People of faith: four questions with Tom Henderson

Tom Henderson

1.  Tell me about yourself (church, family, work, etc.)

I am married to a wonderful woman named Debra. We've been married for 15 years this past May. Our relationship has been tested, and our foundation has proven solid. I can honestly say that we love each other more every day.

We attend livingWaters Church in Lakeville, Minn. I play bass guitar and electric guitar there, and that is one of my true passions. I love to exercise my creativity in music for the good of the body (as long as I keep in tune...)

I work as a software developer at Data Recognition Corporation. God has blessed me with skills that I need to be able to support my family, and to be a blessing to others.

In my spare time, I enjoy reading, movies, and writing on my blog: http://www.hendersonhome.net/tom.

2.  What are some of the highlights of your Christian walk?

Two seasons come to mind, and they ran concurrently. The first one was leading a group of men through two life-change programs:  Heart of a Warrior and Focus of a Warrior (more information about these can be found at http://heartofawarrior.typepad.com). I had already been through Heart of a Warrior, but found that taking it again, and leading it, was much more enriching. For the two years that I was in Heart of a Warrior (both times), I felt God's presence more closely than I ever have before. It was as if my faith took one or two quantum leaps. During Focus of a Warrior, I struggled through a drier period of my walk, but I learned to trust in God more, instead of worrying about my walk with Him.

The other season occurred while I was leading my group in Heart of a Warrior. Our only child, Ian, was diagnosed with a Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma when he was six. He fought bravely through radiation treatments, but ultimately went home to be with our Lord nine months later. During that time, I saw God come around us through friends, family and strangers. God used others to provide support, encouragement and hope. We also saw the Lord use a seven-year old boy to touch lives in a mighty way. People were drawn closer to Him because of Ian's witness; what more could a parent ask for? I also received incredible insights into how much God loves us, His own broken children.

Debra and Tom Henderson

3.  How has God guided or spoken to you?

I feel God speaking to me on a weekly, even daily basis. It's in a very personal experience, the way intimate friends would communicate with each other. Typically, it's an insight into God's nature as revealed by scripture, or into my own heart, as shown by the Holy Spirit.

However, one memorable instance was shared with my wife, Debra. We had found out that Ian's tumor was regrowing, and were able to get away for a night together to try and regroup. We decided to watch a DVD in Chip Ingram's series God as He Longs For You to See Him. It's a great series that studies six attributes of God (His goodness, sovereignty, holiness, wisdom, justice, faithfulness and love). We decided that, in those hours, we needed to hear about God's love for us. Unfortunately, the discs were not labeled with what attributes they covered, so we had to guess. The disc covering God's justice got ejected right away. We started to do the same with the presentation about God's wisdom, but five minutes into the message, we were hooked. One phrase that resonated with us, and that we still cling to, came through loud and clear. In the middle of wondering why a loving God would do this to us, and to our precious son, it rang like the clearest bell: "The wisdom of God tells us that God will bring about the best possible results by the best possible means, for the most possible people, for the longest possible time." We found comfort in that. If God could devise some other way to reach the same number of people without taking Ian, He would do it.

What clinched our belief that God was talking to us that night happened later in the video. Chip was listing situations where people may doubt God's wisdom, saying "we don't know why this happens."  He was speaking in generalities, listing events like divorce and bankruptcy. Among them, he said, "We don't know why a seven-year-old boy gets cancer." Deb and I looked at each other with eyes as big as dinner plates. Did Chip really just say our situation that specifically? We had to pause the DVD and listen to it again. Sure enough, God spoke specifically to our situation. 

We don't know why it happened, and we probably never will this side of eternity, at least not in full. However, we have learned that we can lay down our need to have the question "Why?" answered, and can be satisfied instead with God himself.

4.  Is there anything else you would like to add?

God wants to speak to each one of us. I would say that He wants to speak to us more than we want to listen. There are times when I feel that God is being silent. He does use silence at times, but most of the time it's that I'm not letting myself get quiet enough to hear him. I have to wipe out the noise in my life in order to get a clear signal. That involves avoiding music, TV, movies, video games, and anything that might be a distraction. God can use those to speak, and he has before, but it's not the same as reading scripture and feeling the Holy Spirit point out a passage, saying "This is for you, right now."

In short, the King of the Universe is looking forward to having a conversation with you.

If you would like to be interviewed for "People of faith:  four questions with. . .", contact me.

People of faith: four questions with Serenity Charlebois

1.  Tell me about yourself (church, family, work, etc.)  I am 35. I've been married to Chris for over 13 years now. We have three energetic boys (Rand, Matrim and C.J.) who are true gifts from God! They brighten my life (and keep me busy) every day. We live close to my parents and I am so thankful that they are a part of our lives! My brother and his family live in International Falls. I wish they were closer.

I have been attending South Metro Vineyard Church (SMVC) for over 20 years now! My family started attending when a friend of mine invited me to youth group there. My husband started attending SMVC (then called Victory Vineyard Church) when we were dating. The people at SMVC truly are our family! They have helped us (and cried with us) through many tough times in life, and have rejoiced with us in times of joy. We are involved in a few different areas at SMVC. I lead a ministry called Christ-Life: The Ultimate Journey. It is a discipleship ministry which made a big difference in my life and I have been privileged to be facilitating groups at SMVC for about four years now. My husband has also been involved and facilitates groups from time to time. We also lead a small group, which is where our closest relationships are forged. Chris helps run sound on Sunday mornings and I am on the worship team. Chris used to spend his Saturday mornings working at our food pantry (Fruit of the Vine), but has had to give that up as he is working two jobs right now. And I get to spend a few hours on Fridays volunteering in the office. Our oldest son, Rand, helps teach the preschoolers on Sunday mornings. It is so great watching him get involved in the kids' lives, knowing them and loving them!


I am currently not working outside the home. What a blessing it has been to be a stay-at-home mom! I am hoping to get back to school, though, sometime soon.
 
2.  What are some of the highlights of your Christian walk?
 
When I ponder what my highlights have been in my Christian walk, it is interesting to me what pops into my head immediately... the lowest, hardest times in our lives! Certainly at the time they didn't feel like highlights! I wondered, 'Where is God? Why is He letting this happen? Why didn't He take care of this before it got so bad?!' But I have started to understand what James chapter 1 means. 'Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.' Every time we encounter something in our lives that seems insurmountable and the only recourse we have is to turn to God, He is able to not only provide for us, but to show us His love! To show us who He is! And each time, I remember a little bit more, how much I can rely on Him, how faithful He is, and how incompetent I am without Him! So when Chris loses his job, or one of my boys is in the hospital, I can 'count it joy'... I can say to God, 'Thank you for reminding me that I can, and should, rely on You at all times!' And as God is faithful and provides for me and for my family, I am made more complete in my understanding of who He is, and hence, who I am in Him.
 
3.  How has God guided or spoken to you?
 
Worship has always been important to me in my walk with God. When I take time to intentionally state that He is God, and that I am not, to praise Him for who He is, to focus on what He has done for me and in my life, I can hear Him most clearly. I feel His love for me and His love for His people. Another time that I hear from God is when I am praying. Whether it be a quiet time with just God and me, or a time of praying for others, God often gives me pictures or stories that are meaningful. Praying in tongues through the Holy Spirit is always a time of edification for me. It builds me up, and makes it easier for me to hear what God is saying at that moment.



One of the things we do in Christ-Life: The Ultimate Journey, is give affirmations to each other. Not the silly, pat-yourself-on-the-back affirmations that everyone thinks of in connection with the SNL skit... but affirmations of truth. Who God is, what reality is, and who we are in Him. One affirmation that I often remember is that we can always turn our faces to God and He will always be there... 'like a flower turning towards the sun.' I love that image! At any time, I can turn my face, my attention to God, and He is ALWAYS there, ready to shine His love and peace upon me. I can ALWAYS look to Him for comfort, and He will ALWAYS be there! He will never leave me, nor forsake me! And NOTHING can separate me from Him!

4.  Is there anything else you would like to add?

I think that one of the most important things that God has been showing me in the last few years... yes years, maybe I'm a slow learner... is what I have to do to follow Him. What do I have to do to be a 'good Christian,' to 'succeed'? Simply say 'yes' to Him. 'Let Your will be done. (Not my will!) Let Your kingdom come. (I'm not the one calling the shots or choosing what direction we are going to go!)' And I don't have to figure it out or know what to do... simply listen to Him and obey. Because He already knows what to do. He is the solution for every situation in life, every problem, every choice. What freedom there is in that knowledge!

If you would like to be interviewed for "People of faith:  four questions with. . .", contact me.

People of faith: four questions with Jeff Berletic

This is the first installment of an occasional series in which I ask Christians their thoughts on various topics. Today we talk with Jeff Berletic.


1.  Tell me about yourself (church, family, work, etc.)

I am 45, and attend South Metro Vineyard Church. I believe this to be my church home. I am involved with the music ministry there as well as the Fruit of the Vine food pantry. I have been going there for about 20 years. I've been married for 10 years and have a nine-year-old daughter.
 
I also have a daughter that we adopted in our hearts who herself has a daughter. We are grandparents.
 
The economy has affected our household as well, like so many. The Lord has provided for our needs in this time. After all, how can I know him as provider if I never need provision.
 
I have not been able to find gainful employment, so I am now a licensed bus driver.

2.  What are some of the highlights of your Christian walk?

This may sound odd, but some of the highlights of my Christian walk have been to be when I have gone through the toughest times in my life. That's where the rubber meets the road in faith. The only place to go is on the knees.

3.  How has God guided or spoken to you?

God speaks to me primarily through his word.
 
The Bible is what God has said and what He is currently saying.

I know He is with me no matter what I go through. This again is where the rubber meets the road.

4.  Is there anything else you would like to add?

When I finally realize that I have let go of something, it is when I look back on the thing I was letting go of. The struggle is part of the process.

By the way, Jeff is an excellent handyman. If you live in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and would like to hire him for a home improvement project, feel free to send him an e-mail.

If you would like to be interviewed for "People of faith:  four questions with. . .", contact me.