Blog Archives - River of Life Church

Kivaruga, Rwanda

7/31/2013

A team of ten from our community brought their luggage packed for twelve days in Africa and carpooled to the airport this morning. There was excitement and apprehensiveness in the air. They had an itinerary of where they would be staying, going, visiting, relaxing and debriefing.

Rwanda is a beautiful country of rolling hills, mountains and grassy lowlands. In French, it has been named ‘Pays des Mille Collines’ meaning ‘Country of a Thousand Hills’. Its’ beautiful Lake Kivu has one of the most spectacular shorelines in the world.

The first stop the team will make is at Kigali’s Genocide Memorial Center built on a site where over 250,000 people are buried. It is a sobering exhibition of the Rwandan genocide in 1994 when in 100 days over 1,000,000 people were brutally murdered. The building also documents other genocides around the world.

This sobering stop gives a framework of how a country was wounded, is healing and moving forward in reconciliation. Rwanda is also healing from HIV and AIDS epidemic. This affects 2.9% of Rwanda’s population where approximately 210,000 are living with HIV. The genocide and AIDS have over 660,000 children orphaned.

One of the team members has six pairs of shoes in their luggage. They will meet villages of people who cannot afford any shoes. Their average income is equal to $570 US dollars. In spite of these desperate statistics, the team will find the Rwandan people filled with joy and hope. Most of the people have found their hope and joy in Jesus Christ.

When the team returns in twelve days they will puzzle over Christians in the US that lack joy and hope. They will struggle with their own sense of peace while adjusting to one of the highest standards of living in the world. They are already people making a global difference through child sponsorships, micro-financing and actively living with less.

The words of Jesus become clearer.

Matthew 5:1-12
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and He began to teach them.
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Copacabana's 3 Million Beach Mass

7/29/2013

Pope Francis delivered a Sunday message and Mass to an estimated 3 million people gathered on 2.5 miles of Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana beach front. This was his final stop of a week-long trip in Brazil for World Youth Day (WYD). WYD is celebrated every two to three years in a different city around the world.

WYD is a gathering of young people from all over the world with the Pope. It is a meeting to build and strengthen the bonds of faith, friendship and hope, symbolizing the union between people of different cultures and countries. WYD is a testimony of a living Church that is continually being renewed. The main goal of WYD is to inspire young people with Christ's message.

“Jesus is calling [on] you to be a disciple with a mission,” Francis told the crowd, according to CatholicHerald.co.uk. He added that the best way to evangelize the young is another young person, and that the Church needs their enthusiasm, creativity and joy.

“Dear young people Jesus Christ is counting on you, the Church is counting on you, the Pope is counting on you!” Francis said.

Francis has spent the week emphasizing a core message: of the need for Catholics, lay and religious, to shake up the status quo, get out of their stuffy sacristies and reach the faithful on the margins of society or risk losing them to rival churches.

Pope Francis’ message can be repeated in our church and among Protestant churches. Our threat is not the risk of losing them to rival churches, but a roving enemy called the devil. Young people shake up the status quo because they are bold and want to make a difference in our communities and world. It is clear that Jesus Christ is counting on them and the church needs to make room for their ideas and leadership.

Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Young people must read 1 & 2 Timothy. It gives directives to change the world around you.

1 Timothy 4:11-14
Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

Those who are not young should read those books so they can value youth as God does and give them room to change our world.

Summer Camp

7/26/2013

My daughter is leaving this Saturday to serve as a leader to a group of students in our community going to a Young Life camp in Michigan. My two nieces each attended a Bible camp in our state on separate weeks for their age group. I am excited about what happens at Christian camps each summer.

I remember growing up and going to a Bible camp for a week every summer from the fourth grade through high school. . Playing sports was a highlight for me each year. I recall the year one of the counselors was blind and I prayed I would not end up in his cabin because I did not think it would be fun. Joel was one of my favorite counselors and the Lord taught me much about my shallow attitudes. Each year was spiritually impacting.

If you went to camp with a spiritual emphasis while growing up, go back and think for a moment what stands out in your mind.

I have volunteered as a counselor at a Bible camp, served at a Christian hockey camp and last night spent five hours at our county fair helping raise money at a dunk tank that helps send kids to camp this summer. If a Christian camp was a part of your spiritual transformation, consider the impact you can make for a young person by volunteering and financially sponsoring a student this summer.

I would like to hear how camp impacted your spiritual life.
Share what you are doing to help make a difference this summer.
Post your comments here:

It's A Boy!

7/24/2013

Britain and most of the world celebrated the birth of a baby boy to Prince William and Kate. Yesterday, Kate and William gave the public their first view of the royal baby. Later that day, they left the hospital to their home, Apartment 1A in Kensington Palace. Apartment 1A is still in process of being remodeled and the couple has not finished decorating the nursery. Their home sounds humbling, until one discovers Apartment 1A is a 20 room space.

Jesus was born in a stable. Scripture does not tell us how long Joseph and Mary remained there. We know they stayed in Bethlehem for at least eight days when Jesus was presented in the temple at Jerusalem. The Magi may have visited Jesus before or after this time, but not on the day of His birth. After the Magi left, the LORD appeared to Joseph in a dream warning him of Herod and directing them to go to Egypt. After Herod died, they returned and settled in their hometown of Nazareth.

Jesus did not grow up in a 20 room apartment, yet He was the most royal baby in history and forever. Jesus is the king of kings and lord of lords. He is the son of God, in fact, God in flesh. Most of the press of the day missed seeing Jesus. While Jesus was on this earth, many met Him. Today, hundreds of thousands encounter Jesus in a real relationship. The way to begin that relationship has not changed over the course of history.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Jim Was Lost

7/23/2013

I found Jim this morning. After dropping my wife of at her workplace I noticed a man waving to the car in front of me. As I passed by, he waved to me also, but it was a wave to get attention. I circled back and met Jim. Jim is a senior citizen who was standing outside the school district office in our community. He said he was there for a prayer meeting. He told me he was dropped off, but was uncertain about where he was. Jim was disorientated, cold and the dew on his slippers indicated he had walked from somewhere.

I had him warm up in my car and a 911 call brought two police officers who recognized Jim and knew he was from the nearby cul-de-sac. Jim had lost his way and memory issues brought him to a default that remembered gathering for prayer.

The Bible says that every person is like a sheep that is lost, cold and does not know the way to go.
Isaiah 53:6a
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;

Life is confusing without Jesus and we need to know the way home. The 911 call to Jesus will restore you.

Kate Middleton's Hospital and Mary's Stable

7/22/2013

Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, was admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital this morning. She is in the early stages of labor to a baby that will be third in line to the throne of Great Britain following Charles, Prince of Wales, and Kate’s husband William, Duke of Cambridge, grandson of Queen Elizabeth II.

The public and press have been camping outside St. Mary’s Hospital for over a week waiting for this day to arrive. It is a very significant event in England that is also receiving attention from around the world. St. Mary’s Hospital was the birthplace of Prince William and his brother, Prince Harry.

The birth of Kate and Williams' baby will be announced first to the queen. A royal aide with a signed bulletin bearing the Buckingham Palace letterhead will give the announcement to an official who will be driven to Buckingham Palace. After the queen receives the news it will then be posted on an easel in front of the palace and made public.

Mary and Joseph were in a stable because there were no available rooms in Bethlehem during the census. While Kate will have the best doctors and nurses staffed for this royal birth, Mary and Joseph were alone in a barn. There were no reporters standing by and no crowds waiting. Angels announced Jesus’ royal birth to shepherds in a field watching their sheep during the night.

Today, tomorrow or perhaps even the next day, the world will be told of Kate and Williams' baby. It may be a while before a name is announced. William was not named until a week after his birth and his father, Charles, was not named until a month passed.

Mary’s baby was announced before He was born; even before Mary was pregnant.

Luke 1:26-31
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.

There is a day coming when the world will know the name of Kate and Williams' royal baby. There is a greater day coming when the world will know and bow to the name of Jesus.

Philippians 2:9-11
Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place
and gave Him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

While awaiting news from St. Mary’s Hospital, make certain that the royal birth of Jesus Christ has made a difference in you life!

Steering Your Thoughts

7/16/2013

A gift given on a cold Minnesota Christmas last year was finally used on a hot, humid 90plus degree day. I gave a round of golf to two of my golf playing sons last year that I made good on at a local golf course. The three of us had an afternoon tee time, two carts and an open course with most people retreating to their air-conditioned homes during the hottest time of the day.

There was a breeze out and aside from one of my sons getting sun-burned legs, it was pretty good to be out wacking a small dimpled ball into a cup. The front nine was dismal for each of us. I three-putted every green. I would read the slope of the green and try to place the approach putt within two feet of the pin. After a few holes I found myself thinking that I would miss. Even on putts inside four feet from the hole the thought that I would miss dominated my mind. I missed almost every putt that I thought I would miss.

Our thoughts can be like a steering wheel. The direction you point your thoughts matter. If you think you will fail, it is very likely that you will fail. If yours thoughts morally stink, it is very likely that your actions will morally stink.

God calls us to steer our thoughts in the direction of His character.
Philippians 4:8
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.

Steer your thoughts towards these qualities and the areas of your life that have missed the mark will change. Confidence and peace from the presence of God will fill your life.
Philippians 4:9
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Today, begin to putt, excuse me, put into practice steering your thoughts towards truth, nobility, rightness, purity, loveliness, admirable things, excellence and praise.

The Trayvon Travesty

7/15/2013

The verdict is in and the jurors declared George Zimmerman not guilty of second degree murder or manslaughter of Trayvon Martin. On February 26 a few seconds after 7:16pm seventeen year old Martin was shot by 29 year old Zimmerman.

Remarkablog is a blog about reactions to news and events through the lens of Scripture. The incident above occurred in Florida, many miles away from Minnesota. It occurred in a gated community between a black teenager and a neighborhood watch volunteer, the son of a white father and Hispanic father.

The question was not whether Zimmerman shot and killed Martin, the question was whether he acted in self-defense or did he act in hatred and evil intent. My observations made from a distance:
>Zimmerman was a neighborhood watch volunteer who wanted to be a police officer.
>Zimmerman despised young trouble-making teenagers.
>Martin was a young trouble-making teenager.
>Martin and Zimmerman got into a close, hand-to-hand fight.
>Martin’s life was ended by a gunshot.
>White women generally are distrusting and fearful of black men. The all-woman jury consisted of five whites and one non-white.

The travesty is that both men could have avoided this conflict. The travesty is that racism may have been given greater footing through this verdict. The travesty is that a seventeen year old young man never got to live out his God-appointed destiny.

Aside from armchair observations, what can be gained from this outcome?
>Every conflict is an opportunity to add fuel or water to the fire.
>Every conflict has the potential for God’s glory to be displayed through resolution, restoration and resolve.
>Every person will be judged by the perfect judge who sees all, knows all, and is perfect in His justice.

Romans 14:10-12,19
10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11 It is written:
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will acknowledge God.’”
12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

Horizontal Places and Organizing Tips

7/10/2013

A strong indicator that disorganization has snuck into my world is a look at my horizontal places; my bed, dresser, bathroom counter, dinner table, desk in the study, garage, the inside of my car, office desk and any horizontal place that I touch.

There is a good feeling when our horizontal places are picked up and orderly. Productivity is not sacrificed looking for something that is misplaced or hidden in the jungle. What usually happens is that one place gets messy and it is not a big deal. Soon another place is a mess and another and another. Finally, I cannot take it anymore and I assault those messy places with fury.

Why do we let our world get so disorganized?
Because it takes time to keep things in order.
The reality is that it takes more time when your horizontal places are disorganized.
It is frustrating spending time looking for something that is not where it should have been.

A good strategy:
First things first.
> The top of the dresser is NOT to be used as a storage unit.
> Make the bed before leaving the bedroom.
> Handle things one time means not leaving it on a counter, dashboard, or desk waiting to be moved, handled, moved to a different spot and FINALLY put way.
> End of the day before leaving the office desk, take a look to see what needs to be filed, discarded, or put into the hands of another.
> Before going to bed, picking up and putting away makes the world more conquerable in the morning.

Luke 15:8-9
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’

What organizational tips do you have for keeping horizontal places clean?

Bathtubs, Fear, and Who We Are in Jesus Christ

7/9/2013

Sarah Newton spoke at our church last Sunday, July 8 while I was stealing church ideas from a church up north.

Sarah has a great sense of humor and uses it to sneak a compelling challenge to her listeners. I just listened to Sarah’s message on the website and was very encouraged. The audio begins with an introduction by Jessie Baker.
Sarah shares:

The "Crazy Place" of fear
Daddy 911
How much does fear keep you captive in a bathtub?
Romans 8:14-17
Do not live in fear because you have a really, really good Father!