Centennial Worship Article

JULY 22: Celebrating 100 Years of Ministry in Mound

STUDENT DRIVER 9: The Road Less Travelled

In my home state of Minnesota there are only two seasons: winter and road construction. Road construction season coincides however with another seasonal Minnesota pastime—cabin fever! Every Friday afternoon during the warm months you’ll find a mass exodus of cars heading north for the weekend. The irony of it all is that in order to escape the mad rush of city life, one must endure yet another hectic, hair-pulling rush hour—the cabin rush.

There is one way to avoid this hassle—if you can swing it with your boss at work. You can take a day off and head up Friday morning. There is nothing better than leaving early on Friday and cruising freely past the flood of work-bound traffic as you head in the opposite direction toward the freedom of the north country. The heavy southbound traffic is crawling reluctantly toward the office to face the stress of another day’s madness. On the other side of the divider, a few happy campers drive leisurely toward the northern lake country for fun and relaxation. The point is this: It is not always best to be going with the flow of traffic. The good life may be found along the road less traveled!

An Extended Photo Caption

I wrote this caption below on December 28, 2009, after our youth group Christmas party. About a week later I found out that my ministry position was being cut in the spring and this would be my last Christmas party with Fusion. For some reason I didn’t post this, thinking it may send the wrong message.  Well, I’m posting it.  The message is simple: I consider youth ministry a high calling and it has been an incredible honor and blessing pointing these students towards Jesus week after week.

So, what do you see in this photo? They say a picture is worth a thousand words.  Well, here’s 805 words.

CAPTION: Pictured above: Precious teenaged children of God, loved with an everlasting love, beloved bride of Christ called to be partners with God in the mission of spreading the message of the gospel and advancing the Kingdom of Jesus on earth. Sinners saved by grace through faith alone. No longer condemned under the law, but freed from the power of sin and death by the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Saints filled with the Holy Spirit, washed in the blood of the lamb, redeemed from the curse, filled with every spiritual blessing and sealed with the Holy Spirit.

Also pictured: Imperfect, ordinary teenagers filled with doubts and fears, questions and criticisms, anxieties and excitement, laziness and boredom, pride and prejudice, bad habits and short tempers, self-centeredness and every kind of sin. At the same time, young minds full of dreams and ambitions, love and compassion, limitless potential and brilliance, talents and abilities, a desire to learn and grow in God and the knowledge of the Scriptures.

Missional Ministry in Mound – A great memory!