Lightning lights up a dark night while the wind howls and the rain pelts the roof. The din of a springtime thunderstorm can cause fear for those caught unaware. Yet when I am safe and nestled in my bed at home, I can be at peace during a storm, since I know my house will protect me. I do not feel that same security when storms rage in my life. My trust in God wavers in the onslaught of illness, or...  Read More

Something goes wrong...something tough happens...the good thing we were expecting doesn’t work out. What then? Do we say, “God abandoned me.” “God didn’t answer my prayer.” “God must not be good.” If these are our responses to trouble, there’s a good chance we are lacking a theology for adversity. I can relate to these feelings of confusion and I believe every Christian needs to grapple with this ...  Read More

In today’s world, we have no shortage of interesting things to give our attention to. Eating breakfast too boring? Watch a video while you’re at it! The drive to work too quiet? Listen to a podcast! Need to go to the bathroom? Why don’t you scroll on Instagram or TikTok while you do your business? I could list a hundred more examples, but I’m sure you all know what I mean. Our lives are filled to ...  Read More

The New Day Nature Trails restoration project continues in 2024! Our restoration contractor recently did trail-smoothing and stump-cutting work. Then the DNR planted a mixture of native species on our two berms near the parking lot trailhead and clover on every square foot of trail. Clover is our plan to differentiate the trails from the prairie and wooded areas. Rather than install pavement, grav...  Read More

“If only he understood, he would see how beautiful it is,” my dad said about the man who had just verbally, and publicly, ripped him to shreds.   While I was in high school, my dad ran a mid-week course for the young adults at church called B.B.B., a silly but effective acronym that stood for “Basic Bible Beliefs.” We covered huge topics like Jesus’ Divinity, the Reliability of Scripture, and Spir...  Read More

Creeds provide concise summaries of the Christian faith or answer questions about particular beliefs. Have you ever wondered… What was the first Christian creed? When was it written?The first creed sits right under our noses every time we read the Bible. Yep. Turn to 1 Corinthians 15:3-7 and you’ll find it:For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins...  Read More

This weekend we celebrate Palm Sunday. “So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna t...  Read More

When I think of beautiful things, the first thing that comes to mind is a sunrise. Can you imagine the dark sky slowly changing from inky black to shades of blue, then reds and orange paint the sky just before the blazing yellow sun bursts through the horizon, until you can no longer look at it, for its brilliant rays become blinding? “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Margaret Wolfe Hungerfo...  Read More

New Day is a Spirit and Word church. We embrace the teaching, guidance, and gifts of the Holy Spirit while grounding ourselves in the Word of God (the Bible). These two foundationally work together in the life of the believer every day. We meditate on the Word and hide it in our hearts. The Spirit makes the words we read in the Bible alive and active while helping us apply them with wisdom.River S...  Read More

This blog is written to be a comfort and offer perspective from the Lord for those of you who are in the middle of a long-lasting struggle. Whether it be health-related, relationally related, or something else, hear the words of Psalm 13 for you, a Psalm of David:How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day af...  Read More

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10, ESV)“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1 ESV“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.” (Psalm 37 5-6, ESV)...  Read More

Too often a Christian leader is exposed as having serious sin issues. Often these are well known speakers, authors, or pastors. I’ve seen this happen so often over the years. Some were famous television evangelists or Christian personalities. Some were significant influences upon hundreds of thousands or even millions of people. But I’ve also known some, and even have had friends, that were just r...  Read More