWING WORSHIP, our church family will be making our way to a building that offers an opportunity for a new location for our church. Come and check it out, and let’s pray fervently for God to show us His perfect will in this important matter. We want what HE wants!
- THIS SATURDAY, MAY 7TH: 8:00 A.M. – VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY to do spring clean-up in the yards of senior citizens in Medford – we’ll start the morning with coffee and pastries and finish the project in a few hours! All youth, please call Pastor D if you need a ride! RE: FUEL YOUTH: following the yard project, we will head to the Grand Slam in the Cities for a fun time of games and good food! Let your friends know, too!
- NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 8TH: A SPECIAL MOTHER’S DAY SERVICE to honor our Moms … invite someone to come with you for this powerful message and opportunity for worship and praise to our God above! (Special hint: guys, your wives would LOVE a ticket to Women of Faith for their Mother’s Day gift this year!!! See Debbie for the details!)

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- THERE IS NEVER A LACK of things to pray for & thanks be to God, He is never lacking in His ability to hear and answer our prayers! Remember your church family this week when you bring your needs before God, & remember to pray in faith believing!

- REMEMBER . . . “The reason some mothers rise above the rest is that they think and pray differently than those around them!” ~ Bruce Wilkinson

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

HE’S ALIVE! HE LIVES!!! Translated, that means … “WE’RE ALIVE! WE LIVE!!!” (That is, if Christ lives in us!) Do you feel alive today? Or does it feel like you’ve descended into the tomb – and you just can’t get out? We’ve all been there. We’re human, after all. But the great news this Resurrection Season is … WE DON’T HAVE TO STAY THERE!!! Sometimes we wonder, though, “Just how do I get out of here … this place that I am in?” Well, let’s talk about that for a few minutes. Simply put, the answer is, “It’s our choice!” You might be thinking, “that sounds like crazy talk – do you think I’d want to remain in this “tomb” if I could get out?” No, of course not. And yet because of the power of our words and our thoughts, sometimes we lock ourselves into places that God wants to free us from. Please stay with me as we walk through this resurrection message together! Often when we are in a valley, we think we’ll never rise again. My husband and I talk with so many people throughout the course of each week and what we are discovering is nothing short of amazing. We greet people with a smile and a cheery “hello” and ask them, “how are you today?” And the highest percentage of responses we get – from believers as well as unbelievers – is a forlorn, “Oh, I’m SO tired!” Or, “I am SO sick!” Or, “Everything is going WRONG!” Or, “I just don’t know WHAT I am going to do!” Now before you totally shut me down and quit reading … hang on! This ends on a high and hope-filled note! The two of us DO want to hear how everyone is honestly doing, because that gives us an opportunity to pray for and with them for victory! But do you suppose, do you think, could it possibly be that things are at least partially like they are – because of how we look at and speak to our circumstances? You see, our messes, our failures, and our hurts are actually windows of opportunity to allow God to be God in our lives! But let’s hear ourselves. How do we sound in the midst of our trials? Do we sound beaten? Do we admit defeat? Or are we speaking resurrection life into those very struggles? “Our choice” of words and thoughts will make all the difference as to remaining in the tomb “dead”, or walking out alive! Yes, we are either one or the other! And just because we are breathing in air – does not mean we’re truly living! Like I said, when we are in a valley, we think we won’t rise again. But – we’re mistaken! Oh, so mistaken! Let’s go back to that first Easter morning. Jesus’ body is lying still and cold and lifeless in that tomb in the Garden of Gethsemane. For three days, there’s been no breath in Him, no sign of life. It would seem that Satan had won. He’d killed the only hope there would ever be for our redemption and hope of heaven. That might seem to most of us, the time to give in and give up. But you see, while Jesus was in the tomb, God was doing something. His plan to save us and provide a way for us to become His sons and daughters was in the final phase. Calvary and His Son’s death on the cross was the sacrificial, critical phase that could not be altered. It had to be. But God was stirring things down through eternity while His Son was lifeless in the tomb. With each passing day … day one, day two … God was getting more excited! Things were taking shape – in spite of the disciples’ grief and bewilderment. And on that third day as planned, God at the appointed moment spoke to His Son in that tomb and said, “It’s time! Now!” And at those words, Jesus sat up! Risen! Alive! Forevermore! A blinding light seared Jesus’ DNA into the linen cloths that had covered Him … now folded neatly and laid in the tomb as a final reminder. All of earth pivoted on its axis with a hope it had never known before, and Jesus walked out of the tomb alive! What I am trying to say is that when we are “sleeping”, God is opening things in our lives that have been locked up. We need to speak to our circumstances, “It’s time! Now!” We need to speak to our thoughts, “It’s time! Now!” No more doubting. No more fear. God, help us realize and understand that when we choose to rise … Kingdom things happen! God walks us right out of our tomb and we find ourselves more alive than we’ve ever been! If only you will hear the voice of Father God speaking to you today, “It’s time! Now! Get up! It’s time to rise again!” What will YOUR choice be today? This is the season of Resurrection … don’t miss it in your life! You CAN live the life you’ve always longed for as God’s son or daughter, starting today!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- PALM SUNDAY WAS AN EXCITING TIME for the people in Jesus’ time as they lined the streets and waved palm branches, crying, “Hosanna! Hosanna!” And how excited we were this past Sunday to celebrate this time in the Easter Season as together we lifted our voices in praise, “Hosanna! Hosanna!” He was just as present and just as real to us as He was that Palm Sunday so long ago!
- A SPECIAL WELCOME to Todd and Grace and Nina who worshipped with us this past Sunday, and welcome back to Mike and Mary Jo and family who joined us again in worship! What a blessing all of you were to us, and our prayer is that you were ministered to by the Spirit of God in our midst! We hope to see you again soon!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 24TH, 10:00 A.M. – A RESURRECTION CELEBRATION OF PRAISE & WORSHIP as we gather to proclaim that “HE IS RISEN!” We will look into the scriptures to discover more about “The Third Miracle of Easter!” And we will lift our voices in praise as we sing old and new songs that are dear to our heart and remind us of the resurrection power of our Lord and Savior! Plan to be with us for this special service!
- A BLESSED EASTER from your Pastor and wife … may you and your family experience God’s best all day long!
- 11:15 A.M. – EASTER CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST and fellowship time for all, along with the EASTER EGG HUNT for the children of Elevation North! We encourage everyone to be a part!
- THIS SATURDAY, APRIL 30TH: 2:00 P.M. – MOTHER/DAUGHTER TEA at Clinton Falls Town Hall in a beautiful setting of roses, inspirational music by “Heirborne”, incredibly delicious gourmet refreshments by Hazel, and lots more, including delightful take home favors and prizes! Please be sure to turn in the count of your invited guests to Debbie today for final planning! Invite, invite, invite!!! Every gal you know will be blessed by time uplifting time!
- COMING SOON … NEW PLANNING SESSION for future ministry events! Watch for details!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- OFTEN OUR NEEDS SEEM SO GREAT – but we want you to know that you don’t have to stay “in that tomb”! God’s resurrection power can roll the stone away, and you can walk out! This week we are asking everyone to remember Sean as he awaits his brain surgery on the 18th of May – for peace, for supernatural skill for the physicians, and for God’s miracle touch! Let’s also remember his family as they go through this with him, that God will carry them, as well! Others to lift up in prayer: Shirley will be having knee replacement surgery on the 25th of April; Julia and her brother; Cherry and Johnny and family; Eva and family; Justin and the Bucholz family as he heads overseas on another military tour of duty; Hazel with all of her preparations for the Tea this weekend; the provision of a new job for James; and the Seykoras and the Lundstroms as they minister around our nation and around the world! Our God LOVES answering our prayers!!!

- REMEMBER . . . “In each of our personal crosses can be found the DNA for resurrection victories!” ~ Debbie Jones


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie Jones

Elevation North has News for YOU!

THE OPEN HEAVENS … what a sight they were last evening! Arriving home from work just at dusk, I walked out into the backyard to see the early spring transformation my husband had created. Uncovering the perennials from their winter blankets of grass cuttings, he had unveiled fresh, new green shoots peeking out of the dark, moist soil that he had lovingly awakened from its cold, long sleep. He gave me a tour of our yard, excitedly showing me all that he had done. He’s amazing, that’s what he is! He loves the seasonal hands-on therapy of working with the grass, the plants, the shrubs, and the trees. It’s one of his greatest joys! And he loves to share the beautiful end-result with others … including me! So after our leisurely walk and as the skies were turning almost dark, we took a few moments to sit in our patio chairs outdoors and just breathe in the cooling air and soak in the sights of the panoramic night-view. The trees were silhouetted against skies that were just turning down their lights for the night. Branches waved ever so slightly in the breezes as if signaling a fond farewell to a day well-lived. And for the first time in months and months, my husband and I marveled at this rare outdoor opportunity to simply sit and relax and allow our eyes the visual gift of the spectacular beauty of the night. Some neighbors were sitting out on their decks not far away and the sounds of voices and laughter echoed over our way. Stars shone a bit brighter than usual, so much so that we were trying to discern whether they were lights on jets approaching the Twin Cities airport … or actually stars. My husband voiced his vote for stars. I thought I could see movement in the lights, so I voted for the planes. Yet, I wondered … because the three were spaced evenly apart as if in a planned flight formation. Well, I think he ended up being right ~ he often is! But, no one could convince me that these bright, twinkling stars were not doing an early evening dance to welcome another night on this earth! Were they dancing for us – that we were finally sitting in chairs and relaxing? Whatever the case might have been, they got me to thinking about the heavens. While the heavens we witnessed last evening were beautiful and peaceful … if we could see with God’s eyes, we would see a war going on in the heavenlies. It’s been that way for a long time now; in fact, it’s the longest-running war of all time. While we were sitting in complete safety and enjoyment on our patio, an all-out war was being raged in the unseen spiritual realm in the atmosphere over us. God against Satan; angels against demons; good against evil. How blessed we are as God’s children, that He fights our battles for us. Oh, we get caught in the fray … we get a bit – or a lot – battered and wounded sometimes. But ultimately, the battle is God’s … and He takes over when we give Him control. He takes over when we cannot fight for one more minute. He takes over when we decide to finally trust that He can handle our battle better than we can. And the angels – they are right there in the thick of it, going wherever God sends them off to. We may never know all of the battles our God has won for us, or how many skirmishes and life-threatening dangers we’ve been spared from – at least until we get to Heaven. There we may be able to see a review of the things that God kept us from seeing on this earth. Who knows? Even if we never are given this true-life movie opportunity, we still need to offer up gratitude to our God who cares for us and keeps us, and yes, even helps us come out victoriously in these unseen battles. Gratitude is often under-played. It is actually one of our most powerful tools. Thanking God when things in our lives are at their worst and when all seems hopeless, opens up a direct-line channel or portal from Heaven to us! When we’ve sent thanks and praise Heavenward to our Lord … He turns around and pours His gifts straight back down to us through that same channel! Who can explain it or understand it? It’s just the way He does things … His rewards! Then … there were the skies o’er Calvary long ago. No one saw or understood the eternal impact of the heavenlies that day. Many only saw the dawning of another day on earth. But when the skies turned black in the middle of the afternoon, things changed forever! Evil men thought they had won when Jesus breathed His final breath on the cross. God, the Father, was able to smile again. Though sad that His Son was dead … He KNEW He’d be alive again in three days, for He had written the script. It was all a part of His plan to change the history of humanity forever. He smiled, because He knew He had won the battle – not only in the heavenlies – but on earth. The Life had been given, the Blood had been spilled. His Son would rise from the grave, and so will we. Heaven was waiting for His Son’s return then … and now on earth, His children are awaiting His return in the skies to take us Home! It’s then that we’ll understand Heaven fully. For now, we can only imagine! Best of all, we can plan to be there by saying “yes” to the invitation sent from Calvary’s cross and the empty grave! Let’s RSVP to Heaven … we’re coming! We’ll be there!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- WE SENSE THE CELEBRATION OF EASTER in our midst; what a wondrous time it is for those who are believers! And our church family loves coming together to be in the center of what God is doing on this earth! Just this past Sunday we were given the opportunity to reach out to someone we had never met, providing meals following her surgery. What a privilege … and our prayer is that she will see Jesus in us! After all, that’s what being a follower of Christ is all about! Our thanks to everyone who so willingly and generously provided and delivered the noon meals to Sharon!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, APRIL 17TH: PALM SUNDAY PRAISE & WORSHIP – coming together to catch a deeper glimpse of Jesus’ final week before the Cross and His Resurrection! Walk with us through the experiences of these days in His life. Be impacted by the scriptures that reveal what took place, come and sing about it, listen to the powerful message of “The Second Miracle of Easter Sunday”, and leave changed and challenged by the Spirit of God!

- 11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION/SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES – this week’s focus will be on the events of Palm Sunday as scripture depicts them. Bring your Bibles to church and plan to stay for Sunday School – where you can learn – and join in on the discussion and share your heart!

- EASTER SUNDAY CELEBRATION SERVICE, APRIL 24TH at 10:00 A.M. with a continental breakfast for all … and an Easter Egg Hunt to follow for the children! Let’s celebrate the empty tomb and our RISEN LORD!!! This should be one of the most exciting times of worship all year long – may your presence in our midst add to the joy that we will experience as we offer our gratitude to God for the indescribable Gift of His Son, Jesus!

- COMING SOON … OUR MOTHER/DAUGHTER TEA is on Saturday, April 30th, at 2:00 P.M. at Clinton Falls Town Hall! You will want to be inviting family and friends to this rose-filled atmosphere where there will be gourmet refreshments served by Hazel and incredible, uplifting music by “Heirborne”, and lots more! Please turn in the names of your invited guests by April 20th, or no later than the 24th!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- HEBREWS 11:1 tells us that “faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen!” This week, in faith believing, let’s SEE the sick healed, the captive delivered, the needy provided for, the hopeless given hopes and dreams for the impossible. For ALL things are possible WITH God … that’s EVERYTHING!!!

- REMEMBER . . . “You are … infinitely dear to the Father, unspeakably precious to Him. You are never, not for one second, alone.” ~ Norman E. Dowty

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

THE HEART OF GOD! How can we know it? How can we understand it? How can we fathom it? I think as Easter draws near these questions come to our mind and demand answers more than at any other time of year. We are perhaps more mindful of a God who would CHOOSE to give His very Son, His only Son, His incredibly beloved Son … for a world of sinners who would be lost for eternity without that precious, priceless, incomprehendable Gift! It seems that even the season of Spring leaps into action to prove the point of new life in visuals of vivid green that dot the yet cool, black soil of the earth. Bulbs and seeds and roots that one would think had surely died during the stark and frigid winter months – come not just poking through, but bursting forth out of the ground. They are proof that endurance in living is possible if we stay grounded and nurtured in the safety and resurrection power of the Word of God. That’s our soil, dear people. It protects us from the deadly, freezing chill of evil … and redeems those harsh times in our lives that take us almost past our point of endurance. Suddenly, we burst forth with new life, new hope, and the ability to go beyond our own limits! People see us like they’ve not seen us before, and we are shining with the brightness of Christ’s resurrection power! Sometimes we feel like we’ve been in the ground a long time … too long. Sometimes we think we’ll be buried and never rise up again. I want you to know, though, that because Jesus LIVES, our feelings and thinking do not have to remain there. We can be renewed in our bodies and minds and souls, by our own decision to CONNECT to the transforming power of the Living God, our Lord! Because God paid such an indescribable price for us with the Gift of His Son, His heart longs to see us changed to be a reflection of Him, His heart longs to see us transformed from the seemingly dead cocoon ~ into the emerging butterfly that equates freedom and beauty. The change doesn’t stop there, though. There’s something more after the transformation. To live transformed, we must continually, daily be renewed. And not just physically, though giving our bodies sufficient rest is a very important part of renewal. What does God’s Word tell us about this critical, resurrection-like change that He desires for us? Romans 12:2 gives us this strong instruction: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing, and perfect will.” How do we get transformed and stay that way? The Bible says, “by the renewing of our minds.” And that takes action. We don’t just sit there doing nothing – and get renewed. So much of God’s plan for us takes a decision and discipline on our part. You see, everything has a price … even what is free, like salvation - takes an action to receive! But when we take that first step in obedience … the strength and empowering comes from God above so that we CAN live it out and it CAN become a way of life for us! We CAN daily know more and more the heart of God and our lives CAN look like His! I’m reminded of a cute story our youngest son told us the other night on the phone about their second son, Miles. Being a typical two year old, soon to be three … he wasn’t listening to his mommy like he should. So she spoke to him in a tone of voice that was meant to get his attention. It did. He turned to her with a look of dismay and said emphatically, “Mom, you can’t talk to me that way!” (I wonder where he heard that before!) I asked Dustin what Becky said when Miles came up with that statement – and he said, “I don’t know. I had to get out of the room because I was trying to keep from laughing!” We smile at the things that young children come up with. But sometimes I think we say the same thing to God. He instructs us, tells us point-blank what is acceptable and what is not. And all too often we don’t want to hear it. By our actions we could just as well be saying, “God, you can’t talk to me that way!” When all along, just like Miles’ mommy, trying to communicate something to her child … God is desiring to communicate with us, His children, and we’re not paying attention like we should. So He ups the level of His voice a notch or two, and eventually He gets our sole attention. We hear His voice, we discover what He’s trying to tell us – or teach us, and in the end, we’re much the better for it … though we may not like it at the time! These encounters are actually part of the renewing process, just as much as pulling ourselves aside from everything to sit at the feet of Jesus and drink in and be refreshed. And we should never minimize how much rest and relaxation also play in the renewal process. Our minds will be in a better place to receive and practice the renewal that God brings through our time in His presence when we are rested and refreshed. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:16: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” And in that state, we can definitely come to know our Father’s heart better!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- WHAT SWEET FELLOWSHIP we share! This Elevation North family loves to come together to commune with our Father in Heaven, focusing on Him – learning to love Him more and serve Him better. And this Elevation North family loves to come together to be there for each other in really incredible ways! Wish you could “peek in” ~ better yet, why not come and experience all of this WITH us on Sunday mornings!

- A WARM WELCOME to Cody, Jessica, Olivia, and Joe – who all worshipped with us last Sunday for the first time! How we loved having you with us, and our prayer is that God will bless you richly as only He can!

- SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY WISHES go out a bit belatedly to Ernie and Audry who celebrated on April 7th!

- LOVING BIRTHDAY WISHES are sent to Caia who will celebrate her 7th birthday on April 15th!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, APRIL 10TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP with Pastor Doug beginning the 3-week series on “The Three Miracles of Easter Sunday”. You won’t want to miss a single one! What power lies in Jesus’ resurrection … for each of us who choose to believe in Him!

- 11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION/SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES – plan to stay after worship for the “Learn the Bible in 24 Hours Study”! Investing this time in deeper learning will be enriching and rewarding in your walk with God!

- PALM SUNDAY, APRIL 17TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP/SPECIAL SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS PLANNED! Experience Palm Sunday like never before!

- EASTER SUNDAY CELEBRATION SERVICES, APRIL 24TH: Easter Sunrise Service / Continental Breakfast / Easter Worship Celebration / Easter Egg Hunt

- SATURDAY, APRIL 30TH: 2:00 P.M. – MOTHER/DAUGHTER TEA w/rose theme, gourmet refreshments by Hazel, “Heirborne” in concert, and so much more! Invite the moms and daughters and sisters and friends in your life!!!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- GOD MAKES A WAY WHEN THERE IS NO WAY! Often that way comes through fervent prayer and childlike faith in our Almighty God! Let’s continue to lift up the needs of many in our church family, as well as those who are serving in ministry and in government, that Christ might be lifted up high! Our prayers make a difference!

- REMEMBER . . . “Do you trust God enough to let the truth change the way you act and think?” ~ Bruce Wilkinson

Serving Christ Joyfully . . . Pastor Doug and Debbie