- The summer slump is definitely over. Wow.
- Yesterday was our highest attendance so far in 2010 (other than Easter).
- It was also one of our highest non-Easter attendances EVER!!
- Needless to say if this attendance holds up we’ll be transitioning back to 3 services soon. More info as soon as we know for sure.
- I felt really good about both services. I think we put forth our best effort in leading and challenging people to move closer to God.
- Can’t say enough about how nice it was to have this guy and his wife “home” again.
- The last week has been a whirlwind, but needless to say I asked Justin about him & Allie coming back to RPC (as we have before) but this time their answer was “yes” – and the rest is history.
- The band did a really good job. Looking forward to having Justin back on stage permanently, and to hearing this guy lead next week.
- To answer everyone’s questions: we’re going to be seeing more of Justin & Allie around RPC as we’ve asked him to step into, and help us better organize, our band & worship leader rotation.
- Justin & I got the chance to talk to someone after our services yesterday who has led worship in a college setting and wants to get involved in worship at RPC. It was encouraging to hear his heart to serve.
- I’ve definitely fallen off the blogging horse lately due to our schedule. This week looks like it might be slowing down some so we’ll see.
- Week in and week out, we will continue to use the same criteria to evaluate our services: Was God pleased? Was he honored? Did we faithfully deliver his message? This week I believe we can honestly say the answers are YES, YES and YES.
- Comment here and let us know what you saw/felt/thought about RPC yesterday…
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- Wow, did Audea ever bring it today. Their worship set was powerful, and the original song they closed the service with had some pretty funky licks in it. It’s so refreshing to hear a band that has their own unique sound. I’m really looking forward to the full concert this Wednesday.
- The sermon was REALLY tough to listen to, but it went over better than I expected. When you say things like “If you only trust God when things are going well you’re either immature or an illegitimate child” you expect people to struggle, but I actually think most people appreciate being told the no-nonsense truth.
- I’ve got to start remembering to “water down” the truth like we’re accused of doing – I’m sure that’s a lot easier.
- God has really led me to preach some tough sermons the past few months. I hope you’re ok with that, because I am.
- I’ll repeat my statement from last week: above all else I think God was honored today, and that’s all that matters. More than crowds, giving, or compliments that’s the most important measure of success.
- Having said that, our giving has been really healthy lately and the crowd today was great.
- There was a huge thunderclap in 9am service to coincide with the climax of the sermon. I need to do that more often.
- There were also a TON of new faces, especially in the 10:30 service. I think a few of them were there to see Audea, which is cool.
- We ate lunch today with Mark & Rebecca Thomas, and it reminded me how awesome the people of RPC are. Rebecca is one of our worship leaders and Mark is a host and does a lot of our technology & web development. I love having them around.
- Hopefully this week we’ll get back into something resembling a “routine”, and boy am I ever ready for it. Vacations are done, I’m preaching every Sunday, and my office hours will normalize again. I may even be able to begin posting regularly on here again.
- Don’t forget the free Audea Concert this Wednesday at 7pm. It’s gonna be off the chain.
- Also don’t forget our “Fairway To Heaven” golf tournament this Saturday to raise money for school supplies for needy families in our area. Email Pam for more info.
- Looking forward to hearing from our Honduras team next Sunday, then finishing #FAIL on 8/22.
- Also looking forward to our next series, “Sacred Cow Tipping,” which begins 8/29. We’ll have Invite Cards available this Sunday.
- Okay, that’s enough. The NFL season kicks off in 3 hours.
- Power Surge – RPC’s version of VBS – is this week and it’s going great! The kids are learning and growing, and the adults are having a great time serving (and laughing) together. Tonight’s the finale, so it’s not too late to get in on the fun.
- This week we’re doing something I don’t ever remember doing, and I’m pumped about it. The band Audea will be with us to lead us in worship as well as share some of their original music with us. They’ve got a unique sound that I think you’ll really enjoy. Plus they’re playing a bonus concert for us Wednesday night. Don’t miss it.
- It’s difficult to describe how crazy our schedule has been the last six weeks. We’re always busy, but lately our schedule has gone to a whole different place. I’m looking forward to the fall when things will hopefully get back to a more predictable pace. Hey, I can hope, right?
- Because things have been so busy lately, my blogging has been more miss than hit (as I’m sure you’ve noticed). For a while there I was posting with real consistency, but lately I haven’t had time to keep it up. I have every intention of getting back in the groove but I can’t promise when that will happen. In the meanwhile, check out some of the stuff I’ve written over the last five years in the archives box on the bottom left side of this page.
- RPC has a volunteer team in Honduras right now, and the stories we’re already hearing are amazing. I’m so pumped to hear about everything they’re experiencing, and to let them share it with RPC. In fact, we may move some sermons around so everyone can hear their story sooner. We’ll see.
Have an awesome weekend, and we’ll see you at 9am or 10:30am this Sunday at RPC!
- It was great to be back on stage today teaching. It’s so much fun to teach when you’re rested.
- The music was anointed today, especially the new song. Jordan’s throat got progressively worse as the day went on, but I love the way the band pulls together week after week in the face of challenges.
- I’ve been “on hiatus” from almost all online contact the past few weeks – facebook, twitter, and blog. Now it’s time to reemerge into the wired world.
- I’ve already heard meaningful feedback from #FAIL. I think this is a series that will connect with a lot of people, since life leaves us all disappointed at times.
- I was so proud to pray over the 14 RPC’ers who leave tonight for Honduras. They’ll be working with The Trash Mountain Project to help build homes for some folks who currently live in a garbage dump. What a great opportunity.
- Over the past couple days I’ve had the chance to interact with several of those going, including Brett Durbin. I’ve told them all the same thing – I think God is going to change them and then use them to change the rest of us.
- I’m bummed I didn’t get to go, but with Miranda’s pregnancy looming I didn’t think an international trip to a third-world country was a good idea. But I think we’ll go back soon and I plan to be on that trip.
- Like I said today, you don’t want to miss RPC next week. We’ve got something special in store that we’ve never done before.
- It was nice to only preach in 2 services today instead of 3. I’m thinking we may hold out as long as we can before going back to 3.
- Don’t forget, this week is Power Surge, RPC’s version of VBS. We’ll begin nightly at 6:30. Whether you’re 8 or 38, you need to be there.
- And no matter what happens this week, we serve the God of “never too late.”
- I know, I know – I haven’t blogged in a while. But the past 3 weeks have been some of the busiest ever, and finding the time to put together quality content just hasn’t happened. I’ve got plenty to say, I just haven’t sat down and written it out. Hopefully that’ll change this week.
- Really enjoyed Chris Neff’s message yesterday on loving our enemies – for our good AND theirs. Also, the band’s power trio was a lot of fun.
- The past two weeks’ worship gatherings have been great. The guys are doing a great job with our “Four On Four” series. It wraps this week.
- In fact, I’m pretty stoked about all of this fall’s sermons.
- Really looking forward to what’s next: on August 1st we start a 3-week series called #FAIL. We’ll discuss how to respond when life doesn’t go the way you’d planned.
- One of the reasons I don’t speak during July is to allow us to tweak our systems for the coming year. We’re rolling out two new systems (possibly three) and doing a major upgrade/overhaul on another. As fall turns to winter we should all see some definite benefits from this summer of planning.
- I think we may have finally landed on a name for the newest little Collins: Levi. Now for a middle name…(“Gray” or “Jefferson”? both are family names)
- Hoping to write a post later this week on several of the organizational programs we’ve started using recently around the office. It’s amazing how one or two good programs can make you more effective AND save you several hours a week. Was talking to a friend in ministry recently and realized every church is not as blessed as RPC at having tech-savvy people (not including me, of course).
- If there’s anything specific you’d like to see discussed on this blog let me know here.
