M A R C H 2 0 1 2
I f you think about it, they are pretty flowery words for a fisherman. We like the
apostle Peter for his rough edges and brash approach to life. So when he writes in
his second letter, “… he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so
that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature …” (2 Peter 1:4) we
are compelled to ask what transpired in Peter’s heart to put such words and thoughts
into the mind of an otherwise simple man. His transformation speaks to us and our lives
today.
There are many ingredients to a transformed life, so I’ll not attempt a comprehensive list.
Let’s try for three…
The most obvious thing that ‘happened’ to Peter is time. Almost 35 years had passed
since Peter witnessed the death and resurrection of Jesus. That is a lot of time to examine your life. His
letters are evidence that God had been tempering Peter over the years.
Yet, time alone cannot bring about transformation. It must be accompanied by a heart that is meditating
on the work of God in our life. We see the boldness of Peter in his Pentecost preaching. What we don’t
see are the days when he meditated on his own life and saw ever more clearly the grace, love and truth of
God in light of his own failings. We don’t see the brokenness, the repentance and the tears. We don’t see
the days when the grace and joy of God washed over Peter.
When we get to verse 4, then, his flowery words of “precious and very great promises” begin to take on a
greater emphasis. Over those years and in the course of all that contemplation, the words of Jesus and
the promises of Scripture became life for Peter. As he wrote to those who were suffering for their faith,
he writes with all his heart, “God has given us His promises, trust them, trust Him!”
Peter’s words are a significant calling for us. He is calling us to know God’s Word, to meditate on His
promises, to let them wash over us over the years. The deeper the roots of God’s promises in our hearts,
the more profound our trust in God becomes. The stronger our faith, the more we participate in the
divine nature of God, as Peter says.
Need strength, wisdom, grace? Do you have a yearning to draw closer to the Lord, to experience His life?
Take the words of Peter to heart and begin to work the promises and Word of God into your life.
By Pastor Mike Sindelar
CONTINUES THROUGH MARCH 4 See page 7 for scheduled events!
N eed a complete list of God’s promises? That would be a long
list! Here are some promises to get you started. Use these
references to meditate on God’s Word. You can also use them in
your prayer life as specific prayers regarding your life or for those
you pray for. God enjoys having His Word prayed back to Him!
2 Corinthians 1:20, Ephesians 1:13, Hebrews 12:26–28, James 1:12,
James 2:5, 1 John 1:9, Psalm 16:11
“For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is
through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.”
(2 Corinthians 1:20, ESV)
“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of
your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised
Holy Spirit,” (Ephesians 1:13, ESV)
“At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised,
“Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the
heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of
things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in
order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore
let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,
and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and
awe,” (Hebrews 12:26–28, ESV)
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he
has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has
promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12, ESV)
“Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are
poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which
he has promised to those who love him?” (James 2:5, ESV)
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, ESV)
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is
fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures
forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11, ESV)
The Promises of God By Pastor Mike Sindelar
P A G E 2
M y sense of competition is apparently hidden to some folks.
But it seemed to have come out into full view in a recent
game of Mad Gab at one of our Life Group meetings. Accusations
of lying and cheating became more and more vehement as the
game progressed. I didn’t realize it was such a revelation. We all
concluded at the end of the game that it would be better if we just
agreed that we are all winners. I couldn’t agree more – as long as
my team wins.
Our group has been meeting since last fall. Most of the time, we
have some great discussions using the sermon outline of the day.
Our discussions usually include lots of theological rabbit trails, but
we all agree that our time in the Word is rich.
The power of a Life Group is also seen in the time of talking about
life and then enjoying a time of prayer.
Fellowship, Word and prayer. It’s been a great combination for our
weekly Life Group. For those in our Life Group, we are realizing that
we are all winners!
**Would you like to be part of a Life Group? Just contact the
church office and let us know, we will contact you with small group
possibilities. Join with us in the adventure of living out our faith
together!
By Pastor Mike Sindelar
P A G E 3
I love my freezer. It allows me to stock up on meat when
it’s on sale. I can pull it out days, weeks, or months later,
grill it, and still enjoy its tasty qualities without getting sick.
I love nightlights. When I wake up in the middle of the night,
needing to grab a drink of water, or attend to some other
type of business, this little light allows me to get where I need
to be without stumbling around like a drunken idiot.
These two modern inventions are not only beneficial for us,
but serve as a practical example of what Jesus meant in
Matthew 5:13-16 when he told his followers to be salt and
light.
Before the modern invention known as the freezer, salt was
used as a preservative. So practically, Jesus is telling his
followers to preserve his name. Here we sit two thousand
years later talking about the wonder, glory, and salvation
provided by Jesus. It seems those early followers were
effective at preserving. They told people about Jesus.
Before electricity, they had fire! Flame lamps would light the
way in the dark, providing sight where there would otherwise
be no sight. Jesus tells the disciples that they are to be like
these lamps, providing light to a dark and confusing path. In a
culture where people are being led astray by foolish doctrine,
belief, and practices, the disciples were to serve others so the
world could see how the works of Jesus give abundant life.
Here we are two thousand years later striving to serve others
so they may see the wisdom of Jesus’ way of life. It seems
those early followers were effective lights in the darkness.
But for some reason, two thousand years later it seems that
many followers of Jesus are stuck with this mindset of either
being salt – telling others about Jesus, preserving His name,
holding fast to biblical morals, etc, or light – loving others,
helping those in need, showing compassion to those who are
Freezers, Nightlights, & the Gospel by Pastor Andrew Peterson
hurt or lost, etc. There seems too often to be a divide
between the two.
In Matthew 5, Jesus is clearly teaching that gospel
proclamation and gospel action go hand in hand. Verse 16
says, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see
your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” How will
our community know to praise God as a result of our works?
Because they’ve heard about his love from those doing the
work!
So church, are we talking about Jesus, as we serve others in
the name of Jesus? Let’s not forget this basic truth; we are to
be salt AND light. Both are necessary as we strive to make
the name of Jesus great in our surrounding communities.
P A G E 4
Exciting plans have been made to upgrade
our ministry facilities. Together with an up-
dated Mission and Vision for the future of
Valley Free, God is laying a solid foundation
for a new generation of ministry.
How can YOU be involved?
Pray Valley believes in and is dependent on
the power of prayer. Pray for dependence,
faithfulness, anticipation and vision for
this project. Pray about what part God is
calling you to play in this new vision for
Valley.
Give Gifts can be made in the form of cash,
checks, appreciated stock or online trans-
fers. Please fill out a pledge card to give us
an idea of how much money we can ex-
pect to have for the project.
Serve If you have skills, services or materials
that you can provide at or below market
rates, contact the church office. Once the
capital campaign is complete, we will hold a
meeting to evaluate the assets available with-
in our church and determine how they can
best be used to help complete this project.
Giving as of February 19th T ransition is simply moving from one condition to another. It’s
like an airplane preparing for landing. When you hear the
sound of the landing gear dropping down, you know that this fly-
ing machine is about to become a land vehicle. When you hear
that sound, you prepare yourself for the transition that you know
is just ahead.
As we all know, Pastor Andrew Peterson and his wife, Brittany, are
planning to transition out of the youth ministry here at Valley in
June. A transition for Andrew and Brittany also means a transition
for our youth ministry! For both the Peterson’s and the youth min-
istry, the transitions are coming soon.
As a church, we are taking steps to anticipate and prepare for the
next season of youth ministry. One of the initial steps has been to
meet with the student, college and adult leaders of our youth min-
istry to gather their thoughts on the next steps for our student
ministry. The elders have also been discussing the role of a youth
director and also the direction of the ministry in light of our new
purpose, mission and values. Pastor Mike has been working with
the Evangelical Free Church to get counsel on this critical step in
the ministry of Valley Free. We are also taking steps to put the job
opening and description on a pastoral search website.
Our ministry to youth remains a high priority and value here at
Valley. Our goal has been and will continue to be that our youth
ministry remain strong and dynamic through the upcoming transi-
tion. You can expect to hear regular updates on the search process
and future plans for this key ministry.
In the meantime, we all need to be praying! Pray for wisdom in the
process for all those involved. Pray for the decisions to be clearly
God-led. Pray for unity, faith and joy in the process. Pray for our
youth ministry to be positioned for effective ministry to our stu-
dents and to the community. Be sure to give lots of praise to God
for the blessing of Andrew and Brittany to the ministry here at
Valley. They have done a great job! Pray for their transition to fu-
ture ministry as well.
By Pastor Mike Sindelar
P A G E 5
Expect Great Things From God † Attempt Great Things for God
A pioneer of the modern missions movement, William
Carey captured the essence of a dynamic faith.
Trusting God means expecting Him to do great things in
our lives. It means we have an accurate picture of the
greatness, glory and heart of God. He longs to work great
things in us. It’s been said that God is offended by any-
thing less than bold, confident prayers that call on Him to
fulfill His promises and plan.
Based on that accurate view of God, we can then step out
to attempt great things for God. When we are willing to
give God the glory and to ask Him for big things, He stands
ready to do the impossible through us.
When you give your tithes and offerings at Valley Free,
these same dynamics are in play. Your giving is a matter of
personal worship and discipline. We expect God to take us
deeper into the joy of His life when we participate in His
call to obedience and faith in giving. Giving is a practical
step of faith that leads to greater faith.
Your giving is critical to the mission and ministry of Valley
Free. When we give generously and sacrificially, great
things are accomplished for God. Your giving makes the
ministry and kingdom impact of Valley Free possible.
Let’s follow the call of William Carey...
Expect great things from God,
attempt great things for God!
How do we give at Valley Free?
There are five categories of giving at Valley Free. These in-
clude:
General Fund: This is the foundation of our regular
commitment to giving. These funds are used for the
daily operation of the ministry.
Missions Faith Promise: These gifts sustain our mis-
sions effort. Our missionaries depend on these funds
for their ministries.
Helping Hands: This fund is available for immediate
needs of those in our church family or community
that need a short term lift.
Light on the Hill Campaign: Recently introduced, we
have set a goal of renovating our facilities. This is a
short-term project, which will run through 2012.
Occasional Needs: These gifts include special offer-
ings for guest speakers, Love, INC, etc.
With the introduction of a capital campaign, giving of our
tithes and offerings can seem overwhelming. They need not
be! As you take intentional, prayerful and sacrificial steps in
giving, we believe God will meet all of our faith goals. It is a
critical part of our faith walk with the Lord.
By Pastor Mike Sindelar
As approximately 100 million people sat around to watch the Super
Bowl this past month, we were all bombarded with hundreds of ads,
vying for our attention and money. Some products were necessary; others were desirable, and some downright offensive,
wrong, and destructive.
Such is the world we live in. As we sat around with CruX watching the game, we had a practical chance to practice the lens
for viewing culture (Receive, Redeem, or Reject) that we’ve discussed this fall in Sunday school.
As Christians living in a culture which displays values contrary to that of God, we must daily make the choice of what to do
with culture. Do we receive it? Do we reject it? Do we redeem it?
Our students are bombarded with these daily decisions at an alarming rate. The Super Bowl ads and half-time shows are
simply what they deal with every day packed into 4 hours of television. So, would you join me in praying for our students,
that God would give them a heart for redeeming the lost culture around us, and the wisdom to know what to receive, how to
redeem, and when to reject the confusion that our culture relentlessly throws at them?
Sponsored by … “rooted and established in love” (Eph 3:17)
P A G E 6
by Pastor Andrew Peterson
The winner of this year’s Super Bowl Party’s Best Chili was
Mike Duzan! The following is Mike’s version of the “recipe”
for his chili…
Regarding my chili recipe...I don't have one. I
decide what's going in it while at the grocery
store. This time around, I used the following
ingredients (at least those that I can remember), in
various amounts until it taste good:
1 bottle V8 Spicy
about 8 oz of my own sauce/mix from our garden
(tomatoes, various peppers, onions, garlic, etc.)
chili powder
taco seasoning
2 cans chili beans
2 large green bell peppers, seeded and diced
2 large banana peppers, seeded and diced
1 or more onions, diced
very large shallot, diced
minced garlic
2 large red bell peppers, 2 jalapenos, 1 habenaro (all
of these roasted/charred, peeled, seeded, and
chopped)
ground beef
pork sausage
ground lamb
Minimum of 8 hours in the crock pot on high, unless
it starts to burn!
P A G E 7
that it isn't overflowing. Contact Shirley Carlson at 952-448-3717.
Bunk Bed Ministry—Looking for volunteers to deliver and set-up bunk beds on an as needed basis. Contact Peter Larson at [email protected].
Nursery Volunteers for Sunday Mornings—Have a grateful heart? A love for kids? Then contact Jan Schmit at [email protected] or 952-448-6144, ext. 204 for more information on our needs in this area.
Nursery Supervisory Team for Sunday Mornings. For more info and/or to volunteer contact Jan Schmit at [email protected] or 952-448-6144, ext. 204.
Greeters—Couples or singles welcome! Volunteers will be put in teams of 2 or 3 to greet those coming to our Sunday morning worship service. Contact Jim Bentson at (952)448-4697 or [email protected].
Bountiful Basket—A great opportunity for a family or small group. Responsibilities include taking donations from the church to the Food Shelf at the beginning of each month and checking the donation area regularly to ensure
Service Opportunities
Bread Ministry—Cultivate your servant heart by helping with this ministry to needy families in and outside of our church. Contact Kristin Westland at [email protected].
Video Team—We are looking for people with a passion and gift for sound, lighting, video, or editing. Contact Garth Berquist at [email protected].
Kids Church Volunteers—spend 45 mins once or twice per month teaching little ones (grade 4 and younger) about Jesus. You’ll get even more out of it than they do—what a blessing!
P A G E 8
As Christians, we try to wrap our minds around all the fabulous
characteristics of a God who loves us so much He sent His son to die
for us. Our kids have been discovering some of those very attributes
and we’ve been going in alphabetical order!
See if you can fill in the missing letters. If you need a hint take a
stroll down the Education wing or ask one of our Super Smart
Sunday School Kids!
My God is…
A – Almighty King
B – B _ _ _ _ _ _ _ l
C – Creator
D – Deliverer
E – E_ _ _ _ _ s _ _ _ _
F – Friend
G – Guide
H – H_ _ _
I – Immanuel
J – Just
K – K_ _ _
L – Love
M – Merciful
N – N_ _ _ _sh_ _ _
O – Owner of All
P – P_r_ _ _ _
Q – Quite Amazing
Pointing our kids toward Jesus!
Operation Christmas Child had it's best year ever! Here is how God
multiplied shoe boxes in 2011.
Internationally, the total was 8,620,009
In the U.S, the total given was 6,051,799 shoe boxes—a 9.5%
increase!!!
Regionally (MN, WI, ND, SD, and IA), the total received was
297, 350 Gospel Opportunities—a 5.13% increase.
In 2011, over 30,000 teachers were trained to teach ‘The Greatest
Journey’, the discipleship program that follows the boxes. Over
800,000 children had the opportunity to go through ‘The Greatest
Journey’. Right now, shoe box distributions are taking place all
over the world, with an estimated 30,000 different Gospel events
that will be taking place this year using shoe boxes as the gift to
open the hearts of children to hear about the greatest gift of all!
We are privileged to be part of this global, gospel ministry. Thank
you to each of you for the part you have played this year. As we
each do what we can, with what we are given, the Lord does
mighty things.
Psalm 96:3 “Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous
deeds among all peoples.’
By Jan
By Candace Wisely
TH 1 7:00 pm Worship Team Rehearsal
SU 4 8:30am 8:45 am 9:00 am 10:00 am 6:00 pm
MISSIONS CONFERENCE All-church Breakfast Kids Missions Sunday SMS Worship Service CruX
M 5 7:00 pm Men’s Bible Study
TU 6 6:45 pm Women’s Bible Study
TH 8 7:00 pm Worship Team Rehearsal
F 9 TBD CruX Event—Waterpark of America
SA 10 7:30 am Men’s Monthly Breakfast (Perkins, Chaska)
SU 11 8:45 am 10:00 am 6:00 pm
Children’s Sunday School/SMS Worship Service CruX
M 12 12:30 pm 7:00 pm
White Cross Men’s Bible Study
TU 13 6:30 pm Missions Outreach Team
TH 15 7:00 pm 7:00 pm
Worship Team Rehearsal Web Team Meeting
SU 18 8:45 am 10:00 am 6:00 pm
Children’s Sunday School/SMS Worship Service CruX
M 19 7:00 pm Men’s Bible Study
TU 20 6:45 pm Women’s Bible Study
TH 22 7:00 pm Worship Team Rehearsal
F 23 11 :00 pm CruX Event—Skyzone All-Nighter
SU 25 8:45 am 10:00 am 6:00 pm
Children’s Sunday School/SMS Worship Service CruX
M 26 12:30 pm 7:00 pm
White Cross Men’s Bible Study
TH 29 7:00 pm Worship Team Rehearsal
See bulletins for weekly updates/changes to this calendar
P A G E 9
Sunday, March 4
All Church Breakfast 8:30-9:00 am
The Missionary Outreach Team invites you and your
family for breakfast prior to Sunday School. Great food
and fellowship to kick-off the last day of our Mission
Conference!
Kid's Mission Sunday School 8:45 am
Experience missions through food, language and fun!
The Mission Team has prepared a morning of learning
and fun!
8:45 POWER UP! Meet down in the Youth Room to
get instructions for your mission (should you
choose to accept it).
9:00 You and your STAR color team will embark on
a missionary trek that will span 3 countries. Eat
your way through Spain, learn what to say while
visiting Jordan, introduce yourself to a Romanian
and meet a real live missionary!!
9:45 When you have completed your journey, have
mom or dad pick you up in your regular Sunday
School room.
Sunday Morning Studies, 9:00 am
Guest Speaker - Brad Dewing, Community Life Coordi-
nator, MacLaurinCSF.
Worship Service - Within Our Reach
Guest Speaker - Dr. Bryan Bademan, Director of Mac-
LaurinCSF. The believers call to proclaim the gospel in
the context of local culture.
Sunday, March 11
Sunday Morning Studies 8:45 am
Short Term Mission Team Presentation—Come hear
about potential opportunities to serve with a short
term mission team.
952-448-6144
Fax: 952-448-5119
150 Engler Blvd
Chaska, MN 55318
MARCH: KIDNEY & BAKED BEANS—80
March 4—8:45 am
See previous page for details
MARCH 9
WATERPARK OF AMERICA
MARCH 23
SKYZONE ALL-NIGHTER
11PM-8AM
APRIL 27-30
DISTRICT BLITZ
$50 DEPOSIT DUE 3/25
Saturday, March 3—9am-1pm Lunch provided RSVP to Pastor Mike at 952-448-6144 or [email protected]