My wife and I are originally from Northern Michigan. We grew up just over 100 miles south of the Canadian border. It’s funny how much speech and culture can change in just a 100 miles. You’ve heard the accents, aye? Here in Iowa we’d call it a Minnesotan accent, aye. But, did you ever stop to think that they think “we” have the accent? That “we” sound odd to them? One time we traveled just across the border north of Michigan to Sault Saint Marie, Canada. It’s a large town and I wouldn’t have thought I’d stick out as odd or different, yet a shop owner commented, “You’re from the States, aye?” I answered yes and asked how he could tell. His response, “It’s your accent, aye.” I still laugh about that!

Well, here I am in Iowa. (Over 10 years now.) We brought our distinctive Michigan “speak” to Iowa and had to learn some Iowa “terms” as well. In Michigan it’s not K-Mart or Wal-Mart, it’s K-marts and Wal-Marts with a distinctive S. What a hoot! The term “you’s” is normal there as in you’s guys. We didn’t go to the timber, we went to the woods. As kids, we played in the crick, not the creek. The champion county fair confection was an elephant ear. To my shame I didn’t even know what a funnel cake was. In Michigan, we deep-fry food as opposed to deep FAT fry. We go on Hay Rides verses Hay RACK rides. My concern with a Guinea Grinder was that it might be a ground up Guinea Hen. A “loose meat” sandwich is unknown there but appears to be a distant relative of what we called “sloppy joes”. Pork chops on a stick? And, believe it or not, not many people east and north of the Mississippi know the delight of a breaded pork loin sandwich! Then, there is RAGBRAI. I am just now able to tell people what it means without doing an internet search. Registers Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa. How’s that!

It’s too bad that sometimes our speech, customs, and borders are used to keep us apart. Michigan, Iowa, Ohio, Minnesota, they are all still a part of something bigger that we all belong to, the United States. This same separation happens among churches and believers as well. It’s not new. It happened during the times of the Apostle Paul.
1 Cor 1:12-13 "Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ." 13 Is Christ divided? I am of Methodist, Lutheran, Assembly Of God, etc. Is Christ divided?" Our focus isn’t to be promoting organizations or doctrines, but the Righteousness of Christ by the gift of God’s Grace. All we do, whether going to K-mart or K-marts, eating an elephant ears or a funnel cake should have the common goal of bringing Glory to our King. Col 3:17 "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus." Even RAGBRAI!

Therefore, (tongue in cheek) I’ve decided to try to bring greater unity and purpose to the exclusively Iowa tradition of RAGBRAI by reassigning the initials. Instead of Registers Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa, how about “Really About God Bringing Righteousness Across Iowa”? OK, maybe that won’t fly with the Register but it ought to be the heart of why we do it and everything else in this life as believers!

Ahh… Summertime! You got to love it. Summer is hard to beat. The sun shines and the days are long. It is pleasing to the senses and the flesh. I am enjoying every moment. How about you?

In the midst of enjoying the sun, please don’t forget to enjoy the SON. Jesus is to be the focal point of our lives, not an afterthought that we toss our leftover time at. Part of enjoying the SON is taking joy in His Body, the Church. If you are missing time with Him you are missing the blessing and joy He has for you that comes while in His presence. If you are missing time with the rest of His Body, you are robbing yourself of the blessing He commands in the midst of Them.

Ps 133:1-3 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 3 for THERE the Lord commanded the blessing-- life forevermore.

If someone left you an inheritance that was so precious there was no way to put a price on it, how would you care for it? Keep in mind, this inheritance was designed especially for you. The grantor used extreme precision in creating this heritage and there has never before been one quite like this, nor will there ever be one again. The details of this gift are so intricate that it is mind blowing. Once you received it would you just set it on a shelf and forget about it or would you take extra special care of it? The bible says in Psalms 127:3-5

“Don't you see that children are God's best gift?
The fruit of the womb his generous legacy?
Like a warrior's fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth.
Oh, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children!
our enemies don't stand a chance against you; you'll sweep them right off your doorstep.

How are you caring for your inheritance? Does your inheritance know how special it is? Do you show great interest in your inheritance? I spoke with a woman recently that told me she loves to send her kids away to daycare or a friends home because she just can't handle having them around all the time. I was shocked and saddened, not because this woman needed some alone time, but that she "loves" to send her kids away. It amazed me that she wanted to send her heritage away. Being a new father myself, it makes me sad to have to leave my son with someone else or even to be away from him. I am learning more and more about "The Father" by being one myself. How his love is never ending, He sees what we don’t, He looks ahead and keeps things from us that would harm us no matter how big of a fit we throw demanding it.

As you may already know, I have the privilege and honor to help/teach your kids in Children's Church and I have been tagged as "Fun Jeremy". As a product of Children's Church myself, I can tell you that Children's workers are invaluable and they can have a great impact on your kids life. We, in Children's Ministry, take the responsibility very seriously and take great pride in what we do. We spend hours in prayer and planning meetings making sure that we are presenting the gospel in a way that is alive and tangible to your children.

I wanted to take just a minute and explain the current curriculum that is being used. We using a curriculum called "Camp Iwilligoaway” It chronicles the life of David and his heart for God. Each week a new attribute of the Lord is introduced and we relate that attribute to an animal so the kids can draw a parallel. An example is how an Eagle can spot things from far away and Jesus saw you from a far off and he never loses sight of you.

I encourage all of you with kids to really take an interest in what your
kids are learning. You may be surprised at the insight and feedback you receive. Your children are very bright and love the Lord.

Thank you on behalf of all the children's workers for entrusting your
children with us.

- Jeremy T. Brancheau