RTTBROS

Root and Fruit #RTTBROS #Nightlight #holybible #Discipleship #Truth

NEST EGG #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Nest Egg

Luke 12:21 - "So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

Medieval farmers knew something smart about chickens. When collecting eggs, they'd always leave one in the nest, what they called the "nest egg." That one egg kept the hen coming back to lay more. Take them all, and your chicken might hide her eggs somewhere you'd never find them.

By the fourteenth century, peasants used this phrase to describe their approach to the future: set aside a little now, find security later. It was about thinking beyond today's hunger to tomorrow's needs.

That's good wisdom, and there's nothing wrong with planning for the future and being responsible with what God gives us. But Jesus told a story that puts this in perspective. A rich man had such a good harvest that he tore down his barns to build bigger ones. He was planning for many years of easy living, but God called him a fool because that very night, his soul was required of him.

See, there's a difference between wise planning and foolish hoarding. The question Jesus asks is: what kind of nest egg are you building?

Are you laying up treasure in heaven or just on earth? Are you investing in things that'll matter a hundred years from now, or just things that make you feel secure today?

I'm not saying don't plan for retirement. I'm saying make sure your spiritual nest egg is growing too. Every act of kindness, every moment in prayer, every dollar given to God's work, that's your eternal nest egg growing.

Because friend, earthly nest eggs can disappear in a market crash, but heavenly treasure is safe forever.

Prayer: God, help me be wise with earthly planning but even wiser with eternal investing. Show me how to be rich toward You. Amen.

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THE Church #RTTBROS #Nightlight #NK #Normankissinger

Multiplication #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Episode 2000

I keep thinking about the boy with the five loaves and two fish.

He didn't have much. Just a kid's lunch. But he offered what he had to Jesus, and Jesus multiplied it to feed thousands.

That's what RTTBROS has been for Norman and me:

• We're not theologians, just brothers who love God's Word

• We don't have a big production team, just two guys and their phones

• We're not famous preachers, just a custodian and counselor who serve

But we offered what we had, and God multiplied it.

2000 episodes later, we're in awe of what God can do with a small offering surrendered to Him.

We have over a quarter of a million views on one video platform

We have one video that has over 30,000 views and another over 20,000 views

We have over 50,000 likes on one platform.

On YouTube which is one of our weaker performing channels in the last 28 days we have nearly 4,000 views on our short form videos.

We are on every major podcast, video and audio platform.

Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.

What do you have that you're holding back? What "small thing" could God multiply if you'd just offer it to Him?

"And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would." - John 6:11

He's still multiplying small offerings today.

#RTTBROS #SmallOfferings #GodMultiplies #Episode2000Reflection #FiveLoaves #Faithfulness

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STORM PRAYER #RTTBROS #nightlight #God #Prayer #Storm

Memories #RTTBROS #Nightlight

(For all of my old Church Camp Kids I sing and do the actions for Peace Like A River in this sermon) 😁

90 Years Young and Still Building

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." - Galatians 6:9 (KJV)

Well folks, here we are celebrating a man who's turning 90, and I'm pretty sure he's already planning his next church plant. You know Jesse retirement isn't in his vocabulary, and honestly, I don't think the word "quit" is either.

I've been trying to figure out how to sum up Jesse Dunn's life, and I keep coming back to this: he's a builder. Not the kind that works with hammer and nails, though knowing Jesse, he probably could, but the kind that builds people's lives and builds God's kingdom.

When I think about Jesse going to California Christian College in his thirties with three little girls in tow, working full time and going to school... well, that tells you everything you need to know about his character. Most of us think we're busy when we have to work and watch Netflix on the same day. Jesse was building a future while raising a family and chasing after God's calling.

And can we talk about his church-planting record? This man has started more churches than some denominations have. Boise in the early '70s, Salem in the late '70s, then back to Boise to rebuild what he'd already built once. It's like he looked at the Great Commission and thought, "You know what? I'm going to take this personally."

I've been thinking about what I learned watching Jesse over the years, and I realized he gave us a master class in ministry without ever charging tuition. The man went to Bible college in his thirties, but the real education happened in the trenches, building churches, raising daughters, and somehow keeping his sense of humor through it all.

But here's what gets me about Jesse, and what I learned from watching him all these years: he doesn't just build churches, he builds people. He took a bunch of rough-around-the-edges teenagers in Salem and somehow convinced us we could be useful to God. I'm still not sure how he pulled that off.

Let me tell you what Jesse's classroom looked like: it was his living room where he'd counsel hurting people, his kitchen table where he'd study sermons while Joyce cooked dinner, and that old church bus where he'd pick up anybody and everybody who needed a ride to church. His curriculum was simple: love people, preach the Word, and trust God with the results.

The thing about Jesse is he never seemed to think anything was impossible. Church needs rebuilding? "Well, let's get to work." Three little girls need raising while daddy goes to college? "We'll figure it out." New town needs a church? "Pack the car, Joyce."

Watching Jesse taught me something that changed my life: "You can't make people love God, but you can sure show them what God's love looks like." And boy, did he show us. This man could find potential in a pile of scrap metal, and often did, if you count some of us teenagers he worked with.

Jesse, you taught me that discipleship isn't a program in a book, it's life on life investment. You opened your home, shared your table, and showed us what it looked like to follow Jesus even when it wasn't easy or convenient.

And can we talk about his longevity? Ninety years old and still preaching weekly. Most people his age are content to watch TV and complain about their arthritis. Jesse's still standing in pulpits, opening God's Word, and believing that the next sermon might be the one that changes someone's life forever.

You know what I think God is going to say when Jesse finally gets to heaven? "Well done, good and faithful servant... but what took you so long? I've been hearing about you from all the people you sent ahead."

Jesse, you've been a father figure to more people than you'll ever know, a mentor to countless ministers, and a friend to everyone you've ever met. At 90, you're still showing us what it looks like to love God and love people with everything you've got.

Happy 90th birthday, Jesse.

Where Are You? God's Search for Connection #RTTBROS #Nightlight

"And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?" - Genesis 3:9 (KJV)

When my wife and I go to the store, I'll sometimes peel off and become like a bird dog, hunting down something she's looking for. But when I need to reconnect with her, I'll usually text or call and ask, "Where are you?" so I can find her again.

Now, I'm asking that question because I genuinely don't know where she is. But in Genesis, when God calls out to Adam, "Where art thou?" He's not asking for information. God knew exactly where Adam was hiding among the trees. This wasn't a question born out of ignorance. It was a question born out of love.

God was asking to reconnect. He was using the question the way Socrates used to teach his students back in ancient Greece, not to get an answer He didn't already know, but to help the student discover something about themselves. God knew where Adam was physically, but Adam didn't know where he was spiritually.

Adam had just experienced the first taste of shame, the first moment of wanting to hide from his Creator. He was lost, not geographically, but relationally. And God's question wasn't an accusation. It was an invitation to come back home.

This simple question points to one of humanity's biggest problems: loneliness. From the very beginning, God's heart has been to connect with His creation in a personal and profound way. Even after the rebellion, God came looking. He didn't wait for Adam to find his way back. He went searching.

Here's what gets me about this whole scene: God still does this today. When we're hiding behind our shame, our mistakes, our fears, we hear that same gentle call: "Where are you?" Not because He's lost us, but because He wants us to realize we don't have to stay lost.

Maybe you're hiding today. Maybe you've been avoiding that conversation with God because you know you've messed up. Let me tell you something: He already knows where you are. The question isn't for His benefit. It's for yours. He's giving you the chance to come home.

Prayer: Father, thank You for never giving up on us. Thank You for coming to find us even when we're hiding. Help us to hear Your voice calling us back home, and give us the courage to answer honestly. Draw us close to Your heart. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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Real Repentance #RTTBROS #Nightlight

Glance at Your Problems, Gaze at God #RTTBROS #Nightlight

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is now set down at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)

Adrian Rogers once said, "Glance at your problems but gaze at God." Those words have been rolling around in my mind lately, especially during these busy days when problems seem to multiply faster than I can count them.

I've been thinking about the difference between a glance and a gaze. A glance is quick, momentary like checking your watch or looking both ways before crossing the street. But a gaze? That's sustained attention. That's what you do when you're captivated by something beautiful, or when you're studying something important, or when you're looking into the eyes of someone you love.

Here's what I've learned in my years of ministry and life: whatever we gaze at grows in our perspective. If I spend my days staring at my problems (and Heaven knows I've got plenty to look at) they begin to loom larger and larger until they block out everything else. The bills start looking like mountains. The health concerns become tsunamis. The family struggles turn into Category 5 hurricanes.

But when I shift my gaze to God? Something profound happens. Not that my problems disappear (they're still there, still real, still needing attention). But they shrink down to their proper size when measured against the vastness of God's power, the depth of His love, and the certainty of His promises.

I think about Peter walking on the water. As long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, he was doing the impossible. But the moment he shifted his gaze to the storm around him, down he went. The waves didn't get bigger; Peter just stopped looking at the One who was bigger than the waves.

David understood this principle. In Psalm 121:1-2, he declares, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth." David deliberately lifted his gaze above his circumstances to focus on the source of his strength.

So yes, glance at your problems. Acknowledge them. Be realistic about what you're facing. But don't set up camp there. Don't build a house in that place of worry and fear. Instead, turn your gaze to the God who spoke galaxies into existence, who holds your tomorrow in His hands, and who promises never to leave you nor forsake you.

Prayer: Father, forgive me for the times I've gotten so focused on my problems that I've forgotten to look at You. Help me today to practice the discipline of glancing at my troubles but gazing at Your goodness. When anxiety threatens to overwhelm me, remind me to lift my eyes to You. You are bigger than any storm I'll face. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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