LyricsWhen my heart was cold and lifelessAnd I wandered in my blindnessYou pursued meAnd before the world was breathingYou had chosen to redeem meFor You loved me, Lord You love me I know You are workingYou are working all thingsAll things for Your glory and my goodLord, You will accomplishEverything You promisedAll things for Your […]
Author: CTn
I'm a church pastor living on the Iron Range in Northern Minnesota. I try to encourage people to pursue living life W.E.L.L (Worshipping, Encouraging, Loving, Learning)
Lyrics That Bible by the bed ain’t a coaster no moreIt’s still got some rings from the bottles beforeThat redletter mercy put an end to my thirstyThat Bible by the bed ain’t a coaster no more Well I told my old man that I loved him todayHe said it back before he drove awayBeen stubborn […]
I read an interesting article that suggested that skipping church could lead to depression and suicide. “Yet there’s another, non-technology possible contributor to the mental health crisis that’s getting less attention but may be just as significant. That is the decline in church attendance. A professor of epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public […]
Lyrics Sunday mornin’Preacher saidLife’s a mist it’s just a breathWe’re only here for a little while He talked aboutHis daddy’s graveIt read 1910 to ‘98But the years between were just a little line Got me wondering what I’m chasingDon’t want another minute wasted There’s a day we’re bornDay we passIn between there’s just a dashWhat […]
I’ve had to drive in some of the worst weather to go be with people in their time of need as a pastor. My wife’s Grandpa Roy was a GM mechanic all his life and he’d always say, “Your best insurance policy is a good set of tires.” Last weekend I came to the conclusion […]
Fun Memories: My Australian Shepherd Puppy eight years ago responding to panting noises.
I had a friend who ended up paying more than he bargained for because he angrily took revenge on the tow truck driver who impounded his bike as directed by the police. This video was filmed back when I was making green screen videos in my basement while working at River Rock. Now I am […]
Many years ago when I first started following Jesus I would listen to Chuck Swindoll on Insight for Living almost every weeknight. Since there was no local church I could attend then, Chuck was most influential in my spiritual growth when I was I was a new Christian. I deeply respect Chuck’s teaching and opinions. […]
As a church planting pastor that was renting the public school for our Sunday church service and Wednesday night kids program, we were surprised when were told we couldn’t meet due to Covid restrictions. I remember recording my first “church at home” video in my basement using my cell phone and a cheap selfie-stick I […]
Lyrics CHANCESKe’Erron Sims, Evan Craft, Mitch Wong, Monty Rivera There’s a lie that says you’re defined by your mistakesTelling you that you can try but you’ll never changeBut one thing it forgets is the power of amazing graceIt can pick you up even from the darkest grave It doesn’t matter where you startedIt doesn’t have […]
Lyrics You spoke the wordAnd the light chased away the darknessYou did the same for my soulYou split the seasCame for meYou keep every promiseYour purpose will unfold If even the rocks cry outEven the mountains bowAll creation shouts Your Name How could I notHow could I not sing Your praiseHow could I notHow could […]
I like to ride my bike around the farm roads and river hills where I live. Many times I think of this poem from Tim Hansel’s Book “Holy Sweat” that describes how we should ride through life with Jesus in control. “I did not trust Him at first, in control of my life. I thought […]
LyricsTHEY MAY NOT BUY A TICKET – BUTYOU CAN BET THEY’RE WATCHING THE SHOWSo We don’t gotta tell themThere’s a lot they already knowIt’s in the words we sayAnd everything we doThe treasure that we chaseYeah It’s all the living proofIT’S LIKE THE CURTAIN RISESEVERYTIME WE WALK IN THE ROOM (chorus)LET YOUR SPOTLIGHT SHOWEVERYWHERE I […]
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When People Leave Your Church
I’ve been actively involved serving in local churches for over 30 years. I could share a long list of reasons why people came to a church and reasons why people left a church. Some people stay for a season and some people stay for a lifetime. Some people leave after a period of time – […]
One day in church I had a middle aged guy walk up to me and say, “I don’t like you.” And my first thought was “What are we in Junior High?” I’m sure many people have thought it over the years but I’ve never had someone walk up and say it. I just started at […]
There are a lot of kids and youth ministry materials options listed online. Here are some that have worked for me in the past and some recommended by other ministry leaders in my network. Remember that the pandemic in 2020 forced a lot of churches to stay closed and that is reflected in the ministry […]
Only God knows the lasting impact that will result from what is going on with the “Asbury Revival” this week. I’m not saying I am fully supportive of everything that goes on at Asbury (I don’t know much about them) and I don’t know what was preached after this one message. But I think it […]
Lyrics You spoke the wordAnd the light chased away the darknessYou did the same for my soulYou split the seasCame for meYou keep every promiseYour purpose will unfold If even the rocks cry outEven the mountains bowAll creation shouts Your Name How could I notHow could I not sing Your praiseHow could I notHow could […]
Lyrics Lyrics:If I woke up tomorrowAnd everything I had was goneIf a storm full of sorrowTried to take the wind out of my song I would stand in the wreckageWith a peace I can’t explainCause if the world didn’t give itThen the world can’t take it away I’ve got all that I needYou pour out […]
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What I Learned About Church Trailers
Planting a church and never being able to acquire our own building meant that I had been the keeper of the church trailer in my driveway for the last sixteen years. It also meant that I worked with volunteers to move trailer to school, unload trailer, setup school, packup trailer, and return trailer to my […]
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Steven Curtis Chapman – I Am Second
Long time Christian recording artist Steven Curtis Chapman shares about his great adventure of wonderful and crushing life experiences including adoption and the loss of a child in this I Am Second video.
Here are links to some spiritual gift and personality tests I like. The more experience you get serving the Lord the more effective these test are. It is fun to study spiritual gifts and consider what your gift(s) might be. The topic lists from GotQuestions.org are helpful. The first four resources and free and the […]
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Learn Microsoft Publisher
Microsoft Publisher comes with an Office 365 subscription and is an economical way to make great church bulletins, brochures, certificates, business cards, posters and more. I have been using MS Publisher for years. Here are a couple links to videos to help you get up to speed.
If Joseph in the Book of Genesis had a theme song, this would probably be it. He trusted God even when all he dreamed for fell apart and years later it all finally made sense. Joseph went through many difficult years preparing and getting in to the right place so God could use Him for […]
Chris Teien 