Count On It!

For Sunday, October 5, 2025:

Hebrews 10:23 GNT: “Let us hold on firmly to the hope we profess, because we can trust God to keep his promise.”

God only deals in truth. It is not in God’s character to lie or deceive any of us. His Son is the same way. And Jesus said, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.”

I think we all want to experience life after this life. Jesus knows the way. He promised that our loyalty would be rewarded. He ascended first to prepare a place for believers in the hereafter. It’s like having a hotel reservation, except that these are forever rooms. We’ll have everything that we need. People will love one another and love the Lord, and in that respect, Heaven sounds far better than Earth! We believe God’s Kingdom will exceed our every expectation, because that’s what Jesus promised, and his word is good, trustworthy.

So closely guard the hope we have been promised. Spend a little time thinking about Heaven and what our lives will be like living in the Lord’s presence. Thank God for his Son, for making forgiveness available! Our ticket to the afterlife is the best present we could ever receive from our God!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Trust!

For Saturday, September 13, 2025:

Luke 19:13 NLT, Jesus tells the parable of the ten servants: “Before the nobleman left, he called together ten of his servants and divided among them ten pounds of silver, [or ten minas, about 30 month’s wages,] saying, ‘Invest this for me while I am gone.’”

The first servant returned with ten times as much as he had been given. “You are a good servant. You have been faithful with the little I entrusted to you, so you will be governor of ten cities as your reward.”

The second servant returned five times the investment. He was rewarded by being appointed governor over five cities.

The next servant didn’t do so well. He hid the principal to keep it from being stolen, but had nothing extra, explaining, “I was afraid because you are a hard man to deal with.”

 "You wicked servant!” the king roared. “If you knew that I’m a hard man, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it. Take the sum from this man and give it to the one who has ten.”

Understand what transpired: The master’s plan was not to make money by his servants, but to make character in them. He didn’t need them to make money, but they needed to work with him to build their character.

The lesson is this: To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.

Believers have all been entrusted with making disciples of all nations. Whoever is faithful to the Lord will be rewarded and whoever is not will suffer loss. “Light received brings more light; light refused brings the night.” Are you prepared to receive your heavenly reward? Have you done well with the Master’s resources?

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Character!

For Wednesday, June 26, 2024:

1 Peter 3:3 NLT: “Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes.”

Anyone can “dress to the nines” or get “all dolled up” if you have the right stuff. But that’s all it is – stuff! There’s nothing of substance in owning all the right stuff – nothing that matters, nothing of eternal significance.

God can see right through it all. He’s not impressed with fancy clothes, but he’s very interested in what’s inside! He’s looking for a loving attitude from a person of good character. It doesn’t matter if you’re wearing dungarees and a T-shirt!

God knew you in your mother’s womb, so he already knows you well, clothes or no clothes, hair or no hair. And fancy jewelry will stay on earth when you go to the next reality.

Do you revere the Son? Have you claimed Jesus as savior of your soul? That’s what will please God – unflinching loyalty to his Son!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Character & Trends!

For Thursday, June 20, 2024:

Luke 16:10 NLT: “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.”

This goes to character, and we would all do well to listen to our Bibles! We all have a picture in our minds of how a person of good character should look and act, and the Bible says that if you’re not honorable concerning small things, you’ll most likely come up short on the larger things as well. Like I said, your behavior is a trend that comes down to character.

If you’re trending toward the lake of fire, there’s still time to repent and return. God and his Son Jesus offer unconditional love and forgiveness to those who return to the Lord. If you’ve been playing for the wrong team, you can undergo that radical transformation I talk about. That’s the amazing grace we sing about!

The Hebrew language has some unique twists you might not expect. For example, the word for ‘repent’ also means to turn or re-turn. If you were going north, you need to about-face and head south! In other words, change the direction of your life. And sinning equates to being ‘far from God,’ while repenting means returning, getting closer to God. Your life is continually critiqued since you are now a member of the Holy Family. Believers are Children of God!

Trend toward being faithful! Blessings as you go about His work today!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Stick-to-itiveness!

For Saturday, August 12, 2023:

Romans 5:3-4 NLT: “We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

Becoming a Christian doesn’t guarantee us a bed of roses. Like anyone running a race, training and conditioning are necessary. The Lord wants us prepared for the long haul. We need to learn perseverance, good character and hope eternal!

Winners never quit, and quitters never win. Stick-to-itiveness should be listed as a Christian characteristic. Good and bad may fall into our lives. Our faith may increase or decrease. But let it never decrease past the point of our confidently knowing that Jesus is the Messiah, the heaven-sent Savior of mankind.

We’re in training for a journey to heaven, so give it your best!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Christians Doing Good!

For Tuesday, November 1, 2022:

Romans 12:21 NLT: “Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.”

Christians are known for being good people. Whenever there’s some kind of natural disaster, Samaritan’s Purse is always among the first to respond. Christians build schools and hospitals. In my town, there’s St. Catherine University and Methodist Hospital. Their founders were not shy about letting their Christianity be known. In California, Los Angeles is the city of angels, while San Francisco honors St. Francis of Assisi.

I believe that Paul is advising the Roman Christians to be known as people who do good. The “good” nature of believers shouldn’t be kept a secret. Wear your good Christian nature on the outside, so everyone can see!

Like the song says, “They will know we are Christians by our love!”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

WWJD

For Saturday, April 17, 2021

John 13:15 NIRV, Jesus speaking: “I have given you an example. You should do as I have done for you.”

My father taught me that when faced with a negotiation or some kind of difficult decision, he’d run it through his little test: “Is it right - is it fair - is it honest; should we be doing this thing?” It reminds me of those “WWJD” items, reminding us to ask ourselves, “What would Jesus do?”

Our founding pastor called me yesterday, concerned about the safety of our city. With the Derek Chauvin trial nearing an end and the recent killing of Daunte Wright, we’re once again faced with a rash of civil unrest. He believes the church proffers hope for the city, and I agree! The church can anchor a biblical perspective toward solving our city’s problems, where everyone could step back, take a deep breath, and first ask themselves, “What would Jesus do?”

What Jesus would do would be the right thing to do!

Blessings and safety today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Hope!

For Wednesday, July 29, 2020.

Today’s scripture was suggested by Chaplain Shar Burgess -Romans 5:3-5 NLT: “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”

Have we run into problems and trials lately with the Global Health crisis and civil unrest filling our cities? I think so! The King James version calls this “tribulations,” more than a minor inconvenience. Paul had a lot of experience with tribulations. But he didn’t ever give up!

Christians and non-Christians alike experience tribulation; Christians work through the problems. Like Paul, we don’t give up – we persevere! Perseverance leads to character. Character shows us hope, and hope is what we need at the end of a day filled with trials.

Bond with the Holy Spirit. Spend more time with God’s love than you do with the tribulation.

Blessings! Do what you can to make this a good day!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

We hold these truths...

July 08, 2013 Monday Message:

“We hold these truths to be self evident…” (from the Declaration of Independence)

Last week we looked at the beliefs of our founding fathers, and noted that they based our nation on several axioms, non-negotiable truths that they all accepted. This foundation represents the “character” or the “value system” of our nation, and our laws stand on these principles.

The Declaration of Independence states that we were “endowed by our creator…,” which tells me that they all believed in a Creator-God. He wasn’t Methodist, Presbyterian or Catholic - He was simply GOD-the-creator, and while the founders may have had denominational differences, they all agreed on basing the new nation on a Creator-God.

Therefore everything that happens in our government should be looked at through the lens of the existence of a Creator-God: “Is this proposal good or bad – what does the Bible say about it? What does God say about it? Is our country operating in such a way that we have preserved God’s rights for His people, and ensured a continuing place for His church?”

Well, that was then, and this is now. It’s no secret that church attendance has been decreasing year after year, and many Christian teachers refer to the United States as a “Post-Christian” country. The non-negotiable axioms of our fathers may not be relevant to many in the current generation. And if our current government leaders do not look to a Creator-God as the founders intended, then I ask, “On what do we now base our country’s value system, or do we even have one?” We live in interesting times.

“The times, they are a-changin’.” Bob Dylan

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets every Sunday at 10:30am in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This Sunday, July 14, Jesus calls out the Pharisees, Luke 11:37-54. See you at church!

NL

Truth or Consequences

March 18, 2013 Monday Message:

As part of our 10 Commandments series, today we’ll visit #9 - "Do not bear false witness against your neighbor." Ex. 20

God doesn’t lie, and neither should you. Should you ever be called upon to testify in a court of law, you’ll be asked to place your hand on a Bible and to swear on God’s name that your testimony is true. This is not something to be taken lightly. You are using God’s good name to backup what you’re about to say. You’re putting God’s stamp of approval on your words. Don’t let Him down!

What comes out of your mouth should always be true – but – not everything that’s true needs to be said. Some things are best kept to yourself. Don’t use your words to dis somebody, to put somebody down. Leave gossip to the pagans. Use your words for kindness, or remain silent.

The concept extends into trustworthiness, honesty and truth. People of God should be known as people of good character; incorruptible.

Sidebar: Whenever I hear of another fallen TV preacher, or a scandal within a denomination, I want to scream, “Get off our side!” Unfortunately, the behavior of the fallen has discouraged many in their Christian walk, and has kept others in the agnostic abyss. Let me assure you that this is a problem with human failings, not a problem with God. God is still on the throne, and rescuing you is still #1 on Jesus’ agenda. The Bible says to not put your trust in man, who cannot save. But joyful are those who trust in the Lord. (from Ps. 146)

Next week: The grass is always greener…

Norton Lawellin

Celebrate Palm Sunday with us, March 24, 10:30am, Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF), in the North end of the Oliver Ministry Building, 27th Street & Bloomington Avenue, Minneapolis. Dan Pilla recaps the Triumphal Entry.

NL

  

For the Love of God

December 24, 2012 Monday Message:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that all who believe in him would not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

God could have turned his back on us, and gone back into heaven. “Those humans are no good, full of sin; I’m outta here!”

But He didn’t. Jesus came to earth to rescue us because God so LOVED his creation – mankind. Nothing the humans did - no matter how badly they messed up – could alter the loving character of God.

The character of God is unchanging, the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Therefore God loves us just as much as he loved Adam and Eve.

I saw a TV show where a young boy was excited about his Christmas gifts, about how much he was receiving. But his TV father corrected him, saying, “Christmas is about GIVING!”

I’d like to correct the father – Christmas isn’t about getting or giving; it’s about Jesus coming to earth on a mission trip to rescue mankind. That’s how much love God has for us.

Merry Christmas!

Norton Lawellin

Tonight is the beautiful Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at Trinity Lutheran of Minnehaha Falls, 5212 41^st Ave. S., 55417. It will be a special night with good worship led by a truly special worship team. If you don’t have plans for Christmas worship, or if you’d like to take in an extra service, you’re invited!  Remember – you have come up and say hi!

Sunday, Dec. 30, 10:30am Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers in the North end of the Oliver Ministry Building, 27^th Street & Bloomington Avenue, Minneapolis. I’ll be teaching Luke 2:21-32, the young Jesus is presented at the Temple.

NL

God's Trends - Up and to the Right

June 04, 2012 Monday Message:

David: “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name.” Psalm 29:2a

If I gave each of you a yellow pad and asked you to describe a person of “good character,” most would write down similar answers. If you were trying to BECOME a person of “good character,” this list could be your goals.

Regrettably, humans don’t all-at-once stop making bad choices and become totally perfect. Our expectation on the journey to becoming a better person, to becoming a better Christian, is progress, not perfection.

Lately I’ve become a “trends” advocate. In life, we sometimes seem to take two steps forward and then one step backwards. But if we continually do just that – take TWO steps forward while only taking ONE step backward – our trend will keep moving up and to the right. Progress (not perfection.)

If you took your yellow pad and wrote down the characteristics of a good GOD, you might fill several pages. Your list would not be exhaustive, but you’d have a good grasp of the “character” of God. So when you can’t find your exact problem, your situation, in the Bible, you know what God recommends because you understand the “character” of God and are confident that His value system will not change.

In Psalm 29, David lists examples of God’s power, providence, provision and everlasting lovingkindness – God’s trends – which is why David finds YHWH worthy of all glory!

Norton Lawellin

We had a great time of worship last Sunday as Rick Anderson and Christian songwriter Janet Carlson shared their gifts. Thanks to both!

On July 29, Jesus in the City Sunday worship will move to the Oliver Ministry Center, 27^th Street & Bloomington Avenue. Note the new service time: 10:30am. Prayers covering this transition and move would be appreciated.