Several of our staff went to the Drive Conference in Atlanta this past week. They came back pumped up!! Love their inspiration.
Great reports from our team that went to Haiti. We’re very excited about the partnership developing in that country. Check out the video here!
Be in prayer for our Baptism Celebration that is on May 23rd!! Time to celebrate new life in Christ with public obedience to Christ who commanded and modeled baptism!!
In the past 5 months we’ve added about 500 new people … WOW!! This has brought lots of opportunities, excitement, and challenges as we seek to connect folks to Christ and lead our church at this new level … and to the next level that God has for us.
After today’s message on “Word Power”, I’ve been trying to work on a few things myself:
I am better at assuming than communicating as a leader … when this happens and I get frustrated, I have no one to blame but myself!!
My tone of voice is not always full of “love and truth”.
Teaching on the Golden Rule this week rocked me personally and forced me to ask, “How much I am asking God for so I can spend my life giving to others?” (see Matthew 7:7-12)
Anytime we talk about relationship issues, problems, and areas of relational neglect come to the surface. This is happening to many people across our campuses right now. While this is often painful, it is ultimately healthy. When God shines a light into a dark place, go there with Him! Let Him correct, comfort, change, heal, and restore!!
Glad our team to Haiti returned safe … and changed! They are excited about their experience and the opportunities we have in front of us as a church.
Eyasu & Abreham came to church on Thursday night!! Great to see them at Rock Bridge. Even better was seeing how excited Eyasu was about his projects. Heard he loved the worship time too! Praying they both grow in the knowledge of God and His love and that this leads them to find their life in Christ alone.
So glad, excited, & grateful to be back preaching for this week!! I missed Rock Bridge!
Spent a lot of this week getting my head around all that is going on around here … I’m pumped and looking forward to an exciting spring:
Advance team is currently on the ground in Haiti working to set-up opportunities for us to partner and minister there.
New series on relationships kicked off this week.
Spring Baptism is coming up (click here for details).
More opportunities for people to get connected in groups and ministry teams.
Joel Team is hard at work “strategizing” ways to improve our church and establish systems/practices for us to ministry more effectively.
Beth & I are loving being parents!! Every day has something new, challenging, and exciting. Eyasu (3 years) has learned how to say, “I love you” (probably because we say it to him 1000 times a day) but he says it a little differently — “I love boo.” Still melts our hearts every time!
A few other words he has learned: motorcycle, “poo-poo”, underwear, computer, television, more (as in he wants “more” food!), brush teeth, dog, book.
To answer a few more questions:
Yes-we are getting to sleep! Eyasu sleeps about 9 hours a night and Abreham sleeps anywhere from 4-6 hours straight depending on when and how much he last ate (he loves to eat).
No-the kids will not be coming to church yet. They are doing great but we are trying to help them adjust to their new home, language, life, and culture. They have lost their biological parents and all they have ever known. They are doing well in their new home and seem to be loving being part of their new family; however, multiple sources of wisdom have consistently advised us to move slowly and keep things predictable, avoiding too much too soon.
Really excited about all that is happening at our campuses in Chatsworth & Calhoun. The volunteers are amazing, the energy/vibe at those sites is strong, and we’re excited to be sharing God’s Word & love to more people in NW Georgia (2 Thess 3:1)
Love preaching on our vision and sharing why God created Rock Bridge!! Great services this week all over NW Georgia!!!
Our volunteers take things to a whole new level — passion, commitment, excitement, & service. THANK YOU!!
Beth & I were in Atlanta from Thursday to Saturday participating in Leadership Georgia. Our second of five such trips … great opportunity to learn and connect with folks from all over our state.
Rode MARTA a lot … very clean and on time. Great way to get around the city.
Toured the World of Coke. Coke is >200 countries!!
Toured the Federal Reserve of Atlanta.
Heard the Mayor of Atlanta and Senator Johnny Isakson speak.
Listened to 9 of the 11 candidates for governor speak on a variety of topics … impressive group of candidates.
Learned that leadership challenges in business are not all that different from the leadership challenges in churches.
My friend Rob Taylor celebrated his 20th anniversary of being “healed” from severe heart disease this weekend. He is a walking miracle, a testimony to God’s grace & power, and a great friend!!
Overwhelmed by the amazing Disciple Now 2010 … had numerous students enter into a personal, saving relationship with Jesus!! Saturday night many teens stood up in front of their peers to profess faith in Christ and publicly say “I’m with Jesus!”
Several people received Christ into their lives at Rock Bridge Chatsworth this weekend!!
Had some people this week tell methey received Christ recently at RBCC!!!
All of the above to say God is causing salvation to spring up in our midst, we pray for this to continue. We pray for His favor and we give all the glory to Him!!
We introduced 3 marks of a disciple: love God, love others, and live sent!
This week is VISION WEEK at RBCC!!! Who are you inviting and bringing to church with you this week?!?!?
One more vaccination for the trip to Ethiopia … the big, bad yellow fever shot.
Daylight Savings Time is from the devil!!
Saw “The Green Zone” tonight. Pretty soon I’ll be saying “Bye” to action & (the occasional) chic flics and hello to Disney and animation flics
Still wondering about what to do with an infant and toddler for 20-24 hours on a plane and during a long layover?
If we fly into Frankfurt, Germany they have a playground in the airport!! How cool is that?!?
Still curious about changing a diaper on an airplane? Already praying for the people seated near us.
I’m loving preaching through Jonah!! What a story … it gets even more intense the next 2 weeks!!
I saw a few “communication cards” from today … SALVATIONS!! … people deciding to let God love them and then love Him back!!!
Next weekend is Disciple Now for our students. I made some very important decisions at events like these when I was a teenager. I’m praying for God to really speak and manifest Himself to young people. Can’t wait to worship with them! Click here for more information.
March 18 & 21 is VISION WEEK at RBCC. Great time to invite a guest as we reaffirm God’s vision for our church … absolutely LOVE preaching this particular message!!
Had a great lunch with some church planters from around our area (Hixon, Ringgold, LFO, Elijah, and beyond). Blessing for me to be around these guys. New churches are the one of the most effective ways to reach new people for Christ … we need new churches to be planted!!
The “vibe” in the Thursday night service rocks!
Finally getting some practical, nuts & bolts clarity about global missions.
Our first “advance” team goes to Haiti next month!!
Hope to take a trip with Living Water International in 2011 to help provide clean water for a community.
Could be working with an orphanage in Zimbabwe (Africa) to sponsor children and help upgrade their facility.
We are officially ONE church in THREE (or in MULTIPLE) locations: Dalton, Calhoun, and now Chatsworth! We had over 300 people in attendance which is huge!!
I use Rick Warren’s theory that if you get over 200 people to a new service or effort you have staying power. Typically, new starts (services, plants, campuses) have a surge and then attendance dips. Clearing 200 gives critical mass and momentum moving forward.
I am so proud of BOTH our Campus Pastors, Gus & Carll. They have done an amazing job instilling vision and executing our mission at their respective campuses.
Great start to our JONAH series this week.
I think our worship leaders are taking things to a whole ‘nutha level!!
Our foreign missions strategy and approach continues to develop. I had an amazing conversation this week with Living Water International. We have helped build or repair 2 water wells with them in Haiti and may have an opportunity to travel with them in 2011. Still praying but looks promising.
The work of Living Water is fantastic. It is amazing what clean water does in a community and the opportunity it gives for people to hear about Jesus.
Adoption update … we need PRAYER TODAY …
Our court date is Monday, March 1st. Last week we missed court apparently because of some incomplete paperwork. We are praying everything is in order and for God’s favor in the court and upon our boys!!
We got a crib for the baby … I just hope he likes to sleep as much as we do
More prayer needs — I’m speaking at an evangelism conference Tuesday afternoon in Warner Robbins … would appreciate the prayers and that God’s Word comes out of my mouth and nothing more, nothing less.
Sunday, February 28th, 2010The RundownComments Off
Headed up to WV for the Student Ski Trip later this week. Always a blast to hang out with the teenagers and enjoy some mountaintop worship and a good word from THE Word
I still can’t believe Rock Bridge Chatsworth is down to ONE more rehearsal/practice service before the launch on Feb. 28th. Praying …
Had some God directed and appointed conversations this week … praying that I am more alert for those opportunities — I know they are all around me.
Did an altar prayer time during our services this weekend … we felt it was needed … I know I needed it.
I really enjoyed this Fool Proof series … can’t wait for Jonah to kick-off. Amazing story!!
Some of our staff are taking some well deserved time off. Because ministry is so personal and so intense, it can be hard to get away. However, you always come back better and more able to serve.
I love the vibe of the Olympics!! Vancouver sure looks like a beautiful place.
I met someone running for Congress this week. I asked him how I could pray for him and then I prayed with him … pretty cool.
Our new court date is February 22nd. We’re cautiously optimistic. If we pass we could travel sometime in March!! The house is almost ready … got some reorganizing and “childproofing” left to do.
SEC Spring football practice starts in early March
Have a great week!!
Sunday, February 14th, 2010The RundownComments Off
Our weekly devotional, Rock Bridge Fuel is now online … and compatible with mobile browsers. Check it out here.
The countdown to launch Rock Bridge Chatsworth is ON … February 28th is the big day!!
Rock Bridge PM (Thursday nights) continues to have great attendance and energy. Every week I meet someone who works on the weekend and is now able to GO TO CHURCH!!
We’ve got tons of people wanting to get into a small group right now. This is so exciting because we believe a BIG part of our walk with God is walking consistently & intentionally together with other Christ-followers.
I’m loving teaching our current series, Fool Proof. The finale is this weekend … GREAT time to bring a guest because of what we’ll be discussing.
Our next series will be called Jonah. We’ll be going through that amazing book … and it is much more than a story of a guy who got eaten by a really big fish
Beth & I are cautiously, nervously exciting about our court date in Ethiopian court this Thursday. We don’t have to be present and it may take a few days to find out the results. Lots of variables at work — weather, road conditions, power outages, lot of paperwork, etc. etc. The big thing is not passing court but court delays. We are praying everything goes smoothly and this first date is the last date for us.
Rock Bridge PM … once again we had to “move the curtain” to open more seats … I’m blown away!!
The downside of “Rock Bridge PM” … I can’t figure out if it is morning or evening:
On Thursday night I was telling people, “Good morning“!!
This morning, I said, “Tonight!”
Hopefully, I’ll get it figured out
The offering for Haiti Relief is approaching $20,000!!! The “quick” generosity is awesome!!
Rock Bridge Chatsworth officially starting practicing their set-up operation today!!! Get ready Murray County, here we come!!
We’ve had some positive feedback on our “FUEL” devotional that is inserted into the weekly bulletin. We hope this helps get people into the Bible on a regular basis. Email jay@rockbridge.cc with feedback.
Beth & I are cleaning out our house to get ready for our future children!! We have emptied 2 rooms and set-up a baby bed … I can’t believe I just typed that — there is going to be a BABY in my house FULL TIME … and he will be MY SON … WOW!!!!!!!!
