HAPPINESS IS INFECTIOUS! AND HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE! Our minds are amazing tools that God gave us to use to make our lives as wonderful as possible! I just watched a four-minute video on You-Tube that someone sent me, and how it made me smile! I love watching people, and at first what I saw was just a normal scene at the Central Station in Antwerp, Belgium with the busy crowd of people milling through the huge open area lined by impressive tall columns. Most seemed in a rush, their minds occupied with where they were headed next. Hurried. Bogged down with schedules. Deadlines. So like how most people live their lives these days. A loud voice was booming over the speakers in Austrian dialect – so I didn’t understand what was being said … perhaps announcements for the station arrivals and departures …or just commercials. But all of a sudden, this fresh, happy voice emerged loudly and clearly from the same speakers singing the theme song from “The Sound of Music” – and the entire crowd began to look up and around, not knowing what to think. Some seemed startled. Some seem surprised, but pleasantly surprised! A few just turned briefly, barely acknowledging anything was different and walked on. A young dad and his little girl – just a few notes into the music – leaped into the middle of Central Station and with a whirl, began dancing happily to the song! Within seconds, many others joined in, and soon smiles began to crease the serious demeanor on the faces of the bystanders. Within the first minute or two, more and more of the bystanders became dancers, and two escalators filled with people coming down began dancing as they rode it to the floor! For those four minutes, the vast majority of that crowd left their cares behind and became as one big happy group sharing in the happiness those musical strains brought to them that day. One moment they were strangers. The next, they were totally united in expressing the joy they felt at that song. From little children to young businessmen in suits – to couples holding hands to an elderly, white- haired woman … they were dancing and smiling and happy! At least for those moments in time! That reminds me of our walk with God in the midst of our world today. Most days we feel like we are in Central Station – hurrying from one destination to anther – always on a schedule, always with deadlines to meet. But when God speaks loudly and clearly in the midst of all the other noise, what do we do? Do we just keep going, barely acknowledging Him? Or do we stop everything and start dancing to the music His voice brings into our lives? Do we choose to experience the happiness He brings our way – or do we think what’s on our agenda is more important? It’s our choice. Happiness is a choice. We can choose to be a bystander ~ or we can choose to be a dancer. And while the few remaining bystanders seemed to be enjoying the glee of the dancers … THEY could have been experiencing the happiness of the dancers instead of just watching it! Just like us … what will OUR choice be this week?! Our challenge and prayer for you is that you will become one of the dancers in the Central Station of your life … and be alive to “The Sound of God’s Voice!”
HOW WE LOVE HEARING FROM GOD’S WORD each week … and this Sunday was no exception as we zeroed in on every word that Pastor Doug preached from John chapter 21, which is like a postscript – a P.S. to Jesus’ resurrection. He had already appeared to His disciples and had done many miraculous things in their presence – but there must have been more He wanted to tell them – more He wanted to do. Pastor D narrated what the conversation must have been like between Jesus and the disciples on the sea when they caught the miraculous huge catch of fish (after they had fished all night and not hauled in even one fish!). It seems He appeared to them to re-establish their call to become fishers of men – not just fishermen. And so it is for us as believers today … we need to throw out the net and get the fish. In other words, we have to go where the lost are and rescue them. The day is over for just inviting people to church … we need to go and get them and introduce them to Jesus! He will do the rest: all the life-changing that is needed is His specialty! So, here at Elevation North … let’s go fishing for men – and women – and children!!!
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
- THE WOW-ZONE proved to offer a great variety of fun for our youth last Saturday, and will be a favorite spot to return to! It’s great that our kids can have a blast with Christian friends!
- ALYSSA EDEL, Cierra’s roommate at college, asks for your prayers for her upcoming summer mission trip to North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where she and other college students with Campus Crusade for Life, will be sharing their faith as vacationers and college students flood that area. She is raising funds for the needed $3,340 and would be most grateful for any support you can share with her. Please make checks payable to “Campus Crusade for Christ” and we will pass on your tax-deductible gift to her!
- OUR SPECIAL THANKS to Stacey Jones for all her work in designing this church blog and for posting the weekly updates for us! Your time and skill is a great blessing to not only our church family, but also to all of our on-line audience that keeps in touch with us!
- A BELATED HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY to Noah Todd … what a special day for a special little guy!
- THIS WEEK ~
y- JR HI YOUTH has a change in time for this week only: Saturday, the 25th. From 4-5 p.m. w/Cierra Bucholz!
Bring someone new with you and plan on a GREAT time together!!!
- COUPLES/MOVIE NIGHT watching “FIREPROOF” at the home of Clint & Kristina Bucholz this Saturday, the 25th, at 6:30 p.m. Call 451-5256 for directions to their home, and bring another couple with you to view this incredible movie about marriage relationships! It will prove to be an unforgettable evening!
- LOOKING AHEAD ~
- TUESDAY, APRIL 28 – SR HI YOUTH will meet from 6:45-8:00 p.m. to display posters around town for the upcoming Lundstrom Rally ~ plus more! Be sure to be reading up on your assigned scripture about “God’s Call”!
- SATURDAY, MAY 2 – MOTHER/DAUGHTER TEA from 2:00-3:30 p.m. at Senior Place, with Debbie Jones sharing the message. Sunday, the 26th, is the deadline to sign up, and extra invitations are available from Hazel at church for handing out to family, friends, and acquaintances! You won’t want to miss this special event!
- MAY 7 – NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER SERVICE – a time to lift up our nation and its leaders in prayer!
- MAY 10 – MOTHER’S DAY/RALLY with Larry and Gloria Lundstrom ~ you will NOT want to miss this special time of worship and celebration and great music! Plus, this is the perfect time to invite someone who is searching for answers in their life – they will have an opportunity to invite Christ into their life and be forever changed!
- THIS SUNDAY, come prepared for a powerful “Part 2” message from John 21 with Jesus’ conversation about “feeding His sheep”! And come prepared to bless – and be blessed! If you are wanting to find a church where you can serve God and use your gifts and talents … we have LOTS of opportunities for YOU! See you there!
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
