Weekly Rundown
- What God is teaching me and reminding me of this Christmas:
- He is completely SOVEREIGN — God took 1000s of years to bring His Son into humanity and into history; He used a pagan ruler, a full inn, an manger, and a virgin. Nothing falls outside of God’s sovereignty and nothing trumps His ultimate plan.
- I am resting in His sovereignty in our adoption process and for RBCC in 2010.
- Waiting on God is hard but definitely worth it — The Jews went 400 years without any prophetic word from God (the time from Malachi to Matthew in our Bibles). Then John the Baptist and Jesus burst onto the scene. The Scriptures report that Jesus came when the “time had fully come.”
- I struggle with patience … patience with myself, with others, and with executing plans. Adoption has revealed this struggle in a big way and yet, I sense God smoothing those rough edges of my character to be a bit more conformed to His Son. AND at the end of the day, I know from the Bible and from personal experience that waiting on God is worth it!!
- Passion for Christ can sometimes wane and must be rekindled — life, sin, temptation, struggle, criticism all zap our passions.
- Recently, I’ve felt mine wane. Then we had our last staff meeting of the year this week and we all confessed our weakened passion. Then a team member said, “The stuff we do is life or death.” Think about that … Jesus did NOT come to create Santa Claus or so we could have an excuse to overeat. Jesus came to die for us so that we do not have to experience spiritual death, so that we could be made right with God. The message of Jesus is of ultimate importance. This conviction sustains and strengthens my passion!
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- I wrote down 3 things that I want to fuel my passion for exalting Christ in 2010:
- The Gospel is the power of salvation for ALL who believe … we must share it boldly!!
- God’s love is unfailing … we must live it out sacrificially!
- The hope of God does not disappoint … we must offer it consistently!!
- God’s wisdom is the only true way to navigate life … we must teach it unapologetically!!
- Onto a few other things –
- My 2 favorite meals of the year are literally 12 hours apart: Christmas Eve dinner with Beth’s family and Christmas breakfast with mine
- Beth & I will be taking some time off this season and I don’t think I’ve ever needed it more. God is stirring my heart with so many things that I need some time just to be still and focus.
- We are still waiting word on our adoption. We were told we would wait 1-10 months before receiving a referral. We have been waiting 7 1/2.
- May everyone have a Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!
- Preaching about the Cross can never get old because understanding & applying the Cross is as essential as breathing!!
- Great to celebrate baptism today.
- Spent some time planning our missions giving for 2010. I am pumped about all the ways we as a church will be able to support God’s causes –
- Lots of various efforts in NW Georgia:
- Crisis pregnancy; food & clothing assistance; benevolences; homelessness
- A medical missionary to Kenya.
- Missionary in the Middle East.
- Efforts to relieve world hunger.
- Church plants in 3 different states (Georgia, Tennesse, and Florida).
- God blew me away on Friday with an amazing conversation about His radical, unfailing love and then a big, breakthrough about getting our 3rd site up and rolling in Chatsworth … stuff I’ve been praying over for months, starting to materialize as God’s faithfulness and perfect timing bears fruit for His glory!!
- Great meeting with new Calhoun Elders … great to be able to expand the local leadership efforts at that Campus.
- Beginning some cool discussions about how to better mobilize our church to serve.
- Prayer requests:
- Direction and guidance about foreign missions. The opportunities are endless and all very good … seeking THE opportunity God prepared long ago for us to walk in — Ephesians 2:10.
- 2010 opportunities in NW Georgia: 3rd site in Chatsworth, 3rd service (Thursday night), and “building favor” in Calhoun.
- Sermon and worship planning for 2010.
- HAVE A GREAT WEEK
- Crazy, amazing weekend @ Rock Bridge … Snacks with Santa in Calhoun and rockin’ Christmas musical in Dalton. We love to serve and bless our community … for free … that’s the pattern of Jesus, our Pastor!
- Thanks to all the incredible people who served and gave of their time and efforts … you rock!
- Praying that is attitude is prevalent in our church: I Chronicles 29:14.
- For our Dalton campus … Step Together Offering is Sunday! We have a great opportunity to continue generously funding God’s work in His church … let’s do it together for greater impact, more momentum, and stronger unity!!
- We’re collecting toys for children this Christmas season: bring NEW, UNWRAPPED gifts to church on Sunday or during the week to the offices.
- Really excited that our students are learning about global missions. Together they are sponsoring a child in Swaziland through World Vision . Praying we all catch God’s vision for the world!
- The ‘Dawgs are heading to the Independence Bowl –13th straight year in a bowl game –
- Coach Richt made a VERY tough leadership decision in releasing 3 staff members. Paul had to release John Mark for a season. Leaders have to put the overall mission ahead of personal relationships … always tough, but necessary.
- Army-Navy showdown is this weekend … GO NAVY, BEAT ARMY!!
- Short week due to Thanksgiving … ate way too much!!
- Spoke this week at the 40th anniversary of my elementary school (Roan School). I went there in 1st and 2nd grades.
- Saw my 1st grade teacher … my first crush!
- Also saw my 2nd grade teacher and former P.E. teacher.
- All impacted my life!
- Beth & I headed south to Florida to spend time with her family. Great trip, great weather, and great food!
- Saw the movie, The Blind Side … awesome movie, even if you don’t like football.
- ‘Dawgs looked good in a BIG win over rival Georgia Tech.
- Some things I am thanking God for …
- My salvation … done nothing to deserve it and can only thank God for it!
- My wife … 8 years and counting of joy, laughter, and joint obedience to God.
- The Bible … one of the greatest miracles of God that I have access to every day.
- Our church … 7 years of seeing God build His church and beautify His bride for His glory
- The future … adoption, seeing God continue to build Rock Bridge, more grace, heaven, and seeing Jesus!
- Losing My Religion series continues to be a blessing for me to preach and I pray a means for God to open people’s eyes to His love, grace, and character.
- We’re celebrating numerous salvations
- Tonight Rock Bridge Student Ministry (@ Calhoun & @ Dalton) taught about the needs of the world and the Christian’s responsibility to help meet them — praying the eyes and hearts of young people are enlarged in a mighty, Christ-exalting way!!
- They took an offering to buy a family village in Kenya a cow through Possibilities Africa. One cow can totally transform a village with jobs, hope, and openness to Gospel love!
- They will also be sponsoring a child through World Vision!
- I’m playing sermon “catch-up” this week since I missed a week of preparation when I was out in San Diego.
- Great discussions this week about how to better communicate our mission and core values to provide better clarity regarding WHO we are as a church. As we grow and add new people, we must reinforce who God has called us to be and remind ourselves about the Spirit-given uniqueness that exists in our church.
- Congrats to our Associate Pastor, Alfred Turley, and his wife, Heidi, who had a beautiful baby girl this past week.
- The football rundown:
- Georgia is just sad and way below their potential as a team. It is NOT great to be a Georgia Bulldog right now.
- If you like leadership-type stuff, pay attention to how Coach Mark Richt handles this. It will be a lesson in what to do or what not to do … either way we can learn something from how he responds.
- Great anniversary celebration with Beth this week. Hopefully, this time next year we’ll be parents!!
- My take on the second installment of the Twilight saga: New Moon:
- Special effects: much better!
- Acting: still solid and true to the characters of the book.
- Music/Soundtrack: horrible … didn’t match the scenes at all.
- Felt rushed and some transitions were abrupt … hard to compress a 500+ page book into 2 hours.
- Still a freakishly popular cultural event. Asking myself, “Why do sooo many people love this series? Why do I love it?”
- Short week this week thanks to Thanksgiving … ready for some turkey!!!!!!!!
- Had a great week out in San Diego with my Next Generation Leadership Network group. I have been meeting with this group of pastors every six months for the past two years. I can honestly say I am a better pastor, leader, and Christ-follower because of this opportunity to walk in community with others. I must thank Leadership Network for their work to serve pastors and churches.
- Great services today as we continue in the Losing My Religion series. I pray many are finding life in Christ through this series. Next week at both campuses is a GREAT week to bring an unchurched guest … someone who needs to know about Jesus and pray they hear God and experience His love!!
- Some in our Chatsworth launch team are taking road trips to visit other churches that meet in high schools. This week they headed down to Charleston, SC to visit Seacoast Church’s James Island campus. They are learning a ton as we prepare to invade Chatsworth.
- I’m really excited and encouraged by how our staff is thinking right now — innovative, creative, and BIG!! We have some amazing ideas to pray over & discuss.
- The ‘Dawgs looked respectable against Auburn … good win, bowl eligible.
- Football Friday is over for the year. Good luck to the Calhoun Yellow Jackets as they continue in the state playoffs.
- I love to go to movies with my wife. Our first date was at Star Wars: Episode I in Jacksonville, FL. We have fun, are able to relax, and make memories together. Well, this week is a BIG movie week: the Twilight sequel, New Moon and the football movie, Blind Side both are in theaters this week.
- My take on Twilight: pop culture phenenom; very entertaining; solid acting; unrealistic plot with a realistic emotional storyline.
- Blind Side: based on a true story. Good acting line-up. Cameos by several college coaches. Will be inspirational!
- Beth & I celebrate 8 years of marriage this week
- So I’m justified in taking her to at least two movies this week, right?
- We’re into the Losing My Religion series. I’ve been thinking and praying about this series for a LONG time.
- The message I preached the day RBCC began was titled, “The Trouble With Religion.”
- I’m convinced that “religion” is keeping more people from God and out of heaven than drugs, alcohol, and sex combined!!
- Let’s celebrate freedom in Christ this series! Great series to invite a friend.
- Went to see Georgia play yesterday against Tennessee Tech. Several local boys playing at Tech. Fun day!
- I saw my first ever Cheerleading competition yesterday … WOW! Intense and exciting. Congrats to Northwest and Dalton High Schools for making it to state sectionals!!
- Great all-staff meeting this week with Brad Leeper sharing thoughts on how to be a “great” staff. Some takeaways:
- Staffs must risk together, have fun together, and create “stories” together.
- Bad staffs make their specialty (i.e.-music, children, students) MORE important than the church’s mission. (That’s good!!)
- Staff members must constantly learn to grow and develop. Must be curious, read, ask questions, and never stop growing.
- Staff members must be flexible in their roles … jobs will change as the church changes.
- First Wednesday was amazing again. Both campuses experienced God’s presence in powerful ways!
- This service literally “sets the temperature” for our church for the whole month … prayer, worship, & communion TOGETHER is powerful and desired by God … He shows up when we seek Him as ONE!!
- Navy beat Notre Dame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Student Hayride was awesome tonight!!
- Calhoun Fall Festival rocked on Saturday … Dalton is Wednesday night, starting at 6:30 pm!!
- Praying hard for God’s Word to bear fruit from today’s services at Dalton & Calhoun.
- We got the Certificates of Occupancy for the new ministry center buildings this past week … yes!
- Excited about new opportunities for our church to engage in “missions” both locally and globally! We’re looking at targeting specific work in Haiti and/or parts of Africa … exciting stuff … pray for God’s direction & wisdom!
- Georgia did not lose this weekend
- Next weekend could be a different story …
- Navy is having a great season!!
- I’ve got to pack for an early flight and get to bed … have a great week!!!
- We seemed to have skipped Fall this weekend and headed straight to Winter. For the first time this season I was cold on Friday night watching the Southeast Raiders play football!
- The increase in prayer going on right now all over RBCC is AWESOME!!!
- I especially need to thank the group of folks who pray with/for me before our services … you bless me greatly!!
- Had a great meal-meeting with volunteers representing all of our ministry areas. Great to hear everyone’s feedback, exciting, and answer questions about what is happening @ RBCC!! We’re going to keep doing these every month so if you’d like to come let me know!
- I’m thinking through some “staff” core values that should define and guide our staff’s actions.
- No news on the adoption front.
- Dawgs won but looked iffy.
- Navy won!!!
- Don’t forget Fall Festival!
- Next Saturday in Calhoun (Oct. 24th)
- Wednesday, Oct. 28th in Dalton
- I just cleaned out our garage … I’m filthy and tired but hopefully Beth will be proud of me … she can now park her car in the garage!!
- Here’s some ways to pray this week:
- Alfred’s traveling up to Indiana to meet with other Associate Pastors from across the country … safe traveling and the increase of wisdom.
- For RB Chatsworth and building finalization.
- Elders’ meeting: wisdom and anointing on our leadership.
- I’m speaking up in Charlotte, NC at this event on Tuesday, Oct. 27th to church leaders who are about to enter into building/campus expansion efforts. Pray for me … I’m kind of nervous/intimidated to be speaking but God will be with me that I know! Pray more that the leaders present are encouraged and uplifted!!
- For our local economy and those searching for jobs.
- For God to be glorified through Rock Bridge!!
- Long holiday weekend for many in our area and us Georgia fans sure did need it!!
- Our students enjoyed a great “Survivor”-style Fall Retreat over in north Alabama.
- I’m always amazed at the level of commitment of our volunteers … you amaze me!!
- I’ve had several meetings and lunches lately with people who God has called to plant new churches. I get excited thinking about how God is going to use these guys for His glory!
- Met with someone who is planting a church in Gainesville, Florida … that’s Gator country … I know they need Jesus but at least they have Tebow
- This past week’s First Wednesday was absolutely amazing!! Both campuses were blessed with God’s presence. Below is a quote from a former addict who is now addicted to Jesus:
- Last night was so great I wondered if it was legal.
- I want to thank the amazing job Greg, Stephen, and Jeremy do leading our worship services, bands, praise teams, and choirs. I appreciate your talent a lot but appreciate your love for Jesus and desire to help people worship Him even more!!
- You can check out the church’s “Worship Blog” here.
- To the UGA faithful … the Tennessee game is a blessing in disguise. The coaches and school leadership can no longer ignore the fact that there is a problem with the football program. The secret is out … the Vols exposed the ‘Dawgs as a very sub-par football team. The question is how will the players and most especially, Coach Richt respond? (The leadership juices in me are flowing … I’m very curious to watch and learn from how this gets handled.)
- Church update:
- Still looking for building possibilities in Calhoun.
- Still praying for peace and confirmation about location for Rock Bridge Chatsworth.
- New buildings at Dalton campus are close to getting cleared for occupancy.
- Lots of work remains to be done on the “North-South” lobby next to the Wink that will connect the campus from Crawford St. to Gordon St.
- Fall Festival is coming soon for BOTH campuses … BRING CANDY to church!!
- Have a great week!!