July 23, 2017. Pastor Keith preaches today on Matthew 13:24-43. Why is there tension in the world? Even Christian congregations are seldom at peace. There is the temptation for us to judge and divide, to decide who is in and who is out. But in Jesus' Parable of the Weeds, we are taught that it is God who will sort out the good seeds from the bad. God does not want us to suffer. Our tragedies are not part of God's plan. Sometimes it may be hard to keep up hope. But no matter how powerful our enemies seem, we must remember that life with God will prevail. *** [Keywords: 2017 Biblical Joshua Biblical story Brent Wood Christian congregations Epistles Exodus Friday God doesn't send bad things God doesn't send us more than we can bear God intended God is for the good God is in charge God suffers with them all God was killed in the form of Jesus God works for good in all things God's intention God's way will prevail Gospel Jerusalem Jesus Jewish authorities Jews in Babylon Joshua Wood Karen Wood Life With God Will Prevail Matthew 13:24-43 Moses Parable of the Tares Parable of the Weeds Pastor Keith Holste Paul Roman act against injustice act of God actions acts of judgement addiction robs loved one of full life anticipate any way shape or form anyone in need apocalyptic arrested back biting back stabbing bad things around us baptism baptized into the faith baptizing blame God bodies body of Jesus book of Daniel book of Revelation brokenness cancer returns care for neighbor challenges children of Isreal chose this name city of Jericho code language communities congregations corners correct things country deeds of goodness defeat depression sets in depth of evil and death desertion devil died on cross direction we can move with doesn't plant the weeds doesn't want evil for us doesn't want us to suffer don't worry draw us in emperor encapsulated encouraged evil force out there evil will be destroyed fight our battles forces gather us general idea goodness and will of God will prevail greatest weapon hands of God hard to keep the faith hard to keep up hope hole dug households how we can trust God insiders internal or external challenges is God with us judge and divide killed by Romans leads us in directions leave us humble life cut short life with God will prevail lions in den literature live with disruptions long long story loves us made the whole world make them wonder meaning more to think about most evil thing happened mounted and killed on a cross not alone oppressors our corner of the world our tragedies aren't part of God's plan outsiders parables part of God's plan part of fellowship piece of wood place our faith plan for world planting seeds of evil plants only the good seeds point of the parable powerful enemy promise reality of sin redeeming the world redemption resurrected life resurrection on Easter sake of good seldom completely at peace sermon sets us free shine like the sun sign of the cross signs of evil some tension in community sorting sowing stories or poems struggle suffered the height sufferings support those in need symbolized take heart take responsibility tease our minds temptation thousands or millions of refugees times are hard times are tough tough to be Christians trouble with one another trust it all to God turns back on those in need untimely death war we don't have everything figured out we're not first ones weed seeds who should be in who should be out with God in Jesus on cross won't know it's talking about them words of wisdom work against evil world of good and beauty]

July 9, 2017. We all carry burdens. Life can seem wearisome, especially in this time when we all seem so polarized, sorting ourselves into like-minded groups and listening only to those with whom we agree. In her sermon today, Pastor Penny preaches on Matthew 11:25-30. Jesus offers rest for our souls, for his yoke is easy and his burden is light. *** [Keywords: 2017 Cascade Mountains God created perfect world God gives the truth to infants God in the flesh God working Gospel Grunewald Guild I do dance I do laugh I know that you are weary I wanted to die I will give you rest Jesus of Nazareth John the Baptist Keith Lutheran Mark Matthew 11:25-30 Pastor Penny Holste Roman Catholic brother The Big Sort book Washington State across the country admit we need God all Democrats support abortion all Republicans are against gun control all birds have wings all cats purr all winter long another child art and faith come together art teacher in Philadelphia as good as our lives are back at home beautiful picture believed they knew the truth bore the cross for us bowl of potatoes and onions burdensome came back with broken heart catch a plane challenges change the burdens checklist close to his mother come to grips come to me community of Christians artists community surrounded supported him condemned could not heal his grief on his own deal with grief devastated did not see did not want to leave her didn't listen to each other director drove hours do dishes doctors appointments don't have to be in contol finally the tears came found real rest four grown children freed us to be loved and to love his world get up in the morning go to work got a message got on bus grandparents handed over to God harmony with God and one another has taken vows have the answers he cried for his own loss he let God in heard her words heart remained broken hopefully we are those people hurts husband and wife in that moment injustices and pain of the world inviting us just started to talk just stood justice and peace know they are dependent learn to talk like children like-minded groups listen to radio little boy loved ones make lunches meadow might seem doesn't fit us minds were shut missed mistakes moa more conservative more liberal more open lifestyle mostly listening mother close to death mother contracted leukemia my burden is light my yoke is easy never dance again never laugh again never seen you so tight not a day goes by not at ease not doing nothing not married not ordained offering open newspaper open to the voice of God opponents more extreme other losses besides his mother paced back and forth painted painter people like children really rest recreated the world refugees religious leaders remembered care rote rustic same field screens sermon seventh day of creation shared story sharing she insisted shut them out six months old he died so polarized in our country sorted ourselves sources of news spend hours in car starvation stayed strict lifestyle summer survey take children to classes teaches us then God rested theory think about him every day third summer thought about his words threw himself true false question turn TV on turned to infants use the word all war wary we agree with what he would look like now wise and intelligent people with daughter and her family with mother when she died work at home work in the yard you are carrying heavy burdens young parents]

June 25, 2017. When you're trying to spread a message to people who might disagree with you, how can do you do it effectively? In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus has some pretty severe things to say. Following him would have taken courage and faith. Pastor Keith's sermon today is on thinking outside the box, living the faith and sharing the message, even when it's not always easy. *** [Keywords: 2017 75 years Antioch Christian causes Christians put in jail Egypt God values us God's support Great Persecution Holy Land I'm right India Jerusalem Jesus knew Jewish John Luke Matthew 10:24-39 Pastor Keith Holste Roman Syria abuse accumulation of wealth and power alternative view always necessary apostle Paul astounded authorities better way big question marks bottom line bringing about change building community building relationship by my action calling followers challenge closeness contentious time context conversation cost him his life costly created and loved by God crown of creation demand demand high price demands of Jesus didn't receive very well directives disregard early Christianity encounters we have encouraging followers of Jesus even when not easy expect resistance facilitate fall back fall short filter follow Jesus forgiveness full meaning of Gospel future get across point of view good of the world great courage and faith hairs on our head hard to believe anyone followed Jesus hard to tell the truth hate help people think higher power hope hopeful graceful side how is this a way to love like Jesus loved how we approach things human beings are not expendable human system hurt our gains idea incur resistance indifference individual inside the box kept listening anyway laxity of faith life changing life is well lived life or death decision live by another standard living certain ways longevity losing track of teachings love of creation loving words major things message can be heard message was compromised more complex picture more friendly most effective way motivates need to move needs ignored new life is ours also normal economics not most effective not most important thing not natural human way not the way not to be exploited not to press message not well received objective one of four Gospels of Jesus our own country outside the box pawns peace and contentment people of God physical persecution plans we make plentiful powerful interest powers of the world pretty severe things promise pushback quality of love radical action received new life refused entry regular power structure religious character resisted sake of all same promise is for us self-serving sensitivity sermon served by what I'm doing share message of way of Jesus sharing small and ordinary things small group so intertwined social structures someone with whom we disagree sparrows speaking the truth speaking up for someone status quo strategy subjects of government suggestions for change take advantage of taken advantage of teachings of Jesus telling people off things we choose to do those who seek their lives for his sake will gain it those who seek their own lives will lose them to be a follower tough to be a Christian truth about himself truth telling truth to power very hard to hear way of world around them was not right way to describe Jesus we have that life weakening in the faith well-being what's in it for me what's in this for the sake of the world words not always easy to hear world needs to be reminded world view worldly values you're doing it wrong you're wrong]

June 11, 2017. When did you first hear about Jesus? If you're like most Christians, it was from someone you know, someone you trust. Jesus told his disciples to go and make disciples of everyone, and they did. We are Christians today because of their success. Pastor Penny talks about the first disciples, and how like them we can make new disciples too, simply by being who we are, in the right place and at the right time. *** [Keywords: 2000 years later 2017 Easter morning God had worked through him God will do that Hi this is Jennifer how can I help you I am with you I got it fixed I have all authority above Heaven and earth I want what you have I will be with you always I'm sure you can help me Jerusalem Jesus loves us to enough to come back from the dead for us Jesus recruited us Pastor Penny Holste Synod assembly afraid agent to agent agonizing picture of Jesus dying all by ourselves all your other friends and so we went angel around a boulder as he said he would baseball believe something so amazing believe that Jesus loved us buried Jesus can I call you back on my private line can't do it on our own care charge of 600 dollars church was born confused cut off three times did heal people doing things you never thought you would do down from the mountain dropped to knees earthquake embrace love of Jesus emotionally sick empty tomb enthusiasm experience explain the whole thing eyes seemed to be smiling faith was faltering fan of your favorite sport first disciples football go and make disciples go make disciples of everyone go with them golf good picture of us grandparent hadn't been to church in 20 years happened to be women helps us hiding hockey hopeful how in the world do you make a disciple imagine with me imagined scene in awe it won't happen again keeps us here knock on the door large hill called mountain lead life that Christ would like let me try something let's do it lightness little taste live and die live it out looked like Jesus love that sport loves Jesus too meet me in Galilee nervous next month open and willing our mistake overcharge parent patience peace people yell at me all day long people yelling at me phone bill pick up the phone power and love of Jesus Christ promise promised herself proof of their success recruit relative remove our sins right place right time rise again road to becoming a disciple runaround running saw Jesus scared sense of peace sermon set an example she and her two girls show them the sport sit around the TV someone else's word sports bar starting doubting strength of God strength of a word strength of one word strength to know how take them to a baseball game teacher tell you about my job tennis that first Easter third month those first women trail turned trust walked five days wavering between fear and doubt we need each other we went we weren't really strong where did you first hear about Jesus? woman word of someone else you didn't you're a pastor]