We invite you to take a peek inside our weekly Light for the Way devotional series provided for staff.
By Campus Pastor Tom Volker, Founders Ridge
Integrity means doing what we say we’re going to do. “I’ll check on your lunch order, Mr. Smith.” And then we go and check on Mr. Smith’s order and report back. “I will pray for you, Mrs. Allen.” And then we pray for Mrs. Allen’s needs on our own or even with Mrs. Allen in that moment. We show up for meetings we say we will be at. We attend to the needs of those we promised to help.
We do what we say we’re going to do. It may seem small at times, but our integrity is very important to others.
After Noah and his family, along with the animals of the earth, spent over a year in the Ark during a devastating flood, the Lord said it was okay to leave. The Flood story was, above all else, about a disruptive event. Not only was much of life destroyed, but the routines of human life were drowned out too. For a year, there was only water and the remnants of life that floated above it in the Ark.
After Noah and his family get off the Ark, the Lord makes a promise to Noah and the generations after him: “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease ….” (Gen. 8:22). The Lord has kept to that promise. There are no more disruptions to the seasons. In fact, Jesus said that God brings sunshine and rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous alike (Matt. 5:45).
We continue to count on the regular appearance of the sun and the regular watering of the land. God has shown integrity in the continued support of sunshine and rain for life on this earth. Our show of integrity with others is an extension of God’s integrity with us. God does what He says He will do and so will we.
Pastor Tom Volker has served at Founders Ridge as campus pastor since 2022. He absolutely loves the team and residents that he gets to be around by the grace of God. Tom served for 23 years as a parish pastor in different capacities at five different congregations in three different states. He and his amazing wife Verna have four children – three boys and a girl – and reside in South Minneapolis. When not at Founders Ridge, Tom is transporting children, reading, enjoying a movie at the theater, cooking or just trying to be grateful for the adventure that this God has placed him on. (Did that sound too preachy? Sorry, old habit.)
The Light for the Way series provides staff with an examination of a biblical reading to deepen our focus on scripture. Thank you for engaging with this series as we seek wisdom through prayer and reflection as a Christian ministry.
