Blog
True Love
Hidden in the midst of our long Iowa winters is the season of love: Valentine’s Day. It’s a time for chocolate and card companies to reap huge rewards as we focus on the significant others in our lives. Symbols like hearts and tiny cupids emphasize the importance of romantic love in our culture. Beginning with the Valentine’s card you gave to your first crush, there is a constant push from society telling you that true happiness is only fulfilled when you…
God Loves You
Do you believe God loves you? Whether you attend church regularly or have never stepped foot inside a church, you have probably heard that God loves you. Maybe you grew up singing the song, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” But then you became an adult and life happened. Now you struggle to reconcile the message of God’s love for you with all the trials you have experienced: a spouse who left; or a…
More Than Meets the Eye
Life sure can feel chaotic and unpredictable. One minute you are experiencing joy, contentment, and maybe a little success and the next moment you feel like you were punched in the gut with some life-altering news. At face value, all these ups and downs of life appear to be coincidental, unpredictable, and random. But did you know that the Bible paints a very different picture of our world? According to scripture, our lives are part of a much bigger story…
Missions Partner Updates
Hope Ministries works with people in a variety of challenging situations, from homelessness to addiction, in Des Moines – View Report Jeremy and Susan Beebout are missionaries to Niger. They provide healthcare services in villages as they share the hope of Jesus – View Report Todd & Pamela Price translate the Bible into the Roma language for people who have never heard the Good News – View Report Agape Pregnancy Resource Center provides free services to pregnant women, encouraging them…
Winter is Only a Season
We’re in the middle of winter, the coldest, darkest season of the year. It’s the time of year when the winds howl, the snow blows, the plants are dormant, and we all stay inside as much as possible to avoid the harsh weather. What makes winter more tolerable for me is remembering that it is only a season. It is a few short months until the days grow longer and the temperatures rise. Eventually the crocuses bloom. Yes, winter is uncomfortably cold, but the frosty air is only for a…
Youth Winter Retreat
When: Depart Friday, Jan 13 at 5 PM and Return Saturday morning Where: Oskaloosa Assembly of God (Pastor Ryan’s Father-in-Laws Church) Cost: $10 Who: All youth from grades 6 – 12 and their friends What: An ALL-NIGHT joint event between us and the Osky Assembly of God that includes: RSVP Your Spot by giving $10 and contacting Pastor Ryan to let him know you approve your child attending.
Graduation and God
It’s graduation season – that time of year when we celebrate the accomplishments of young (and sometimes older) people who have committed themselves to the completion of a course of study. Be it high school, college, grad school, or even a union workers graduation, this is a time to celebrate with those we love and support. So we sit through long ceremonies, take tons of pictures, and attend parties with such delicious food! But while each graduation is the celebration…
That’s not FAIR!
It’s important to recognize our internal drive for fairness stems from the image of God which has been imprinted onto each and every one of us from the moment we were created.
The Seasons of Life
ALWAYS ON THE GO In our always-on culture, it’s easy to feel like you always need to be producing. When I’m at work, I’m always looking for the next item to cross off my to-do list. And then I get home and the tasks may change but my mindset doesn’t. Clean the house, do the laundry, touch up paint on the wall, trim the bushes, take the kids to the park, return the clothes that didn’t fit, pay the utility…
Rooted Together
WISDOM FROM THE WOODS One interesting fact about me is that I love the woods (or as we call it in Iowa, timber). I love learning about trees, taking pictures throughout all the seasons, and sitting still in a tree stand to observe wildlife. Perhaps that’s why green is my favorite color. Often as I sit quietly in the woods praising God for his beauty, or as I read books by others with a love of trees, I see spiritual…