Green or Yellow?
A few weeks ago, one of our pastors preached on the “little foxes” described in The Song of Solomon 2:15. One key point was that they are a metaphor for things that can enter our lives and push us away from God, little by little. While an excellent message, I found my mind wandering to our dog Sasha, Annie’s predecessor. Hang on, this relates.
While living in Maryland, we had a fenced backyard and lots of wildlife – deer, possums, the occasional raccoon, and one particularly irritable groundhog that we named Gary. I’m pretty certain that the plethora of wildlife had something to do with the small jungle taking up the back half of the yard. In my defense, we did eventually clean up all that foliage and made it look nice...shortly before we moved.
You have to understand that Sasha, our German Shepherd, considered the backyard to be her domain, which was quite understandable. She chased all the animals away when they invaded her space. She discovered many things in the process. For example, she found out that deer can jump straight up and over an 8-foot fence without a running start. She was more confused than anything when the deer suddenly disappeared. However, deer magic aside, two particular incidents stick in my mind of Sasha defending her territory.
First, she would periodically go after Gary. Gary was old, slow, and rather plump, so when he ran it looked like waves of groundhog fur rippling over his tiny legs. Gary was also not to be trifled with. I remember one afternoon in particular. Sasha was barking like crazy and running around Gary in circles so he couldn’t escape. Meanwhile, Gary was up on his hind legs, claws extended, and hissing fiercely. I ran into our backyard at full speed to rescue our dog from imminent harm. You don’t get to be Gary’s age by being a lousy fighter. Gary was a cute little creature, but his outward appearance hid a much more ferocious side – something we had not previously seen.
Despite the incident with Gary, Sasha’s defense of her territory continued unabated. The second memorable occurrence happened one night at roughly 3:30 a.m. We woke up to Sasha going nuts downstairs. In true husbandly fashion, I grabbed a flashlight and went to check things out. There was Sasha, front paws on the backyard door, looking out the window and barking like crazy. I learned many years ago that if you have someone or something on your property that shouldn’t be there, especially at nighttime, you let the dog out first to handle the issue. Sure enough, I let Sasha out the back door and, looking like some sort of furry missile, she launched herself off our deck and into the overgrown part of the yard. I heard snarling and saw lots of brush moving, and then I saw something I’ll never forget.
As I shined my flashlight on that part of the lawn, I saw two bright yellow eyes flash back at me, as well as a set of menacing dark green eyes. The fight in the bushes quickly turned into a chase, but when I could finally make out the animals, I had a huge surprise. The bright yellow eyes belonged to a fox, and the more sinister-appearing green eyes belonged to my beloved dog. It was completely reversed from what I had first assumed. The point here is that we didn’t see those sides of Gary or Sasha until they were engaged in a ferocious fight (in case you’re wondering, the fox escaped, which was fine with me).
Something like those two stories can happen in the world of public policy. No, lobbyists do not chase legislators around a backyard, although it may sometimes feel like that when they’re cornered by a lobbyist at the Capitol. However, humans try to attach labels to people: friend, foe, nice, angry, trustworthy, and so on. As NDFA, we also need to make those judgment calls in the political arena: who to work with, how best to approach someone with a request, and whether they support our collective values.
I’m happy to say that we get it correct the vast majority of times, but it’s sometimes very unclear who to trust or how well they will work with us through the legislative process. As somebody said to me recently, “Your values may be black and white, but the political world where you work every day can be very gray.” For this reason, we ask that you continue to pray that we may have wisdom and always follow God’s lead in plotting our course in the political arena, especially as we prepare for the 2027 legislative session. We need to remember that those green eyes may look ominous at first, but they may belong to a friend who will have your back when things get tough.
Showered With Wisdom
by Marit Heidbreder
Years ago, as a young newlywed, I wasn’t really sure how to be a good spouse, and I eagerly sought more wisdom than I currently possessed on the topic. To that end, I purchased the book Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas at a large mall’s Christian bookstore. While browsing some other stores within the mall, I surprisingly realized that I no longer had the small bag with my newly purchased book. As I retraced my steps, I finally found the store in which I had accidentally mislaid my small plastic bookstore bag. The whole time I searched for my missing book, I was wondering if whoever found it might keep it for themselves rather than turn it in to the lost and found. But I’ll always remember the clerk’s response when I inquired about my missing book. “Oh yes!! We have that right here for you!” she exclaimed while she shoved the small bag my direction. “NO ONE wants to read that book!” I guess I could see what she meant as the tag line read, “What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?”
This anecdote recently came to my mind a few weeks ago as I had the joy of attending a bridal shower for my oldest son’s fiancée. Some of the following wisdom was shared by her family and friends during the event:
Don’t go to bed angry. Ephesians 4:26
Look for the humor in daily life together. Proverbs 17:22
In humility, put your spouse’s preferences above your own. Philippians 2:3-4
Don’t “should” your spouse, but show them your love and respect. Ephesians 5:33
Be slow to anger and don’t keep reminding your spouse of their past failures. 1 Corinthians 13:5
Be full of kindness and forgive easily, as God forgives you. Ephesians 4:32
Love each other well, as love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8
Keep an attitude of thankfulness regardless of your circumstances, stay hopeful, be patient with one another, and make a habit of praying together. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Romans 12:12
The point was made that marriage is not always an easy road, and relying on God’s Word and truth would be critical to weathering life’s storms. Biblical marriage is one of God’s primary tools to help us become more Christ-like and holy, as further explained in the book Sacred Marriage. In due course, as Christian couples focus on their spiritual maturity through the sanctification process and character growth, they uncover a deeper, more profound happiness than their worldly counterparts, who tend to make fulfilling their own personal desires the goal of their marriage. The refining process of our character can be painful and difficult, yet it is a worthwhile pursuit as we desire to reflect Jesus more than ourselves.
As someone who has been married for over two decades, I can honestly say that I am still being refined as a spouse. The Biblical advice that was shared at the bridal shower is still applicable to me, as I haven’t perfected living it out, as my husband can attest. But I have certainly grown a lot since my days as a newlywed, and I am grateful that God is not finished with me yet!
I am so thankful for the blessing of Biblical marriage and the gift that it has been in my life to bring great joy and help me grow closer to Jesus. I’m thrilled for my son and his future wife as they prepare to enter this sacred covenant together as well! At a time when marriage rates among young adults are at historic lows, it warms my heart to see couples who are actively pursuing this sacred covenant!
May we all continue to pursue a deeper relationship with Jesus so we can reflect Him better through our marriages and families to a world that desperately needs His love and truth.
Thank you for your support!
I want to thank all of you who attended our 2026 Faith, Family, and Freedom Dessert Gala with the President of Hobby Lobby, Steve Green, and the musical talents of the Capstone Classical Academy Choir. It was an incredible night celebrating the pro-life and pro-family values we share! Steve Green delivered a wonderful presentation touching on Hobby Lobby’s fight for religious freedom at the U.S Supreme Court, as well as their journey in founding the Museum of the Bible and its amazing content. Capstone Classical Academy Choir sang a number of songs, reminding us of our heritage as a nation and dependence on God. It was a true blessing to share such a special evening with nearly 400 of NDFA’s dear friends!
I want to thank all of you once again for your prayers, responses to our calls for action, and financial support this past year, and as we move forward into 2027 and the new legislative session. We exist to defend and advance your values, and we are honored that you entrust us with this important mission.
Ticket Sales End May 1st for NDFA's 2026 Faith, Family, and Freedom Dessert Gala!
The 2026 Faith, Family, and Freedom Dessert Gala hosted by North Dakota Family Alliance is coming up soon! The Gala will be on Tuesday, May 5th at 7:30 pm at the Fargodome. Our keynote speaker for the event will be Steve Green, with special music provided by Capstone Classical Academy Choir!
Tickets are still available at $75 for a limited time HERE.
For table sponsorships, please call 701-355-6425
Seats are filling up fast! Get tickets while you can!
Ticket sales end May 1st.
About Steve Green
President of Hobby Lobby / Founder and Chairman of the Board of the Museum of the Bible / Celebrated Author of Multiple Books
Steve Green became President of Hobby Lobby in 2004, and helped to grow the family business to more than 1,000 stores in 48 states, employing over 46,000 people with over $8.3 billion in annual sales in 2025. He speaks on business and philanthropy, focusing on how his faith intersects with his life endeavors.
As Chairman of the Board of the Museum of the Bible, Steve has assembled a team of academics, designers, technology professionals, and other experts to create the 430,000-square-foot museum, dedicated to a scholarly and engaging presentation of the Bible's impact, history, and narrative. The museum opened in November 2017 in Washington, DC, near the U.S. Capitol, and saw approximately one million visitors during its first year.
Green is the author of Faith in America (2011), The Bible in America (2013), and This Beautiful Book (2019) and co-author of This Dangerous Book (2017) with his wife, Jackie. Steve and Jackie have been married for over 41 years and reside in Oklahoma City. They have a son, five daughters, a daughter-in-law, three sons-in-law, and twelve grandchildren. They are active in their local church and support many Christian charities.
About Capstone Classical Academy Choir
Capstone Classical Academy Choir is comprised of singers from Capstone Classical Academy, the new Classical Christian School in Fargo, ND. Many of these 6th through 10th-grade scholars participate in the NDHSAA Regional and State Music Vocal Contests as soloists and ensemble members and have earned the highest ratings of achievement at these events. The Choir is under the direction of Aaron Zinter, who teaches both Choral Music and Mathematics at Capstone.
We look forward to welcoming Steve to North Dakota, and hope you’ll make plans to join us at the 2026 Faith, Family, and Freedom Dessert Gala!
PS: If you're interested in sharing this event with your friends, family, or others, we've attached the 8.5 x 11 event poster HERE for you to use.
Let Us Not Grow Weary
by Jacob Thomsen
Every Monday at NDFA, we begin the week with a devotional, prayer, and a time to discuss what is coming up. This past Monday, Marit presented a devotional on perseverance, and it resonated deeply with me.
I’ve always been a sports guy, if you couldn’t tell, and I firmly believe that sports directly correlate to life and our Christian faith. They are a great equalizer, bringing people from every background together to attempt to achieve a common goal. I’ve played sports my whole life, and I certainly recognize that some of the greatest achievements, in sports and life, come through perseverance.
For the golf fans out there, you’ll know that this past weekend was The Masters Tournament. This is the most exclusive and prestigious golf event of the year, and for many of us, it signifies that now is officially the time to get back out on the course (provided there is no snow on the ground). This year’s finish was a tremendous example of perseverance.
Rory McIlroy held the largest lead in Masters history going into the third round, which is no small feat on what is well known as a very difficult course. He entered the fourth, and final round in the lead, but quickly fell all the way to a tie for fourth place about a third of the way through his round.
Despite past struggles and the immense pressure of the moment, he fought back to the lead and ultimately won by a single stroke. On a stage such as this, given the circumstances, it was a remarkable display of perseverance.
Another example of perseverance in sport is a bit more personal. As many of you know, I played college football for 5 seasons at the University of Mary here in Bismarck. This was one of the most challenging things I have done in my life.
Early on, one of my closest friends left the team and moved away. I was also three and a half hours away from my girlfriend, and the physical and mental demands were unlike anything I had experienced. To make matters worse, we also didn’t win very much – a total of 3 games through my first two seasons.
There were plenty of moments when quitting felt like the easiest option. I could work more hours at my job, I could have a schedule that was far more open, I could have more fun, frankly, and I could avoid the constant pressure and expectations that came with being part of the team. There were many late-night phone calls with my mom, lamenting the problems that I had throughout my time playing college football.
Deep down, though, I knew something important: quitting would have been easy, which is exactly why it wasn’t the right choice. President Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty…” I have found that statement to be remarkably true. In football, I grew greatly in perseverance, built lifelong friendships, and experienced something that shaped me in ways I didn’t fully understand at the time.
In the book of James, chapter 1, verse 12 says, “blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” When we persevere through trials out of our love for Him, we bring Him glory.
This same principle applies beyond just sports. It also applies directly to the work we do in public policy. Throughout the process of getting bills passed that advance our Biblical values, there are many points at which it would be ten times easier to just throw in the towel and quit. Especially when it gets to the point where you must fight for every single inch. Just like Teddy said, though, nothing worth doing is easy.
I would argue that everything NDFA fights for is worth it. From the sanctity of life to the protection of the family, every bill we engage in today will affect North Dakotans for generations to come. This is why perseverance is not optional. We must remain steadfast, continuing to do what is right even when it is difficult. “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up,” Galatians 6:9.
Let this be an encouragement to you in your own life and faith. Whatever trials you may face, do not grow weary in doing good. Perseverance is rarely easy, but it is always worthwhile.