“…take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan…” Joshua 4:3

We wish God’s blessings upon Dean Rostad, president, and the Canadian Lutheran Bible Institute.  This is the third of a series of three articles about various residential discipleship ministries for young adults.   We began in January by featuring Faith Greenhouse, connected with Faith Lutheran Church (LCMC) in Hutchinson, Minnesota.  We continued in March with the Awaken Project (TAP). TAP is a non-profit organization housed on the campus of Mt. Carmel Ministries in Alexandria, Minnesota.  We thank God for these ministries and pray for them as they work to raise up a whole new generation of followers of Jesus and leaders in the Church. 

After 40 years of wandering in the desert, the Israelites were about to experience God’s saving work in a profound way – walking through the parted (piled-up) Jordan River to enter the Promised Land. So that this God event would never be forgotten, God instructed them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan. These rocks of remembrance were to become physical pointers to God’s saving action in their lives. God never wants us to forget how He has moved in our lives.

My name is Dean Rostad and I have the privilege of serving as the President of the Canadian Lutheran Bible Institute (CLBI) in Camrose, Alberta. CLBI is a campus-based Bible college through which 1000s of young adults have been trained to become disciple-makers in their churches, neighborhoods, and professions. In 2023, CLBI’s vibrant discipling community comprises 45 students, staff and committed volunteers. Just as Jesus discipled along the road, around the table and in the community, we also do.  Our students experience a different Bible class each week taught by high-caliber instructors from all over North America and beyond. Some weeks learning is off campus through inner-city ministry experiences, canoeing/hiking in the mountains, or serving cross-culturally. Each student is discipled one-on-one and is part of a rich weekly discipleship group that meets in a staff home. All of this is done to help CLBI achieve its mission of discipling young adults in the way of Jesus and equipping them for a life of mission in their vocations (be that as a pastor, baker or candlestick maker). I never know how Jesus is going to make a profound impact in our students’ lives, but I am completely confident that He always will.

When I ask alumni how God impacted their life while they were at CLBI (aka their rock of remembrance from the Jordan), the answers are incredibly varied: their faith took three steps deeper in Romans class, while being discipled by a staff member, they realized that they needed to stop trying to prove themselves to God and others and simply rest in the gospel,  a late-night conversation in the dorm led them to finally forgive someone, a cross-cultural ministry experience awakened a calling within them to bring the gospel to those who have never heard it, when they discovered they had found the spiritual family they had longed for. These are all significant transformational rocks of remembrance.

Currently, two members of the CLBI community are in online seminary studies with the Institute of Lutheran Theology. Both had no intention of going into pastoral ministry when they first came to CLBI. Once again, I love watching how Jesus changes the trajectory of people’s lives.

Since 1932 Jesus has been changing lives through this school. Please pray with me that God will continue to raise up all of the students and donors needed to ensure that current and future generations will have the opportunity to encounter Jesus in this holy place. For American students, the complete cost for eight months is just over $10,000 USD. That even includes a January trip to San Pedro, California for our students to connect with another Lutheran discipling community. To learn more about this incredible jewel of a school, visit clbi.edu.

What is your “rock of remembrance”? What is your significant God experience that marked a new trajectory for your life?

But the Lord has been my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge.  He has brought back their wickedness upon them and will destroy them in their evil; the Lord our God will destroy them.”  (Psalm 94:22-23)

Where is your strength?  Do you depend upon yourself?  Do you depend upon another?  The Lord God, who created all things, is our strength and our shield.  Do not rely upon those who do not trust in the Lord.  Do not dwell on the acts of the wicked.  They will come to nothing.  Look to the Lord who made all things and know that He will lead you and watch over you all the days of your life.

Lord, I become confused and do not see that the ways of the wicked come to nothing.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way You would have me go.  Help me now and always to look to You, my strength and my shield.  You have spoken Your Word and You have given guidance for the ages.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way I should go that I may never depart from the way You have established.

Word made flesh, You come to the aide of all of those who come to You.  Lead me in the way You would have me go, knowing that only by Your grace am I able to avoid the ways of the wicked that are all around me.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of grace and help me to establish my life in the truth of the ages that was founded at the beginning.  You are my strength.  Amen.

Sunday, December 17, 2017 Devotion

“My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him.  He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken.”  (Psalm 62:5-6)

There are so many things that tug at our allegiance in this world.  We are distracted by the many things that get in the way.  What is at the core?  What is the center of your being?  Our souls long for the one and only place where our being is found and that is with the Lord.  Come to Him and know that He is the rock of your salvation and the Center of all things, including your being.

Lord, clear the field for me that I may see the simplicity of knowing You, the One true God who is the creator of all things.  Guide me according to Your purpose that I would walk in the way You have established and know that You alone are the rock of my being, my life and my salvation.  Lead me, O Lord, that I may be walk in the way You would have me go now and forever.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You have come to pave the way of salvation for all who turn to You.  Clear my mind and soul this day to live into the life to which You have called me through the salvation You have prepared for those who believe.  Help me now and always to look to You for all things knowing that You alone are able to lead me out of the noise of this world into salvation.  Amen.

Friday, December 15, 2017 Devotion

“My soul waits in silence for God only; from Him is my salvation.  He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.”  (Psalm 62:1-2)

Only in the One who made you is there hope, for it is He who set all things in their course.  The world seeks other ways to live, but apart from God there is nothing good.  He alone must be the foundation in our life, for He is the foundation of all things.  No matter what comes, those who are in the Lord are assured of the truth of His provision and promise.  He knows all that is needed.

The world tells me all kinds of things Lord and I do not know how to go forward.  Help me, I pray to see through the nonsense of this world to simply understand the truth You are and the reality that it is You who has put all things upon their course.  Guide me in the way of salvation that I would walk according to Your Word and live the way You would have me live.

Lord Jesus, You have come to model the godly life, and that through You and the death You suffered on the cross, Your people might find the way home.  Lead me closer home each day that upon You, the rock of my salvation, I would grow in the way that is pleasing to the Father.  Help me now and always to live into the life into which I have been called that I may abide in You and You in me forever.  Amen.

Monday, December 11, 2017 Devotion

“Hear my cry, O God; give heed to my prayer.  From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”  (Psalm 61:1-2)

This life is filled with difficulty, trials and travail.  We each reach the end of ourselves and in those moments of lament cry out.  The Lord knows what we shall say and do.  The Lord knows what we think.  In Him is the only refuge there is.  In Him alone is the hope of all ages.  Come into the presence of the Lord and know the comfort of the One who made all things.

Lord in You alone can we hope.  Come and meddle in my life.  No, take my life that I may be wholly thine and as You made me to be.  Guide me in the eternal wisdom of the ages You have revealed that in You I may find all I need to persevere in this age of rebellion.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way I should go that in You my hope and my life would unfold.  Lead me to the rock of my salvation.

Rock of salvation, Jesus, the Ebenezer of us all, grant that in every time of trouble I would stand on You, the rock of my salvation.  Keep me from the wiles of the wicked one and help me see more clearly that You have come to lead us through the fog of this age to become like You, the willing, obedient child of the Heavenly Father.  In every place and time, may I be found in You Jesus.  Amen.