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Right On or Way Off
"Joy comes from abiding in Jesus, not from the absence of problems in our life." RIGHT ON! True joy stems from our relationship with Christ, not circumstances. While happiness depends on what happens to us, joy runs deeper. As Paul demonstrated, we can experience supernatural joy even amid trials when we're rooted in Jesus. We can be thankful in all things, even if not for all things.
"If you're not spiritually fed, you will be emotionally led." RIGHT ON! When we're grounded in biblical principles through consistent Bible reading and sound teaching, our emotions don't control us. Without spiritual feeding, we risk following misleading emotional impulses like "follow your heart." Being spiritually fed aligns our dreams with God's will and prevents us from turning our emotions into idols.
"When we order pizza, Chris prefers the larger half." WAY OFF! A profound lesson in humility emerged from a 1986 quarter-pounder incident. After thoughtlessly taking the larger portion early in marriage, Chris learned to consistently choose the smaller share. Though technically there's no such thing as a "larger half" - a mathematical impossibility - the principle of putting others first remains.
Breaking Down Barriers Through Festival Ministry
Rob Roseboom shared the remarkable journey of Rise Ministries and its signature event, RiseFest. What began as a small gathering has grown to attract over 20,000 attendees to Sheldon, Iowa - a town of just 5,500. The 2024 festival aims for 25,001 attendees, deliberately choosing to surpass the town's previous largest gathering: a 1924 KKK rally of 25,000. This goal represents redeeming the community's history through unity and worship.
Despite facing financial hardships that nearly ended the festival in 2010, Rob's young son's offer to contribute "all his money" revealed the true value of the ministry beyond balance sheets. RiseFest exists not just for music but for life transformation - creating opportunities for people to encounter Jesus, rekindle lukewarm faith, and build lasting family memories.
Wrestling with God Through Physical Trials
Rob openly shared his journey with muscular dystrophy, diagnosed at age 5. The progressive disease has steadily limited his mobility - from playing sports in early high school to eventually requiring full assistance. Yet through intense wrestling with God, Rob discovered that "God's goodness outlives grief." He emphasizes that joy and grief can coexist - having joy doesn't eliminate grief, and experiencing grief doesn't negate joy.
Conference Preview
The Higher Ground Conference features:
- Thursday: Comedy night with Brad Stine and opener Jacob Danielson
- Friday: Al and Lisa Robertson sharing about relationships and discipleship
- Saturday morning: Additional Bible teaching and encouragement
Alan and Lisa Robertson emphasized their passion for sharing transparently about God's redemption in their lives. Brad Stine discussed using comedy to confront culture and embolden Christians to live uncompromisingly for truth. The conference aims to strengthen believers to stand firm in their faith during challenging times.
The event takes place at Fresh Encounter Church in Harlan, Iowa. Individual day tickets are available for $25, or full conference access for $50 through HigherGroundLive.com.