The Gospel According To Ralf

Hi Boys and Girls,

Last Sunday was Mothers’ Day.  I hope you all celebrated and honored your moms.  Moms are awesome aren’t they?  When we see a healthy and free mom we see a bit of what God is like.  Really, we do.  I was telling my dad that it is hard to know what God is like because we can’t walk across the street to see him.  He doesn’t have an address that we can visit.  Yet my dad told me that we can see him.  We can see glimpses of him all over the place.  And we catch a huge glimpse of him when we see moms.  Kindness, compassion, protection, love.  These are all words that describe my mom at home and they are words that describe God.  So if you are like me wondering about God, just look to the nearest mother who is healthy and free and you will see God.  I know Mothers’ Day is over, but maybe we ought to honor our moms again today.  Tell your mom you love here this week and that she helps you see and know God.

Have a great week.  See you on Sunday

Ralf

Hi Kids.  Are you hungry?  I am.  In fact I often am ready for a good meal.  My new buddy Timber (Pastor Wil’s puppy) was in my room at church the other day while our dads were talking.  Timber told me she was hungry so I let her eat some of my food.  While we were sharing some Kibbles and Bits our dads (pastor’s Rob and Wil) were talking about the kids in Uganda.  They were talking about how those kids have no food and no one to share food with them.  How awful.  I can’t imagine being hungry with no food to eat, can you?  Our dads were saying that it depends upon us whether or not those kids eat.  So I decided I would use my weekly blog to encourage you kids to talk about sponsoring a child from Uganda with your parents. Talk to your mom and dad and see if there is any way you can sponsor a kid so he or she can eat.  Have mom and dad get in touch with Brian (345-1150) at the front desk at church to adopt a child.

See you all on Sunday
Ralf

Hi everyone.  Do you know what I just found out?  April is earth month.  That means that the focus of this month is to appreciate everything about the earth.  From a Christian perspective it makes sense, after all God made all of the earth and everything in it.  My dad (remember my dad is Pastor Rob) told me that the Bible says that all of creation declares the glory of the Lord.  Everything about nature is worth appreciating as it points to the beauty of God.  Hmmm…  Does that mean even dogs?  You bet it does!  All of creation declares the glory of the Lord – even dogs.  My dad told me that when I make people smile when they pet me that is a reflection of God’s heart to bring joy to the earth.  Wow.  All creation declares the glory of the Lord.  And you know what – you are part of God’s creation.  You.  A young boy or girl.  An old man or woman. It doesn’t matter if you are young or old, have two legs are four.  You are part of God’s wonderful creation and worthy of appreciating.  So how about for the rest of this month you take some time to appreciate God’s wonderful creation.

See you next week,

Ralf

Hello Boys and Girls.  I hope everyone is doing well today.

Last week I shared with you how I got in trouble and how my dad had to discipline me.  Although that stinks I learned that discipline is a form of love.  Well this week I saw another form of love.  My dad and older brother Jake took me out to Wendy’s and bought me a hamburger.  For no reason other than they wanted to do something nice for me!  It was awesome.  What a treat.  There I was just thinking it was another normal car ride and next thing you know I’m eating a Hamburger.  Incredible!

I was talking to my dad about how much I was surprised and how much I appreciated that.  He told me that it was fun for him to surprise me with a good gift.  In fact, he said, that God is like that too.  God loves to give his children good gifts.  The Bible actually tells us that all good gifts come from God.  Isn’t that awesome.  What good things do you have in your life today?  Take a moment to thank God.

See you later

Ralf

Hi Boys and Girls,

We were playing this weekend in the backyard.  While we were playing I got a little excited, jumped to catch a ball and knocked one of the kids down.  I got in trouble.  My dad disciplined me right away explaining that because I am getting big I could hurt someone even though I didn’t mean too.  At first I was sad because I got in trouble.  Then my dad told me that it says in the Bible that a father disciplines those he loves.  Wow.  I never looked at discipline that way.  Nobody likes to get in trouble, yet if you look at it from the Bible’s view, discipline is a form of love.  Have you ever thought of discipline that way before?  To be sure Mom’s and Dad’s are supposed to correct and discipline calmly and without anger.  And when they do, you should say, “thanks mom and dad for loving me enough to correct me.”  So why don’t you go right now and tell your mom and/or dad thanks for loving you enough to discipline you.

Have a great week.  See you Sunday,

Ralf

Hello everyone,

I think I caught a glimpse of Eden yesterday.  Here is what I mean.  A long time ago back in the Garden of Eden before Adam and Eve bit the apple and walked in disobedience, animals and people lived life incredibly close to one another just like friends.  There was no tension between animals and humans.  Yesterday my dad (he happens to be a human) and I took a long walk on the Portage Creek Bicentennial Trail.  We had a great time.  Sometimes we talked.  Other times we were quiet.  Either way it was awesome.  It was as if we were connected deeply from the insides. Awesome.

My dad, Pastor Rob, told me that when humans and dogs have a close friendship we are given a glimpse back into what Eden was like and what Heaven will be.  Both in Eden and in Heaven all of creation – animals and humans alike – will walk in peaceful harmony.  So if you have a close relationship with a dog, a cat, or another animal know that you were created that way and your friendship with your animal is simply you longing to be back in Eden or up in Heaven.  Enjoy your pet this week knowing God made you to have such a friendship.

See you later,

Ralf

Hi Boys and Girls,

Last night my whole family went out for a hot dog – they even gave me one. Yummy. I know this month is a month of fasting at the church, but sometimes we need to interrupt our plans to celebrate the life God gives.  You see a month ago the doctor told me I had less than a month to live due to some kidney issues.  He said I would lose my appetite, lose weight and lose energy.  When we got the bad news my family gathered around me and prayed for my kidneys to be well.  I know many of you have been praying too. Thank you for that.

In the last month since we received the diagnosis I have put on close to 10 pounds, I eat a ton, and have a boat load of energy.  I feel great!  God is good.  He is the giver of life.  So yesterday was a great day to break the fast for a moment and celebrate the gift of life with a hot dog.  Thank you for praying.  Why don’t you talk with your families about the blessings you have received from God and celebrate with a hot dog of your own. Yummy.

See you Sunday

Ralf

Hungry? I sure am.  This fast is pretty tough isn’t it?  It is hard to give up some foods (I’m doing the partial fast not eating any treats this month – I miss them).  I know of some kids your age at The River who have given up pop, others have given up sweets, others are only eating fruits and vegetables.  Although it is tough I am encouraged to hear the stories of other children fasting and growing closer to God.  If you are finding it tough – hang in there you are not alone!  If you haven’t started fasting go ahead and start today.  Talk to your mom and dad about fasting, praying and growing closer to God.  He wants to be close to you and your family!

See you Sunday

Ralf

Hello boys and girls.  My dad was telling me that as a church we are fasting for the month of March.  I wondered if us youngsters could participate.  He said absolutely.  Jesus said to his disciples “let the little children come to me.”  Jesus’ mom was probably around 13 when she was visited by the angel. And King David was probably a young teen ager when he beat Goliath.  So absolutely kids can participate in the fast this month.  My dad told me that we fast primarily to grow closer to God and God wants to be close to all of us no matter how young or old we might be.

Fasting is simply giving up something for a time and spending a bit more time in prayer.  So what are you going to fast from this month?  How will you spend more time with the Lord?  Talk it over with your parents and fast away!

See you Sunday

Ralf