by Derek Hanisch, RTF staff writer

I’ve had a pet peeve for a long time. There are several popular worship songs that include the phrase “holy hands.” That’s always irked me. I’ve always been under the assumption that we don’t have holy hands. We’re sinful, we have dirty hands. I’ve always felt that the phrase of “lifting holy hands up to God” was impossible.

I was reading the book of Timothy the other day and came across the following verse:

“In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.” -1 Timothy 2:8

I was perplexed. So I turned to a friend and asked him a question. I asked how it was possible to have holy hands because we are sinful creatures.

His words shocked me with their simplicity. (more…)

Derek Hanisch, RTF Staff Writer

From the moment that I accepted Christ into my life, I was taught about Christianity. One of those teachings was the Trinity. We have the Father, who is the God of the Old Testament. We have the Son, who, of course, is Jesus. Finally, we have the Spirit. I was reading through Romans, and the scripture on the Spirit really spoke to me for the first time.

Depending on the denomination that you come from, it’s very possible that your church doesn’t talk about the Spirit of God much. I know mine doesn’t.

The Spirit has been with believers since the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2). Paul, in Romans, has a lot to say about the Holy Spirit.

“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.”-Romans 8:11

Wow, isn’t that cool? It was the Holy Spirit that was used to raise Jesus from the dead. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is now living within us!

Romans 8:26-27 are really eye opening for me. Did you know that the Holy Spirit prays for us? (more…)

By Derek Hanisch, RTF Staff Writer

I still remember that day three years ago. I stood in front of two hundred youth at a juvenile detention center to give a sermon. I hadn’t prayed about what I was going to say. I had done the preparation on my own. I was giving the sermon on my own. And I bombed. I bombed badly. It was a real self esteem crusher for me. Because of it I hadn’t spoken in public since.

I’ve been involved with Campus Crusade for Christ at my school, and just recently we put on an Interfaith Conference with the Muslim Student Association. Each faith had a twenty minute introduction before questions were taken from the audience towards both faiths.

I was asked to be a part of the panel. Without even thinking I said no, remembering the last time I had tried to do something like this. Two others were chosen for the Christian panel and things were good. One of the speakers fell through and immediately I was asked again. I had been praying that God would open up doors and use me. I couldn’t deny it anymore. I prayed about it that weekend and knew that this was something I had to do. I said yes. (more…)

Derek Hanisch, RTF Staff Writer

Most people recognize the name Bono. Famous with the band U2. He’s also a famous humanitarian. One may argue that he’s one of the most well know Rockers in the world. It may surprise some to find out that Bono is a follower of Christ. Below is an excerpt from an interview he had. I really liked the perspective he had on Grace.

“I really believe we’ve moved out of the realm of Karma into one of Grace…You see, at the center of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, or in physics-in physical laws-every action is met by an equal or an opposite one. It’s clear to me that Karma is at the very heart of the universe. I’m absolutely sure of it.

And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that ‘as you reap, you will sow’ stuff. Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I’ve done a lot of stupid stuff.

If only we could be a bit more like Him, the world would be transformed. When I look at the Cross of Christ, what I see up there is all my sin and everybody else’s. So I ask myself a question a lot of people have asked: Who is this man? And was He who He said He was, or was He just a religious nut? And there it is, and that’s the question.”

I’d be in big trouble if Karma was going to finally be my judge. It doesn’t excuse my mistakes, but I’m holding out for Grace. I’m holding out that Jesus took my sins onto the cross, because I know who I am, and I hope I don’t have to depend on my own religiosity. (more…)

by Derek Hanisch, RTF Staff Writer

In 1960 the Etch-a-Sketch was created. You all know what an Etch-a-Sketch is right? It’s that red square, where you turn two knobs and draw a picture. If you make a mistake with your picture all you have to do is give the Etch-a-Sketch a shake. When you shake it the lines disappear and you can start over.

Our life is like an Etch-a-Sketch. Yes, I know, I like using analogies. Just hang with me for one moment and you’ll see where I’m going with this. Everything we do, all of our actions, are lines drawn. Some of our lines draw a pretty picture. There are the mistakes present in the picture as well. The lines that shouldn’t be there, the lines of mistakes and regret. (more…)

Let the Music Play

by Derek Hanisch, RTF staff writer

Once, perhaps twice a month a good friend and I get a small group together and go to either a homeless shelter or soup kitchen about an hour away. We pile into my car, cramped and hot (only severely hot air comes out of the vents) praying that Sabra (my car) will be able to make the trip without dying. Somehow Sabra survives the journey, and we go and serve.

Why do we do it? Why do we serve? Thomas Merton puts it more eloquently than I ever could:

All the good that you do will not come from you but from the fact that you have allowed yourself, in the obedience of faith, to be used by God’s love… If you can get free from the domination of causes and just serve Christ’s truth, you will be able to do more and will be less crushed by the inevitable disappointments. The real hope then is not in something we think we can do, but in God who is making something good out of it In some way we cannot see. (more…)

I groggily looked up at the nurse. “Do you know the results?” I asked.

It was a struggle to form the words, my brain was still muddled from the anesthesia. She told me that she didn’t know. I was wheeled into a recovery room, where they let me have a sip of water. I wanted more, I was parched. Apparently having too much water after a fairly major surgery is a bad thing, though, because they wouldn’t let me have enough.

Finally, after what seemed like ages, my parents were ushered into the room. I looked up into their faces, and I knew. They couldn’t hide the sadness.

“What kind?” I croaked, my voice still parched.

My dad replied with, “Osteosarcoma, bone cancer.”

Those were the three words that rocked my world to its core.

Let me back up a step. It was my junior year of high school. (more…)

by Derek Hanisch

On February 19th, 2008, tragedy struck the town of Cottonwood, Minnesota. A woman ran a stop sign and hit a school bus, injuring 17 and killing 4.

It’s been eight months since the accident; while healing has begun the town is still suffering. Last weekend Rise Ministries brought 40 high schoolers and 12 adult leaders in to be the face of love and put service into action. My college is affiliated with Rise Ministries, so four others and myself loaded into my car, with luggage for the weekend.

That was a fun fit.

Then it was off for a fun drive. The weekend was absolutely amazing. The high schoolers were divided into 6 groups, with two leaders per group. My group went to the Stevens home, who lost a son, Reed, in the accident. We did a lot of yard work and different odd jobs for them. It was a blessing to be able to do something to help them, to help with the healing process. We did a lot of work in Reed’s memorial Garden. (more…)