Remembering Adolf

He was born on September 26, 1910. He was raised with eight siblings in a small house in Stavanger, Norway—located on the southwest coast of Norway next to the North Sea. It is a beautiful city. The Dømkirke sits at the center of the city. From 1100 to 1125, the hardworking people of this fishing village built one of the most magnificent and elegant cathedrals God has ever seen. The fjords surrounding the city are as peaceful as they are stunning.

During an economic depression between the two world wars, the nineteen-year old boy said goodbye to his family, boarded a boat, and travelled to New York. The words written by Emma Lazarus inscribed at the base of the Statue of Liberty applied to him: Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me.

He arrived in the United States the same time the Great Depression started. He eventually settled in northwest Iowa where he worked odd jobs and long hours to survive. When World War II started, he volunteered to serve his new country. He was a soldier in the European Theatre from 1941 to 1945. The first thirty-five years of his life were tough.

He married a young American woman. They had two boys. He became a painter and then a builder. Churches and schools scattered throughout northwest Iowa have his fingerprint on them. He enjoyed the simple things in life: gardening and fishing. He was loved by his community for his generosity and because he talked funny.

His wife died too young after a long battle with breast cancer. He kept loving, laughing, giving, and living as long as he could. I visited him on October 22, 2001. Before I left, I held his hand and prayed with him. As I concluded, he asked if I would pray the Lord’s Prayer. I prayed it as slow as I could so that the breathing-impaired man could keep up with me. He died the next morning. Three days later, I drove to his church. I put on my robe and spoke the only words that really matter—words of grace. I usually call the deceased by their first name. But in this case Adolf seemed too formal. I called him the same thing I called him for thirty years: grandpa, or as they say in Norway, bestefar.

It’s been ten years now. I no longer think of him and get sad. I’m only grateful. Grateful for the kind, forgiving, and loving person who invested so much of his life in my life.

Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. -1 Timothy 4:12

The best is yet to come…

Craig

Revolution: Faith, Hope, and Love - Part 2

Revolution

A systematic and fundamental change in a short period of time in the way an organization or person functions

Faith

• Last week we defined faith from Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
• We looked at the Greek word pistis – The authentic moral conviction of a religious teacher.
• And…we talked about faith is not just believing in God, but believing God.

No better example of faith exists than Abraham.

• God told Abraham that God was going to make Abraham great. He was going to bless him and better yet, use him as a blessing.
• God promised Abraham that he would be a father to the nations. That his offspring would outnumber the stars in the sky.

It wasn’t easy for Abraham either. Not easy at all.

• His nephew Lot got the good bottom land and he was stuck with the scrub country.
• He and Sarah didn’t have any babies.

So Abraham complained.

• This land is awful.
• We don’t have any kids and at our age it isn’t likely going to be happening anytime soon.

Genesis 15:5-6

Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.

Listen to that last line. Not a single sentence exists in the Old Testament that means as much to followers of the New Testament:

And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.

Abraham believed the promise even though he had no evidence the promise would come true.

Abraham and Sarah cashed in their pensions and built a nursery.

Isaac was born
Then Jacob
Later David
Later Solomon
And later Jesus

But, Abraham believed the promise even though he had no evidence the promise would come true.

Abraham didn’t say…I believe that we are going to have a baby because my wife has this thing growing in her stomach. Abraham simply believed.

Trust is never logical and faith never makes perfect sense.

It is a gift that God gives and a gift that humans can give as well.

Faith is an act of courage in which people who cannot control the outcome decide to trust anyway.

Revolution begins with faith.

Hope

Elpis – The expectation of good

Hope, like faith, is a gift from God

We have defined hope in the past something like:

The expectation that tomorrow can be better than today.

Nehemiah 2:3-5

How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.” The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?” With a prayer to the God of heaven, I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.”

Nehemiah’s heart was broken. He was troubled. He wasn’t sleeping well at night. He was sad.

Something that was so important to him was destroyed.

You ever been there before?

• Broken
• Troubled
• Restless
• Sad

You’ve been there and I’ve been there too. Some of us are there now.

Nehemiah’s response was a response of hope. Tomorrow can be better than today.

Pretty much every day was a fight for Nehemiah. Brick by brick. Complaint after complaint. But hope remained. 12 years later, the walls were rebuilt.

You have walls that need to be rebuilt in your life, don’t you?
Are you hopeful these walls can be rebuilt? Or have you given up hope?

• Have you given up hope that you can get along better with your spouse? Or are you going to rebuild that wall?
• Have you given up hope that you can get out of debt? Or are you going to rebuild that wall?
• Have you resigned yourself that this is all there is to life? Or are you going to rebuild that wall?

Hope believes the walls can be rebuilt and that the new walls can be a whole lot better than the old walls.

Love

Love – agape – Not love because of the other person, but love in spite of the other person. Not love because of the other person, but love because of our own character and integrity.

2 Samuel 9:1-13

One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” He summoned a man named Ziba, who had been one of Saul’s servants. “Are you Ziba?” the king asked. “Yes sir, I am,” Ziba replied. The king then asked him, “Is anyone still alive from Saul’s family? If so, I want to show God’s kindness to them.” Ziba replied, “Yes, one of Jonathan’s sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet.” “Where is he?” the king asked. “In Lo-debar,” Ziba told him, “at the home of Makir son of Ammiel.” So David sent for him and brought him from Makir’s home. His name was Mephibosheth; he was Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson. When he came to David, he bowed low to the ground in deep respect. David said, “Greetings, Mephibosheth.” Mephibosheth replied, “I am your servant.” “Don’t be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!” Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, “Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?” Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. You and your sons and servants are to farm the land for him to produce food for your master’s household. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will eat here at my table.” (Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.) Ziba replied, “Yes, my lord the king; I am your servant, and I will do all that you have commanded.” And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly at David’s table, like one of the king’s own sons. Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. From then on, all the members of Ziba’s household were Mephibosheth’s servants. And Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both feet, lived in Jerusalem and ate regularly at the king’s table.

God's invitation is that we feast at the King's table with Him.

Quotes and Commentary

To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily. Not to dare is to lose oneself. -Soren Kierkegaard

The great Danish philosopher knew that life is about stumbling and taking risks. Option #1: To stumble on the rugged trails of life. Option #2: To play it safe by lying down in a padded room and never leaving that room. Option #1 means you can stumble every once in a while and discover life. Option #2 means you won’t stumble, but you won’t discover life either.

You sit at the board and suddenly your heart leaps. Your hand trembles to pick up the piece and move it. But what chess teaches you is that you must sit there calmly and think about whether it's really a good idea and whether there are other, better ideas. -Stanley Kubrick


Like chess, the most important choices in life aren’t between good and evil, but between good and better. Significance and contentment in life are generally determined by our ability to choose between good and better.

The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare. -Juma Ikangaa

The world champion marathon runner knows that results don’t come in life without preparation. A competitive spirit means nothing without discipline and hard-work.

Humor is not the opposite of seriousness; humor is the opposite of despair. -Conrad Hyers

Humor isn’t trivial. It is a worldview. Sacred humor isn’t the cheap kind of humor that belittles others, it is the holy variety that builds community, captures hope, helps us understand who we are, and helps us understand who God is.

I could agree with you but we would both be wrong. –Craig Finnestad

I used this when talking to Amber shortly after we were married 14 years ago. I haven’t said it again since.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. –Ephesians 2:8

If this isn’t true, then no statement is less significant. If this is true then no statement is more significant. I believe it’s true!

The best is yet to come…

Craig

Revolution, Part 1 - Video

Here is an outline of the message...

In the Latin revolution means “to turn around"

• It is a fundamental change in the way things work
• It is a change that happens in relatively short period of time

Do you want that in your life? Revolution?

A fundamental change in the way things work? And do you want this to happen in a short period of time.

• Leave work at work and regain an identity other than worker
• Start exercising and eating better
• Being a better parent or a better spouse
• Pay off debt, start saving, or make a budget and stick to it
• Lose anger or the need to control others
• Have healthier relationships
• Grow closer to God

How do you plan to make this happen?

Some of us might say something like this: “If I can just make it through this week….then I can start changing.” Or, “After I get through this season of my life…I’ll be able to devote my time and energy to changing.” Well I got some news for you…next week is going to come. And so is the next season. Next week is going to bring new challenges. The next season is most likely going to be just as difficult as this season. So start the revolution today.

If we are looking for a revolution in our lives…look no further than God.

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. -1 Corinthians 13:13

What if you lived a life of faith? Not just believing God but believing the promises of God?

• When we walk through the fire God is with us
• He will bless us and use us as a blessing
• We are forgiven
• He will help us cross rivers we never thought we could never cross

What if you lived a life of hope?

• Knowing tomorrow can be better than today
• Knowing our past doesn’t determine our future
• Believing the best is yet to come
• Knowing that you can do things you have never done before

What if you lived a life of love? Not the cheap kind that gives an adolescent knots in his stomach. But the other kind. What if you lived a live based on that kind of love?

• Serving
• Sharing
• Listening
• Embracing
• Forgiving

When we embrace any of these our lives change. When we embrace all of these…revolution happens. A fundamental change in a short period of time.

Faith

πίστις – pistis – The moral conviction in the truth of a religious teacher

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. -Proverbs 3:5-6

The African impala can jump to a height of over 12 feet and cover a distance of greater than 40 feet. Yet these magnificent creatures can be kept in an enclosure in any zoo with a 4-foot wall. The animals will not jump if they cannot see where their feet will fall. Faith is the ability to trust what we cannot see, and with faith we are freed from the flimsy enclosures of life that only fear allows to entrap us.

Think about the enclosures that keep you locked behind a wall

• The fear of failure
• I’m not good enough
• I’m afraid what others might think

Hope

ἐλπίς - elpis – The expectation of good

Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark. –George Iles

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. -Isaiah 40:31

Like faith, hope is a gift from God.

Hope is also an attitude. It is a way we look at the world.

Despite these men, I believed in the goodness of people. Despite these men, I believed in the goodness of God.

Hope itself is not a dream. Hope is a way to make dreams come true.

Love

αγάπη – agape – Love because of the character of the person loving rather than the worthiness of the object of the love

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. –Romans 5:8

That which is loved is always beautiful. –Norwegian Proverb

And do everything with love. -1 Corinthians 16:14

I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love. –Mother Teresa

Team World Vision at The Water's Edge

We will be having brief informational meetings on Sunday, October 31st after the 10:30 worship experience and on Wednesday, November 3rd at 7:00 at my house. Come and learn more about how to change your life and support children in Africa!

One Life - Video

Norwegian Proverbs

• If there were no fools, how would we recognize the wise.
• That which is loved is always beautiful.
• He who laughs, lasts.
• The lazier a man is, the more he plans to do tomorrow.
• It's better to feed one cat than many mice.
• Experience is the best teacher, but the tuition is high.