Pastor's Blog

Good Monday Morning, Dear Family,

KJV Deuteronomy 33:27a The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms...

How is it going today? It is going fine here because we know that the foundations of life are not based on feelings or emotions but rather upon that which is what God has said and done. From this reality flow our emotions, feelings, and desires, from believing absolute truth that the eternal God is our refuge, and we are held by his everlasting arms. The other day a brother mentioned the following verses from the book of Habbakuk:

KJV Habakkuk 3:17-19 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places.

Habbakuk trusted in the Lord even when outward circumstances were not in his favor, and rather than allowing his circumstances to get him down, determined to rejoice in the Lord which then yielded the emotion of joy in the Lord of his salvation!! He recognized that His strength was the Lord who is able to lift his mind and heart to look at life in the eternal perspective. Perhaps previous to "getting to this place" Habbakuk had been in desperation such as the Psalmist was when he cried unto the Lord:

KJV Psalm 61:2-3 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

Recently while in Guatemala I was speaking to a farmer about the difficulty that he must have in planting corn by hand on the steep mountain, explaining to him that corn is planted on flat ground and through mechanical means here in Minnesota. As he listened for awhile, he then gave me an illustration of what it means not be affected by circumstances, but to use your circumstances to your advantage: "When I plant corn on the hillside, I do not have to bend over to plant it." Enough said................

KJV Romans 5:1-5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

In Christ,

Pastor Orval Wirkkala

This is an article that was written by Pastor Earl Kaurala and with his permission I am posting it here for our enjoyment and our learning.


KJV 1 Peter 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Change in life is inevitable. Some change is so gradual that we hardly notice it; other change is more dramatic and easily identifiable. When I first began teaching, use of the blackboard was an essential part of instruction. The blackboard was later replaced by the overhead projector. Before I retired, I had a completely futuristic teaching station, and the blackboard was totally unnecessary. I flicked a switch or punched a button, and we had immediate access to a variety of technological devices: video, internet, computer, built-in overhead, and so on. These changes during my career were gradual rather than sudden. Yet, the effect was dramatic, especially in hindsight. The trouble is that in an effort to provide interest and excitement in the classroom, technological novelty took precedence in many classrooms.
The problem associated with change, then is that we may become lost in the detail of the change and lose our focus as to its purpose. Technology brings a lot of glitz and adds interest to a presentation. Some of you, however, may have seen repeats of a Wendy's commercial during which an elderly lady asks a question, "Where's the beef?"
We can ask the same question about change in the classroom, in the church, or in our lives: "Where's the content?" Have we lost sight of the message or the lesson as we have focused upon change, sometimes just for the sake of change as we look for something different and perhaps more exciting. A lot "of stuff" may be happening, people may be very involved, but is the essential content in the forefront? Does the change illuminate the message? As Christians, we are privileged to share the message of faith and salvation. In his day, Isaiah encouraged the hearers of the word to "lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath" and then went on to tell them that these natural elements will one day be gone. He reminds us, as well, today of that which does not vanish or perish: "my salvation shall be forever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished." (Isaiah 51:6) God's word does not change. "Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today, and for ever" (Hebrews 13:8)
Finally, change can be positive. I, for example, appreciated the assistance of technology in conveying content in an up-to-date and relevant manner. Unfortunately, change can also be negative, especially if the change is not explicitly structured to enable the delivery and comprehension of the message. In our Christian witness, either as individuals or as the body of believers, nothing should obscure the teaching of scripture. Jesus Christ must always be front and center.
You will naturally be faced with change in your lives. Some of these changes will occur as a natural part of living (aging, for example!). Other changes are intentional. In making those changes, it is vital that you are able to answer this question in the positive: Will this change enable or obscure my personal witness of faith?

May the Lord bless you and keep you in the warm embrace all the days of your lives!

God's Peace, Earl Kaurala