“All truth is God’s truth.” As a freshman at a Christian college I was being asked to read a book by an atheist, and I was suspicious. The professor refused to apologize that the assigned text was from a nonbeliever, insisting that God’s grace extended even to the New York Times best sellers list.

It’s a simple and fairly obvious idea: not everything is true, but everything that is true is true regardless of who said it. It’s not hard to grasp, but it can be hard to accept.

How Can Christians Know Truth in Today’s World?
Every day, it seems, we read about some campus dust-up over the removal of another book from the curriculum. Works of literature get tossed in the memory hole because the author, it turns out, held beliefs which, however conventional at the time, are now considered politically incorrect. And whether you cheer that as a principled stand or condemn it as another step down the slippery slope to George Orwell’s “1984” depends on where you line up in the culture wars.

But it’s a universal impulse. We all have a tendency to quarantine the things we fear might carry their author’s infection. But should we? If it’s true that all truth is God’s truth do we need to fear that good and true things may carry some hidden contamination?

A former pastor of a midwestern megachurch has been in the news lately because of new, sensational accusations. He had already been fired from the church he started because of financial improprieties and a leadership style that has been described as “bullying.” But add to the long list of accusations about him the new bombshell coming from two different people that he tried finding a hitman to kill someone who he felt posed a threat to his ministry.

Judging by the people I know to still be among the living, this is not a widespread practice among pastors, most of whom remain stubbornly committed to the more biblical if less gratifying approach of “killing them with kindness.”

It’s not surprising at all that this pastor lost his pulpit. It makes complete sense that he has been disinvited from speaking engagements and that his calendar has freed up. But what’s interesting is that bookstores have stopped carrying the books he has written, and publishers have stopped publishing them. And it’s not because there is no longer a market for these books or because anything he wrote is untrue. People are still buying them and reading them and, presumably, benefitting from them.

I have one of those books on my shelf. I read it several years ago and it made a real impact on me at a critical point in my ministry. It breathed fresh air into my preaching and my commitment to the church. It still informs my thinking.

How to Sift for Truth Biblically in a Fallen World
I’m having a tough time reconciling the author of that book with the man who asked his bodyguard to “take care of” a problem for him. And I’m wondering if a book that no longer has a place on the shelves of Christian retailers should have a place on the shelf of my study.

Regarding how to sift through books (as well as movies, music, television, celebrities, memes, etc.) these are some of the conclusions I’ve come to:

1.  Run Everything through a Bible filter. We should be taking a “Berean” approach to all the books we read and authors to whom we give a voice in our lives.  The Bereans were early believers who rigorously ran everything they heard through a Bible filter.  Scripture is, after all, a book where we don’t have to worry about the power of the material or the validity of the Author.
2. Rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance. I can not completely trust any author, any book, or even myself. But I can have complete confidence in the Holy Spirit’s ability to guide me into the truth. “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” (John 16:13)
3. Caution is still warranted. Ideas themselves are not polluted with the other notions held by the mind that conceived and expressed them. But ideas and arguments closely associated with individuals can pull us into the orbit of their authors. John Wesley, for instance, is a thinker whose ideas about sanctification have had a marked effect on my own thinking. I admire him a great deal. And when I read that John Wesley believed that some animals would experience resurrection and a heavenly existence I found myself carefully considering an idea I would probably have dismissed without a thought if it were expressed by anyone else. For better or worse, I’ve been pulled into his intellectual orbit and that would be more dangerous if he were less godly.
4. Look for truth in the fallen world. There is biblical precedent for confidently sifting out the nuggets of gold hidden amidst the world’s gravel.
5. Be Humble. Are there any things you used to be convinced of that you now regard as foolish? Is it possible that there are things you’re convinced of now that you will end up disavowing later? Being humble about our own ability to definitively identify the truth, we should be reluctant to either dismiss or embrace any books, authors, or ideas. Instead, we should keep everything in a sort of quarantine as we work to submit our minds to Jesus.
6. You can and should crowdsource your discernment. If godly people in your life commend a book be more eager to read it If they are throwing up red flags about a book treat it very cautiously. And make sure that those godly people are in your life by participating in a small group or a discipling relationship!
7. Be cautious with creating legitimacy standards. We should be careful about developing standards of legitimacy regarding books and their authors that will, in the end, render all sermons useless for edification, coming as they do from preachers with, invariably, flaws and hypocrisies of their own.
8. When it comes to children a higher degree of scrutiny and caution is justified. The more we grapple with material from unsanctified sources and the more mature we become as thinkers and believers the more immunity we develop (hopefully) to bad and false ideas. But children have not developed those immunities yet. They are more susceptible to virulent thoughts and need more gatekeeping help from the believers in their lives.

Now there have been entire books written on this topic and by better authors than this one. And, as the Teacher says in Ecclesiastes, “of the writing of many books there is no end.” So a blogpost like this one may be of limited value.

But it’s my hope that Christians in an intolerant culture and an incurious age would be set apart by their confident discernment and Holy Spirit led appropriation of all the truth they can get their minds on while carefully spitting out all the nasty stuff before it gets swallowed.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8.

​Written by: Joel Tate 

As part of the Wesleyan denomination, our Church meets annually to discuss the past year and take the opportunity for members to vote on board positions.

The theme for our annual meeting this year (2019) was “the proper time,” a reference to Galatians 6:9: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

• A warm afternoon on a Sunday in July is the proper time for a maple creemee.
• A rainy Monday evening in October is the proper time for the first bonfire of the season.
• A bright sun, kite breeze morning in June is the proper time for strawberry picking

​Anything that is already good is even better when enjoyed at “the proper time.” And even difficult and unpleasant things can be redeemed by good timing.

2019 Annual Meeting: The Proper Time
In God’s wisdom this is the proper time for our church to do some fun and wonderful things. It is the proper time for growing in numbers and scope as we fulfill our mission of making more and better disciples for Jesus. More and more people are attending services at one of our locations and subsequently praying for salvation, getting baptized, and engaging in discipleship.

But it is also the proper time for facing some challenges. We have strategically positioned ourselves for this growth by adding personnel, systems, and worship services. We are confident that these decisions have been vindicated and that we are going to be very grateful in the long run. But, in the meantime, we have to fund them and that means finding ways to operate within a constrained budget.

And our annual meeting highlighted all of this in the ways that make Furnace Brook special. Jesus was front and center. We operated transparently and told bracing truths to each other with candor. And all of this was discussed without any rancor, as becomes the mission-driven sons and daughters of the God whose peace passes understanding.

For a copy of the Pastor’s report follow this link, and you can listen to the recording of the annual meeting here.
​
The officers who were elected for the upcoming year are as follows:
Vice Chairman - Calleen Brosse
Treasurer - Dan Tilden
Secretary - Wendy Wood
Members at Large - Susan Hibbard, Tim Elliott, Tom Valach
Lay Delegate to District Conference - Dick Brosse

​If you have questions about the annual meeting, please contact the office: office@furnacebrook.org; (802)483.2531. Board members are also available to answer questions.

​Written by: Joel Tate

​Our Brandon Campus is a ministry of Furnace Brook Wesleyan Church where the mission is to make more and better disciples. The Brandon Campus is a place for the unchurched and the dechurched where faithful informality and an unconventional approach to doing church might open the door through which unlikely people can make their way into the Kingdom.

We do this by:

• Emphasizing the sacredness of our gathering over the sacredness of our space. (Being more attached to each other and Jesus than we are to our location.)
• Emphasizing the healing, edifying, and sanctifying work of worship.
• Being creative, dynamic, and succinct in our ministry of the word.
• By eating together, both literally and sacramentally.
• Maintaining a relaxed and informal tone that allows for organic growth up to the point where we would launch another campus.

I would like to report to you that we are making progress on our Brandon campus.  As with
anything new it takes a couple times trying to find the right footing. After five Sundays at the Brandon Town hall, I think, we have hit a good stride.  

 Brandon Campus tutorial:

•  When you get there. Upon arrival, someone will be standing outside near the “Furnace Brook meeting here” sign to direct you around the construction zone.    
• Say Hello! There will be someone at the door to open it for you and hand you a bulletin.
• Continue through the foyer into the main meeting room where you will find coffee and pastries to enjoy prior to the service.
• Getting Started. The service will begin with a brief explanation of how the service will proceed, announcements and prayer.
• Worship. We sing an opening song in which we use our voices to sing a prayer to prepare ourselves for communion.
• Communion. Communion is taken by intinction which means that you’ll take a piece of bread to dip in the cup. And it’s “open” communion, meaning that regardless of what church you attend as long as you have made Jesus the Savior of your life we would love if you partake with us. Depending on how we are doing the service that day we will bring communion to you or you have the opportunity to come up and take it.
• Message. Biblical teaching is done in tandem by Pastor Joel Tate and intern, Abbey Elliott. We will read the Old Testament, New Testament, and sermon passage together and then Abbey will ask Pastor Tate questions about the texts. We present the content podcast/interview style.  To hear what this sounds like, follow this link: https://www.furnacebrook.org/sermons.html
• More Worship. Following the teaching session, we will enter into a time of worship. The whole service leads up to this time in the service. During worship we sing 3 songs that reflect what we just discussed. This is also a time for prayer and the giving of our tithe. If you would like to be prayed over there are team members available to pray over you on one of the wings of the room.  
• Snacks! Following the benediction, we encourage you to stay for coffee and to talk with people.

As someone who has experienced the uncomfortable feeling of attending a new church but not feeling like I fit in,  I have some insight into how to create an environment where people feel welcome but not called out for being the newcomer.  

This past Sunday we had a potluck following the service. The invitation was open to anyone with the intention of having everyone in one place to experience and catch the vision. As stated above, our intention for this service is designed for those who feel uncomfortable in formal church setting, those who have been hurt by the church or those who have never been to church. I have a desire for everyone to love Jesus as much as I do, so we want to make attending church as easy as possible.

If after reading this you are as excited about our vision as we are, please visit our Brandon campus or contact Abbey at abigail@furnacebrook.org.

Best,
Abbey

Yesterday we received tragic news regarding people in our fellowship, news we’re not ready to make public, but of which people are becoming aware. It’s asking a lot of you to ask you to curb your curiosity while stirring your concern, but that’s what we’re asking.

Biblical Response to Tragedy
In the meantime, we’d like to offer you this biblical approach to responding to tragedy.

1. Mourn. It’s a verb, something that you do, and not just a matter of feeling sad. Matthew 5:4, Ecclesiastes 7:2

2. Leave everything private that can safely remain that way. 1 Thessalonians 4:11

3. Say everything that you need to say and nothing that you don’t.
It is a great temptation in the face of tragedy to respond verbally, and some things need to be said. But even the best words do less good than ill-considered words do harm. James 1:19

4. Don’t look for or accept short cuts and easy answers. Nothing good comes of trying to make short what God left long, or easy what God has permitted to be hard. The valley of the shadow of death is, indeed, long and difficult to traverse, but we have a good traveling companion. Psalm 23

5. Your grief can rot into injury or ripen into resolve. Carefully manage your grief, exposing it to the light of the Lord, to see it mature into a greater resolve to bring about the Kingdom of God, the place where the “shalom,” the peaceful, right-ordering of things prevails under God’s lordship.

6. Pray to God and for God. No grief touches us but that it grieves him also. He does not need us and he does not suffer from lack of our prayer. But he loves us and when we pray about a tragedy we have the opportunity to acknowledge the way in which sin and its direct and indirect effects have touched his Father’s heart. This is the spirit in which many of the Psalms might be prayed.

7. Let grace prevail. Look for opportunities to extend and receive grace. The impulse to publicly demonstrate your concern can run contrary to the interests of grace.

If, as you become aware of more details, you need help processing this event please contact us in the office and let us walk through it with you. (Email pastor@furnacebrook.org, or call 483.2531)

Written by Joel Tate

Hey everyone!

We’re almost through week 2 of the step challenge. How is everyone doing? Has anyone done anything out of the ordinary just for the sake of the step challenge? I have been doing more snowshoeing! This is not a winter activity that I used to enjoy doing but for some reason this winter I’ve done it a bunch. It’s an activity that my grandfather loves doing as well so we’ve been out in the woods together and it has been such sweet fellowship.

When I was a freshman in college, I decided to become a plant-based vegan.  It was during the Lenten season that I prayed over my health and asked God to heal me and make me healthy again. Praise the Lord, I have come a long way in my health. God has given me a passion for helping people create healthy lifestyles. I hope you find some encouragement in this.

In this season of Lent, perhaps God is asking you to be more deliberate with your food consumption.

​Part of the motivation to stay active comes from feeding our bodies the proper nutrition to stay moving. With the winter months being cold and long, we tend to pack in the carbs and leave out the fruits and veggies.


Conveniently, this week is the beginning of Lent! I encourage you to evaluate what you’re consuming and see if there are some adjustments you can make.

Consider the following questions about your dietary habits:

1. Do you pray before you eat? If you aren’t praying over your meals already, I challenge you to make this a priority.
   
2. Are you eating foods that are wholesome and pleasing to the Lord? By that I mean, are you consuming foods that are produced by local farmers, Fair Trade, or support a good economy? John Wesley, the father of the Wesleyan denomination, had a wholistic natural view on diet. This is the link to his book on health; I encourage you to read it.
   

Bottom line, is what you’re consuming edifying to God? Lots of rhetorical questions here, but food for thought. Pun intended.

Here are some recipes that I have become staples in my diet for long days:

• These overnight oats are great for busy weeks and require an easy 5 minute prep before bed.
  
• These little nuggets have been a life saver for me! They are nut butter oatmeal energy balls. I eat them for a pre workout/post workout snack, as a dessert, or whenever I’m feeling calorie deprived.  The sweetness in them curbs the sweet craving I get and the salt provides natural electrolytes.
  
• Buddha bowls are my go to dinners. They are super easy to make, inexpensive, and can be catered to whatever you’re craving.
  

I love suggestions! What are your meal and snack staples? Do you have a favorite smoothie recipe?

Eat well!
Abbey

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 John 1:2

The Step challenge starts today! I’m super pumped and I hope you are too. For more information about the Step Challenge, check it out my previous post.

For the next month we will walk/run/hike/ski (or whatever) to stay positive and finish this winter season out on a strong note! Tune into the blog for fun fitness ideas, and tag us on social media and use the hashtag #stepwithit to win weekly challenges.

Step With It challenge: Get Stepping!
1) Register directly on our website or follow the links on Facebook or Instagram.
2) Choose a weekly activity or challenge to push yourself! 
3) Submit your weekly step totals on Facebook, Instagram, or by email to abigail@furnacebrook.org. And or share with the #stepwithit.
4) Enjoy the benefits of fresh air, exercise, and community encouragement!

Join us each Wednesday and submit your weekly step totals on Facebook, Instagram, or by email to abigail@furnacebrook.org. The individual with the most steps will be announced on Thursday morning.  Don’t forget to tag Furnace Brook on social media with your pictures using the hashtag #stepwithit. Also, tune in to the blog as I’ll be posting words of encouragement, health tips, and recipes!

5 Reasons to Join the Step Challenge
As a scientist, I always ask the question, why? So why do the step challenge with Furnace Brook?

• Exercise is excellent for your physical and mental health by increasing your serotonin and norepinephrine hormone levels.
• The winter slump is a real thing. Individuals can experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in the wintertime because of the short, dark days which result in weight gain, depression, having trouble sleeping, and low energy levels.
• It’s a great excuse to hang out with friends.
• There’s a beautiful world out there to explore. If you live in Rutland, Pine Hill Park has a great trail network, Pittsford also has its own set of trails spread throughout the town, and the Chittenden Reservoir has fabulous trails and breathtaking views. All of these locations can be used year round.
• There’s a cup of coffee waiting at the end. I love the London Fog from Speak Easy, the Chai Latte from Ruff Life, and the Americano from Gourmet Provence.  

How to track your steps
Whether you have a step tracker or not, keeping track of steps is easy! Consider the following methods for step tracking.
 1. Use your fitbit, smartphone, or step tracker to keep track of steps.
2. Log your miles. 1 mile is approximately 2,000 steps.
3. Use the Health App on your phone. Its probably already keeping track of your steps for you!
4.  Use an app on your phone to log your steps. Here are some useful ones I have used in the past:

• StepsApp Pedometer
• Stepz
• Pacer Pedometer & Step Tracker
• My FitnessPal by UnderArmour
  All of these Apps are Android and iOS compatible

5. If none of these options sound appealing to you, take your car track a loop with your mileage on the dashboard.  
When I started running before Garmin watches and FitBits, I made my mom do this for me ;).

What fitness Apps do you use?
Have you ever done a step challenge before?
What keeps you motivated?
​
Written by Abigail Elliott

It’s mid February, who is feeling the winter blues? I love the wintertime, like love it, but some days the cold seeps into my bones and I can’t shake it. I’m convinced living in Vermont makes you a stronger person. We have to put on three layers top and bottom to make it through the work day, start our cars 20 minutes ahead anytime we want to go out, and wear boots everyday for 5 months.

The Secret to Living in Vermont
Vermont-living is not for the faint in heart, but some of us have the privilege to call the Green Mountains our home. Part of living in Vermont and surviving the winter months is finding activities outside that you love. Seriously, it is the secret to surviving. You’re cold? Go outside. It is counter intuitive, but it works. Try it. You’ll feel better because you took in the fresh air and doing a mental detox and you’re exercising rather than eating a pizza. My personal mantra is laps before lattes. I tell myself if I can do anything a with the forethought that the espresso machine is waiting on the other end.  

My core winter activities include Nordic skiing and hiking. I’m kind of a wimp about winter running and mostly stick to the treadmill in the wintertime. Lame, I know. What are some of your winter activities? I know the Brandon Free Library and Maclure Library have snowshoes available for community members to use.  

Join us for the Step With It Challenge
I’ve been blessed to be able to work at Furnace Brook this winter. Mary and I have been hiking local trails a couple times a week and it has helped remarkably with my mood! During one of our hikes we decided we wanted to encourage other people to get outside and enjoy all that God has blessed us with here in Vermont.  

So, we have created the Step with It step challenge beginning 2/20 and ending on the first day of spring, 3/20. We are asking you to join us in finishing the last leg of the winter season. The step challenge is an easy way to hold each other accountable to getting outside and staying active. We often forget how beautiful it is outside because we’re just trying to stay warm.

For the next month we will walk/run/hike/ski or whatever to stay positive and finish this winter season out on a strong note. There is a calendar available on the registration form available for printing off to log your steps and there are some creative activities to try if you’re looking for inspiration.

Join us each Wednesday and  submit your weekly step totals on Facebook, Instagram, or by email to abigail@furnacebrook.org. The individual with the most steps will be announced on Thursday morning. Log your steps however you choose. Note: 1 mile is approximately  2,000 steps.

Step With It challenge: Get Stepping!
1) Register directly on our website or follow the links on Facebook or Instagram.
2) Choose a weekly activity or challenge to push yourself! 
3) Submit your weekly step totals on Facebook, Instagram, or by email to abigail@furnacebrook.org. And or share with the #stepwithit.
4) Enjoy the benefits of fresh air, exercise, and community encouragement!

Don’t forget to tag Furnace Brook on social media with your pictures using the hashtag #stepwithit. Also, tune in to the blog as I’ll be posting words of encouragement, health tips, and recipes!


Be well,
Abbey

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 John 1:2