Weekly Rundown (11.23.08)

• Great day today at RBCC!!  I didn't know how people would react to our series on Temptation but it is really hitting home!! 


• Special thanks to Sam Smith who preached today in Calhoun!!


• Carll is hanging out over at NewSpring learning about their multi-site strategy and about how they do financial ministry. 


• I caught a cold in Dallas ... ugh!


• My dog, Bear, has been at the vet since last Thursday! He ate the fuzzy part of my Croc and it clogged him big time.  He pooped blood, had to get an IV, but should come home this week.  We miss him!


• Our search for a small groups pastor is rocking.  God has blessed us with some amazing candidates (>130 resumes) and I am pumped about how important this is for our church!!  So many God things happen in small group community and I can't wait for this area of Rock Bridge to go to the next level!!


• The Falcons are doing great!!


• Georgia -- Georgia Tech this week ... in a weird way I hope UGA loses because I think they need to make some changes and a "win" may give them an excuse not to course correct.  (I can't believe I just typed that!!)


• Beth and I are pumped about our Christmas plans!! 


• Thanksgiving this week: I get to eat TWICE :)


• HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! 

The Big "D"

My trip to Dallas, TX was once again incredible!!  What God is doing in churches from Michigan to Kentucky to Nevada to Utah is absolutely amazing.  This is a God-ripe time to be alive!!  Here's a couple of highlights:

• Economic Crisis: This got a lot of mileage because of the current trouble in our economy.  But Christianity always shines brightest in crisis.  Here's an encouraging reality: President-elect Obama raised more money than any presidential candidate ever, including $150 million in October.  People will give to causes they believe in and to big vision.  What cause is greater and what vision is grander than what God is doing to redeem His creation?


• Multi-Site: The opportunities for multi-site church are something more and more churches are seizing and seeing God-sized results.


• Leadership & Structure: The thoughts on leadership were so amazing and insightful.  Everything from developing future leaders to church communications grabbed my attention.

Here's the bottom line for me Rock Bridge:

We are living in a time of great opportunity for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  In Esther this was called "for such a time as this." This time requires us to be motivated by God's heart, led by His Spirit, and steadfast to His Word.  We cannot allow our fears, selfish preferences, or lack of faith to drown out the call of God upon our lives.  God has promised to "build His church" and we must take Him at His Word  by being faithful to His commands to love, serve, go, shepherd, disciple, pray, bear fruit, and bring the Father glory.  May our hearts be ripe with expectancy over what God desires to do when His people move with Him!!

Weekly Rundown (11.18.08)

• I'm just mad at Georgia!! Too much talent to play that poorly ... but a win is a win.


• I'm heading to Dallas, TX this week.  Looking forward to hanging out with an amazing group of pastors and learning.  I need these opportunities to grow as a leader.  Be back Friday!


• I went to Sunday Night Live (our Student Ministry on Sunday nights) ... it was really awesome.  The worship was cool and I heard our teens worshipping God.  Beth's message on putting "others first" rocked my heart.  Good stuff.


• It's finally turned cold!!


• Lots of good "vision" stuff coming from Carll and his team in Calhoun.  I'm pumped about taking things in our multi-site strategy to the next level!!


• Stage 123 is packed at 11:00 am!!  Video venue rocks!!  Jeremy is doing a fantastic job leading that service.


• Football Friday is over for the year.


• My workouts have been tough lately ... soreness has invaded my body.  My legs hate me right now and my chest will tomorrow ... but I'll be in Dallas :)


• One of our Elders is learning how to "hand glide" ... I love it!!


• We received over 130 resumes for our Small Groups/Discipleship Pastor position!! Lots of hard work ahead to find the right person for our church ... please pray about this!!


• This Temptation series is intensely practical but so important to learn how to resist.


• For the Dalton campus: don't forget to bring gloves & socks Sunday for the local medical mission!! 


• I'm out! 

Happy Anniversary!!

So today is mine and Beth's seven year anniversary!!  I can't believe it! It seems like yesterday we were on Good Morning America kissing (true story) after my ship returned from combat operations related to September 11th!!  The past seven years have been the richest of my life and simply would not have been had it not been for my wife.  Her faith, passion, love for Jesus, and wise discernment have blessed me so much. Beth is my teammate, shipmate, and soulmate ... not only in marriage but in ministry as well.  God has given us the rare and unique privilege of starting a church together and also serving in it together. 

Our connection actually began in high school when we taught a Sunday School class together and later went to a dance where we didn't dance ... we talked about church!!!  Both of us are self-confessing "church nerds" and we have always prayed that our marriage would be used by God to grow His kingdom.  It's not always easy because ministry and marriage are both tough at times ... but they are both eternally worth it. 

I know my best days as a husband are when Beth sees Jesus in me.  I pray that those days increase just as John the Baptist said in John 3:30.  I'm blessed to be able to see Jesus in my wife more days than not.  I see Jesus when ...

• She encourages me to preach God's Word without apology and lead God's church without compromising the vision He gave us in January 2002.


• She teaches our students ... she teaches as "one who has authority." (Matthew 7:29)


• She loves me enough to tell me I'm wrong or that I need to rethink a decision I am pondering.


• She insists on quality time and having "date day" every week (You protect what you value!)


• She cries out in prayer for people to get the truths of God's Word and to meet Jesus.


• She asks me to be her "covering" ... to protect her heart and her walk with God.


• She says she can tell that I've been working out :)

The Rundown (11.9.08)

• Several salvations today!!! (That never gets old!!!)


• Great Elders meeting this afternoon ... so much wisdom and encouragement from those leaders in our church.  I'm blessed to be serving with them!


• We received over 100 resumes (so far) for the Small groups pastor position!


• New series this week:  TEMPTATION!!


• The 'Dawgs have me worried ... defense wins championships and big games ... where is ours???


• I have post-election 'blues' ... not because of who won but because I really enjoyed following the races.  There is still a Senate race in GA though :)


• Beth & I have resumed biking since the doctor cleared her to exercise after sinus surgery.  We love it! The River Park in Chattanooga is incredible and so beautiful!! 


• The Fall is probably my favorite season.


• I'm ready for a good movie to come out soon.


• I am ready for bed like at 6:00 pm since the time change ... it's crazy.


• I can't believe Christmas is less than 2 months away!!

God & Country (Part 3)

As I wrap up these "God & Country" posts, I want to comment on an issue where I believe the Judeo-Christian voice and biblical world view needs to be clearly heard and considered: 

ABORTION:  Abortion is a modern-day plague that simply cannot be overlooked.  Not only are millions of babies helplessly killed each year but millions of would-be mothers are emotionally and mentally scarred by the practice. 

 

We in the church must not just be against abortion, we must be for life.  I dare say that few who undergo an abortion do so joyfully or without remorse; however, for whatever reason they see no alternative than to use their "choice" to end their unborn baby's life.  As a result ending abortion must include more than the pursuit of legal action to overturn Roe v. Wade (Roe is a wrongly decided case that is an overreach of the federal government and an abdication of legal protection for those who cannot protect themselves).  We must also champion life ...

• 
  
  By clearly teaching the biblical value and the constitutional protection of life;


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  By supporting potential mothers with love and care, especially those in crisis situations;


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  By offering hope, love, and grace to those who have undergone an abortion;


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  By seeking to end the poverty that makes abortion seem like the only option;


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  By promoting adoption;


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  By teaching abstinence in public schools (Life is a public issue with public ramifications!)


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  By strengthening marriage and families.

{On a side note, good examples of many of these efforts are the Women's Enrichment Center in Dalton and the Crisis Pregnancy Center in Calhoun.}

 

While this is my last "God & Country" post (for now), I believe the Judeo-Christian world view needs to be clearly and creatively expressed on several other issues, including: strengthening marriage and families; stewarding the environment; promoting an ethos of work, individual responsibility, and personal service; fighting injustices; properly recognizing the role of God in American history; and increasing faith-based initiatives and public-private partnerships to solve problems.

God & Country (Part 2)

 In the last post, I ended by stating that we have certain clear responsibilities as citizens.  I want to elaborate further on those responsibilities:

 

1) We have a biblical mandate to support and pray for our leaders.

Paul is very emphatic in I Timothy 2:1-2 that we are to pray for our government leaders. Keep in mind that Paul's government at the time was very anti-Christian and eventually would execute him.  President-elect Obama deserves our respect and needs our prayers.  Additionally, the election of an African-American to the presidency is something that needs to be celebrated for its historical significance as our nation seeks to move past a history scarred with racism and inequality.

 

2) Religous and Christian values need to be properly promoted.

The Bible tells us to be ready to tell anyone for the hope that we have but to share this hope with gentleness and respect.  Unfortunately, many time Christians can come across as defensive, judgemental, and critical.  We must remember that while what we say matters, how we say it is essential to being understood. This is essential to us being "salt and light" and a "shining city set on a hill"  because the Judeo-Christian world view is a needed voice in today's public discourse.  The sharing of this world view cannot be limited to what we are against but must include what we are for ... recognizing that what we are for offers hope and real solutions to today's problems.

 

God & Country (Part 1)

If I had to describe myself in 10 words or less, I would use the phrase "God and country."  I love Jesus Christ for WHO He is and WHAT He did.  I also love the United States of America and all that this country stands for -- freedom, opportunity, hope, and possibility.  I love politics for the simple reason that I love America.  I also believe that as a Christian we have a right and a responsibility to be engaged in the the direction and vision of our country.  I do not subscribe to the unwritten, unconstitutional, and unbiblical belief that religion should not mix with politics and that the sacred and secular should be separated.  In this next series of posts, I'll explain why.

 

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights …” – so begins the most important paragraph penned about our nation.  The principles contained in these famous words have guided and inspired our government, communities, soldiers, and citizens for generations.  Behind these principles lies the power that has allowed America to endure dark and tumultuous hours and yet consistently shine as a beacon of hope and opportunity.

 

The power behind America’s endurance and success comes directly from our Creator.  Our founding fathers derived a vision for mankind’s existence, America’s independence, and government’s purpose from the Almighty Himself.  The quest for religious liberty lured Christian settlers to come to America.  During the dramatic days of our nation’s birth religious expression dominated the political landscape, shaped our new nation’s philosophy, and inspired us to fight a war with the reigning superpower.  The proposition of the founders was simple: God had given certain “unalienable” rights to everyone and no man or government could ever take them away.  Chief among those rights was that God created us to live with freedom, dignity, and equality.

 

The recognition of this link between God and our freedom is central not only to our nation’s birth but also to our nation’s continued prosperity.  The founders wisely realized that the stronger this link, the stronger our nation.  President George Washington maintained in his Farewell Address that religion and morality are “indispensable supports” to life in America.  We too must realize that if the link between liberty and God is weakened or severed, then the great power behind America’s enduring success will be endangered.

 

This is why we as a nation founded by faith principles and comprised of vast communities of faith must continually renew our commitment to reliance upon our Creator, not only for individual spiritual freedom but also for political and national freedom.  God’s hand in our personal and national histories is always a cause for awe and thanksgiving.  But it cannot be taken for granted or allowed to be forgotten.  God-given gifts, like freedom, bring God-expected responsibilities.

Deep Thought

I read this quote by John Piper the other day.  Absolutely spot on but challenging:

God created us to live with a single passion: to joyfully display His supreme excellence in all the spheres of life.  The wasted life is the life without this passion.  God calls us to pray and think and dream and plan and work not to be made much of, but to make much of Him in every part of our lives.  [Our challenge] is to live and die boasting in the Cross of Christ and making the glory of God [our] singular passion. 

WOW!!

Heavenly Father,
Increase our passion and affections for You!!  May we display Your glory in every part of our lives!

Staffing for the Future

Our Senior Leadership Team (staff + some of our Elders) have had some great conversations about staffing our church for growth.  Since Aaron moved to Acworth to start ministry at Eagle Point Church, we have not had an associate pastor and several staff have had to focus on multiple roles.  We have used this time to pray and seek wisdom for staffing our church for our vision.

Now we are ready to move forward -- we're going to be changing a few roles and how our organizational chart "looks" but we are currently seeking a Pastor of Small Groups and Discipleship.  This position will also serve in an associate pastor type role, providing some leadership to the church as a whole.  I believe we have HUGE potential in this area to grow, build disciples, and create community in this church.

Alfred Turley is eventually going to move into the role of Executive Pastor (Here's a good description of what an Executive Pastor does).  He'll oversee the business and operational side of our church: finances, facilities, administration, along with leading, supervising, developing staff, office management, AND being another one who helps provide overall leadership and guidance to the church.  Alfred has been a tremendous blessing to our team since he joined us from Shaw Industries.  I'm blessed to serve God with him!!

As one of our Elders said last week, (my paraphrase) ... "We need to staff to create growth not in response to growth."  I think these future changes will better position us for where God is trying to lead us in the future.

Weekly Rundown (11.02.2008)

• Great week this week (except for the fiasco in Jacksonville on Saturday)!!


• Fall Festival was amazing here in Dalton and in Calhoun.  THANKS TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS!!!!


• I got pretty passionate in today's message about some things :)


• I'm really pumped about our new web site.


• Starting to think hard about message series for 2009.


• Several new small groups starting up at both our campuses ... this is a HUGE need for us to continually connect people into small groups for Bible study, fellowship, & prayer.  I'm pumped about the new facilitators and the people that will connect through groups! 


• Great crowd today  (except for the UGA fans who were wearing black)!


• I loved the time change = extra hour of sleep!!


• Starting a new book by Larry Osborne called Sticky Church.  So far it is awesome!!


• Our staff continues to amaze me.  They pour their lives into God's work with such passion, talent, and skill.  Their commitment to Christ and His church is inspiring.


• Be sure and VOTE ON TUESDAY!


• I have one word for today:  THANKFUL!!!