General
Online Giving Now Available!!
For anyone and everyone who likes to bank online and rarely uses checks, we’re rolling out online giving. You can now give to the church online to either your campus’ operating & ministry account OR to the Next Step fund (Dalton campus building expansion). Beth & I just enrolled and it is really simple. Here’s how it works:
- Go to the Rock Bridge website and click on “Online Giving” (lower right hand corner of the home page).
- You’ll be prompted to set up an account by creating a user name and a password. You can create multiple accounts.
- Rock Bridge Community Church (Dalton, GA) will be listed as your “recipient organization”
- You’ll then enter your bank account information. This works as a bank draft (credit or debit cards are not an option). You’ll need your bank’s routing number and the account number that you give from (this information is found on checks … the site will demonstrate how to locate this information).
- You’ll be asked to verify some things (site is very secure).
- Then you can set up when to give, how much to give, what church accounts to give to, and how often to give (one-time, monthly, etc). You can also track your giving history.
A Week in My Life
Sometimes I get asked what I do during a typical week. While few weeks are ever “typical” here is the basic routine I try to maintain.
In general, I try to get up fairly early (between 5 and 6 depending on when I got to bed the night before) and workout, eat breakfast, and have some personal time with God. I like to get to church between 7 and 7:30 am. I also try to use lunch to meet with different people (staff, guests, church members, other pastors, etc.)
Monday
Monday is the day Beth & I have set aside for us. I call it “date day”. We do something together as a couple. If one of needs to do something else, we must get permission first 
Tuesday
Tuesday is a day for meetings. I meet with some men from our church to pray at 6:30 am and then I am in solid meetings (regular meetings with staff) usually through lunch. On Tuesday afternoon I am around and available for either more project-specific meetings, counseling & pastoral care, chats with staff members, or basic administrative stuff like emails, phone calls, church-wide communications, etc.
Our regular Tuesday meetings include all-staff prayer & worship; a “tactical” meeting to review the weekend and discuss priorities, projects, and strategy; a worship planning meeting to discuss upcoming messages; a meeting with our small groups’ staff to work through group questions.
Wednesday
I study and prepare for the message (I usually prepare 2 weeks ahead). I pray.
Thursday
I spend the morning working on and finalizing the message I began preparing on Wednesday.
Thursday afternoons are for other meetings, touching base with staff, getting progress reports, counseling, etc.
Friday
Friday is miscellaneous day. I start going over the message for Sunday, get the Scriptures and bullet points over to our Tech & Worship staff, and go over the service with our worship leaders.
Friday is also my day to visit the hospitals (Each staff pastor is assigned a day to make hospital visits).
I catch up on emails, phone calls, and other communications. I also try to do some reading and praying.
Saturday
Beth & I usually do something together but we try to keep this day light. We try to be settled in for the day around 5 or 6 pm. I spend a few hours Saturday evening getting ready to preach on Sunday.
Sunday
I’m up pretty early and get to church to start praying and reviewing the message. At 9 am we have a prayer team that assembles. Then it’s off to greet folks and preach! Sunday afternoon I write blogs, email, reflect, and sometimes grab a nap.
Possible 3rd Worship Service!?!?
Over the past few weeks we’ve experienced an increase in our worship attendance at all our campuses and venues. While growth is not our goal (glorifying Jesus is), we are excited because MORE people are hearing God’s Word and MORE people are experiencing God’s love for them.
However, this growth is not without its challenges (but they are the ones we like to have). At our Dalton campus, we have very little room to add more people, especially at our 11:00 service time … and this is the time a guest is most likely to show up!! There have been occasions where people have left because they could not find a seat!! The challenge for us is “What do we do? How do we respond to the ‘increase’ God is giving us?”
In Calhoun the answer is keep inviting people!! Keep loving those God sends! Fill up the Civic Auditorium and then add another service!!
In Dalton, the answer is less obvious. However, we are considering adding a THIRD WORSHIP SERVICE!! Additional services help us free up seats and perhaps reach more people at more times. The big question is “When?” We are looking at three options and want to survey our church about which option might be best. Please be in prayer and ask God to give us His wisdom and direction. Also please remember that at this time we are only considering this option, nothing has been decided.
As you read these options, ask yourself “Which option would have the most appeal to an unchurched person?” AND “Which option (if any) would I attend?
8:15 or 8:30 am SUNDAY MORNING: for early risers and those who like to get the day started quickly
12:30 or 1:00 pm SUNDAY AFTERNOON: for late risers
THURSDAY EVENING (between 6 and 6:30 pm): could be attractive to people who work on weekends (i.e. shift workers), weekend travelers, and college students
If you would be willing to regularly attend and support any of these services, please complete the survey by clicking the link below:
Michael Vick and the Wisdom of Alcohol
Just read a news report that said Michael Vick had an alcoholic drink after an NFL practice. His mentor, the well-respected Tony Dungy (led the Colts to a SuperBowl title), criticized Vick’s decision (check out the article here).
Now I’m not one for piling on or adding more condemnation than Vick has received but this story offers us insight into lots of things: guarding our reputation & integrity, being above reproach, and most importantly, making wise decisions.
Often we try to reduce life and Christianity down to right versus wrong with the result that we become moral minimalists who walk close to the edge of the cliff and sometimes we fall or slip or get pushed over the side. Yet the Bible tells us to resist sin and contend for our faith. So God calls us to walk by wisdom not merely right or wrong. Wisdom keeps us safe, wisdom keeps us on the right path, protects our integrity, and sets up a positive future!!
- This past weekend the Coast Guard, life guards, and the Weather Center warned thousands of would-be swimmers of the dangerous waves and currents Hurricane Bill was bringing to east coast. Yet several decided to brave the waters. Was this right or wrong? Who can say? Was it wise? No, clearly it was foolish and tragically several lives were lost.
- Married men often spend time alone with women other than their wife. Is this wrong? No … at least not on the surface. But is it wise? We protect what we value and is this a way to protect one’s marriage when countless number of affairs have begun this way by well-meaning people who said “It won’t happen to me and there’s nothing wrong with it.”?
- Lots of people spend money without a budget. Lots of people use credit without thinking about the bill they will receive in a few weeks. Is this wrong? No. Is this foolish? Yes.
When wisdom is applied to the equation of decision-making we are forced to think about the future, we are forced to get past our emotions (which can convice us we are right!), we are forced to pause and think, AND we are forced to ask other people … because part of wisdom is SEEKING ADVICE (Proverbs 12:15).
Proverbs 14:8
The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.
Student Ministry Kick-off
Dalton student ministry had a BIG kick-off this past Sunday (Calhoun’s is coming soon). Awesome event!
Proverbs Highlights (Chapters 5-10)
The Proverbs journey continues …
Proverbs 5:3-5 — sin usually starts out very attractive and alluring but ends up fatal.
Proverbs 5:18 — enjoy the wife you married as a young man!! In other words, you may grow old but don’t let your marriage EVER get old!! Fight for joy, romance, and intimacy!
Other Proverbs 5 thoughts — a lack of discipline takes you off course and gets you trapped (Remember the feeling when you didn’t study along the way and had to cram the night before … TRAPPED & SCARED!!)
Proverbs 6:26-27 — Sin has consequences (period!). We need to learn to hate sin as much as we do the consequences of it!!
Proverbs 7 – We can be easily deceived (vv. 22-23); therefore, we must guard ourselves and internalize God’s teachings (vv. 1-2)
Proverbs 10:18-19 — the warnings about our words begin!! Basically, if you talk a lot then you are probably sinning a lot!
Proverbs Highlights (Chapters 1-4)
I recently read through Proverbs and have made a commitment to do so frequently because it is so powerful and practical. Here are the highlights of my recent journey through this amazing book of the Bible …
Proverbs 1:7 — the place to start in life is with a healthy view of God. Once I get a skewed and inaccurate view of God, then my life goes in “foolish” directions.
Proverbs 1:19 — the end does not justify the means!! Ill-gotten gain leads to loss and regret.
Proverbs 1:29-33 — I call this the “Listen Principle” which basically says that the voice we listen to and follow the most determines where we end up! Jesus said that His sheep know His voice … am I listening? Which “voices” get most of my attention?
Proverbs 2:1-5 — the pursuit of wisdom involves an intentional process. The only way to start a process is to desire a certain outcome. We must desire wisdom and have the discipline to pursue it. Often we don’t want wisdom but rather validation of our own selfish desires.
Proverbs 3:25-26 — there is a way to live without fear and worry! It involves putting God, forsaking our “common sense” and obeying God even when it doesn’t make sense (see Proverbs 3:5-6). The difficulty is that we want to be responsible for outcomes, we believe we are smarter than God, and we would rather be “self-confident” than God-confident. Sooner or later we’ll lose this battle. I think Proverbs teaches that humility and wisdom go together.
Proverbs 4 — continues on the value of wisdom and the commitment it takes to get it; Proverbs 4 also warns us against impulsiveness (how many dumb decisions have I made because I just didn’t slow down??) and tell us to avoid evil paths and evil tendencies.
Opening Song Survey
You picked the sermons for this series, now you pick the opening song!!
Series starts next Sunday, August 9th!
Small Group Leaders Needed!
One of the biggest needs in our church right now is for people to facilitate small groups. We currently have MORE people wanting to be in groups than we have groups for them to join!! That is why we are praying this verse BIG time: Luke 10:2 –Please join us in praying for this for our church!!
I also believe wholeheartedly that there are people in our church who God may be asking to serve in this capacity … maybe you? Maybe someone you know who you could encourage to become a group facilitator?
Here’s some things you may NOT know about facilitating a group:
1) You do NOT have to be a Bible expert or scholar to lead a small group. The vast majority of groups simply discuss the message from Sunday and our staff provides easy to follow discussion guides. If you listen to the message, you know enough to facilitate a Bible conversation!!
2) You do NOT have to be a Bible teacher to lead a small group. Why? Because in a small group EVERYONE talks, discusses, and interacts. You just help keep the conversation moving.
3) You do need to LOVE PEOPLE and LOVE TO SEE LIFE CHANGE … because those things happen in group life. Small groups are the best environments to experience God’s love and to facilitate life change as people align their lives with God’s will, are changed by His amazing grace, and are set free by His truth!!
4) You do need to believe the truth, power and wisdom of these verses: Hebrews 10:25 & Proverbs 13:20. Following the principles of these verses and trusting God’s reason for giving them gives us confidence to be in community together, pray for God to bless your group meetings, and trust God for the results.
5) You will be equipped and encouraged by our Groups & Discipleship staff. They’ll meet with you to help you understand the basics and get your group going; they’ll be praying for you and available anytime to serve you and help you!!
Contact Jay Ashlock: jay@rockbridge.cc or Megan Hobby: meganhobby@rockbridge.cc to get started!
Be Prepared: The Definition of Marriage
The biblical definition of marriage which originated as a religous, faith-based institution and later became “regulated” (in a sense) by the government is simple: one man and one woman committed to each other for life.
Why does the government get to or even want to have a voice in marriage? The history of government’s role in marriage indicates that the government began issuing marriage licenses to promote the social & general welfare by protecting people from STDs, keeping accurate records, and giving the couple ample time to consider the commitment they would be making. I think the strongest case for a biblical-based and derived definition of marriage is that it is in the best interest of everyone because it does promote the general welfare of society … all of society, not just heterosexual Christians.
Biblical marriage is best for children and thus, best for society. (While exceptions exist to this principle, overall the research is undeniable. Maybe we could phrase it that biblical marriage gives children the best opportunity to reach their full potential.)
- One of the most fundamental ideas about marriage that crosses historical and culture lines is that it is best for children. God originally created marriage as the approved means for Adam & Eve to “be fruitful and multiply.“
- Anytime the biblical definition of marriage is changed the result has been an increase in the number of out-of-wedlock births. Unmarried parents break up at a rate of two to three times more than married parents. The result: more poverty, more crime, and higher government costs to combat the poverty and crime which leads to higher taxes. Consider these examples:
- When same-sex marriages were legalized in Norway out-of-wedlock births skyrocketed in the first decade because one of the purposes of marriage was compromised and its true permanency contested.
- The poverty rate for African American children is roughly 40%; for African American children being raised by both parents, the poverty rate drops to 13%!!
The “equal protection” clause in the Constitution exists to protect people, not actions or behaviors. Marriage is an action by people, and laws do discriminate between certain actions and behaviors. For example, I cannot go walking on I-75. That would be bad for other travelers, for commerce, and for me. So the law does not allow me to walk … on an interstate. But I can walk … on a road with sidewalks, in a gym, or in a park. Therefore, I do not think it is about discrimination to limit marriage to one man and one woman. Rather it is the law defining appropriate actions in an appropriate context that promotes the overall general welfare of our soceity. In other words, biblical marriage promotes what is best for society by protecting what is best for children: being raised by their father and mother. When this does not exist for children, the track record is not good and the cost on society is high.