"Be Amazed at JESUS"(Notes by Rev. Doug Detert from a talk given by R. Andrews) Mark 10:32-52 Verse 32 --- All the way long it is Jesus. What He went through was to make it possible for us to have Jesus. Your doctrinal positions, etc., won’t matter; all that matters is what Jesus does, and what you do with Him. This is especially true about the doctrines of the Coming of the Lord. The prophecies of His First Advent were embedded in the spirit of their giving, and were to the carnal mind hard to understand. Jesus fulfilled every type and shadow, every sacrifice, every ceremony, etc. The Pharisees didn’t recognize Him because they didn’t love Him. Where am I tonight? We don’t care about hair-splitting distinctions here. All we care about is union of our hearts with Jesus. Do you like Jesus? The kind of person He is? What do you do in your heart with Jesus? But there were some who, quickened by God, loved Him, and followed Him. They didn’t beg Christ to follow them! Isn’t that the whole message of the Old Testament? “Just walk with me, I’ll take your hand.” That was the whole thing. So any doctrine you will ever teach is irrelevant unless we have a walk with Jesus. There’s only one who is Wonderful! Don’t think you’ll ever do anything wonderful. Just be amazed at Jesus. That’s what God wants. It’s not you that God is making wonderful. Isn’t it wonderful what God can do with you! What is the wonder of it? That a nothing like me, nonetheless with, and by, and for, and in JESUS makes me something. Read, read, read the Gospels, because you’ll never run out of things to learn about Jesus. Why? Because you need Jesus, as God understands Him. The Jesus of the Bible. Read with a worshiping heart. Every time you see Jesus’ name, say, “I love you, Jesus; You are wonderful,” etc. “You will never exhaust the unfolding of the possibilities of Divine reality in the Gospels. Noah Kauffman grew up in a Christian home in Viroqua, WI. He had an awareness of God at a young age. Before his teenage years he began to recognize his wretched nature. In his inability to stop being bad, he cried out to Jesus for a changed heart. At the age of 19, Noah felt called to apply as an intern in the Evergreen Center Discipleship Program. During his internship, Noah entered further into the life of Christ’s love constraining him. He was compelled in Christ to take others into his heart just as they were and free them by bearing them to God. Before graduating Noah felt called to stay at Evergreen Center. Although the door was not open at that time, Noah did hear accurately. He trusted the Lord, hiding what he felt in his heart, and continued forward with plans for an AG Power & Equipment Technician Certification. During the next 5 years, he faced many opportunities to grow and lean on Jesus. The Lord proved Himself faithful at every turn. During this time he came to realize his affection for a girl he had grown up with at Living Faith Church. Her name was Megan Rutten. He spent much time in prayer about pursuing a life with Megan. When he felt the Lord's prompting, he respectfully and honorably made his affections known, first approaching Megan’s parents. Noah's request to pursue a relationship with Megan came shortly after she shared her uncertainty about her salvation in their young adults Sunday school. Noah’s choosing to love her anyway, affected her. She has expressed how Noah was a picture of Jesus to her, taking her into his heart right where she was and cherishing and nourishing her there. This helped her further see and understand God’s love. One day, before Noah and Megan were married, the Lord made himself known to Megan as she was reading in Isaiah 43. The Lord revealed Himself to her in such a way that it has provided a “No turning back” in her faith. In the fall of 2017, Noah supported his wife's desire to become an Evergreen Center intern. During Megan’s terms, Noah assisted with property maintenance. He was a loving support to Megan as she navigated through the demands of the internship. Nearing the end of Megan’s second term they were asked to consider staying on as staff. Noah is currently overseeing maintenance at Evergreen Center. He is a support to Dennis Tieman at the Waushara Co. jail ministry and assists Kevin Teachey (Resident Assistant) in the daily life of the interns. Megan serves as Secretary, manages the cleaning at the center, and is serving as Evergreen Center’s Fall Retreat Coordinator. Megan has encouraged many in the faith during her time here. She respects Jesus, admits when she is wrong and then patiently turns to strengthen the brethren as Peter did. We are so glad to have Noah and Megan Kauffman as fellow workers at the Evergreen Center. They hold a position for His Kingdom to come and His Will to be done, not only in their own lives, but also in the lives of all others. May Jesus continue to rise in and through them! They greet you with the warm affections of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Annual RetreatPlease consider joining us for our Annual Fall Retreat, September 7-9, 2018. Rev. Kurt Koeshall will be speaking on “The Time is NOW to enter in, for the Time is near” (Rev. 1:3). We are greatly anticipating what the Lord will do!
We are so grateful for all of you, your prayers and support! Every blessing, Elizabeth Metz on behalf of the Evergreen Center Staff
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Are You A Peace MAKER?(Notes from a Morning Time given by Rev. Doug Detert.) "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. John 14:27 Has the Spirit of peace gotten a hold of you? Do you create confusion or make peace wherever you go? Confusion is missing something of God, and idols in your life will bring you into confusion and keep you from peace. This world has a different idea about peace than what we find described in Jesus’ words. Peace is a SPIRIT, it is what you ARE. Jesus is the ultimate Peace-maker, and He has made peace by the blood of His cross. What an interesting way to make peace…with a cross? “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” Colossians 1:19-20 Peace is completeness in God. We become a peacemaker like Jesus when we die for others, or in other words enter into their death. James 3:17 tells us how to make peace. “…The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” Can you really be a peacemaker without a mercy-ing heart? No, because you will be in confusion. Did you know that you can’t shine light on anything without creating a shadow unless the object is completely transparent? Are we completely transparent with God or are we casting shadows on the lives of those around us? Do we allow Him to search us and see if there is any confusion in us? He wants to fill you with HIS peace. Won’t you let Him? Kevin and Jenn Teachey are serving here in ministry at the Evergreen Center. Their stories have many similarities. Both grew up in church; both were healed of illnesses; and yet both struggled to believe that God could really change their Wills and Natures. In many ways, they were stuck in the 'church-world,' with a hyper-focus on having right theology and had no personal, daily walk with God. We are to be FULL of the Holy Ghost and Fire, right? They are on that path, believing for a total IMMERSION into God. The fire of God is burning up their self-life, which used to rage against God and His Providences. Through many dealings, Kevin and Jenn have learned to “thank God in all things.” They try to see God's hand in everything, and to THANK GOD no matter what! They are slowly learning to walk on water! So how do two 'church kids' find Christ? How does God reveal to two such young people that they REALLY do NOT know it all? How do they stop debating and arguing, and transition into a daily life of trying to find the Mind of Christ concerning a matter? How do they put God before father, mother, sister or brother? Once you begin to see the Lowliness of God it changes everything inside of you. You are done; or perhaps, we would say, like Isaiah, you are “undone.” It melts you. You are done with the world, the flesh, and the devil. Then, and only then, are the toughest dealings seen as a wonderfully edifying mercy from God. Through their godly leaders, who continue to speak into their lives on a weekly basis, the greatest rebuke is then seen through the eyes of a humble child who just wants to feel the corrective love of their Heavenly Father. Jenn homeschools their two children, Ryan Douglas (5) and Quinn Noelle (3). She also teaches a weekly class in the Discipleship Program on The Meaning of the Cross, occasionally plays the piano in church, and preaches in rotation on Sunday Mornings. Her will and nature is changing, for the glory of God. Her level of JOY is increasing, not staying stagnant or decreasing. She is being filled. Kevin is the Resident Assistant and the congregational pastor, as well as being on the Evergreen board. He was once extremely fearful and self-conscious; now, he depends on the grace of God, which allows him to love and repent. God is making Kevin teachable. Here at the Evergreen Center, we are believing for a total change of heart and mind/understanding. We are believing for Christ to FILL us with His Holy Spirit 100%. They believe if a man can be demon possessed, then he can be fully possessed by God to be TRULY like Jesus. Please don't settle; don't stop. In order to stand in these very last days, we have to have our Wills and Natures dealt with, and we have to be being filled daily with His Holy Spirit and Fire. Annual RetreatPlease mark your calendars for our Annual Retreat, September 7–9, 2018. Rev. Kurt Koeshall will be sharing with us on the theme, "The Time is NOW to Enter In, for the Time is Near." (Rev. 1:3) We are greatly anticipating what the Lord will do this year, and would love to have you join us!
We are so grateful for all of you, and your prayers and support! Every blessing, Elizabeth Metz on behalf of the Evergreen Center Staff |
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