Jeffrey Update: Jeffrey was taken for a walk with the rest of the children today. I'm not sure what is happening with him for sure. It does seem that something is going on inside of him and that he is able to understand that he is being restored. What I mean by that is that at times he tries to engage and then when he realizes that he is limited he becomes discouraged. He can't express his exact feelings or articulate his thoughts but he can express himself by not engaging as much as whe he is engaged. Our Friday night group of seasoned saints come over and give us lots of encouragement and blessings. They love to see Jeffrey and how he is improving. We know there is  a lot of ground yet to recover but we believe in time he will overcome. Now is not the time to give our full assessment. Our unwavering trust and faith is that Jeffrey is going to manifest his full healing as soon as The Lord grants that portion of the children's bread.

Here in Minnesota, there are a lot of Norwegians. They are a stout people with a very firm grip on the call to help others. If they're not Norwegians then they are all infected with the Norwegian culture of Minnesota. It so happens that Norway and Sweden were once the number one launchers of missionaries. They had a very strong faith in Christ and lived a very circumspect life. Here in Alexandria, it's like living in the 30's or 40's. I like simple faith and the genuine humbleness that reveals the heart of Christ. Oh they are firm on their faith and don't let anyone just come in and turn the word upside down, but they are a very patient people. We have received so many blessings from the Townsends who sold their house and needed a home for many of their items being displaced because of going from very large to a comfortable sized home. Then Teri Kennedy has taken upon herself to come over and bless us with milk, fellowship and prayer. Robin Johnson has not ceased to bless our children with cloths and just a bubbly joy of Jesus. She is always full of wonderful information and lots of ideas for our children. Doug and Mary Ellen Carlson have been like a bulwark coming every Friday night with food and  drinks for our potluck dinner and fellowship meeting. What a blessing. Jimmy and Mary-Ruth Soberg also come with food and have in the past opened up there home for us to come and stay while I worked for Duane and Wendy Jergenson. Duane and Wendy are such a blessing when they are able to break away from their extremely busy schedule. Luke and Mercedes Haagan come and bless us with there prayers, food, and words of encouragement. Jerome has made it a point to come and help me out whenever he has an opening in his schedule. Today, he helped me put a roof coating on to cover any leaks and to cool the roof down from sunlight abuse. Brad and Lynne England have blessed us so many times with taking our children a couple of times, coming and cleaning our house and then bringing food several times. Marlin and Lois Anderson have stopped by several times and just out of the blue, dropped off blessings. The same can be said for Peggy Dahlseng who has brought food and guitar along with warm fellowship. Melody Thoen has made delightful visits and the children love her, as well as sweet Kim Colbjornson who took them for a special little outing...and adventure that was such a huge highlight. I'm sure I'll remember more but these people have helped to change the dressing (so-to-speak) on our wounded hearts. Their care and consistency of care is amazing to us and so appreciated. When you've been knocked in the head with a difficult situation sometimes others have to step in to help you think strait and to comfort you when you can't find comfort anywhere. But we have found lots of comfort from every visit, every prayer, every word of encouragement, and every gift of compassion. I never knew how impactful it is to reach out to someone who has been socked with an unbearable situation. Everyone's expression of love and connection has taught me and is now guiding me in my responses to others experiencing similar struggles. Thank you! We are humble again and again by the great continuous outpouring of love towards our family.

I wanted to relate a story that took place just a couple of days ago. Dave and Carrol Bratten who've been one of the people who have taken the time to bless us, (and even came to see us last year in the spring) bought me a 90 year old pulpit. I was delighted but shocked at the same time. I wasn't expecting a pulpit but they felt I needed one. (I have to say, there seems to be a lot of people that are convinced that I need a pulpit.) This pulpit was so heavy that it took three of us to unload it and get it through the building door where we have Friday night meetings. The first thing I realized is that it was going to need some caster wheels on the bottom. There was no way I was going to try and jockey that magnificent platform around without wheels. Now I have a mobile pulpit for street meetings should the Spirit move on me. :) Which is a good reminder that we should all have a pulpit with wheels on it. That way we can take this message of the cross to the streets where the lost can be found and the wayward son can find repentance and return home to his father. 
So getting back to the process of the pulpit, as I was inspecting the pulpit I was presented with the bible holder that was broken into three pieces. I repaired the bible holder and now just have to wait for the wooden nut that fastens it to the front of the pulpit. While thinking of all this, I started to muse on the pulpit and all the pieces that make up the pulpit. There's the half enclosure that hides the man, there's the platform that raises the man off the level floor so that the listener can view the speaker above those seated in front of him. There's the light to see the scripture, the microphone holder, the bible holder, a special holder for various sundry items and then there's the stand for the bible. Now of all the parts included in the pulpit, the most important part is the bible holder. I began to think of how the bible has lost it's standing in so many churches. They have room for the preacher but The Word of God has lost it's standing with preachers as well as those who are preach to. The preacher in many ways has more standing than The Bible. Not to say that the Bible isn't read, because it is, it's just that so many have regarded their own understanding more valid than just letting the Word itself speak without interruption, apology, misinterpretation and a number of other takeaways. The Word of God is able to defend itself without our flawed descriptions. We need not address what we do not understand, but yet we remove or take away what has been written and fill in what we deem the right interpretations are according to our doctrine, denomination or our own limited understanding of His word. I think it best to repair the standing of God's word in our midst, give it prominence, dominance and obeisance. In spite of how our traditional understanding of God's word may grievously conflict with the actual meaning of God's Word we sometimes ignore what is plainly written because it contradicts our narrative. I can understand how our present cultural climate has pushed some people to the opinion that God's word is too offensive to really take it seriously, but, Jesus said: Blessed are those who are not offended at His word. Let's fix the place of God's word in our heart's and in our daily life. His Word is worthy of honor and worship. To be ashamed of the very counter cultural Word of God is to be ashamed of Jesus Himself. Because, Jesus is The Word become flesh and tabernacling or living amongst us. We are children of the Most High and our priority must be the exalting of The Word, Christ The King. Let us rebuild the pulpit of God in our heart and in our daily practice of disciples of Christ Jesus. Let us preach the Word without shame, incomprehensible descriptions and diluted impotent homilies. Deliver the raw truth without apologetic explanations or fearful expectations of negative backlash. Just hold the Word in higher esteem then those you preach to and your very life. Get behind the word, not in front of it. It stands as a pillar of time, tested and proven to withstand every argument and defiance of mankind and time. The Word is bigger than us and can save us. In Israel, they have the celebration of The Word of God, they hold the scrolls up high and they dance in the streets as they Worship the Word and Glorify The Word. They are unashamed of The Word. The only thing is they don't understand that the Word of God is synonymous with Yeshua or Jesus Christ.
Be blessed beyond measure as you consider The Word of God and it's place in your life and your personal pulpit!  

P.S.

As you can see on the pics, Jeffrey's smile is back. Glorious spring has returned to the north and we are enjoying each moment together.