prodigal son? prodigal brother? prodigal father? prodigal God?

This week while spending some extra time with my family, I picked up Tim Keller's newest book Prodigal God. Keller's previous book, A Reason For God, spent a lot of time on the New York Times Bestseller's list. He is also known for planting a very healthy church in New York City. Prodigal God is an in-depth look at the well known chapter 15 of Luke. This particular chapter is the that lists the parables of the Lost Coin, Lost Sheep, and the Lost Son. However, Keller spends a lot of time helping the reader gain a richer perspective on the whole family in Luke 15. He makes us take a fresh look at the father who willingly gives us his inheritance to his rebellious son. The rebellious son who willingly wishes his father dead and wastes his love in stray living. But most uniquely, Keller also spends as much time helping us understand the sinfulness of the "elder brother" the one who stayed at home but throws a tantrum when others are celebrating the return of the once lost son. If you want to study Luke 15 in a sound way, skip a meal at Olive Garden and read this book! -casey cariker

The Hole In Our Gospel by Richard Stearns (president of world vision USA)

Have you ever turned the TV channels and thought, "another needy person in a foreign country"? Have you ever watched the commercials and wondered "how many ministries help small children with food, and how do I know if they can be trusted?" Ever found yourself arguing over "where you will eat out again tonight" while rarely spending time thinking of ways to help the less fortunate? Most of us, whether we would like to publicly acknowledge or not, have had these same thoughts. We can go through many weeks and months of our busy lives and think little about those who are least, lonely, and lost. Richard Stearns, the president of World Vision since June 1998 writes, The Hole In Our Gospel, to make us wrestle with the tension of millions of starving children, thousands of villages without clothing, tons of communities/small countries without clean water, all the while you and I -(if we make over 25K a year) live in the top 5% of richest people in the world.
Over the last few months I have been slowly reading this book. One of the reasons I have been taking my time is too responsibly digest the hard truths and challenges from the author. Secondly, too ask God where I can immediately begin to play my part in relieving the injustices of this world.
Using his own life example, Richard Stearns, of being a CEO of the huge fine dining/eating ware company LENOX and then transition to being the President of World Vision. Richard Stearns is extremely transparent about his desire to gain more and more wealth before he left LENOX, his younger years calling to be a vocational missionary and running from that desire, to his willingness to lead an organization that he frankly new nothing about. Probably the most intriguing parts of the book are the hands on experiences and life stories that are told from all across the world. Stearns continues to be honest about his own family's desire to seek after an affluent lifestyle in Seattle to wanting their children who are now young adults to love those who are poor, naked, and hungry.
I'm giving this book a really high mark and recommendation because Stearns refuses to cut corners, let us off the hook with excuses, and yet presents the biblical challenge with grace and truth. If you need to read a book to expose you to the rest of the world, take a few months to read "The Hole In Our Gospel". -casey cariker part of: http://brb.thomasnelson.com/ bloggers

more vbs in action at rejoice church

This week, Andrea and I get the privilege of helping lead the Early Childhood Rec games at VBS. With hundreds of kids and tons of workers, VBS at Rejoice Church is a huge success. So far the timeless truth or big ideas have been: God is always with us, God is the Most powerful, and God keeps His promises. Come see us tonight at 6pm to join in on the fun! -Casey Cariker

Rejoice Vacation Bible School continues tonight thru Thursday...

Tonight, VBS continues at Rejoice Church. Beginning last night through much of the week there will be hundreds of great toddlers, and kids learning more about Jesus and the good news of the gospel. This video reminded me of the energy that kids have every day! When was the last time you skated like this?

this is the truth

Last Sunday, we played a similar video like this one during the middle of my sermon. Many of you have asked to be able to see and watch it again. For those of you who missed it, take some time to watch and listen. God is helping us learn "Truth" from 1 John this summer. Keep reading 1 John! -casey c

our friend max from tajikistan

A few days ago, we posted Alex' testimony...now here is Max's testimony:
Chesnov Maxim (Testimony for the US) My name is Maxim, I’m 22; I live in the city of Dushanbe, Tajikistan. I will share my testimony. From the time I was a little boy, I have lived without parents. I have not seen my father since I was born. My mom and I lived with her husband (my first stepfather) who at first was a good father and husband. But he began to drink all the time. He would come home drunk and beat my mom endlessly. Sometimes he beat me. It continued until it was almost every day. At that time, I was nearly two years old.
Mom and I began living in different houses, rented apartments and with friends. At times we simply lived on the streets. This continued until Mom met one more man. He was the son of leprous parents; His parents lived in a leprosy colony. Since he lived with his parents, we had to move into a leprosy colony ,too.
But her trouble continued. Because he was a drug addict, after a while my mom began to be on drugs too. We lived there four years. After 4 years of living this life in the leprosy colony, we again returned to the city of Dushanbe. I was 6 years old.
In the city mom began to meet friends – drug addicts and to accept drugs. It continued until mom was put in prison for 5 years. I was left absolutely alone without anyone or anything
Around 8 years old, I began to live in cellars or on roofs when it was necessary. I began to beg, steal, and earn money for a piece of bread . Polishing shoes was my first job. In a week I earned $1.50.
Then I began to wash cars. It was necessary to fight for a place to work. Because other children had parents who did not work, either. Then it worked out that I could work at a stable and groom horses. I worked there one month. All this time I was living on the streets.
After enduring all this, I decided to go back to leprosy colony to my stepfather and to ask him if I could live with him for a while. He agreed.
There was a small garden with fruits and vegetables. I looked after it (watered, and planted). One week prior to my arrival some foreigners from an organization brought help. They gave us sugar, flour and other goods.

My stepfather had collected a bag with products for my mom. He sent me to a church of evangelical Baptist Christians in Dushanbe. They had contacts who took things to prison. I took the items to the Baptist church. It was Sunday morning. There I met the person who was responsible for the prison services. Before he took the items for my mom, he asked me, “where do you live, and where are your parents?” Having learned about my life, he suggested that I live in «the Children's Rehabilitation Center» at the Baptist church. I agreed. At the age of 13, I began to live in «the Children's Center».
At 13 years old, I had never been to school. The church helped me, by placing me in school. I was accepted at once into the second grade. The Program normally takes 11 years. I finished in 6 years.
In 1998 I began visiting the Church and I accepted Jesus into my heart. I have understood that only He can change my life. In 2002, I was baptized. I try to serve the Lord in every way that I can. I sing in the choir and I help with youth services.
The Lord has blessed me with a family. On July 13th, 2008, I got married. My wife and I now wait for the birth of our first child. We live with her parents in one court yard. I have constructed a small room at the end of the court yard.

Now I am studying economics management at the university. I am very grateful to the Lord that he has protected me all my life. Now I understand it. The work which the HANNA PROJECT is doing renovating and expanding the children's center at the Baptist Church is very important. With this expansion, it will be possible to lodge even more children who do not have anyone or anything. These children today are on the streets. They die of hunger and cold, without ever having learned about

God’s Divine love. Today each of us can help them. Everyone can offer a helping hand. Just like it was done for me during the most difficult moments of my life when it seemed that there was no hope of a life. I told myself that it was the end. Then Jesus reached out his hand to me to help me and told me to lift up my eyes and hands to the sky, because it is only the beginning, the beginning of a life which I give you!!!

Today thanks to Jesus who has helped me through kind people, such as you. And by your prayers, I can stand on this place and testify to you of this life. Alleluia!!!!!Thank God!!!!!

My son, Candry and prayer

I love praying with my family-I love praying with my kids. Last night, God just blew me away by impressing these words upon my 4 year old son Candry, he prayed:
Dear Jesus we thank you that you have power over DEATH, that you are THE LIFE, that you suffered, died and rose again for us. The wine reminds us of your blood and the bread reminds us of your body, because of you we can live in heaven...Jesus come back for us, come quickly jesus, come quickly!

When was the last time you stopped to pray with your family? Never underestimate the power of God in prayer and the ability of your children, kids, or family to pray God sized prayers! -casey c.

alex from tajikistan

My name is Alex. I’m 24. I was born and grew up in a normal Tajikistan family without a father. I don’t know anything about my father, who he is, where he is from or where he is. I have never known the love of a father. There were three people in our family, my mom, my brother and myself. My mother raised us alone.

Because of that it was difficult for my mother to raise us. She sent me to a special school where I could study and live at the same place. From 1990 till 1992 there was a civil war in Tajikistan. Though the war has ended the situation in the country is not good. This time was especially difficult not only for my family but also for most people in the country. During this time our family was hungry often. There were times when I went three days with nothing to eat, lying in a bed and hoping for a miracle.

At this time, no one in our family believed in God, but I remember well when my mom without losing hope knelt and prayed a prayer “Our Father”. My brother could not endure this and he began to steal. After stealing from a shop my brother was arrested by the police and he was sent to prison for 6 years.

Approximately 6 months after that, my mom became seriously ill. She was treated at home because we had no money to take her to the hospital. . I saw how my mom became worse and worse everyday. It hurt me that I could not help my mother. After some months she died. The Hospital took my mother and I never saw her again. I was 13 years old and I remained absolutely alone.

My brother was still in prison at this time. Thank God that at the time I still went to school, so I had a place to live. Before leaving school my brother was released from prison and had become a Christian because there were missionaries from our church who went to the prisons to share the Bible. When the school year was over I had no place to go. My brother told me about God and about church and that at church there was a rehabilitation centre.

I remember the first time when I went to Sunday service and heard the Word of God for the first time. It touched my heart and I confessed. It was on August, 5th, 2001, this was also my birthday. And this day I celebrate my second birth. In 2003 I was baptized. I began to participate in various church services, sang in teenage chorus, then in youth and in adult choir on Sunday services. At present I sing in the youth choir and I am in a sports ministry with children.

In my life there was another tragedy. Last year my brother died from kidney failure. He was 28 years old. He was my last relative and he was for me like father and mother. It was one more huge loss in my life, but God has allowed me strength to live for Him and to serve Him. And I know precisely that my brother is now with God. I am grateful to God that He has led me to Himself. Since that first day I was introduced to God I have never regretted that I am a Christian.

At church there is a rehabilitation center for children who need help. Looking at them I remember myself when I was the same small child. When we lived in the rehabilitation centre our church helped us.

I wish to express gratitude to The Hanna Project and to you for helping us renovate our present rehabilitation centre which is in total ruins. When completed, it will house 35 kids, taking them off the streets and giving them a chance like I was given.

Recently I personally had the opportunity to work with a team from The Hanna Project on the center. For all of us it was a big blessing, especially for children who will live there. I saw happy faces on our children. After the building is completed the children can live, study in good conditions and serve our Lord. God bless you! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my story with you.

friends of rejoice from tajikistan

Do you have any friends who live overseas? Do you have any friends who live in "hard to reach places"? This past week, Rejoice Church got to meet some new friends who live in Tajikistan! Quick, tell me where Tajikistan is located? That's right in Central Asia, next to Afghanistan, Uzebekistan, etc... Alex and Max were introduced to the Rejoice Church family by Mike Cousineau, the director of the Hanna Project. Alex and Max became friends whey they were 15 and 13 yrs of age, respectively. They both grew up in homes that were absent of fathers, most of their lives were lived without a mother in the home and much of their lives were lived without a home. Alex and Max met at a rehab center/orphanage in Tajikistan and it is there where they both heard about Jesus for the very first time. It's especially difficult to be a Christ follower in Tajikistan because it is 92% Muslim. Over the last 8 years or more they have fell in love with Jesus and are currently helping the rehab center/orphanage that made such an impact on them. Rejoice Church and the student ministry had the privilege of hearing their stories last Wed. night...keep reading in the coming days because I will post their testimonies! While you are at it, pray that God will give you a heart for the nations and a friend who lives in "hard to reach places!" --casey cariker