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Chain of Lakes Videos

Select a link below to view recent past videos of worship services. For all past worship services go to https://vimeo.com/chainoflakes/videos Don’t forget to also check out Pastor Paul’s blog2025

January 18, 2026 – No video, technical issues

January 11, 2026
“It’s Not All Black & White, Right?” – Salvation

January 4, 2026
Guest preacher Heidi Vardeman

December 28, 2025
Simeon and Anna meet baby Jesus

Christmas Eve 2025

December 21, 2025
Advent Series – “Four Words that Never Grow Old” – part 4 – Prayer

December 14, 2025
Advent Series – “Four Words that Never Grow Old” – part 3 – Joy

December 7, 2025
Advent Series – “Four Words that Never Grow Old” – Part 2 – Hope

November 30, 2025
Advent Series – “Four Words that Never Grow Old” – Part 1 – Peace or Shalom

November 23, 2025
Walking in the Light – 1 John, Part Two

November 16, 2025
Walking in the Light – 1  John 

November 9, 2025
Grateful Hearts, Generous Lives – part 3

November 2, 2025
Grateful Hearts, Generous Lives – part 2

October 26, 2025
Grateful Hearts, Generous Lives

October 19, 2025
Colby Martin, Guest Preacher

October 12, 2025
Randy Dean, Guest Preacher

Daily Devotions

Comments about the devotion can be emailed to pastor@colpres.org

Monday, January 26

Genesis 4:1-7
Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have produced a man with the help of the Lord.”  Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground.  In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground  and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering,  but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen?  If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.”

 This week we have the opportunity to look at Bible stories that illustrate the challenges of unanswered prayer. Everyone who prays eventually confronts this issue as our prayers are not answered a hundred percent of the time.

In looking at today’s story we’re equating unanswered prayer with not having an offering accepted. They are not completely identical, but the spiritual reality is the same.

It’s easy to draw conclusions about Cain about why his offering was not accepted. We might conclude that Cain must have done something wrong or Cain’s offering was shared with an improper attitude. Assigning blame is not helpful. Trying to blame Cain that his prayer was not answered is like blaming each of us for an unanswered prayer.

We’re not told why Cain’s offering was not accepted. To interpret the story, we have to accept this reality. We don’t know why Cain’s offering was not accepted.

However, we do know that Cain’s response to his “unanswered prayer” was completely inappropriate. He became angry—which is a natural human emotion. Most likely all of us have been angry with God because a prayer has not been answered.

 

God implored Cain to stay connected to God when Cain became angry. But Cain responded in a completely inappropriate way. He murdered his brother.

The way we respond to our own unanswered prayers, will reveal quite a lot about our character. Being angry is a natural response. Responding to that anger with harm is not.

Have you had a time when you were angry about a prayer that was not answered? How did you respond? Please share.

 

Tuesday, January 27

2 Samuel 12:15-23

Then Nathan went to his house.

 The Lord struck the child whom Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it became very ill. David therefore pleaded with God for the child; David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. The elders of his house stood beside him urging him to rise from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “While the child was still alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us; how then can we tell him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.” But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, he perceived that the child was dead, and David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.”

 Then David rose from the ground, washed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes. He went into the house of the Lord and worshiped; he then went to his own house, and when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while it was alive, but when the child died, you rose and ate food.”  He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me, and the child may live.’ But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”

David was passionate about his prayer. Even though he had committed adultery with Bathsheba, David wanted the child who he had conceived with Bathsheba to live. He pleaded with God with all of his strength for the child to live. He fasted, and he lay all night on the ground in prayer.

Can you imagine the intensity of David’s prayer?

The servants of David who were watching David were afraid to tell him that the child had died. They were afraid to share with David that his prayer was unanswered. The people were afraid about how David would respond to his unanswered prayer.

Not all prayers are the same. Praying for direction on what clothes to wear during the day is much different than praying that our child will live when an illness strikes.

The servants of David were surprised that David could let go of his unanswered prayer so easily. But David was quite pragmatic. While the child was alive, he did everything he could to help the child live. But once the child was dead, there was no more reason for David to pray for the child.

David was willing to accept his unanswered prayer. We’re not told from where David had the strength to do this—for who really has the strength to accept the death of a child. But David illustrated that it can be done. And he illustrated a far different response to unanswered prayer than Cain’s response.

What are your thoughts about David’s response? Please share.

Wednesday, January 28

Psalm 13:1-4
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
    How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I bear pain in my soul
    and have sorrow in my heart all day long?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

Consider and answer me, O Lord my God!
    Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
 and my enemy will say, “I have prevailed”;
    my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.

 The writer of this Psalm—most likely David—felt abandoned by God. He implored God to not keep the divine face hidden, to relieve the pain that he felt in his soul and the sorrow in his heart.

Verse three is a powerful example of the passion of prayer.

“Consider and answer me, O Lord my God! Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death.”

There was a lot at stake in his prayer—literally life or death.

Sometimes when we pray we are too nice to God. We aren’t completely honest with our emotions because we might feel that expressing our emotions with God would not be appropriate.

This is certainly not the case in this Psalm. The writer of the Psalm was candid and honest. Even though he was upset with God, he was willing to share in concrete ways what was happening in his spirit.

He knew that God might not answer his prayers, but to use a gambling metaphor, he put all of his chips on the table.

What are your thoughts about this Psalm? Please share.

Thursday, January 29

Matthew 26:36-40
Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, yet not what I want but what you want.”  Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour?

 Even Jesus experienced unanswered prayer. Which is quite a statement about the humanity of Jesus.

When Jesus found himself in the garden of Gethsemane, he found himself overwhelmed with sorrow. Out of his grief he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.”

The hope that Jesus expressed in this prayer was not answered. Jesus eventually did go to the cross and die. The cup of wrath was not taken from him.

The second part of the prayer of Jesus is helpful. Jesus asked for God’s will to be done. This is a important teaching for us when we share a petitionary prayer. We can pray for something important or extravagant. And we then ask for God’s will to be done.

What are your thoughts on praying this way? Please share.

Friday, January 30

2 Corinthians 12:7b-10
Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated.Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

 The Apostle Paul prayed three times that the thorn that was given to him would be removed. And, of course, the “thorn” is a metaphor. Something quite displeasing was given to him. Paul identified this thorn as a messenger of Satan.

It makes sense to think that God would remove this thorn from Paul. For God is opposed to Satan. But the thorn was never removed. Paul’s prayer was not answered.

However, God did give Paul a response to how Paul could go forward in response to his unanswered prayer. God told Paul that “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:8.

This verse is one way to respond to unanswered prayer. God might not answer our prayers, and God always is willing to give us grace. This grace is sufficient for responding to our own unanswered prayers. We might not receive the prayer that we want, but we do receive God’s grace. To God this grace was sufficient.

Have you ever experienced grace after realizing that a prayer of yours would not be answered? Please share.

 Saturday, January 31

Luke 18:1-7
Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my accuser.’ For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’ ” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them?  

 Jesus was sharing a story about the need of people to pray and not to lose heart in our prayers. Another way to think about this story is an example of what God wants us to do when our prayers are not answered.

A widow wanted justice from a judge; the judge did not give justice. The woman persisted in asking. The woman kept coming to the judge.

Eventually the judge gave in. Not because he believed that the woman’s prayer was justified. He was just worn out by the woman’s persistence.

Jesus was not saying that God becomes worn down by our persistence. He was saying that God admires persistence in prayer and that God does not want us to lose heart when we pray. Don’t lose heart even when our prayers are not answered.

Have you had a time when you felt like not praying anymore after something difficult happened? What eventually happened? Please share.

Monday, January 19

Matthew 25:31-46

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you or naked and gave you clothing?  And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’  Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You who are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels, for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’  Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’  And these will go away into eternal punishment but the righteous into eternal life.”

 This week we will explore the idea of “the common good.” Pursuing and achieving the common good is one way that people can love God and love country together.

Jesus never used the term “common good,” but in his teachings he consistently communicated the common good. In fact, the common good is an important vision of Jesus for the world.

This vision is more than one where every person becomes his disciple. His vision is communicated in this story from Matthew where Jesus taught that whatever we do to the least of the community we do it directly to him. The poor are not objects of scorn; instead the poor are the actual representation of Jesus.

HOPE for the Community is one organization in the community who treats the poor and hungry as if they are Jesus. Every Thursday in Blaine they share high quality and nutritious food with hundreds of people.

Have you had an experience of serving at HOPE for the Community? How has that experience been an expression of this story? Or have you had an experience of serving the poor? Please share.  

Tuesday, January 20

Micah 6:6-8

“With what shall I come before the Lord

    and bow myself before God on high?

Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,

    with calves a year old?

Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,

    with ten thousands of rivers of oil?

Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,

    the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”

He has told you, O mortal, what is good,

    and what does the Lord require of you

but to do justice and to love kindness

    and to walk humbly with your God?


Micah was an Old Testament prophet who spoke out during the last quarter of the eighth century (BC) when Ahaz and Hezekiah were kings of Israel. The name Micah means “who is like the Lord.”

The book of Micah is not long—only seven chapters. If you have twenty minutes, read the entire book.

In the sixth chapter Micah shares a compelling vision of the common good. He asked the question of whether God would be pleased with a sacrifice of thousands of rams, or ten thousands of rivers or special oil, or even the sacrifice of a child.

These would appear to be special sacrifices.

But no—God did not desire this quantity of sacrifice. Instead God desired that followers “do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God.” The common good happens when people live out this verse.

HOPE 4 Youth is one organization who gives people the opportunity to live out this verse. HOPE 4 Youth is the only organization in the Twin Cities whose sole purpose is to help homeless youth. HOPE 4 Youth is an organization that is contributing to the common good.

Have you had an experience of serving at HOPE 4 Youth? How has your service reflected these verses in Micah? Please share.

Wednesday, January 21

Amos 5:18-24

Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord!

    Why do you want the day of the Lord?

It is darkness, not light,

 as if someone fled from a lion

    and was met by a bear

or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall

    and was bitten by a snake.

Is not the day of the Lord darkness, not light,

    and gloom with no brightness in it?

 I hate, I despise your festivals,

    and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.

Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,

    I will not accept them,

and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals

    I will not look upon.

Take away from me the noise of your songs;

    I will not listen to the melody of your harps.

But let justice roll down like water

    and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

 

Like Micah, Amos lived in the eighth century (BC). Amos spoke out during the reigns of two kings, Uzziah of Judah and Jeroboam II of Israel. Not many details are known about the life of Amos. The book of Amos shares that the home of Amos was the village of Tekoa in the Judean hills south of Bethlehem.

These words from Amos are another startling example of how God views the common good.

Amos shared that God was tired of the people’s festivals and worship, and offerings. God did not want to hear the people’s worship. Instead, God wanted justice to roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. (Amos 5:24)

Justice and righteousness are important parts of the common good.

One organization who lives out justice and righteousness is Stepping Stone Emergency Housing. Stepping Stone runs the only homeless shelter in the suburban Twin Cities. The only one!

Most of the time when a resident leaves Stepping Stone that person goes to stable housing. That is making an impact and contributing to the common good!

Have you had an experience of serving at Stepping Stone?  How has your service reflected these verses in Amos? Please share.

 

Thursday, January 22

Isaiah 61:1-11
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me
    because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
    to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives
    and release to the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
    to comfort all who mourn,

 to provide for those who mourn in Zion—
    to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
    the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.
They shall build up the ancient ruins;
    they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
    the devastations of many generations.

Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks;
    foreigners shall till your land and dress your vines,
but you shall be called priests of the Lord;
    you shall be named ministers of our God;
you shall enjoy the wealth of the nations,
    and in their riches you shall glory.
Because their shame was double
    and dishonor was proclaimed as their lot,
therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion;
    everlasting joy shall be theirs.

For I, the Lord, love justice,
    I hate robbery and wrongdoing;
I will faithfully give them their recompense,
    and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
Their descendants shall be known among the nations
    and their offspring among the peoples;
all who see them shall acknowledge
    that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed.
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
    my whole being shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
    he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland
    and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
 For as the earth brings forth its shoots
    and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
    to spring up before all the nations.

 This chapter shares a picture of the common good. Read this chapter through more than once. It’s worth spending time thinking deeply about the message of this chapter.

When Jesus began his ministry in a synagogue he read these words from Isaiah. After Jesus read the words, he said that they had been fulfilled. Jesus and the values he represented were the fulfillment of Isaiah 61. (Luke 4:16-21).

Does a phrase in Isaiah 61 especially speak to you? Please share.

One organization who lives out the message of Isaiah 61 is Threshold to New Life, led by Richard Bahr. They help bridge the gaps in the life of low-income people. Their web site is threshold2newlife.org. 

They run a soup kitchen at a Salvation Army near Target Field. At that soup kitchen homeless people who actually live outdoors are fed. This soup kitchen is helping the common good become a reality.

Have you an experience of serving at this soup kitchen or perhaps even another soup kitchen? How has the experience been an expression of Isaiah 61? Please share.

Friday, January 23

Deuteronomy 30:11-20
“Surely, this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away.  It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?’  Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?’ No, the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.

 “See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you do not hear but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall certainly perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him, for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”

 These words were given by Moses to the Israelites shortly before Moses died. Read all ten verses—taken together they share a powerful vision of the common good. They even give practical ways to live out the common good. In verse 20 we read that people can choose life and live out the common good by loving God, obeying God, and holding fast to God.

One organization that lives out the value of life is River Trail Learning Center. It is a full day Special Education Setting Level IV Program for students K-12.

River Trail Learning Center is a partner with Chain of Lakes Church. The congregation helped sponsor a barbeque for their staff this past year. In the past the people of Chain of Lakes have given bags of toiletry items to students at the school.

Did you have an opportunity to share these items with students at River Trail Learning Center? How was your experience of purchasing and sharing these items one of choosing life? Please share.

 

Saturday, January 24

Jeremiah 22:1-5
Thus says the Lord: Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and speak there this word, and say: Hear the word of the Lord, O king of Judah sitting on the throne of David—you, and your servants, and your people who enter these gates. Thus says the Lord: Act with justice and righteousness and deliver from the hand of the oppressor anyone who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the alien, the orphan, and the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place. For if you will indeed obey this word, then through the gates of this house shall enter kings who sit on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses—they, their servants, and their people. But if you will not heed these words, I swear by myself, says the Lord, that this house shall become a desolation.

  The prophet Jeremiah lived in the late 7th century and early 6th century (BC). He spoke out for justice and righteousness. He spoke out in an especially dangerous time in Israel and Judah. Eventually Jeremiah was killed for what he said.

These verses share what is at stake in being successful in living out the common good. God was saying that if the leaders of Judah lived out justice and righteousness the nation of Judah would thrive, but if the nation did not live out justice and righteousness the nation would be destroyed.

Take a moment to ponder that message!

This week we’ve read about five organizations who live out justice and righteousness and who have a partnership with Chain of Lakes Church. What is another organization you have particularly admired who lives out justice and righteousness? Please share the name and a bit about your own connection to the organization.

Monday, January 12

Genesis 3:22-24

Then the Lord God said, “See, the humans have become like one of us, knowing good and evil, and now they might reach out their hands and take also from the tree of life and eat and live forever”—  therefore the Lord God sent them forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which they were taken.  He drove out the humans, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a sword flaming and turning to guard the way to the tree of life.

 At the end of the story of Adam and Eve in the third chapter of Genesis, we come across the tree of life. God didn’t want the two to eat of fruit from the tree of life because they would then live forever.

The tree of life represents heaven. Consuming the fruit of the tree of life meant that someone would experience life eternally.

At this point in the story God was not willing to share the tree of life with the people. The man and the woman (Adam and Eve) were driven from the garden so they wouldn’t have the opportunity to eat the fruit of the tree of life.

It’s interesting that God was not willing to give access of the tree of life to Adam and Eve or to any human. The blockading of the tree of life was for more than just the two of them. It was a blockade for all people who live. Everyone will eventually die.

The good news is that when people die, they have the opportunity to enter heaven and experience eternal life.

The tree of life appears again in the Bible. We’ll read about it on Saturday when we read a devotion based on the last chapter of the Bible.

What are your thoughts about God excluding people from experiencing the tree of life? Please share.

Tuesday, January 13

Exodus 14:13-14

But Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today, for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still.”

 Salvation is something that is not limited to heaven or life beyond death. Salvation happens on earth.

In this story God delivered the people through Moses from Pharaoh and Pharaoh’s rushing armies. They were saved from death because of the actions of God through Moses.

This deliverance was fantastic. It was unexpected as many of the Israelites thought they were going to die.

After the deliverance of the Israelites, Moses shared a beautiful speech or song in chapter 15 and Miriam, the sister of Moses, did the same. If you have some extra time read that chapter.

What are your thoughts about the deliverance of the Israelites from Pharaoh? Please share.

Wednesday, January 14

John 3:11-21

“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen, yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?  No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

  “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned, but those who do not believe are condemned already because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”

 Jesus shared this teaching with Nicodemus, a Pharisee who came to Jesus by night because Nicodemus was afraid of others knowing that he was talking to Jesus. During the conversation with Jesus we learn that Nicodemus thought literally and couldn’t comprehend how people could be born again or born from above.

Jesus foreshadowed his own death and resurrection in this story when he shared that he as the Son of Man would be lifted up, just like Moses lifting up a serpent in the wilderness. Just as the Israelites were given life in a battle they were engaged in when they saw the serpent lifted up by Moses, all would receive eternal life when they believed that Jesus was lifted up.

Many know John 3:16, but don’t know John 3:17. God didn’t send Jesus into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him [Jesus]. Jesus didn’t exist to condemn people, he lived to save people. The condemnation that people experience for not believing in Jesus would exist in earth and was not an eternal condemnation.

What are your thoughts about this passage? Please share.

Thursday, January 15

John 14:1-7

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.”  Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

 These verses have been used to justify a black-and-white teaching about salvation—that is people who believe in Jesus received salvation and those who don’t believe in Jesus won’t.

The disciples didn’t understand this teaching at first. Philip wanted Jesus to show them the Father, or Jesus’ abba. Jesus responded strongly that he had done this. By seeing Jesus they would receive a glimpse of the Father or really a glimpse of heaven.

Jesus promised his followers that he would send the Holy Spirit to them in the absence of Jesus. And because of the Holy Spirit the people would not be alone.

Pastor Paul has shared often that an important way to see this passage is to see Jesus as the way and the truth and the life. Focus on this. Do not focus on what happens if a person does not accept Jesus as the way and the truth and the life.

How do you do at keeping your focus on Jesus? Please share.

Friday, January 16

Romans 5:1-5

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

 This teaching by the Apostle Paul is a foundational teaching for Protestants. People are justified not by their good works, but instead are justified by faith. The Greek word for faith is pistis. It means an orientation or belief.

A metaphor that Pastor Paul has used in the past to describe this passage is a Christmas tree that has gifts underneath it. Salvation is a gift that God gives to everyone. Just by coming into the world, people are given the gift of salvation.

What is important for humans is that they open this gift and enjoy it. The gift doesn’t go unnoticed or unappreciated.

We open this gift through our faith. It’s our belief in God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

God puts the gift under the tree. We open it up as an act of faith and enjoy forever the benefits of this gift.

What are your thoughts about this teaching? Please share.

Saturday, January 17

Revelation 22:1-6

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month, and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.  And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

 And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true, for the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”

 The tree of life again appears in this last chapter of the Bible. In a way the tree of life bookends the Bible. It appears at the beginning in Genesis 3 and at the end in Revelation 22.

Now the tree of life is accessible to all. Its twelve kinds of fruit and the leaves of the tree are meant for the healing of the nations. The twelve kinds of fruit is a representation of the twelve tribes of Israel.

This chapter illustrates a beautiful picture of heaven. The throne of God and Jesus as the Lamb are present. People in heaven are joyfully worshipping God. Unlike life on earth, people can see the face of God. There will be continuous light as the light truly has overcome the darkness. The light from the throne of God is enough for the light to overshadow everything.

This is a fantastic vision of heaven. Hopefully it’s something we all desire to experience. This vision takes us from our lives and gives us hope for the future. None of us need to fear death because we have this beautiful vision ahead of us.

As a young person it’s easy to fear death. However, as they age many people look forward to death. They want to experience this salvation.

How high is your fear of death? Has it changed as you’ve gotten older? Please share.

Events

Community Gardens

Very big pumpkin grown in the Chain of Lakes Community Garden by Jeremy Feuks. 10/7/2021
Chain of Lakes Church is excited to offer a Community Garden Ministry next to the new church building at 2650 125th Ave NE, Blaine, MN 55449. It’s just east of  Malmborg’s Garden Center on 125th Ave NE in Blaine or .8 miles east of Radisson Rd on 125th Ave NE, Blaine.
 
The garden is open to the wider community, not just people who attend Chain of Lakes.
 
Contact the office for information at 763.465.8585 or info@colpres.org
 
If you are interested in a garden plot complete this form:
Community Garden Plot Application 2024 – Chain of Lakes
 
Please print and complete the application, and up until May 22, mail to:
Chain of Lakes Church
2650 125th Ave NE
Blaine, MN 55449

Click on Photos for Clear Picture - More Photos on the Local Impact and Youth & Family pages

Stepping Up 4 Hope May 18, 2025
Stepping Up 4 Hope May 18, 2025
New Disciples April 30, 2025
Easter Carnival April 12, 2025 volunteers
Easter Carnival April 12, 2025
Feed My Starving Children April 9, 2025
Feed My Starving Children Feb. 26, 2025
PALentine Party Feb. 12, 2025
PALentine Party Feb. 12, 2025
PALentine Party Feb. 12, 2025
PALentine Party Feb. 12, 2025
Christmas Eve 2024
Christmas Eve 2024
Christmas Eve 2024
Christmas Concert 2024
New Disciples Dec. 11, 2024
Craft Fair Nov 2024
Santa Shop 2024
Trunk or Treat 2024
Trunk or Treat 2024
August Youth Group Bake Sale
HOPE 4 Youth Summer Challenge 2024
VBS SCUBA July 2024
Game Night June 2024
Chain of Lakes Presbyterian Church in Blaine, MN
God Loves Everyone sign June 7, 2024
High School Graduates Blessing June 2024
New Disciples June 2024
Stepping Up 4 Hope May 19. 2024
Stepping Up 4 Hope May 19. 2024
Stepping Up 4 Hope Team 2024
Adopt-a-Highway cleanup April 27, 2024
Kids’ Choir April 21, 2024
Bagging groceries April 20, 2024
Easter 2024
Easter 2024
Easter Carnival March 30, 2024
Delivering two truckloads of groceries to HOPE 4 Youth Jan. 10, 2024

Some highlights from recent events in the community! Click on image for clear, entire picture