Love like family

Good Morning, we are excited to here this morning. I’m Hans Rasmussen and this is my beautiful wife Ann. We were in SE Asia a few weeks ago and wanted to share with you some of the things that we feel like God taught us in our time there. There are so many things we can learn from each other, we wanted to share just a few.

First, all the churches send there greetings and their love! They love Denver and the church here. They are so thankful for our years of partnership, prayers and financial support.

We started our trip in Vietnam. The 4 churches in Vietnam were all together for the HCMC 25th anniversary and the opening of their new community center and church building. everyone loved the picture book we brought for them.

Picture of the cake

Picture of the building (if QH sends them)

They were so excited, this has been a prayer and a goal for them. So excited to see this dream come true.

They had all 4 churches from Vietnam together.

Ho Chi Minh City, which was Saigon

Hanoi in the North

Danang in the middle

and Can Tho in the south.

It was amazing they had almost 100 percent of the members of the church there. Only a few who had some family things come up couldn’t come. The were all so excited to be together, they didn’t want to miss the chance to fellowship.

We were able to do a marriage workshop for all the marrieds. And then Hans taught a class for all the men and Ann taught to the women.

While we were there they had 3 baptisms! PIC

The woman that got baptised had been reached out to for the first time 5 years prior, they have this very patient long suffer view of helping people. They know it takes time to build deep friendships. Just doing life together before they ever do a bible study or even talk about church. Because of communism its illegal to just go out and invite someone to church.

They are friends first… It reminded me of this scripture. in 1 Thess.

1 Thessalonians 2:8 NIV

so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.

1 Thessalonians 2:8 NVI

así nosotros, por el cariño que les tenemos, nos deleitamos en compartir con ustedes no sólo el evangelio de Dios sino también nuestra vida. ¡Tanto llegamos a quererlos!

As you talk to these disciples, there isn’t a church life and separate regular life. There is a connection, a community a sense of just having fun together.

They seem to celebrate everything, birthdays, and spiritual birthdays, they go on vacations together, they play sports together. While they were all together they had a soccer and volley ball tournament. There seems to be this desire to spend time together. And don’t we see that in scripture so much. The disciples seemed to be together constantly in the early church… Acts says they met together daily. I read that in scripture, and I saw that in these churches and right away I start thinking about and making excuses… I see all the reasons that can’t happen, versus how can I live more like that.

I wonder how God would bless us if we spent more time together?

One of the ways they spent time was a banquet, they had to split it up for disciples 0-14 years and 15 and older.

Here is a pic of the dinner in the covered breezeway of their new building. They ate, played games, sang songs and had fun. We couldn’t understand most of what was being said or going on, but it was fun just being with them laughing all together.

On Sunday, everyone at church wrote down some 5 year prayer request, 5 yr dreams and they put them in a time capsule. PIC

They are going to bury it and open it in 5 years. We asked many of them what their dreams were.

Everyone of them shared for the church to get a license to meet legally for the whole country.

If they had teens, it was for them to become disciples.

Many shared about

Many shared about wanting to go on a mission team… We were blown away. Aren’t you already on a mission field? they look and say there are places that need disciples, there a places that still need to hear the good news. It was inspiring.

We got to have some great spiritual time, but we also had some time to just have fun.

This couple is one of their small group leaders. They were so kind and got use some clothes. That fit perfectly. We didn’t try them on, not sure how they did it...

We had great time with QH and Haung, who lead the church there.

They even took us on their motor bikes in some crazy rush hour traffic.

They asked if we would pray for them to get a country wide church license. They don’t qualify for it, but they are praying none the less.

From there we went to Cambodia.

Slide

We had dinner with the couple that leads the church there, Sovanng and Peep and their children.

pic. It was exciting their son and one of his friends had just been baptized 2 weeks prior. they have had great fruit in their teen ministry.

The next day we got time with some of their married small group leaders. What an inspiring group. I asked them what they loved most about the church. they shared about relationships, forgiveness, life change together, helping people become christians together.

People live pretty far out of town, but they meet together at the building. They make it a priority to spend time together.

Here is a picture of their staff, we were able to take them out to lunch and share what an inspiration they are to us.

We visited the hospital and the clinic. They see from 600 to 1000 patients a day, between the hospital and the 2 supporting clinics. they have trained 5000 medical professionals.

1 Thessalonians 4:9–10 NIV

Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,

Here is a picture of one of our brothers, he is the security guard at the hospital for 18 years.

This is the entrance to the hospital.

Here is some of the staff. The woman on the left is disciple in the church and her daughter just started at Pepperdine and is going to school with our Daughter Naomi. What a small world.

We went from some of these exciting inspiring places to one of the most somber disturbing things we have ever seen.

In Cambodia from 1975 to 1979 the Khmer Rouge lead the government, under Pol Pot .

Khmer Rouge government . During that time, an estimated 1.5 to 2 million

The Khmer Rouge regime arrested and eventually executed almost everyone suspected of connections with the former government or with foreign governments, as well as professionals and intellectuals. It is estimated 1.5 to 2 million died during that time. Why is it such a big deal the hospital trained 5000 drs and nurses? because the Khmer Rouge killed every dr in the country, killed everyone with an education, killed anyone who had a college degree...

Here is a picture of a memorial at one of the killing fields.

PIC of the skulls.

Sovann shared that everyone in the church had some family members that were killed. and yet there is this joy and peace and a deep desire to be together.

1 Thessalonians 2:8 NIV

so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.

John 15:13 NIV

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

John 15:13 NVI

Nadie tiene amor más grande que el dar la vida por sus amigos.

They have this culture in the church to lay down their lives for each other to help each other.

Teens becoming Christians. So connected with each other. Sovann and Pheaps son got baptized the week before we got there and he’d already been studying the bible with some of his friends.

They have seen God work powerfully through those relationships.

Teens becoming Christians. So connected with each other. Sovann and Pheaps son got baptized the week before we got there and he’d already been studying the bible with some of his friends.

Please be praying for them as there has been some persecution in the church there trying to pull people away from the church.

Then we went to Jakarta, what an amazing city and amazing church.

Pic.

Here is a picture of the couple that serve as the church leaders there. Budi and Listiana.

That is spelled BUDI, in case you were wondering.

It was so inspiring to hear what God is doing for the churches there. Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world, and yet is one of the fastest growing churches in our movement.

They take to heart the scripture that says

“You do not have because you do not ask God” James 4:2

“No tienen, porque no piden.” (Santiago 4.2, NVI)

They stopped giving christian churches a license to meet in the 60’s. But God had other plans. A brother, named Peter who happened to have graduated from CU boulder. moved to Jakarta to help the church. He ended up being hired to tutor a government officials child. This guys loved him and wanted to give him gifts all the time. But the brother refused. Now I’m talking cars, and trips and big time stuff… But this brother would say, I’m a christian I can’t take it.

At the same time the church is trying to apply for a license to meet together. They had been doing this for 2 years… The would get called in the official would ask for a bribe, the church leader would say no, and then they would get mad, kick him out and call the next week for him to come in. For 2 years.

So the church leader tells Peter, maybe God has you in this position to help us get a license to meet. Maybe ask him. Maybe its like Ester, for such a time as this God has you here.

So that week Peter gets a call, it is this high ranking government official. He says Peter, I think you are great, you help my family so much. What do you want? What can I do for you? I’ll get you anything, what do you want?

So Peter goes for it. He says I want a church license for my church, and not just a license for Jakarta, but the whole country. thats what I want. There was a pause and the official says, “What, a church license?” Your church doesn’t have a license yet?” If that’s all you want of course we can do that. He calls his assistant, and says make this happen.

They get a call, they are invited to come that Friday. They said it was very different than the other meetings. Red carpet treatment, would you like something to drink, can I get you a snack. Yes sirs, and thank you sir.

And they walked out with a church license for all of Indonesia. That church in Jakarta has planted 33 other churches! You do not have, because you do not ask. God wants to bless us. They told story after story of bold asks for money, for land, for sacrifice to advance Jesus’ church and people responded. It was faith building and inspiring!!

The other thing that stood out is the way they do life together. They have been building this culture in the church slowly and steadily since 2003. They have strategically moved closer to each other, so they can spend more time together. They have these super close community groups that reach out to friends by bringing them into their community. They have fun, they talk about marriages, they serve the poor together. They reach the lost by being friends first and bringing them into their community.

They said it usually takes between 1 or 2 years to help someone become a Christian. The build slowly and intentionally. The have a waitlist of people who want to study the bible to become Christians.

We asked what are some of the hallmarks of their church were. Some things they repeat regularly.

We are a church of small groups not a church with small groups

It’s the foundation. They said their is no secret thing to have a healthy church it starts with healthy small groups that are function in community.

We teach the person the bible not just teach the bible.

The goal isn’t to go through a specific study or to get together so many times and poof they are ready to make Jesus Lord. No, the focus on who is that person, what do they need. How is God working in their life already. What misconceptions about the nature of God do they have?

It’s about helping a person, not completing a task. And don’t we feel the difference, when someone is focused on us, on who we are versus their agenda.

We lay down our lives for each other (People know they would have each others backs)

They disciple and get in each others lives, but they fight for each other. They are long suffering, they deeply care about people.

They want every person who comes to church to mature and take a next step.

They have come up with a plan for each and every person to mature in their relationship with God. From a first time guest, to a 30 year old disciple. Everyone has a valued part and everyone has a plan.

The seem to be living this scripture out.

Galatians 6:9–10 NIV

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Galatians 6:9–10 NVI

No nos cansemos de hacer el bien, porque a su debido tiempo cosecharemos si no nos damos por vencidos. Por lo tanto, siempre que tengamos la oportunidad, hagamos bien a todos, y en especial a los de la familia de la fe.

Gal 6:9-10

We are excited in the coming months to share more of some of the details of what has worked there and in other churches that have implemented their way to mature their churches and love like family!

Since we were half way around the world, we decided to take a short trip to Bali for vacation. We were are always looking for a bargain and were able to stay at place for 50% off. It was on the north end of Bali and super remote. It’s part of a national park.

This is the sunrise we saw each morning as we had our time with God.

PIC

We were a 5 minute walk from a pier over a coral reef with thousands of fish.

It was so good to have some time away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Jesus needed times like that too.

Luke 5:16 NIV

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Luke 5:16

Luke 5:16 NVI

Él, por su parte, solía retirarse a lugares solitarios para orar.

It gave us time to relax and reflect on what we saw and what God has been doing in our lives.

For us personally we took away a few things that helped our hearts.

Budi, share with me in working on my own heart with difficult people,

Don’t take it personally. Ask questions, don’t question. ask questions to clarify instead of questioning their heart, there motives.

Ask questions, don’t question. ask questions to clarify instead of questioning their heart, there motives.

Ann, one of my take aways was how much they were intentional about getting time together. They made the most of each moment. They didn’t always live close to each other but they fought to get time together.

I think we have a perfect opportunity to get great time together at our women’s retreat. We’ll be up in Estes park together at the YMCA. It may take some extra efforts but it’s worth it. We can really grow in our relationships together.

And one last thought. When you are traveling where a HOPE shirt!

God is huge,

Let’s pray

1 Peter 5:8–9 NIV

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

1 Thessalonians 4:9–10 NIV

Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,

Jakarta,

Long term plan.

Galatians 6:9–10 NIV

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Bali,

Luke 5:16 NLT

But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.

Celebrate together

Specific responses to God’s word

Where a hope shirt when you travel.

thr u gh pr ay r th t w dis over the call to

mm .unity . It is r marka ble th at solitude always

observed that community is the "place where the

alls us to community . In solitud e we realize we

are par t of a human family and that we wa nt to

live som ethin g t ogether.

1

By community , I don't mean formal communities. I mean families, friends, parishes, Twelve-Step programs, prayer groups . Community is not an organization; community is a way of living. We gather around us people with whom we want to proclaim the truth that we are the beloved sons and daughters of God. Community is not easy. Parker Palmer once observed that community is the "place where the person you least want to live with always lives”

I mean families, friends, parishes,

Twelve-Step pro grams, pr ayer groups . Community

person you least want to live with always lives : '

is not an organization; comm unity is a

way of living.We gather around us people with whom we want to proclaim the truth that we are the beloved sons and daughters of God. Community is not easy. Parker Palmer once observed that community is the "place where the person you least want to live with always lives”

In Jesus' community of twelve disciples, the last name was that of someone who was going to betray him ().That person is always m our community somewhere. In the eyes of others, we might be that person.

Why is it so important that solitude come before community? If we do not know we are the beloved sons and daughters of God, we are going to expect someone in the community to make us feel that we are. We will expect someone to give us that perfect, unconditional love. They cannot. Often this means a painfully temporary quality in our relationships. Instead of long-lasting involvements that grow stronger over time, we may experience ruptures, separations, and growing despair about finding someone who can meet our deepest desires for intimacy. How quickly anticipation can give way to exhaustion and even depression as we search for anyone who can take away our loneliness.

others, we might be that person.

Why is it so important that solitude come before community? If we do not know we are the beloved sons and daughters of God, we are going to expect someone in the community to make us feel that we are. We will expect someone to give us that perfect, unconditional love. They cannot. Often this means a painfully temporary quality in our relationships. Instead of long-lasting involvements that grow stronger over time, we may experience ruptures, separations, and growing despair about finding someone who can meet our deepest desires for intimacy. How quickly anticipation can give way to exhaustion and even depression as we search for anyone who can take away our loneliness.

before community? If we do not know we are

Wherever we look we see lonely people. Maybe the main source of human suffering in contemporary western society loneliness. Children wander about alone in the streets of big cities. Teenagers often feel so alone that they look to drugs or sex for momentary relief. Young adults experience isolation in their work and often in their own homes. Everywhere there are people who suffer from silence in their relationships, fear in their reaching out to others, pain in their moments of intimacy, and anguish in times of absence and loss.

the beloved sons and daughters of God, we

Much of what we see on television, hear on the radio, and read in the newspapers is about stories of separation, jealousy, suspicion, rivalry, violence, war and destruction. It seems that our whole human family is ripped apart and suffering from abysmal loneliness. And underneath all of this is the weeping-the weeping of the human heart aching for community.

are going to expect someone in the community

Wherever we 1o o k we see lonely people.

Maybe the main so ur ce O f h uman suffering

Much of what we see on television, hear on the radio, and read in the newspapers is about stories of separation, jealousy, suspicion, rivalry, violence, war and destruction. It seems that our whole human family is ripped apart and suffering from abysmal loneliness. And underneath all of this is the weeping-the weeping of the human heart aching for community.

to make us feel that we are. We will expect

Community is not loneliness grabbing onto loneliness: ''I'm so lonely; you 're so lonely. Please stay awhile!" Grabbing too easily becomes grasping, and grasping may quickly turn into suffocating closeness.

separation, jealousy, suspicion, rivalry, violence,

someone to give us that perfect, unconditional love. They cannot. Often this means a painfully temporary quality in our relationships. Instead of long-lasting involvements that grow stronger over time, we may experience ruptures, separations, and growing despair about finding someone who can meet our deepest desires for intimacy. How quickly anticipation can give way to exhaustion and even depression as we search for anyone who can take away our loneliness.

in contemporary western soc1·e ty 1.s 1o ne 11·n ess.

we search for anyone wh o can take away our

love. They cannot. Often this means a painfully

Children wander about alone in the streets of

war and destruction. It seems that our whole

big cities. Teenagers often feel so alone that

temporary quality in our relationships. Instead of long-lasting involvements that grow stronger

loneliness.

'

of long-lasting involvements that grow stronger

th~y look to drugs or sex for mom entary relief.

human family is ripped apart and suffering from

Community is not loneliness grabbing onto loneliness: ''I'm so lonely; you 're so lonely. Please stay awhile!" Grabbing too easily becomes grasping, and grasping may quickly turn into suffocating closeness.

over time, we may experience ruptures,

Young adults experience isolation in their work

abysmal loneliness. And underneath all of this is

ess

To

separatio ns, and growing despair about finding

the weeping-the weeping of the human heart

and often in their own homes. Everywhere

live a

someone who can meet our deepest d ·

there are people who suffer from silence in

aching for community.

their relationships, fear in their reaching out to

es1res

spiritual ffe

grabbing onto loneliness: ''I'm

others, pain in their moments of intimacy, and

for intimacy. How quickly anticipat

so lonely; you 're so lonely.

1 ·

anguish in times of absence and loss.

Please stay awhile!" Grabbing

0 n can

give way to exhaustion and even depression as

too easily becomes grasping,

and grasping may quickly

turn into suffocating closeness.

No, community is solitude greeting solitude: "I am the beloved; you are the beloved. Together we can build a home." Sometimes we are close to each other, and that's wonderful. Sometimes we don't feel much love, and that's hard. But we can be faithful. We can build a home together and create space for God and for the children of God.

solitude greeting solitude: "I

to each other, and that's wonderful. Sometimes

Within the discipline of community are the disciplines of forgiveness and celebration. Forgiveness and celebration are what make marriage, friendship, or any other form of community possible.

we don't feel much love, and that's hard.

our lonelinessa nd to

disciplines of forgiveness and celebration. Forgiveness

What is forgiveness? Forgiveness is to allow the other person not to be God. Forgiveness says, "I know you love me, but you don't have to love me unconditionally, because no human being can do that."

But we can be faithful. We can build a home

the courageto enter

What is forgiveness? Forgiveness is to allow the other person not to be God. Forgiveness says, "I know you love me, but you don't have to love me unconditionally, because no human being can do that."

other person not to be God. Forgiveness says, "I

know you love me, but you don't have to love

me unconditionally, because no human being

can do that."

into the desert of

together and create space for God and for the

and celebration are what make marriage,

We all have wounds. We all are in so much pain. It is precisely a feeling of loneliness that lurks behind all our successes, a feeling of uselessness that hides under all the praise we receive, a feeling of meaninglessness even when people say we are fantastic that makes us sometimes grab onto people and expect from them an affection and love they cannot give.

friendship, or any other form of community

children of God.

our lonelinessa nd to

grab onto people and expect

from them an affection and

love they cannot give.

pain. It is precisely a feeling of loneliness that

change it by gentle

possible.

If we want other people to give us something that only God can give, we become a heavy burden. We say, "Love me!" and before we know it we become demanding and manipulative and maybe even violent. It is so important that we keep forgiving one another-not once in a while, but every moment. Before we have had our breakfast, we have already had at least three opportunities to forgive people, because our mind is already wondering: What will they think about me? What will he or she do? How will they use me?

violent. It is so important that we keep forgiving

one another-not once in a while, but every

can give, we become a heavy burden. We say,

moment. Before we have had our breakfast, we

have already had at least three opportunities to

give us something that only God

"Love me!" and before we know it we become

forgive people, because our mind is already wondering:

What will they think about me? What will he

demanding and manipulative and maybe even

or she do? How will they use me?

and persistent efforts

lurks behind all our successes, a feeling of uselessness

To forgive other people for being able to give us only a little love-that is a hard discipline. To keep asking others for forgiveness because we can give only a little love-that is a hard discipline, too. It hurts to say to our children, to our wife or our husband, to our friends, that we cannot give them all we would like to give. And it is a hard discipline to offer forgiveness to others even when they are not able to receive that forgiveness. Still, offering and receiving forgiveness is where community begins to be created. Community forms when we come together in a forgiving and undemanding way.

give us only a little love-that is a hard discipline.

To keep asking others for forgiveness

because we can give only a little love-that

is a hard discipline, too. It hurts to say to our

children, to our wife or our husband, to our friends, that we cannot give them all we would like to give. And it is a hard discipline to offer forgiveness to others even when they are not able to receive that forgiveness. Still, offering and receiving forgiveness is where community begins to be created. Community forms when we come together in a forgiving and undemanding way.

friends, that we cannot give them all we would

like to give. And it is a hard discipline to offer

forgiveness to others even when they are not

able to receive that forgiveness. Still, offering

and receiving forgiveness is where community

begins to be created. Community forms when

we come together in a forgiving and undemanding

way.

that hides under all the praise we receive,

into a garden of

By not

solitude. am the beloved; you are the

a feeling of meaninglessness even

-Reaching beloved. Together we can build

when people say we are fantastic

By not

Out

that makes us sometimes

forgiving, I chain

myself to a desire to

a home." Sometimes we are close

get even, thereby

losing my freedom.

This is where celebration ' th e second discipline of community, comes in. Celebration writes

of community, comes in. "Cel eb rati.o n ,, , wn.t es

Jean Vanir, "nourishes us , restores hope and brings us the strength to live with the sufferings and difficulties of everyday life." If we can forgive that another person cannot give us what only God can give, then we can celebrate that person's gift. Then we can see the love that person is giving us as a reflection of God's great, unconditional love.

brings us the strength to live with the sufferings

Our relationships are endlessly varied because God's love is inexhaustible and can be made visible in countless ways. What is important is that we know that it is God who calls us together. "Love one another, as I have loved you" ). When we know that first love we can see the love that comes to us from people as a reflection of it. This knowledge allows us to live through many hard times an hard moments. We can celebrate that love and say, "That's beautiful!"

and difficulties of everyday life."2 If we can

varied because God's love is inexhaustible

and can be made visible in countless ways. What

forgive that another person cannot give us what

only God can give, then we can celebrate that

is important is that we know that it is God who

person's gift. Then we can see the love that person

calls us together. "Love one another, as I have

is giving us as a reflection of God's great,

loved you" Gohn 15:12). When we know that

unconditional love.

first love we can see the love that comes to us

'

from people as a reflection of it. This knowledge

allows us to live through many hard times and

hard moments. We can celebrate that love and

say, "That's beautiful!"

Love like family

​

Excuse the parents to 110