Blog Archives - River of Life Church

Garden Weeds and Holiness

7/15/2017

Starting Over

7/10/2017

The 11pm phone caller was from our church and told me the firefighters were putting out a fire in their garage. The family was visiting her husband's parents who live across the field from their house. While walking back to their home, her husband noticed smoke and then flames from their garage.

Now that the fire is out, the fire marshall is checking for the cause of the fire and the insurance agent is assessing damage. Their two cars parked on the garage pad are burned. Fire damage extended from the garage to the kitchen, living room and attic. Fire, smoke and water from putting out the fire have extensively damaged everything they owned. They are starting over.

The families hope is in Jesus and they acknowledge that stuff is just stuff. They are grateful for being left with the things they cannot replace, their four girls and each other. Their hope is in God and they are not shaken.

Psalm 62:5-6 (NIV)
5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from Him.
6 Truly He is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

A Cool Swim

7/6/2017

The temperature got into the low 70's and my mother-in-law wanted to go to a beach for a swim. She loves swimming and brought her suit even though we told her it is too cold to swim in Minnesota and that the water is colder in Alaska. Goose Lake is in near the university district of Anchorage. It was the happening place today with lots of people at the beach.

Kids were swimming, but nobody in our group wanted to try a quick dip. My daughter put her toes in and immediately decided against the idea. My mother-in-law never made it to the water. I thought that it could not be much colder than dipping in the Boundary Waters on Memorial Day, so in I went.

Cold it was. Fortunately, the air was warm, so when I came out of the freezing water I felt warmer right away. Jesus, brings a real and lasting change when we step out of our cold waters and into the warmth of His love.

18 Hours, 59 Minutes

7/5/2017

Today, the sun rose at 4:33am and will set tonight at 11:33pm, in Anchorage, Alaska. My wife, mother-in-law and I are visiting our daughter and husband in Anchorage. We are going to bed later than when we are home. Yesterday, at my mother-in-law's suggestion, we went for a walk at 10:35pm. Because it was July 4th, there were occasional fireworks going off. They were not very visible because it was still broad daylight.

However, there were two minutes and forty-four seconds less daylight than yesterday. Daylight continues to shrink until December 21, when their daylight lasts only five hours and twenty-seven minutes.

There will be a day when we can walk without any time of the day and it will be light. In fact, there will be no night time ever again. Jesus will light the earth with His presence, so there will be light 24/7.

Revelation 22:5 (NIV)
There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

Fourth of July - Rwanda

7/4/2017

The following is written by Steve Fredlund, who has been to Rwanda and leads Our Response, a partnership with World Vision bringing transformation to Kivaruga, Rwanda, by united East Central Minnesota to respond to global poverty, disease and suffering:

Both The USA and Rwanda celebrate liberation today. One the founding of a new, independent nation. The other the end of 100 days of massacre of a million people. One is still figuring out a path forward amidst changing culture and demographics in a global society while the other is still figuring out a path forward still bearing scars from just 23 years ago. Today I celebrate my freedom to believe, protest, and discuss my unique ideas within the context of being part of a broader national community... and I celebrate with my Rwandan brothers and sisters how they have been able to take the concept of unity to extreme measures to survive as a nation. Grateful for both America and Rwanda -- and that I have been able to be part of both stories.

I (Mark) joined Steve in the first trip to Rwanda and am privileged to celebrate independence and liberation day today.

A Moose and Me

7/1/2017

This morning, I took my daughter's bike and rode to the Campbell Creek Trail. It is a scenic trail that winds along a gurgling creek. I was a little concerned about remembering how to get back without getting lost and turned around after a few miles.

It was pleasing to see landmarks that reminded me I was on the right trail and thought that it would be nice to see a moose in the woods or at the small lake the trail went around. Coming around a bend I met a cow moose that was browsing on the edge of the bike trail. I made a quick evasive move to the opposite edge of the path, while the moose continued to browse peacefully.

I had not expected to get that close to a moose! The cows have calved and warnings in the area cautioned people to respect cows with calves, warning that moose could be protective. There was no calf in sight and I paused a safe distance down the trail to observe this long-legged creature that I had passed within a couple yards of touching her.

Our lives are like my experience on the bike trail. You and I hope for something special and it surprises us unexpectedly. You do not know if it is a threat or a treat. Safety is only found by trusting in Jesus Christ during our life journeys.

Psalm 37:3
Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.