Blog Archives - River of Life Church

10 Reasons Why You Must Read Through the Bible This Year

12/31/2013

Happy New Year!
I want to challenge you to read through the Bible in this new year.
Why? Top 10 reasons:
1. It will give you clarity and direction during the year. The Bible will light your path.
2. It will give you power to overcome sin.
3. Reading the Bible will give you freedom from hurts, habits & hang-ups. The Truth sets us free!
4. It will lead you to success. Joshua 1:8 “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.”
5. It will lead you to salvation.
6. It will show you how to live God's way.
7. You will read every verse in the Bible at least once.
8. You get a clearer sense of God's big story - the way He chose to record it for history.
9. Regular Bible reading is a good spiritual habit.
10. Having a "read through the Bible plan" gives structure to your Bible reading.

Web sites with read through the Bible plans:
http://www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans
http://www.ewordtoday.com/year/
http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/
Each site gives you options of Bible versions, reading chronologically, mobile version, and audio options.

I will read through the Bible again this year for the 31st time!
Here is what helps me:
>A consistent time and place to read each day.
>The readings grouped together so I am reading page to page instead of searching through the Bible.
>Just skipping and getting current if I get too far behind.
>The Holy Spirit.

Join me reading the Bible this year and see what happens to you because of God's Word!

What Will the Future Hold?

12/30/2013

People are interested in the future, especially as we near the end of this year and wonder what the new year holds for us. If you had a chance to view one day one year into the future, would you?

The spirit of Christmas Yet to Come, takes Ebenezer Scrooge one year into his future and Scrooge views scenes of the future. When he sees the sadness fill the home of his employee Bob Cratchit over the loss of Tiny Tim, Scrooge asks the spirit if the things he is seeing are events that are certain or what might be.

The Bible records that there are events in the future that are certain:
> The battle of good and evil in our world.
> The return of Jesus.
> Evil is defeated.
> A new heaven and new earth for those who follow Jesus.
> Hell for those who do not follow Jesus.
These are event determined by God and are certain to take place.

There are events that may or may not occur. They are dependent upon your action or choices.
> Serving the LORD or not serving Him.
Joshua 24:15
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
> Following Jesus or not following.
Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

You play a role in partnering with Jesus in transforming this world into His kingdom:
2 Peter 3:10-13
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

According to this passage, the new heaven and new earth will come earlier if you and I live holy and godly lives and delay if we do not. Like Ebenezer Scrooge, the events one year from now in your future depend upon your choices and actions.

Two Truths for the Dying

12/27/2013

Steve is a member of our church who is battling cancer. The cancer is winning and Steve’s body is dying. He has lost a significant amount of weight, eats very little and simple tasks exhaust his energy.

I visited Steve yesterday. He was in a hospital bed set up in the living room, so he could be near family activity. Steve is married and has two young children. His daughter is in first grade and his son is in preschool.

I shared two truths with Steve and his wife.
Psalms 103:2-5
Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and forget not all His benefits--
3 who forgives all your sins
    and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Fact: a benefit from the LORD is that He heals ALL diseases. We are praying for this healing and link other Bible verses on God answering prayer offered in faith as our basis of belief.

The second truth comes from Hebrews 9:27-28
Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.

Fact: every human being will die sometime.
The Bible teaches us that God heals all diseases and yet, everyone will die sometime.

Two truths.
We pray for a miracle healing for Steve.
We acknowledge God’s holy timing when Steve will pass from this life into forever life with the LORD.
For those whose faith is in Jesus Christ, these are two truths that should not conflict our faith, but complete our faith.

Christmas Aftermath and Rescue

12/26/2013

The days after Christmas are a unique blur of crumpled wrapping paper, containers of goodies, and a return to normal activities. The more days off you have over Christmas, the greater discombobulating of normal routines you experience. Returning to a regular work or school schedule can be a good feeling of a return to normalcy. It also carries a feeling of disappointment.

The aftermath following Christmas involves a sorting out of how well your expectations of Christmas were met by the meal, gift giving, and relationships of family and friends over the Christmas holiday. The important people in our lives are not going to remember this year’s Christmas by the quality of the meal or the quantity of gifts. Memories are strongest by the unexpected.

Christmas Day, my son cleared a patch of ice off on the pond. He and I were skating while my oldest son did a little more snow-blowing of the rink. His sudden yells brought our attention to my son’s dog struggling to get out of the water where she had broken through. She was exploring around a muskrat den and broke through where there was thin ice at the muskrat’s entrance.

My son pulled his dog out and went up to the house, skates and all, to get his dog into the warmth of our home. The pungent smell of musty swamp and wet dog filled the basement where soaked towels lay in heaps.

The birth of Jesus was the result of Father God having sent Him to rescue you and I from drowning in our sinful ways. Jesus carries us to shelter and warmth. He removes the pungent smell of your sin with His forgiveness. The best aftermath of Christmas is to celebrate your rescue and live out the special destiny God has planned for your life.

Psalms 103:2-5
Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and forget not all His benefits--
3 who forgives all your sins
    and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The Grit and Glory of Christmas

12/24/2013

The story of Christ, born in a barn in Bethlehem is paradoxical. It begins with a baby and closes with a king riding into battle. The close of the story is not the end, but a new beginning.

Stephen Altrogge works as a pastor at Sovereign Grace Church of Indiana, PA and wrote an article titled,” Why I Don’t Like Christmas Carols.”
Here is an excerpt:
“As I read through the Bible, it seems that the story of Jesus’ birth has a soundtrack running behind it.
It is an epic soundtrack, a thundering soundtrack, a soundtrack of war.
Of battle.
Of great, intense conflict.
When Jesus was born, the demonic powers shuddered with fear. They knew that the king had come, and that their doom was imminent. They did all they could to stop the king. They incited Herod to slaughter baby boys. But they could not stop God’s redemption plan.
Jesus’ birth is the story of light breaking into darkness, of hope bursting into gloom. It is the story of sadness being undone, and the demonic rulers being overrun.
It is the story of the King of Kings becoming a lowly, grasping, nursing, crying baby. It is the story of hidden glory.
The Christmas story is the story of a great warrior coming to rescue a helpless people. It’s a story of grit, and blood, and a rugged cross that awaited the newborn babe. The soft flesh of the babe would soon be punctured by nails. The smooth skin of the child would soon be ripped apart by a whip.
When I hear Christmas carols, I don’t hear the grit or the struggle or the rescue. I don’t hear the initial cracks and pops of Satan’s skull underneath Jesus’ foot……
But as we listen to their sweet melodies, let’s not forget about the glorious battle our Savior fought and won. Let’s remember the grit and the glory of what our Savior has accomplished. Let’s remember that the stable hung under the shadow of the cross.”

The prophet Isaiah offers some of the grit and glory.
Isaiah 9:5-7
Every warrior’s boot used in battle
    and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
    will be fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this.

Every take over and every rescue comes with a cost. The take over from satan’s rule and rescue of humankind came at the cost of Jesus’ life.

Randy Alcorn, author/speaker writes:
"The prayer of my heart this Christmas is that people would understand that Jesus is the person they were made by and made for—that they would understand that He loved them enough to go to the cross for them and pay the price for their sins so that they could live forever with Him on the New Earth, the eternal Heaven."

This Christmas, celebrate the grit and the glory of Jesus coming as a babe and returning as King.

Habakkuk - When God Seems Unfair

12/18/2013

The book of Habakkuk is read so little by me that I check my spelling when I write the name. Habakkuk was a prophet to the southern kingdom during the time of Jeremiah. The book in the Bible bearing Habakkuk’s name contains the conversation between God and Habakkuk.

Habakkuk asks God why the evil in Judah goes unpunished. God tells Habakkuk that He will use the Babylonian bad guys to punish Judah. Habakkuk asks how God, who is so holy that He cannot look on evil, use a wicked nation to punish Judah; even though Judah was doing evil, they were not as wicked as Babylon. God tells Habakkuk that Babylonia will also be punished and faithfulness will be rewarded. God’s answer causes Habakkuk to write a prayer expressing trust and joy in God.

My favorite verse in the three chapters of this book is Habakkuk 3:2.
Lord, I have heard of your fame;
    I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord.
Repeat them in our day,
    in our time make them known;
    in wrath remember mercy.

This prayer of Habakkuk is also my prayer for my family, my church, and our nation. I hope you have heard that the LORD is famous. I hope you have experienced God’s love in action in your life and are amazed. Let them be repeated today so more can know God. There is deserved judgment in our communities and countries, but LORD, remember Your mercy.

Memorize this verse and use it as a starting point of your prayers to the LORD this week.

Discovering Jesus

12/17/2013

She had never considered there was any “god” somewhere out there until recently. We met for the first time and when she learned that I was a pastor, she began to tell me her story. It is filled with a lot of choices that she recognized were harmful to her life; substance use, poor relationships with men, and living without any rules resulting in a broken life.

She has a family, no spouse, no housing and very limited finances. It was a cold, Minnesota winter day recently and she was filling up her car with gas. She was sitting in her car with her son, wondering how she would make it through another week when a person knocked on her window. When she rolled her window down, a stranger gave her some money and said, “Jesus is coming.”

This incident was followed by another person hearing about her current needs gave her money saying they believed God was compelling them to give. She received another gift of finances through a friend. A stranger who did not know her need and two people who did – all made reference to Jesus guiding them to give her a specific amount.

Her entire worldview is changing because she is discovering Jesus through people responding to promptings from the Lord and acting upon them. She is discovering Jesus and His great love for her.

Is God prompting you to an action of kindness today that may help someone discover Jesus?

Un-Scrooging Christmas

12/16/2013

A Christmas Carol was written by Charles Dickens and published December 17, 1843. It is the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a bitter, old miser and his transformation after he was visited by his former business partner, Jacob Marley and the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future.

Dickens wrote about poverty from personal experience. His own father was sent to debtor’s prison and Dickens’ family moved to prison with him. Charles life changed from being educated at elite schools to working in a blacking factory at the age of twelve. It was there he saw real and raw poverty. Charles Dickens was embarrassed of his past and kept those experiences secret for most of his life.

Scrooge, has become a well-known expression meaning stingy, miserly and miserable along with the phrase, “Bah-Humbug!”. It is easy to identify people that are Scrooges. You cannot change them, but you can change yourself. Ask yourself in what ways you are like Ebenezer Scrooge and consider how to Un-Scrooge yourselves this Christmas.

Shepherds in the Bible and still today are very common, blue-collar working class people. The book of Luke in the Bible shares how their lives were forever changed when they encountered Jesus in the stable.
Luke 2:15-20
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

What ways can you encounter Jesus more profoundly this Christmas?
Experiencing Jesus in your life will change you and melt away any Scrooge-like characteristics.

Re-read this passage with your friend, spouse or family member.
Ask God to meet you … in your place, like the shepherds.

What Was Nelson Mandela's Faith?

12/11/2013

I admit not knowing Nelson Mandela’s faith basis while admiring his life and legacy. I do know that Mandela was on his third marriage, was accused of being Communist and supported abortion. I read some articles that shared both positive and negative aspects of Mandela’s life.

Michael Trimmer’s article, Nelson Mandela and his Faith, in Christian Today, writes that, “Although it is almost universally agreed that he was a Christian, his exact denominational allegiances remain a source of discussion.” Some thought he was Jehovah’s Witness as some of his relatives were. Trimmer believes Mandela was a Methodist. Read Trimmer’s article at http://www.christiantoday.com/article/nelson.mandela.and.his.faith/34956.htm

Michael Gryboski is a reporter for The Christian Post and wrote an article titled, “Nelson Mandela Worth Commending Despite Ideological Differences, Say Evangelical and Conservative Christians”. Gryboski writes that Christian leaders commend Mandela’s work to end racism in South Africa, while differing with his views on abortion, communism, and Israel. Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/nelson-mandela-worth-commending-despite-ideological-differences-say-evangelical-and-conservative-christians-110395/

Michael Oh attended Mandela’s memorial service held yesterday and wrote an article, “Why Christians Should Care About Nelson Mandela, Justice and Gospel Proclamation” in Christianity Today. Oh writes, “Nelson Mandela was an imperfect man. Anyone who wants to find flaws in his life and put them on display will find them. But one lesson that rang deeply in my heart today was that we all have something to learn from him. Until I endure years of imprisonment, I'll at least hesitate before making him an easy target for criticism. And I only wish for myself and other Christians to live as courageous and conviction-filled a life as his, whether for earthly or heavenly causes. To live sparingly for the right cause with the right theology is nothing to be proud of.” Read Oh’s article at http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2013/december-web-only/why-christians-should-care-about-nelson-mandela.html?

I appreciate Oh’s reluctance to criticize Mandela until he had spent years in prison. I may never know on this side of eternity what Mandela’s relationship was with Jesus Christ. I am challenged from Oh’s article to live boldly like Mandela, for the right cause grounded by right theology.

What is your take?
Was Nelson Mandela a Christian?

7 Grand Openings in the Bible

12/9/2013

Our church held its Grand Opening yesterday. We moved into a new lease location and invited the community to a celebration Grand Opening. Earlier in the week, the new Aldi’s store in town held a Grand Opening. Also, the largest church building Grand Opening was held this spring when First Baptist Church in Dallas opened their $130 million dollar campus of their 10,000 member church.

The Bible describes seven Grand Openings.

1.       The Grand Opening of God creating all things. Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. God made all things out of nothing.

2.       Grand Opening of Humankind – Genesis 1:27 So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. Ahem, Earth meet humankind!

3.       Re-Grand Opening of Earth after the Flood: Genesis 8:15-17 Then God said to Noah, 16 “Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. 17 Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you—the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground—so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number upon it.” A new start for humanity and a promise rainbow reminding that the earth will never be destroyed no matter how bad the world becomes.

4.       The Grand Opening of Jesus’ birth. Luke 2:6-7 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. A baby born in a barn in Bethlehem held earth’s grandest opening – Jesus!

5.       A Grand Opening with nothing! Luke 24:6-8 He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered His words. The empty tomb was a Grand Opening with nothing to see.

6.       Holy Spirit Grand Opening: Acts 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. A Grand Opening of the promised Holy Spirit for all who ask.

7.       A Future Grand Opening: Revelations 21:1-4 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
This future Grand Opening is by acceptance of the invitation.
John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

This is a Grand Opening you do not want to miss because it begins now and lasts forever!