Events

05.07.20 - It’s almost Mother’s Day! Obviously, without Moms none of us would be here. Praise God for Moms! So, thank you Mom!

But for some of us, Mother’s Day is not easy. Maybe a husband and wife can’t get pregnant. Maybe a single woman longs to be married, or doesn’t have the resources to adopt. Or maybe, for some reason, a husband and wife choose not to have kids. I’m sure there’s many other reasons, but mother’s Day can be difficult for Women.

But whether we are technically a parent or not, we can all still choose to love kids/people no matter the age.

I read a devotional about the four C’s of parenting. The first C is Caring. When a baby is born, that baby is fully reliant upon the care of another human being, often a Mom. Again, thank you Mom!

The second C is Control. When our children grow, in order to keep them safe, loving mom’s exercise control. From car seats to baby gates, kids need moms to take control.

The third C is counsel. As we get older, Moms point us in the right direction. They coach us to make wise choices. They encourage independence.

And, the fourth C is companions. Eventually, you become friends. You live life together. The author says, “you’re not their buddy; buddies go along with bad ideas.” Instead, Mom’s are an honest friend.

And if Moms (and Dads) do those four C’s well; ultimately, one day, that love and care may come back to you. 

In the meantime, God loves womanhood, Moms, and all of Eve’s descendants. All women are made in God’s image. Thank you Moms for trying to love each of us the way God loves the world, unconditionally. 

-Pastor Greg Kett

05.05.20 - So, I was very excited to mow the lawn today for the first time this year at the parsonage. I put on my winter coat, grabbed some hot tea, and drove the lawn tractor to the edge of the grass. I sat there in anticipation. I was excited to remove the spring chaos by sculpting lines and crushing mole hills.

I turned on the mower deck. It didn’t work.

Immediately, I had a few choice thoughts for the mower. I kept those to myself. I sipped some tea in defiance to my unmet expectation. The tea tasted bland.

I then asked myself, “Greg, are you a thermometer or a thermostat?” Thermometers react to their environment and immediately give feedback. But the thermostat responds. It sets the climate of the room and slowly changes things with warmth and grace.

One writer said, “A husband who becomes a thermostat becomes comfortable with himself and his wife. And a dad who stops reacting and starts responding will raise kids who are more confident, less on edge, and more loving.”

If we can rest, relax and realize God loves us, then we can stop reacting and start responding. So here’s my question for you this fifth day of May, “Are you a thermometer or a thermostat?”

-Pastor Greg Kett

04.30.20 - Last post, I discussed how sometimes we don’t stop to help, but Jesus always had time to help.

Here’s the other side of the coin. There can be a trap in helping. Obviously, Jesus doesn’t fall into the trap but we sometimes do. I do.

My pride and importance kicks in. I think, “If I don’t help, then this problem won’t be fixed, the issue resolved, etc., etc.”

As a pastor, there is always another person to visit, sermon to write, prayer to pray, concern to be tackled, program to encourage, and book to be read. The list can seem endless.

But, it’s not just me. All of us have responsibilities. So, the question is, can we let go and let God handle the situation? Job 10:12 says “You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit.”

Cannot God and his providence handle the situation? God has made us, Jesus saved us, and the Holy Spirit redeems us. God can handle every situation, so we don’t always have to!

-Pastor Greg Kett

04.28.20 - "Years ago I was asked the same question that I read today, 'Who is the most important person in the world?' The answer: The person you’re with right now. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve passed somebody with a flat tire, or I didn’t stop to help, or I missed an opportunity to listen and pray.

My excuse? I’m too busy. I don’t have enough time. I sometimes think to myself, “Someone else will help and take care of this. “

Jesus knew he didn’t have much time left before the cross, and yet he stopped to help the person right in front of him.

I can talk about Jesus all day long, but if I don’t stop to help the person right in front of me, I miss the joy of sharing with them what Jesus would do. Who’s standing in front of you today? Who are you going to stop for today?"

-Pastor Greg Kett

04.23.20 - Good afternoon Highland Church! My devotions today highlighted the difference between forgiveness and grace. Sometimes, between 2 people, forgiveness is quid pro quo. If I ask for it, you give it. And then we’re square.

Then the author writes, "But Grace is this amazing thing that comes when the scales are put away, when we move beyond what’s fair and volunteer to make it not matter. It’s not a trade. It’s restoration without a price, without penance."

If you are a sinner like me, you need both. You need forgiveness and grace. Praise God both are amazing.

Let’s pray, Lord help us to give and receive forgiveness and grace. Amen.

-Pastor Greg Kett

04.21.20 - "Good afternoon Highland church, pastor Greg here, even though it’s snowing and a bit cold today, it is springtime and our essential, awesome farmers are preparing the ground. It is both beautiful and humbling.

The word humility comes from the Latin root word humus. Which means fertile ground or rich soil. And when we are humble, we become fertile ground for God to grow stuff in us like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

So as we see more tractors, manure spreader’s, planters, and our amazing farmers driving around, ask yourself the following question, “What is God growing in me?" Shall we pray? Lord help us to become fertile ground. Amen."

-Pastor Greg Kett

04.16.20 - Have you ever heard the phrase, what’s down in the well comes up in the bucket?

When we are startled or surprised or quick change happens in our lives, often our instant reaction reveals what’s going on inside our souls.

So how do we know what’s going on inside our souls? We ask God. Try praying the following prayer, Lord, what would you have me know?

I hope each one of us hears back from God the words I love you. First John four verse eight says God is love. At the bottom of the well, our souls, our very identities, are marked by God’s love. And may your bucket be filled with love too.

Shall we pray, Lord God, what would you have us know? Amen.

-Pastor Greg Kett

04.14.20 - Good afternoon Highland Church, Pastor Greg here, just want to send out a note of encouragement. I read an article yesterday that talked about how the government, large corporations, and many folk across our nation want everything to go back to normal. In a sense, I do too.

But, our strategies may be different. Playing off our fears during this pandemic, big business and advertising firms are going to say, “Just buy our product, and then everything will feel normal again. Don’t you want to feel happy and normal again? In short, the world says to buy normal, to buy happiness, and to buy comfort.

But God offers us a different strategy, a heavenly one. What is our only comfort? Our true normal? The answer: That we are not our own, but belong body and soul, in life and in death, to our faithful Savior Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says you are not your own; you were bought with a price. That price is a crucified Jesus resurrected for us. You can’t buy that feeling of normal. Jesus’ comfort is the only true normal. Let’s pray. Lord God, may our normal be found in your son Jesus Christ. Amen.
 

-Pastor Greg Kett

03.26.20 - Hello Highland Church, I am sending this out as a note of encouragement: My wife Amie was doing laundry today, and I saw her carry up a clean basket full of laundry for the family. I thought "what a gift" and I was reminded that every gift that we do for each other stems from love.

In John 13:34 (NIV) Jesus says:
[34] “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."

During this self-quarantine time, let’s appreciate the love behind the gifts we do for each other. Shall we pray; Lord, thank you for the opportunity to still give gifts in small ways, and may the love that you’ve given us in Jesus be reflected in our daily lives. Amen

-Pastor Greg Kett