Rob Ketterling

RANDOM THOUGHTS

It's Monday morning and I'm back from Israel, jet lagged (Got up at 4:14AM, NOT NORMAL!) and getting back into the swing of things. I have so many thoughts in my mind, so here are a few random thoughts, feel free to comment, I'm thinking out loud on some of this stuff and maybe your insights will help me process my thoughts!

• Israel is a must see trip. The Bible comes alive, you can feel the tension and the Spirit of God and being there is like having a semester of Bible College!
• I've never been more concerned that our days to visit Israel are numbered. If Iran gets nukes and we have a President that's unwilling to stand up to the Muslim nations that surround Israel and demand that they do not attack, well, it could be the end of visiting and perhaps the end of the world. (Having just been to the valley of Armageddon, wow, that really hits me! Revelation 16:16)
• I don't have a passion for Cyber Monday, don't like the crowds of Black Friday and think that might mean I'm getting old. (I do like the Golf Warehouse Sale on County Road 42 in Burnsville! Max Adler from our Savage campus runs it and it moved from the location near Old Country Buffet to a spot near Davanni's near County Road 11. Just trying to help Max out!)
• Not going to get anywhere near my 100 book goal for the year, maybe I'll hit 60 if I push and finish some of the 18 books I'm reading. (By the way, just finished Robet Morris' book The God I never Knew on the Holy Spirit and loved it! I'll be using it as a resource for a series up ahead and we'll make it available for purchase at the church.)
• I downloaded the new River Valley Christmas EP and love it! Seriously well done! I really am glad that Pastor Ryan lead the efforts to do this and all the money made from iTunes  goes to Toys for Tots! It's a great way to get some new Christmas music and also help out kids in need. The worship team will be on KARE 11 soon and we'll also be presenting a check on the 10PM news, I'll keep you posted as to the dates for all of this.
• I'm preaching this week on Part II of Unstoppable - the topic this week, HOPE! I'll be using some of the stuff I did for Sparkle and adding new stuff but I loved that message so much that I want the men to hear it and also anyone that missed Sparkle! I can't wait to preach this weekend!
• We're bringing in Sam Chand tomorrow and Wednesday to do some coaching for me and our team and I'm really looking forward to this time together. Sam has been a coach to so many pastors and leaders and I really felt the need to get some extra insight as our church continues to grow and reach more people. I NEVER want to stop learning, never stop improving and always try to maximize every talent God has given me!
• Going to go work out now, food in Israel was amazing! Gained a few lbs.... Thanks for letting me ramble... It helped.

ANOTHER WONDERFUL TRIP TO ISRAEL

We're almost done with our Global Team trip to Israel and I have to say it was another wonderful trip! I have now been here 3 times and every time I learn something new. (Actually I learn about 30% more each time and if this keeps up, it might take me a lifetime to really get a grasp on Israel!) 

The team has been amazing and it has meant the world to me to have my mother and my son Connor with me. The only way the team would have been better is if Becca and Logan were with us. (we left them home to celebrate Thanksgiving without us. Hopefully we have some stuffing waiting for us when we get home.) No complaints, good attitudes, willing learners and adventurous. My kind of team! 

One special treat was being able to run my theory by one of the leading archaeologist in Israel as to where Pentecost might have happened in the book of Acts. He didn't disagree with me and gave one other possibility. Real good stuff as we study and pray and learn and draw closer to God. I can't stress it enough, if you get an opportunity to go to Israel, do it! 

Looking forward to getting home in MN, hopefully it will still be warm when we get home! 

MIRACLE OFFERING

Last weekend we received our Miracle Offering for Kingdom Builders and last night our teenagers gave to it as well! (I'm hearing good reports from all of the campuses!) There's still time to get in on this and although I can't tell you where the total is at, you want to get in on this offering, it's our biggest one ever! Let's celebrate on Dec 3/4 but until then, let's make this the biggest year ever for Kingdom Builders!

IN THE PAPER AGAIN!!! AND IT WAS REALLY GOOD!

The St. Paul Pioneer Press did another story about our church and three churches we started! It was such a good article, I hope you will read it if you haven't already done so!

A FEW REALLY GOOD THINGS

There are so many good ministries that we want to support with Kingdom Builders and I'm asking that you will do your part and bring your best gift this weekend so we can reach our goal of 1 million dollars. It's possible if we ALL do our part! Last year, we had 550 families give $226,751 in the miracle offering and now our church is bigger and stronger this year so I'm believing for even bigger things!

We need to raise the money - $50,000 for Convoy of Hope as they bring needed supplies to people suffering from natural disasters, $100,000 for an Urban Outreach with North Central University as they reach out to the neighborhoods surrounding NCU and share the love of Jesus, $100,000 for a 5th campus for RIver Valley. Someone gave to the campus you go to, long before you attended, why not pay for the next one! Also, we need to raise $80,000 to purchase much needed vehicles for our missionaries all over the world. There are so many other needs but I wanted you to see a few of them!

These are great things and we're a great church serving a great God, let's do our best this weekend to do good all around the world so people can see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven!

MIRACLE OFFERING THIS WEEKEND!

This weekend at all of our campuses, we're all going to particiapte in the Miracle Offering as part of our Kingdom Builders ministry. If you want more info on Kingdom Builders, go here, but let me give you a quick snapshot in case you need it.

Every year, we set financial goals as a church to raise money for ministries that we want to support to advance the kingdom of God. It varies from building projects, to missions, to investments in our children and youth and many other wonderful ministries. This year, we set a goal of 1 million dollars and we are planning to send this money out to over a dozen ministries! (For a complete list go here.) I'm so excited because so far this year we've raised over $630,000 and I know that if we all do our part and people with the gift of giving step up, we will make it over a million for the very first time!

Becca and I prayed, sat down and discussed it and we're ready to do our part! I pray that you will do the same and see what God asks you to give as we look forward to the Miracle Offering this weekend!

I LOVE OUR MUSIC!!!

This past weekend the Pioneer Press did a story about our church and our music, so god to see them write such good stuff about us! I love our music and I love where our church is going! Here's the link! http://www.twincities.com/ci_19267312?IADID=Search-www.twincities.com-www.twincities.com

MY NEW WORD

I have a new word today that I really want to use to guide me and no I didn't make it up, it's actually a pretty common word. It's the word prioritize. Not an amazing word but maybe it actually is, here's what I mean. I'm a goal setter, I have a "100 places to see before I die" list, (saw two of them this year!) a list (3 pages long) of goals for every area of my life, things I pray for, things to do every day, books to write etc. and if I do the math, I'm going to run out of time. Unless of course I live to 200, which is highly unlikely! With that being said, I need to prioritize what I'm going to do so my new word is going to have to be prioritize. Prioritze my time, my relationships, my travel, even my goals list. Its going to be a huge battle for me because up until now, it's been add to the list, add to the list and now it's cut down the list, cut it down some more or better yet, stick to the list and cut out other stuff! (Can you see why this is going to be hard!) My plan will be to prioritize every day and then, make it happen. Easy right?! My biggest challenges will be when good opportunities crowd out great opportunities and when rest doesn't look like the highest priority even when it is. You're only given one life to live and then you face judgment, wouldn't it be great to hear a "well done" rather than a "why didn't you?". My goal is to get to heaven and hear, "well done, you overachieved!". I better get working on my priority list!