Four Itchy Feet

June 15, 2025. Sandpoint, Idaho. Day 26 of 170

Today, we celebrated Father’s Day with our brothers and sisters at North Summit Church in Sandpoint, Idaho. Our worship was a truly wonderful time, as we lifted our voices in praise to our perfect heavenly Father. As Matthew 5:48 reminds us, God’s perfection is a standard we strive for, and on this special day, we particularly reflected on His boundless love and grace as our ultimate Father.

Pastor Mark Hammer then led us in communion, a profound and sacred practice. It was a real blessing, and indeed a bonus when visiting a church, to be able to partake in the symbolic gifts of the body and blood of Jesus. This act, rooted in Christ’s final meal with His disciples (Matthew 26:26-28), serves as a powerful reminder of His sacrifice on the cross and our covenant relationship with Him. Following communion, Mark beautifully recounted the parable of the prodigal son from Luke 15:11-32, a narrative profoundly appropriate for Father’s Day. It’s particularly striking how the father, filled with eager anticipation, is depicted sitting on the porch, and upon seeing his returning son from afar, “runs and embraced him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). This imagery powerfully conveys God’s unwavering love and eagerness to welcome us back into His embrace, no matter how far we’ve strayed. Mark emphasized a crucial point: we have all, at various times, been “prodigals” in our own spiritual journeys, yet we are infinitely blessed that our Heavenly Father, in His abundant mercy, has embraced us and welcomed us home into His loving family.

Following Pastor Hammer, Pastor Will Shupp shared an insightful teaching on the subject of “Keeping the Sabbath.” Will presented a truly refreshing and interesting approach to this commandment, found in Exodus 20:8. He proposed that the Sabbath, rather than being a burdensome obligation, is in fact a profound gift from God to humanity. To illustrate this, Will recounted the account from Matthew 12:1-8 (also Mark 2:23-28 and Luke 6:1-5) where the Pharisees, rigid in their interpretation of the law, admonished Jesus for allowing His disciples to pluck heads of wheat from the field as they walked by on the Sabbath. The Pharisees acted as if the disciples were “harvesting,” yet all they were doing was satisfying their hunger by eating from the remnants of the harvest, which, according to Mosaic law (Leviticus 19:9-10; Deuteronomy 24:19), was specifically commanded to be left for the poor and travelers. Will’s teaching compelled us to view the Sabbath not as a restrictive set of rules, but as a divinely ordained day of rest, spiritual renewal, and gratitude – truly a precious gift from our Creator.

It was an undeniable blessing to worship at North Summit Church. We felt genuinely welcomed, and the church fostered an intimate environment conducive to both worship and spiritual learning. If you find yourself in Sandpoint, whether as a resident or a traveler, and are in need of spiritual nourishment—much like Jesus’ disciples were looking for physical sustenance—North Summit Church is faithfully serving the pure word of God to satisfy your hunger for His presence and truth in your life.