Application Station

Alright, it's the moment you've all been waiting for! We've just updated our website to include our new LIT application, Jr. Staff application and police check/reference forms. So let the applications flow! We've also posted our annual camp tour on our website; check it out to see if and when we're coming to your church.

Same guy, different book

So I was reading 1John today and came across something interesting:

For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 1John 3:11-15

In this book, John hammers on this point again and again: Loving brothers=loving God, hating brothers=hating God. Here he's illustrating this point until he makes a quick aside (in bold, courtesy of me!). I'll tell a story that I heard today that will hopefully make sense of John's comment.
I was doing a camp presentation at a church this morning, and throughout the service the youth pastor and others talked about their CRAZY Jr. Youth group. Bananas smooshed in doorways, disrespect for leaders, and on and on... all because they had a great event at the beginning of the year and the community kids kept showing up afterwards. But the congregation only expressed pride when someone referred to this seemingly out-of-control group.
After the service, I spoke with the youth pastor. He told me that one of his church kids actually got beat up during one of their meetings. It sounded pretty bad. I felt sorry for this kid. Tonight, when I read 1John, it hit me. But first off, props to this church for accepting community kids and recognizing the blessing they are receiving through accepting these clearly rough kids. Anyhow, according to the behaviour I heard of, it's clear to me that these community kids-according to John's standards-don't love their brothers. And beating someone up? That's a clear act of hate. "Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you." Why? Because Christians don't act like the world. And I bet that's why that kid got beat up. He was part of a different group, he was identified with loving Christians, and for that he received a beating.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

This church is on the fringe; they're a church that is actually doing what Jesus wanted the church the do. When you do good, don't expect the world to reward you. Trust that through this, God will make sure you are lacking in nothing.

Long time, no post!

Sorry it's been a while since our last post... just wanted to let everyone know that we've updated our LIT and Jr. Staff applications. No more 5 pager for you! We're going to post the new ones on our website in the next couple weeks, so keep your eye on rlbc.ca. We'd love to have you on our staff team this summer!

Follow!

Can we take a break from John? Okay then!
I love being a Dad; never thought I would but it's great! Today I was washing dishes and Leif and Annika were begging me to play with them. "Just hold on, I'm working!" was my reply to their pleas. Immediately I was reminded of how I always wanted my Dad to play with me, but he had work to do. For a while there, I guess I kinda held that against him, thinking he was too busy to spend time with me.
Man, I was too critical of my dad; parenthood is not easy. Now that I'm a dad, I look back and realize that my dad is pretty incredible. My older brother rebelled a ton, to say the least. He'll even admit that his high school years were mostly about doing everything my parents taught him not to do. One night he was REALLY mean to my parents and he left them devastated. Just thinking about it right now makes me tense! I'll never forget my dad's reaction: I walked by the living room, and there he was at the piano, playing "Be Still and Know That I am God" and crying his eyes out. What a man. My respect for Dad grew a ton that day; he taught me right then to bless God when things are good, and to bless God when things are rough.

Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. -Philippians 3:17

Now that I'm a dad, I find myself asking myself what my Dad would do. It's important to think WWJD, but it's also important to think "What Would (insert godly person who you know here) Do?" Take note of them, don't forget them, and live your life like theirs.
And allow me to tag one more thought on the end here: don't be so hard on your parents like I was. Rest assured they're probably trying their hardest to do what's best for you, and even though they annoy you, they're some of the only people on earth who love you no matter what.

John 8 - Part 2

You probably don't know this, but my son's second name is Abram. Yeah, he's named after my grandpa, and we all think that's pretty great. In the Bible, Abram had faith in God and his name was changed to Abraham, which means "Father of Many" because it was with him that the Israeli nation was started. So Abraham was a pretty important guy to the Jews, because he was their "father".
So when Jesus says that they aren't, they take offense:

"Abraham is our father," they answered.
"If you were Abraham's children," said Jesus, "then you would do the things Abraham did. As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the things your own father does."
"We are not illegitimate children," they protested. "The only Father we have is God himself."

It's important say that we put God first, but it's even more important to follow who we say we follow. If God is our Father, our lives must look like his. Also, if we claim allegiance to Ranger, our lives must reflect the good choices that the Ranger leadership makes.

A Poem by Cindy Taekema

Twas the eve before take off,
and all through the house,
no one was sleeping,
not even a mouse.

So much commotion
as final preparations were made
running around aimlessly,
like in a circus parade!

Visas are still pending,
not yet coming through
should flights be changed?
what ever should we do?

Maybe we could sneak
in the belly of the plane
then it would be free,
...yet a little too insane

After hours of stress,
nothing else can we do
yet alas, a glimmer of hope,
could it be true?

a window of opportunity,
the visa has come, horray!
Now we can leave legally
on the plane the next day

I had made my list
now am checking it twice
realizing I should have
taken mothers advice

"take only the essentials,
and not too much more"
for now all my luggage,
won't fit out the door!

Stressing now about luggage weight,
and what not to bring;
"should I pack my rock collection,
or my precious diamond ring?"

so many decisions
and things left to find
feeling so unprepared,
I was loosing my mind!

then there was a noise
could it be? is it true?
yes, up on the rooftip,
I found my lost shoe!

Now gaining back the confidence,
I pulled myself together
reminding myself
I was leaving to warmer weather!

No more of this snow
and famous Canadian winters
no more sneezing and shivering
and freezing my knickers!

now squeezing my last item
in the top of my bag
I quickly zip it closed
before it will snag.

Things are simmering down now
at the Taekema household,
feeling a more prepared
and a little more bold

"Am I ready to go?"
I ask to myslef
ready to leave all the teddies
and books on my shelf?

Well I guess it's too late
to start changing my mind
so I guess here I go again,
leaving you all behind.

But now all is calm
no more a big fright
and I say "best wishes to all,
and to all a good night!!"

What?

Sorry, we didn't notice that the blog was all messed up until halfway through Christmas! So here's hoping that craziness doesn't happen again. And if you have no clue what I'm talking about, just smile, nod, and have a happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

Hey there,

Just want to say a big Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to everyone out there. If you could have anything for Christmas, what would it be? Oh, and try to keep it realistic, like this is something someone would (hopefully!) give you for Christmas.

"Picking Fights" John 8 - Part 1

One of the side effects of teaching big groups is offending some people in that group. Jesus is waaaay past that by this chapter. Now the Pharisees start intensely trying to make him slip up by putting him in difficult situations. Jesus' reacts by saying "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Man, Jesus sure is a wise and patient man.

The following part gets a little confusing. The Pharisees are really trying to make Jesus say something stupid so the crowds will figure out that he's just a crazy, demon-possessed guy. He says some awesome things, like that he is the light of the world... SO true. Wherever Jesus is, even today, "darkness" is not and "light" (spiritual light) is.

One thing I've noticed when I've been involved or watching an argument is that I usually don't really like the person who wins the argument, even if they are right. I always seem to cheer for the little guy, you know what I mean? Even after Jesus finishes defending himself beautifully, and likely humiliating the Pharisees once again, the people still like him. Maybe in their minds, Jesus was the underdog who was standing up "to the man." Whatever the case may be, many people put their faith in him!

"If It Looks Like A Duck..." John 7 - Part 2

There's an old saying:

"If it looks like a duck, and it quacks like a duck, it must be a duck."

But what if you grew up with this duck? What then? This is what's going on in the last part of this chapter. The higher-ups can't stand what Jesus is teaching (see last post), but by now, it's pretty obvious to the crowds who Jesus is:

"When the Christ comes, will he do more miraculous signs than this man?"

(note: Christ isn't Jesus' last name, it means "Saviour" or "Messiah".)
Even the guards are convinced! They can't arrest Jesus when asked because of his amazing teaching. (Kinda reminds me of Luke Skywalker at the beginning of "Return of the Jedi", but that's another topic...) But the "church leaders" think Jesus can't possibly be the Christ because he isn't from the right town. Amazing that Jesus kept his birth town secret... But I guess he wanted people to believe because of what he said and did, and not just where he was from.