Elevation North has News for YOU!

STUCK. OR UNSTUCK? Which are you? I get very little time on Facebook, but cannot resist checking every evening to see what our kids and grandkids are up to! It’s such a great way to find connection to their daily happenings when we may not be able to actually chat on the phone or send off an e-mail! And … the pics! They are priceless!!! Then there are the video clips which are so much fun and make you almost feel as if you are right there with them!!! In my daily quest to “see” our family, I also catch bits and pieces of the posts from others that are friends on my Facebook. Some I know so well, and others are just friends of friends. But in my quick scanning over posts to find our family, I’ve come across a pattern of postings, and I’ve really been stirred by what is being said. A few days ago, a young man wrote this on Facebook: “I need a new life; I’m tired of this one.” Now when I say “young man” – I’m not talking about a young kid in his teens, though a big share of them face each day feeling just this way. This guy is probably in his early thirties now. And hearing the despair and frustration in his post, suddenly I’ve become aware of so many others who are echoing his same emotions, just in their own words. My heart cries out, “God, how can I help them all? I want to reach out and offer them hope and change and fulfillment of their dreams! What can I do, Lord? Show me, please show me!” I know … it’s only through the love of Christ that they will ever experience a hope that outlasts the storms. I know … it’s only through the power of the Holy Spirit that they will ever experience the change they are longing for that will not disappear with the next disappointment. I know … it’s only through the ignition of their faith and belief in God the Father and His unwavering belief in us, that they will ever experience what it’s like to walk into and then live out their dreams for His glory and His Kingdom purposes. But … just how do I convey such life-changing God-gifts into their lives? After all, it’s up to them. The choices they make each day push them ever forward on a fast road – to deeper despair and failure … or to greater joy and satisfaction. But there is still one factor missing. God already offers them everything they will ever need to make it through. And not just “make it through”, but to excel! I really believe in the depths of my heart that there needs to be a messenger. A messenger who will trumpet encouragement and declare God’s favor over them. A messenger who will not hang back, but who will arise to the forefront of their lives with a commitment to stand in the gap for them. A messenger who will affirm their God-given gifts and talents louder than the world shouts out their mistakes and their lack. A messenger who will pray God’s Word over them, claiming all that He has for them. Since neither I or any of you have a “world-stage” at this point in our lives, I believe that God is calling us to be this messenger to one person at a time. Today. Right now. As this person crosses the stage of our lives, this is our opportunity to be that encourager. To be that life-changer. To be that hope-giver. All in the Name of Jesus! If no one else does, we need to be that person who will hand out the hope they need, coming alongside them with a caring hug and a pat on the back. If no one else does, we need to become the one who reminds them that someone believes in them, and genuinely mean it as our actions back up our words. If no one else does, we need to be that person who stirs life into the childhood dreams that God has placed in their hearts, reviving what was almost suffocated beneath their “want-to-just-give-up” thinking. How will they know - unless we tell them? How will they know – unless we go to them? How will they know – unless we take action? What if we are the rescuer to get them “unstuck” from their present place in life? It’s time that the very fragrance of Christ’s presence eliminates the odor of their “stinking life” (and they’d be the first to admit it!). Dear ones, let’s break ground and step up to be the person God ordained us to be. Let’s not waste even one opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life. It can be as simple as a short phone call when their name comes to you. Hearing your voice and loving words can be just the exact “shot in the arm” that they needed right at that point in time. It can be as quick as a short text or e-mail, with an idea that crosses your mind that might be just what clinches what they had been thinking of. Or it can be a reminder that you are praying for them – it will shoot adrenaline into their sinking spirits and give them the boost they need to “keep on keeping on”! We don’t have to be God to them. There is only one God, and we will never be Him … we just need to make ourselves available to be used by Him! When we’re unstuck … may we be there for those who are stuck. And thank God for those who are unstuck who come to rescue us – when we’re stuck! Each new day brings the promise of a new life in Christ … don’t miss out on your new life each morning! You’ve got to take it!!! It’s yours. Go ahead!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- ENTERING THE HOUSE OF THE LORD is one of the most exciting, rewarding things we can do! And each Sunday, that’s how we feel as we experience His presence and His blessings! How we love our fellowship with Him and with each other at Elevation North!
- A SPECIAL WELCOME to Marty and Kelly who came to worship with us for the first time this past Sunday! What an encouragement your presence was to all of us, and it is our prayer that you were blessed in our midst! May God bless you both, and we look forward to seeing you again soon!
- LOVING BIRTHDAY WISHES are in order for two special people … our grandson, Isaiah, who will be 6 years old on Sunday, August 7th and to our mom, Shirley, who celebrates her birthday the very same day as her great- grandson! We love you both so very much, we thank God for you, and we pray His precious blessings upon your lives!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, AUGUST 7TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP & COMMUNION … with our focus and devotion being on the Lord Jesus Christ as we offer Him our very best worship! Join us in song, in praise, in prayer, and in the Word as Pastor Doug draws close to the conclusion of this incredible sermon series on “Two Words to Change the World.” Part 6 will be taken from II Samuel, chapter 11 … and you will have to come to see which two words are given this week!
- NEXT SUNDAY, AUGUST 14TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, with the sermon series coming to the final climax as the two words are finally revealed in a stirring, challenging, and unforgettable message about how “Two Words CAN Change the World!” Why not think of several people you can invite as Pastor D summarizes briefly each of the previous messages leading up to this one! May it be life-changing for us and for the world!
- OUR ELEVATION NORTH FAMILY PICNIC will be held at the end of this month … watch for a poster with all the details, and check the blog weekly!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- OUR LIVES CAN BE a sweet-smelling fragrance before our Father in heaven, especially when we care about the needs of others and lift up prayers on their behalf! Take time to remember Julia’s mom and brother, Tina’s mom, Eva, Jimmy and Nancy, Gerard, Judy, Kay, Roger, Larry and Gloria, Josh and Sarah & family, Johnny and Cherry, Ernie and Audry, Isaac, Justin and our military, our local, national, and global leaders, and many unspoken requests that are urgent! Continue to thank God in advance with us for the provision of the building to house our church! God’s answers and resources NEVER run dry! He is Jehovah-Jireh … our Provider!

- REMEMBER . . . “God says: ‘Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take.’” Joshua 1:9, The Message Bible (And taking steps prevents you from staying stuck!)

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

BRUSHSTROKES … they are painted all over the canvas of my life! My favorite, of course, are the vivid, bright colors that catch the rays of the sun and add a zesty splash to the picture of the moment. Some of those snapshots you’d just love to capture and put in a bottle so that you could open it up at a future moment when you needed one of those captivating experiences all over again! I felt that way on Sunday afternoon when my husband and I enjoyed a very special lunch together in a small town some distance away. Deciding to be spontaneous, we drove around the town square a few times in search of a quaint, quiet, tucked away spot. And find it, we did! We entered through an old hotel, wound our steps up and down and around to a lower level, and made our way out into the fresh air and sunlight to the outdoor patio. Shaded by tall stately trees, gated by wrought iron with green foliage intertwined, sitting on heavy iron chairs on the stone floor … our view over the rushing river was both beautiful and peaceful. We drank in the joy of feeling like we had drawn away from all of our weekly demands and responsibilities to a place of retreat and renewal. We ordered from the surprisingly great-priced menu … and then sat back and talked and relaxed and just breathed in this picture-perfect day … the air, the sights, the sounds! I told my husband I would LOVE to pick up this place and set it at the back of our church when God provides the building and property for us someday soon! What a place for our people to come to escape the craziness of life for a few moments and find sweet rest and renewal in such a gorgeous safe haven! Like a taste of heaven – on earth! Perhaps in time, we’ll be able to create just such a place for the tired and the hurting to be revived in their bodies and souls! It reminded me of how I feel when I escape the craziness of our present lives, as I wind my way through so many responsibilities and deadlines, finally exiting all of that into the most amazing place I’ve ever been! I find the atmosphere both soothing and exhilarating. I close my eyes and my breath is caught away by the radiance and beauty of my Lord. Inviting chairs are set close together at a small table, and my eyes rove o’er all the depth of beauty tucked in this private place. It’s all perfect. Perfectly calm and serene. Perfectly assuring and comforting. Perfectly healing and energizing. Perfect love is speaking. And not a word from His lips has yet been spoken. All this … just because He IS. After all, He is “I AM.” That kind of encompasses everything all at once – wouldn’t you say? This time, there is no food. I am fed by His love and our fellowship, by His words and His smile. In these moments, I experience contentment like no one on earth can offer. And the refills are free! As satisfied as I am, longing to just stay in this place with my Jesus … I realize that I cannot. There is so much to be done on the other side of this intimate place. Re-tracing my steps back over the stones and up and down the steps, I step out into the heat of the day. There is Gerard, the 20-year old son of our friend, Kathy, from one of our previous ministries many years ago. She was just a young girl then, and now … her son is fighting stage 4 germ cell cancer. She’s standing by him through every step, every treatment, experiencing every emotion that a mom has. We’ve just found each other again on Face-book. There’s Larry, who has been on the road for fifty years telling people about Christ, he and his wife giving it their all, and now … he’s facing 2-3 months of recovery from neck and back surgery; his precious wife standing by making sure that he is safe in his walking therapy and in every head, neck and back movement that is critical to regaining his strength and mobility … their emotions stretched all the way from their passion to evangelize the lost to finding God’s rest in this unexpected place in their lives. There’s Jimmy and Kay and Roger, all battling cancer of different kinds, one while working on the job – the others living in the retirement season of their lives … all trusting God with their very lives. There’s Josh and Sarah and their two little boys serving Christ overseas, fighting off sickness in the winter season there … while committed to serving Christ wholeheartedly in their ongoing discipleship and outreach ministries. There’s Justin, far away from his three small children, serving in the unbearable heat of a war-torn country, defending us and others, but missing them. There’s you, and you, and you … facing a daily menu of stress and ill-health and financial lack. We are all in these kinds of places at one time or another. I just want to remind you that when we are IN these difficult places … our only choice for survival and overcoming victory is running to THAT PLACE where we are once again renewed and refreshed and revived! Without that time in the perfect presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, we cannot make it! It’s also in THAT PLACE that we know we must exit and re-enter the world we live in, emerging with all we need to make a difference in the lives of everyone we know … because of the ever-present presence of Christ! He HAS promised to be with us always, you know! (Matthew 28:20)

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- PRAISE ALWAYS INVITES THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST … and each Lord’s Day it is our greatest joy to love on our Lord and lavish our praise on Him! Each week we are so excited to open His Word and hear the message God has laid on Pastor Doug’s heart. God continues to ignite our hearts in this present series and we are being stirred to more focused action on our part! What will God do next?! We at Elevation North want to be right in the middle of where He is at work!
- SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WISHES are in order for Merv, who will celebrate on August 5th! May your year to come be your best ever as you experience the richness of God’s blessings!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, JULY 31ST: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP … your opportunity to worship freely with your Christian brothers and sisters, raising your voices with joy and humbling your hearts before the Lord Jesus Christ. Come expectantly, ready to receive from God as we hear part 5 of the “Two Words to Change the World” series – with scripture from II Samuel, chapter 11. Open your hearts to receive all God has for you this day!
- RE: FUEL YOUTH EVENT with lunch together following our worship time (bring your own money) … then on to the Adventure Greens for miniature golfing and Frisbee golfing after. Golfing tickets will be provided and you are encouraged to bring a friend along with you! In case of rain or stormy weather, we will opt for another event!
- NEXT SUNDAY, AUGUST 7TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, focusing on part 6 of the continuing series on “Two Words to Change the World” – this message from the book of I Timothy. So far, we’ve learned about several “two-word” answers to this world’s dilemma, which all of us should attain to – but they are only a part of the ultimate answer! Make a list of who you can invite to come and worship with you – and together experience God!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- ANSWERS ARE COMING OUR WAY as we hear reports of God’s divine touch in many circumstances … and how grateful we are for His miraculous intervention in life after life! What power we have as we ask of God … so keep your prayers ongoing for the many that were listed last week – both in petition and in praise! Your prayers really do matter! All glory be to God!

- REMEMBER . . . “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” Psalm 62:1-2


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

TEARS. There are SO many kinds of tears! And we saw lots of them fall earlier this week as our 10-year old granddaughter realized that her hours with us were drawing to a close. Her dad and mom and one of her brothers had just spent the past few days with us on part of their vacation, and what a great time we had together! We packed as many fun things into those hours as we could! The thought of separation instantly filled Lindsay’s eyes with tears that she couldn’t contain – and they flowed freely down her cheeks and dropped to her cute summer top leaving wet spots where they splashed. Or if Grampa or I were close by to hold her and comfort her – we were moistened with the same kind of wet marks! Our hearts went out to her. When you love someone, it hurts to be separated. It’s painful – and it’s easy for the tears to come. You see, we love looking around and seeing those we love close by. We love knowing that we enjoy many of the same fun things and seeking out adventures together. Most of all, we love that we all have a heart for the things of God and can share so naturally what is most important to us! It just feels good to be together – to be able to do things together – to have that physical closeness! But that isn’t where God has called us to be all the time. They are where God wants them … and we are where He wants us. That’s where the closeness of the heart relationship in being family comes in! Though distance separates us, we are as close as ever because we stay connected and nurture the love that God has given us to share. Then when we are together we just pick up where we left off the last time we talked. We don’t have to wait until we literally see each other to carry on our relationship … it can be a frequent blessing for all of us! I have a feeling that God’s heart would be so moved if we shed tears over missing Him … if tears flowed because we couldn’t be with Him as much as we wanted to … if our cheeks were wet with teardrops because we longed for more connection with Him. I believe those emotions would be the springboard to a great revival in our lives that would change how we walk with God. We would be drawn to His Word more often than to the TV. We would give up eating if need be to have time to feast with Him – if there were no other time available. We would seek to know what pleases Him most, and would naturally be involved in doing what He enjoys. Isn’t that what “Thy will, not mine be done” really means? It’s not just about major decisions like career choices or major purchases like buying a home or a vehicle, though seeking God’s perfect will is very important in those arenas of our lives. It’s as much about spending time with Him, seeking His ways, and following hard after Him and His will on a daily basis! I’m reminded of our grandson in the Mall of America – with his very own stash of money. And before Wade ever looked for something for himself, he was on a mission to purchase a very special handbag that his girlfriend had expressed interest in. He purposefully strode into that exclusive store, opened up his cell phone to the site with the photo of that purse, and I saw the employee nod her head as if affirming, “yes, we have it.” She moved in a direction, removed the handbag from the display, and they proceeded to the register. Soon he came out with a beautiful box tied with ribbon … all tucked in a classy gift bag. Mission accomplished! Only then did he move on to other stores to search for clothing for himself – at only the best sale prices. I was so touched as I saw in his heart a desire to give the best, putting himself and his desires after her. That is definitely a picture of someone seeking to please someone they love. We do that for people … can we not do it for our God?! By faith, God helps us attain to levels in our relationships that we could on our own only hope for. With God, anything and everything is possible! Family relationships, marriage relationships, friendships, business relationships, and best of all, our God relationship … they all take the shape of connection and closeness, favor and trust. All that leads to a bond that cannot be broken. The strength of our relationships only add to the beauty of them! What a gift from God ~ relationships! Back to the word, ”separated”. It is a harsh, ominous word. And it’s the deepest cry of God’s heart – that we will never be separated from Him, especially for all of eternity. Being separated … being apart … not being connected. That’s a horrible feeling for one day, much less for days without end. Feeling Lindsay’s pain of temporary physical separation in between our visits – may we take the message of Christ to our world, so that others will never experience the pain of final separation from God for eternity!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- WHAT A GREAT TIME we are experiencing through this new series of messages that Pastor Doug is preaching on Sunday mornings! Last Sunday was no exception as we searched out Genesis 3 and focused on “Seeking Wisdom” – which is a part of the final answer to the “Two Words to Change the World” – but not THE answer! Stay tuned for what is to come ~ and don’t miss even one of these special messages!
- BELATED ANNIVERSARY WISHES go out to Matthias and Liz who celebrated on July 20th! May God continue to bless your lives and your love that God has given you to share!
- SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS to Eva and family on the recent arrival of her new little grandson … details to come! May God bless all of you!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, JULY 24TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP in the House of the Lord … come expecting divine blessings in your life as you honor God and put HIM first! Pastor D will be preaching from I Samuel chapter 17, and we will be discovering what two more words could be as we think about changing our world in this sermon series! Will you discover what they are before the final message? Be sure to bring your Bibles along, and bring some friends with you, too! They’ll be blessed and challenged, all at the same time!
-11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION – with time devoted for fellowship and lifting each other up in friendship and prayer as we share our hearts with each other!
- NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 31ST: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP with part 5 of our series taken from II Samuel, chapter 11. We’ll continue to move forward in this series, “Two Words to Change the World” – with the storyline taken from Andy Andrews' newest book titled, “The Final Summit” – and everything being based scripturally on the Word of God! Do you think you’ve found the “two-word” answer yet? Stick with us and you’ll see! As believers, we all need to be about being part of the solution to the ills of this world!
- FOLLOWING WORSHIP, all of our youth will be joining up for lunch (bring your own money!) … then we will head out to do some miniature golfing, then to the park for some Frisbee golfing and more fun out in the sun! Your tickets for golfing will be paid for! Everyone … invite a friend to come along with us!
- OUR MINISTRY EVENT flyer is being fine-tuned pending come finalizations of dates and special guests. We will print it as soon as possible and distribute it for your own use and for outreach purposes!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- DO YOU EVER FEEL OVERWHELMED at all the prayer requests that you are aware of? We could spend hours on our knees lifting up almost everyone … because we all have needs, don’t we? Yet, what a privilege it is to come before our Lord, asking, believing, and claiming all that He has for each one, in His Name and according to His will! This week, let’s remember Julia & her mom, Tina & her mom, Mary, Hazel, Jimmy & Nancy, Larry & Gloria, Josh & Sarah & family, Kay, Roger, Eva, Johnny & Cherry, Ernie & Audry, Gerard, Justin as he serves overseas on our behalf, Cierra with her summer jobs, our nation, and God’s perfect will concerning our church building! We serve an amazing God who can do ANYTHING!!! How we praise and thank our God!

- REMEMBER . . . “The stronger the winds, the deeper the roots, and the longer the winds, the more beautiful the tree.” ~ Chuck Swindoll


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

CONTENT? OR DISCONTENT? In my recent quiet times with God, I’ve been tossing those two words around, asking Him to help me discern when it’s right to feel one way or the other! I’ve always loved what Paul penned in Philippians chapter 4 … these words are really the way to live life! He says, “I’ve learned by now to be quite content WHATEVER my circumstances. (emphasis mine) I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.” (verses 11b-13, The Message Bible) While it’s sometimes easier said than done to live in total contentment, most of us “get it” – we understand what Paul is saying and know that he is right. We just don’t always get it right, do we? Many of us have to struggle with trusting fully and unreservedly before we can finally say that we are truly content – no matter what! But when is it alright to be discontent? And is there really a godly discontent? Is it permissible to not be satisfied when we see things not being done in the spiritual realm and we experience a restlessness or discontent? Is it actually a good thing in some instances to NOT be content to just let things be as they are – but to passionately want to make them better? I think of a story that I heard in the past few weeks. It was related that there is a group of rescuers that go out on the North Sea to save those who are perishing in the treacherous waters. These big, burly men have been known to literally fight each other for the chance to be the ones to go out on the boat to bring in those that would otherwise perish in those cold, deep, deadly waters. More than a few moments in the water brings certain death to anyone whose boat or ship has met with the perils lurking in the high seas. Because time is of the essence, if rescuers are not on the scene as quickly as they can be, lives are lost. The interesting thing is that these men are in certain danger, as well. The North Sea is unforgiving in its treachery, and does not favor rescuers over those who are lost in the waters. What will it be? Will lives be rescued – or lost? What makes burly men fight each other for the chance to save someone from the icy grip of the North Sea – at great risk to themselves? Why can they not be content to just leave those people alone? Why are they so impassioned? I tell you, if I was the one lost at sea and moments from death, I would of all people be most grateful for their discontent and resulting desire to come and rescue me! Some of these men lose their lives trying to save others. What a picture of Jesus! God wasn’t content to just let us be – to leave us to the high seas of sin and certain destruction. So He sent His Son, the Rescuer of all time, to come and lift us out of those icy waves and put our feet safely on ground again. We say, “Well, that’s God. And that was really nice of Jesus to be willing to not just risk, but give His very life … for us. But, that was Jesus. I’m not sure I could knowingly jump into a rescue boat that offered no guarantees that I would ever return to shore – just to try to save someone I don’t even know!” But isn’t that what our journey on this earth is all about? Isn’t that what brings purpose to our lives? Shouldn’t that be the passionate mission of the church – to rescue souls of men and women and young people at all costs? Shouldn’t we be vying for the opportunity to throw the rescue ropes to those who are headed for certain destruction – instead of shying away from sharing the life-saving gospel that will put their feet back on solid ground? Oh, Lord Jesus, open our eyes to see as You see! Help us to do something – and not just sit back and see if someone else will. Precious moments lost in time equal precious souls lost for eternity. None of us want to be guilty of letting time and opportunity slip by us resulting in the loss of lives for all of eternity, do we? That’s not our intention, I know. But doing nothing gets the same result. Only doing something to make a difference will impact the lives of others and ultimately bring about a change in their final destination! We find it so very exciting to be about our Father’s business here at Elevation North and beyond … and that includes the full gamut from church to jobs to family, and personally. God loves us SO much that He has put within us the desire to pass on what we have already received from Him. And it doesn’t get any better than that! We wish for you what Paul claims for the Christians at Philippi … “Receive and experience the amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, deep, deep within yourselves.” (chapter 4, verse 23) Now THAT’S contentment – in ANY circumstance!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- PRAISES, praises are resounding from all of us at Elevation North as already this week we are seeing the results of our corporate prayer time on Sunday morning on behalf of several of our people! And of course, many others were praying, as well … and best of all, GOD GETS THE GLORY!!! That He loves us being involved in His work - is such a huge privilege, isn’t it, dear people?!
- OUR LOVING BIRTHDAY WISHES are sent to our ‘daughter’, Stacey, as she celebrates on July 16th! Stacey, may your day and entire year be blessed beyond measure! We love you so much and thank God for you! Also, BELATED BIRTHDAY WISHES to Isaiah, Kaitlyn, and Jesse - who all celebrated birthdays recently! We pray that God will shower His love and care on each of you in this coming year!
- A SPECIAL WELCOME today to our son and his wife, DJ and Melissa, and to our grandchildren, Wade and Lindsay, as they worship with us today! How grateful we are for your love and prayers and support!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, JULY 17TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, centered on Part 3 of “Two Words to Change the World!” We are thrilled about this series of messages and know that you will be challenged as Pastor Doug preaches from Genesis 3. Don’t miss even one of these messages, and pray about inviting someone to come with you!
- 11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION – time with your church family! Take advantage of the opportunity to encourage and build each other up in the Lord!
- NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 24TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP continuing on Part 4 of the sermon series of “Two Words to Change the World” – with scripture from I Samuel chapter 17. It is our prayer that God is stirring you to greater action in your walk with Him through these messages!
- SEMI-ANNUAL VISIONARY CHURCH MEETING w/details to be announced! Our next step in expanding God’s Kingdom is just around the corner – what will God have YOU do?

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- GOD IS STRETCHING OUR FAITH to believe for what seems to be the impossible! Just this week our faith has been expanded even more because of seeing God in action and experiencing His wonders in the lives of several of those we prayed for on Sunday! How we thank our God as we are learning to trust Him even more! Please join us in seeking God for peace and divine healing for Larry at this time of surgery, for Julia’s mom and Tina’s mom, who both need God’s divine touch in their bodies, for healing for Julia’s brother and for Jimmy, for strength and encouragement for Johnny and Cherry, for the Landon’s as they prepare to move, for Hazel as she travels, and for clear direction concerning God’s will for our church building! Remember to pray for God’s anointing on the Lundstroms and Seykoras; and for safety for all who are serving our nation in the military! God’s fully capable of meeting every single need, and He will always be on time!!!

- REMEMBER . . . “Spiritual formation is the process of being conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of others.” ~ M. Robert Mulholland

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

I WILL NOT! Usually that statement is negative in its connotation. But in the context I want to share it in … it is a very positive and powerful life-choice! Listen to what Helen Keller said long ago: “I will not just live my life. I will not just spend my life. I will invest my life.” To be truthful, there are days that my husband and I really wonder what we are doing – keeping such a crazy schedule. We ask God, “how much longer?” We ask ourselves, “can we really keep on doing this?” And yet, God has not released us. That means He still has a purpose for keeping us at all our jobs – at least for the time being. Listen, if we were doing all this – just to do it … I’d think we were insane – or at the least, less than wise! We keep crying out, “God, what is it that You want? Are we missing something? Can You please show us a less demanding, less difficult, less intense way to survive? In fact, God, we’d love to know what it’s like to thrive on a continual basis!” Now don’t misunderstand me. We DO thrive in so many, many ways. Our love for God and the daily joy we experience as we walk with Him every moment … brings riches untold. The strength we receive for each new day gets poured in fresh and full – and is sufficient to carry us through longer hours than we ever thought possible … and we know that what we are receiving is truly supernatural. We see others around us who are sick, who are fatigued … and God has kept us healthy and renewed us and redeemed the shortened time we actually get to sleep each night. He keeps us going like no one or nothing else can! And He provides always with enough – that’s His promise, after all, and He’s never let us down! Sometimes He throws in the “thriving” part and brings in some extra – and we are amazed! We, being human, would just love that to be the norm, I guess. We’d love to live in abundance and not be concerned about what lack there might be in the budget – but I think God really has us in a place of stretching our faith and growing our trust level. We’ve seen Him do it again and again, and perhaps we haven’t learned all He wants us to know in this area of our lives yet. Perhaps we are in training for something so much bigger that at the present our minds cannot even comprehend it. We wonder sometimes just what God has in mind for Elevation North – will it someday be home-base to a national or global ministry? And if we think we have to live by faith now, just think what increased level of faith it will take then?! SO … we are investing our lives in ways that count for God’s Kingdom. Every day we cross paths with scores and scores of people. We get to share godly influence with them, we get to counsel and nurture them, we get to pray with and for them. Are we in the four walls of the church when all of this happens? No, we are in the marketplace … and all of this ministry is done while respecting the separation of work and personal time while on breaks and meal-time. While IN the four walls of the church, we are so privileged to get to share our passion for shepherding the flock and reaching beyond those four walls. We absolutely LOVE being with our people and meeting the new ones that God is constantly bringing our way. We long to teach them the power of Christ’s love and the endless possibilities of living a life given over to God in full-commitment – no holding back! How fun it is to be creative in ministry! There is no better feeling than being there for someone and standing with them in prayer, when no one else seems to care enough to take the time. Now we just need to discover where God has our church building waiting so that we can be all that He has planned for us to be in this community! Doors open … and we find ourselves at the point of signing the dotted line. Then the door closes. Does that mean that God doesn’t have a door for us? A million times NO! It just means He has a door that can be more powerfully used for what He is up to! We must stay strong and hold on. We must invest our lives in His Kingdom work. Like Psalm 27, verse 4 states, Doug and I join in with the writer, David: “I’m asking God for one thing, only one thing; To live with Him in His house my whole life long.” How do you suppose that happens? It equates to us “dwelling” with Him … residing with Him. Can you picture living like that? You see, we don’t have to wait until we get to Heaven to live with Him … we can do it right here – and right now. For when we invest our lives in the most important Person of all – and - the most priceless Cause of all … we will experience a life most people only dream of. No, I’m not saying that we’ll have all the money and things we sometimes wish for (on the other hand, He may bless you and us with more than we’ve ever hoped for) … but in that “secret dwelling place” like none other, we’ll find that we have ALL we’ll ever need and MORE! After all, we are His children, and He loves having us live with Him. In that special dwelling place, the door is always open to us. And the lights are on, welcoming us to come in and spend time with Him. When we walk through that door and stay with Him all the time - any hour of the day or night … that’s when we can say we are investing our lives in what really matters to God! We will NOT just live our lives! We hope you will not, either!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- GOD CONTINUES TO TEACH US and bless us through His Word, and this past Sunday morning was no exception. As believers we should be like sponges soaking up all of our God that we can! We love seeing our church family grow and expand in their knowledge of things of God! How exciting!
- OUR SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS to Sharon on her 1 bronze and 3 gold awards at the Special Olympics Track and Field competition these past few weeks! Way to go, Sharon … we are so very proud of you!
- BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES go out to Alex and Austin and Mary Jo from this past week … we pray your celebrations were joyful and that your year to come will be blessed by God in every way!
- OUR LOVING SYMPATHY is extended to Hazel on the recent loss of her brother in Wyoming; know that our prayers are with you! May God’s comfort surround and uphold you and his family in these days.

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, JULY 10TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, and you’ll want to be tuned in to Part 2 of the new sermon series, “Two Words to Change the World”. Pastor Doug will be preaching from the book of Job; you’ll want to have your Bibles with you and open to the texts he will be using! Be sure to call someone new to join you!
- 11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION – Your opportunity to grow in relationship with your church family!
- NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 17TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, and moving on to Part 3 of “Two Words to Change the World”. We are SO excited about this series of messages, and we hope you are being fired up for God!!! Pastor D will be preaching from Genesis, chapter 3 this week.
- BE SURE TO PICK UP THE SUMMER/AUTUMN MINISTRY SCHEDULE this week; we invite YOU to participate!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- WHAT A FAITHFUL GOD WE SERVE! We are constantly seeing answers to our prayers, including Mitch’s new job; and how grateful we are! We encourage you to lift up in prayer those with urgent unspoken prayer requests, Julia’s brother with bronchitis, healing for Jimmy, Wayne’s recovery, Larry’s surgery, Johnny & Cherry, the Landon’s, and many others! There is nothing too small and nothing too big for our God! Aren’t you glad for that?!

- REMEMBER . . . “A strong person has faith that they are strong enough for the journey. But a person of faith knows that it is in the journey that they will become strong!” ~ Unknown

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

TODAY I WITNESSED THRONGS OF PEOPLE. In the middle of the night, we got ready to head to the airport to take our grandson for his flight back to Michigan. Parting truly is such sweet sorrow … last bits of early morning conversation in the darkness as we drove, holding hands and praying for him, and lots of hugs and “I love yous” … until he was out of sight and on his way! Backtrack to the throngs now. My husband had walked with Dylan to his boarding gate, and I had to remain back at the security area and wait for him to return. And so I sat there praying … and people watching. I was amazed at the throngs of milling people, already in full-paced motion and it was not yet even 5 a.m.! Where in the world were all these people coming from and going at such an early hour? My heart leaped with spiritual vision – and I really wanted to know how many were truly free as they moved through the throngs. I really wanted to know how many were lost and bound up with all the blows that life has dealt to them. I really wanted to know how many were hurting and felt so all alone – even in the midst of the throngs. And I just wanted all of them to know that Someone actually cares. Genuinely. A part of me wanted to find a master loudspeaker that would encompass all of the airport – every terminal … and give them the Good News that Jesus knows them by name and loves them and wants them to be free! I wanted them to know that they could form a line and come to a certain place where their lives would be forever changed, and they could feel every chain drop off and claim their new freedom. I wanted them to know that just as the precious blood of countless soldiers have bought our nation’s freedom – so the precious shed blood of Jesus on Calvary so long ago bought their freedom. I wanted them to know that on bended knee they would find the strength to stand strong and come through with flying colors, so to speak. I wanted them to know that whatever “soul baggage” they walked into that international airport carrying … they could leave it all behind. Never to have to drag it around again. Never to have to be reminded again of all the junk that life throws in our direction. Not having to be stuck in despair or fear – ever again. More than the destination on their ticket, I wanted them to see a new destination awaiting them, one unlike any place they’ve ever seen or been. The tender for this ticket is not American Express or Visa or MasterCard, or even Discover … it’s far too costly for us to pay. That’s why it’s free to us. Yet it cost Jesus His very life and His precious blood, a price great enough to gift every living man, woman, and child with freedom in Christ and a forever life in Heaven! Our part? Just to say … “yes”. Yes, be my Savior and my Lord. Take my life and use it however it best pleases You! And in that moment we see those outstretched nail-scarred hands holding the ticket that will secure our mansion in Heaven. Our name is written boldly on it, and there’s no expiration date … it’s good for ALL of Eternity! Wow! People in the airport, do you hear? Do you understand? Don’t you want to leave your scars and rejection behind? Your shackles of sin that torment you day and night? Your failures and your emptiness? Your absence of purpose? Your misguided direction? Your lack of joy? People in the marketplace, I ask you the same questions. People in the church, I ask you the same questions, as well. Who would opt for a life that is hindered and enslaved? Who would choose a life filled with negativity? Who would purposely settle for the deception and lies and sadness that never seems to go away? Yet, out of those throngs of people that I saw … I’m sure that many more live in bondage than live in freedom! And that’s heartbreaking. What are we, as believers, here for? What is the church here for? We need to be jumping on board God’s daily plan to seek and save the lost … we need to be hunting down that microphone … we need to be boldly sharing Christ and offering the life-solutions that He brings for all of us! The throngs remain before my face, and my heart screams, “I don’t want to go to Heaven without all of you! I want to take you WITH me!” Head bowed with the magnitude of such a prayer, I humbly ask, “God, WHAT do you want me to DO?” Show me, please SHOW me! I want to know. I need to KNOW! Time is short and we … you and me, we need to make every minute count! We need to be on a continual, everlasting mission to take as many people to Heaven with us as we can. We need to be about the Father’s business: filling Heaven with the throngs. We need to be engaged in the spiritual strategy of leaving hell as empty as we can. Let’s put on our spiritual armor and start marching. Let’s win the throngs … one person at a time. All we have to do is open our mouth with the confidence that we win the final battle of all time … our God will do the rest! He will bring the freedom they are longing for!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- COMMUNING WITH GOD was truly precious as we took time to remember all He did for us on the cross … and still does, every day. As a church family, we were so blessed as well, by the gift of the new Communion table that one of our families had hand-made for our church! May God bless you, we pray!
- OUR SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WISHES go out to LaFawn who will be celebrating on July 8th! May you be blessed to overflowing this coming year!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, JULY 3RD: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, celebrating America and the freedoms we hold so dear, paid for with an extreme price … and celebrating the freedom that comes from knowing Christ and remembering the extreme price He paid for us! Remember the new sermon series that Pastor Doug will be starting on “Two Words to Change the World” … we will be digging into scriptures from Joshua 10 this week - and into history along with God’s Word over the next several weeks. Don’t miss a single week – and plan to bring some people with you!
- 11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION – A time for our church family as we grow stronger together in Christ!
- MONDAY, JULY 4TH: HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY … enjoy celebrating our nation’s freedoms with family and friends!
- NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 10TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, with Part 2 of the sermon series, “Two Words to Change the World”. Pastor Doug will be preaching from the book of Job … will you accept the challenge to see what God has in mind for His children in this day and age?
- KINGDOM CONNECTION – Be a participator in the life of our church and be encouraged by this time of fellowship and spiritual nurturing!
- ADDITIONAL MINISTRIES & EVENTS are just around the corner … make a list of who you can invite!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- THERE IS NO GREATER THRILL than witnessing the hand of God at work – and being called to be a part of that work! Over and over we see God manifesting His answers on our behalf! This week we especially think of several in our church family who are experiencing deep trials and would love for you to pray for and with them over these unspoken requests. Let’s continue to pray for Johnny and Cherry, for Jimmy, for Julia, for Wayne, for the Landons’ in their upcoming move, for Larry w/his upcoming surgery, for Lundstroms, for Seykoras’, for our nation, our leaders, our military, & for God’s leading us to the place of His perfect choice for us to house Elevation North!

- REMEMBER . . . “The value of a person is not measured on an applause meter; it is measured in the heart and mind of God.” ~ John Fischer

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

WE’VE BEEN EVERYWHERE, MAN! “We’ve been everywhere, man” … wasn’t that a popular song some years ago?! Well, this week, it became our theme song! We were SO excited to head out on the road for a few days … because it meant bringing our 15-year old grandson back with us to stay for a little over a week! We’ve never had the joy of having a grandchild stay with us before … so we were like two little children anticipating a special present all wrapped up and waiting to be opened! We met our son, Dana and his wife, Stacey, in Chicago – as they were flying from there to Europe for their 20th anniversary cruise. Dylan would be coming home with us … and we could hardly wait! It was so great seeing them, as we hadn’t been together for over a year! During the course of the evening, the four of us left the hotel to run an errand in their car, while Dylan went up to the room. Barely down the street, we realized there was some bad weather going on. Thanks to internet on the cell phone, we discovered there was a tornado in the area we were staying in. Dana was driving aggressively through the toppled street barricades, as if on an obstacle course. The wind was strong, rain was pelting, it was dark, and we weren’t sure but that the car wouldn’t be hit by some moving object. Stacey, following her intuition, reasoned that we should turn around and get back to the hotel as soon as possible. At that moment, Dana’s phone rang and Dylan was letting us know that the power was out at the hotel. Everything was dark. Upon our return, we had to take the outer stairs at the Hyatt to get back to our room – since the elevators were out of order. Again, the cell phones provided a bit of light so we could see where we were going. The generators would not cooperate … and so we spent all night in the dark. When early morning came, we had to pull the window covering open to get ready by the bit of daylight that provided a shadowy reflection in the mirror. Taking to the road, we drove home through cloudy skies and rain. The next day, we hit the road again to attend a ministry board meeting a few hours away. Talking with some friends and sharing some health news they are facing, our hearts just wanted to “fix” it all … the diagnosis, the upcoming surgery, the temporary change in both schedules and lifestyle. We could understand the dilemma, the pull of heartstrings, the desire to continue to pour their hearts into ministry while the necessity to pull back for recovery screams loud and clear. Lord, why are the decisions never easy? Life can get so very complicated. If it was just for you that you were making the decision for, it would be so simple. We want always to do what is best for our family, and yet this strong call to bring hope and life-changes to people through the message of Christ compels us to keep going, even when it seems irrational. Darkness seems to overshadow the decision born out of deep struggle. I’m so glad that God knows our hearts, and will always come through for us … revealing what His perfect will is in each life event. And when He does, there comes that unwavering peace. Suddenly, it’s all clear. We get to take a glimpse at the big picture … God has something so much greater in store than we ever could have visualized. It may come through totally different venues and methods than we originally anticipated – but it will be even better … far better! Sometimes retreating for a bit gives God opportunity to renew and replenish and re-fire us beyond what we’ve previously experienced! We thought we were strong before, passionate and purposed … but watch out, world! What God has done, no man or devil can thwart! Friends, we just want to encourage you that God WILL bring you to the right decision. Of all the voices and advice coming your way, may you hear God’s voice booming louder and clearer than all the rest! You are truly His chosen vessels, and He is just doing some re-shaping of the clay right now. What may seem like a weakness in the body or at the least, an inconvenience for ministry schedules – I believe are pottery tools in His nail-scarred hands, and you are getting detailed hands-on attention right now. May you be gifted with oneness in spirit, and harmony in your guided decision – that God might be lifted up and glorified! How I thank God that He always comes through for us … how He always knows the desire of our hearts! As a postscript to our grandson’s visit, I had specifically prayed before he ever came, that we would be able to bless him, impact him in godly ways, and touch his life with our love and care. And you know what? The very first evening back home, we spent hours just talking and sharing our hearts about things of God. We talked about heaven and hell, about our faith and so many experiences, and how others have made a real difference in our lives. God … you answered even before we asked! Of all the fun things we’ve been able to do together … this chat will be my highlight! Thank you, Dylan … we love you so much! (And for all of you listening in on these family and friend experiences, we hope they will remind you to “keep on” in the storms and the darkness … for His light will always shine bright enough to light your next step!)

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- GOD ALWAYS KNOWS how to brighten our lives, and His Holy Spirit truly enlightened our hearts through the powerful message Pastor Doug shared with the congregation on Father’s Day last Sunday! How we praise God for His presence in our midst!
- A SPECIAL WELCOME to Dennis and Betty who worshipped with us for the first time on Sunday; you truly encouraged us, and we pray that you were blessed, as well! We look forward to having you join us again!
- WE WELCOME our grandson, Dylan, who is with us at Elevation North today! Thank you for coming … and may God be with you as you travel home this week!
- LOVING BIRTHDAY WISHES to Pastor Doug as he celebrates this Tuesday on June 28th! May your life be filled with as much joy as you bring to the lives of all who know you! We all thank God for you!!! You are loved!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 26TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP with a message that draws us into sweet communion with our Lord as we participate in Communion, remembering what Christ did for us on Calvary!
- NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 3RD: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, celebrating our nation and the freedom that Christ came to give! We are so excited to begin the new sermon series on “Two Words to Change the World” – as we take a look at scriptures to help us become believers who WILL change our world as God empowers us! Don’t miss a Sunday!!!
- SUMMER & AUTUMN ministry schedules will be printed and ready for you next Sunday … mark the events on your calendars and plan to be active participants in the life of Elevation North!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- WHAT A JOY IT IS to see God at work so personally in our lives and in our church! How we praise Him for His incredible touch in Ernie’s life this past week; and we continue to lift up those who need God’s healing touch, others who need financial provision, those who have unspoken requests, and for wisdom and completed miracles for the new church home for Elevation North! Let’s bind our hearts together, in Jesus’ Name and for His glory!

- REMEMBER . . . God is saying to you, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and (that your body) may keep well, even as (I know) your soul keeps well and prospers.” 3 John 2, (Amplified Bible)


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

I REMEMBER. There we were, dad and daughter, walking across the farm yard hand in hand at the end of a long day. The sky sparkled brilliantly with stars that lit up the summer night. The heat of the day had been cooled by the light evening breeze and my dad’s brow was no longer wet with sweat. His face was relaxed. He had given the day his best. Now at dusk and deepening darkness, this was his family time. Having finished the last of the chores, we were heading to the house to mom and the other kids. But these moments were magical to a young girl who absolutely adored her dad! All was peaceful, and this father walking beside her was the epitome of peacefulness. Dad knew I was learning about the stars and constellations and planets in school … so he offered to take time to stop and help me find them in the vastness of the night skies. We gazed upward and marveled at God’s creation, knowing that He had hung every star in place, right where they hung as we saw them. Taking that time with me might have seemed like a small thing to my dad … but it meant everything to me that night as a young girl. You see, I’ve never forgotten! With Father’s Day upon us, it’s such a natural thing to reminisce about our dads … and memories come rushing in without effort. This week an old hymn has been frequently on my mind … in years past it was perhaps the most sung hymn at church on Father’s Day. The words have gotten loud enough for me to catch the songwriter’s message in a way I’ve never quite understood before. Have a listen: “Faith of our fathers! Living still, in spite of dungeon, fire and sword: O how our hearts beat high with joy – When e’er we hear that glorious word! Faith of our fathers, holy faith! We will be true to thee till death!” I thought about my dad and my husband’s dad … both now in Heaven in the presence of the Lord – and how their strong faith impacted us. Yes, their faith is living still! Then, I thought of godly men of past generations, even back to the patriarchs of the Old Testament and the apostles and other trail-blazers of faith in the New Testament. Back to the old hymn … it is still so timely. The next verses talk about “our fathers who were chained in prisons dark,” and yet who “were still in heart and conscience free.” And then, we are written about: “How sweet would be their children’s fate, if they like them could die for Thee!” Did you get that? Oh, that whatever fate we face for our God would be considered “sweet” by us, and that we would remember. Remembering the faith of our fathers, that we would boldly say, “We will be true to Thee till death!” I love how the old song goes on to embrace the fate of others and our opportunity to make a difference in their eternal destination: “Faith of our fathers! We will strive to win all nations unto Thee, And through the truth that comes from God, Mankind shall then be truly free!” And lastly, the songwriter did not forget to remind us how to live our faith out every day … “Faith of our fathers! We will love both friend and foe in all our strife: And preach Thee, too, as love knows how, by kindly words and virtuous life.” You see, when we’re singing and worshipping, the message is meant to impact us - as well as to deliver honor and praise to our God! That song really carries a spiritual punch, doesn’t it? Go ahead, read it over again … this time more slowly and with great focus. That will lead you right into God’s Hall of Faith Famers that you can read about in Hebrews chapter 11. There’s a long list there … yes, imperfect men, but nonetheless, men who captured God’s heart with their faith in Him. He remembered. And He wanted us to remember. So he had their names inscribed on scrolls to be forever preserved for us to be challenged and encouraged by. God starts at the beginning and their names roll on down through the generations. Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Gideon, David, Samuel … and on and on. At the end of the chapter, God records what their acts of faith accomplished – nothing short of miraculous and huge feats – all because of their faith! And then God lets us know how we are connected to them … “Not one of these people, even though their lives of faith were exemplary, got their hands on what was promised. God had a better plan for us: that their faith and our faith would come together to make one completed whole, their lives of faith not complete apart from ours.” And though these “pioneers blazed the way”, like it says in the first part of the next chapter, we’re told to “keep our eyes on Jesus, and to study how He did it”. He’s THE Role Model: “because He never lost sight of where He was headed – that exhilarating finish in and with God – He could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever.” Knowing all that - “will shoot adrenaline into our souls.” The faith of our fathers lives on – and so shall ours live on. What will a future songwriter have to say about OUR faith? What I do know about the fathers who are closest to me … my husband and our three sons, my two dads gone on before, and brothers and friends … the writer will be able to write that they witnessed in you a living faith that you walked out every day as you pointed others to the joy of knowing Christ. Your faith is as real as the air you breathe, and while you’ve had to climb out of valleys as well as reach for the mountain peaks in life, your hands are always firmly in His, and your faith carries you through as you lead your families by example! Happy Father’s Day! I love all of you!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- WHAT GREAT FUN it was to make last Sunday “all about our children!” … and of course, we all loved being a part of their celebration! How we thank God for our children and our youth ~ they truly are the future of our church and our great nation! Let’s remember to be constant in our prayers for God’s hand to be upon them always!
- SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY WISHES are in order for Merv and Kathy Hendrickson on June 21st! May God’s love abound in your lives and in your marriage, we pray!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 19TH: 10:00 A.M. - HAPPY FATHER’S DAY to all our dads … as we honor them AND our Father in Heaven as we celebrate with WORSHIP & PRAISE in God’s House today! We pray that Pastor Doug’s message will be a blessing and encouragement to every dad in church! And enjoy the rest of the day with your family, dads!!!
- NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 26TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, with Pastor D beginning a new series called, “Two Words To Change The World,” using a variety of scriptures from both the Old and the New Testaments. Call your friends who do not attend church anywhere, and invite them to come with you … you won’t want to miss any of these powerful messages!
- NEW PRINTED SCHEDULES will be out soon for a Women of Faith meeting; a Dad/Son event in July; a summer picnic in the park in August; a Progressive Dinner in September; Women of Faith Conference in October; a Harvest Festival in November; Caroling to shut-ins in December, along with a cookie exchange for the gals, and a special Christmas Eve service/program … and more, like concerts, rallies, hymn sing, and seminars! Jump on board for the rest of the year and let God use the gifts He has given you to bless the body of Christ as we reach out to others!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- BEING CONNECTED to so many who need God’s touch (that’s ALL of us!) … aren’t you glad that we are connected to God through praise and prayer and His Word? On our hearts are Cierra, Justin, Johnny and Cherry, Ernie and Audry, Wayne, Sean, and God’s perfect will concerning a permanent home for Elevation North! He is so ABLE!!! Pray daily, praise often every day, and expect miracles, in Jesus’ Name!

- REMEMBER … “The love of the Father is like a sudden rain shower that will pour forth when you least expect it, catching you up into wonder and praise.” ~ Richard J. Foster


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

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