Since We Have Been Justified

Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because Godʼs love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

‭‭(Romans‬ ‭5:1-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

 

We have been justified - pardoned - acquitted - of our sinful acts - this means that we are declared blameless in God's sight.

This justification comes through faith - our confidence of and assurance -  in Jesus Christ. 

Because of this we have peace - unity and harmony - with God our Father. And why wouldn't we have peace with The Almighty God, knowing that He views us without blame? Furthermore we have peace with Jesus knowing that He has reconciled us with God. 

Now we stand unified with Jesus as our Savior - as the one that saves us from the penalty of sin - and Lord - as the one that leads our lives. 

Through Jesus - our Savior and Lord - we have access to God's marvelous, matchless grace. This grace in which we stand safely and securely in. 

So, given all of this, let us boast. We do not boast in our own selves or our own abilities. No, let us rejoice - with great joy - I say it again, rejoice - in Jesus Christ - in the hope of the glory of God. 

We have this hope only through Christ - and in what He has done for us. We have the hope - the great expectation - that we will one day soon stand before God and He will impart His glory on us. 

Yet, we not only rejoice in hope, we also rejoice in our current suffering. We are able to rejoice because we trust that our suffering - our trials, our hardships, our distress, our pressure, our trouble - produces perseverance. We learn not to give up or give in - even in the midst of suffering. This perseverance, then, produces spiritual maturity - because it drives us to a total dependence on God and a complete reliance on Him. 

In all of this, we will not - now or ever - be disappointed. How could we be disappointed? We are basking in God's eternal and unsurpassable love. And, God's Spirit is living in us bearing constant witness to His great love to us. 

Since we have been justified by faith, what else do we need? 

Turn It Over

The other night my wife and I were talking and we began to talk about the kids and the school year ahead. This school year has us - and them a bit nervous. Shave moved to a new community - one that is double in size from our precious one - one that includes much more cultural diversity - one where they do not know many others. While there is excitement in this "newness", there is also some concern in all our minds. 

So, the other night my wife and I were talking about our concerns and stating that are most concerned about our oldest daughter - who she will befriend and how it might influence her. 

I told my wife, we will have to make sure that she is hanging out with a good group of friends. To which my wife responded, the problem is, we don't know who the good friends are. 

Hours later, as I laid in bed, drifting off to sleep, I thought more about this. It's true, we don't know who the good friends are - we don't know who to point her to  - but God does. And, if we believe that He is in control of every aspect of life - and if we believe that He cares for our children - and  if  we believe that He answers us when we call out to Him - shouldn't we ask Him? 

So, after talking to my wife - and after  worrying about this matter for several hours - I decided to submit it all to God.

Is there anything that is keeping you up tonight? Is there any situation that you wish you could let go of and find peace in? Is there a burden in your life that seems to weigh you down with anxiety or fear? 

Why not turn it over to God? Do it right away. 

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”  Philippians 4:6 NIV

What Would You Do?

On Sunday we started a journey in a sermon series we are calling “On A Plane”. As I think of the scenario of being on an airplane and the level of complete trust – complete faith – that is placed in the hands of an airline pilot, I cannot help but think of being behind the yoke of a commercial jet myself.

Can you imagine the responsibility of having to navigate a commercial jet safety to the ground while the lives of multiple others rest in your hands? What if this responsibility was thrust upon you without any prior training?

What would you do? Do you take the yoke of the plane and try the best you can? Do turn and run out of the cockpit – I’m not the person for the job? Do you scramble around, looking for instructions on how to fly? Do you cry out for help from someone – anyone – “HELP ME!” 

What would you do?

Although most of us will never find ourselves behind the yoke of a commercial jet – having to navigate it through the sky – we all face situations – everyday – that are more urgent and more serious than flying a commercial airplane with no training!

What do we do? Do we turn and run – throw in the towel – “God this is not for me!” Do we look within ourselves – “I have all the knowledge and strength – I can handle this all on my own!” Or do we cry out for help from the God that has created us, the God that loves us, the God that is powerful enough to lead us through? 

What do you do? What will you do?

Unity Through The Holy Spirit

Romans 15:5-6,13

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow  Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

As The Church - established in Christ - we must find endurance, encouragement, hope, joy, peace, trust, and power. This can only be accomplished through unity and this unity is only possible through the Holy Spirit. 

Therefore, let us - as The Church of Jesus Christ pursue the unity of the Holy Spirit - so that we may glorify God with one heart and one mind and one voice. 

Pastor's Open Letter to the RFMC

Two weeks ago, Kim and I announced that we were seeking a new appointment in the coming conference year and that we would be leaving Robinson near the end of June. 

 

Since this announcement, I have received one question countless times; “Why?”

 

I had a conversation with one member and explained that we were not leaving because of disappointment or conflict. I told this person that this has been a decision weighing on our hearts for a year – one we have been praying for months. They asked me, “Does the church want you to leave?” I responded, “No, I don’t think so.” Then they asked, “So, the conference is wanting you to leave?” And I told them, “No, in fact it would be less work for the conference if we were to remain in Robinson.”

 

“So”, they asked, “why are we leaving?” My response was simple, “Faith!”

 

James 2:14, 17; What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

 

Kim and I believe that God is calling us to go. We do not know where He is calling us to go to, but we believe that He is calling us to go in obedience to Him.

 

Kim and I believe that God is calling us to go. And so we go, faithful that God is leading us.

 

Hebrews 11:1-2, 6, 8; Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.  By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

 

Kim and I believe that our going is an act of faith. And there are costs involved in ever act of faith. Our going means that we are leaving Robinson – and our friends and church family hear in Robinson.

 

James 2:23-24; And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

 

We are not leaving because we don’t love you. We are leaving – oddly enough – because we love you! We are leaving because we want you to know that this is what faith accompanied by action looks like – that this is what faith – lived out – looks like. 

 

So, let me leave you with a question for you to consider; “Are you living your faith out? When it’s difficult? When it’s painful?

 

Notes from Monday Evening's Service

Family Camp 2014: Monday evening service - Pastor Mark Van Valin

This evening we aimed to grasp a deeper level of holiness - this shall help us all as we continue throughout the week ahead. 

1 John 3:1-6; See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

1 John 4:13-18; This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Picture yourself - your life - life as an island. You are an island and the moment that you are saved in Jesus Christ your island has been invaded. When you accept Christ, you accept His salvation for you, and it is Jesus who has invaded your island. From this moment everything changes - or should change. Your desires, your priorities, your attitude - from the moment you accept Christ's salvation for you, everything changes. 

On the outside we can spot the mark of holiness and unholiness - in ourselves and in others. But the further in the island we go the more difficult it is to spot the marks of sin in our lives. 

Often people are taught - and trained in - the "weed whack" approach to getting rid of sin. Get rid if all din in our life one bit at a time and we will then achieve holiness. However, the more we tool and strain at weeding one portion of our island - our life - the more weeds continue to grow in other areas. See, weeds are - just as sin is - relentless! 

There are four fronts if sin that we must be aware of as we strive for holiness. 

1. Self-promotion - this is a need to be first and to be noticed. Self-promotion asks - begs - "What about me?"

2. Self-protection - this is a need to be safe. Self-protection states "Not me."

3. Self-indulgence - this is a need to seek comfort and pleasure, and to avoid pain. Self-indulgence calls out "Give me!"

4. Self-sufficiency - this is a need to reduce all if life to what I can predict , measure, or control. Self-sufficiency demands "Let me!"

All sin of omission or commission fit into one if these four fronts. Yet a powerful force behind all of sin is one this; FEAR. Fear is the ultimate and primary expression of unbelief. 

Deep in the territory of your life is a flag which represents who it is that rules everything in your life; your desires - your priorities - your attitudes. 

Imagine the game capture the flag where there is a battle for that flag. That flag in your life represents everything! 

Jesus has invaded your island - your life - and He desires to gain access - complete control of your flag. However that flag is not the flag of Satan that Jesus needs to capture, that flag is you. 

The solution is not to "weed wack" your life - your island. At the heart of the "Kingfom of Me" is fear. More specifically the fear of death. 

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.

We all must give up the four fronts of sin, remove the flag to "Your " kingdom, and replace it with Jesus' flag. We must - daily - commit to confronting the four fronts of sin in our lives. 

To self-promotion - 1 Peter 5:6; Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

To self-protection - Exodus 3:12; And God said, “I will be with you.

To self-indulgence - Matthew 6:33; But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

To self-sufficiency - 2 Corinthians 12:9; But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

1 John 4:18; There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear...

The four fronts of a life with Jesus Christ - holiness - are focused on His ways for us. 

Humility rather than self-promotion - John 3:30; He must become greater; I must become less.

Obedience rather than self-protection - Isaiah 6:8; Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Self-denial rather than self-indulgence - 2 Timothy 1:7; For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

Trust rather than self-sufficiency - Psalm 130:6; I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Advice from Psalm 37

Advice from David in Psalm 37

Don't worry about the wicked. 

Trust in the Lord and do good. 

Take delight in the Lord. 

Commit everything you do to the Lord. 

Trust him. 

He still in the presence of the Lord. 

Wait patiently for him to act. 

Don't worry about evil people prosper. 

Stopping angry! Turn from your rage!

Do not lose your temper.

Words From A Father

It has been quite a week for our family! Early in the week I was drawn to a verse in the Bible - throughout the week this verse became my theme, my comfort, and so much more.

Our week began with a sick child on Sunday. Bennett started with the stomach flu on Sunday afternoon. He complained of a "sore tummy" as he was eating lunch and complained more as he laid down for his nap Sunday afternoon. By mid-afternoon Kim and I were aware that he was suffering from the stomach flu and that our weekend had become a little more trying than it was before. Throughout the afternoon, into the evening, and then throughout the night Bennett was making regular trips to the bathroom. Our poor 3 year-old boy was helpless and at times he was too weak to walk out of his room. I would carry him to the bathroom and support his little head as he sat on a tiny stool next to the toilet. As we sat next to the toilet, around 12:30 in the morning, with tears in his eyes, he cries, “my tummy won’t stop hurting”. It breaks my heart to see any child sick or in pain, but when it is my own child, my heart completely shatters - I hurt for him. At one point - he was so weak and so helpless – he looked up to me and cried, “I can’t stop getting sick”.

Bennett's fever presented itself around 1:00 in the morning – accompanied by cries; “ouch, my ear hurts”. I laid down next to his bed to comfort him. Every few minutes - throughout the night - he would stir awake and call out to make sure that I was still there as he reached for my hand. "Daddy, don't leave me, stay." All through the night – and into Monday morning – the trips to the bathroom continued.

A trip to the doctor on Monday morning confirmed that Bennett was dealing with the stomach flu...along with a double ear infection. And, as a bonus, bronchitis on the brink of pneumonia! All day Monday Kim and I held a helpless, very ill, little boy who just wanted to be taken care of and to know that everything was going to be alright.

Tuesday arrived with better health. Bennett was home but he seemed to have fully recovered from his stomach bug and his chest sounded much better. Kim had an appointment at the doctor and I enjoyed a morning at home playing board games with Bennett. Around 10:00 Kim called and said, "do you want to have a baby?" Her doctor was sending her to the hospital! After some comotion at home - getting bags in the car and working out childcare - we made the short trip to the hospital and we were in a room by 11:00. Tuesday evening at 7:53 we welcomed our second daughter – fourth child – and we named her Korah.

Korah was beautiful from the moment that she arrived and Kim and I were filled - once again - with the joy of being parents. The nurses took little Korah over to the other side of the room and began to gather her stats - length, weight, and more. Then they told Kim and I that they wanted to take her back to the nursery because her breathing was labored. "We'll bring her back in when we have her stable", the nurse told us.

So we waited as the nurses and doctor looked after her in the nursery. The feeling of joy never left, yet it was soon joined with a feeling of aprehension and uncertainty. "What is going on with our little girl?" and "When will they bring her back in?" were just a couple of the questions on our minds. We were anxious to see her and to hold her and yet we understood that she was being cared for. When Korah was not back to the room after an hour, I walked out and asked about her and was informed that she needed more care than the hospital in Robinson could offer, she was going to have to be transported to the Neonatal ICU in Champaign - two hours away.

Korah left around 2:00 in the morning on Wednesday and Kim and I followed up after her. Thoughout the remainder of the week we watched as she labored to breath, oxygen being supplied to her tiny nostrels, a feeding tube down her throat providing her with the nutrients she needs, wires measuring her every vital sign, and monitors telling us about her progress. We watched as X-rays were carried out, blood was drawn, and multiple tests were completed on our tiny newborn girl. All the while praying for her, talking to her, and singing over her.

"Everything is going to be alright". Countless times this past week I have spoken these words - to Bennett as he was laying in bed or sitting next to the toilet, to myself as I sat in prayer, to Kim and we embraced one another, and to little Korah as she lay in her bed. Countless times this past week I have spoken words of comfort and encouragement. Countless times this past week I have spoken passages of Scripture to bring encouragement. Yet no passage has spoken more to me than Zephaniah 3:17; "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

This week - as I sat next to the bed if my 3 year-old dealing with the stomach flu, as I sat at the hospital next to my wife in the midst of labor, as I sat in the NICU with my newborn daughter - I was reminded of God pressence - at all times and in all ways - and I was reminded that He is mighty to save. This week - as I rocked my son to sleep and as I watched my daughter sleep - I was reminded that God takes great delight in us as His children. This week - as I comforted Bennett and as I sung to Korah - I was reminded that God comforts us with His love and rejoices over us with singing.

Maybe you can identify with what it means to care for a helpless individual, assuring them that you aren’t going to leave them and that everything is going to be alright. Delighting in them as you pour your love down on them and share in a feeling of joy. Or maybe right now you are longing for someone to care for you - to know that you are dearly loved - to know that someone delights in you and rejoices when you are around.

Zephaniah 3:17; "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you in song."

Remember that God is with you - He will not leave you. Remember that God is mighty to save - when you are weak and helpless. Know that Everything is going to be alright - that God delights in you and that He will quiet and comfort you with His love - that God will rejoice over you in song.

Right now, I invite you to take a few minutes to allow God’s words to permeate your life- to pause before the Lord and allow His love to flood your soul - to kneel, bow, sit, or stand before God and know that everything is going to be alright - to know that He loves you and He delights in you - And to know that when He thinks about you, He breaks into song

Zephaniah 3:17; "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you in song."

School Starts

School starts this week with our daughter headed into the second grade, our oldest son headed to preschool. As we prepare to send the kids off to begin another year of school many thoughts - even fears - fill my mind; what will they be taught, will they have good friendships, are they safe, etc.

And, in the midst of these thoughts - and fears - we find comfort as parents. We take comfort in the fact that we can't protect them from everything and we have to let them live their lives. 

The bottom line is that we pray for our children, we teach our children, and we trust our children. 

Prayer of a Child

This past Wednesday evening we hosted a couple missionaries at our church for the evening. Prior to going to the church my wife and I invited them to come to our home for dinner. It was quite a blessing and encouragement to have them share with the church family and to spend time visiting with them. But, as much of a blessing as that was, it was not the most meaningful thing to me that evening.

On Wednesday evening storms raged in our community that caused many to take refuge in our basement and almost caused our evening to come to an early end due to tornado warnings. After the missionaries had left the church we sent them on their way from our home and then began to prepare our two oldest children for bed. As I knelt down with Addison, our five-year-old she began to pray;

"God is good, God is great, I thank you for the sleep we will get. Thank you God that we have a house, thank you God that we have a basement, thank you God that we have missionaries, thank you God that missionaries are our friends, thank you God that the big kids are our friends, thank you God for our beds, thank you God for storms, thank you God for keeping us safe through the storms, thank you God for letting us get sleep during the storms."

After our prayer time with the kids on Wednesday, I went back to the church to clean up. The storms came closer, the wind grew stronger, the thunder grew louder, and the lighting grew brighter. And as my wife sat in the living room she heard our daughter praying again, praying softly and then a bit louder, praying prayers of thanksgiving and prayers requesting safety. How wonderful it is when children pray. How pure it is when children pray. How we can all learn from children.

I make a lot of mistakes, but I thank God that my kids are learning to pray, that they are learning to thank Him for the little and big things in their lives, and that they are learning that they can trust Him. May God grant us the ability, the knowledge and wisdom to continue to teach and train our children in his ways so they grow in their admiration and trust of Him.

Tub Time

A very productive evening with dinner out of the way, baths in process, and then the words ring through the house; "help, help, uhhh, help, Zion pooped in the tub!"

I am not a trained poop remover, for that I'm thankful. I can't imagine what being a "poop remover" would include. So, when I walked into the bathroom to see the two kids standing next to the tub, Kim practically rolling on the floor laughing, and the entire family looking to me for action, I hesitated on "step one".

I asked for a bucket and Kim brought a camera! Smart, now we can share this experience with our friends a loved ones!

WARNING: GRAPHIC (POOP RELATED) PHOTO BELOW

Being a parent is full of unexpected happenings, most leave memories etched on our lives far into the future. Sometimes we are left with great joy, other times we are left with a tub full of poop! Sometimes we know the exact thing to say or do, other times we are left with our hands in the air in search of what our next move should be. Either way, we are trusted to love our children and ALL the poop they leave in our homes and our lives!