Category: - River of Life Church

On the Calendar; Not on the Calendar

9/18/2012

The mornings are darker and the evenings are notably shorter. Autumn begins this Saturday and I am expecting daylight savings time to end soon. I looked at the calendar this morning to see what weekend the time change will occur. The time change does not happen in September; not in October either. It is not until the first weekend in November that we fall back one hour.

Even though I am surprised by how late the time change occurs this year, now that I know what weekend it happens I am okay with the date. Not that I have any authority to change the date if I did not agree with the scheduling of the time change.It is on the calendar, it is in my head and somehow that settles it much more than when I was wondering and unaware.

When Jesus Christ was on this earth there was no such thing as daylight savings time. Jesus told his followers about a much bigger event that was to come: His return to the earth. Jesus said He would be crucified, be in the tomb three days, rise from the dead, ascend to heaven and return again. The people saw all those things happen except one: the return of Jesus.

We cannot put the date of His return on the calendar, but it is as certain as the seasons change and no person has the authority to know when that day is or to make any changes. Knowing that Jesus is coming back must be in your head and more importantly in your heart.

Matthew 24:36
36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

Somehow, we got it Wrong

7/25/2012

There is a newer song out that has the phrase, “They know what we stand against….” The song is referring to people knowing what Christians are against more than they know what Christians are for. R. Loren Sandford in an article titled, “Foolishness and a Change of Strategy” (Charisma April 2012) addresses the need for Christians to adopt a new “kingdom” plan.

Sandord writes, “It doesn’t take a prophet to point out that our nation is in trouble and that the trouble we’re facing won’t go away anytime soon.” He lists crisis points in the history of the United States where God provided great men and women to lead our nation through the crisis. Our nation has not always lived out fully godly values, but it did acknowledge God and His place in our nation at cultural and governmental levels.

Currently, our court decisions, laws, and policies reveal that we no longer truly respect or follow the Lord. I appreciate Sandford’s caution, “Yet this is not a time for Christians to attempt to exert influence through shrill, judgmental and angry statements.” People already know what we are against.

I get too many emails forwarded that use fear and slander to either fuel blame at our current president, battle for the need to post the Ten Commandments in public places as the solution for our spiritual drift, and rallying Christians for a marriage amendment vote that will keep our nation from embracing homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle.

I agree with the need for holiness in our nation, but somehow we got it wrong. Legislating holiness does not work. The Ten Commandments did not make the nation of Israel more holy. I agree with Sandford’s new “kingdom” plan based on blessing, serving and prophetic wisdom.

The lives of Joseph, Daniel and his three friends from the Bible are examples of influence by means of blessing, serving and prophetic wisdom. You have an opportunity at this point in history of being Josephs and Daniels at the places of influence God has positioned you.

Do you think Sandford’s plan will work?

A Powerful, Quiet Gift

7/18/2012

There is a spiritual gift of hospitality that does not seem to get as much attention as the demonstrative gifts such as teaching, preaching, or prophesying. The gift of hospitality is a powerful gift that is amazing to see in action. I am writing this from Tremont, Illinois at the home where Rachel and the team has been the recipient of the gift of hospitality from Stan and Jeannie over the past eleven months.

We made it from Minnesota to Illinois with one cooler (see previous blog “Packing Light”) and four of us in a five passenger car. Rachel looked at how full the back was and gave real wonder if all her luggage would fit. I reassured her that the straps I brought would resolve any space limitations.

Stan and Jeannie made us feel very welcomed and showed us to “our rooms”. Each room was not only made up with clean sheets and towels, but had bottled water, snacks, and extra toiletries in case we forgot to bring toothpaste, toothbrush or anything else.

The couple hosted a get together yesterday evening with the parents of each of the A4 interns and some of the staff that instructed and worked with the interns. Each table had a white tablecloth, cookies and treats that made the setting special. Barbecued brats, burgers and side dishes filled our plates and stomachs.

Stan and Jeannie feel that the things they have are from the Lord and should be used for kingdom purposes. They use the extra rooms in their home to host pastors, missionaries, A4 teams, grandchildren and others who need a place to stay.

Our church has people with the wonderful gift of hospitality and they do not even know it! They make people feel at ease and welcomed the moment they step in the door. Their greatest joy is sharing the things God has given them. They do not realize the power and grace their gift of hospitality brings into the lives of the people they touch. Rachel and the team have been so saturated with Stan and Jeannie’s gift of hospitality that now it overflows from their life.

Romans 12:13
Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Packing Light

7/17/2012

This morning, I am heading out on a road trip to Peoria, Illinois along with my wife Connie, Grandma Daniels and my daughter Allison. We are going to celebrate my daughter Rachel’s graduation from a discipleship/ministry training called A4.

Our intent is to leave a little later this morning and avoid rush hour traffic in the cities. I have our route printed from map quest, showing step by step mileage, estimated time, road designations, and if there are any detours or toll roads. The route has been programmed into Garmin, our affectionate GPS with a female British voice. Snacks have been selected, books and magazines will come along to peruse during the eight and a half hour ride.

Tonight is a gathering of the A4 graduates, instructors and parents at the host home the graduates have stayed in primarily over the past eleven months. We are a little uncertain how formal the graduation ceremony will be. Do we include a more “dressy” set of clothing or not?

In the back portion of the car will be the luggage for the four of us for a three day, two night stay. We are also bringing two coolers. Connie gave me the heads up on the coolers, which Grandma has insisted upon for the snacks and fixings for meals on the road. I am hoping they are smaller, but just in case I am bringing straps as a back-up if we are not able to fit when we add Rachel’s luggage from nine months of schooling. It would be an unpleasant pickle if we brought too much and did not have room for bringing Rachel or her stuff home.

Pack light people.

Jesus told His key followers, the twelve disciples, to pack light.

Luke 9:1-6 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, He gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and He sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. 5 If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them.” 6 So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.

They had a job to do and needed to be free from things that would distract or load them down. This passage makes us aware about packing light for life. Most of us prepare more for a road trip or vacation than we prepare for kingdom work. What if we were as intentional about planning the route for our lives each day or week?

How?
Holy Spirit GPS - The Holy Spirit can find the best route, let us know about detours, construction and when life might cost some toll charges.
Bible – keep the Bible at your workplace, school, or car for the best reading material.
Snacks – the Bible describes memorizing passages of the Bible as sweet morsels!
Pack light – if the stuff you have that once brought satisfaction is now a chore, leave it behind.

It would be an unpleasant pickle if we were so loaded down in life that we did not have room to do the things that the LORD has called us to do.

Pack light people!

Goose Poop

7/10/2012

It is easy to tell areas that have a high population of geese frequenting the grounds – by their droppings. The geese are on the pond behind our home, but do not come up on our yard. We have a higher hill for them to waddle up. If they chose to fly up, they would be met by our three-legged dog (more about our dog in a future blog). Our neighbor’s yard is lower and their dog is often inside their home. The geese enjoy flocking on their lawn and leaving reminders that they were there.

There is likely a fertilizing benefit from the droppings that offsets the messiness. I would prefer to continue enjoying going barefoot on our yard and use conventional lawn fertilizer.

I like to think of what the world was like before sin corrupted our lives and our land. This is not just an exercise of wistful dreaming. Our world will one day be restored back to its original Garden of Eden form. And so, I wonder if there were goose droppings in the Garden of Eden.

If not, how did that work out for the digestive systems of geese? Did everything burn out completely like a well tuned car? Perhaps the Garden of Eden goose droppings were fragrant and beautiful instead of smelly and disgusting. We can expand this question to the droppings of all animals: dogs, cats, birds, cows, elephants…you get the picture.

The author of the book of Revelations is named John and is banished on the island of Patmos, a penal colony, where he has a vision from God and describes the future world of those who are followers of Jesus Christ.

Revelations 21:1-4
21 “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 new heaven and new earth is a place where once again God and humankind are living directly together. Anything that makes for sadness is removed and joy even greater than a wedding celebration fills the air. The old way of life has passed. A new order of living is in place and no talk about goose poop.

What do you think the new heaven and new earth will be like?

Do You Panic Over Plastic Jewelry?

7/9/2012

The day after Sunday Service is often a day of discoveries at our church. I discover a Bible that was forgotten, half of a cookie that is semi-pulverized into the carpet, glitter from the children’s ministry art project that went with the day’s story, and a new coffee stain from an accidental spill. The fuller the service is, the more discoveries there are on Monday mornings. Each discovery is from a person and brings a joy to my soul that our church is touching lives with the good news of Jesus Christ.

This morning I discovered a plastic ring with an empty setting in one room and its missing gem outside on the entrance mat. I wondered which child lost it and what their reaction was when they noticed it missing. Perhaps it was on their car ride home and the child noticed an unadorned finger. A quick look on the car floor and the car seat may have brought pleas of returning to the church to look for this “valuable jewelry”.

I imagined rational reasoning from the parents that it was just a fake ring, only plastic or maybe it will still be there when they come to church next time. Were there tears from the child who did not understand that an imitation ring should not hold such a place of importance in their heart? The plastic ring and plastic gem were placed side by side on the coffee table for a happy reunion.

What do you panic over? Each of us outgrows panicking over plastic jewelry. Instead our anxiety is placed on adult versions of plastic jewelry; how we look, what we will wear, our shape and our health. When we discover that the plastic that adorned us is no longer there, we look for it in panic and want to make a special trip to get it back because suddenly it has become the most important thing in our life.

Jesus noticed His disciples were worrying about things that were plastic.
Luke 12:22-23,31,34
22Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.
31 But seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The solution Jesus gives us to get over plastic anxieties is to focus our heart on treasures in His kingdom. Treasures like peace, joy, courage, valor, hope, and love.

What helps you seek His kingdom and not a plastic kingdom?

Spiritual Lessons from the American Revolutionary War

7/4/2012

The American Revolutionary War (1775-1781) also called the American War of Independence or the Revolutionary War offers some spiritual lessons which I will present in three blog posts:
1.       Revolution, Declaration and Freedom
2.       Prisoners of War
3.       Allies and Enemies

The war began as a political revolution. America revolted against taxation without representation. The colonist claimed that it was illegal to tax America as British subjects without any representation. Initially, the colonies were remaining loyal to the monarchy. The Boston Tea Party in 1773 boycotting taxed tea brought repercussions by Britain. Paul Revere and other riders alerted the country in 1775 of British invading marking the beginning of the war.

All hope of a workable compromise ended when the Continental Congress formed by the colonist was declared as traitors by royal decree of the British monarchy. The Congress responded by declaring independence and the formation of a sovereign nation on July, 4, 1776. Battles waged for seven years until the Treaty of Paris signed in 1783 recognized the United States of America as a sovereign nation.

Jesus Christ began a revolution offering freedom for humankind. Jesus declared victory when He said, “It is finished”, died on the cross and late rose from the dead. Spiritual battles continue to wage as we await the final peace accord at the end of this age and the beginning of a perfect age under the rule and reign of God. Casualties of Christian freedom fighters in this spiritual revolution include disease, depression, and despair.

George Washington was America’s first commander in chief. His leadership began with several defeats and retreats. Each time he would restore, rebuild and re-engage in the conflict.

Revolution has begun, independence from the rule of satan is declared and final freedom is awaiting. You may encounter setbacks in life and have to retreat in a momentary defeat. A key is to remain with your troop and let Jesus, your commander in chief restore, rebuild and re-engage you in the revolution.

2 Corinthians 4:7-9 (NIV1984)
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

Weeds and Plants

6/26/2012

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.
18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.
19 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!

Go Ahead, Be Like a Little Child

6/18/2012

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?
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