General
Ethiopia Update #1
We are at the close of our second full day in Ethiopia and it has been wonderful!!! We are thankful God has allowed this new chapter in our lives!
Yesterday and today we were able to spend about 2+ hours with our boys (we were not expecting to see them until Friday). They are both amazing! We have each fed Abreham a bottle, played soccer with Eyasu, read Eyasu a book, and Beth got “christened” today by Abreham…his diaper leaked 
Abreham is big and happy!! He smiles a lot and seems very content. Eyasu was shy and reserved at first, but warmed up after a few of my goofy soccer ball antics. He seems eager for us to touch and interact with him. Needless to say, we are happy to oblige!!
Tomorrow, pray for our safety (health & travel) as we drive 6+ hours to the south to visit the area where the boys are from and hopefully meet their birth relative(s). We are excited about this opportunity to learn more about the boys’ heritage and background.
The people of Ethiopia are amazing — very friendly and kind. Their humility and grace is inspiring in the midst of very difficult circumstances. Many seem to have great faith.
We are unable to access internet frequently and replying is hard because of internet speed. Check Beth’s facebook page for more frequent updates … we hope to update every day or so.
Thanks for the prayers!!
Does God Smile?
Guest Blogger: Greg Womack, Worship Pastor
A lifelong friend of mine used to say, “All I want to do is make God smile.” While that is a worthwhile goal, the truth is we don’t have to do anything to make God smile, He already smiles at the thought of us. Zephaniah 3:17 says it this way: “The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Do you see that amazing truth? The God of heaven and earth delights in you, covers you with His love, rejoices over you! He smiles when He thinks of you! Isn’t that incredible!
Unfortunately, we often focus on God’s displeasure or disappointment with us rather than His delight in us. The thought that God rejoices over us is hard to comprehend. But it’s true!
What would our lives look like if we really believed God delighted, rejoiced and sang over us! What would our work routines look like? Our families? Our worship? The fact that God really desires to be with us should inspire, motivate and drive us to be with Him, to love Him, to worship Him! Do you want to make God smile? His truth declares He already is!
Why Missions?
Guest Blogger: Alfred Turley, Associate Pastor-Operations
We’ve received a lot of questions about foreign missions at Rock Bridge, especially as we begin planning future trips and partnerships. Some ask why we do it at all, as our own community has so many needs. I personally have been involved with foreign missions for over 15 years, and through those experiences, primarily in Haiti, I have seen God do some amazing things! Here is why foreign mission efforts are important:
-1) Others who are less fortunate need to know that they matter. By going on trips where we develop relationships and partnerships, they see that they are not just a handout, but that they are a person that matters to us and therefore matters to Jesus. Some mission trips only focus on projects, and while the heart of service is great, people hurting want to know that we see them, we see their hardships, and we care. We can’t always get to know everyone, but we should try! Many of the orphans I have met in Haiti were treated lower than dogs. When we fed, played, sang, and laughed with them, they felt they mattered to someone, and that God just might actually love them!
-2) Missions remind us the world is bigger than us, and that God’s heart is for the world. Missions remind us that just because people have different ways of talking, eating, driving, etc., that they still matter to God. Cultures around the world vary greatly, and it’s important we realize that just because others do things differently, they still matter to God.
-3) Missions change us forever! Our country is so blessed… sometimes we forget what true needs really are. Visiting a country where there are no police to call, no ambulance to call, no power, no running water… it makes you realize we have so much! Some people literally do not have clothing to wear and walk around nearly naked. Some have no house to live in, so they build a shed with sticks and do the best they can to live. In Haiti, people regularly eat dirt, because there is nothing else to eat. A meal every day is a luxury. They can’t imagine eating three a day!
-4) Missions give us the opportunity to sacrifice for our Lord, Jesus Christ. By going on trips, praying for missionaries and the people they are ministering with, by partnering financially, God gives us the chance to lay down our selves for others, and create a bridge of compassion that God will use to change lives!
Easter 2010!!
Easter Services at Rock Bridge: 8 services across NW Georgia!!
- Dalton Campus
- Thursday, April 1 @ 6:30 pm (Wink Theatre)
- Sunday, April 4 @ 8:00 am (Wink only); 9:30 & 11:00 (Wink Theatre & Stage 123)
- Calhoun Campus
- Sunday, April 4 @ 10:30 am (Calhoun Civic Auditorium)
- Chatsworth Campus
- Saturday, April 3 @ 5:00 pm (North Murray High School)
- Sunday, April 4 @ 9:15 & 11:00 am (North Murray High School)
Good Quick Reads
Below are some good reads (click the title):
J.D. Greear on When Should You Move to Another Church?
Michael Hyatt: 10 Reasons Why You Aren’t Done Yet
Michael Hyatt: 5 Marks of Authentic Leadership
His Child Orphan Care on The Spirit of Adoption
Hijacked Blog: Special Announcement
This is Carla Bray, Matt’s assistant, and I’ve hijacked his blog
The reason for my bold move is to announce a “Drop In Shower” hosted by friends of the family to celebrate Matt & Beth’s adoption of their two precious boys, Eyasu and Abreham. Anyone is welcome to come so spread the word!
Monday, March 22nd: Rock Bridge’s Stage 123 — drop in anytime from 4:30-7:30 pm
If you want to get them a gift, Matt & Beth are registered at Babies R Us; Butterfly Kisses (Thornton Ave in Dalton — used to be Davies); Target; and Wal-Mart. Gift cards or love offerings are also great ideas that would bless them as well!
If you have any questions please email me at Carla@rockbridge.cc.
Weekly Rundown (1.31.10)
- It snowed … again!! Twice in the same month!!
- Had a great Elders meeting to kick-off the new year! Excited to have elders in place in Calhoun.
- Rock Bridge Chatsworth is getting rolling with “practice” services … and we actually had some 1st time guests!! The unofficial launch date is February 28th.
- Beth and I had an amazing time at Brasstown Valley Resort in Young Harris, GA for Leadership Georgia. Lots of learning with some great people from all over our state.
- Our Thursday night services continue to be well attended … with great energy and excitement.
- Praying hard that we pass court on February 11th!!
- Have a great week!!
Responding to the Earthquake in Haiti
The news is filled with the disaster of a major earthquake literally destroying a large portion of Haiti. The death and devastation are heartbreaking.
We have been talking “in theory” about increasing our missions efforts with three avenues: local impact, Great Commission partnerships, and Global Poverty (see “Rock Bridge and the World” blog post). Interestingly enough one of our partnerships was shaping up to be with a Christian missionary in Haiti named “Ed”. Ed has been posting through the night on Facebook about what he is witnessing and asking Christians around the world to pray.
We can move into action immediately (see James 4:17). We have the ability to act to relieve suffering and provide hope. Here’s our plan:
1) Pray.
2) Collect a special offering during our services this week. (including Thursday night).
- For checks write “HAITI RELIEF” on the memo line.
- All loose cash and loose change will be directed for Haiti relief.
3) Use a portion of our approved “missions” budget for Haiti relief.
- The funds collected from #2 & 3 above will go to help Ed provide relief in Haiti as well as to another Christian relief effort already working on the ground in the country.
4) A relief drive/effort for Haiti.
- We are not sure of the details yet but we are working to see how best to respond with specific supplies.
- We are hoping to send our initial, “advance” team into Haiti this Spring.
The “Perhaps” of Rock Bridge PM
This Thursday we begin an unorthodox experiment. We have prayed & prepared but I know ultimately the outcome is up to God (Proverbs 19:21).
We are being faithful to what God has called us as a church to do which is to connect people from all walks of life to life in Christ. And “all walks of life” includes the shift worker who can’t make church on Sundays, the weekend traveler who is often out-of-town, the college student, and anyone else who might otherwise be inclined not to come to church at the typical/traditional times.
This service is an offering to God to use as He sees fit. I hope and pray it is for His glory. I hope and pray that He will do more than I can ask for or imagine (Eph. 3:20-21). I feel like Jonathan on his way to fight the Philistines as a severe underdog saying “Perhaps the Lord will act on our behalf …” (I Samuel 14:6).
Because I want to pray specifically, here is my “Perhaps List” — the list of things that “perhaps” God will do as we take an unconventional step to share God’s amazing love with more people in NW Georgia:
- Perhaps God will bring hundreds of previously unchurched people to church … and they will discover the difference of Jesus Christ.
- Perhaps God will cause people to be more consistent in their church attendance as they have more opportunities to meet together and practice Hebrews 10:25.
- Perhaps God will raise up more people in the church to serve Him through the church (Luke 10:2).
- Perhaps God will raise the temperature for evangelism in our church … that we would be willing to risk, serve, pray, and labor for the salvation of others in our community (2 Timothy 2:10).
- Perhaps God will open another door for His message to go out (Colossians 4:3).
- Perhaps God will cause the message to spread rapidly & be honored by many (2 Thess 3:1).
Perhaps YOU or SOMEONE you invite will join us THIS Thursday at 6:30 pm in the Wink Theatre?
Stepping Together
Something I constantly thank God for and ask Him to protect is the incredible unity that has marked our church. When movements are marked by unity there is tremendous focus, teamwork, and momentum.
One example of unity we see in Scripture is unified giving. Whether it was the giving to build the Tent of Meeting and Solomon’s Temple or to assist the suffering church in Jerusalem, God’s people gave together, recognizing that more can be accomplished when everyone combines their stewardship of God’s resources in the same God-honoring direction.
RBCC followed this pattern when we launched our Next Step Campaign in 2007. We unified our giving above and beyond regular tithes & offerings to sacrificially and generously fund the much needed Dalton campus expansion.
As part of this campaign, we want to hold a special offering to further unify our giving and increase momentum as we head into the final stretch of this campaign. On December 13th (or anytime in December) we will have a Step Together Offering. This offering will be help reduce and eventually pay off the construction loan since construction is finished.
- We are asking everyone who made a Next Step pledge to give part of your pledge on December 13th (or this month). We are not asking for a new pledge.
- We would also invite anyone at our Dalton campus who was not able to make a pledge or was not part of Rock Bridge back in 2007, to prayerfully consider participating in this special unified offering.
- Simple indicate “Next Step” or “Step Together” on your check or use the specially marked envelopes.
I echo the words of King David (I Chronicles 29:14):
“…who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your Hand.”