John Lindell

The ILA Rally was incredible last night! The music was fantastic, we baptized 20 people, the JRA Choir sang it down with a rendition of “America Song,” and everyone realized we are a part of something supernaturally wonderful that God is doing at James River through I Love America. 

The first I Love America was held in 1997 at the present location of James River Assembly with the platform situated approximately where our present auditorium platform is today. Much like the current ILA the choir sang, the Gospel was shared, and spectacular fireworks were shot off to patriotic songs. We had hoped for an attendance of 5,000 but instead a crowd of over 13,000 gathered for the first ILA. By the 10th Anniversary of ILA, we had a record attendance of over 100,000 people.

The Best is Yet to Come!

After the record attendance, it was hard for us to imagine that ILA would become much larger. In Ephesians, Paul writes these words, “God can do anything, you know — far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us” (Ephesians 3:20, The Message). This year, we are experiencing firsthand God’s ability to do anything, far more than we could ever imagine and beyond our wildest dreams! Through a partnership with GodTV, ILA will be broadcast live for 7 hours on July 3rd and will be rebroadcast on July 4th and 5th with a potential audience of over 17 million homes in the USA, and over 200 million households worldwide! That is definitely beyond our wildest dreams!

GodTV will be challenging their viewers to give over $1 million dollars to drill wells for clean water in Africa! During the ILA celebration, we will be connected via satellite to a rig that will be drilling a water well in West Pokot, Kenya. This well will bring clean water to a very dry and arid region and, in the process, will bring the Gospel to 3 unreached people groups as a church is planted at the well! At nightfall, there will be a time when those at ILA will have the opportunity to text a $5 gift toward the drilling of this well. Following the fireworks via a live satellite feed, we are praying that we will have the opportunity to see the rig hit water!

What can you do?

1. Pray

a. Pray for good weather (sunny, 82, low humidity, slight breeze from the NW)
b. Pray for safety and protection for the people, air show, tech crew, etc.
c. Pray for the Lord to set His hand upon each of us to be His ambassador
d. Pray for people to come to know Jesus as their Savior
e. Pray for GodTV, the drilling of the well, and the people of Kenya

2. Serve the Lord with joy

3. Invite your family, friends and co-workers to attend ILA

This is an opportunity to be a part of something historic and certainly something “far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams.” God can do that, you know!

Walking along in my sandals, I almost stepped on a copperhead. This morning, as I was having my prayer time, I was walking down the driveway, reading and thinking about Romans 2…the snake coiled and our dog barked just as I was about take the next step on the snake.

As I continued my devotions, I couldn’t help but think of the words Paul wrote, “Be watchful…” (1 Corinthians 16:13). That same word is used 22 times in the New Testament and is translated: keep watch, alert, wake up, stay awake, be on your guard. The reason the word is used so much is that, in order to be effective, the Christian can’t be asleep spiritually.

Over and over the Bible urges us to be watchful. We are instructed to watch out because the Devil like a roaring lion is looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8), to watch so we don’t fall into temptation (Mark 14:38), to watch out for apathy in our lives (Revelation 3:1-2), to watch out for false teachers (Matthew 7:15), to watch in prayer (Ephesians 6:18; 1 Peter 4:7), and to watch for Jesus’ return (Matthew 24:42).

This morning wasn’t the first time I almost stepped on a snake and, given the fact that our home is surrounded by woods, it won’t be the last. But it was a good reminder to be watchful, both for snakes on the ground and those other spiritual snakes in the grass.

Someone wrote on my Facebook, “I love driving through neighborhoods, down country roads and by businesses seeing all of the ‘I Love America’ signs. It’s so much fun to see where all of our JRA family lives and works.” I agree…it is very cool to see all of the signs.

When I read that post, I thought of 2 Corinthians 3:2, “You yourselves are our letter, written on your hearts, known and read by everybody.” Because of the ILA signs, people know where the JRA people live; but even more I pray when people see us they will know where Christ lives. Signs are great and they will help us get the word out. But the best advertisement for the Gospel is a living, breathing person with Christ enthroned on the heart.

Some of you knew it, others probably never thought about it, but I was reminded of it again this week—I am adopted. My father had always wanted to adopt. In fact, before I was even born he had determined that he would adopt me as his son. A while back I happened upon a copy of a letter which mentions my adoption and when I read it, frankly it blew me away. Here’s what it said, “Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!)” Ephesians 1:5 (The Message)

Maybe you have been adopted too! If you have, let me remind you of some things all of us who have been adopted should never forget:

1.      Our Father loves to adopt. It’s been something He has done since Old Testament times and is still doing today. (Deuteronomy 32:10; Ezekiel 16:3)

2.      He really wants us in His family–so much so that He reminds us continually of His love for us and the relationship we have with Him! “You received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15 (nlt)

3.      God has a new name picked out for each of us! “I’ll give the sacred manna to every conqueror; I’ll also give a clear, smooth stone inscribed with your new name, your secret new name.” Revelation 2:17 (The Message)

4.      Jesus is our big brother! (Hebrews 2:11)

5.      There is an inheritance waiting for us that will blow our mind! (John 14:3; Ephesians 1:18, Romans 8:23)

6.      You are part of a family. “You are members of God’s family.” Ephesians 2:19 (nlt)

The words “I’m adopted” never sounded so good or meant so much!

As the World Health Organization raised the pandemic level to 5 on a 6 step scale governments worldwide are being encouraged to take steps that could diminish the spread of the 2009 H1N1 virus or as its better known the “Swine Flu.”

If you’ve never been a thorough “hand-washer” now would be the time to acquire that discipline! But of greater concern to me is the response of Christians during a time of crisis–how should Christians respond?

1. There is no substitute for prayer. We can pray God’s mercy and protection over the lives of people. A pandemic is not inevitable…prayer changes things…and our prayers can make a huge difference!

2. Walk in love and faith as opposed to selfishness and fear. Because we have a God who loves and cares for us. Because we have a God who watches over us and is a healer; during this time of potential crisis we are set free from fear and the need to save ourselves which should allow us to be a people of compassion.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness…” (Colossians 3:12).  One of the hallmarks of the Early Church and one of the reasons that it made such an impact on a totally pagan culture that hated Christians was the fact that Christians were compassionate and kind. They understood the power of compassion when it comes to touching people’s lives. They lived in a society that devalued life-deformed boys were thrown in the city dump. Unwanted girls were thrown on trash heaps and it was the Christians who came along and rescued those little babies by feeding them and providing for them.

Often you read that the churches’ passion for the poor and the needy was so great that they had seasons of fasting–not just fasting and prayers for the poor but they saved their money from missing those meals and collected it to give to the poor and the needy! In a culture that cared nothing for the poor; it was the Christians who walked the streets and reached out to care for them.

Early church historians tell us that when two devastating disease epidemics swept through the Roman Empire (165 A.D. & 251 A.D.) one third of the people across the Roman Empire died. En masse, people fled the cities for fear the plague might overtake them. In the mist of those epidemics it was the Christians who stayed in the towns and cities to minister to those who were dying and it made a huge impact on the culture. Over time an entire culture was changed because of the Christians’ compassionate and kind response to those around them.

No one wants a crisis but the darkness of the hour creates an opportunity for the Gospel light to shine even brighter if the followers of Jesus will walk in faith and love.