Weekend Review
March 31, 2008
What a weekend! After preaching two services at ROCC I went immediately over to Grace and Truth COGIC and ministered once again. I was drained, yet I was at peace with it all. Dexter and Paige stayed with me and Camille through it all and then we went out for dinner. It is great having friends that are with you spiritually and physically. We need each other for strength and support.
God was really moving this weekend as I really felt His presence during the altar call. Several people that I had the chance to pray with have come back to me and told me how awesome God is by leading me to pray for the specific areas in their life that they needed prayer for. I am always amazed when God moves like that because that is just what we need.
God is also really working with me on the fact that we are all a work in progress and I am ready to be used by HIM!!
ROCC Kidz Easter 08
March 30, 2008
Here is a quick little video showing some of the fun that our kids had for Easter.
Great time in Dixon
March 29, 2008
We really had a great time driving around and being back in Dixon. It is always great to see the Beran family! By the way, thanks Stephanie for the awesome reply to my last post. God is the one that draws us when we are ready to receive His great love.
So now we are back and it is time to get focused on the services this weekend. I really feel that God is going to be doing some incredible things through the ministry of ROCC so I just thank Him for allowing me to be part of this great work!
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Going to Dixon
March 28, 2008
In a couple of hours we will load up and head off across this state to a little town out west called Dixon. We were there almost two years ago ministering at a small rural church before coming back to the city. While in Dixon we did get a chance to form some really strong friendships and we even became God-Parents of a beautiful little girl. So today we are going back for a chance to reconnect and see how things are. I cannot wait to see our friends and to see how big Trinity has gotten. The one thing I do not miss though is the long drive through nothing but corn fields to get there. I am such a city dweller and I never knew just how much so until I made the move to Dixon. So in a nut shell this will be a great day catching up on old times and hanging out with some really great friends! It would be easy for us to look at our schedules and conclude that we are too busy for such a break. However, our life is short and we should all treasure the times when we can separate ourselves for a time of fun and laughter with those we love and that love us in return!
Celebration
March 28, 2008
Tonight was truly a time of celebration. So many people at ROCC worked so hard over the last couple of months to be able to put together a truly remarkable Easter service. So after all the hard work we all got together tonight just laugh and pray and just relax now that it was all over! After tonight I can truly say that this team not only knows how to work hard but man…do they know how to laugh! We had such a great time watching the video from the weekend and just laughing and having fun. Oh yeah…the food was great as well.
I can say that having these down times of relaxation and celebration helps us as we endeavor to do even greater things for the Lord. God has been so gracious to us by giving all of us the ability to love and laugh!
Bed and Breakfast!
March 26, 2008
I have to say that we have some really terrific people at ROCC. One young lady gave me me and Camille a truly remarkable gift so that we could relax after this hectic schedule around Easter. She purchased a gift certificate to a bed and breakfast in Indiana. I have always wanted to do something like this but we have never stayed in one before. I have to say that yesterday and today have been truly blessed days as Camille and I had an opportunity to reconnect and just enjoy some peaceful and relaxing down time! It is important to recharge our batteries and when we take some time to rest from all of our hard work then we can truly begin to experience all that God is doing. Take time for yourself today and relax!
Record Day!
March 23, 2008
All I can say is GREAT JOB ROCC FAMILY! Everyone stepped up in so many ways this last few weeks to make this the best Easter ever for our church. We shattered all previous attendance records in a major way! We had over 335 people attend service with us today and the best part was that I know of at least 14 that raised their hands to receive Christ and then many more came forward at the end for a prayer of salvation. The kingdom was expanded in a major way today!
Once again…thank you everyone for making this such an awesome day!!
Anticipation!
March 21, 2008
I am literally overwhelmed with great anticipation for this weekend. The ROCC family has done an incredible job of getting the word out about the Resurrection Day services that we will be holding this weekend. I am also overjoyed with the tremendous effort that everyone has shown in rehearsal as we labor for the Lord! Below is little sample of just what has been done in the last week to promote what Jesus has done for us:
1000 — jars of popcorn with postcards advertising all that we are doing have been distributed through out the neighborhood around us and in Riverdale.
400 — bears and bunnies were handed out to the children of General George Patton School along with bags of candy for each child and popcorn for every staff member of the school.
We did this so the kids would have something to share with their parents and then we also wanted to do something for the teachers because of their self sacrifice in serving the children of our community!
Easter Bunny Pictures – The Easter Bunny was with us last Sunday and all the children had their pictures taken. We will distribute these pictures this weekend.
1000 — eggs stuffed with candy ready to be spread out for the children to gather after our 11am service this Sunday.
Night of Worship — tonight we will gather together form various churches so that we can just worship the Lord with music, prayer and testimonies!
Door to Door — tomorrow we will be going out door to door through Riverdale reminding everyone of our Easter services and offering our bus ministry for those that do not have transportation.
So as you can see we have been busy not to mention practices and rehearsals that have gone on through the week. So if you know someone looking for a church where you can be busy for the Lord then this is the one to suggest!
Pray with us that through all these efforts there will be a tremendous out pouring of God’s Spirit and an equally tremendous harvest waiting to receive Him this weekend!!
Rough Day
March 16, 2008
This was one of the roughest Sunday’s! We had great services and I really feel that God gave us a fresh revelation into his word so all that was really good. The Potluck after service was great as well…I don’t think I have ever seen so much food in one place! People were running around just trying to find a place to sit. SO that is great when we have so many people that we don’t have room for them all. So by all outward appearances this was a great day. The problem is that I was just really feeling exhausted on the inside. Physically I felt drained after preaching two services and then after God flowed through me during a powerful altar call in each service I felt drained spiritually and emotionally. I guess this is how Elijah felt after seeing the fire fall from heaven and consume his sacrifice…because the next thing you know he is running for his life! I am sure he felt exhausted and drained so he did the only thing he could think to do and that is to run and hide. You can read more about it here. So all in all it was a good day but internally it was a really, really rough day! We have to pray so that things will be different for Easter!
Why was the stone rolled away?
March 15, 2008
Maybe it is just me, but when I read the scripture then I often question it so I can try and get a good understanding. As we are preparing for Easter I have been going through the Easter story over and over then I came to this in Matthew 28:2, Suddenly, there was a powerful earthquake. An angel of the Lord had come down from heaven, rolled the stone away, and was sitting on it.
Then I asked God…why did you send an angel down to move the stone. Was Jesus stuck in there? The bible does not say that after the stone was rolled away Jesus then came walking out. Now the quick answer could be so that the ladies could see that He had risen, yet could they not just go get the gardener and gather some men to move the stone? It was not uncommon when a death took place just before the start of the Sabbath to quickly place them in a tomb and then come back after the Sabbath as these women were doing.
So I really began to dig into this scripture and I think it is amazing to find out why the stone was rolled away! Be here Sunday to hear the rest of the story!
