Church guide

The countdown continues: 5 DAYS 'til Camp RLA! The Team is getting prayed up and ready!!! 🙏 🎉🙏🎉 #camprla #summer #churchtogether #generationstogether #churchfamily #rla #rlaestero #riveroflife #church

New Article From Pastor Todd — The Unpardonable Sin It happened when I was around eight-years-old. That’s when I first heard about the egregious spiritual violation called the unpardonable sin. Of course, I didn’t really understand it, and I couldn’t begin to explain it. But that didn’t stop my overactive conscience from convincing me I had probably committed the unforgivable iniquity. I don’t know to what unfathomable depths of sin an eight-year-old church kid is capable of sinking. However, I do remember the sick feeling that I was sunk! But the question that haunted my mind was — when did I commit the “sin unto death”? It could have been the time I fell asleep in church. I quickly dismissed that thought. Half the church would have been guilty including a few prominent deacons. Maybe it was the time I lied about being sick so I could stay home from church. “Aha! Now we’re getting somewhere,” so I thought. Or maybe it was the time I got mad at my sister and called her a name. From the discipline I later suffered, that one was a strong possibility. To say that I was distressed is an understatement. I lived in mortal fear that my eight-year-old soul was forever condemned. And then I learned some truths about the unpardonable sin. I learned that it’s a sin against the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:28-20) about which those who are guilty are not troubled in the least. Those who have committed it don’t care. Those who care have not committed it. That understanding really helped to reduce my distress. I also learned that the unpardonable sin is not a single act, but an ongoing action. Of Noah’s generation the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever” (Genesis 6:3). The Holy Spirit strives, but He strives up to a point. The sobering possibility is that there can come a point where the Spirit strives no more, and a man is left to himself without God and without hope. Where is that awful place? It’s the place where the willful, repeated, unrelenting rejection of the witness of the Spirit crystallizes in a person’s heart. The Holy Spirit is sent to witness to our sinfulness and need of a Savior. The Spirit convicts and convinces. But what happens when a person repeatedly slams the door on the witness of the Spirit? What happens when a person is resolute in their position that the work of the Holy Spirit is synonymous to that of demons? I’ll tell you what happens. The unpardonable sin occurs. Forgiveness and salvation become an impossibility because the means of forgiveness and salvation have been consciously, deliberately, and permanently rejected. I would never dare suggest the exact location of this point of no return. But such a line exists, along with the possibility of crossing it. The fact that I was so concerned about this issue assured me that I was innocent of the irredeemable crime. While the unpardonable sin is not something about which believers need to worry, there are three consecutive actions against the Holy Spirit we should be aware of. 1) Grieving the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30). We grieve the Holy Spirit when we ignore the voice of conscience and commit sin. 2) Resisting the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51). We resist the Holy Spirit when we refuse to respond to conviction and repent of sin. 3) Quenching the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19). We quench the Holy Spirit when we have grieved and resisted Him so thoroughly that He withdraws His presence from our lives (Judges 16:20). While the unpardonable sin is a danger to some, the greater issue for believers is the grieving, resisting, and quenching of the Holy Spirit. So protect your relationship with the third member of the Trinity. Without the Holy Spirit we cannot believe, we cannot repent, we cannot be forgiven, and we cannot be saved. Pastor Todd Weston

New Article From Pastor Todd — The Best Medicine Prescription drugs is big business in America. In 2018 prescription drug sales in the U.S. came in around $350 billion with non-prescription sales escalating the cost of all pharmaceutical spending well beyond $500 billion. With 5.8 billion prescriptions filled in 2018, Americans are a heavily medicated people. While the Bible is not a medical textbook, it does offer a prescription that works every time, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (Proverbs 17:22). Joy is one of the predominant characteristics of biblical Christianity. We are called to serve the Lord with gladness, not sadness (Psalm 100:2). A cheerful heart has many serendipitous advantages, among which are health benefits. Maintaining a joyful spirit is good for you! To maintain a cheerful heart in a not so cheerful world, consider the following: 1. Limit your load We were not designed by our Creator to carry life’s problems on our shoulders. Rather than carry our burdens, cast them on the Lord in prayer (1 Peter 5:7). Practice the rule of Philippians 4:6. Worry about nothing. Pray about everything. 2. Live on the right side of life Just as there are two sides of a coin, there are two sides of life — the bright side and the dark side. I’m not suggesting we stick our collective heads in the sand and disconnect from reality. I am suggesting we choose to live on the sunny side of life, full of faith and optimism. 3. Learn how to think In the classic, See You At The Top, Zig Ziglar talks about “garbage-dump thinking.” Wrong thinking can lead to health problems. Philippians 4:8 provides these guidelines for right thinking, “Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.” 4. Let go of bitterness We all go through hard times and painful experiences. The key is not allowing bitterness to take root in your spirit. Hebrews 12:15 warns of the toxicity of bitterness. Bitterness is a proven joy killer. Let go of bitterness by realizing that God is at work even in the bad things that happen. Trust Him to take what was meant for evil and turn it around for good. 5. Look to Jesus Hebrews 12:2 tells us to run life’s race looking to Jesus (Hebrews 12:2). Not an occasional glance, but a permanent look. Fix your eyes on Jesus. His joy is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). A sour saint is a sick saint. Bitterness leads to brokenness. Refuse to be a joyless Christian. Stay healthy by applying these biblical prescriptions given by the Great Physician Himself. It’s the best medicine. Pastor Todd Weston

Everyone registered to staff Camp RLA 📣 Remember that Camp Trainings are NEXT WEEK 📣 You will only need to choose ONE of the training dates... See you soon!!! 🎉🎉🎉 #camprla #summer #churchtogether #generationstogether #churchfamily #rla #rlaestero #riveroflife #church

A couple of Sundays ago, RLA was very blessed by the ministry of Leslee Mullins!! Leslee, thank you for taking a day out of your vacation to serve in ministry alongside the RLA Team! 🎶🙌🎶🙏 #thankyou #churchtogether #generationstogether #churchfamily #rla #rlaestero #riveroflife #church

The countdown begins: 14 days 'til Camp RLA!! Is your child registered??? Space is limited, so go to https://riveroflife.ag/camp-rla to register your child today 🎉🎉🎉 #camprla #summer #churchtogether #generationstogether #churchfamily #rla #rlaestero #riveroflife #church

TWO DAYS 'til Sunday - 9:30AM at RLA - Welcome home to family! 😃🎉🙌🎉 #sunday #churchtogether #generationstogether #churchfamily #rla #rlaestero #riveroflife #church

Happy Independence Day!!! 🎆🇺🇸🎉 #independenceday #july4th #godblesstheusa #rla #rlaestero #riveroflife

New Article From Pastor Todd — If My People He was only one man, but he saved a nation. The nation was Egypt. A highly advanced civilization for its day, Ancient Egypt was by no means what we would call a Christian nation. It was a nation that embraced a complex system of polytheistic beliefs and religious rituals. Egypt was ruled by the Pharaohs — leaders who were believed to possess a degree of divinity. But Pharaoh and Egypt’s pantheon of gods could not divert the crisis that was coming. Egypt was about to have a head-on collision with a seven-year famine. The severity of the prolonged famine would threaten the life of the nation. That’s when God raised up Joseph. Joseph was the great-grandson of Abraham, the father of the Jewish race. He was also the most Christlike man in the Bible. Joseph’s arrival in Egypt was less than glorious. Just another unfortunate soul unlucky enough to get himself sold into slavery. But God had a plan. Through a miraculous series of events, God led Pharaoh to promote Joseph as ruler over all the land of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh himself (Genesis 41:38-41). While serving as a slave in the house of Potiphar, “the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake” (Genesis 39:5). Now as second in command, God blessed the nation of Egypt for Joseph’s sake. God saved a nation for the sake of one godly man. As we celebrate the birthday of America we are aware of the fact that our beloved country is in serious trouble. Diabolical forces from within and without seek its demise. Forces of darkness wish to extinguish the light of this “Shining City On A Hill” (see President Ronald Reagan’s ‘Shining City On A Hill’ farewell speech to the nation, January 11, 1989). Political groups promoting a Socialist agenda appear determined on robbing the American people of their “unalienable rights” endowed by their Creator (Declaration of Independence). What shall we do? God’s Word tells us, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14). Consider the mercy of God. He doesn’t require the entire nation to repent and seek His face. He doesn’t demand that all state and federal officials humble themselves and pray. God said, “If My people.” If the true Church of Jesus Christ will step forward, if true born again believers will do this, God says it will be enough! He will forgive our sin and heal our land. I believe the God who blessed Egypt for Joseph’s sake can and will do the same for America for the church's sake — “If My people…” Pastor Todd Weston

Counting the days 'til August when the RLA Choir returns!! 🎶🙌👏🎉🎶 #choir #worship #churchfamily #churchtogether #generationstogether #rla #church #rlaestero #riveroflife

Congratulations to the "five or more" Summit Award winners!!! They have achieved, you guessed it, five or more Summit Awards over the last school year in the RLA curriculum for Christian education!! 😮🎉🎉🎉🙌 #congratulations #awards #curriculum #churchtogether #rla #churchfamily #generationstogether #church #rlaestero #riveroflife

New Article From Pastor Todd — Erosion It happens all around us! In nature. In nations. In churches. In communities. In families. Even in the hearts of believers. Erosion happens. Webster defines erosion as, “The process of where something is diminished or destroyed by degrees.” Erosion doesn’t happen quickly and obviously. It happens slowly, silently, and subtly. It’s the gradual, almost imperceptible, wearing down of something. You don’t realize it is happening until it has happened. A single drop of water landing on a rock will have no impact. But multiply that one drop into countless drops over time and erosion occurs. Scientists tell us the Grand Canyon was caused by years of water erosion. Whether it’s by wind, water, or other factors, erosion is a destructive force that can have tremendous effects. The steady erosion of truth in Nazi (National Socialist) Germany resulted in the Holocaust and the creation of a new term: genocide. Joseph Goebbels, Reich Minister of Propaganda, explained the strategy, “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it…The truth is the greatest enemy of the State.” The erosion of truth by the Nazi’s bewitched a nation and nearly wiped out the entire European Jewish population. Today we are witnessing the erosion of societal mores once considered essential to the moral fabric of our nation. Time-honored values are readily discarded on the trash heap of irrelevance. At the same time, that which was unthinkable from time immemorial is not only thinkable but acceptable….even celebrated in the streets! There is not a segment of society untouched. Erosion is happening and is undermining foundations thought indestructible. Witnessing this troubling phenomenon we might be tempted to cry out in despair, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3) Have you ever thought about that? If everything around us collapses due to erosive influences, what then? Then we stand on Psalm 61:2, “When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” When everything is crumbling beneath us, remember that Jesus Christ and His timeless Word are our true foundation. “When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.” (The Solid Rock) Furthermore, don’t let your faith and passion for the Lord get worn down. Practice the safeguards against erosion given by Jude. Keep building yourself up in your most holy faith. Keep praying in the Holy Spirit. Keep loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And keep looking for the soon return of our Lord Jesus Christ (Jude 20-21). Pastor Todd Weston

More summer vacation pics from the RLA church family!! 🌴☀️🌊⛱🎉 #summervacations #churchfamily #churchtogether #generationstogether #rla #church #rlaestero #riveroflife

Summer is officially here and we love hearing about all the fun and vacations happening as well as the wonderful missions work (Utah & Dominican Republic) 👏🌴☀️🌊⛱🎉 #summervacations #missions #generationstogether #churchtogether #rla #churchfamily #church #rlaestero #riveroflife

We honestly can't wait for Sunday!! See you at 9:30AM and 5:00PM at RLA... 🎉👏🙌🙏📖 #sunday #churchtogether #generationstogether #churchfamily #rla #rlaestero #riveroflife #church

New Article From Pastor Todd — Watch And Pray It’s a miserable moment! It’s the moment when you are driving down the highway and the need for sleep begins to overtake you. Your eyelids grow heavy. Your thoughts are disconnected. You would give half your kingdom for a bed, but there is no place to pull over and stop. Aware of the danger of falling asleep at the wheel, you drive on fighting to stay awake. Falling asleep at the wheel can have serious consequences. So can falling asleep spiritually. Judges 16:19 contains a haunting phrase that should cause every Christian to sit up and take notice, “Then she lulled him to sleep.” The phrase comes from the story of Samson and Delilah. To defeat him Delilah put the strong man to sleep. Little did Samson realize as he drifted off to dreamland that his life would never be the same again. The story presents a timeless principle. Satan does not have to lead a believer into a life of sin to bring them down. All he has to do is lull them to sleep. The reality of this danger is seen in the Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25. While they slumbered and slept (v5) the oil of the five foolish virgins ran dry, and their fire died out (v8). Unprepared, they missed the coming of the bridegroom. Bad things happen when a Christian yields to “the spirit of slumber” (Romans 11:8). Defenses are down, and discernment is disengaged. A person in this condition is not aware of what is happening around them and/or to them. Samson did not know Delilah was cutting his hair while he slept. Neither did he know the Philistines were lying in wait…not until it was too late. Of the slumbering Northern Kingdom of Israel the prophet wrote, “Foreigners sap his strength, but he does not realize it. His hair is sprinkled with gray, but he does not notice” (Hosea 7:9). As Rip Van Winkle unknowingly slept away his years, Israel slept away its spiritual vitality. What happened to Israel can happen to us. To guard against that possibility Jesus said, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). To watch is to pray, and the person who prays is watching. This is how we overcome the spirit of slumber and stay awake. To the spiritually drowsy Paul said, “Awake, you who sleep…Understanding the present time: the hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed” (Ephesians 5:14; Romans 13:11). Time is short and eternity is for keeps. We dare not sleep. So shake off the spirit of slumber. Watch and pray. Pastor Todd Weston

Part of the RLA team that went to minister in Utah this week! Thank you team!! 👏🎉👏🎉 #weloveourvolunteers #servantleaders #missions #churchtogether #rla #churchfamily #generationstogether #church #rlaestero #riveroflife

Summer will officially be upon us soon! What's the BEST part of Summer??? ☀️🌴🌊⛱ #summer #vacation #family #generationstogether #rla #churchtogether #rlaestero #riveroflife

Today, we are overwhelmed by our Lord's sacrifice; even so, we eagerly await resurrection morning!!! See you this Sunday at 9:30AM & 11:00AM 🎉🙌🎶🙏 #eastersunday #goodfriday #churchtogether #heisrisen #rla #churchfamily #generationstogether #church #rlaestero #riveroflife

Families, come enjoy an hour of snow-themed games, activities and treats at the Fam Jam Snow Party!!! It’s coming soon on Friday, January 25th at 6:30PM at River of Life! ❄️🎉😃

Teens and Twenties, Glow-in-the-Dark Capture-the-Flag is on at River of Life on Friday, January 25th at 8:00PM!!! Oh, there will be food too 😁 See you there!

Stop by the Welcome Desk next time you're at church and grab your Reading Guide to start 2019 the right way!

Christmas is quickly approaching and you don't want to miss out on the magical service we have planned for Christmas Eve!

A video from Pastor Todd's visit to Israel! A devotional while standing on the Mount of Olives.

This week we are gonna #ThrowbackThursday to Sunday's 11:00 Kids Moment with Pastor Todd when the boys beat the girls in BGMC Missions Giving! Their prize? Jamie Weston got a pie in the face! #welcomehometofamily #rlaestero

This week we are gonna #ThrowbackThursday to Sunday's 11:00 Kids Moment with Pastor Todd when the boys beat the girls in BGMC Missions Giving! A surprise missions gift meant Pastor Todd also got a pie in the face! #welcomehometofamily #rlaestero

Not able to make it to the Water Baptisms last night? We've got you covered. Check it out below! #welcomehometofamily #rlaestero

Pastor Todd and Pastor O share a greeting from Abundant Life Community Center!