Chaplain’s Corner – August 27, 2017

“Just as our bodies have many parts … so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other” (Romans 12: 4-5 NLT)

For the past five years, the City Saints have been prominent in the Living Hope Co-ed Softball League; a team comprised of residents, past and present, staff and friends of Open House Ministries. Shane (MVP) and Alizz, coached us to be good competitors. Some of our players have never played softball, or in Monica’s case, had never played any team sport – ever. Yet she played with simple joy and a steady smile.

For the third year in a row, the City Saints won the League Sportsmanship Award! Other teams would say that the league was better because the Saints were on the ballfield. As Saints, we prayed and played to the glory of GOD, and were so grateful to hear “Well done, good and faithful servants.” Life is about so much more than softball.

Fifteen players – One Team. So it is in our efforts together with you on behalf of Open House; many people, individual roles, each unique, all needed, some in the spotlight, more in the shadows, some rich and many poor, some deeply faithful and some having only a fleck of faith. Thank you for the Joy of the Journey of ministry together, and for the noble cause of caring for others, and learning how to live as One along The Way.

With Love and Fond Affection,

Mark Roskam, Chaplain

Chaplain’s Corner – June 21, 2017

For many years, our family lived in the mountains of Colorado, adjacent to the highest continuous highway in America – Trail Ridge Road. I continue to be amazed by the alpine tundra – nearly Arctic zones where the subsoils are permanently frozen and any plant growth is minimal. Near this zone are the hearty alpine pines – growing only minimally and yet withstanding vicious winds and voluminous snowfalls.

Though there are many reasons why people do not grow, one reason is not necessarily suffering. Even slow-growth tundra trees grow in spite of harsh external conditions. Often, the most vibrant believers have suffered the greatest. We marveled in Chapel at the vibrancy of a ministry team from Rwanda, led by Pastor Simone and sponsored by Liberty Bible Church. They shared of the Rwandan genocide, when ten thousand people a day were murdered for one hundred days. Yet they exuded pure joy in “the goodness of GOD in the land of the living” (Ps.27:13). They encouraged us to press on.

Perhaps the greater issue in growth is rootedness. Our Rwandan brothers and sisters find their life in drawing from springs of “living water” (John 4:10). David urges us to drink in the Word of GOD, just like trees planted by “streams of water” (Psalm 1:2-3). Recently, a core of Open House leaders completed a twelve-week Bible study called “Rooted.” It reflects our commitment to grow deeper as devoted followers of Jesus – regardless. We desire for GOD to take us deeper into life and relationships – within and beyond this amazing ministry at Open House.

Thank you, our faithful co-laborers! We are blessed to be serving, not in austere and severe tundra, but in a land of opportunity, fed by streams of Living Water. We honor you for being an integral part of this vibrant ministry!

Chaplain’s Corner – May 31, 2017

Ten years ago, I tired of looking at an old shed in our yard.  Though useful for storage, it was not functional, it’s floors bowed and the doors no longer closed.  It was time for a change.

De-construction.  Carefully, I reversed the process by which it was built, peeling the layers ravaged by time.  I was shocked to see that the floor joists were laying flat and bowed, rather than standing strong on their edge – dooming the sagging shed because of her poor construction and foundation.

This is an image of what happens in the first ninety days at Open House.  The first several months for our case managers and residents involve de-construction, the gentle peeling back of years of life.  The overt challenges of today often have a basis in the past.  The process can be hard and painful.  Though the peeling may feel like destruction,  it is more so the reverse construction of our lives for a time and a purpose.  The hard work of looking critically and exposing our often poor, worn and damaged foundations, offers the opportunity of a lifetime for re-building from the ground up.

Open House Ministries is built upon our foundation in Jesus.  He is the great bedrock and firm understructure makes all of the difference for life.  The entire weight of one’s life is transmitted through the walls down to the foundation, where our New Hope lies, and the Foundation provides the strength and integrity that we need to truly live.  Jesus is the cornerstone of our lives.  “See, I lay a stone … a chosen and precious Cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame” (I Peter 2:6).   Thank you, friends, for allowing us the privilege of participating in this noble construction process.