Blog Archives - River of Life Church

ATM's and an Honest Person

6/28/2013

Most of the banking I do is at the ATM before the bank opens. The technology amazes me, but I do not fully trust it, yet. It scans checks, so I do not need to enter an amount. It counts cash, up to 30 bills, so I do not need to enter the amount. I am amazed, but still watch that it is correct.

While depositing cash the other morning, the ATM took all, but one $20. I tried to deposit it again and it would not take it. The screen highlighted the serial number on the check. My mind gasped, “Must be a counterfeit bill!”. I tried again and the ATM refused to take it. I left vowing to return when the bank opened to see if I had some funny money on my hands.

I was in a meeting that morning and the bank left a message for me to call them. I was even more amazed and convinced that it was a counterfeit bill. Somehow the ATM machine alerted the bank that I was trying to put funny money into my account. Wow. I called them when the meeting was over and they told me they had my debit card.

My puzzlement over this $20 consumed my attention and I failed to take my card out! Someone found my card and put it in the night deposit box. I do not even know who to thank except the Lord Jesus for protecting me in my distraction. An honest person brought a God story to my day instead of a missing debit card with lots of charges racked up.

Psalms 121
I lift up my eyes to the mountains--
    where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip--
    He who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, He who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord watches over you--
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all harm--
    He will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.

Camping, Clutter and Throw-Away Thursdays

6/27/2013

There are two types of people - those who enjoy camping and those who hate camping. Just about as polarized as those who love sauerkraut and those who hate it. (I have not checked the stats to see of those who hate sauerkraut love to go camping or not.) Most of our church family loves camping indicated by the majority of our church signed up for the All Church Family Camp this weekend.

Camping has its degrees of difficulty and comfort. Spending a week in the Boundary Waters and spending a week at a modern campground are two different styles of camping. We are doing the “wimpy” camping. The campground we will be at has electric hookups at each site, showers, AND flush toilets.

So the 37 of us will pack up our gear and head north this Friday.
Gear.
The more the merrier.
Me to my wife, “Honey, should I bring the blow dryer?”
“Dear, you are balding and you do not have a single hair over 1/2 “ long.”
My reply, “I will keep it out just in case.”

When we head into the Boundary Waters it is difficult to pack light knowing that packing heavy is an issue by the third portage. “Honey, I am going to leave the Lazy Boy by this rock here and we will pick it up on the way home.”

I read an article about a person wishing to simplify their life and reduce some of the “stuff” that is cluttering their world. They established “Throw-away Thursdays”. Every Thursday, they would find something they were no longer using and either sell it, give it to a local good will shelf, or recycle it.

I am haphazardly trying out “Throw-away Thursday’s” in my life. Today, I will look in the closet and see a number of shirts and pants that I rarely wear. I will look in our garage and see items rarely used. I will go to the basement and see a year of “Throw-away Thursday” possibilities.

There is something freeing and liberating that happens when I find a new home for stuff that is clutter that is often in the way, taking up space and rarely used.

“Honey, let’s not bring the recliner to camp this year. I will bring it to Good Will.”
Passing it on.

Colossians 3:1-2
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Sometimes, God Confuses Me

6/26/2013

The Bible does not hold back; it gives the good, bad and the ugly aspects of people. There are men and women who did not compromise in their life of following God. There are men and women who followed God and compromised with some strong repercussions from God. And finally, there are men and women who followed God and compromised with nary a mention of their lack of integrity.

Rahab lied to protect the two spies sent from Israel. Jehu set up a scheme to trick the prophets of Baal to come worship their false god and Jehu had them all killed. King David pretended to be insane in the presence of an enemy king to keep from being killed. All of these and more got away with their devious actions. In fact, they received safety, protection and advantage through their deceitfulness.

Gehazi lies and gets leprosy. Ananias and Sapphira lie and get zapped.

I am confused and want more of an answer than, “God’s ways are higher than our ways.” God’s ways are higher, but it does not explain the blatant differences. God did not have a bad day and decided to really give it to people and others days He was in a better mood and ignored their sinful actions. It certainly is not a matter of the ends justifying the means. It is not consistent to allow evil to accomplish a greater good.

The best explanation I have read comes from an article titled, “The Bible is Not Full of Contradictions or Errors” from the website pleaseconvinceme.com. Here is a portion of the article:

“Just Because the Bible Describes Something, It Doesn’t Mean that God Approves It!”
Sometimes critics of the Bible (or critics of Christianity in general) point to an evil or corrupt situation described in the Bible and argue that God (or Christianity) approves of the situation or is the source of the evil. This is not always the case. Remember that just because a Biblical writer writes about something, this does not mean that God condones it or supports it. A condition that is described in the lives of Biblical characters isn’t always a condition that God would want for those same Biblical characters!

The Example of Polygamy in the Bible
There are certainly a number of Old Testament characters who were married to more than one wife at a time. These characters were described in the scriptures and many of them seem to have been blessed by God! David and Solomon both had large harems, and were often blessed by God in one way or another. Do these examples of polygamy on the part of revered patriarchs indicate that God accepts or endorses the behavior? No, you’ve got to remember that the fact that something is described in the Bible (even without open condemnation) does not mean that it is endorsed by God. You’ve got to do enough reading to understand the true desire of God on any particular issue. The Bible says that God’s original intention was for one man to be married to only one woman, ( as seen in Genesis 2:24). But men quickly perverted the concept of marriage to allow for multiple wives (by the time of Genesis 4:19). And while the Bible does not specifically condemn the practice of polygamy until the New Testament (see 1 Timothy 3:2), that doesn’t mean that God approved of polygamy before this time! God said early in the Old Testament that kings were not supposed to take multiple wives (take a look at Deuteronomy 17:14-20) and these kings were to be the example for other believers as well (see 1 Timothy 3:2 & 12, and Titus 3:12). From the very beginning, anyone who had more than one wife was in sin and was living in opposition to God’s will. If you take a close look at the lives of David and Solomon, you will see that their sin of polygamy did not come without a price. Look at what happened to Solomon:

1 Kings 11:3-4
He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God…

Just because something is described in the Scriptures, don’t be fooled into thinking that God endorses it. Even when the scriptures seem silent on an issue, a careful reading will reveal the nature of sin and the heart of God.

That helps settle some of the issues for me.
How about you?

Will You Blossom or Blow-up?

6/25/2013

This coming weekend most of our church will travel a couple hours north and spend three days together at a campground. Even with electrical hookups, water and a shower house, our camping will take us out of our comfort zones. We will see each other early in the morning before coffee or other normal routines that move us from the morning zombie-like appearance to something publicly presentable. We will cook simpler meals over a campfire and camp stoves. We will battle mosquitoes and sunburn.

Our time together will be equal to four months of Sundays. Relationships blossom or blow-up with extended periods of time spent together, sometimes both. It is not surprising that the Bible records conflicts among the disciples, especially while they were spending 24/7 time with each other while following Jesus.

The disciples argued about who among them was the greatest. They were furious when they heard that James, John and their mother talked to Jesus about getting the best seats in heaven. The disciples were pointing the blame at each other for not bringing bread with them while traveling.

Jesus used those conflicts to draw His followers closer to Himself and each other. Jesus pointed them to a higher standard, a higher purpose and a higher calling. He does the same for you and I today.

Colossians 3:12-14
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Next time your church has a camp-out, retreat, short-term mission trip or extended conference, sign up to see how Jesus changes you when out of your comfort zone and conflicts occur.

What I Wish I Taught My Kids About Choosing a Good Friend

6/24/2013

Friendships make an incredible impact on your life and the life of your friends. Choosing a good friend that becomes a close friend is critical. Now that my children are all young adults, I hear great parenting tips that I wish I had when they were young. I am proud of my kids and rather amazed at how well they turned out in spite of things I did not do or teach them.

I heard a sub-point of a message by James MacDonald during a Walk in the Word broadcast that I think will help children make and keep solid friendships. To hear or learn more about MacDonald’s ministry go to jamesmacdonald.com.

Be proactive. Choose your friends or they will choose you. Most often, those choosing to be a friend of your child’s will bring an influence of values that is not shared. Four important categories of choosing a good friend:
1.       Eternity – Choose a friend that is going the same direction as you.
2.       Affinity – Choose a friend that is doing the same things as you.
3.       Chemistry – Choose a friend that is feeling the same way as you.
4.       Loyalty – Choose a friend that is standing with you and for you.

This is not to say that there should be no friendships among those who is not going, doing, feeling or standing with you. It is saying that your close friends should share these traits.

Proverbs 12:26
     The righteous choose their friends carefully,
    but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

Making the Most of the Longest Day of the Year

6/21/2013

Today, June 21, is the longest day of the year for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. The summer solstice marks the official beginning of summer and the longest day of daylight. In Minnesota, we love the early morning sunrise and having daylight late into the evening. The downside is that beginning tomorrow the days get shorter until December 21.

So, what can we do to make the most of our days, long or short.

1.       Rest. This may seem like an item that should be last on the list or not even make the list. However, the best way to make the most of each day is to wake up fresh and refreshed from having rested well during the 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.       Plan. Make a personal agenda for each day. There are things that are required for you to do at your workplace and in your home. Include them on your agenda because it lets you know what time blocks are open for those activities you can set. I have a calendar on my laptop that I keep appointments, events and activities listed. I have a to-do list on paper that I keep with me of things I must do and things I wish to do each day.

3.       Pray. Your planning should involve God. 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.

4.       Celebrate. Acknowledge victories that you accomplish throughout the day. Too often, we miss celebrating our successes because we quickly move on to the next item that is demanding our attention. Something as silly as giving yourself a personal applause when you do something well can brighten your day and bring an amazing amount of satisfaction.

Ephesians 5:15-17
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

Enjoy the longest day of the year today and everyday that you experience in life.
What have you found helpful to live through long days?
Comment here:

What Happens After This Life?

6/20/2013

If you say the word “afterlife” you grab the attention of everyone around you. There is a lot of curiosity about life after this life. People wonder if there is a light that we follow that leads us to our next place. Many jokes have Peter at pearly gates monitoring who gets to enter. The ancient Egyptian rulers built elaborate tombs with the hope of another life. Today, for about $30,000 a person can be cryogenically frozen upon death. There are over 200 people in a frozen state at cryonics centers in the US and about 2000 signed up for it with hopes that a future cure will allow them to live longer.

The Bible tells us that death will happen to all until Jesus returns. After death, our bodies will be resurrected and each will be judged.

The Bible refers to death as sleep, giving the impression that the whole person - body, soul and spirit – is not conscience or non-existent. At the end of this age all the dead will awaken. This belief is called soul-sleep. The problems with this belief are the Bible verses that indicate a consciousness after death. Jesus tells a story of a rich man and Lazarus that are aware of their surroundings at death and communicating. On the cross, Jesus told the thief that he would be with Him in paradise on that same day.

The belief in purgatory comes from the inter-testamental book of Maccabees. The wicked go to hell, those perfect in grace and penitence go to heaven and those not spiritually perfect go to purgatory or temporary punishment. Time in purgatory is shortened by the prayers, mass and the good works done by those on earth. The problems with this belief are the Bible verses that state our righteousness is based on the acceptance of God’s grace and not on works.

Scripture supports an intermediate state between death and resurrection. The Bible distinguishes between Hades and Gehenna. Hades is a temporary place for the wicked and Gehenna is the permanent place of suffering for the wicked. The righteous do not go to Hades, but to Paradise. At the end of the age we receive a resurrected body and judgment. This is a wonderful day for Christians and a terrible day for those who rejected God’s grace.

Even with careful study of Scripture, there are differing views and a limited amount of verses that clearly explain what happens after death and before resurrection. Most agree that:

The righteous and unrighteous will all experience death unless they are alive when Jesus returns.

The believer in Jesus should not fear death because God has overcome it.

I believe there is an intermediate state between death and resurrection. It is not purgatory, but because the believer’s relationship is based on grace and not works. There is a forever life after this life and where you and I spend it depends on our choice today to love and follow Jesus Christ.

What do you think happens after this life?
Comment here:

The Refrigerator Died

6/19/2013

The Radeke refrigerator quit keeping things cold about four months ago. It continually runs and keeps things cool. The freezer portion will freeze ice cubes, but if you put in a can of frozen orange juice it is not cold enough to keep it frozen; it becomes liquid.

I talked to an appliance repair person about what may be wrong with the refrigerator. The first question asked was the age of the appliance. 16 years. We bought it new 16 years ago, so it still seems new to me. The truth was shared to me that the normal life span of an appliance is 12 years. Of course I think things should last forever or until Jesus returns, whichever comes first. It was explained to me that the cost of repair would exceed the value of our appliance.

My wife I and just paid off a new furnace. The old furnace was as old as the refrigerator. We began saving for a refrigerator and decided to buy a new scratch and dent or a used refrigerator. I was passively looking online for used appliances.

Two days I heard a strange noise in our kitchen. Actually, it was not a noise, but a strange silence. The refrigerator that never stops running stopped running. My wife is gone this week with some friends at a cabin, so I was handling the panic alone. It did start up again, but my intensity of searching for a new/used refrigerator stepped up to a new level. A couple emails, a couple phone calls, a trip to look, an offer, a counter-offer and we have a refrigerator.

A friend helped me unload and bring it into our home. The plan was to take a couple days to transfer food from one to the other and be proud to show off the replacement fridge when my wife returned. She had given approval, having seen a picture of the fridge before she left.

This morning the fridge was running, but the ice had melted. I was very thankful that a transfer was able to be quickly made.

I am glad I have not treated my relationship with Jesus Christ like I treated our dying refrigerator. Each of us is constantly running, but our performance is not making it and at some point in time we will die like our furnace, our fridge and everything else in this world.

Accidents and health issues cause people to intensify their spiritual search. The Lord is ready and waiting for us to reach out to Him. There is no bartering for a price because He paid it all. Make the switch before it is too late.

Why Did God Do It That Way?

6/18/2013

Do you ever read the Bible and wonder why God did things a certain way? Do you ever wonder about certain life events and wonder why God did it that way and not another way? This morning I read about an experience Elijah had with God that has left me wondering.

Elijah has come off of a great victory at Mount Carmel where God showed Himself real over the false gods of Baal. King Ahab wants to kill Elijah because all the prophets of Baal were killed. Elijah has run away to Mount Horeb and God asks Elijah a question and Elijah answers the LORD.

1 Kings 19:9-10
There he went into a cave and spent the night.
And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

God tells Elijah to go stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD because He was going to pass by. An incredible wind goes by that is shattering rocks and tearing at the mountain, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind an earthquake came, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. A fire followed the earthquake, but still, the LORD was not in the fire. After the violent wind, earthquake and fire a gentle whisper came. It was the LORD.

1 Kings 19:13-14
When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

Same question, same answer.

God gives Elijah instructions for what He wants Elijah to do next.

The experience has a hint of Moses’ experience of the LORD passing by Moses. It has wind and fire elements that were part of the Pentecost experience in Acts 2. I wonder if Elijah needed what we need at times, a special encounter with the living God.

I am still wondering why God did it this way.

What are your thoughts on this?

Comment here:

3 Things Every Father Must Do

6/17/2013

Father’s dramatically impact several social issues in America. The data on the negative effects of father absence on: poverty, maternal and child health, incarceration, crime, teen pregnancy, child abuse, drug   and alcohol use, education and childhood obesity can be seen at: http://www.fatherhood.org/media/consequences-of-father-absence-statistics#sthash.c3yqbGJy.dpuf

The “Father Factor” in homes, families and our society is powerful.

Most fathers want to be a good parent to their children. Mistakes are made out of a lack of intentionality. I believe there are three things every Christian father must intentionally do.

1.       Feed. The Bible talks about God’s words being sweeter than honey. Feed on scripture daily. Talk and listen to the Lord throughout the day. You eat every day and you must feed yourself spiritually every day. You do not have to go to Bible college or attend seminary to be an extraordinary father to your children. You just need to spend time with Jesus.
Acts 4:13
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

2.       Seed. Plant into the lives of your children. Scatter seeds of encouragement, generous forgiveness, quick apologies, and show transparency. Your children will never forget the words you say to them through your tears and they will never forget the grace you pour over them when you accept their apologies and forgive their failings.
Luke 15:20-24
So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

3.       Lead. Have high expectations. Harvey Mackay author of “Outswimming the Sharks” tells this story of his father: “Jack Mackay taught me about time management. I still remember him telling me, “If you want to go fishing tomorrow, be on the dock at 2pm sharp.” There I was at 2:05pm, waving bon voyage to my dad who was driving away in the boat without his fishing buddy. Tough love, lesson learned.””

Have high expectations and consistently lead in doing the right things even when it is difficult or unpopular.
Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

In what ways did your father feed, seed, and lead?
Comment here:

Happy Father’s Day!