Rob Ketterling

SUMMER IS HERE

It doesn't feel like Summer but it is, that's Minnesota for you. It's cold, it's rainy and I wouldn't know it's summer except this past weekend's attendance at church told me it was! You may not realize it but we were down about 1000 people from only a few short weeks ago! Summer is really here and Minnesotans are cramming in travel, vacation, their cabin time and lots of summer activities. I don't blame them, after all, it will be back to ice fisihing in no time so enjoy the warm while you can! (I've noticed that church attendance from Saturday to Sunday is seriously changed by the weather. People prefer to go to church when the weather is bad in the Summer and will change habits to accommodate good weather!)

Today Connor and Logan return from their Summer Global Team to Guatemala and I can't wait to see them. It's another part of Summer that I think all the youth in our church need to experience when they go on a Global Team to minister. I also think Summer Camp is a must and families should do everything they can to get their kids to camp. Work the family vacation around it and get your kids another wonderful spiritual experience. Oh, and don't miss VBS if you have little kids! Our Children's Ministry does and amazing job with VBS!

Summer is full of so many opportunities so take advantage of them and make the most of it, just remember that we'll keep the light on for you at River Valley and when you miss. Stay in touch by watching the services on-line, it's a great way to stay connected while you golf, vacation and get golden brown!

RANDOM THOUGHTS

Here are a few random thoughts of what's going on in my life lately. - Had a great Father's Day, church, food, golf with Connor and Logan, lots of fun. - The new series on Philippians started off strong, chapter 2 this week! - Connor and Logan are in Guatemala and are enjoying their first Global Team without their parents! (Hard to believe they've travelled the world but not without their parents!) - I'm preaching tonight for Chris Hodges at Church of the Highlands in Alabama. Love that church! (we helped to start it and now it runs 12,000+ serious growth!) - I'm eating healthier since John Bevere was with us, hope that lasts! - Thinking the Timberwolves will botch the draft Thursday. - love our SOAP devotional and today I loved reading Psalm 103, amazing good stuff in that chapter. - hoping my iPad works for my blog, in the proof, it looks messed up!

ISRAEL 2011

Just letting you know that if you are thinking of joining us for the Israel trip in November, the deadline to sign up is the end of this month. So far we have 28 people going on the trip and we have space for 40 so if you or someone you know would like to go, please sign up soon!

Just to let you know, this trip is over the Thanksgiving break and is the best way to go to Israel and you use up the least amount of vacation days that way. I will be leading the trip and anything less than 45 people is perfect so there's room for you to join us! It will be a life changing trip to read, study, pray and take in the things of God right where they happened! This trip will move from location to location in a coach bus and once you pay the fee, all  your meals, tips, entrances, transportation is covered. (You get breakfast and dinner each day as far as the food goes.) 28 is a great number, but I don't want to leave anyone out as we go to the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River, Bethlehem, the Dead Sea, and of course, Jerusalem! I'd love to have you join us!

MONDAY MORNING INSIGHTS

It's Monday morning and I just finished my four mile walk with Becca, had my Caribou Coffee and now I'm getting ready to do yard work before taking some time to enjoy the day! (That's code for golf!) But before I go and work and enjoy the day, I'm taking time to put my thoughts of the weekend into print and summarize an amazing weekend. Here goes!

* John Bevere did an Extraordinary job this weekend preaching all four services at AV and on HD in our other campuses. I loved the way he spoke to the campuses and really worked with the church. His message was a very timely message for our church and I believe we will see a lot of spiritual growth from it. After the services people kept thanking me for bringing him in and also saying "Keep bringing your friends to our church, they're great!" I love our new friendship with John and I love the network of ministers that I get to do life with. I have more friends in ministry and trust me, when we bring them in, they will have a message for us!

* I was so proud of our team and also our volunteers as they did such an amazing job this weekend. They were great ministers, hosts, and took care of every detail. John Bevere and his team were raving about our hospitality and hosting abilities. Over and over again they told me how great the team was doing and that was so good to hear. To my team, the volunteers and all of you that made this weekend possible, Thank You!!!! You're awesome!

* On a personal note, I went to the Twins game after church and they won. For dinner, I finished off the weekend with Cosetta's Pizza and mostacolli, you can't beat that!  I also was thrilled that the Mavericks won the NBA Championship and today, it's sunny! Monday morning is looking good, now I'm off to pull some weeds!

ONLY IN MINNESOTA!

I'm getting ready this morning and I walked out to our screened in porch only to be greeted by 53 degrees! Seriously, just two days ago it was 103 and now it's 53! Do the math, that's a 50 degree swing in 36 hours! Honestly, that can only happen in Minnesota. I think it just might snow soon! 

Here's a take away for you. Are you stable or are you here and there, hot and cold, strong and weak? As a follower of Jesus let's try and keep it consistent. No more hot and cold, strong and weak, faith and doubt. The word for today is consistency, consistency to be a better follower of Jesus and not be crazy unpredictable like our Minnesota weather! Think on hat while you find your jacket  and hat and forget about the sun screen, stay warm!

JOHN BEVERE THIS WEEKEND

I just finished the book "Extraordinary" by John Bevere and I can't wait to have him preach at church this weekend! He is a prolific author and has several best sellers and he's a man of God that has a word for the Church. I know that this weekend we're going to enjoy his message so do everything you can to get here! (He will be live at all services at Apple Valley and on High Definition video at all of our other campuses.)

John and I have only known each other for a short while but we have so many friends in common that is was bound to happen that our paths would cross and they did not that long ago. That's when I asked him if he'd make his way to Minnesota and he graciously accepted my invitation. I'm especially glad that he did and that he gave us a weekend that he scheduled to be off. I promised him I'd take him golfing Saturday morning (He's an avid golfer so I know we will get along!) so he could get in a little R & R and I'm hoping our weather agrees with our tee-time! (By the way, just asking, but is there anyone with a connection that could upgrade our course choice? Love to take him to one of our premier courses if you have a hook up!)

So do all you can to be here this weekend, you know it's going to be good and invite a friend to come along to the service as we welcome John Bevere to River Valley Church!

CHURCH PICNICS

 
Today at 3 of our 4 Campuses, (Apple Valley is the only one not doing this.) we will have picnics for the church. It's a time to get together with others from the church and eat, hang out, laugh and get to know each other better. It's a time to build relationships and enjoy the amazing summer we have so I hope you will take advantage of it and join us!

I gave all of the Campus Pastors the responsibility of hosting a picnic and said they could pick any day in June and all of them picked today so I'm glad that we have an amazing day of good weather. I feel that a church needs these times together and it's just another small way that we stay small while we grow bigger as a church. If you're wondering why Apple Valley isn't having a picnic, it's because that campus hosts the all church picnic on August 28th and that's a major undertaking. So if you go to our Apple Valley Campus and you want a picnic today, make the drive and go to one of our other campuses (Seriously, it would be cool if you did that.) and meet some new people and enjoy the fun time together. I'm sitting here right now trying to figure out how to make all three!

SO MUCH TO PROCESS

Having just returned from India with our Global Team, I am processing through so much right now. I've been on dozens of trips before but once again, India really has got me thinking. I'm experiencing a bit of culture shock as I get to eat beef, haven't seen a lame person since I've been in the USA, notice how clean our country is, feel how happy we are and yet how empty we are, notice how big everything is and notice how empty our streets are. Things are really different back home and India really points that out to me.

It's also a readjustment as I get used to life that's not 100% focused on ministry. I only turned on the TV for a total of 2 minutes while I was in India because I decided that I wanted to focus on ministry and have very little distractions. I also had no Internet, no phone and only sent about 50 texts. I had no cares to think about with my family, the church and really enjoyed the focus that was all ministry, all the time. Now I'm back to help Becca with a garage sale today instead of pondering the Healing and Miracles I saw, and I'm looking at my watch and schedule as I finish my time with the Lord. It's really different and It's taking a bit to get used to and honestly, I hope I don't get used to the old, I hope that what God did in India changes me in a good way.

A GREAT MAN OF GOD

This past week a great man of God went on to get his eternal reward and I wanted you to know about it. Pastor Arvid Kingsriter, the founding pastor of Cedar Valley Church, finished his race and is now in Heaven and this weekend 1000's of people will be remembering all of the good he did for the Lord. I'm sure that people have amazing stories with him to share but I have one you may not be aware of that happened to me.

When I was in Bible College, he was the pastor that gave me my first position as an intern. I met with him for a short appointment and when we were done he offered me an internship right there on the spot! Of course the answer from me was yes and I loved being able to serve in the church that he had founded. His wisdom was amazing and it seemed like he gave me extra time that summer because I was the one he hired (There were three other interns there at the time) and I will always treasure the mentoring he gave me as a minister in training.

It will be an honor to be at his funeral this weekend and celebrate a pastor that finished the race so well and I only pray that I can run my race as well as he did his.