By Pastor Kevin Van Wyk
Do you remember the infamous Bon Jovi song? I never paid much attention to the words, but I took a closer look. Poor Tommy and Gina, life was hard and all they had was each other. Well, and a prayer. For some reason, I don’t think the authors had thought much about the meaning of livin’ on a prayer either. Who’s prayer was this? What was it asking for? How did this prayer help them survive and continue to live?
 
After reading Revelation 8 and seeing an angel bring a bowl with incense and “the prayers of all God’s people” to the altar before the throne of God, I wondered, is that happening now? The position in Revelation leads me to think these events have not yet happened, but we also certainly believe our prayers do come before God the Father. Can you imagine the glorious scene in heaven as your prayers are mingled with the incense and millions of other prayers before the Father? 
 
Then add the prayers of the Holy Spirit. Consider when you just don’t know what to pray. He is there stirring wordless prayers and interceding for us!
 
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. (Rom. 8:26-27)
 
Oh! There is more. Now add to the scene the prayers of Jesus our high priest.
Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest truly meets our need… (Heb. 7:23-26)
 
Did Desmond Child, John Bon Jovi, and Sambora Richard consider the prayers of God’s people, the prayers of the Holy Spirit, or the prayers of Jesus? Certainly, the song implies living in a hopeless state. “Livin’ on a Prayer” is not a statement of faith, as we might hope. It was a sad reflection of being down and out, but determined to survive. “Take my hand and we’ll make it, I swear.” 
 
You are living on more than a prayer. No doubt, some believers around you are praying for you. The Spirit and the Son are praying for you. Don’t give up on life and don’t think it all depends on you or your prayers. Set aside some time to offer your heart and prayers to the Lord. 
 
Join me in praying…

• Pray for your family to know and trust Jesus. Ask God to stir a deep desire for his Word in their hearts.
• Lift up those in our church who are ill or struggling with difficult issues. Check the back of our bulletin for a list.
• Pray for our consistory and staff as we seek to discern specific initiatives God wants us to take on this year.
• Pray for our elders, pastors, the leaders of the Alliance of Reformed Churches, other local RCA churches, and the RCA leadership as we all sort through our future.

​By Kevin Van Wyk
 
I don't know about you, but I am very weary of questions about Covid and the election. Was there fraud? Will the vaccine work? Should I get the vaccine? Will Biden make us all wear masks? Ugh. I'm sick of all of it.
 
During my professional development week, back in November, I spent some time reading a number of different books. One of them asked a really good question that helped take me out of the Covid and the election debate pit. I used this question with the staff a couple weeks ago and then asked the consistory the same question at our December meeting.
 
So what is the question worth $25 million? Well, it's simple "What do you believe God would want us to do with $25 million?”
 
No, we don't have $25 million, but it's a great question to consider. Too often I believe when we think about the future, we fret over the amount of money we might need and don't have. This stunts our ability to dream, to consider what God wants to do with and through us. One deacon figured it would be pretty easy for us to spend $1 million just on our building. 
 
So, we worry about not having enough to pay for what must be done, when we should be trusting God to do far more. 

• We can’t imagine funding a new orphanage in Kenya, when we can’t fix the ceiling.
• We can’t imagine planting a church in Fairwater when we can’t fix the parking lot.

Fortunately, Alto has a “can-do” mentality. We will get these essential projects paid for just as we paid to replace the boiler, add on the nursery, and a host of other building projects.
However, as with everyone, it’s hard to imagine doing more. 
 
Here’s the truth: God has $25 million. God has much more than $25 million. 
 
After seeing God provide abundantly through His people for the building of the temple, David prayed, celebrating that “Everything comes from you…” (1 Chron. 29:14) He owns it all and can do as he chooses with it.
 
Everything is God’s. He supplies our needs and enables us to give to His work. So, would you join me in praying…
1. Lord, guide our leaders to discern how to best make disciples. Make it clear what projects and ministries (here and around the world) we should  invest in.
2. Lord, prepare my heart to be a giver. I too easily worry about having enough for tomorrow and withhold giving today. Help me be generous.
 
What project, ministry, or mission do you believe God wants us to do? Nothing is too big or too crazy. (Seriously, it’s been suggested we buy a farm to train farmers and give profits to missions. Now that’s thinking outside the box!) Email me at kevin@altoreformedchurch.org your thoughts so the consistory can chart a path forward. 

By Pastor Kevin Van Wyk
December is a season of joy… or at least it is supposed to be. Unfortunately, circumstances often hijack our hearts and minds. One of our youth recently found the family’s deceased cat after it had been missing for weeks. Others are battling cancer. Many are weary of online schooling. More are sick of COVID conversations and political posturing. Our circumstances are ripe for a joyless Christmas.

You’ve probably noticed the lack of joy in others lately. Have you heard someone say, “Wow! Does she have an attitude!” Have you ever said that about your child or maybe someone else’s child? Or maybe you thought it of your spouse. It’s not hard to spot a bad attitude in others even when they come in many shapes and sizes. 
The Screamer will cry profusely, yelling “life’s not fair.”
The Pouter will force a frown and fold their arms.
The Critic will repeatedly point out your shortcomings.
The Pessimist will ooze skepticism and suspicion. 
The Attacker will release a barrage of past hurts. 
The Retreater will stuff all emotion and disengage.

We can see the bad attitude come out with harsh words or not-so-subtle silence. We can see it in crossed arms, rolling eyes, and the wagging of a finger. Their bad attitude quickly crushes any joy in the room, and it’s easy for us to blame them for our own bad attitude.

However, you have a choice. Your attitude is a choice. Paul repeatedly tells us to rejoice as in 1 Thessalonians 6:16 where he says, “Rejoice always”. In 1 Peter 1:6, Peter commends the church for rejoicing in the midst of suffering.

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, made this choice amidst the difficulties of rejection and shame. Her infamous song is recorded in Luke 1:46-48…

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.

We have a choice to focus our attention on Jesus Christ or to let our circumstances hijack the joy of Christmas. So, I urge you to make time each day for Jesus. Here are some great options…
Read short sections of Luke 1 and 2 with your family each day,
Read Paul’s letter to the Philippians, 
Crank up some Christmas music,
​Keep studying the Discipleship Essentials workbook, and as you sense God’s joy in your heart, share it. Don’t keep it to yourself. Rejoice! And soon people will be saying, “Wow! Does he/she have a GREAT attitude!”

By Pastor Kevin Van Wyk
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22 ESV)
 
It’s November, a time to be grateful. This month, in particular, I’ve been thankful for all the doers at Alto. You “don’t just listen and do nothing” (James 1:22 ERV) at Alto. You are proving “yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves.” (James 1:22 AMP)
 
I hesitate to list people here, for fear I will miss someone, but I hope you can rejoice over these gifts of time and talent being offered.

• Ardyce spent time organizing the material for quilts.
• Blayne stepped away from hunting to be trained and then run sound Sunday morning.
• Benita spent a day (including an amish bakery) with a young lady in foster care as part of our Welcomed (Foster Care Family Support) ministry. Others brought meals and spent time blessing these families!
• Christian volunteered on the spur of the moment to help with video ministry when his Sunday school class was at camp.
• Steve spent time troubleshooting and programming our sound system.
• Brian and others came early to provide valet parking.
• Lynnae washed nursery toys and other loving souls have been in the nursery caring for our children. I’m sorry I’ve not been in there lately to list names. (Steph, maybe we need another ;-).
• Libbi & Zack helped chaperone middle schoolers (& Doug) at camp.
• Praise Team members prepared music, practiced, and lead us in worship.
• Elders and shepherds made calls and visits to our members.
• Nearly 20 teachers prepared lessons and taught Sunday school, Bible class, and small groups.

 
I’m sure I missed some of you serving in the church and serving beyond our walls. 
THANK YOU to all of you for being the church. 
THANK YOU for not just listening to a sermon each week, but for doing the ministry. 
THANK YOU for loving your neighbor and being a light in the world.
THANK YOU!
 
If you’re wanting to be a doer, you can find a list of opportunities and discover your strengths on our website.

By Pastor Kevin Van Wyk
Paul was blunt with his instruction, “Be kind and compassionate to one another…” (Eph. 4:32)

Last month I wrote regarding the divisions in America… “To a degree, I’ve been writing in the sand, hoping the conflict simply goes away. It’s not going away, but I have no desire to feed these fires. I’m going to write in the sand a bit longer, resist throwing thought bombs, reflect on my heart, and listen for God to speak truth.”

Honestly, I’m still writing in the sand, but I do want to share what I hear God saying to us. It’s not complicated. It’s not a theological debate or a controversial concept. It’s as simple as they come… be kind.

Such a simple idea… be kind. You taught it to your kids from day one. No biting, no spitting, no hitting… Yet this simple command seems to be lost in a flood of retaliation. 

I watched two things tonight. The second was the Presidential Debate. It felt more like a boxing match or a food fight than debate. Both candidates had their punches…
          “You are the worst president we’ve ever had.”
          “You graduated last in your class.”
          “Just shut up already.”
          “China ate your lunch.”
          “It’s hard to get anything in with this clown.” 
          “[You’re hosting smaller campaign events because] nobody would show up.”

The cutting attacks made the debate colorful, but distracted from the actual issues. It was far from kind. It was vicious and, sadly, both candidates claim to be Christian. As millions of Americans watched, they certainly saw the total depravity of man over the life-changing power of Jesus. 

Let’s consider the other show I watched: an episode of “Little Men.” In it the kids living in the orphanage are challenged to learn about philanthropy by doing something kind, and afterwards, are instructed to write a paper about it.  They proceed to serve others in all kinds of ways. One made breakfast for everyone, another helped an elderly lady with her groceries, another helped care for the horses, and another used her allowance to buy a gift. It was a great example of being kind.

Here’s the key: we can to a degree pull ourselves up by the boot straps and be kind, but when tension is high, our true colors come through. We are all a work in progress, and it is God who changes our character if we let him. 

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3 NIV)

As we face a society of tremendous contention, will the Church shine in the darkness by being kind or will we let the darkness hide the light? Let's work extra hard this season to show kindness to one another. Whether Trump or Biden get the office, Jesus is the King! We cannot control politicians, but we can let God control us. So…

• Let’s pray for God to stir in the presidential candidates to mold their character into kind, humble, wise leaders.
• Let’s pray for God to do the same in us that we might be changed and show the love and power of God to the world.

Help me Lord, to be a disciple, denying myself; quietly meeting with you; studying your word; praying always; worshiping you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength; and in so doing, letting You transform my heart and life so that I truly am like Christ. Amen.

Well, big shocker… the Van Wyk’s have more kittens. On top of the five from Slick, we came home from family camp at Silver Birch to four more kittens. Bubbles, their mother, seemed far more interested in us than her kittens when we returned, but since then has been diligently caring for her kittens. 
 
Elyssa has already named two of them based on behavior. The lightest colored one is Oppugno, Latin for attack. The gray one is Pugno, Latin for fight back. What we have observed is Oppugno will vigilantly scratch with one paw while try to take Pugno’s position. Pugno is no pushover and claws back. It is a surprisingly vicious encounter for kittens that are only a couple days old. 
 
These kittens illustrate much of what I see happening in our culture, on the news, over social media, and most painfully, in the Church. Now don’t get me wrong, there have been no brawls at church, but too many Christians have been using what I call “thought bombs.” 
 
If you open Facebook, you will be inundated with these thought bombs. Trumpers blast Biden and vice versa. BLM supporters bomb the blue and vice versa. Non-maskers nuke maskers and vice versa. Many on both sides seem to believe they hold all the truth and must profess it at every turn.
 
I am reminded that Jesus, when caught in a very contentious moment with accusers and a woman caught in adultery (John 8), did not add fuel to the fire. He, much like Bubbles who simply ignores her fighting kittens, wrote in the sand. Maybe he was listing the sins of the accusers as some have hypothesized, or maybe he just drew a picture. Whatever he did, it de-escalated the tension. Eventually, he called each person to acknowledge their sin and do what is right. He calmed the tension and made the accusers hold their stones, i.e. thought bombs, and ponder whether stoning the women was the right thing to do.
 
In all fairness, Jesus was very blunt and confrontational on a some occasions when religious leaders were not changing their ways (See Matt. 21:12 & 23:13-39). So there is a time and place for calling people out, but we must beware that we will be judged more strictly (James 3:1) and we must be gentle, speaking the truth in love (Eph. 4:2, 15).
 
Initially with COVID, Facebook was inundated with positive gospel messages of hope. However, our culture has become divisive and mean. Christians, too often, have engaged in this war, launching thought bombs in the name of Jesus. I think God has been writing in the sand. To a degree, I’ve been writing in the sand, hoping the conflict simply goes away. 
 
It’s not going away, but I have no desire to feed these fires. I’m going to write in the sand a bit longer, resist throwing thought bombs, reflect on my heart, and listen for God to speak truth.
 
If you wish to join me, I urge you to humbly reflect on Paul’s advice to the believers in Rome…
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12)
 
Oh Lord, forgive me for escalating tension, for thought bombing other believers, and for thinking I have all the truth. Help me to listen to those I disagree with, to hear their heart’s intention through the words, and to bring harmony and peace.   ​

By Pastor Kevin Van Wyk
Wow! That’s harsh. My mom! She was not that bad. 
 
I hope you are reading the Minor prophets with us this summer. If not you might miss some gems like this one. “So I will destroy your mother”.
 
Why my mom? Check out Hosea’s reason...
 
“You stumble day and night, and the prophets stumble with you. So I will destroy your mother— my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.” (Hosea 4:5-6 NIV)
 
Four reasons are given for destroying your mom (as well as rejecting the priests and ignoring your children). 

1. You stumble. First note this is referring to all Israel. It’s not a personal letter to an individual. Second, “stumble” could refer to falling in battle. But given that the use of the word in Hosea 4:5, 14:1 and 14:9 is related to sin, it’s more likely to refer to stumbling in darkness apart from God and his truth.
2. You lack knowledge.
3. You reject knowledge.
4. You ignore God’s law.

So, should you be concerned that God will destroy your mom for your sins?
Well, that is not the intent of this passage. The straying of the Israelites (priests and children) will result in their rejection and being ignored. This results in the destruction of the nation of Israel, the mother. So, this is not about my mom or yours. What a relief, for me and my mom. 
 
Yet, this does not exclude us as God’s children. Yes, we live under grace. Jesus died and forgave our sins. We live in a new reality! But that does not give us a license to sin.
 
“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?... What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!” (Romans 6:1-2, 15 NIV)
 
There was and is a lack of knowledge. I’m sure you have learned a lot about viruses and politics over the the past few months. How many articles have you read? How many hours have you spent reading headlines? How does that compare to your efforts to learn about God?
 
There was and is an ignoring and rejecting of God’s word too. Not only do we fail to read and listen to God, but we tend to respond with apathy. What’s the last biblical command you intentionally sought to obey? Sacrificially loving your spouse? Instantly obeying your parents? Blessing your kids (spiritually, not materially)? See our Connecting Well series.
 
The challenge is clear: don’t be found ignorant or ignoring. You have a Heavenly Father who longs to walk with you, to give you hope, peace, and direction. Will you dig into God’s word this summer? Will you walk in his grace and truth? 
 
Summer Minor Prophets reading plan, along with video overviews and our sermons can be found here... https://www.altoreformedchurch.org/minor-prophets.html
 
Heavenly Father, help us learn. Teach us of your love. Help us walk in your path and never stray from your truth.

By Pastor Kevin Van Wyk
Some of the staff received emails claiming to be from me and asking for gift cards to give to the staff. They made it appear I had written it and attempted to deceive the staff into doing what seemed like a good thing.
 
A member’s computer was hacked and locked until they paid the hacker.
 
Yet another member has been deceived into sending money to a relative, who was apparently arrested. They involved two different people in the phone call: someone to impersonate the relative and then another to impersonate an attorney. 
 
I’ve been deceived by a mechanic, well probably more than one, but I wasn’t bright enough to notice. The one I speak of convinced me the best route to go would be to give him the car to cover towing fees. He turned around and sold it for $1200. Ouch! 
 
There is virus, other than Covid-19, in our world, and it’s just as destructive and troubling. Evil is present. The “Ruler of the kingdom of the air” (Eph. 2:2) is spreading lies and deception everywhere we look. 
 
So be aware, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)  However, we are to “be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” (Matt. 10:16) When you get that call, see that email, read that Facebook post, or hear the “truth” on the news, please ask if could this be deception. 
 
Step back from any decision and pray. Ask God for wisdom and direction. 
 
It’s sad that these scams are increasing during difficult times.* Who preys on the hurting and vulnerable? Who crushes the one on their knees? Who slaps those who weep? 
 
Lord, may your Spirit convict those who prey on the innocent. Humble them that they may repent and reconcile their wrongs. Help us see our own evil ways, to repent, and chose the better path. Reveal deception and enable us to speak truth in love. 
 
https://www.forbes.com/sites/advisoruk/2020/04/24/fraud-goes-viral-scams-to-beware-perpetrated-by-covid-19-criminals/#4c24066c6b4c

By Pastor Kevin Van Wyk
Some are arguing that separation of church and state, and that the instruction to "not forsake meeting together" in Hebrews 10 calls the church to continue meeting on Sunday mornings. This response to COVID-19 rejects… 

• Paul’s mandate for Christians to obey governing authorities (Rom. 13:1–7; 1 Pet. 2:13–17); 
• Biblical teaching that the Church is people, not a building (1 Peter 2:5);
• Jesus’s call to do good on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:12); and
• Jesus’s command to love our neighbors (Matthew 22:39).

 
Continuing to meet physically together also rejects our understanding of suffering. As Christians we believe God permits Satan to cause suffering (Job 1), but that God promises to bring good out of these difficulties for those who love God (Romans 8:28). This may be the difficult teaching (John 6:60) which caused many to turn away from Jesus. (At least in part, the idea of eating the body of Christ and drinking his blood implies sharing in his sufferings, yet continuing to obey by faith.) Living in physical isolation is a form of suffering. The earlier church experienced this and has a valuable lesson to teach us.  
 
In Acts 8 we read about the persecution of the believers following the martyrdom of Stephen. Thousands of believers were driven from their homes, businesses, and home-churches into other communities. They did not go into hiding, but boldly stepped into a new reality: dispersion into the world. Check out what Luke says…
“Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.” Acts 8:4
 
We are in much the same situation. (Well, very different too.) Our new reality does not permit carrying on as usual. There is no more crying out, “but we’ve never done it that way before.” This is a new day and God is calling us to go and preach the good news of Jesus. I urge everyone to step up intentional efforts to love our neighbors.
 
Call a neighbor; someone next door, a shut-in, a mom with kids at home, a friend you’ve not heard from lately, a healthcare worker, a college student, a kid… Every one appreciates a call! I recommend you ask them how they are doing, share a fitting bible verse, and/or pray for them. 
 
Don’t wait for people to call you! Take the initiative! 
 
Check out what Luke says happened when the churches dispersed…
 
“The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.” Acts 11:21
 
Lord, may your hand be upon us too. May you instill in us a faith that crushes fear and a love for others that casts fear from others. Use us in this time of need to bring people from fear to faith! Amen!

By Pastor Kevin Van Wyk

All three of my kids are playing on basketball teams. The moments I love the most are when I see players diving, scrambling, and wrestling over a loose ball. For those without knee pads, floor burns are a painful badge of honor. I love the hustle, the dedication, and the passion! It’s inspiring to see great effort on the court.

So what ball are you chasing? What consumes your time, money and energy? This might be something completely out of hand and destroying your soul, family, and finances. Something like an addiction to gambling, porn, alcohol, or drugs might come to mind. You might be chasing down something that has the potential for great good like academics, sports, music, or carpentry. 

Paul tells us “Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people…” (Col. 3:23 NET) We are told to work wholeheartedly, with passion and drive. If you know what ball you are chasing, go after it in a way that glorifies God. Your intense work ethic honors God and reveals Jesus to others whether you are on the court, in the shop, on the stage, or in the home. We should be people who go enthusiastically after the ball!

Whether you are chasing hard after some ball or uncertain what ball you are to go after, I have a challenge for you.

It’s time to chase a new ball: God! Check out what the Bible says about Jehoshaphat: “His heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord; furthermore, he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah.” (2 Chronicles 17:6) Notice, he got rid of the worldly balls that were leading he and others away from God. Before you begin a full pursuit of God, you should consider pushing the pause button on somethings that are consuming hours of your day. 

However, I want us to focus on devoting ourselves to a new ball… the ways of the Lord. Practically speaking the New Testament gives lots of instructions on how to do this chase after God. Consider two verses…

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42

"When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching…” Acts 18:5-6  

Let me make these things memorable with the current theme

We must devote ourselves to the BALL.
Bibling - apostles’ teaching (1 Tim. 4:13)
Asking - prayer (Col. 4:2)
Loving - fellowship (Rom. 12:10)
Leading lost to Jesus - preach (Romans 15:20) 

​How are you doing on those four things? Will you join me in wholeheartedly pursuing the BALL?
 

By Pastor Kevin Van Wyk
Do you remember climbing up a huge pile of snow and shoving your friends and siblings off? It was great fun! Even getting pushed off was fun as you landed in the snow and slid down. There are some great hills right now just off the church parking lot… maybe I should challenge the deacons tonight at their meeting :-)

Speaking of hills, I was recently reminded I’m on top of the hill and turning 50. I was so grateful to receive an early birthday card from Agnesian Healthcare! What a wonderful healthcare system to send a card. Then I read the inside and thought, “the gift of a colonoscopy was not what I was looking for.” 

Thanks for the hard truth. I’ve peaked. I’m over the hill. I’m halfway to 100, as my daughter likes to put it. 

God reminds me…”Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” (Isaiah 46:4) What a great promise from God. He will carry me when I can’t go on. He will sustain me when I lack nourishment. He will rescue me from my sin and this world of sin. 

Not only do we have these promises, but we have this challenge… “Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me.” (Psalm 71:18 NLT) The psalmist Asaph is not done, retired, and useless. He has a purpose, a calling he cannot ignore. 

I have no desire to be a king of some man-made hill. I want to serve the King of kings and see the next generation stop pushing each other off the hill and start putting Jesus on the hill. May the last half of my life not be about what I like, what I want, or what I think I deserve. May it be about giving my all for the sake of the next generation, that they might know the grace and truth of God. 

If you have some gray hairs, or maybe no hairs like me, will you join me in giving all you have to the mission of Jesus, in letting go of the pursuit of comfort and happiness; crushing the “me first” mentality of our culture, and living like Jesus really is your Lord?

Here’s my hope…

• Too many youth coaches
• One gray-hair for every youth at the bridge dinners
• A gray-hair assistant in every Sunday school class and Bible Class
• Generosity that ends any need for youth fundraising
• Estate gifts that enable us to fund church plants without denominational grants and to fund students going into ministry

Will Jesus be King of your hill?

By Pastor Kevin Van Wyk
It’s 2020 and the world has drastically changed since I was a kid. Ponder some of the conveniences we have today which did not exist that long ago. 

• La-Z-Boy Recliners: There are cheap, uncomfortable recliners out there, but there are some super comfy ones too.
• Fleece Blankets: Whoever thought polyester could be so soft? We even have awesome bed sheets, pajamas, and jackets out of this material.
• Culver’s or your favorite restaurant: Christiano’s, Benvenutos, J’s BBQ… I’m pretty sure most of them weren’t around or maybe we just couldn’t afford to go to them. Either way they are a blessing now.
• Navigation: It’s probably in your car and on your phone!
• TV: It’s not just color, but huge, in HD, has surround sound, and streams 1000’s of movies on demand. Remember when you were lucky all three networks came in clear? 
• Internet: This one has radically changed our lives! Students all get laptops. Nearly everyone has instant access on their phone to an enormous wealth of information, videos, and relationships. You can video chat with your kids in Paris, connect with long lost friends on Facebook, and “go to church” without leaving your La-Z-Boy.

Life is good in so many ways! Give thanks for a moment, cause you really do have it made. Some change has been really, really good!

At the same time, pornography, sex trafficking, violent crimes, and depression are destroying lives everywhere. Our government is at war against itself, while putting us trillions of dollars in debt. We are more stressed than ever, but more pampered than ever. Our denomination can’t even figure out the divisive culture. How do we navigate this troubled world?

Well, the Apostle Paul had some exceptional help for the church in Ephesus and it still applies to us. Over the next few months we will dig into his letter and connect it with your life. Join me Sunday for “Change: What Happens When Jesus Shows Up.” If you have some time, read through Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

By Pastor Kevin Van Wyk
This is the week when every business seeks to get some of your money. What once was one day of crazy sales has blossomed into a full month of “Black Friday” deals. Cyber Monday started in 2005 and Small Business Saturday started in 2010. No doubt most of us will be convinced this is the time to buy something we don’t really need. 

Even non-profit organizations have tapped into this, effectively utilizing buyers remorse with “Giving Tuesday” which started in 2012. If you splurge over the weekend, you can ease your guilt by giving to a worthy cause on Tuesday.

As a pastor, it’s hard to watch. I wonder - How much expendable income is out there? How much will be spent on unnecessary purchases? How much will be given out of guilt?

And most troubling, how should the Church respond to this trend? Shall we start promoting Sacrificial Sunday? People who have not given all year can ease their guilt with a generous gift. Those that faithfully tithe would be challenged to do more. 

However, I see some problems with this approach. First and foremost is the motivation for giving. Appeasing guilt is not what should motivate believers to be generous, but a thankful heart does lead to generosity. Consider Paul’s words to the Corinthians. 

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:
“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
    their righteousness endures forever.”[a]
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2 Cor. 9)

I hope you did not skip over that passage. It is full of wisdom for us. Your giving to the church matters and the attitude in which you give matters, too. Know that our deacons work hard to steward our resources well that we do all we can to make disciples, providing teaching in many different ways, assisting those in need, and supporting missionaries around the world. 

While I am not calling for a Sacrificial Sunday, I do want to urge you to consider what it might look like for you to give from a cheerful heart.

​I’m kind of, sort of, committed to my Fidelity retirement planning. Once or twice a year, I check to see how things are going. Occasionally, I make a change to the investments. I must confess to Fidelity that Steph and I have been seeing someone else. Don’t worry, we aren’t pulling funds out, but Edward Jones is getting a bit more attention than you are. I’m kinda, sorta, committed.

There are a host of things I am kinda, sorta, committed to... Exercise is another. I did really well for two weeks. I used a stepper thing for 30 minutes a day, five days a week, but then I got sick and took a vacation. Work piled up quickly, and now I have no desire to exercise. 

What about you? What are you kinda, sorta, committed to?

At the dedication of the temple, Solomon prays a looooong prayer (1 Kings 8:23-53). Then he stands and proclaims these words to the people...

8:56  "Praise be to the LORD, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. 8:57  May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our fathers; may he never leave us nor forsake us. 8:58  May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep the commands, decrees and regulations he gave our fathers. 8:59  And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day's need, 8:60  so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other. 8:61  But your hearts must be fully committed to the LORD our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time." (1 Kings 8:56-61)

What a great statement of praise... God has helped us (56). Then a statement of hope... May God keep us on track and continue to help us (57-59). Then a statement of purpose... May the result be that ALL PEOPLE KNOW GOD IS LORD. Finally, a clear challenge... God’s help and mission rests on our being fully committed to Him!

I hope you are saying, “I’m all in God! I am yours. I’ll do whatever you call me to do.”

If that is you, I want to flesh that out a bit... What does it mean to be committed to following Jesus?

#1. We commit to daily prayer and Bible reading. You have God’s Word readily available. Are you reading and studying his words with a humble, prayerful heart?

#2. We commit to obeying God’s instructions. This includes discipling others, witnessing to the lost, gathering in worship, giving to His mission, and serving with our God-given abilities.

#3. We commit to His body, the church. Our membership vows and our leadership covenant lay out this commitment well. We commit to following Jesus with other believers, to love them, to receive correction, and to correct our fellow believers.

Have you committed to partnering with us as a member (see The Discovering Membership Packet at the information desk)? Have you committed to leading well by signing our leadership covenant (available at the information desk)? Solomon makes it clear that it’s not perfection God is looking for, but a passionate commitment! So, are you kinda, sorta, committed, or fully committed?

I urge you take the step of commitment today! Partner as a member or sign our Leadership Covenant so all people may know the Lord is God! 

What’s up with the Task Force, staffing, and the RCA? Join us for the congregational meeting on Nov. 10 for details.

It’s a common phrase we use… “Where does the time go?” 
Most often, we say it with a sense of frustration, looking at all we hoped to accomplish. Now, the year is gone, and we still have a long list of “I-wish-I-hads.”  
 
What’s on your “I-wish-I-hads” list? 
          Spent time with the grandkids, 
          weeded the garden, 
          met with an old friend,
          remodeled the bathroom, 
          started exercising,
          taken your spouse on a date,
          got a bachelor’s degree,
          bought a car, or
          read your Bible…
 
I have an ever changing to-do list. It contains sermons to write, meeting agendas to prepare, tasks to complete… Then I have a list of people I want to connect with. I count about 28 people on that list right now. In spite of averaging nearly 60 hours a week of ministry over this past month, many of the to-dos and people end up on my “I-wish-I-hads” list.
         
While Solomon tells us “There is a time for everything…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1), there is not enough time for everything. Solomon also said, “the wise heart will know the proper time  and procedure.…” (Ecclesiastes 8:5 NIV). The NCV Bible says it this way, “A wise person does the right thing at the right time.” So where do we get wisdom? Solomon’s wisdom came from God, and James tells us we simply need to ask for it. 
 
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5)
 
I hope you will join me in asking God for his wisdom each day that we might only do what He wants us to do for that day. With that, OUR to-do’s and OUR “I-wish-I-hads” will simply take a back seat to God’s “I-want-you-to’s”.
 
If you think you’re busy, you need to check out “Balancing Life's Demands” with Chip Ingram on RighNow Media. It’s a bit dated, but helpful. Signup at www.altoreformedchurch.org/resources.

By Pastor Kevin Van Wyk
​With all the baseball lately and using cash at concessions, I’ve undoubtedly ended up with some change. Personally, carrying a pocket full of change around is rather annoying, but that’s not the change I’m talking about. 
 
Doug left this morning. Our Equipping Adults Pastor is gone. His office is empty. A good confidant and friend will no longer help me process life and ministry every Tuesday morning. No more shared preaching. No more sharing the load of visiting and counseling others. Change stinks.
 
I can see how this change will be good for Doug and his family. It makes sense to get an MDiv. Yet, I struggle to see how this is good for us, particularly me. I’ll miss the help and friendship. Change stinks. At least that’s how it feels. 
 
What I know from Paul is “that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) God had similar words for Jeremiah… “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) Yet, for the Christians in Rome and the Israelites with Jeremiah, life was not so good. Persecution and suffering were the new norm. Change had been bitter and difficult.
 
Somehow in the midst of difficult situations and unwanted changes God is still at work doing something good. Consider Marla’s perspective in her Facebook post below. She’s been battling cancer for just over a month, life is completely upside down, yet she sees God at work!
 
Is it possible our resistance to change, struggles, and suffering is more about our eyes and heart than it is about our situation? Could it be that the comfort and security that comes from consistency also blinds us to the possibility of a better way, a better future?
 
While change is hard, as followers of Jesus, we have the assurance that God is always working for our ultimate good. Thus, we must look to the future, resting in God’s goodness and running into change with faith like Doug. He left family behind to come to us. He now leaves behind a new family and a secure income, trusting that God is working a good plan. Welcome change. Risk failure. Follow Jesus.
 
Maybe Doug will return. Maybe we’ll find someone better (this seems really impossible). Maybe we’ll just mobilize more believers to fill the gaps? Regardless, we must trust that God is working for our good… growing our faith and molding us into Christ-like leaders who are developing and deploying more Christ-like leaders.
 
So, here’s my challenges to you in living this faith out…
          1. Consider what changes stink for you now.
          2. Call on God to help you see what he is doing.
          3. Commit yourself to trusting and following Jesus.
          4. Change something you hold too tightly to. (For instance, I know God wants me to exercise, but I refuse. Maybe it’s apologizing to someone, volunteering somewhere, or beginning daily devotions. Whatever it is, change it. It might smell better than you ever imagined.)

By Pastor Doug Shotsky
Romans 12:13(The Living Bible) - When God’s children are in need, you be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night. 
 
1 Peter 4:9–10 NIV - Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
Practicing hospitality, like any other gift, is a gift from our Lord. Many of us know that person who has the house that everyone wants to go to. They’re always inviting people over and they seem to have never met a stranger.  When you’re at their house you feel at home, you enjoy the food, the company, and time goes quickly because you’re caught up in the enjoyment of the present instead of mulling over what’s next. Their house is usually pristine, but if you spill something they’re the first to come and assure you that it’s no big deal. I’ve had several friends like this over the years, and I usually can’t wait to have another invitation to their home, because I usually feel so full of joy and life when I leave that it’s something I feel like I could always use more of. 
 
But if I’ve learned one thing in Alto it’s that hospitality goes so much further beyond the boundaries of someone who has the “gift” of hospitality. Hospitality is so much broader than most of us think, and the beauty of this is that we can all do it! The key, just like with so many other things in life, is intentionality. 
 
As the scripture talks about above, we should, “get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night.” So first of all, if any of you are traveling down Interstate 75 to go south over the next couple of years, the Shotskys will live 10-15 minutes off of that route outside of Lexington, Kentucky, so I’m taking this opportunity to invite you to stay with us, or at the very least to stop and share a meal! We’ll have an extra bedroom, and the Shotsky Hotel will be open for business at a reasonable rate of FREE! (We may ask that you speak to us when we’re together, or that could be a little weird!)
 
These are things that so many of us have gotten out of the habit of doing. Not knowing anyone when we came here last August, I knew that it would be my responsibility to connect with people, because as a pastor I believe that my responsibility is to shepherd the flock, and in order to do this effectively I had to get to know the flock, and in order to get to know the flock I had to take the initiative to be with the sheep. This certainly is a challenge, but I’m usually up for a good challenge, and here’s what I’ve learned about hospitality, that I hope can be helpful for you!
 

• Invite people to get together and set a date! I can’t count the number of times that I’ve simply said, “let’s get together”, but more than that followed up to actually set a time. With all the modes of communication (a call, a text, an email, facebook messenger, etc.) it’s easy to follow up by communicating some actual dates and times that will work. A good rule of thumb is to give someone at least 2-3 options of times you’ll be free, and if they don’t work for them, ask them for at least 2 options of times that could work for them. 
• If you don’t know someone’s name, take the time to find out. It’s ok to ask them several times (lay down your pride), to ask someone else, or to look in the church directory (We even have a smartphone app with the entire directory on it that you can take with you everywhere!). It’s worth the effort to take the time to find out people’s names; people appreciate being known. I once had a man offer me a job when I was a waiter, because I remembered his name the second time he came in the restaurant. 
• Invite people to your home. Don’t wait for others to reach out to you, you have to be the initiative taker on this one! Not everyone is used to having people in their homes, or for that matter really wants other people in their home. I’ve found that by inviting others to my home that it breaks down a barrier and doesn’t put the pressure on them to have to host. Many of the times that I have invited folks to our home, they have turned the tables and invited us to their home instead. In our world today, many of our homes have become an escape from the world where we spend time with our families, so opening up our homes to others communicates a message to others that they are like family. If you don’t have a home or prefer a neutral meeting ground, it is perfectly ok to go out to eat, get coffee together, or take a walk at a park. 
• Share a meal together. There are many examples in the Bible of Jesus and his disciples sharing a meal together or with others. There’s something special about sharing a meal together. Someone is giving of their resources and taking their time to prepare food, so they can enjoy a time of fellowship with you. 
• When you spend time with people you actually remember their names and get to know them. So often in church we shake hands and introduce ourselves, only to do this several more times with the same people and we still don’t remember their names! It can be impersonal and eventually becomes embarrassing when we’ve seen someone so many times, but for the life of us we can’t remember their name.
• Share your story with others, and ask them about their lives. We all want to be known and understood. When you spend time with others ask them about their lives. Be prepared with questions about their childhood, their interests, their families, their work, and any other areas that could help you get to know them better. Take time to listen so that you show you have a genuine interest in what people are sharing with you, and make sure you reciprocate by sharing some about your life as well. Be mindful not to overshare in the beginning! Most of us have experienced a person who shares too much too soon, and it can be pretty awkward. 
• Accepting an invitation is hospitality too! If someone approaches you and wants to get together or invites you to an event, turning them down or not showing up communicates a message that you don’t want to be with them, or that they’re not important enough to have your time. I understand that we can’t make every event, but at least communicate why you cannot make a time, and if possible set up another time to get together that does work for you. That allows you to keep healthy boundaries, and lets others know that you value their relationship. Who wants to throw a party, or invite people to hangout and have no one show up? 

 
I’m sure this is not an exhaustive discourse on hospitality, but a simple list of things that I hope many of you will find helpful, so you can develop a deeper relationship with others in the Body of Christ. My challenge for you this week is to reach out beyond your normal comfort zone and practice hospitality!