GUEST BLOGGER: Karen Guzman Karen Guzman Greenwood When God comes alongside us with comfort or an answer we seek, we thank Him. We are grateful, sometimes beyond words, that He has heard and answered, that he has made his presence known. He is near. There is nothing better, and so we give thanks. Then we move on. Have you ever noticed that? Too quickly, too eagerly, we move on. A sort of spiritual amnesia sets in as we look ahead to the next obstacle, the next worry. That prayer of gratitude too quickly becomes, “Thanks, Lord, and what can you do for me next?”  Some very dear Christian f ..read more

GUEST BLOGGER: Karen Guzman Greenwood Years ago, I read a short story titled “Talking to Charlie.” I can’t remember the author’s name or where it was published, but I’ve never forgotten the story. It centers on a newly divorced man who has taken a leave from his job in the tech field to grieve his divorce.   As he considers the choices and mistakes he’s made and the strange new place he finds himself in, the man reminds himself that, amidst all the upheaval in his life, the “one I should be talking to is Charlie.” Charlie is his boss at the tech company and is key to helping the man keep ..read more

GUEST BLOGGER: Shirley Andersen In Vermont is a very high mountain, Mt. Washington. At the bottom of the mountain is lush green and dense foliage. As you drive up the mountain you pass mountain streams, small waterfalls, and spectacular views of the valley. The higher you get, you see rocks of various shapes, colors, and sizes. Then above the timberline, the air is clear and the view is indescribably beautiful. However, nothing grows up there. For all it’s peace and beauty, it is barren and fruitless.  Fay Angus in her book, “How To Do Everything Right” she says: “If we lived only on the ..read more

GUEST BLOGGER: RICHARD NASON “Some of you may remember me from when I previously attended Fellowship Church. I was called away to another area due to family responsibilities so I had to find a new church home sadly but my journey in Christ has not wavered and in fact has grown immensely. I still keep in contact with Rich Pancoast who I consider a very dear and trusted friend. Now allow me to expound upon my journey in these last few years.”   Faith like that of Abraham. Not an easy ask! When I began my journey as a follower of Jesus I thought why can I not have that same kind of faith? Li ..read more

I love the holidays but I am more aware than ever of all that come along with them. As I have the privilege of doing life with so many who I have met here at Fellowship, I also have an ear to what people have to deal with come each holiday season. So many of you reading this have had such difficult losses - spouses, parents, even children. I cannot fathom what it feels like for some of you. I think of those who have dealt with divorce or family that has moved away. For many, this is a new holiday with a new set of people or maybe sadly, no one to share it with. We need only to see your Thanks ..read more

Thank you to Peter Keast of the Amazing Grace Food Pantry for these kind words: To our friends at Fellowship Church, A funny and true story from my past.  A few years back on a Wednesday, the one remaining clean dress shirt in my closet had a mark on it from an iron. I wore it anyway because the rest were in the laundry and my suit jacket just covered the mark.  I walk my dogs before work, and the calmer of my two rather large dogs decided that morning that a deer crossing the road would be fun to chase.  She pulled free and ran off.  I let her go. I worked at a car dealers ..read more

We all have our beliefs on the actual power of prayer. Many of us use it like crossing our fingers. We state a request to God followed by a question mark, even stating if it’s your will – (which let’s face it, if it’s not, it’s not happening). Some of us only go to God in desperation (the atheist in a foxhole analogy). Some of you go to Him daily with more certainty, more of the “you claim it, and it’s happening’ prayer. I’ve used all three.    Today, I have my biggest prayer request to date. My beautiful wife Vicki is going in for surgery as she was just diagnosed with br ..read more

GUEST BLOGGER: Shirley Andersen “O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my Downsitting and mine uprising, thou understand my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. “ Psalms 139:1~4 It’s very common to judge ourselves by others opinion of us. Everyone does it from time to time, especially if we don’t have confidence in ourselves. Our youth get caught up in this maybe more than adults do. However, there are some very vain adults out there t ..read more

Too often the mention of Christmas comes with a sigh. To some, Christmas is an exhaustive attempt to make everyone happy (except yourself). Rushing family to family, preparing extravagant meals, overeating, overspending, sometimes overdrinking, small talk, traditions we may not even like and then in a blink of an eye, it’s over.  For those of you reading that would call yourself a Christian, this all can be frustrating as all of this rushing around leaves little room for celebration of the reason we’re even celebrating, Jesus! It hit me over 20 years ago as I found myself trapped in ..read more

GUEST BLOGGER: Shirley Andersen If there is one thing I’m known for, it’s crying. When one of my kids or grandkids scraped their knee, didn’t make the sports team, or were hurt by a friend’s harsh words...I cried. The first time my sixteen year old daughter pulled out of the driveway with her new license, when a boy broke her heart, and as she strolled across the stage in her graduation gown...I cry. I remember how I felt when it came time to move her into her dorm room, I feared my tears might be uncontrollable. Although I was proud she was going to college, and as my part as her parent I was ..read more