Cockadoodledoo!

For Friday, February 27, 2026:

John 13:37-38 NLT: “’But why can’t I come now, Lord?’ Simon Peter asked. ‘I’m ready to die for you.’ Jesus answered, ‘Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.’”

Everything happened just like Jesus predicted. It might have happened like this:

Guards: “We’re looking for Jesus of Nazareth.”

Simon Peter: “Haven’t seen the guy.”

G: “We heard he was around here.”

SP: “To tell the truth, I’m not sure I’ve ever met the guy!”

G: “I thought I saw you with him earlier today.”

SP: “Couldn’t have been me. I just got here.”

Rooster: “Cockadoodledoo!”

Some attribute this to a lack of faith in Peter, but I believe it’s more a matter of self preservation. If Peter had admitted he was a close friend of Jesus, the bad guys would probably have arrested him, and the way things were going, Peter could have died on a cross right next to Jesus. God couldn’t have Peter dying right away. God (and Jesus) had already identified Peter as the point person for The Way, the church resulting from Jesus’ teaching.

It’s Peter’s impulsive willingness to jump right in and get things done that fill out his leadership profile. We need leaders like that nowadays. Some people drag their feet, working out every last detail before they even start God’s project. They may never get it started. Peter would dive in the deep end, and later adjust if need be. He may not be perfect, but at least he’s in motion.

Sometimes it doesn’t matter whether we’re moving forward to the north-west or the north-east, as long as we’re moving forward!!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

God's Timing!

Daily message of hope...
For Thursday, February 26, 2026:

John 13:36 NLT: “Simon Peter asked, ‘Lord, where are you going?’ And Jesus replied, ‘You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later.’”

Omniscient Jesus knows what’s coming, and he tells the Apostles that he’ll be leaving soon. He knows a cross is in his future, and his human body will die. He also knows that he’ll be taking the sins of the world to the place of the dead. Believers will be forgiven, and will be able to join him in God’s heavenly kingdom, but later. He’ll rise from the grave in three days, wrap up his ministry on earth and then return to the Father.

Simon Peter doesn’t know any of this, and if you told him, he wouldn’t get it. I call him Mr. Impulsive, but he has a big heart. He wants to go with Jesus right now without an understanding of the consequences. It seems like a good thing to do, but he didn’t think it through to the conclusion. In ministry, everything happens within God’s timetable. Simon and all the other Apostles will join Jesus in the Kingdom when their work on earth is complete, when it’s time for God to call them home.

It’s no different nowadays. Ministry will proceed at God’s pace. When our earthly work is complete, God will call all believers home, in God’s timing. Count on it – Jesus said!

Pastor Norton Lawellin
The Father’s House
Jesus In the City Fellowship
Truth & Freedom Church

Pentecost – God's Day!

For Wednesday, June 4, 2025:

Acts 2:6 NLT: “When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.”

On the Day of Pentecost, God created a loud sound like a roaring wind. The Jewish visitors who had pilgrimaged to Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost were a curious lot, and had to check it out. They were met by believers, most of whom were from Galilee. The visitors were amazed and confused to hear the believers speaking their own languages! At least that was their perception.

Logic tells me that the disciples, many of whom were simple fishermen, didn’t instantly learn new languages. Besides, the visitors were from all over Asia Minor. How many languages could one person muster? The truth is that this was a God thing. It’s as if God filled the air with a universal translator, giving each visitor the ability to understand what was being said. Simon Peter only spoke one language, but he was working with the Holy Spirit. That’s the big difference!

Speaking of Simon Peter, he was the one who denied Jesus three times on the night before the crucifixion. That was to save his own skin. But believe it or not, that too was a God thing. God had preselected Peter to lead the believers after Jesus’ ascension. God needed Peter alive and well to fulfill Peter’s calling in God’s vast eternal plan!

It was speech-making day for Peter, but he had nothing new to share. He would reiterate what Jesus and John-the-Baptist had said: “Repent and return to the Lord, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” Many in the audience had shouted, “Crucify him,” on Good Friday. But now they’re having second thoughts about what had happened. God had opened their minds to see the truth. It was time for a mass moment of “repent and return!”

What an exciting day to be on the “Jesus Team!” We need another Pentecost in our country and in our world. Sooner rather than later should be our preference!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Community of Believers

April 27, 2015 Monday Message:

“They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers. Acts 2:42 MSG

Jesus said to make disciples of all nations, but he never said we should do it alone. As the church began, the apostles stuck together, first selecting a replacement for Judas. They believed that Jesus’ intention was that the “twelve” be complete.

After Pentecost, “The Way,” as Christians became known, worshiped and ate meals together, sharing their resources. This gave them a solid home base, a community to be sent FROM, as they preached the Good News. God added to their number daily.

Paul was called into ministry by Jesus himself, and as he spread the Gospel, he often took close friends with him, friends such as Barnabas, Luke, John Mark, Priscilla, Timothy and Titus. There are more, but my point is that he didn’t go alone. He brought a ministry TEAM that first established a local church, a solid home from which they could be sent to do more ministry.

At my church, Jesus in the City Fellowship, we’re good at “sending,” but our home base is a bit sparse. Comparing this with the Biblical example, we know we need to grow our congregation, our base of operations. A stronger “home” will provide for stronger outreach.

Other churches have a solid congregation, but don’t do much “sending.” Ideally, there should be a balance - a strong church with lots of sending. Where is your church in this picture?

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers at 10 a.m. every Sunday in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, May 3, Pastor Michael Pilla brings a message from Acts 19:23-41.

Re-Commissioned

April 13, 2015 Monday Message:

“Simon, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord, you know I do.” “Then feed my sheep.” from John 22:15-17 CEV

God calls each of us into ministry in various ways. Most are not ministry professionals. Some are helpers, encouragers, counselors or mentors. Some have the gift of hospitality. When the church needs to celebrate a victory or launch a new event, they know exactly what needs to take place.

But sometimes we can all get tired, discouraged or afraid, and our ministry efforts lose the priority they once had. We need a boost, a shot-in-the-arm, a re-launching of our commission. We need to be re-called into ministry.

In spite of the fact that Jesus had told the disciples that he needed to suffer and die, I get the feeling that no one saw Good Friday coming. That series of events left their movement fractured, without a leader. Simon had been trained for the role, but that same Simon denied Jesus three times to save his own skin. The disciples were depressed and confused; ministry was at a standstill.

Jesus needed to re-launch the ministry and re-commission Simon. Jesus needed to let everyone know that Simon was still the point-person for the new movement, and that the Christians were still in business.

Sometimes a ministry needs to be re-launched. Sometimes a Christian worker needs to be re-commissioned. It worked for Jesus! “Feed my Sheep - follow Me!”

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers at 10 a.m. every Sunday in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, April 19, we welcome Pastor Retha Dowells with a message from Luke 7:36-50.