Blog Posts - River of Life Church

I Was Caught in a School Lock-Down

3/1/2018

My wife and I were notified that we needed to leave the school. We were in the school weight room before 6am when we heard there was a threat and the school wold be locked-down. Announcements were made over the intercom and we left. Our daughter was talking to officials because students had come to her with a copy of the threat over social media.

School was cancelled, the school was thoroughly searched, various agencies were brought in for support, and leads were investigated. Today, the schools were opened and all is well, sort of.

It was finals week with many projects and exams that were unable to be completed due to the closure. Spring break begins tomorrow, but teachers may need to come in over the break to administer tests and grade students.

All is well regarding the safety and security of students. Other school in Minnesota and across the nation have experienced copy-cat threats. The recent shooting that killed seventeen students and faculty in Florida has schools on high alert.

Solutions to keep school shootings from ever happening again fail to address the sin stain in humanity. Jesus is the only true solution. Jesus is the only One who can change a persons heart, attitude and motives from evil to pure.

I am grateful that our school has one main entrance that is locked when school is in session. We have a resource officer and security cameras.

Jesus is the only solution to bring peace and confidence to students, parents and staff that all will be well.

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Billy Graham's New Address - Heaven

2/28/2018

Billy Graham was buried today. Reverend Graham had told people that if they hear of his death, they should not believe the report. He went on to say that when he dies, it will merely be a change of address. Since Graham's passing away from this life, he has been living and enjoying the very presence of God that he has preached about for decades.

was in eight grade when I attended one of his crusades in Minnesota held at Midway stadium in 1973. His message was very basic. You are lost without Jesus Christ. Billy Graham said this about his preaching, "During all my years as an evangelist, my message has always been the Gospel of Christ. It is not a Western religion, nor is it a message of one culture or political system . . . it is a message of life and hope for all the world."

When Reverend Graham gave the invitation for people to repent of their sins and receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior, people flocked to the front of the stage. Billy used his spiritual gift of evangelism to the fullest.

"I haven't written my own epitaph, and I'm not sure I should. Whatever it is, I hope it will be simple, and that it will point people not to me, but to the One I served." Billy Graham

35W Bridge Collapse 10 Year Anniversary

8/2/2017

Yesterday, marked ten years since the collapse of the 35W bridge. The time has gone by quickly, but for those who lost loved ones that day, their lives were forever changed. Gratefully, I did not have any friends or relatives that were on the bridge at 6:05pm, on August 1, 2007, when it fell into the Mississippi River. There were 190 people on the bridge when it went down. Thirteen were killed and many injured.

The cause of the collapse was under-designed gusset plates that failed when 300 tons of material was on the 40 year old bridge undergoing repairs.

We do not expect solid things like bridges to collapse. We do not expect buildings to topple, but earthquakes, landslides, and tornadoes make solid things crumble, fold and collapse.

God is the only being that will never fail. When you need assurance of God's steadfastness, stand firm on these seven verses from Psalms:
Psalm 18:2
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 31:2
Turn Your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.
Psalm 31:3
Since You are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of Your name lead and guide me.
Psalm 62:2
Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
Psalm 62:6
Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
Psalm 71:3
Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress.
Psalm 94:22
But the Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.

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.

Anchorage, Alaska

6/30/2017

This is the range of mountains I see from my daughter's home in Anchorage, Alaska. My wife, mother-in-law and I are here to visit our daughter and son-in-law for a week. Allison married Philip over a year ago and moved over two thousand miles to begin a new adventure.

The selfish part of me wishes she was not enjoying life here as much as she is enjoying. She likes the work she has and the people she works with. She is on a volleyball league in the winter months and two softball leagues in the summer. Her and her husband fish in the rivers or ocean for halibut, salmon and rock bass. Why am I not happy for her?

While I want the best for her, I selfishly would like them to return to Minnesota, where I can see them often instead of once every who knows when.

I do return to the place where I can pray for the Father's very best on their lives and rejoice in their joys. Hands that hold are clenched in a fist. Hands that release and give are open. You and I are to model our Father who gives good things to His children.

Psalm 104:27-28(NIV)
27 All creatures look to you
    to give them their food at the proper time.
28 When you give it to them,
    they gather it up;
when you open your hand,
    they are satisfied with good things.