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Man finds faith after family’s death
Published Friday, September 19, 2008
A man with a unique story of tragedy, faith and forgiveness is making his way to the Church of Nazarene in Fergus Falls Sunday.
In 2003, while driving home from a wedding in Kansas with his family, a sudden flash flood struck, claiming the lives of Robert Rogers’ wife and four children.
The sole survivor of the incident, Rogers was forced to go on in life without those whom he held so dearly to his heart. He will share his story at the church at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday.
That’s where his story begins.
While many may have taken a turn down a treacherous path, Rogers put his trust in God. That, he said, has led him to where he is today — sharing his story with people around the world, working to improve the lives of thousands.
Rogers never planned on spending his life ministering to others. After the passing of his family, he eventually returned to his job as an electrical engineer. But something did not sit right with him.
“It felt like a show that didn’t fit any longer,” he told The Journal Thursday, which caught up to Rogers on his way to Minnesota.
It began with friends through church, who asked Rogers to speak as to how he was able to make it through his own personal tragedy.
“What I found astonished me because I found peace,” Rogers said. “I eventually found joy, which I never thought would be possible.”
And that is what he hopes to spread to those he meets through his ministry work.
“I challenge people to begin life today with no regrets with God and no regrets with one another,” Rogers said. “I want my life to be a testimony that if you put faith to work, it is possible to get through anything that life throws at you.”
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by votedem (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 1:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why would an all loving God ever let such a thing happen in the first place? And please spare me the...'god's will is too great for us to understand' speech.
Posted by ajohnsonx (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 2:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
spoken like a true democrat
Posted by mill1193 (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 2:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
votedem, for God to be all loving, it does not require Him to withhold all suffering. Didn't your parents ever spank you? They should have.
Posted by sing83 (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 2:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Votedem, I would urge you to come and listen to Robert Rogers on Sunday and find the answer to your question.
Posted by Joe (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 2:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
votedem - Consider yourself spared . . . Your skepticism is readily apparent - and so is your need for 'something' to cling to. The good news is His invitation is to all people: Comfort for all that suffer and struggle - for the one true and everlasting peace will NEVER be found this world.
Bad things happen - and will continue to happen - to all people. It is a thing called sin. Sin entered the world a long time ago and the earth and all its inhabitants continue to groan in pain as the world is ravaged. It is a consequence of man's free will and rebellion against the Almighty. Even His own Son, the Christ, spoke of this world being a 'veil of tears'.
His purpose remains a mystery but from suffering comes testimoney - even for your ears to hear. It is written, 'He who has ears, let him hear.'
It is His Word - it is not mine. Understand? Me either. But it is not by understanding - but by faith - that we are redeemed in His blood and given the promise of everlasing life. From that day on, bad things will never again happen to those that have placed their trust in Him.
Peace to you.
Joe
Posted by kidvanwechel (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Careful votedem....I tried that line of logic before and my comments were removed. Don't get them thinking about "god" and his mysterious ways. They aren't ready for the truth yet.
AMEN.
Posted by kidvanwechel (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 2:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh...Joe...enough already. Based on that nonsense that you just babbled...Roger's family died...and it's called Sin? Your post makes no sense whatsoever. It should be written, "He who has a brain, should think for one's self and seek the real truth". What fantasy world do you live in?
Posted by LoisMustDie (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 3:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
God allows stuff like that for a reason. This man lost his family, but because of his loss, many lost souls were saved by the Lord Jesus. We all are born to sin, and only the sacrifice of Christ, the man/God who lived a sinless life can pay our debt. Jesus was God long before the human birth. God is love, but He is also Holy, therefore, sin cannot be in his presence. Thus, the need for the Cross. If I offer you a check for a million dollars, will you cash it? You dont have to repay me, its a gift of Grace. This is what Christ did on the cross - all you have to do is cash the check! This is GOOD NEWS! I hope you, votedem, will someday find the love, peace, and joy that is Jesus Christ.
Posted by Joe (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 3:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh . . . Kid . . . very well. But Roger's family did not die. They are immortal beings - as we all are - and have simply been taken from this place to a much better place. The 'nonesense' I just 'babbled' is foundational to Christian doctrine. It is worth noting Christianity is unique in that it is the only religion that is based on faith rather than on works. It is also the only religion fully based on His Word - the Holy Bible. As far as seeking the 'real truth' it will only be found in this one book. I am fine with this fantasy - and the promise of a coming world beyond my ability to comprehend.
As far as having a 'brain': Far too great a folly for me to place my faith in my brain or the wisdom of man - mere foolishness in the eyes of the Almighty. Seek the real truth and you will find it in the Bible.
I will not further reply to your posts or responses in this thread. Let this messenger go in peace and if there are issues that remain, take them to your Maker. Peace to you.
Posted by bigdaddy (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 3:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with kid, also christianity is a religion, a man made religion, faith is wonderful, as I am sure this man's story of triumph is as well, but spare the sermon
Posted by votedem (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 4:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I love how Christians immediately condemn you for being a rationalist, as if their belief is the only right one. It's merely an accident that they're Christians. If they were born in India they would be Hindu. Born in Iraq and they'd be Muslim. If your parents had told you we were all descendants of a pink unicorn, you'd probably believe that.
Posted by kidvanwechel (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 4:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks bigdaddy. That was my message all along...spare the sermon. I'm still laughing over the "..for me to place my faith in my brain.." comment. Just let others do the thinking for you! Now that's Christianity! I'm just glad I didn't say that.
Posted by kidvanwechel (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That last comment by votedem is probably the best comment I've ever read on this website. Well said....I mean...AMEN;)
Posted by farmguy39 (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 8:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
typical of joe to say the ones who died are in a better place (some must go to the bad place )
religion has one use
to control the masses
and it does way to good of job
Posted by LoisMustDie (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 8:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Christianity is NOT religion - religion is man making himself acceptable to God. Christianity is God making man acceptable to God.
Posted by Mai_Orez (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 9:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Do a search from the site of any Kansas newspaper of "Robert Rogers" The accounts are very clear...this man caused the deaths of his family and now he profits from it.
"There was no wall of water.
Picking up on an erroneous headline in The Emporia Gazette, Rogers has repeatedly referred to a 7-foot wave of rainwater that carried away the seven automobiles on I-35, as if some sort of apocalyptic flash flood had suddenly swept over the highway, tossing cars in its wake.
Actually, the water was never deeper than 4 feet above the road surface. Rogers and his family sat in the slowly rising water for almost twenty minutes, fending off attempts by two rescuers to pull them from their vehicle."
Posted by HotFergusMan (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 11:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
wow.... I read this article and was saddened at the thought that this man lost his wife and children. Why do the posts demean what has happened to him. If he has found inspiration in a greater power.... let him find comfort in that. What else does he have?
Posted by votedem (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 11:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That's our point exactly....HotFergusMan...why would an all loving god need something as tragic as this to find faith in him?
Posted by duchess (anonymous) on September 20, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Isn't the premise of all religions to believe that is it the one true way to have eternal life, if you're Hindu or Muslim or Christan? That is what makes them Christians, or Muslims or Hindus. I don't understand the criticism of Christians for believing that their way is the true way to eternal life. That is like saying "I love how the Jews think that Jesus wasn't the Messiah!" DAH.
Posted by captn_chaos (anonymous) on September 20, 2008 at 1:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Never forget folks. Hitler was Catholic.
Posted by duchess (anonymous) on September 20, 2008 at 7:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That means that all Christians are Nazis. Brilliant.
Posted by theweasel (anonymous) on September 21, 2008 at 2:12 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by otterfan (anonymous) on September 21, 2008 at 6:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
www.cnn.com/2008/US/09/10/rogers/section...
Posted by otterfan (anonymous) on September 21, 2008 at 6:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/09/10/rogers/...
Oops
Posted by Mai_Orez (anonymous) on September 21, 2008 at 8:32 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by nobodysperfect (anonymous) on September 21, 2008 at 10:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
HOW VERY SAD,YOU WERE NOT THERE,SO HOW CAN YOU JUDGE HIM.
THANK GOD FOR HIS GRACE,MAY HE(God) SPEAK TO ALL THREW THIS
SAD EVENT,and use it for Good..Amen
Posted by metasonics (anonymous) on September 22, 2008 at 9:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
this man lost his wife and children.
He couldn't have created flash flooding or scientific laws of pressure that sucked him out of the vehicle.
whether you agree with his faith or any for that matter, this man isn't guilty of anything.
he's a survivor of tragedy.
it's not like he was planting flags for people he never met.
He lost his personal legacies and wife.
what could warp people so much as to attack a man in his situation?
Jamie Cooper
Posted by otterfan (anonymous) on September 22, 2008 at 12:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
jamie cooper....you are absolutly right!! They are attacking him for no reason..... if people do not believe in having faith in something, they should not read such articles that are so against there non-faith attitudes. sad
Posted by enjoy12 (anonymous) on September 22, 2008 at 12:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mai_Orez,
Good grief have you ever been in a flood??? Apparently NOT.. Get a Life....
Posted by Mai_Orez (anonymous) on September 22, 2008 at 1:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As a Navy Medic/EMT, I've rescued people from rip tides on the California coast, I've rescued people caught in rogue waves on the Washington coast. And when offered assistance I'd take it. Robert Rogers declined the resuce of two people.
Go to the website and read the newspaper accounts which differ greatly from his tale.
Posted by kidvanwechel (anonymous) on September 22, 2008 at 2:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
From what I've learned from the relegious zealots on this website, it was god's will for him not to accept help. Now we all can learn (apparently) how god helped him make his decision. I'm thinking "theweasel" could make a killing selling vacuums at this event.
Posted by metasonics (anonymous) on September 22, 2008 at 5:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
what has happened to people around here to make them so bitter as to attack the victims of crimes and tragedy so frequently?
according to statistics, "we will all face tragedy and most likely be the victim of crime" in the near future.
propagating this blaming the victims attitude is creating an infrastructure that you will be on the receiving end of.
so be careful what you sow, it has a way of returning to you!
Jamie Cooper
Posted by Mai_Orez (anonymous) on September 22, 2008 at 5:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
In my soul, I believe I'm not attacking a victim put a man who should be on trial for negligent homicide as the defendent.
Posted by dragonlord824 (anonymous) on September 22, 2008 at 11:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by LoisMustDie (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 8:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Christianity is NOT religion - religion is man making himself acceptable to God. Christianity is God making man acceptable to God.
not only is it not a religion, its a cult. have you seen any christian person walking around sad or disappointed? that is because they are brainwashed. and according to you LoisMustDie... no man will ever be acceptable to God because of the fact that no matter how many times he will ask for forgiveness, there will always be a Sin right behind it. And as for MR Chaos. he is the true all mighty one!
Posted by Mauibill (anonymous) on September 23, 2008 at 12:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If you have never tasted an apple, that doesn’t give you the authority to describe how the apple tastes.
Posted by LoisMustDie (anonymous) on September 23, 2008 at 2:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I will pray for you, dragonlord.
Posted by votedem (anonymous) on September 23, 2008 at 3:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why do Christians always say that? 'I will pray for you'. On behalf of the 15-20% of the US population that are rationalists, let me say this...WE DON'T WANT YOU TO PRAY FOR US! Look where prayer has gotten this world. Maybe a president who didn't believe our soldiers were going to heaven would be a little less likely to get them killed.
Posted by almanza_navywife28 (anonymous) on September 23, 2008 at 4:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I feel bad for anyone who says God is not there I have seen how faith can change things. God never said anything would be perfect and I am far from happy ALL the time, I go through the same trials and tribulations but the Lord is always there to comfort me when things go wrong just like a father would I'm not here to criticize anyone for their beliefs but if this man found God that is his right to show his faith and no one should say anything about that if he's just doing it for publicity God will judge him not us.
Posted by kidvanwechel (anonymous) on September 24, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Here we go again. "God never said anything would be perfect..." Please raise your hand if you've every spoken directly to god (while NOT on meth). AMEN.
Posted by Mauibill (anonymous) on September 25, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
After reading all of the comments, I can’t help but noticing that I see hate in some comments and love in others.
Posted by otterfan (anonymous) on September 25, 2008 at 1:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Atheism:
In the beginning there was nothing, and nothing happened to nothing, until nothing exploded, and created everything. Then, the nothing that became everything magically rearranged itself for no reason into self-replicating complex life forms, that became intelligent beings that believed in God. Makes perfect sense. LOL.
Christianity:
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, GOD created the Heavens and the Earth.
Works for me.
Posted by otterfan (anonymous) on September 25, 2008 at 1:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Who Created God?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQTALEIMR...
Posted by kidvanwechel (anonymous) on September 26, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Otterfan: Moron.
Atheism: a doctrine that states that nothing exists but natural phenomena (matter), that thought is a property or function of matter, and that death irreversibly and totally terminates individual organic units. This definition means that there are no forces, phenomena, or entities which exist outside of or apart from physical nature, or which transcend nature, or are “super” natural, nor can there be. Humankind is on its own.
Atheists live in the real world...and live for this life. They don't spend their entire lives preparing for death...and some fantasy afterlife.
Of course Genesis works for you. Do you believe everything you read? Have you ever really questioned anything?
Posted by otterfan (anonymous) on September 26, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
kidvanwechel: I have questioned How and Why you could believe in nothing?? I believe the bible and no I do not believe everything I read.
Do you really need to stoop to the level of name calling just because someone believes in something?
Posted by kidvanwechel (anonymous) on September 26, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hmm...I dunno. Do you think your shot at Atheists was offensive enough? There are about 23 million atheists in the US. I guess one way to justify your belief is to belittle others beliefs....that's the christian way!
Your free to believe whatever you want. Im sure you've done your personal research on the history of the bible.
Posted by kidvanwechel (anonymous) on September 26, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ohh...and atheism isn't the "belief in nothing". An Atheist has no specific belief system. They accept only that which is scientifically verifiable. Since god concepts are unverifiable, they do not accept them.
It's ok....I once believed in the tooth fairy.
Posted by otterfan (anonymous) on September 26, 2008 at 11:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Christianity is not a fairy-tale. I don't believe in theory's or someones 'idea' about how the earth got here. I believe in God and The Holy Bible..PERIOD. I am sorry if I offended you.
Posted by robbie (anonymous) on September 26, 2008 at 12:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
kidvanwechel if you are so right why are you so mad? And Nasty?
Posted by kidvanwechel (anonymous) on September 26, 2008 at 1:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm not mad...otterfan's definition of atheism show's his/her's "christian" intolerance and ignorance. How would you feel if someone defined organized relegion as: "Organized religion is a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people who need strength in numbers."? (Thank you Jesse Ventura)
If "Nasty" is being factual...we'll....I guess I'm "Nasty"...just like Janet Jackson.
AMEN
Posted by otterfan (anonymous) on September 26, 2008 at 1:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
kidvanwechel: I am not being ignorant....Have you read the bible?? You have more comments at the beginning of this article, that are clearly pure hatred for christians.
I BELIEVE IN CHRISTIANITY AS I BELIEVE THE SUN HAS RISEN; NOT ONLY BECAUSE I SEE IT, BUT BY IT I SEE EVERYTHING ELSE.
C.S. LEWIS
Posted by kidvanwechel (anonymous) on September 26, 2008 at 2:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I accept your apology. Thank you.
Posted by kidvanwechel (anonymous) on September 26, 2008 at 2:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My only hatred is hatred of ignorance. I've read the bible. It is a very nice piece of poetic literature. Would I base my life on it...ummm....no. Do I know more about the history of the bible and the history of christianity than you...umm...yes.
Have you read anything besides the bible?
Posted by otterfan (anonymous) on September 26, 2008 at 3:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You do not know me..so how can you say you know more than I about the bible. I base my life on it because I believe in it. It's pretty simple actually. I choose to believe and I have a relationship with my Father!! I know he exists I talk with him everyday!! I have FAITH and nothing pleases him more than that!!!
I have read other literature besides the bible...yes, but I do not feel the need to dabble in other religions. This is the One and Only! I do not need any other! Praise God for all the understanding he has given me!! Have a wonderful day kidvanwechel!
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