Lead and Guide Me

For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me and guide me. Psalm 31:3

OK, what am I supposed to be like, how can I be good and how will you lead me? I read a good plan for me in the Institute for Creation Research “Days of Praise” booklet I get from their Dallas, Texas location. I have visited the ICR in Dallas numerous times and brought many family members to see their creation display. I encourage you all to go there if you are in Dallas.

Good people expect God’s blessing (Proverbs 12:2.) God has been so good to me. Several times he has provided just what I needed by people who helped me. We built this house at 9223 Pioneer Court in 1993. I did not know at that time Bryce and I would need the large bathroom, the roomy bedroom and so many other parts of this house that make it easy for us to be here in our old ages. Who knew? I have learned to expect blessings.

Good people secure their children (Proverbs 13:22). Acts & Facts magazine from ICR in 2026 states “Here’s one thing you’ll likely never see: a parent sitting their child down and saying, ‘Now this is how you tell a lie.’ We all come by lying naturally, Adam and Eve did it too.” We all try to get our children to tell the truth.

Good people are satisfied with life (Proverbs 14:14) I am so thankful Bryce and I can be here, enjoy and share Firethorn pool, resort and golf with children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. How could I not be satisfied when God has given us 6 children, 11 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren? Life is awesome. 

Good people love wisdom (Matthew 12:35). I was so lucky I had gone with several friends to Doane to finish my degree in teaching. Because of that, the athletic director felt I had the wisdom to take on the men’s tennis team at Wesleyan University after assisting with the women’s team with my friend, Tom Tipton. I don’t know that I was wiser, but the 10 years I coached both teams at Wesleyan were some of my most fruitful and fun years. The students were wonderful and our trips to the national tournaments were so fun. How did I ever take 10 or 20 college kids around the country? The kids I taught have shown up teaching my children and heading up tennis programs like at Firethorn.

Good people are just people (Luke 23:50) and good people are full of faith (Acts 11:24).

I see our children giving the guidance of these verses to their children and grandchildren all the time. God is leading and guiding our family in all generations.  

Sandra Hilsabeck

Overcoming Negative Values

Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evildoers. Proverbs 4:14 

Train children in the right way and when old they will not stray. Proverbs 22:6

We all are living in a populated society where a variety of personal values are practiced and interchanged. It seems that daily news items inform us of a newly revealed "scam" that has occurred. Or, that some innocent person has been taken advantage of or harmed in some way. There appears to be too many who want to harm or destroy others. How can we overcome this type of destructive character that some others have?

As I was growing and maturing, I remember being advised by adults to be aware of the action of others my age and recognize that I would develop and be known by the standards similar to those with whom I associated and accompanied. Our value system can be influenced through our relationships, in addition to the teachings we receive. Therefore, parents, educational institutions, and Christianity have a huge task to prevent and overcome negative values and attitudes, and to develop positive action and beliefs instead.

The programs of our Eastridge Church are so important in our local task to do this. Our worship and Christian Education programs will promote and teach the positive values and Christian attitudes needed in our society today. 

Jesus said, "Let your life so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." The people around us need to see that the results of a Christian's life do make a difference between how the Christian lives and how others live! May our lives at Eastridge Church reflect the Lord we love and about whom we have been taught.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father:  We pray for Your guidance and direction so that our culture may reflect the standards of Your creation.  Help us to establish and share these Christian values that follow the teachings of Your Son that He brought to this earth.  Amen

Lauren Holcombe (reprinted from 2016)

Words from the book of Luke

For with God nothing will be impossible. Luke 1:37 

His Eye Is on the Sparrow and He Watches Me

Next door, my neighbor feeds birds.  She does not intend to but she also feeds squirrels. They hang upside down every morning eating from her “squirrel proof” feeder. She rants and raves but nothing seems to help her problem.

She does try many kinds of homemade solutions. She greases the pole but the squirrel still just finds another way. Sometimes jumping from a nearby limb instead of climbing the pole. It reminds me of humans trying different ways of climbing mountain tops or even advancing in their workplace.

Another solution is to raise the pole higher but this only makes the squirrel’s drop from a nearby limb easier. The squirrels race along the fence to enter my yard and dig deep holes in the mulch or sod to bury their acorns. Again, I think of people burying their heads in the sand instead of looking out for others. Or amassing fortunes to be used later. 

The squirrels also can take the easy way out and just eat the cherries in my tree or the strawberries before I can pick them.  Again, man comes to mind.  Just take the easy way out and not plan for tomorrow.

As fall approaches, I see the squirrels scurrying around carrying acorns from under my tree to nearby holes in other trees. They are planning for the winter just as humans plan for tomorrow.

I laugh as I see the squirrel hanging upside down from her bird feeder. But I know that God’s eye is on the sparrow and he is probably watching those squirrels. Which means his eye is also on me and you and just as I enjoy and laugh at the squirrels, he is probably watching you and me and I can only hope he is laughing not crying at what you and I are doing today and tomorrow. We all have this in common, God is watching us.

Carolyn Olsen

(photo shared by Donna Gustafson)

Words from the book of Joshua

But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15 

The Tests in Our Lives

Consider it pure joy, my brother, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-5

Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in time of testing they fall away. Luke 8:13

For many years I worked beside a colleague who, after frustrating conversations or interactions, would observe ruefully, “That ______... he/she is a test.”  Then we would chuckle, knowing that each of us had been at some point (or many points) a similarly disconcerting test to our students and coworkers. In fact, even after retiring, I’ve continued to be a test to others. A high-spirited 7th grader, with whom I worked this spring as a volunteer tutor, didn’t always appreciate my encouragement to attend to conventions for pronouncing consonants. Sighing, he announced, “Mrs. Stelk, you are running my battery down.” After a momentary pause, we both shared a laugh before getting back to the text. 

Tests have been part of the human experience since recorded history began.  I’m sure that, like the Israelites, 40 years of wandering in the desert eating manna and quail every day would have run any of our batteries down a bit. Likewise, many current events feel as though they present a test of faith. I must admit, I don’t always (or even often) consider such tests pure joy. Guess I still have some maturing to do….

Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for providing strength to persevere when we face tests and trials. Help us to comprehend the joy that comes through cultivating true and deep roots of lasting faith in you. We ask for your forgiveness when we fall away in times of distress. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Barry and Alinda Stelk (reprinted from 2018)

Thy love has broken every barrier down

 "....and the one who comes to Me, I will by no means cast out..."-John 6:37

Just As I Am, Thy love unknown

has broken every barrier down... 

One of my favorite sermons Pastor Melodie preached was during my first few weeks my family and I came to Eastridge. She preached earnestly about falling in love with Jesus again and caring most about "the least of these" meaning the children in our church family and community. 

I was reminded of this last night when we joyously had a choir rehearsal that Brian put together. Each person who came in the room, new or old choir friends, children of choir members, people who had sung in choir many years or those who it was their first time, each person was greeted by Brian and by other choir friends. The smiles on their faces as we sang hymns filled my heart with such joy.  When we got to the verse of Just As I Am about love breaking down every barrier and then sang Jesus Loves Me, I couldn't but help feel tears in my eyes. After the choir rehearsal, my kids ran down the hall and were greeted so enthusiastically by choir members. I was reminded once again of the amazing way a church choir lives out the gospel of Jesus Christ! Breaking down those barriers in love, from a hug, or a smile, or helping someone learn their notes. A church choir is such an amazing thing! People from the congregation gathering to prepare for worship!

Brian always lets us know about something happening on Sunday. What the sermon is about, or if there is a baptism, or helps us think about the text of a hymn or anthem. What a blessing it is to prepare our hearts for what God has laid on the hearts of Pastor Melodie or Pastor Thomas to share. What a blessing it is to enter that sanctuary on Sunday to hear the Word, to celebrate the sacraments, and to see a group of our congregation at the front helping, not only to lead us in worship, but remind us that ALL are welcome. To remind us that God, who is LOVE, has broken every barrier down! 

Thanks be to God.

Brent Shaw (reprinted from 2021)