Category Archives: Bible Ideas

Scripture Shows God’s Heart

Bible Ideas, Ministry, Personal Growth, Worship
January 11, 2015

“All Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16a)

Walter Wellesley “Red” Smith was one of America’s most famous sports columnists. Born in Green Bay, Wisconsin in 1905, he eventually wrote for the New York Herald Tribune and the New York Times. He was the first sportswriter to win the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary and 1976 he received the J. G. Taylor Spink Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame (baseball’s greatest honor for print journalists). The Associated Press awarded him the first “Red Smith Award” for outstanding contributions to sports journalism.

Smith was once asked if turning out a daily column wasn’t quite a chore. To this he is said to have replied, “Why, no. You simply sit down at the typewriter, open your veins, and bleed.” In this bold visual, Smith captured one of the essential elements of great writing. The great writer opens up his life and pours himself out through his words.

That is true of the greatest book of all time, the Bible. In the Bible, God the Father pours Himself out for all to read. He tells about the creation of a wonderful world and its people, made in His image, who tragically turn away from Him. He shows Himself in history, actions, laws, instructions, and miracles so people can understand His nature and character. In the Bible, God reveals His love, emotions, commitments, and plans for those He created. He goes to great lengths to bring a rebellious people back under His perfect care by sending His son, Jesus to die for our rescue.

Next time you pick up the Bible, stop and consider that this book is God’s heart, opened to us, so that we can know and find Him. He reveals Himself, inviting us to trust Him and put our lives into His hands. The Bible is no ordinary book, but the story of the Creator who loves and works with His creation even today.

To complete the reference I began with, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (II Timothy 3:16-17)

Will you let the Bible reveal to you God’s heart and then will you let God’s heart draw you to Him and the best kind of life to live?

Your pastor,

Dude Garrett

The Year of the Sheep

Bible Ideas, Cultural Issues, Ministry, The Good News

 

March 1, 2015

The Chinese new year began on Feb 19. It is now the year of the sheep. Since the new year festival is the most important holiday in China, I took time on Friday to ask my Chinese friends more about their new year. It was fun to ask them questions and to have them ask me questions too.

They were all surprised to learn that I knew it was now the year of the sheep. Since I had also read that it was the year of the goat, I asked them which it was. They told me that there is no real distinction in China between goats and sheep. They also told me that being born in the year of the sheep is unlucky to many in China. Therefore, some families would try not to have a child this year. One lady said that the lower birth rate this year would actually make the children born this year lucky. They would have less competition for college, jobs and other important opportunities. (Interesting that the “unlucky” year for children would in practice be more “lucky” for them.)

As we talked about Chinese life and culture, it came to me that since this was the beginning of the year of the sheep, we should read about Jesus who calls himself, the Good Shepherd. So, after questions and conversation were concluded, I asked them if we could read about Jesus describing himself as the Good Shepherd. They were glad to do that.

As we read John 10, it struck me very powerfully that Jesus’ description of the Good Shepherd and the sheep was all about personal connection between Jesus and those who follow Him. His sheep hear His voice, they follow Him, they know Him and He takes care of them. All those words describe the personal connection that Jesus has with His people, those of us who are Christians.

I thought this was so important because for many people new to America and to Christianity, they think of Christianity as a religion, or a set of moral values or even a philosophy. But according to Jesus in John 10, Christianity is all about connecting with the Good Shepherd, learning to recognize His voice and following Him in a relationship of trust. I told my Chinese friends that Christianity is actually all about a personal connection with Jesus who is alive and offering to be the Good Shepherd in our lives. In fact, Jesus says that He will “lay down his life for his sheep.”

As we talked about Jesus’ words in John 10, I told them the rest of the story. That Jesus did indeed lay down His life for His sheep. He died on the cross so that our sins would be forgiven and so that personal connection with Him could become a possibility. In every way you look at it, Jesus is indeed the Good Shepherd. Now it is our turn. Will we put our lives into His hands?   Will we be His sheep?

Your pastor,

Dude Garrett

Easter Messages

Bible Ideas, Ministry, The Good News
March 8, 2015

Preaching messages that relate to themes of the church year are challenging. This is especially true of Christmas and Easter. The subject is very specific and after preaching for more than 30 years I sometimes feel that I have said about everything I can think to say about Jesus’ birth and the events leading up to Jesus’ resurrection.

Why should that bother me? Is there a problem hearing again the most important stories from Jesus’ life? I think of Peter’s words, “So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory” (II Peter 1:12-13). Refreshing our memory is one of the reasons we do regular Bible study, both personal and corporate. I have also found that through the years my understanding and application grow, even though I have read the same passages before. It is not so much the NEW information I need, but a fresh application and appreciation of what I have already heard.

Still, approaching Easter messages this year, I asked the Deacons if they had any suggestions for me. Out of that conversation, it was suggested that I could do messages on some of the characters that are a part in the Easter story. I liked that idea and as I worked on it this week, I decided to look at the Easter events through the eyes of four distinct groups: the disciples, the religious leaders (Annas and Caiaphas), the Romans (Pilot) and the crowds (Palm Sunday and Good Friday).

This morning I want us to look at the Easter events through the eyes of the disciples of Jesus. They had the uncomfortable “front row seats” to everything that happened. How close are we willing to get to the Easter events?

Next Sunday we will look at the religious leaders (esp Caiaphas and Annas). They hated everything about Jesus, and their hatred centered around His threat to their power. Even today, there are those who are threatened by Jesus and what He said and did.

A third group is represented by Pilot (and other Romans). They had very little interest in Jesus, thinking He was just an unimportant player in their world of politics and government. However, they could not escape His impact on their lives.

Finally, we will look at the crowds. Especially two crowds, one that favored Jesus and followed Him, one that came to hate Jesus and called for His execution. In the end, we will be a member of one of those same crowds.

I hope you will be challenged as we take note of those groups involved in the Easter events. If we watch honestly enough, we can see ourselves.

Your pastor,

Dude Garrett

Chinese Believers

Bible Ideas, Ministry, The Good News
November 17, 2013

It has been my wonderful privilege to often officiate baptismal services for the Fargo-Moorhead Chinese Christian Church and their Fellowship that extends into the local college community.  I went back into my records and discovered that I have done that 10 different times since 2003.  During those 10 years I have baptized 38 new believers and have shared the gospel and talked about the meaning of baptism to dozens more.

Those new believers include college students, graduate students and their wives, professors, visiting scientists, and even a few Chinese people who live and work in our metro area.  A few were teenage daughters of Chinese parents, some were young adults with most of life yet to come and some were adults who despite a difficult life have been captured by the grace of God.  Some were here in Fargo for only a few months before returning to China, and some have been here for all of my 10 years of ministry alongside the FMCCC.  Each individual story is a wonderful testimony to God’s grace, to the magnetism of the gospel, and to the faithful witness of God people.

The most recent baptism was last Friday.  One lady who was baptized is a visiting scientist.  She has been here only a few months, but during that time has shared with me in her uncomfortable English some of the heartbreak and burdens of her life.  Giving her life to Jesus has been a kind of personal battle, not with the Lord, but with her past and her future.  When I baptized her on Friday, there were tears in her eyes and when she shared her testimony after the baptism (as is the custom of their church) again, there were tears in her eyes as she told about her commitment to Jesus and thanked those who helped her to learn about God.

In the very same service another young lady was baptized.  I did not know her as well personally, but her eyes and her voice were full of joy.  As I lifted her from the baptismal water, she smiled a huge smile and as she shared her testimony later, there was lots of laughter and smiles in the congregation.  Even after the service as I talked with her during the fellowship time, her face still carried a radiant smile.

It struck me that BOTH emotions were most fitting for the occasion.  Tears and smiles can say the same thing.  “I’m forgiven!”  “I’m adopted into God’s family!”  “I’m set on a new course in my life.”  “I’m free from the past.”  “I have a new reason to live.”  “I’m a child of a God who loves me and gave His son to be my Savior.”  “I have found HOPE.”

It is not the water of baptism, the prayers of those in attendance or even the wonderful support of a church family.  In Peter’s words, it is the “pledge of a good conscience toward God.”  (I Peter 3:21)  Peter goes on to say that we are saved by the resurrection of Jesus who now intercedes for us at the right hand of God.

In baptism, we say YES to God’s invitation to come to Jesus and find life.  Have you said YES to that invitation from God?

Your Pastor,

Dude Garrett

Want to talk to Pastor Dude?  Give him a call on his cell phone (701)261-0931

God Knows What He’s About

Bible Ideas, Grief, Ministry, Personal Growth
November 10, 2013

As I worked on the message for today, I ran across this anonymous poem that for many years has encouraged me.  I first read it in a book by Joni Tada, A Step Further.  Since then its words often helped me find purpose, hope and even inspiration in the difficulties of life.

When God wants to drill a man,

And thrill a man, and skill a man,

When God wants to mold a man

To play the noblest part;

When He yearns with all His heart

To build so great and bold a man

That all the world shall be amazed,

Then watch His methods, watch His ways!

How He ruthlessly perfects

Whom He royally elects!

How He hammers him and hurts him,

And with mighty blows converts him

Into shapes and forms of clay

Which only God can understand;

While man’s tortured heart is crying

And he lifts beseeching hands!

Yet God bends but never breaks

When man’s good He undertakes;

How He uses whom He chooses,

And with might power infuses him;

With every act induces him to try His splendor out

God knows what He’s about!

Noah lived through a flood that killed almost everyone he knew.  Abraham and Sarah left home and never had a home again.  Rebecca and Rachael left their prosperous and secure homes to live in dysfunctional nomadic families. Joseph was hated by this brothers and sold into slavery.  Moses lived as a foreigner among his people and barely escaped with his life after becoming a killer.  David lived years in exile because of his faithfulness to an insane king.  Jeremiah preached God’s word faithfully and died hated and exiled from those he served.  Hosea’s wife spurned his love and returned to prostitution.  Mary was a single mother alone in years of great suffering.  Jesus died for those who despised and rejected him.  And the list could go on. Yet, in every case, God knows what He’s about.  We can trust Him!

Your Pastor,

Dude Garrett

Want to talk to Pastor Dude?  Give him a call on his cell phone (701)261-0931.

Pastor Appreciation

Bible Ideas, Ministry, Personal Growth

October 27, 2013

As I have said before, I’m not really a fan of Pastor Appreciation.  It is not that I do not want to be appreciated, but rather that I do not like being the focus of attention.  That is not really humility talking, rather it is a much less noble attitude.  I do not want to be on a pedestal, even a very small one.  But, since I am convinced that my feelings are not nearly as important as guidance from God through His word, I need to ask the question….is pastor appreciation biblical?  After you look over these verses, let me know what you think.

1 Corinthians 9:13-14

Don’t you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

Philippians 2:25, 29-30

But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs….Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. 

1 Timothy 5:17-18

The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.”

Hebrews 13:7

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith….Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

I still do not like Pastor Appreciation month, but it just might be more biblical than I want to admit.  THANKS for the MANY things you do to make me feel appreciated throughout the year (not just in October).  It is a joy and an honor to be…

Your Pastor,

Dude Garrett

Want to talk to Pastor Dude?  Give him a call on his cell phone (701)261-0931.

The Big Picture

Bible Ideas, Ministry, Personal Growth, The Good News

October 20, 2013

As I have read, preached and taught through the Book of Acts these last few months, I continue to notice the times when the Apostles (especially Paul) seemed to say “no” to the preaching of the gospel.  I talked about this in my sermon a few weeks ago from Acts 16:6-10.  I called that sermon “500 Miles of No.”  I see it again in today’s passage, Acts 17:1.  Paul, Silas, and Timothy traveled from Philippi to Thessalonica.  Along the way “they passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia.”  Although we need to be careful NOT to read into the Bible something that is not there, it seems to me that Paul and his friends did not preach or teach in either of those towns.

Noted New Testament scholar, F.F. Bruce made this observation.  “The three travelers apparently halted only for a night at Amphipolis and again at Apollonia, but at Thessalonica they made a longer stay; it was the next place after Philippi selected for intensive evangelization.”  (The Book of Acts, pg 343)  My question is, why?  Why did they not evangelize in those towns?

I must admit that my question does not have a biblical answer.  Luke tells us that the Holy Spirit closed the doors in their travels through Asia, but here he only mentions that they “passed through” these towns.  Still, I must conclude that Paul and his friends did not disobey God in this decision.  It was God’s will that Paul preach the gospel in Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea and not these other towns.

If I were to speculate about how Paul and his company made these decisions, I would suggest at least one reason.  Paul had a strategy that he believed was directed by God.  He may have described it in Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.”  Luke also describes it this way, “As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue.”   Paul’s strategy was to go to the synagogue (full of Jewish people and others who were already on the road to belief).  There Paul would tell them about Jesus and some of those who heard about Jesus would believe he was the Messiah, the Savior, and their lives would be changed forever.  Once a group was established, Paul would move on leaving behind believers who would continue to spread the good news about Jesus.

Paul planted new churches in places where the Old Testament was read and respected, where local leaders could nurture new believers and where these Christians could in turn reach out to the cities and towns near them.  It seems to me that Paul learned that if he would do what God wanted him to do, the Lord would take care of the rest.  Paul had only a part of God’s plans.

I would suggest that is still a good principle to follow.  No single individual can do everything.  Instead, we must learn what God wants us to do, follow Him faithfully and leave the big picture in His hands.

Am I walking closely enough to the Lord that He can direct my steps?  Have I learned how He wants to use me in His Kingdom work?

Your Pastor,

Dude Garrett

Want to talk to Pastor Dude?  Give him a call on his cell phone (701)261-0931.

Outreach Ideas

Bible Ideas, Ministry, Personal Growth, The Good News

Outreach Ideas
June 9, 2013

Good ideas are most valuable and often hard to get.  That is why the Church Council decided to invite everyone to have input on how to do our two park outreaches this summer.  And, thanks to many of you, good ideas came out in our lunch last Sunday.

We talked about things we could give away and treats and refreshments we could offer.  We discussed ways to divide and schedule the work as well as guidelines for things like making the bounce houses safe for all the kids who come to play.  We even thought about ways to make music a part of the outreach.  Best of all, we discussed how to greet people and make connections with the families, both parents and children, who are in the park  those afternoons.  We had some very good ideas, many of them I would never have thought about on my own.

When we started our discussion we made it clear that all ideas were welcome, this was not the time to pick and choose what we would do, but rather a time to build up a “bank account of ideas” so we could have many to choose from when it came time to get more practical and make specific plans.  So, as we ended our time, I asked for volunteers to meet at a later time, sort through our discussion and help us make specific, workable plans for June 30 and July 28 (the dates of our Outreaches in the Park).

Often when I ask for volunteers, the room becomes very quite.  Everyone is thinking, “do I dare volunteer?”  Praise the Lord, in just a few minutes we had 5 volunteers, Wanda, Sherry, Erin, James and Cindy.  What a great group and a wonderful cross section of our church family.  And then, they met together the next day (last Monday)!  Their job was to take any ideas from our discussion, work them over and come up with a plan to organize our Outreaches in the Park.  This morning in worship, we will hear a report and learn how we can get involved in our June 30 park outreach.

Yet, there is one more step, the most important step of all, YOUR STEP.  It is one thing to have ideas, it is another thing to plan, but all that is for nothing if we do not follow through with those ideas and plans.  The follow through is up to each of us.

So, listen up!  Listen to the outreach plans, but most of all, listen to the Lord.  Look for a way that you can be involved and then, clear your schedule and plan to help.  Help where you can.  Look for what you can do, volunteer, sign up and then show up.  But note this, the Lord may use you in a way you will not expect.  Offer your involvement as a gift of service to THE LORD and then notice how He works in your heart as you follow Him.  That is a great pattern for all kinds of ministry.

Your Pastor,

Dude Garrett

Want to talk to Pastor Dude?  Give him a call on his cell phone (701)261-0931.

Congrats Michael

Bible Ideas, Family Life, Personal Growth, The Good News

Congratulations Michael!

June 2, 2013

Thirteen years ago I preached a message to my sons on their graduation from high school.  Today, I write a similar message to my youngest son on his graduation from that same high school.  Congratulations, Michael.  Allow me to say a few things that I hope will encourage and challenge you.

Through the years, I know that school has often been an unpleasant irritation to you.  But I am proud that you have made it through and along the way found some things that you could apply yourself to.  Your JROTC classes inspired you and lead you down the road to your enlistment in the Army.  It is an honorable choice and I believe that you will make an excellent soldier.  You have strong ideals and you are not afraid to stand up for what you believe to be right.  I see in you the roots of true courage.

I am also proud that you have applied yourself to learning some very practical skills.  And unlike your classmates who goofed off, you have discovered that those skills are honorable and worthy of excellence.  I am confident that what you have learned will serve you well in the future, no matter where the Lord will direct you.

But most of all, I am proud of the way you stood by your friends and those who needed your help.  I remember last summer when you and I were walking downtown and we saw a relatively minor motorcycle and car crash.  You literally jumped to help.  Before I even knew what was happening, you were there helping the rider up on his feet and assessing the damage.  I saw that again as you appropriately intervened in a friend’s dangerous depression and in standing up to a classroom bully.  You took initiative when most would simply stand by and watch.  Yes, I believe you have the makings of a great soldier.  I am indeed proud of you.

Finally, as I did 13 years ago for Dan and Andy, I want to give you the same challenge: the challenge to make faith your own.  As you grew up, church was an accepted and involuntary part of your life.  Mom and I did not push you into church participation, but in many situations, you had no choice.  Now, things are different.  In just a few weeks you will literally be on your own.  You will choose to trust God, or to ignore Him.  You will choose to listen for His voice or press on charting your own course.  You must make your faith your own, no one else can do that for you.

In this journey, the Bible story testifies to one all important truth.  If we will humble ourselves and come to God, He will never turn us away.  “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  (Rom. 10:13)  That is a promise throughout the Bible and it is one that all of us need to hear.  I hope you will never forget it.

I love you and I am very proud to be your Dad.  Congratulations on your high school graduation!

Want to talk to Pastor Dude?  Give him a call on his cell phone (701)261-0931.

Psalm 23

Bible Ideas, Ministry

Psalm 23

July 21, 2013

In three separate Bible studies this week, I was pointed to Psalm 23 – David’s Shepherd Psalm.  The first was my Wednesday noon, Cole Paper Bible study.  The second was that same day with RedHawks players and the third was on Friday with my Chinese student friends.  Each time, we were pointed there by the harsh reality of death.

In many ways, I feel like I have been walking through the “valley of the shadow of death” a lot lately.  This is not so much a personal thing, but rather a ministry thing.  About a month ago was our grandson’s death.  Then 10 days ago, Mike’s death.  At Cole Papers, an employee’s son died very unexpectedly and mysteriously.  And then last Sunday, Dr. David Tsen (a good friend and strong leader of the Fargo-Moorhead Chinese Christian Church) was severely hurt in a biking accident and was very close to death.  (in Dr. Tsen’s case, it seems that he is doing much better, but he will be in recovery mode for at least 2 months.)

Since I have the space, let me copy here Psalm 23 (you will recognize it)

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

I want to point out one special detail that I had not seen before.   Notice the change in pronouns from verses 1-3 and then 4-6.  David starts out saying “he” and ends up saying “you”.  First David talks ABOUT the Lord, but in the end, David talks TO the Lord.

Next I noticed that the shift came when David started thinking about “the valley of the shadow of death.”  In death, the Lord is the ONLY one who can walk with us.  And the promise of the psalm is just that.  Our Shepherd Lord goes WITH us when we face death.

Death is not a happy subject, but it is something that all of us will one day face.  All of us one day with “walk through the valley of the shadow of death.”  When that day comes, will you know the Shepherd Lord and find Him at your side?  His presence is the one thing that can drive away our fear and give us courage to face that unknown.  Reach out to the Shepherd today.

Your Pastor,

Dude Garrett

Want to talk to Pastor Dude?  Give him a call on his cell phone (701)261-0931.