Updates

Gabriela

Posted on by Spanky Rouse
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I was thinking today about a very special lady that I meet in the mountains of Veraguas in the central part of Panama. Her name is Gabriela and she is so full of life and joy that everyone that is near her quickly become full of laughter. I meet her one day while we were out visiting families in their homes for discipleship, relationship building and evangelism. It was about lunch time and we had been hiking from hut to hut for the past 3 hours when me, my translator, and a local christian came up to this store in the middle of no where. There was a young boy that was running the store but he said his mom was just behind the store at home. We walked around back to talk to her but the only house that I saw was at the bottom of this mountain and I could barely see it through the thickness of the jungle. My translator looked at me with a look like, “seriously are we going to do this?” and I am sure I had the same look on my face. I said you ready let’s do this.

We started down this ridiculously steep mountain thinking the whole way, we still have to come back up this thing today. We get to this house and a lady that looks like she is in her late 30’s is running around washing clothes and cleaning up around the house says come on in and sit down. So we do but she keeps up her sprinting and working like a crazy person all at the same time she is laughing and talking a mile a minute. After being there for only 10 minutes she says she wants us to go back up the mountain to the store to spend some time talking with her. After resting for a few minutes we started back up this mountain. The locals were even sweating and breathing hard so you know that I was about to die.

We make it back and she comes running up after us. She wanted to know all about my family, life back in the US, and why I was here in her village. We talked for about an hour about everything. I found out that she was actually in her 60’s, she has 11 children, she cooks for all of the children in the village at the school, and that she is a big influence in the community. This is the kind of person that can make a huge difference so we were excited to share the good news of Jesus with her and teacher her how to use a bible. Gabriela did not openly received Christ at that moment but she said that she knew that this was truth and that she needed to share this with her family especially her husband.

I believe that Gabriela is going to be a great influencer in her community with the good news. i know that I think about my time with her often and it influences me to have a spirit and attitude of joy. She doesn’t know how much of an impact her time of talking, laughing, and listening was on me and the others there. I pray that I will bless others today with laughter, smiles, time spent listening, and relationship building. Gabriela taught me that relationships are what is important today not how much I can get done.

It’s Personal, part 2

Posted on by Spanky Rouse

I see how the Gospel, what Jesus did for all of us is deeply personal in Mark 15:6-15. He is the righteous one that was given for the unrighteous, us. This short but powerful scene of the gospel story, Jesus was still standing before Pilate. Pilate knew in his heart that Jesus was innocent and deserved to be released but he couldn’t follow his heart because he wanted to please the people. How many times do I do what others want me to do because I want to please them. Even when I know in my heart what the Father is telling me is the opposite.

Pilate thought that if he could show the people the difference between good and bad, righteous and unrighteous, or deserving and undeserving that they could truly see the truth. They couldn’t they were blinded by the enemy. Sound familiarto today’s society and even the American church today. We are so blinded by the stuff of life and wrong teachings, like the American dream, that we drowned out the truths of God. Pilate brought the worst of the worst and put him beside Jesus and told them to pick one man to release. The one who truly deserved to be set free and put to death the real criminal. To the amazement of Pilate they chose wrong and not just a little but drastically wrong. “Crucify Jesus!!!” Pilate said out loud and I guess confused and disgusted, “Why?! what evil has he done” But the people keep screaming “Crucify!” So, they let Barabbas, the bad guy go free and Jesus the innocent was killed in a brutal manner.

This is personal for each of us because we are the evil, guilty, and unrighteous sinners of all sinners and the Righteous One died for us. It’s personal because Jesus could have said, “no way I am not doing this I don’t deserve to have my “creation” treat me this unfairly! How about you try and pay for your own evil and wrong doings.” But He didn’t do that. He died unjustly because He loves Spanky, and you so much that He could not have thought of separation from us for all eternity. He was going to do whatever it took to love me and allow me to know Him in a real and personal way. The Gospel, the story of Jesus’ love is personal for you today!

It’s Personal, part 1

Posted on by Spanky Rouse

I was reading the story of Jesus’ crucifixion the other day to see the different details of each writer. Before starting I asked God to let me see His word anew and fresh like never before. To my amazement He answered(sarcasm). I was excited that I was able to pull out a few verses and people in the crucifixion story that I don’t know I have every seen. I am going to write out some of my notes on these new revelations as I am trying to learn and apply them to my life. I am calling this “It’s Personal” because Christ is making it personal for each set of verses or people I have seen in my reading. Not because of Andy Stanley’s series called “Its Personal”, I promise!

I started in the book of Matthew, not for any intellectual reasoning but just because it came first in the gospels order. I saw a character the I never knew was even in the bible. Pilate’s wife. She isn’t mentioned anywhere else in the gospels but God thought that just for this one verse her personal interaction with Jesus was important enough to be in Matthew 27:19. The scene takes place when Jesus is brought before Pilate so he can decide if Jesus is guilty of any wrong doings. Pilate knows in his own heart that Jesus is undeserving but he can also hear the people outside cheering for Jesus’ death and I picture him debating in his mind what to do. At that moment Pilate’s wife leans over and whispers in his ear, “leave this man alone!”

Pilate’s wife actually says that she has had a dream about this innocent man today and it was really like torture. Maybe the Lord was allowing her to see a piece of what was to come if this Jesus was condemned or maybe it was conviction of sin. I believe that a God that is big enough to create men out of dust is able to give us dreams to see the future. Actually in the history of Israel this had happened numerous times. (example, Joseph, Gen 37) The other thought I had was that the Lord was allowing her to be under conviction. You may have heard people say that when they are not living right or before they gave their life to Jesus they felt a guilt or weight, that can be a great feeling of torture. So we will never know what kind of torture she went through in her dreams but we know that it was because of Jesus.

Why would Jesus of all people allow torture? I think it was for her own good. I really don’t think that Jesus thought that by her telling Pilate anything that it was going to change what was to take place the next day. I mean, God had already ordained this time for Christ from the moment of Adam and Eve’s sin and no one was able to change that. So when I say that it was for her own good I mean that Jesus was trying to reach out to her in a real and personal way. Jesus wanted her to see him as the Savior and King. He will do whatever it takes to reach out to the spiritually blinded and needy even if it is in some crazy supernatural way. He is always pursuing us for our good and He will make it personal.

Going to jail!

Posted on by Spanky Rouse

I had a good friend invite me to go with him and some other men to a local prison for a church service. Honestly, I put on my self righteous attitude and thought that I might be able to go a minister to these poor men. Man did God have something in store for me. It was one of the most up lifting times that I have had and it was one of the most moving church services that I have been apart of. The music and singers were amazing! You would never think that these guys would have been in a church choir but I am sure glad they are. The inmate that I was sitting with said that he was going to try to get relocated closer to where he is from but after coming to this facility and finding this church he decide that this would be the best place for him during this time in his life. God is using some of the most unusable and unqualified people according to the worlds standards to minister to inside this prison. That is he power of God!

God knew that I was in a funk. He also knew that being in that prison with those men worshiping the Father was the best place for me to be on that Tuesday night. The service started by a couple of men giving testimonies of how wonderful our God is and what he was teaching them in the Word. One of the men actually said, ” Men we need to thank God tonight for allowing us to be right where we are. He is so good to us.” I sat there thinking, do you not understand that you are locked up in this prison or what! Others stood up and gave testimonies of His faithfulness and power, His goodness in their life, His blessings, and the hope and joy that they have. I could not believe the praise and worship that was coming out of these mens mouths. I had been thinking for the past two days about how “hard” my life is and these men are talking about worshiping the Father even in their situation. The Spirit of the Lord quickly broke my heart and allowed me to lay it all at His feet. James 1:2 came to mind, Count it joy when you face the trials of life. It is a privilege to be where I am no matter how hard because God is using this time to produce His character in me.

The Great Date Experiment

Posted on by Spanky Rouse

phone 047Our church is doing this really cool thing for the next 6 months to help spice up the romance in your marriage. It is called the Great Date Experiment. Each month they will give out an envelope with instructions for you and your spouse to take on a date. Lara and I went on our first of six dates last Friday night. It was fun!

After dropping the boys of we got in the car and began reading step 1 of 6 to start the date. Yes I cheated and read step one earlier in the week before Lara caught me, so I was already prepared. In step 1 husbands are suppose to use 4 pet names for their wife during the date while the ladies are suppose to touch their husbands backsides twice. I chose a few names that they suggested that I wouldn’t normally use like magic princess, gangster girl, and cowgirl. I don’t think these helped our romance level due to the fact that I laughed every time I called her these pet names.

Step 2, Go for appetizer at a favorite restaurant. We chose to have guacamole live at On the Border. There we answered fun questions and laughed. Step 3, The appetizer was so good and the snow was falling so hard that we decided to stay for dinner. The questions got a little more intimate as the night went on. After dinner we went out side in the snow and took a wonderful picture that we made our wallpaper on our phones and profile picture on facebook. It was a little corny but fun too. Step 4, We walked in the snow to CVS so we could buy a $2 gift for each other. This was hilarious! When we got back to the car and we gave each other our gifts and explained why we bought these specific gifts. Lara had bought me post-it notes so she could write me love notes and I bought her nail polish so I could paint her toe nails when we got home. This was a fun and sweet part of our date and almost felt like we were on a date back in high school. Step 5, You are suppose to either go for dessert or sit in the car and make out. Well we debated the skipping dessert but because dessert is the part of the date that my wife had been looking forward to all night we saved the making out for later. We drove slow in a snowy wonderland to Chile’s where we ate dessert and finished answering the questions for this step. This part of the evening was my most enjoyable part too but not because of the dessert. The questions lead our conversation to an intimate time of verbally encouraging each other. I realized that we don’t do this for each other enough and it felt good to share how special to me she was.Step 6, is not up for conversation but it is a time when the experiment becomes chemistry!

I think that Lara and I have a pretty good marriage and I thought that this wouldn’t really be that needful for us but this date night will be a night that we will not forget. It was fun, exciting, relaxing, intimate, uplifting, and satisfying. The thermostat of romance in our relationship was definitely turned up a few notches. We can’t wait until Great Date Experiment 2!

Try it out http://www.marriedlifeonline.com/greatdate_np.jsp

Real Love

Posted on by Spanky Rouse

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Do you know what “Real Love” is? I think that real love is something that you don’t just have or get but rather it is apart of God that He develops with in us. We are selfish and disgusting creatures that care only for ourselves so if there be any kind of love with in you it has to be the image of God coming out. The bible says that even my best is still in the likeness of filthy, dirty rags so how could I ever really love someone. I can only love through the love that my Heavenly Father has given me. Before I was apart of God’s family, while I was still at my worst, Jesus stepped out of Heaven in all of its glory and willingly died for me. He did what I could not do but what I should have to do all because He loves me more than anything else. That is “Real Love”.

This love should change the way we live and act. Every relationship and situation would be effected if we truly walked in this love. Beginning with our family. I have to put them first and become a servant if I want to love them with “Real Love”. As we have been learning at Ridge Church the past few weeks, love is a verb so put it into action.

This love should also cause us to take action for the people in this world that are in need physically, emotionally, and especially spiritually. How can we, followers of Christ not step up to the plate and stand in the gap for those all over this world that are in need. The least we could do is give but we should be going to help too. We, who live in America that say,”What can I do” should be ashamed! We live in the top 5% of the most wealthy people in the whole world and we wonder what we can do. There are children, widows, and families all over this world that are homeless, hungry, dying of sicknesses that are easily curable, crippled and crawling, dehydrated, hopeless, joyless, and empty and we seem to be okwith that. What can you do? You can start right where you are. Acts 1:8 Go serve, give $20 a month, step up to the plate and help, and at least be praying for those in need. 1 John 3:16 ” By Jesus we know love, and now we ought to lay down our lives for others.”

The gospel, what Jesus has done and is still doing for you, should put love into action in your life! 1 John 4:11 “If God so loved us, then we ought to love one another.” It’s not what I can achieve in life that matters it is who I can affect for the glory of God that matters.

Watch this 3 minute video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXh_tgjnYJw

Update from Uganda

Posted on by Spanky Rouse
Hello family, friends, and partners,Wow! God is so awesome! He truly amazed me moment after moment on this trip. We talk regularly about what is a “win” so we will recognize the hand of God moving and it seemed as though we saw win after win. Our team was made up of 29 people from the US, 3 from the UK, and many Ugandans. We worked in the area of Kaberamaido, Uganda planting 5 Ugandan lead churches by evangelizing, disciplining, sports evangelism, HIV/Aids education, and Medical ministry. Some conditions were tough and circumstances difficult to work through but God was there and at work. I know that each one of us returned back home changed forever and filled up more with a zealousness and fire in our spirit for the Lord and to serve! That is what it is all about for Lara and I!

CIMG2924Everyday I would wake up and say, “Father can today really be any better than yesterday?” and everyday He would amaze me. Close to 400 people received Christ into their heart for the first time, 340 of them were revisited for a time of discipleship, and over 275 of the new believers were coming for cell group meetings where there was a time of worship and bible study. We had over 750 medical patients and close to 400 eye glasses patients come through our medical clinics. The newest part of our ministry, sports evangelism was a huge success too. Each day the soccer fields were filled with people of all ages ready to play and hear the gospel. I know that success is not measured in numbers but in the lives that are changed when we are dealing with ministry. I saw success this week. In the eye of a little child that has cancer and has lost one eye already. In the words of a pastor that said the he is giving his life to disciple, nurture, and teach these new believers in his village. In the voice of a lady who had giving her heart to Jesus and then said,”I feel like I have hope and joy now”. On the smiling face of a boy with no arms. And in the voice of an American team member that said as we returned home,”Now what am I suppose to do since my life has been changed?”

This was a life changing week for all of us, American, British, and Ugandan. I am left asking the Father this morning,”Can today be any better than that?” Lara and I are so excited to see what He has in store for us next! We know that this is only the beginning.

We are planning on putting some pictures together to send out to you also. Thank you for your prayers and support!!! We know that we can’t do this with out you and we are sure that in Heaven many will tell you thank you. God bless you!

Looking back at 2009

Posted on by Spanky Rouse

018This time of the year I normally start reflecting on the past year and start dreaming for the year to come. When replaying 2009 I am left speechless at the awesomeness and sovereignty of what the Lord has done for us and in our lives. He has shown us that he really is the “I am”. No matter what day, circumstance or situation our Heavenly Father has been the I am. I am…your Provider, Sustainer, Help, Strength, Blessing, Hope, Peace, Protector, Joy, Life, Able One, Teacher, Care Taker, Director, All in All!

This has been our first full year of ministry and it has been exciting! We have been in the far reaches of Africa ministering to the physical and spiritual needs of the people in Uganda, in jungles and mountains of Panama teaching about the love and goodness of the Almighty Creator, in cities of Costa Rica being prepared to be used more for the Lord’s work, and at Ridge Church in Charlotte, NC serving the Lord with our gifts and talents. My heart and mind is over taken by the memories of many people and places we have seen the Hand of God move. We could not have imagined the opportunities the Lord has put in front of us or the ways He has proven Himself over this year. We have realized and are understanding more everyday that He is in total control and is worthy of praise! Habakkuk 1:5 ““Look at the nations and watch and be utterly amazed and astounded. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.”

This year has been the hardest year for us too. We feel like we have been in a fight and have barley come out the other side but are reminded in the scriptures to keep our eyes looking toward the Cross. Romans 15:13 says that abundant joy and peace comes from walking in faith. When we feel empty He seems to fill us up and satisfy us once again. We praise God for allowing us to serve in His ministry of seeing lives change. How great is our God!!!

We know that 2010 will be a year of God’s direction too. We don’t know all that He has in store for us or all of the places He will send us and use us this year. We as a family and partners together in ministry have decide to follow the Lords path where ever He leads. There will probably be valleys and struggles so we continue to ask that you join us in prayer. Pray for the glory of the Lord to be displayed in our lives and ministry and of course pray for what ever else He lays on your heart for us. We are also waiting in expectation because we know that there is going to be great victories and miracles in this new year. He is faithful and mighty! “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mt. Zion, which can not be shaken, but endure forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the Lord surrounds His people, from now to forever!” Psalm 125:1-2

Mac’s first mission trip

Posted on by Spanky Rouse

Costa Rica and Panama Nov 09 188We had the opportunity to take Mac with us on our last trip to Panama. It was one of the coolest experiences that we have had as a family. The couple of weeks before the trip you could tell that he was getting nervous. He would ask a lot of questions about the people, food, what was he going to be doing, etc. It is not unusual for Mac to ask a lot of questions but when most of his questions are centered on one topic you know that things are stirring around in his head. I think that one of his biggest concerns was what he was going to eat. Half of his backpack was filled up with food and snacks just to be safe.

Mac did very well with the traveling. No matter how long or bumpy the flight he just keeps talking. Long bus rides were no problem either. He just fell asleep on who ever was beside him. The first night we slept in a hotel in Panama city. I got a little worried for Mac and the rest of the week when he looked at his bed and said with a cracky voice,”there are bugs on my bed”.

When we arrived in the small village of Alto de Jesus Mac quickly became the focus of attention with the children. He quickly made friends and fit right in when he brought out his bag of Legos. I remember him sitting on the dirty ground playing along with the kids and then turning to me and saying,”Dad, I don’t know what they are saying!” It was pretty cool for me to sit down with him and his new friends and help them talk to each other. These new friends would become his partners in ministry and entertainment for the rest of the week. Two of his best friends were a brother and sister named Arnon and Rose. By the end of the week you would have thought that they had known each other forever.

Some of Mac’s favorite things about Panama were sleeping in a tent, playing all day with his new friends, feeding chickens, riding in the back of a truck, and telling other children about Jesus with his Evangecube. He ate great, loved the extreme part of the trip(except all of the hiking up hill), and hardly ever complained. He is filled with a sweet spirit and built for ministry. Mac is one of the best trip participants that we have ever had and the three of us are so glad that we have this experience of serving the Lord together to remember forever. Praise the Lord! Serving the Lord alongside of your family is one of the coolest things you could ever do.

Week 4 of Spanish in Costa Rica

Posted on by Spanky Rouse

12642_166109457757_694427757_2799761_7407941_n-2Estoy en morada! I am Home!!! I finally made it home on Saturday night at 10pm. I was so good to see Lara and the boys. I have had a couple of good days getting reacclimated to life in the US, family, and cold weather. After waking up sick and cold the past few mornings I realized that I have to move back south, way south.

This last week of school was great! I learned a lot and found that I had made some great friends. We finished a entire semester in just four weeks. The regular 4 month(semester) students said that we were crazy and after doing it I think they are right. My brain really did hurt at the end everyday. I am nowhere near being fluent but I feel that I am much further along than where I began. I feel like I at least have the basics now. In my grammar class I finished with a 90(A) and in conversation I finished with a 98. I think that they grade on a giant curve.

I still believe that this month was more than just a time for me to learn Spanish. It was time for the Lord to speak and move in our lives and ministry. The word became more clear and faith was strengthened daily. After living in the culture and with the people for this time I have to admit that I feel stronger than ever about the Lord leading us to move to Panama. It was like I felt at home. It was comfortable and natural to me. Maybe the Lord wanted to give me a taste of what life might be like for us to help me keep my eyes on the goal or to give me a little more peace about leading my family there. Either way I enjoyed ever bit. I can’t wait tho see what the Father has in store for us next!

¡Gracias a todos ustedes por sus oraciones y apoyo para hacer esto posible para mí! Yo alabo a Dios todos los días para usted! Thank you to all of you for your prayers and support in making this happen for me! I praise God every day for you!