Jesus once asked His disciples, “Who do you say I am?”

Could Jesus be asking us (today’s church) this very same question? This isn’t an answer we will gain from a three point sermon, or a once a week Bible study. I believe this single question isn’t answered with just a bit of head knowledge of Scripture, but only with experiential knowledge of Christ. This is an understanding that is built and established in the secret place. How can we truly know God if we don’t spend time with Him? How can we live our lives according to His moral standard, His guide, or His example of love and grace if we don’t spend time reading His word? Do we really believe Him to be who the Bible describes? Is He glad? Do you see Him happy, rejoicing, or joyful? Is His power unlimited? Is there an unlimited amount of His Wisdom? Knowing God is so much more than just thinking about Him the way we talk at church.

“What we believe about God is the same importance to us as Christians, as the foundation of a building.” —A.W. Tozer

When I think of this quote from Tozer, my heart expresses to me that the way we live our lives, the way we worship, the way we pray or fast is all fueled by the way we view and what we believe about God. If there are wrong views, then there will be a wrong pattern of living. Could this be the foundation of Matthew chapter 7? Jesus speaks of the different foundations. One was made of sand, and when the rains came and the wind blew upon the house, that house failed, because it was built upon sand. The other foundation was built upon solid rock. When the winds came, the rain came, and whatever came against this house, the house stood!

Brothers and sisters, what are our foundations? Where are they built? Is what we believe about God’s character correct with the Scriptures? Are we living our lives vicariously through the understanding and experiential knowledge of our pastors? My heart this morning is challenged and inviting you to be challenged. Let’s take a look at what we truly deep down inside believe about God. Let’s look at what the Bible describes and tells us. Today, let’s make changes in our foundations so that when the winds blow and the rain comes, we can stand firm.

In Christ,
Rodger

Katrina and I have been traveling pretty often over the past 6 years. Even before moving to full-time missons we traveled alot! The past 6 months have been off the hook out of the norm. Three weeks ago we figured out that we haven’t been in our own bed for more then 2 wks since march 9, 2009!!! This is awesome/ crazy at the sametime. Now we have reached a short season (4 wks) where we both will be at home working on things here at the campus. I will spend a good percentage of October and november on the road, traveling and ministering in churches and missions conferenes in Texas, Colorado, Washington D.C., and Maryland. It’s time to soak it in, this moment at home.

Thank you to all of you who met with us over a dinner, coffee, lunch, church service, ect while we were in Kansas & lousianna this past month. We are blessed to have loving and supportive friends and family!

A few prayer points for the fall:
•we need to find new long term housing as of 1/2010
•Gods blessing on the missions training school Katrina is staffing this fall.
•saftey & fresh annointing on Rodger as he travels and speaks this fall.
•protection over our marriage, and grace!
•we need to increase our monthley support $1500. more per month to help with ministry exspenes & personal housing and living cost.

** thank you for your prayers and support! We are grateful to have partners like you in ministry.

In Christ,
Rodger & Katrina