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Shining in the Dark

6/29/2012

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Our community has an area church youth group meeting each Wednesday night called ROC for high school students. ROC is led by Jeff Rud and meets at 8:30pm when most church youth groups are done. Cell phones are dropped off voluntarily in a basket as an intentional step to focus on Jesus Christ. There is a time of worship led by young people and leaders. A message from the Bible is shared by a variety of pastors, leaders and students. Students pray for one another at the close of the mtg which is just before 10pm. I attend when I have the evening free because I am encouraged seeing what God is doing among the young people in our community.

This past Wednesday, the youth surrounded Matt with prayer. Matt has attended ROC, graduated from high school and is heading out to basic training in Georgia. Prayer was lifted up for God’s protection and watch over the Cambridge-Isanti wrestlers attending a wrestling camp in Wisconsin. Students surrounded Eric and offered prayers tinged with tears for him, his sister and his father. Andrea “Annie”, his mother, died at the young age of 47 from pancreatic cancer on Monday. Her funeral will be held Sunday and many of the students praying had Mrs. Maltrud as a second grade teacher at Cambridge Elementary.

I held my breath, hoping no one would pray a bad prayer. A bad prayer goes against who God is or what He does. Often people do not know what to say during times of great loss and intense emotion. People have prayed that God needed help in heaven so, this person died. They pray that it was God’s will that a person was racked with an illness and suffered in pain.

Annie’s death and every death is a reminder of two things. One, we still live in a world corrupted by the stain of sin. Before sin, there was no illness, no pain, no sorrow, and no death. Although, Jesus broke this curse on the cross all of us will die until Jesus returns.

The second reminder is that death has lost its sting for Eric and his family, for you and I. We have a hope that looks forward to a reunion of those who have passed before us when the dead in Christ are raised, given a new body and live forever with Jesus Christ. The decision you and I make now affects where our forever will be spent.

My heart was filled with a mixture of sadness and hope hearing and joining the prayers of the students. Their tears expressed more than words. The loss of a mother, teacher and friend is painful. They prayed that Eric and his family would be surrounded by the love of God. They thanked God for the life Annie lived that made a difference because she reflected Jesus into their lives and the lives of many others. They stood in love and support; letting Eric know he was not alone. They prayed God’s destiny and purpose over Eric’s life. Good prayers.

God is doing wonderful things among our young people that came to shine during the dark times of grief.

What things are you seeing God do among young people?


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Free and Valuable

6/28/2012

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There are certain mornings each week that I go walking and praying. I spend time praying for my family, our church and the community. Praying, while walking keeps me alert and often opens up Spirit directed focuses of prayer. Exercise is a side benefit of my prayer walks.

During the walk this morning, I came across a unique display. At the curbside just a few feet away from the homeowner’s mailbox was a weatherproof box atop a post a little higher than the mailbox height.  It was about two feet wide and a foot deep with a clear door on the front. It contained about a dozen books and had a sign that read, “Little Free Library”.

I admired the creativity of this homeowner making books available for free or exchange to anyone and promoting literacy. I discovered that Little Free Library is an organization whose mission is to promote the love of reading (learn more at http://www.littlefreelibrary.org/index.html).

Oftentimes free items at the curbside are one step away from the landfill; free junk. Floral couches, used carpet, and broken exercise bikes are relics left at the curbside with a sign that reads “FREE” with hopes that someone can make use of them someway, somehow. The “Free Library” made me appreciate this person or family for offering something valuable for free.

God offers a free gift that is not junk, but is valuable beyond belief. It is better than walking by a brand new car at the curbside with a sign that says, “FREE”. It is better than a reality sign on a million dollar home on beautiful lakeshore property that has an acrylic box with all the information about this home. You see photos highlighting all the amenities and when you look at the listing price it says, “FREE”. God has even better.

The free gift offered by God is a forever relationship with Him, the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the Great “I Am”, Creator of the universe and Lover of your soul! How much would you pay for this relationship? But wait, there is more! Not Ginsu knives or an amazing vegetable peeler. God will take away your guilt and shame. He will fill you with His Holy Spirit when you ask Him. God will adopt you into His family and share His inheritance with you.

Romans 6:23 (NLT)
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Titus 3:4-7 (NIV) But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Romans 8:15 (NLT) So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”


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Leave the Water Running!

6/27/2012

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Our church, my household and I have made steps towards “going green”. River of Life has reduced its paper usage by more than 50%. A major reduction was posting the church calendar, events and our bulletin (for those who missed a service) on our web site www.riveroflifehome.com. Most of the church’s communication is by email or texting. At home we recycle, carpool to work, set the thermostat to use less energy and reduce waste as much as we can. God has given humankind the responsibility to care for the earth.

Going green includes conserving water, even in this land of 10,000 lakes. I was disappointed this morning when I heard the water running and realized I had left the sprinkler going overnight. I usually set the oven timer to remind me to shut it off, but I moved the sprinkler to a new spot and was only running it a brief time before I went to bed.

I was watering a portion of our yard that was reseeded and the overnight soaking will actually be better for it than just the hour I had planned to water that spot. There is a spiritual metaphor in this. There are times it is good to leave the water running.

The Holy Spirit is described as wind, fire, and water. The apostle Paul writes about the Holy Spirit and uses terms like poured, filled, and over flow. Just like lawns that are parched and brown because of the lack of water, our lives get parched and dry. We need to be soaked and filled by the Holy Spirit. Our prayer each day should be, “Lord, fill me with Your Holy Spirit this day and keep the water running.”
Romans 5:5
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

How do you stay filled by the Holy Spirit?


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Weeds and Plants

6/26/2012

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Whenever I till or hoe the garden I get in a rhythm and am moving along smoothly until I accidentally hit a plant. Sometimes the entire plant, roots and all, are pulled up. I carefully re-plant it. It usually wilts the following day and I water it in hopes of it bouncing back. Most of the time the plant dies. I notice that the weeds which I am purposefully uprooting can take hoeing and tilling, but if the roots are still in the dirt or get watered they start growing again.

Why are weeds so hardy and plants so susceptible?
It is the result of Adam and Eve disobeying God which corrupted our world.
Genesis 3:17-19a To Adam He said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat of it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you;  through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.
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It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.
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By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food…”

That is why good things require care and attention while negative things flourish even though we try to weed them out. Relationships require maintenance or they dry up and wither. Bitterness and unforgiveness keep rising up even though we uproot them from our hearts.

The good news is that the earth is in process of restoration to the way it was before sin corrupted everything. The pre-sin garden had no weeds and the plants grew with ease. Relationships were rich in love and nothing could damage them.

Every time you step into your garden or tend your plants or arrange a bouquet of plastic flowers because you do not have a green thumb is a good time to remember that it will not always be this way. Jesus is coming back as King and will make all things new again.

Meanwhile, those who are subject to the King are to be about the restoration of the kingdom. Keep weeding your gardens and cultivating relationships. The King is coming!


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Are you a Risk-Taker?

6/25/2012

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Each person has a certain level of risk they are willing to take. Some are willing to take bigger risks than others. Others will take a risk as long as they have assessed the options and feel confident the reward is worth the potential loss.

Following Jesus Christ requires taking risks. There is the risk of faith, risk of reputation, risk of control, and a variety of other risks. Everything changes when you say yes to Jesus.

Years ago, I purchased a well used Nissan Sentra car primarily for commuting 70 miles one way to a Bible college. The driver side looked fine, but the passenger side had been in a major side-swipe accident. The rear passenger door would not open and both doors were crushed inward. Other drivers would give me lots of room when they saw the passenger side feeling I had nothing to lose in a fender bender with a car like that!

People with lives crushed by injustices, loses, and pain are willing to take the risk to follow Jesus because they have lost so much, they have nothing left to lose. Those who are sailing along well in life are less willing to give up everything and follow Jesus because they value too much what they are giving up.

A rich, young man came to Jesus and asked how he might inherit eternal life. He had been following the Ten Commandments, yet knew he was missing something important in life. When Jesus told the young man to take a risk, sell everything and give it to the poor, he could not take the risk and went away sad.

He made the same mistake that many people make today. They do not realize that when you take the risk, what Jesus has to offer is always greater than what have.

Mark 10:29-30“I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for Me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.

What risks do you face or have you faced to give up all and follow Jesus?


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Revealing

6/22/2012

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A great trilogy of children’s books by David and Karen Mains called Tales of the Kingdom, Tales of the Resistance and Tales of the Restoration are the best allegories I have read about the kingdom of God. I recommend these books for children and adults. The illustrated books are out of print, but can be bought through amazon.con or other used book sites and are worth the price.

During great celebrations in the story is the Sacred Flames which reveal the true character of a person. Unassuming people are seen as brave warriors because their courageous character.  People who are outwardly important are seen clothed in rags during revealing because of their lack of character.

Camping together has a revealing effect. True character is displayed, tents are not sound proof, and our outer adornments are limited or non-existent. Our church family is camping together for three days and we will see one another in a truer light. It is too easy to wear a mask for a couple hours each Sunday. Spending 72 hours together in a primitive environment has a way of thinning any masks that may have been worn. Even without masks, you know one another in a deeper, truer way.

Mission trips have the same effect only better because you are spending more days or week together.  Some are comfortable with who they are and being seen in a more raw environment is not a big deal. Others are not comfortable or even fearful. They are concerned that people would not accept them if knew them more clearly.

Jesus spent three years living 24/7 with his disciples. They saw Him in the early morning with “bed hair” and “morning breath”.  Authentic relationships with others is an important aspect of kingdom living.

How would you feel about spending 24/7 with your church family for three days at a campground?
Comment here:

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How to Live Through Long Days

6/21/2012

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Today, June 21, is the summer solstice marking the official beginning of summer and the longest day of daylight. In the Northern Hemisphere we frequently call June 21, the longest day of the year. In Minnesota, we love the early morning sunrise and having daylight late into the evening. Each of us experiences days that are long in another sense of long; days with back to back meetings, addressing a conflict with little signs that the outcome will be positive, a long travel day with more work than time waiting when you arrive.

There are days I have had on my planner that no matter how I try to schedule, arrange or view in a positive light, is simply an endurance of emotional and physical energy that leaves me exhausted at the end. I have learned some tips that help make the longs days less of a drain and dread.

1.       Rest This can be difficult because anxiety of the day ahead can make for a restless night. Try to keep a familiar routine of rest; certainly do not go to bed later, but try even 30-60 minutes earlier. Your payoff is stronger stamina and a better attitude throughout the day.
2.        Eating Often these long days make for eating poorly on the run. Make certain you begin with a healthy breakfast, bring fruit with for snacks or on the go eating. Avoid the high sugar, high starchy foods that give you a short boost or leave you sluggish and drowsy.
3.       Heart  The best thing for your emotional and physical heart is to pray to God about the day you are about to face. Tell Him your hopes and fears about the day. Ask God for solutions, peace and wisdom.

Enjoy the longest day of the year today and your long days that you experience in life.

What have you found helpful to live through long days?
Comment here:


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Honi the Circle Maker

6/20/2012

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I read about Honi the Circle Maker from excerpts of Mark Batterson’s book, The Circle Maker.  The story of Honi is recorded in the Talmud, the writings of Jewish tradition. Honi lived during the first century BC and had a special relationship with God. There was a terrible drought in the land of Israel. The rainy season had ended with no rain and they were entering the dry time of year. “When rain is plentiful, it’s an afterthought. During a drought, it’s the only thought.” Mark Batterson.

The people sent for Honi to pray for rain because they knew that God listened and answered Honi’s prayers. Honi prayed, but no rains came. Then Honi drew a circle in the dust around himself and told God that he would not leave the circle until He sent rain. It began to rain, but so little and light that the people came to complain to Honi. They told him that it was raining only enough to release Honi from his vow, but not enough to end the drought.

Honi turned his face to heaven and spoke to God, “Not for this type of rain did I pray, but for rain which would fill wells, cisterns and ditches.” The skies opened and rains came in torrents. Again the people came to Honi, this time crying out that the rain was beginning to flood and damage the land.

Honi turned his face to heaven once more and prayed, “Not for this type of rain did I pray, but for rain of your favor, blessing, and graciousness. The LORD heard Honi’s prayers and answered with a rain that refreshed the land. Every raindrop was an example of God’s goodness and grace.

The religious rulers sought to excommunicate Honi because they said he was dishonoring to God by placing demands on Him. The miracle was undeniable and Honi was honored because his bold prayers saved a generation. Honi gained the nickname, Circle Maker that day.

Mark Batterson gives practical application for us. “You can pray around a promise in Scripture for 21 days. You can pray circles around your children or your spouse or an unsaved coworker. You can pray circles around a challenge you’re facing or a sin you’re struggling with. You can pray circles around a dream God has put in your heart. You can pray circles around a change that needs to happen or a decision that needs to be made.”

Got any droughts in your life?
Make a circle and pray boldly.
 Comment here:


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Is God in a Good Mood?

6/19/2012

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I am in the middle of a book titled, “The Ultimate Treasure Hunt” written by Kevin Dedmon. Dedmon’s premise for the book is based on three parables in the Bible of lost things: a lost coin, a lost sheep and two lost sons. Jesus tells these parables back to back to show the high value God has for lost people to be found. Dedmon invites people to go on treasure hunts looking for lost treasure – people.

When going on treasure hunts, the author often tells people that God is in a good mood. Dedmon claims that the way we view God will determine the way we perceive His will. If we view God as a condemning and judging Father, we will tend to focus on the sin and short-comings of people. If we view God as a loving God who is always in a good mood towards us, we will believe that He always works towards redemptive solutions.

A friend of mine shared that his brother is angry at God. His brother’s wife left him and he believes God has a stick in His hand punishing him for mistakes he has made.  The Bible tells us that God is slow to anger and that all of us have sinned and come short of living pure lives.
Psalm 145:8
The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
We also read of God’s wrath against those who disobey Him.
Psalm 7:11
God
is a righteous judge, a God who expresses his wrath every day.

God is not moody like a person whose emotions take a roller-coaster ride each day and is unpredictable. God does have emotions, so Dedmon is helping us understand God by challenging us to think of Him using understandable terminology.

So, is God in a good mood today?

God’s attributes – His permanent qualities, His DNA – is that He is Great and He is Good. His Greatness is wrapped in God’s character of spirituality, personality, life, infinity, and constancy. God’s Goodness is wrapped in God’s character of purity, integrity and love. God is infinitely pure, infinitely genuine and truthful, infinitely loving.

When God’s judgment is upon a nation or individual, it is with a broken heart and not because God is in a bad mood. I agree with Kevin Dedmon that God is in a good mood. You are his highest treasure and He has a wonderful destiny for you to live out today.

Do you believe God is in a good mood?
Why or why not? Comment here:

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Go Ahead, Be Like a Little Child

6/18/2012

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In two days, my youngest niece will turn nine years old. Our extended family celebrated her birthday, along with two others this past Saturday. For my sister and brother-in-law, it was another birthday. My niece, however, showed excited emotion with every card and gift she opened. Our celebrating began at a local restaurant. Before we ordered, birthday cards were passed out. The grownups opened their cards and chuckled at the humorous birthday wishes. My niece, Natalie, opened hers and shouted out with joy that she got five dollars. Sure enough, there was a five dollar bill in the card that now was in her hand. She raised it high in the air and announced to everybody in the restaurant, “Hey, I got FIVE DOLLARS!”.

Children make every holiday and celebration an exciting event by their unabashed joy .  Even mundane trips to the grocery store become a great adventure with children. They see life with wonder and amazement that has its way of wearing off of us as we move more years further from childhood.

Maybe that is why Jesus tells us to become like a little child.
Mark 10:15-16
15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And He took the children in his arms, put His hands on them and blessed them.

The same joy that children receive gifts with unabashed joy is the way we should receive the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is salvation and the everyday living in His presence. The kingdom of God is His rule and reign.

So go ahead and be like a little child today. Each person that has Jesus as their highest treasure can shout out with joy that you got FORGIVENESS, GRACE, THE HOLY SPIRIT, PEACE, VICTORY, LOVE and many other good gifts.

What gift from the LORD are you celebrating today?
Comment here:

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    Mark Radeke

    Husband of one, father of five, pastor and friend of many.

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