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[michaelbreznau]

Christ our Compass

Celebrating my 40th birthday at USAF Officer Training School was rather underwhelming. However, I did happen to procure an MRE with M&M’s on the big day last May, which brightened my afternoon of field training. But upon our return to the base that weekend, I received a gift shipment from my incredible wife and kiddos. Inside was a beautiful cherrywood box with a handsome compass nestled in the…

[michaelbreznau]

Not the Last Chapter...

This past Monday afternoon, I received the tragic news that a close friend suddenly died of a heart attack. I am still in shock. Pastor Ken Pierpont was my long-time mentor, confidant, and pastor-colleague. 20 years ago, I served under him in an inner-city ministry team in Flint, MI. In 2006, he enthusiastically wrote a reference letter for me to attend Dallas Theological Seminary. That same…

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God is Faithful

God is Faithful.   This coming June, my wife and I will celebrate 16 years of marriage. The time has flown by like the blink of an eye. We’ve had our share of “ups and downs” – dark valleys and beautiful mountaintops. The pressures of tight finances, a special-needs child, and multiple miscarriages have, at times, strained our relationship. Exuberant joy also marks our marriage as we reflect on…

[michaelbreznau]

Take the Step

“Take the step!” I can still hear the words of the slightly irritated Drill Instructor clanging across my memory. He continued in the face of the reluctant young man, “Step off the edge! You can do this!”   We were learning high-angle rescue on the side of a 100’ limestone cliff. The first skill to obtain was basic rappelling. In my previous years on the wild side, I spent many afternoons…

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Peace in the Darkness

  Political unrest. Global uncertainty. Societal division. Schoolroom violence. Corporate corruption. One glance at the 6pm broadcast or a social media feed gives us a smack-in-the-face reminder that the 24-hour news cycle marches on with negativity and collective anxiety. Songwriter Andrew Peterson recently lyricized: “Do you feel the world is broken? We do. Do you feel the shadows deepen? We…

[michaelbreznau]

Hope is Alive!

Hope is alive! Lately, my kids have been hoping for snow. The winters are clearly milder down here in southern Ohio than they were in Michigan. We’ve had a few scattered snow showers – even a dusting – over the past couple of months. But, alas, no actual accumulation. Still, they are holding onto hope that the forecast will soon turn favorable for Frosty the Snowman. They have dreams and prayers…

[michaelbreznau]

For A Change: 2024

For A Change   We flipped the calendar to a new year! 2024. What does this mean? Change. Some of us have a list of New Year’s resolutions: ways we desire change in our personal lives, careers, families, or finances. Others among us will simply attempt to change the wiring in our brains so that we write “2024” instead of “2023” on our cheques and memos. With the unseasonably warm temperatures,…

[michaelbreznau]

Big News: Into the Mission Field

[Video of my message “MISSION: Vitals (part 2) – Mark 8:22-35 with some big news, along with some information and a prayer from two of our elders]  The first message I preached at Mayfair Bible Church was entitled “Following the Mission of the Messiah” from Mark 8:22-38. This beautiful, thought-provoking passage describes Jesus’ healing of the blind man from Bethsaida in two-stages. The scene is…

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2 Vital Guides for the 2023 Trail

2 Vital Guides for the 2023 Trail

I love to hike through forests, across mountain tundra, and along crystal-clear bubbling streams. A highlight of this past summer was my hike (and mild climb) to the summit of Byers Peak outside of Fraser, Colorado. The air was crisp, the snow was white, and the sun was bright. A picture-perfect, beautiful day for time on a well-worn trail! But I would never begin a hike up a mountain without two…

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We Adore | Christmas Poem 2022

We Adore | Christmas Poem 2022

This past week, I penned a poem to point my heart back toward the great and grand story of the Christ. Christmas poems are something I enjoy sharing with my friends. So, here’s a video of this spoken word piece I’ve entitled “We Adore.” I’m praying you, too, are pointed near to the heart of God’s redeeming grace. Merry Christmas, loved ones! We Adore By Pastor Michael J. Breznau  | Christmas Eve…

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Don't Praise God for the Flu but...

Don’t Praise God for the Flu but…

Last month, of course, was Decision 2022. Newsmedia syndicates are aiming to keep the interest churning for at least another several weeks. But looking back, certain anxieties, concerns, and opinions welled up in our minds leading up to election day. Yet we, as followers of Jesus the Lord, pivot to prayer – the act of demonstrating our dependence on the One who is sovereign and coming…

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The 3 Advents

ad·vent /ˈadˌvent/ Advent  noun the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event. appearance dawn birth coming nearing advance the first season of the Christian church year, leading up to Christmas and including the four preceding Sundays. The coming or second coming of Christ. Most of us are familiar with the season of Advent leading up to Christmas Day. A quick stroll through the grocery…

[michaelbreznau]

If You Came Out of Hiding

If You Came Out of Hiding

If you came out of hiding What would you find there? Who would others see? The real you Your heart, mind true Your past through all the distance, too   If you came out of hiding Where would you go? What place of quiet solitude? What would you say? Unloading all your fears, hopes, and sorrows Who would you tell all your dark secrets to?   If you came out of hiding How would others see you? Their…

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Jack, Our Beloved Son

Jack, Our Beloved Son

This week, God gave us the most indescribable gift: the finalization of Jack’s adoption into our family.   My heart is so full as my arms wrap around my son, this child of my heart. He is not of “my flesh and bone,” but by God’s unbelievable grace, He is now my very own. I think of what Joseph, the adoptive daddy to Jesus, must have felt. Looking into those eyes, caressing His cheeks, and…

[michaelbreznau]

Lessons From the Mountain

Lessons From the Mountain

Life on the journey with God often feels like a switchback trail up a mountain. We may wonder if we’re progressing forward or upward at all. Have the past 2, 5, or 10 years been a waste? Here are some quick, key lessons from the mountain during my hike up Byers Peak in the Arapaho National Forest near Fraser, Colorado. :: Lessons from the Mountain :: Video-Devo: 

[michaelbreznau]

Summer-Time is Thinking Time

Summer-Time is Thinking Time

Summer-time is Thinking-time Summer months are filled with out-of-doors activities, many of which give us time to think…reflect…ponder. Perhaps your thinking spot is sitting on the riding lawn mower as you tool around the yard? Maybe on the shoreline of your favorite fishing pond? Perhaps on your bike as you cycle along Michigan’s many backcountry roads? Maybe your pondering place is when you go…

[michaelbreznau]

Striking Parallels: Why Jesus Died

Striking Parallels: Why Jesus Died

We live in a world darkened… stained by sin. Sin = anything we, as humans, think, say, or do that is contrary – opposite to God’s way of love and truth. We face the effects and consequences of sin – death and evil and destruction are everywhere. Depravity is, perhaps, the most empirically verifiable fact in the world.             So, is there any hope? Is there mercy for broken, messed up…