Hope and Help In The Hoosier State
March 1, 2019 | Michael Foster
For me, it was when I was sitting in premarital counseling, about three years after I had trusted in Christ as my Savior. I had read the Bible, had been devouring my devotions as I sought to follow Jesus closely in college, and had been developing a very high view of Scripture. But it was in premarital counseling where the lightbulb fully turned on – WOW – God speaks with wisdom to ALL the areas and issues of life.
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What’s In A Window
February 1, 2019 | Michael Foster
One of my favorite moments at Forcey so far was early on a Sunday morning in the fall. I met Rick Claybrook in the worship center around 7:30am as he was leading music that day. Noticing how the low morning sun was perfectly lighting the stained glass panes in the back, Rick began to explain to me the symbolism in our extraordinary windows.
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The Safori Story
January 1, 2019 | Michael Foster
I love it when the kids try to guess what’s in each box under the tree. It’s hard, of course, when all the gifts are wrapped with equal beauty. But once everything is unwrapped and the dust clears, it becomes obvious which gifts are the favorites. A child will spend the rest of the morning and often day and week delighting in that favorite gift. When I think back on the month of December, I rejoice in all the “gifts” we offered to our Lord Jesus – all of the ministry and worship we did for Him! But I wonder, what stands out in God’s heart from this past holiday season?
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The Most Wonder-Full Time
December 1, 2018 | Michael Foster
I do love this season. And I’m not alone. Christmas seems to start earlier and get bigger every year. It hasn’t always been this way. Jonathan was sharing with me about how when Charles Dickens first penned A Christmas Carol, there was not much of a market for Christmas stories. Now it seems there are multiple new Christmas movies on Netflix almost daily! We love stories – and movies – and they seem to have extra magic at Christmas. We are on a quest, it seems, for wonder.
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Oil and Water
November 1, 2018 | Michael Foster
I shared recently as I was preaching from John 17 how a Forcey member was burdened to share something with me last February when I was candidating to become pastor. After a question-and-answer time with the congregation, she approached me and expressed that she sees God using me here at Forcey like “oil and water.” Of course, usually when two things don’t mix well at all, we are known to say that they go together like “oil and water”! So, I was troubled by her word to me. She said, though, that it was a good thing, but that she did not know what it meant. Not knowing her that well, I kind of brushed it off at the time and determined not to worry about it.
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The Forecast at Forcey
October 1, 2018
I was going to write about something else this month, but two things that happened in our services on September 30th deserve real attention and reflection.
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Racquetball Ministry
September 1, 2018 | Michael Foster
One of my greatest regrets is never playing racquetball with Ron Jones. Of course, I know a few people who regret that they DID get to play racquetball with Ron Jones, because they “got beat so bad!” Still, I would have loved seeing Ron in action at least once in his prime – even if it was against me! But I’m so glad I didn’t miss out on Ron’s ministry.
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Rooted Together
August 1, 2018 | Michael Foster
In the midst of transition, our family has talked a lot about our roots. We’ve said things like “we have deep roots in Western New York.” We recognize and appreciate our strong foundations in the region where I grew up and where we have served for the past thirteen years. But our roots are deeper than that – or,should I say, shallower?
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