This Week in Native American News (3/16/18): karaoke, hoop dancing, and the iditarod

One of the members of our congregation, who once struggled with alcoholism (but has been delivered by God’s grace), shared his testimony with another young man going through the same trials. He said, “What Christ has done for me, He’s also done for you, just don’t be stubborn and refuse it!” 

Yes, there is Good News! Through God's eyes, what may appear to be hopeless is a field ripe for the harvest!

If you scour the Gospel accounts, you will find next to nothing about Jesus’ physical appearance. When there is nothing said, the general rules of literature tell us there must have been nothing exceptional about Jesus’ looks. You might even say he was quite ordinary and plain; no descriptive adjectives required. Isaiah invites us to consider that maybe Jesus was just plain ugly.

I was asked to sum up the last three years since our last District convention.

I thought that it should be shared so that God can be given the glory and praise!

Praise for His grace, this summer will mark 25 years of ministry to the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and May of this year will mark the 20th year of our preschool.

1 John 4:21 tells us, “whoever loves God must also love his brother.” But that isn’t what Native peoples were taught. The boarding school experience, that resulted in rampant historic trauma, addiction, and social suffering, seems an odd way to say, “I love you, brother.”

This is our new Phoenix ministry! Join us!

One of the biggest challenges, for an outsider who enters the reservation, is to not come across as a know-it-all.  

At times, the more I share the stories of Mauna [God] the more I catch myself being a know-it-all. I get excited, and I play right into their understanding that the ‘white man’ Christian talks about God, as opposed to the Native talking to God, as they are often taught.

I know when we go to the reservations to share the love that Jesus has for us with our brothers and sisters, it is not a sacrifice for us because we love them and want them to better understand the love Jesus has for them.

We see people all the time, everywhere, who are hurting and in need. A person standing on the side of the road with a sign asking for help. People sleeping on a park bench, homeless, broken, and trapped in the cycle of addictions. Have you ever wondered, should I help? If I were to help would it be good or would it hurt them more? 

Romans 12:8 says “The one who leads,” must lead “with zeal.”  There’s something about passion here, something about vision and something about direction.  The leader must care passionately about where he or she is going.  1 Peter 5:2 says to leaders, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers, not because you must but because you are willing as God wants you to be.”

We are all leaders in our families, churches, and communities.

He wants us to get out of our nests, out of our comfort zones to spread our wings. Sometimes, we’re afraid to do so, because we fear failing or not getting it just right.

It all comes down to trust. As the baby eaglet trusted its parents to keep him from hitting the ground, how much more should we trust in our Heavenly Father who loves us so much and is always there to scoop us up in His hands when we stumble or fall? Our Creator wants us to trust him. His word teaches us to trust him, and His word never returns void.