E3

Was watching the debate on the house floor last night regarding abortion. I couldn't sleep and to be honest with you after watching this debate it made it even more difficult to sleep.

As I laid in bed last night trying to sleep I continually thought of the comments that were being stated in regard to abortion. I thought about the fact that their are certain animals where it is against the law to even slightly touch their eggs. You can be severely fined or thrown in jail. The eggs of certain turtles and birds along with other animals as well. But it's O.K. to murder and take the life of an innocent unborn child. Since when did we place greater value on the life of the unborn turtle or bird than we do and the masterpiece of God's creation. HUMANITY! God have mercy on us.

I understand that some may not like my comments or views and think I as a pastor should just be silent on these issues, but if I (and the church on a whole) don't speak then who will speak for what's right.

River Bowl 2011

Been way to long

It has certainly been an incredibly long time since I have last posted on this blog.  I always intend to do what's right but then get caught up and side tracked.  So here is one last try at it.  My heart is to certainly communicate as much as I can with my church family and friends.  Sharing my heart along with the various life experiences that our family endures.  I do much of that straight from the pulpit but desire to put more of it in writing.

Let me say how much I appreciate all of our pastoral staff at River of Life Church.  These folks are amazing:  Pastor Bill & Velda; Pastor Daniel & Lis; Pastor Mike & Alysa; Pastor Eric & Millie:

Here is a picture of that incredible team of individuals who daily serve towards the advancement of God's Kingdom.  I am so thankful for each one and their commitment to serving here at River of Life Church.

With that said I am going to work hard to use this blog to keep an open line of communication to our friends and family.  Allowing you to see what's going on in our ministry life along with our personal life.  

New Cafe Opening February 6th

The New Cafe is set to open on Sunday morning February 6th.  It will be open in the courtyard from 8:30am-9am & again 10:30am - 11am on Sunday mornings.  As you have noticed the courtyard has been undergoing a vast renovation.  We are expanding our foyer into the courtyard.  

You will see two pictures here one of our youth Cafe that opened in the fall and the outdoor/courtyard cafe that will open now in February.  It will continue to enhance the atmosphere of fellowship throughout River of Life Church.  It's opening just in time for what we call River bowl Sunday.  More information to come about that!

 

 

Proud of our Youth

Our youth are spending their last full day in the Dominican Republic where they have spent an entire week doing ministry.  If you go to Pastor Daniel's facebook page you will see a ton of pictures they have taken.  We have some of the greatest young people in all the world and Solution Youth is the finest youth ministry around.  They all make me so proud.  I can't wait to see what God does in the lives of our youth as a result of this incredible trip. 

(I must admit that I battled some jelousy when I saw pictures of where they are lodging)

A Stirring in my Heart

 
Every update or blog should have a picture of these two most beautiful and precious little girls such as this one of them playing in the back yard the other day.  However, it's these two little girls who have cause a stirring in the heart o myself along with my wife Danielle.  As most of you know Danielle and I adopted Kassi and Karli almost a year ago now.  They have brought such tremendous joy and fulfillment into our lives.  We thank God for these girls every day as they have taught us more about God than any other life experience.  Several months ago the stirring got heavier to somehow get involved in assisting girls who find themselves pregnant and don't know where to turn.  So my wife began connecting with the Crisis Pregnancy Center.  Why this is so vital to us is that the birth mother of our two little angels was a 16 year old girl.  The easy and convenient choice for her would have been to simply abort these twin girls but she chose through difficult circumstances and without much help to give these girls life.  Which now in return has given us a new level of living life.

When we first met with the director of the crisis pregnancy center she shared her heart to see another center opened in the Oviedo Community where are church is located because there is nothing there to assist these ladies and young ladies who find themselves in a crisis pregnancy and think abortion is the only option.  We expressed an interest in doing something one day but nothing immediate or definite.  Two weeks ago I shared briefly in service our desire to establish a crisis pregnancy center in our community and we have had many who have expressed interest to help.

So, since that Sunday the Lord has continually prodded our heart towards this direction.  We are scheduled to meet again next week with the director of the other center to seek guidance and find our starting point.  We will develop a 12 - 18 month launching plan, build a team of volunteers to assist in raising the necessary funds, finding a location, gathering materials and so much more.  It's not something we intend to rush into but prayerfully begin moving forward.  Your prayers are much needed as we along with our River of Life Church family, and the other churches and business in our community step forward to bring this into a reality.

I look forward to sharing more with you in the days ahead as we begin to move forward towards bringing new life into the world!

Blessings!

Starbucks Spirituality

 
I know we have just started the month of February, and believe me I am really excited for what God is going to do this month at River of Life Church.  I am meeting new families every week in our services.  The 2nd Service is over filling as we look to revamp our seating in order to seat more individuals hungry for what is happening here at the River!

However, I am eagerly awaiting a new series coming in March.  We are starting to promote it now.  There are so many in our society that have a fixation on startbucks.  Including my wife.  I usually will drink starbucks twice a week.  Always on Wed. as it is the very thing that gets me through the day and helps me have enough energy for our midweek service.  This new series is called Starbucks Spirituality.  It will be a 3 week series starting March 7th.

March 7th:  Venti

March 14th:  No Fluff

March 21st:  Fresh Brew

Begin now inviting your family and friends to join us for this series.  Each first time visitor that comes during this 3 week series will be getting a $5 gift card to startbucks.  It's going to be a ton of fun and a powerful series for all.

New Midweek format

I am excited about our Midweek service tomorrow night Wed. 2/3/10.  We will launch what I am calling a new Spirit driven format.  It's not something that can be described but only experienced.  The service will still provide wonderful worship, teaching and prayer just with a new drive and a new format.  I am excited to see where God is going to take our Real Life Wed. night services.  So I want to really encourage each of you to plan on joining us at River of Life Church for an incredible time in God's presence.  It all begins at 7pm so don't miss it! 

My heart in Haiti

Of course you can't go far without hearing someone talking about Haiti or seeing the images on the screen of a people in need.  I thank God for the many opportunities I have had to visit Haiti and minister to as well as love on the people of Haiti.  I have cried my heart out every time I have to leave to come home.  My first trip to Haiti was in 1998.  The hotel we stayed at I've seen video clips of it destroyed, completely flattened.  I have made several trips back to Haiti since my first in 1998.  Worked with mission of hope. The first church wide trip that we took as a church group we took our people to Haiti.  Still today the group from that trip often talks about the experience.

God has truly given me a heart for Haiti.  I have always told everyone that if I were to leave my place of ministry River of LIfe Church it could only be to give my life to Haiti.  I don't see that happening in my future but then you never do know with God.  I believe God will continue to allow me the opportunity to love on as well as to minister to the people of Haiti.  Actually our church is comprised of many Haitians.  Many of whom have felt first hand the effects of this earthquake.  Having waited for days to hear from family and loved ones as to whether they have survived or not.  We have had some in our church family report the loss of family and friends as well as miraculous stories of God's grace in this difficult time.

Last week we took an offering to assist with relief efforts taking place in Haiti.  There are some still interested in giving and being a part.  ou may do so by marking your contribution directly for Haiti.  We are hoping to get a few of our Men into Haiti sometime in February to do what we can to assist.  Let continue to lift up the nation and the people of Haiti in the days ahead.

Amazing Life

Need I say more than just look upon these beautiful faces.

It's Official

This past Monday August 24th Danielle along with the girls loaded up into the car and drove up to Jacksonville for a 5 minute court appearance in the Judges chambers.  It was then that all was settled.  Karli & Kassi officially in the eyes of the law became ours.  Even though they have been with us since Tax day April 15th legally it's now settled and done.

My wife Danielle posted this on her facebook after it was done "It is finally official what my heart has already known since day one... These are my baby girls :) Thank you everyone for your prayers and support"

Truly we thank you all for your love your prayers and support.  God has given us truly an incredible church family at River of Life who has always supported us.  You have loved us and you have accepted and loved my beautiful girls Karli & Kassi.  For all of this we are so thankful, so grateful to you all.  These girls are our Then Suddenly that I preached about in January.  I told Danielle back then in January after preaching that message that I wanted to put that message into a book form.  I told her then that I had to wait though until that very special Then Suddenly happened.  Little did I realize how Sudden it would be or how big it truly would be.  Well, now that I have had this tremendous Then Suddenly I have begun working on putting this message and some into a book format.  So please pray for me.  I have had so many encourage me to do this, and it's a little scary, but I step by faith as we move forward.