Yellow Creek Mennonite Church

09/03/2026

Proverbs 22:13 makes an interesting comment: “The slothful man saith, ‘There is a lion without! I shall be slain in the streets!’” Now, if there is a lion outside of your door, I would suggest you NOT go out. It is very possible, maybe likely, that you might be attacked, harmed, or killed in that setting. That doesn’t sound like a slothful or lazy man. That sounds like a wise and prudent man. Yet, this man in Proverbs is called slothful. Why? The point of the teaching given here considers the small likelihood for any of us – even in those times – to truly have need to fear a literal lion prowling our streets. This man in Proverbs is making an excuse sound legitimate. He doesn’t want to leave the safety and comfort of home. Do WE ever do anything similar to avoid responding to a call from God? If God places a person in need in our path, do we find a reason to look the other way or come up with a fear to keep ourselves safe? Do we not help someone because we have more important business to attend to, or we just “don’t have the time” to help? Do we opt to not leaving our current state of comfort? If so, I think we might fit into this “slothful man” category. God is seeking to use us each day, whether by doing a good deed where He can receive glory, or by sharing the Gospel story of how we have been blessed by Jesus Christ. Life can become very exciting if we allow God to use us. Life can become a bit nerve-wracking, as well, as we step into unchartered waters. Do you trust God to walk with you during those times? Do you trust God to give you wisdom? Do you trust God to provide peace and calm and insight? He has promised all those things as you step out and interact with this world that needs to know Him as Lord and Savior.

“Fear Is a Liar” – Zach Williams
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQTnREEtuNk

09/02/2026

09/01/2026

Isaiah 64:8 says: “…you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay; you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” Isaiah holds to the comparison of God molding us and making as He sees fit. We need to allow Him to do that without fighting back and trying to control what He is making us into. But that isn’t always easy, nor comfortable. What if we don’t allow that to happen and we resist God’s call and leading? Jeremiah 18:4 refers to watching another potter at work when he says, “…the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so, the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.” Both scriptures view God as the molder and shaper of the children of Israel – and of us. There is something I see within the Jeremiah passage that isn’t in the Isaiah passage. Nowhere does the Potter completely throw out the pot that has been identified as “marred” and never use that clay material again. We come to God imperfect: proud, envious of others, selfish, etc. We may have bad experiences within our past. Others may have hurt us. We may have made grave mistakes. We may have suffered loss and heartache of various kinds, and those memories are part of our psyche that is difficult to shake. God can remove those sins. God can remove those burdens. God can heal all things. God will provide peace and joy. I don’t think He will always remove our memories. A phrase in Zach Williams’ song “The Potter” says, “…in the hands of the potter, nothing is wasted.” I believe God will use ALL that we have gone through – sins, losses, pain, brokenness – and mold us into a beautiful child of His who remembers the faithfulness of a Father who walked with us through tough times. We need to repent and turn to Him. God will use your past pain to build opportunities for you to be a witness to others. God will use your past mistakes as steppingstones to grow in faith. We need to allow Him to work – however and wherever HE wants.

“The Potter (Nothing is Wasted)” – Zach Williams
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBb3S_zPPs4

08/31/2026

A few photos from our special baptism service for Bela yesterday ☺️💜💦

08/29/2026

Thanks to all who were able to join for the golf outing on Friday in Nappanee. A big thank you to Andrew Graber (Recreation Team) for making the contacts and organizing our time. Great weather. Great time together.

08/27/2026

1 Samuel 3:19-21 records the following: “The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord. The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.” This passage continues after God’s calling of Samuel in the middle of the night as he served under and lived with Eli. For this time in Israel’s history, Samuel is viewed as Israel’s last judge and their first prophet. The comparison “from Dan to Beersheba” is equivalent to us referencing “from New York to California.” Samuel was revered as wise. Samuel’s words of prophecy came true. Samuel was known throughout Israel as a voice of God. God continued to call and to speak to Samuel beyond just that first calling in the night. Does God still call us in similar fashion to how He called Samuel? Verse 21 says that God was revealed to Samuel through the word. Are we reading and studying scripture as Samuel did? That is the first place to begin. Read. Study. Meditate. Discuss with others. God will speak through scripture and through others. Both of those are Anabaptist beliefs and teachings. Will we listen? Will we respond? What opportunities for service are we missing if we don’t openly respond to God as Samuel did in 1 Samuel 3:10, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” Once we open ourselves in that manner, we need to continue to remain open to additional leadings – maybe in ways we didn’t initially imagine. Do you think that Samuel had any idea he would become a judge and prophet of God during that first conversation? Do you think Samuel had any idea that he would be part of selecting kings of Israel? Samuel listened – and continued to listen – led by God’s word. We have that same Word. We have the Holy Spirit to help us understand that Word. Will we take the time? I hope we will. We will be blessed. God will be blessed.

“I Will Bless the Lord at All Times” – Law of Liberty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eerczx7TuW8

08/25/2026

There are times in life when we get to experience a timing from God that cannot be ignored nor denied. I had one last month when Dawn and I were in Racine (WI) on vacation. If we are gone over a Sunday, I will usually find a local church to join, and had done so up there. Hope Community Church is a non-denominational, multi-cultural, very small, church on the north edge of Racine. Throughout the week, as we traveled back and forth for outings, I noticed other churches and numerous times wondered if maybe I should look into those other churches. But I kept sensing the persistent nudge that we were supposed to go the Hope Community. So, we did. There were about 25 in attendance, led by Pastor Donald Bennett and his lovely wife, Katherine. After the service, a number of members talked with us and thanked us for coming. We exchanged information with Pastor Donald and left grateful for the welcome atmosphere and interaction we had with them. Then, God’s timing showed up. The last full day we were in Racine, Dawn and I went out for breakfast in town. Stephanie was our waitress and through the course of ordering and eating, we ended up in a conversation about faith with her and a neighboring table of diners. As she explained what she believed, I told her she sounds like an Anabaptist in so many ways. Stephanie had been turned off by some church experiences she had and has seen from others – leaders not being willing to field questions she had about faith, leaders being selective in which truths to apply, feeling condemned for past sins with no forgiveness. She had been hurt and was discouraged. She was seeking a place to attend with her 4-year-old daughter that would accept them and love them as they sought God in their lives. We pointed her to Hope Community. We may never know what comes of that interaction, but I am convinced that God directed us to that small church to provide a potential path for Stephanie. I’m praying for her and her daughter. I’m praying for Pastor Donald and Katherine. I’m praying for the members of that church who can embrace them as beloved children of God, full of questions, seeking answers of God. I’m grateful for the opportunities we had with the church and with Stephanie. I’m convinced that when we open ourselves to God’s will and timing, He will use us in interesting and powerful ways.

“Jesus Loves the Little Children” – Cedarmont Kids
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg6W76q6a2E

08/24/2026

Good weather for Ox Bow Park young adult/young family grill and games yesterday. Brats, hot dogs, chips, cookies, s'mores, corn hole, bocce ball, frisbees, and playground swings. Thanks to all who came. I tried to get a good pic of one of the brightest red cardinals I've ever seen. He didn't cooperate to sit still...

08/22/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out for the fireworks show last night. Thank you to those who helped set up and work in different capacities through the night. Thank you Pastor Wes for the wonderful sky show.