Elevation North has News for You!

LEST WE FORGET! This Memorial Day weekend, Americans will take to the roads to head out somewhere, anywhere … for a weekend away from work … just to get away from it all Uppermost in our minds is the desire to just “forget it all” in our quest to find relaxation and a bit of peacefulness. We want to leave behind the stress, the deadlines, the pressure. And we don’t want any of that invading our minds during “our time away”!!! But there ARE things we need to remember … and there ARE times we need to be focused on remembering. In can be “too easy” to forget. Looking up the word “forget” on the internet, there are some poignant explanations of what that word really means. It helps us understand what all surrounds that state of mind … like: to lose remembrance of ... to treat with inattention or disregard … to disregard intentionally … to give up hope or expectation of … to cease remembering or noticing … to fail to become mindful at the proper time. Some of our elderly sadly lose their ability to remember, and certain levels of memory loss have stolen what they would have wanted to remember forever. But many others, who have no memory loss, choose to forget – whether it be happenings in their lives, people in their lives, or specific things - that should never be forgotten. And that’s so sad! There are a few things that come to mind, generally, that people in our nation have become all too comfortable with forgetting. One is the recognition that our Vietnam vets returned to America carrying a deep pain of having been forgotten while they were thousands of miles away half way around the world – fighting what became an unwinnable war … forgotten. Putting their lives in extreme danger from a type of enemy they had never before encountered, in a terrain they had never before fought in, they laid their lives on the line every single day … for the sake of freedom for others. Yet they came back to this “land of the free” … and no one much seemed to notice, or care. I cannot imagine what a disheartening, sinking feeling that had to be. To think that they had been willing to give their very life (and thousands had) … and to be forgotten, had to be the ultimate disappointment. It had to feel like the ultimate act of disrespect by their own countrymen. How is it that we can “treat with inattention and disregard” the sacrifices of our soldiers and veterans, regardless of what war they engaged in? We MUST remember, and we MUST honor! It should be not only a choice we make, it should be considered by us a great privilege … to remember! Then, there’s the elderly population of this great nation of ours, who in big part, made it what it was (not, perhaps what it has become!). You get what I’m saying, right? They are the ones who paved the way for opportunities unlimited, they are the ones who forged the trails through the yet untamed places of our land, bringing development and invention and accomplishment, ever expanding the horizons of “what could be”! They are the ones who persevered and never gave up. They didn’t shrug their shoulders and say, “Oh, just forget it!” They found a way; they made a way! But sadly enough, so many of them have been forgotten – set aside – left alone in their aging years. Now, not as full of vitality and life as they once were, people assume they have no more to offer. Wrong assumption! Given some respect and honor, given some attention and remembrance … they still have much to give. Their remaining memories, their still intact gifts and talents, will continue to enrich the lives of everyone who makes the choice to invest some time in their lives. We need to pay attention, to regard, to remember, to notice, to be mindful of those we love who are aging! We MUST never forget all the love we’ve been given, all the care, all the shaping … at the hands of our parents and others who were instrumental in teaching us about this life we’re now living. I know that every time I think of our nation’s freedom, I remember our servicemen … in particular, my dad, our son, and our nephews who have served in danger’s way. I remember … I will never forget! I know that every time I go back home to North Dakota, I cannot leave without stopping to sit at the headstone of my dad’s grave, and my husband’s dad’s grave. I remember, with gratitude and love. I will never forget! I purposely take notice of my grandparents’ graves, and others … and I remember fondly. I will never forget! This Memorial weekend, we challenge you to stop everything long enough to take notice of who and what is important in your life … lest you forget!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- OUR SPECIAL THANKS to Justin who shared the impacting message last Sunday in our absence, to Isaac who spearheaded the set-up and took care of Power Point and sound, and to those who willingly shared their personal, powerful testimonies about answered prayer! You are all appreciated and loved; we would have loved to have been there, but we are loving our week away to attend our nephew’s graduation in IL and our grand-daughter’s graduation in MI!
- WE WELCOME Tony and Anna who worshipped with our Elevation North church family for the first time this past Sunday! We hope you were blessed & that you will join us again soon!
- WE WANT TO WISH Mitch (in Michigan) a belated birthday from this past Monday on the 24th, and special wishes to Clint & Kristina (in Michigan) on their upcoming anniversary this week!
- OUR PRAYERS & SYMPATHY are with Hazel on the passing of her brother, Lawrence, this week. May God be with her and the entire family, bringing comfort and peace to their hearts.

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, MAY 30th:
- 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE & COMMUNION, with Pastor Doug preaching a message for Memorial Day that will stir your hearts and take you into God’s Word to seek out what God teaches us to memorialize.
- 11:15 A.M. – SUNDAY SCHOOL – with compelling classes that will continue on into the summer even though school is coming to a close for our students! Come and be learners of the Word!!
- 6:00-7:30 P.M. – NO RE: FUEL YOUTH for this Memorial Day weekend; enjoy the time with your family!
- NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 6th: WORSHIP/SUNDAY SCHOOL/POTLUCK LUNCH/SING-YOUR-HEART-OUT EVENT! Everyone is invited & encouraged to bring some friends! Meat/beverages/table service will be provided; bring a favorite dish to pass for everyone to enjoy!
- SUNDAY, JUNE 13th, CHILDREN’S SUNDAY … MID-JUNE, FATHER-SON TWINS GAME … MID-JULY, RELAY FOR LIFE … MID-OCTOBER, WOMEN OF FAITH! How will YOU be involved??

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- OUR GOD CARES SO MUCH ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS to us every day of our lives! And we want to care for each other through prayer support! Let’s hold up Hazel and family in the loss of her brother, Tina with more testing, Julia and her brother, those in the path of dangerous summer weather, those we support in missions and evangelism, our church family, a “home” for Elevation North, and a return to God by our nation! God hears!

- THIS WEEK … Remember, “We must peruse the past, pursue the present, and proclaim the future!” ~ Debbie Jones


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

WHO HAS YOUR HEART? That’s a good question! In fact, it’s a great question that each of us need to answer for ourselves! Someone once said that the best way to discover who someone really is, what they are really about … in other words, who has their heart ~ is to look in their checkbook! A revealing thread will run through the ledger or online statement – that shows where our heart is really at. The entries will reveal if our lives are all about “us” … or if God has our heart, and “giving our first-fruits” and “tithing to our church” and “giving to missions” and “sharing with worthwhile organizations and charities” shows up all throughout the monthly statement. The entries will reveal the amount of devotion we have to whoever or whatever has our heart … and whether we give all we can, even sacrificially, or whether we make a last-second, without-much-thought, decision to give God whatever little bit might be left over. Another “revealer gauge” of who has our heart … is how we spend our time. There are the work hours away from home, the work hours at home, and all kinds of involvements outside of the home. But if we had a ledger or on-line banking for the hours of each day and it showed how we spent them – where, and for how long – what would that reveal about us? Would it show that God has our heart? That our family has our heart? Or would it show that those two most-important arenas of our lives suffer because of striving to meet our needs, and in many cases, our wants. Oh, I know … there is nothing wrong with “wanting” some things; after all Jesus talked about giving us the desires of our hearts. But there was a catch to being given those desires. Hear what He said, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart”. (Psalm 37:4, NIV) And just what does it mean to “delight” ourselves in the Lord? It means to “please highly, to enjoy”. And how do we ever please anyone “highly” … without spending time with them? Without being in their presence? Without putting them first? Without finding joy in them? Any relationship we have where the other person is highly pleased by us and who knows that we enjoy being with them, will grow and flourish. And out of that mutual enjoyment, the other person will seek to shower us with things and in ways that please us! There’s the desires of our heart – right there! Do you see, though, that it doesn’t happen without us first making that decision to take action to “delight” ourselves in the Lord? “Delight” as used here, is a verb, an action word! We have to DO something to receive something! But the investment is well worth the dividends we will reap! Now, back to the “giving” thing. For a moment, at least. I’ve heard it said that “we work so we can live – but if we give, then we can live.” Sometimes we kind of have it backwards. But we can still learn from the principles that God put in His Word for us to live by. He wanted us to get it right, so that we can receive the blessings He just has waiting to give out to us. But first, we have to do what He tells us to do. It’s like a little child – as we’re training them and teaching them. They put up a fuss and demand a cookie or an ice cream cone before lunch. We tell them, “If you eat your meat and veggies first, then I will give you the treat you want!” But what happens if the child refuses to comply? Well, if we’re the parent we should be, they will not receive the sweets. God’s Word has something to say about this principle … let’s see what it is: “Honor God with everything you own; give Him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over.” (Proverbs 3:9-10, The Message Bible) We will receive blessings … but not until we DO what He instructs us to do first. When we DO what He knows is best for us, then He will GIVE to us blessings beyond our wildest expectations! You see, He’s the Father … we’re the child. He loves to treat us, but He will not reward us for not obeying, for not desiring to please Him. And who of us doesn’t desire blessings? Who of us doesn’t desire to see our dreams come true? What we need to know most importantly, though; is that the greatest, most precious, priceless blessing of all … will be the intimacy we share in with our Heavenly Father when we desire to give Him our best, when we desire to please Him, when we desire to put Him first, above all else. Anything else we receive, will just be an added bonus! The richest treat will be knowing our Father better ~ more intimately than we’ve ever known Him in our life! So … once again, WHO HAS YOUR HEART? We hope that your answer is: GOD!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- TIME IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD is never wasted time! As we began our worship time, God impressed on our hearts so heavily the need to start with prayer for those in our midst who wanted to share special needs. As Pastor Doug prayed for each one, several of us laid hands on them and joined in praying over them, claiming victory in the Name of Jesus! We know God is at work in their situations, doing what He does best!
- WELCOME BACK to Tanner, who has not been able to worship with us for awhile; it was great having you back with us! God bless you!
- SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WISHES to our youngest grandson, Miles, who celebrates his 2nd birthday on Sunday. the 23rd! Grampa and Gramma love you SO much! And special birthday wishes to Melony, whose birthday is on May 26th! May God bless both of you with an extra fun day, and blessings all year long!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, MAY 23RD:
- 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE, with a special message in store about “sharing Christ”! You’ll have to come and hear it! You’ll definitely be blessed, so don’t miss it!!
- 11:15 A.M. – SUNDAY SCHOOL – with classes for all ages – with timely, interesting, enjoyable lessons taught by teachers who love the Lord and are excited about sharing what they’ve prepared! See Jimmy for some free study tapes that will enhance your study of God’s Word!
- 6:00-7:30 P.M. - YOUTH: RE: FUEL session/activity with Justin … check in with him for the details and plans, and don’t miss this awesome time together! Get on your cell and invite some friends, because we want to continue growing your group and making it the best it can be!
- NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 6th: WORSHIP/SUNDAY SCHOOL, followed by a POTLUCK DINNER and SING YOUR HEART OUT EVENT! Meat/beverages/table service will be furnished; bring a dish to pass!
- SUNDAY, JUNE 13th: CHILDREN’S SUNDAY … with message, songs, and fun all focused on the kids! Of course, any and all ages will enjoy this service, so plan to be there and worship with us!
- PLAN TO BE INVOLVED: RELAY FOR LIFE/Mid-July … WOMEN OF FAITH/Mid-October

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- GOD LOVES FOR US TO ASK, EXPECT, AND THANK HIM when we come with needs! We should never forget to praise the Giver for WHO He is, and not just for WHAT He does or gives! Let’s lift up Tina, Julia & her brother, Hazel’s brother & sister-in-law, LaFawn’s brother, miracles for relationships and for housing, and for several unspoken requests. Let’s trust God for the answers as we seek His perfect will!

- THIS WEEK . . . 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.” ~ Unknown


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

THE CALL. Have you heard it? There’s a new up and coming song out by Matt Kennon, singer and songwriter, with just that title: “The Call”. It has hit the top 40 on the charts, and it talks about being spared from abortion and suicide – by a phone call from someone who cared. In real life, Matt was spared from abortion, and he’s taken his real-life message to the music world where it’s touching hearts by the scores. That’s because it resonates with people right where they are at. Just this week I heard the song and saw the video of it, and it made me think of “another call”. Here’s the story of this call, also entitled simply, “THE CALL”.

It came unannounced … to a little girl and a young boy; So crystal clear it was … it could not be mistaken!
They sensed the call … God’s Spirit came like fire; Much too young to understand all that lie ahead … the call could not be shaken!
The little girl … she loved to write and play and sing; Shy and quiet, she often
held back … but inside, God was shaping and stretching and growing!
The young boy … he loved to talk and compete and debate; Expressive, living on the edge, he held nothing back … but inside, God was shaping and carving and filling!
The little girl blossomed and grew … the words in her heart spilled from pen to paper; Her fingers flew over ivory keys in musical poetry … and the call continued to flourish and deepen!
The young boy discovered gifts anew … the words in his heart spilled from his lips; His voice rose and fell, drawing people to God – and the call continued to expand and broaden!
The years matured them to college age … and God brought them and His gifts in them together. Together, they embraced the call, the summons ~ to share the message of Christ!
United in love for life … they passionately pursued the call; Whether morning or noon or night – and many times, even crawling out of bed in the middle of the night!
Long days, short nights … interrupted plans and change of plans; Sickness and death and the struggles of life, beckoned their compassionate and vigilant fight!
The call … it drew them, stirred them, and compelled them; It was bigger than them and larger than life, it would define their very lives, their family, and all
of their ministry!
Pastoring … a career, a job? No, no ~ it was definitely a supernatural call; In the early years of their call someone once told them, “Wherever you two go, miracles will follow!”
And miracles, there have been … Healing and deliverance, blessings and provisions; Open doors and opportunities to new life in Christ; Fatigue ebbed away in the wake of the call!
Changed lives are the symbols … that stand tall in the harbor of life; They, with outstretched arms, plead for others to come, and taste of the good life, this Kingdom life!
The call has been tested and tried … the enemy trying to destroy it time and time again; But each time the onslaught has been overcome in Jesus’ Name, and the call lives on … God’s call!
The call. God’s call … to share with the world. High call, privileged, rewarding call. Excitement builds at all the days to come. Pursuing God’s call! For the sake of Eternity! Into Eternity! THE CALL.

What’s YOUR call? Oh, in case you haven’t already guessed … that little boy and that little girl, are your Pastor and his wife! And how we LOVE the call that God has given us to serve you and teach you and nurture you! “That is why we always pray for you. We ask our God to make you worthy of the life He has called you to live. May He fulfill by His power all your desire for goodness and complete your work of faith.” II Thessalonians 1:11 (Good News Translation)

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- GOD’S WAYS NEVER CEASE TO AMAZE US as He meets with us each week with a fresh touch of His love and His Spirit! Coming to God’s House is always inviting and exciting, and He never disappoints us!
- A SPECIAL WELCOME to Maddie, who worshipped with us this past Sunday for the first time, and even helped sing and lead our praise time!
- HUGE THANKS & APPRECIATION to Isaac for the incredible job he is doing with Power Point for worship! Your talent is helping us focus on the heart of worship! AND … BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS to Isaac, who celebrates his birthday on Monday, May 17th! Have an incredible year!
- LOVING BIRTHDAY WISHES, also on May 17th, to Gloria Lundstrom, and LaDawn Lundstrom! God bless you, dear friends and partners in the gospel of Christ!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, MAY 16TH:
- 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE, continuing with part two of the series on “A Heart That Seeks To Follow Hard After God.” Do you want to learn more about pursuing God passionately? Come and drink in!
- 11:15 A.M. – SUNDAY SCHOOL – with prepared teachers and awesome lessons from God’s Word for each age group! Don’t miss out!
- YOUTH: RE: FUEL session/activity TODAY following church, with Pastor Doug in Justin’s absence. Bring money for lunch, we’ll hang out during lunch hour, then head to Adventure Greens for some miniature golf, and complete the event with a short devotional time! Invite your friends for some fun in the sun!
- NOTE: Due to the afternoon youth activity, the “Come and Sing Your Heart Out” event is being moved to Sunday, June 6th. Following worship and Sunday School, there will be a potluck meal – with meat and beverages being furnished – just bring a dish to pass! Then stay and sing, sing, sing ~ any and all of your favorite songs!
- SUNDAY, JUNE 13th: SPECIAL CHILDREN’S SERVICE … for you kids, all about you kids!!! It’s YOUR day!!! We are ALL kids at heart, aren’t we?!
- RELAY FOR LIFE … July 16/17 … let’s get all of Elevation North involved; chat with Sean about the details!
- WOMEN OF FAITH … Mid-October … put aside a few dollars each week, and you’ll be all set to go! Our goal is 50 … that’s FIFTY … women to go and experience the weekend of a lifetime!!! See Tina or Deb for more info!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- THE BEST TIME TO PRAY ~ is anytime, all the time, right now! We continue to lift up several in our church family for healing; for the Rogers family as they move across town; for Justin at Guards this weekend; for opportunities to bless and support the Seykoras and the Lundstroms as they serve so faithfully reaching the lost and building up the believers; for our nation to return to God; and for the provision of a suitable facility for Elevation North as we continue to grow and expand for the glory of God! Let’s thank Him in advance!

- THIS WEEK . . . Remember, “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!

THANKS, MOM . . . for looking at me through Jesus’ eyes all my life long! That’s what moms who know Jesus do, you know! Or at least, we’re supposed to look at our children that way! It makes all the difference in how we see ourselves ~ when the ones who love us see the God-given potential within us. What our moms saw in us from the very beginning was “diamonds in the rough”! Yup … they looked past the wailing cries and the messy faces and the dirty diapers ~ and they saw the promise that God had placed within us. While walking the floors and holding us close in the wee hours of the morning, while doing loads and loads of laundry filled with stained bibs and baby clothes … somehow they saw glimpses of a polished gem. So they just kept on wiping the excess baby food off our faces – and they kept the prayers going heavenward, all the while kind of wondering just what God was shaping their baby into! Well, as they experienced all the ensuing stages … they hung right in there with us, never leaving our sides. They cheered us on and took time to be “mom” ~ playing, reading, laughing, and making up stories to go along with the real ones that we begged them to tell us over and over. There were the Bible stories, the prayers … all the way from the short, simple ones that we understood as toddlers – all the way to those urgent, SOS, intercessory prayers she prayed as she stood in the gap for us as we changed and grew into adults ourselves! I think what makes our mom so special is that she will set aside anything and everything she has planned – just to be there for us. And when we saw her there at our concerts and recitals, our plays and programs, our sports competitions and speech meets, we really didn’t have a clue as to all she had awaiting her back at home. How did she ever get her things done, when it seemed that all her time was wrapped up in caring for us? I wonder how many times she ran to Jesus for help to cover all the bases that she was responsible for? I’m so glad her belief in me far outweighed any doubts she might have had as she watched the progress of her “diamond in the rough”! I wonder if it was her ability to “see” the clarity and brilliance of the diamond from the beginning that allowed her to see straight through the “rough” and unpolished diamond that we once were. When others couldn’t envision the dreams that we excitedly talked about, she not only caught the dream, but fanned the flame! Could we have had a more devoted supporter, a more willing helper, a more awesome prayer partner? A truer friend? No, NONE!!! She rejoiced as she saw the “rough” fall off the diamond, bit by bit. But she loved us none the less no matter how rough we were! That’s why it’s so easy and so right to honor her on this day so aptly called “Mother’s Day”! While she saw us as “diamonds” – it was really the other way around. Maybe we didn’t see it as clearly then. But we sure do now! As the years have passed by, the “diamond” she truly is has become more highly polished in our sight, a more priceless treasure that we no longer take for granted. We look forward to time in her presence … or if long-distance … on the phone! We invite her advice and seek out her wisdom. We want to know her thoughts and it gives us great joy to please her! We thank God for her … the chosen one to bring us into this world as a “diamond in the rough”. And all our life long, it has been this same chosen one we lovingly call “mother” who has polished and prayed the roughness away until we have become so much more reflective in our brilliance … reflective of the One who created us to be the rare and unique diamond that our moms knew we were all along! Thank you, my dear moms, for patterning your lives after Christ, for showing me the way to Him and giving me beautiful examples of how to draw ever closer to Him every day. And now our girls and granddaughters are emulating this godly lifestyle, and the diamonds they are – are sparkling brighter with each passing day! And me? Here I am tucked in the middle of these two generations … so how can I not be blessed?! As a mom, I am both learner and teacher … and I find myself being polished to a higher sheen on all sides. Sometimes it’s pleasant; sometimes, painful. But I’d have it no other way! Thank you, God, for this privilege like no other, called simply, “being a mom’! May it be said of us, like the Proverbs 31 woman, that we are “worth far more than diamonds”! Some things you just cannot put a price on ~ like mothers!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- EACH LORD’S DAY IS UNIQUE in itself, and this past Sunday was both precious and powerful as Pastor Doug centered the service around the meaning of Communion and how our participation in what God offers, is life-changing!
- WELCOME BACK to Dan, who came to worship with us on Sunday! It was great having you back in our midst, and may God’s blessings be yours in full measure, Dan!
- HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES to … Lylia, A.J., Elyse, and Mitch! May God give each of you a great year!!!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, MAY 9TH: HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to all our moms ~ with our love and prayers!
- 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE with a beautiful gift for each of our mothers ~ and a special Mother’s Day message straight from the Word of God and from your pastor’s heart!
- 11:15 A.M. – SUNDAY SCHOOL – with exciting lesson material taught by teachers who love the Lord and are excited about sharing with the students – of ALL ages! Come and be a part!
- NO YOUTH this evening, so that families can be together to celebrate the moms in their lives! Justin will be getting in touch with the youth for a RE: FUEL session during the week. Who can you invite to come along?!
- NEXT SUNDAY AFTERNOON, MAY 16th: ‘A COME-AND-SING-YOUR-HEART-OUT’ event … choose all your favorite songs and we’ll all sing along! Bring a light dessert to munch on during the fellowship time that follows! Call for the time and for the details! Bring along all your music-loving friends!
- WAYS YOU CAN BE INVOLVED: Saving ink cartridges for office rewards $ (our special thanks to Laura for all the cartridges she has turned in to us these past two months!) … turning your commitment sheets in to Sean for Relay for Life – and getting pledges and checks … sharing an extra love offering towards the extra expense of the new projector for Power Point – or – towards the rental of the room for the recent Mother’s Day Tea (our special thanks to Hazel for a fabulous, memorable afternoon with such a delightful theme and decorations, AND for such interesting, incredibly delicious refreshments – served in such appealing ways! And … provided by her loving generosity! May God bless you, Hazel, even as you blessed all of us!)

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- HOW WE LOVE SEEING GOD AT WORK, right here at Elevation North and in our own families! God is SO good! Let’s be in prayer for healing for Tina, for Shirley, for Julia, and others; for the Seykora’s and their new little boy, Caleb Liam, born April 29th!; for Cierra as she spends the summer with her family in Michigan; for our nation and its future and its leaders – that God might be given first place in all things; and for God to continue to grow Elevation North spiritually and in every other way, all for HIS glory! Let’s praise Him!!!

- THIS WEEK . . . Remember, “Some people make the world special just by being in it!” ~ Unknown


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

UNLIMITED POTENTIAL! That’s what YOU’VE got!!! It’s a gift from God … but you’ve got to open it and use it everyday! Look at where you’re standing now ~ what a breathtaking view! The entire universe stretches across the horizon – and it’s all yours for the taking! But just eighteen short years ago, we were the ones standing there ~ gazing at the breathtaking view of our first granddaughter … fresh from Heaven! What a gift you were then, and what a gift you are now! And you’re just about to step across the stage of accomplishment with all of the other high school seniors to receive your diploma. Countdown! To your future … to God’s perfect plans for you! Flashbacks show us awaiting your arrival, your parents at the hospital for that long, drawn-out twenty-four hours – and us, eleven hundred miles away, praying in the day-time and praying through the night. And then there was that magical moment when your daddy told me to listen through the phone, and I heard this constant, little “thump, thump, thump” of your heart! So far away, yet I could hear our first grandbaby’s heartbeat with you still nestled inside your mommy. The labor was long and hard, and as morning dawned after a long night of praying, I “saw” a white flowing form in the delivery room that I know was Jesus. I caught my breath and said, “Jesus, You’re there! I don’t have to be! Now I know that everything will be fine! Thank You, Lord!” With Jesus standing by, exactly at 5:07 p.m. on September 17, 1991 … you, Whitney Danielle Jones, breathed your first God-given breath! And you’ve been going strong ever since! There’s been nothing you couldn’t do that you put your mind to: a whirlwind of energy, you pushed to do the unimaginable; either astounding your parents to the point of amazement, wonder, and pride – or – driving them to sheer frustration at your strong-willed antics! (Let’s write a book ~ it would definitely be a best-seller!) You fell in love with Jesus early, and there wasn’t a friend that you didn’t tell about Him – you didn’t care what they thought. You just knew if they wanted to be your friend, they had to take Jesus, too! You may not have realized it back then, but Jesus was still standing by … and He was so touched by your passion for Him! The years zoomed by and an insatiable love of music and rock stars took over; you devoured the notes and the lyrics and learned so much about their lives that you could have been their private biographer. You drew posters and wore their t-shirts. But Jesus was still standing by … and He wasn’t going to let the world steal you away! While in high school, you met “that special someone” from Utah, and so many states away in Michigan, you’ve devoted countless hours to that relationship over the phone. You two have logged more hours of communication in just a few years – than most married couples do in many, many years! And in all of that chatting, Jesus was still standing by … when you introduced Alex to Jesus, and later he asked Him into His heart! Now, in a few short weeks, the world will await you on the horizon of your life, Whitney. It’s all there … the good and the bad. The beautiful and the ugly. The opportunities and the hard times. The joys and the struggles. The love and the hate. The easy and the difficult. The decisions and the indecision. The choices and the consequences. The godly influences and the pull of evil. The celebrations of milestones and the tears in sad and trying times. The special moments and the routine hours. The dreams for today and tomorrow or the regret over yesterday. The devotion to God or lack of it. It’s all going to be there for you when you cross that stage … and best of all, Jesus will be standing there, smiling at you … and He will walk across that stage with you into your future! You will never be alone. You will never have to wonder if He’s going with you or before you. He will be! That’s His promise! It’s like a wedding vow … He promises to be with you in “all” the times of your life, Whitney. Thank you for being our granddaughter … for blessing us in countless ways! Every day it is our special privilege to lift you before the Lord and claim all of His good and perfect gifts for you! May you always envision God’s full potential for your life, Whitney, and we will always be standing with you, as well, loving and nurturing and praying you to your fullest potential in Christ! Congratulations, granddaughter, on all of your accomplishments, commitment and gifts that have brought you to this memorable day in your life! We love you, Whitney! May God’s blessings and favor rest upon you always, we pray!

(Audience of readers, we thank you for allowing us to share these personal thoughts with you in this season of graduation for so many students. And to our own Elevation North graduate, Chaya, consider this our tribute to you, as well. You have your own story, which is written on the hearts of your family and friends, which includes us! Thank you for touching our lives, and remember that Jesus will always be standing with you … today as we celebrate you, and every day of your future!)

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- WE LOVED GATHERING together in the House of the Lord, lifting our voices in praise, and being fed by His Word! Pastor Doug challenged us to take a look at “What True Salvation Really Is!” (Matthew 15)
- A SPECIAL WELCOME to Jesse, who joined us for worship for the first time! It was great having you with us!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, MAY 2ND: GRADUATION SUNDAY
- 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE with COMMUNION, focusing on “A Heart that Seeks to Follow Hard after God.” Who do you know who wants to know God better and walk more closely to Him? Invite them to come!
- 11:15 A.M. – SUNDAY SCHOOL – with classes for everyone! Our special thanks to Cierra, who has taught the little ones and will be going to visit family for the summer ~ we’ll miss you SO much! May God go with you and make you a blessing, even as you are blessed! And welcome to Liz, who has offered to step in and teach … we’re glad to have you on board!
- 6:00-7:30 P.M. – YOUTH: RE: FUEL session at Clinton Falls with Justin! Enjoy a powerful lesson AND the outdoors! Be sure to call friends … let’s double our group, and then double it again! And again!
- MAY 1ST, Saturday, at 2:30 P.M. – MOTHER/DAUGHTER TEA with gourmet refreshments from “Hazel’s Bistro”, in a setting of butterfly decorations/music/theme, and the message, “Set Free ~ To Fly” shared by Debbie. We still have a few open spots; hurry and call us with your reservation! It will be an outstanding time!
- SUNDAY, MAY 9th – A SPECIAL MOTHER’S DAY SERVICE … honoring all of our mothers and women!
- OTHER INFO TO KEEP IN MIND: Save your ink cartridges for office reward $ for our church / Share in our special fund for the extra expense for the new projector / Be working on Relay for Life contributions / Start saving $ for and planning to attend Women of Faith in the fall / Hymn Sing tentatively set for May 16th.

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- WE SHOULD COUNT IT OUR HIGHEST PRIVILEGE to thank God for Who He is … and for all He does for us! Let’s remember several urgent, unspoken requests; be in prayer for the Larry Lundstrom Ministries annual board meeting this coming week; lift up the Seykora’s as they anticipate the birth of baby #2 any day now, as well as for an upcoming trip home this summer to see family and friends and raise needed support; healing for several in our church family; and that Pastor & Debbie might be able to return to full-time ministry soon!

- THIS WEEK . . . Remember, “We better pay attention to the future, because that’s where we’re going to spend the rest of our lives!” ~ Unknown


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

“AND I RUN TO YOU”! There’s a new song out right now that has hit the charts in a big way, and all I knew about it was that I heard it played over and over during the course of my shifts at work … day after day. Actually, it was one of those that kind of popped out at me, in the midst of all those you hear time and time again. Most often, when you are focusing on something else, the music and lyrics just kind of get lost in the background. So to say that the music and words caught my attention means that something about it stood out above the rest of the songs. Well, at least for me. I think it was the words, “and I run to you” – not that it was written about God, but every time I’d hear those words, something inside me would be stirred. All I could think of was running to Jesus! Then one evening during one of those rare opportunities to flip through a few TV channels, we came across an outdoor concert and there was a group singing this same song! Seeing them, put voices and personalities to that song, and the very next time I heard it at work, it brought new meaning to it! I couldn’t help but think about how like us and God that is. All of our lives many of us have heard about God, heard about how He is there for us, and even heard about how He is coming back for us – soon. And after awhile, it’s like we don’t really hear it anymore. It gets lost in the noise of life. It gets shut out. Muffled. We might think, “Hey, that’s not me. I always try to live in an awareness of God and His presence in my life.” But if we were all to be honest, the urgency of God’s voice prompting us to point people to Him so they’ll be ready too, has gotten dimmed. Do we really live life with Eternity in sight … or do we just live with our work places in sight? Do we live life running to Jesus and pursuing the lost with His message of hope … or do we just run after the elusive things and pursue our own interests? Are we even just … waiting? Are we waiting with expectation and excitement? Are we waiting … knowing He could come yet today? Or tomorrow? If we really knew how soon He was coming, wouldn’t that change the way we spend our time and effort and money? These past few days as God has put this message on my heart, my mind has gone back to a story about our youngest son when he was just a toddler and we were attending the national church conference in Wheaton, Illinois. Let me share what I penned back then (on July 19, 1989). “I had taken Dusty (our three and a half year old) to the location of the children’s session so I could join the adults at the Chapel for the worship hour and business session. When I left him, he was rather tearful, having just awakened; and besides that, he did not know a single little person in that room. When I returned three hours later to pick him up, my heart was so touched. Seeing each other across the room, I exclaimed, “Dusty!” and he shouted out, “Mommy!” and ran quickly to my outstretched arms. His swift strides began with a smile – but by the time he reached me and I swept him up in my arms, he burst into sad sobs and cried with emotion, “Mommy, I waited so long for you to come!” (end of quote) I have a feeling that those three hours seemed like an eternity to such a little boy, and I’ve asked myself what must have been going through his mind. But he waited, and waited, and waited. He waited bravely – he wasn’t crying when I arrived. He had held on, because he knew his mommy. He knew that she would come. I’m sure he had thought I would come much quicker than I did. Yet he didn’t give up! He just kept expecting me to walk through that door … and finally that moment came … and I DID! And just as surely as I walked through that door to get our little boy, so Jesus will come for His children someday – a day known only to the Father. We need to be ready! We need to help others get ready! When we “see” Jesus now, do we run to His outstretched arms? I think I understand Dusty’s tears of joy. When the time comes for me to be swept up into the arms of God, I’m sure I will cry with emotion, “Oh Jesus, I’ve waited so long for you to come!” But until then, may His Spirit of renewal and revival cause us to return to our first love, seeking HIM first of all. May the sparks of emotion and depths of love well up in our soul as once again we sit at the feet of Jesus, having fallen in love with Him all over again. Lord, give us hungering spirits that need to be filled, quench our thirst, and after we have been broken, pour us out so that we may be filled with YOU! Lord, help us “run to You” so that we can “run with Your message of salvation to a world who is destitute without You”. May we be used like never before, dear people! We challenge you to make yourselves available for His Kingdom work – and be amazed at how He will use you!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- GOD BLESSES US each week in new and fresh ways as His Spirit comes afresh into our midst to minister to each of us personally, and to us corporately as a church family! Pastor Doug preached from Galatians 5 on being set free in Christ, and having freedom from the bondages that we often find ourselves placed into.
- WELCOME BACK to Judy who was able to join us again for worship and fellowship! May God bless you, Judy!
- SPECIAL BELATED BIRTHDAY WISHES (April 12th) to Noah on his 2nd birthday! We miss you since you moved away!!!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, APRIL 25TH:
- 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE – with Pastor Doug continuing in the New Testament, this time from Luke chapter 11, on “Asking and Seeking God With All Our Hearts”. Who can you invite to bring along with you to God’s House this Lord’s Day? They’ll be so glad you asked!
- 11:15 A.M. – SUNDAY SCHOOL – with a class just for you that will connect your heart to God’s Word!
- 6:00-7:30 P.M. – YOUTH: RE: FUEL session at Clinton Falls … Justin is back! Don’t miss what is planned for YOU and your friends!
- MAY 1ST, Saturday, at 2:30 P.M. – MOTHER/DAUGHTER TEA with a “Butterfly Transformation” theme planned by Hazel - to be held at Senior Place. Truly a delightful time that you will want to share with every mom, daughter, sister, and friend that you know! Get your reservations in right away and we’ll see YOU there!
- SUNDAY, MAY 2ND: WORSHIP AND COMMUNION, and the honoring of our high school graduate, Chaya!
- SPECIAL FUND – if you feel led to help out with the extra expenses for the projector that we purchased with the generous donation given towards this ministry tool for worship, please note “special fund” on your check!
- CONTINUE PLANNING for RELAY FOR LIFE and WOMEN OF FAITH, coming later this year! More to come!
- HYMN SING – coming in the month of May, with a time of fellowship and refreshments, will be scheduled on a Sunday afternoon! Plan to come and sing your heart out!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- GOD NEVER SLEEPS! Aren’t you glad He’s always awake and watching over us? Whatever is heavy on our hearts, He knows about and is actively engaged in working it out for His glory! Every need that touches our church family in some way, we are trusting for our God to do His personal work in each of our circumstances! Continue to pray for God to open doors for full-time support for Pastor and Debbie in ministry and for a facility that will help Elevation North offer all of the ministries we desire to share with our community!

- THIS WEEK . . . Remember, “He loves each one of us, as if there were only one of us.” ~ Augustine


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

“THERE IS NO GREATER EXERCISE FOR THE HEART THAN REACHING DOWN AND LIFTING SOMEONE UP!” (Unknown) What’s that? Oh, you don’t like to exercise? Well, it’s true that most people aren’t crazy about it … yet they force themselves to pay big money to go to health clubs and get on exercise machines and work up a sweat – and then they are sore for days afterwards!! And all the while, they’d rather be home chillin’ out on the couch and munchin’ on snacks! If you are one of those self-motivated individuals, you can save the money and exercise at home ~ but even some of the most dedicated will “fall off the bandwagon” from time to time, reverting back to their old ways. So … it all comes down to the fact that exercising has to become a lifestyle, a new way of life, for it to have any long-lasting benefits. Or we just go through the motions – for nothing! Well, it’s the same for “heart exercises” in the spiritual sense. And, it’s the same for “heart exercises” in our relationships. Let me share a few examples. Even at this moment as I write this, there is a young woman in our church who is on the phone long-distance with her mom, praying with her to invite Jesus into her heart to become her personal Savior! This gal has been talking with her mom several times a week, sharing what Christ means to her. She hasn’t pushed her mom, but has just kept on talking about Jesus as naturally as she would share anything else. While her mom has always held God at arm’s length, she has recently received some huge miracles from Him. And this last one was so dramatic, perhaps it was the turning point that drew her to open her heart just a bit more – until tonight, she was ready to say “yes” to Christ! That’s the beauty of “reaching down and lifting someone up.” You see, Tina has been there for her mom through thick and thin. She has exercised her heart and shown love beyond her own, so that finally now as her mom’s heart has softened, she was able to experience the rich gift of leading her own mom to the Lord! What can be better than that?! And what better benefit can you get from “exercising” than that?! Like I told her … ALL OF HEAVEN IS REJOICING!!! And then, there’s the opposite effect of what happens when we don’t exercise our heart by reaching down and lifting someone up. It’s called “contamination” – it’s what happens when we tear others down by our words and our actions. Just this week I’ve witnessed that as I heard someone’s loud voice with very angry overtones demeaning another … out of my eyesight, but not earshot. Hearing it made me squirm for them, and when they came to me around the corner, this person was visibly shaken and was fighting back the tears, not totally successful. Deeply hurt, not understanding, she retreated out of public view, and though I had tried to comfort her and reassure her, I could tell she felt sliced and torn to shreds. I couldn’t help but wonder, “why” do adults do these things to each other? Shouldn’t we know better than to hurt another like this? I guess people would know, if they had taken the time to exercise their hearts by reaching down and lifting someone else up! That should be a great incentive for us! Just think, exercising this way will bring about a heart that is strong spiritually, a heart that is filled to overflowing, a heart that pours out what God has poured in. God’s Word explains it this way: “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34b, NIV) You see, what’s inside, comes out. The Message Bible, same verse, defines it this way: “It’s your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words.” Now, one last, very precious example … our second son and his family blessed us by coming this past weekend from Michigan to lift us up. They drove ten hours each way to spend two and a half days with us ~ and we squeezed into every hour, every ounce of togetherness and enjoyment that we could! Dana and Stacey shared their love and encouraged us in so many ways – it was like a drink of fresh water just when we needed it most! Whitney, who will graduate in about six weeks, sat up in bed late at night while I sat on the edge and we talked and talked, mostly about things of God, and then we held hands and prayed together. Dylan became our devoted helper and even took on the assistant chef title as we gathered in the kitchen to make a special family dinner that first evening. Thanks for the hugs, the fun, the talks … and for the gift of time – two and a half days to escape our crazy work schedule and to be blessed by you! You are all a priceless gift from God! You definitely reached down and lifted us up! And now we challenge each of you reading this: set a new goal and make the decision to exercise your heart … by reaching down and lifting someone up! The rewards are great!!!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE SUNDAY as together we experienced God in so many ways … through uplifting worship songs, in fellowship with each other, bowing before our Lord in prayer and pouring out our hearts … giving Him a portion of what He’s given to us … and being challenged by a very powerful message by Pastor Doug as he preached about “The Seven-Fold Commitment to Promises Worth Keeping”. Let’s DO it!
- HOW WE LOVED having our family, Dana and Stacey & Whitney and Dylan, (from Michigan) with us this past Sunday morning! Thanks for coming ~ we love you all!
- SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WISHES to Caia ~ and to my mom in ND on her 86th birthday, both on April 15th … and to Hazel on April 17th! May all of you be blessed by God above with His very best gifts!
- OUR SPECIAL THANKS to the Bucholz family for their generous donation for a new projector to use for Power Point presentations in our services! How you’ve blessed us as a congregation with your prayers and loving support! May God bless you richly for sharing so faithfully!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, APRIL 18TH:
- 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE – with Pastor Doug beginning a new sermon series to be announced on Sunday! Call a friend and bring them with you to Elevation North this Sunday!
- 11:15 A.M. – SUNDAY SCHOOL – with classes for all ages that will take you deeper into God’s Word!
- 6:00-7:30 P.M. – YOUTH: RE: FUEL session with Cierra at Pastor D’s and Debbie’s home. Don’t miss out!!!
- MAY 1ST, Saturday, at 2:30 P.M. – MOTHER/DAUGHTER TEA … come and join us in this “Butterfly Transformation” time being planned by Hazel! Let’s reach out to family and friends for this wondrous event! Be sure to pick up some decorative butterfly invitations to give to them! Your pastor’s wife, Debbie, will be sharing the message ~ and there will be mouth-watering refreshments and fun prizes!
- RELAY FOR LIFE – is scheduled for July 16-17 this year, and Sean is our new captain for the Elevation North team. Let’s support this worthy cause by getting as many donations as possible for the fight against cancer!
- WOMEN OF FAITH – is slated to be at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul this fall – dates to be announced.

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- OUR GOD CONTINUES TO AMAZE US! Let’s remember Tina’s mom, Sean, Julia and her brother, Justin, Lundstroms, Seykoras, several in search of extra jobs/more hours, and … a place to worship with more space!

- THIS WEEK . . . 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!

GREAT EXPECTATIONS! We all have them. Well, for many Americans and others around the world, maybe our expectations have changed a bit now from what they were a few years ago. Maybe now, our great expectations are enough money to pay the bills and put food on the table. Enough hours on the job to meet the budget. Or perhaps, even a job to begin with. What we had hoped to accomplish in the next five years … well, we feel like we’re still at the starting gate. The signal gun goes off and though we put our best efforts forward, the end of the track seems forever indomitable. We keep putting one foot in front of the other, but how come the black-checkered flag never seems to appear? Am I hitting a nerve that most everyone is feeling right now? And whatever happened to those original great expectations that we had? Another question: “WHAT ARE WE HUNGRY FOR?” Maybe in survival mode people give up on what seems extraordinary. Maybe they board the train of “just getting by because nothing seems to ever work out – nothing different or bigger or greater seems to be happening”. They’re on board the train, but didn’t notice when they got on that there was no destination posted. It just goes and goes and goes, on a never-ending circular track. There’s never a place to stop or a place to get off. We soon settle for any kind of dry crumbs because we’ve basically almost forgotten what a warm, moist, freshly-baked chocolate chip scone tastes like. It’s no longer a part of our thought process. But why isn’t it? In this post-Easter week, I’m once again awed at the glorious signs of spring’s arrival. As I’ve gazed at the popping green grass and emerging perennials, I make myself sit down for a few moments and glory in the sights that have long been dormant through the cold, grey months we call “winter”. And I begin to wonder if our spiritual expectations are no longer great, either. Have they, too, changed? When we first asked Jesus to come into our hearts, there was a newness ~ a freshness, that we could not explain. But we definitely could not deny it. It was the driving force of our very lives, of each new day. It carried us above the mundane, the mediocre. Far above. It birthed our great expectations, and then ignited our child-like faith to believe for more than just the ordinary. That included everything we needed for our daily living: our home, our food and clothing, our jobs, our transportation – all of our basic necessities. And then we dared to step out in faith and ask for more. We dared to ask that God would bless us, and bless us indeed. We dared to ask that God would enlarge our territories and boundaries. We dared to ask that God would put His hand on us. We even dared to ask that God would keep us from evil so that we would not cause harm or pain. (I Chronicles 4:9-10) At times in our lives, as God’s children, we get it right – at least most of the time. At least, the times that we are keeping our eyes on Jesus. Then 9/11 happens. The economic downturn happens. Earthquakes and hurricanes and tsunamis happen. Well, maybe not in our neighborhood. But eventually all of these traumatic events affect us either directly or indirectly. And we forget what God wanted us TO BE HUNGRY FOR. In the aftermath of these debilitating forces, we often curl up in the fetal position and wring our hands in despair – forgetting that God wants us to excel during these times, even in extraordinary ways. These are the days that we should have greater expectations than ever before! These are the days when God wants to show the world through us WHO He really is and WHAT He is about. We cannot do that curled up in the fetal position. We need to be stretched out on that race track, extended to the fullest strides through the power of the Lord Jesus Christ … physically, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and yes, financially. God WANTS to bless His people, so that we can glorify Him and be a bigger part of His Kingdom work on this earth. But that takes “right thinking” … “God-thinking” … “break-the-barrier” thinking … and “thinking outside the box”! It takes “taking God at His Word” thinking. Then, we’ll be able to reach more people than ever before with the amazing message of Christ, impacting lives for eternity. After all, isn’t THAT what we are TO BE HUNGRY FOR? Souls! Let’s not only be hungry for the fulfilled, abundant life that God wants to give us … but for souls to fill Heaven up with!!! You see, God can take our greatest expectations and turn them into realities! So … let’s be EXPECTING “above and beyond” … and see what God will do through us!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- WHAT A GREAT RESURRECTION SUNDAY we shared together as we were blessed with the sweetness of the presence of the Lord! From the empty cross to the Easter flowers, from the vibrant singing to the inspiring message about the power of the risen Christ, from the excitement of the little ones going on their Easter Egg Hunt to the relaxed fellowship of the adults over the delicious refreshments – it was a blessed morning enjoyed by all! Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped in so many ways!
- SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WISHES to Jimmy, who celebrated his birthday on April 5th! May God bless you with your best year ever, is our prayer!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, APRIL 11TH:
- 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE – This promises to be a memorable Sunday as Pastor Doug shares “The Seven-Fold Commitment to Promises Worth Keeping” – recapping the 50-Day Spiritual Adventure and spurring us on to godly life-changes that will be lasting! Don’t miss out on this challenge to step up your walk with the Lord, taking it to the next level with His help!
- 6:00-7:30 P.M. – YOUTH: RE: FUEL session at the home of Pastor D and Debbie! An awesome evening of devotions, fun, food … and so much more, is being planned! Think about who you can call or text and invite to come along with you!
- REPORT! Over 25 Easter meals were provided for the homeless that come to the Union Gospel Mission looking for help. Thank you for your part in touching the lives of 25 people, filling them with a warm meal and a gift of hope through the message of God’s love that they heard that day!
- MAY 1st, Saturday, at 2:30 P.M. – MOTHER/DAUGHTER TEA centered around a “Butterfly Transformation” theme, with decorations and gourmet refreshments by Hazel, and an uplifting message by your pastor’s wife, Debbie. This will be a great opportunity for fun and fellowship with moms/sisters/daughters/grammas/and friends, so pick up some invitations and begin to encourage someone or several to attend with you! (No cost!)

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD!!! We continue to hear of answered prayers and we continue to trust God in faith for answers to come ~ for YOU, for us, for others, and for our church family! Let’s be on our knees for our nation and for its leaders, that we might return to a dependency on God Almighty! Let’s keep each other’s names on our lips - for healing, for jobs, for financial provision, for peace in the midst of trials! Let’s seek God for His perfect will concerning a place with more space for our Elevation North church family! He can do it!

- THIS WEEK . . . Remember God’s promise to us: “I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palm of my hands.” Isaiah 49:15-16


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

IN DEATH … OUR LIFE REVEALS WHO WE REALLY WERE! Just stand in the wings around a family when their loved one is close to death, and remain close by through the days following their final moments on earth. Walk beside them in the hospital or in the nursing home or at the funeral home, and finally at the church. Even if you didn’t know the person at all, by the time you’ve seen all their family and friends, neighbors and acquaintances – and listened to them share how they felt about the person now gone … you’ll feel like you knew them pretty well! And amazingly, what stands out from everything else, is the heart of who they were. You’ll hear about how they touched others and what defined who they really were - at the core of their heart. That’s exactly what I experienced this past week, when my youngest sister, Darlene, and I traveled out to North Dakota to be by our Aunt Vivian’s side and tell her how much we have loved and appreciated her all these years. Especially since the sudden death of our dad when we were still teens and children living at home with our mother! Her love and compassion shone, and she was faithful with birthday cards and Christmas letters. Every time we saw her (maybe once a year – or less), she affirmed us lovingly with her words and hugs. She would always tuck some of her hard-earned money in the cards, and somehow we felt as if it was her way of trying to fill a part of the gap that our dad’s death left. And since Aunt Vivian’s Home-going was during this Holy Week preceding Resurrection Sunday, my mind did back-flips and landed on the hill of Golgotha where there was another Person struggling for what would soon be His last breath as He hung there on that rough-hewn cross. I stood at first far back … I could see that Jesus (that was His Name) was close to death. The breaths came in excruciating, shortened gasps. Something in how He was suffering drew me closer. I stepped out of the safe boundaries and into that risky place where when I looked into His eyes, I had to face the fact that His suffering was – for ME! I remained close by, because I dared not move … not even an inch away, for fear that I’d miss what defined this Man who was dying – for ME! I had walked along the path where He drug the cross. I had watched. I saw, but I didn’t fully understand. The drops of blood. The torn flesh. The mocking crown of thorns. The breathing was becoming only intermittent as the final breath drew near. It broke my heart to think that His life would soon be over: the love, the compassion, and this … this death. It seemed to transcend the normal end of life. It seemed to hold hope … and life … and promise. But it was more than I could fathom. And then the end came. The people came. They talked, they shared. They remembered, they recalled. The love, the care. The miracles, the out-of-ordinary life He lived. The stories He told. The lives He changed. The message they could not get out of their minds ~ because it had changed their hearts. And then I realized something: in His death … His life revealed who He really was. Or rather, who He really IS. Because that final breath on the cross was not the end. It was only the beginning, at least – FOR ME. It was wrapped in shrouded cloths - for a short time. It was still and lifeless – for a short time. It was sealed off from the world, from all of humanity – for a short time. It breathed not – for a short time. But in that short time – eternity was taking shape. Life was getting ready – to burst forth. Hope would not be held back. The cloths could not contain His life – or the life He was bringing me … and you. The breathless form would not remain lifeless. The tomb could not contain the One who eternity was created for. In that electrifying, transforming moment in Time … all of earth stopped, but Jesus moved. He moved - out of His grave-cloths. He moved – towards those He loved. He moved – to bring them, and us, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He moved – in a flash of Resurrection Power – to His Throne. And this world will never, ever be the same. He breathes again. He lives again. He reigns forever and ever. He awaits us, even now. The cross is empty. The tomb is empty. Heaven is filled – with our future! The gap is filled. And we weep no more. Aunt Vivian, we’ll see you soon!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- THIS PAST SUNDAY was rich with the presence and the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, as Pastor Doug challenged the church to “Influence our Worlds with the Love of Christ” – another learning point as we head down the home-stretch on our spiritual adventure!
- SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WISHES to Darrius, who celebrates his birthday on April 2nd! God bless you, Darrius!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, APRIL 4th, RESURRECTION SUNDAY CELEBRATION! Rejoice, Christ is RISEN!!!
- 9:00 A.M. – EASTER WORSHIP & PRAISE (Note earlier time schedule for this week only!) Come and join us in lively worship as we celebrate this special time in the life of the church! Thorns give way to lilies, and forgiveness gives way to freedom! Pastor Doug will be preaching the concluding message of our 50-Day Spiritual Adventure: “Living One Day at a Time through the Power of the Risen Christ”. Get excited about the transforming changes that God has in store for us!
- EASTER EGG HUNT – outdoors on the lawn, for all of the Sunday School children following our worship time!
- EASTER FELLOWSHIP – with juice and rolls for the church family, following the worship celebration!
- NO YOUTH RE: FUEL session this evening. Enjoy Easter with your family!
- THANK YOU for sharing delicious Easter meals and life-changing messages with those in need at the Union Gospel Mission. An updated report with totals will be shared next week!
- MAY 1ST, Saturday, 2:30 P.M. – MOTHER/DAUGHTER TEA with Hazel’s special touch! Plan NOW to invite your family and friends for a delightful time! You won’t want to miss this incredible afternoon!
- A NEW SLATE OF FUN CHURCH EVENTS is underway; be watching for how YOU can be involved, in leadership and with participation!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- Isaiah 30:18 tells us that the Lord longs to be gracious to us! That means that He loves to intervene and answer and give to us His good and perfect gifts! We praise the Lord for safe travels over spring break for so many of our church families, and how we thank God and rejoice that the doctors found Tina’s mom’s heart to be in perfect rhythm and didn’t need to do the procedure! We continue to trust God for miracles for Julia and her brother needing the liver transplant; for healing for Helen, for Jeff, for Michael, for Shirley, and many others. We know God can bring about the sale of the Bucholz home, and meet financial needs for many in our midst, that God might be glorified! We are trusting God for a home for our church, for the return of our nation to God, for protection for our military, for energizing of God’s people, and anointing and strength for Ron and Lundstroms and Seykoras as they share Christ here and abroad. Let’s be engaged in daily prayer for each other, as well!

- THIS WEEK . . . “Lift up your eyes. The heavenly Father wants to bless you ~ in inconceivable ways to make your life what you never dreamed it could be.” ~ Anne Ortlund


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

SUFFERING. None of us like it. None of us run after it. Most of us dread it. Some even fear it. And it is never an invited guest. Yet, it can and does effect great changes within and without. Most often, suffering has a negative connotation. Webster defines it as: “undergoing pain and unpleasantness”. Who of us can identify with those feelings? Yes, we hear you. We know. Because we’ve been there, too. We’ve been in those hurting places … in body and soul. While at the outset, suffering is better known as physical, it is just as painful when it is emotional or mental or financial. It is multi-dimensional. It is also spiritual. WHAT? Yes, we heard that, too! No, we haven’t “lost it”! While God wants us free and healed and victorious in our lives as believers, there is also another facet to suffering that we often overlook. And what might that be? Well, believe it or not, there’s actually a positive side to suffering. After all, who of us would want to suffer for no reason at all? What’s that saying … “no pain, no gain”! Be that as it may, we don’t know of anyone that gets really excited about suffering, but perhaps we should take a second look at what God has to say about it. In Romans, chapter 5, the apostle Paul writes … “we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance.” (verse 3) So first of all, this lets us know that God doesn’t expect us to be joyous because OF the trials, but IN the suffering. We can be assured that God has a purpose that goes along with whatever we are going through, and that is to develop more character in us – in this context, patience. The Message Bible puts it this way: “ … We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary – we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 5:3-5) This part of scripture is about us and what God wants to do in us. But the part that follows is about Christ and what He did for us on that rough-hewn cross on Calvary. It’s hard for us to even imagine not only WHAT Christ did for us … but WHY He would go to such great lengths by laying down His very life and suffering the agonizing death that a crucifixion produced. Let’s see what the next few verses tell us: “Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn’t, and doesn’t, wait for us to get ready. He presented Himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn’t been so weak, we wouldn’t have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God puts His love on the line for us by offering His Son in sacrificial death wile we were of no use whatever to Him.” A love like that is difficult to wrap our minds around. That’s why it’s totally a heart thing. It’s the ultimate gift that anyone can ever give to another. The “WHY” is explained in the next set of verses, 9-11. God longed for us to be His children, and since we couldn’t become a part of the family through anything we could do, He sent His Son to do what we couldn’t. And He signed our adoption papers in red, with the ink of Jesus’ blood. Listen: “Now that we are set right with God by means of this sacrificial death, the consummate blood sacrifice, there is no longer a question of being at odds with God in any way. If, when we were at our worst, we were put on friendly terms with God by the sacrificial death of His Son, now that we’re at our best, just think of how our lives will expand and deepen by means of His resurrection life! Now that we have actually received this amazing friendship with God, we are no longer content to simply say it in prodding prose. We sing and shout our praises to God through Jesus, the Messiah!” Dear ones, we have so much to look forward to, even in the midst of our sufferings, as we experience His resurrection power and get to be a partner with Him in His suffering! (Philippians 3:10) As Palm Sunday approaches and we remember the events leading up to Christ’s death, may we be focused afresh on His sacrifice that forever changed our lives – here on this earth, and for all of Eternity!!!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- CAN YOU HAVE FUN IN GOD’S HOUSE? Well, we sure did, as we experienced the drama skit that played out the message about “Hidden Prejudices in our Hearts” on Sunday! We love how God uses a variety of ways to teach us and pin-point it straight into our souls! Thanks to Cierra and Isaac for helping round out the team!
- SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY WISHES to James and Tina, who celebrated 20 years together on March 24th! May God continue to bless your lives and your love!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 28TH, PALM SUNDAY:
- 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE – Come and celebrate with us on this Easter Week journey as we ponder the scriptural accounts of Jesus’ last days on earth before His crucifixion. Pastor Doug will be preaching another message in our 50-Day Spiritual Adventure as we focus on “Promises Worth Keeping: Influencing Our Worlds With The Love of Christ.” Who do we know around us that needs life-saving? We just may be their rescuers!
- 11:15 a.m. – SUNDAY SCHOOL – with classes for all ages, giving you opportunity to learn more from God’s Word! Don’t miss out on this time of sharing in discussions with your church family!
- 6:00-7:30 P.M. – YOUTH – RE: FUEL session with Justin at Clinton Falls! Come and participate in the planned lesson, the fun events, and as always, some great snacks! Feed your soul along with your body – and grab your cell phone and invite not just one, but several of your friends to share the evening with you!
- EASTER MISSION PROJECT – this is your opportunity to share a gospel message and an Easter meal with someone who needs to know that God died for them and loves them! Two dollars is all it costs … how many meals can YOU provide? Checks can be made out to: Union Gospel Mission. Thanks for helping and giving!
- EASTER SERVICES:
- APRIL 2ND, 7:00 P.M. – GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE with Communion (a change from Thursday service plans)
- APRIL 4TH, 9:00 A.M. – RESURRECTION SUNDAY WORSHIP CELEBRATION, with an Easter Egg Hunt that follows for the Sunday School children, and juice & rolls & fellowship for everyone!
- MAY 1ST, 2:30 P.M. – MOTHER/DAUGHTER TEA is being planned by Hazel; start inviting your family & friends!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- Each new day presents new things to praise God for, and new needs to lay at His feet! This week please lift up Tina & Sean as they travel to be with her mom for a heart procedure; Mary and Chaya as they travel; Julia and her brothers, for Helen, for Jeff, for Michael – all for healing; for Nancy & Pam at new jobs; for God’s provision for a place to worship with classrooms and more space for our Elevation North church family, for our nation and a return to godliness; and that God will use each of us mightily to advance His Kingdom work every day!

- THIS WEEK . . . Remember, “God whispers through pleasures, and shouts through pain.” ~ C.S. Lewis


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie