Thank you Rocky River Church! Today we gave a special offering in the 11:00 service - I didn't think about it at 9:30. Sorry 9:30 crowd. But anyway, I shared the vision for sponsoring 10 children this year through World Vision. On the spur of the moment, we gave/collected over $450. That is enough money to sponsor one child for a whole year (food, clothing, shelter, education). Additionally, we are able to buy a pair of chickens for another family that will provide protein rich eggs as food, as well as income from the sale of eggs. WAY TO GO GOD! WAY TO GO ROCKY RIVER CHURCH! This is showing the love of Christ in tangible, practical ways. AWESOME!

BTW, here's a link to World Vision. We plan to get a lot more involved with these folks during this year. http://www.worldvision.org/home.nsf/pages/home.htm#/home/main/help-chang...

- Today was awesome! I mean seriously awesome! Great crowd. In fact, all the metrics went in the right direction.

- Shared the vision of Rocky River Church today from here going forward. That was so fun! I know there's probably a better word than "fun." But it was just that. And the crowd was into it. It reminded me of just how important it is to keep the vision HOT.

- Our Mission is the Great Commission of Christ - Matthew 28.

- Our Vision is "To give people the best opportunity possible to become fully committed, growing followers of Jesus Christ."

- We are living out Christ's mission and fulfilling our vision by connecting people to God (weekly worship), each other (small group), our community (personal ministry to the community and mission to the world) and the world (by investing and inviting lost people to come to Rocky River Church).

- Band and music was spot on today. WAY TO GO GUYS!

- I heard great things from children and student ministries.

- The setup up/break down teams were off the hook. I went long today and the break down boys still got us out of the school by 1:15. WOW!

- Great excitement today. A LOT OF ENERGY FROM OUR PEOPLE!

- We kick off a new series next week simply called "Blessed." Come learn how to live the kind of life that God's blesses.

- I am cranked up about VBS and Thirst Camp right around the corner. BOTH are going to be crazy awesome this summer.

- OUR STAFF IS ROCKING IT THESE DAYS! I mean we are getting it done!!!!! So blessed to work with Travis, Donnie, Erik and Teresa. AND I'm thankful for all our leaders and volunteers getting it done at The Rock. Keep it up!

- Got an exciting week coming up. Hoping and praying the permits are released for the building this week. MAN!

Let me close with this. I SO believe in the vision of our church. And I believe in the potential of every person at Rocky River Church. This summer I want to challenge you to be more committed to Christ, and faithful to our church than you have ever been before. Give God room this summer to do things in your life you never dared to even dream.

J

Today was pretty great. No problems with "crazies" at Chris Barton's funeral. It was a very moving experience. In an odd way, today brought out the "American" in me. I wish today's service could have been avoided all together. I tell you though, I was reminded today of what makes this country great. It is small towns like Harrisburg and hometown heroes like Chris. And it is the great people who live in these small towns.

Also, I was proud of all our local policemen, fireman and town officials. We have some fine leaders leading us.

One more thing. Taps must be the loneliest song in the world for a young wife burying her husband and a mother burying her son. Chilled me today to hear it those soldiers playing taps. And the 21 gun salute...I don't even have words.

God bless the Barton family. And God bless America.

Goodnight....

Hey Gang,

I need your help! I've been told (by a reputable source from the North American Cowboy Church) that there will be protestors at Army Pfc. Chris Barton's funeral this Saturday. These protesters are really hurtful to the family. They will be holding up signs that say things like, "Thank God for dead soldiers" and "God killed your son". These protestors claim to be Christians but really they are only impostors. The family has asked for people who truly love God and America to come with an American flag and be a shield from the protestors.

I am asking you to join me in coming out to the funeral to hold up flags in front of the protestors. Here's the deal though. Even though I am angry, and I'm sure you are too, I don't want this to turn into a confrontation with protestors. That would only further hurt the family and witness of true Christians.

The funeral will be be held at Idlewild Baptist Church Saturday at 1:00PM. Other groups serving as a shield to the protestors will be at the church at Noon, as will I. The address is 12701 Idlewild Road Matthews, NC. 28105-0842. The burial will follow at Harrisburg Presbyterian Cemetery in Harrisburg.

If you have any questions, or if you plan to come out too, please email me at jimmy@rockyriverchurch.com. I'll tell you now. If you don't agree with me on this, or if you want to email me and tell me I'm wrong and I shouldn't be involved in politics, save your time and energy. I'll just delete it. I am a Christian Pastor and I love Jesus Christ and this country and the men and women who fight to keep it free. If you don't, then shame on you. That's just the way I feel about it.

Please be in prayer for the Barton family and all those who have paid such a great price.

Jimmy

PS. Here's a video link to show you what the protestors are like

This Sunday @ Rocky River Church may be the most important service we have had in years - yes, even more important than groundbreaking service. :) The message is going to be a "must hear" message. If you want to know where we're going as a church, don't miss this Sunday!

Harrisburg/Concord peeps: Come out and pay your respect to fallen hometown hero, Chris Barton, on highway 49 and Main Street around 9:45 (might be later, like 10:30) in the morning. The mayor and local businesses are joining together to get the community to line the streets and wave flags to honor this soldier as he comes home to his final resting place.

Just in case you don't know about Chris, check out this link.
http://www2.independenttribune.com/content/2010/may/30/family-remembers-...

Is God really good? Of course, I know He is. The Bible says He is and I have witnessed that in my own life. Many of you reading this post have too. But what if you are a parent in a third world country and your baby just died from starvation. But you know there is food somewhere in the world, you just didn't have any to feed your child. Does that mother think God is good? Why would she?

What if you are a slave in India? Or anywhere in the world for that matter? It is estimated that there are more than 100 million slaves in the world - RIGHT NOW! And you probably thought slavery ended at Appomattox Court House when General Lee surrendered to General Grant and ended the American Civil War. Nope! So for those in the world still living in slavery, how are they supposed to think God is good?

What about the children in the urban cities of this country who are raising themselves and don't know where their next meal will come from? What about those right here in America who feel alone and hopeless and abused and broken and up to their eyes in debt? How do they know God is good?

Right now there are about 20 million young girls and women being raped in brothels as many as 20, 30 and even 40 times a day. How are they to believe that God is good?

"They" will know God is good when we show them the goodness of God. They will know God is good when they see AND experience Jesus "in" us. They will know God is good when we live as a shiny city on a hill. They will know He is good when we feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, clothe the naked, love the unlovely, take care of the sick, heal the broken, befriend the friendless, cry with those who mourn, and stand up against the tyrants of this world for those who can't stand up for themselves. We have to show them leadership that is selfless, not self-serving. Then, they will know that God is good.

Live as Jesus today where you are. Show "them" that God is good.

This is the "Changing of the Guard" at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery. If you are not going to be at a Memorial Day service or can't get to a National Cemetery, take a few minutes and watch this video. Soldiers, past and present, deserve our contemplation of their service and sacrifice.

Going to Washington, DC with your family so they can see Lincoln's Memorial, John Kennedy's grave, the White House, Capital Hill and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier ought to be a priority.

We came home from the beach last night - kicking and screaming! Had a great time with family and friends and did NOT want to come home. Going to enjoy today thinking about this great country of ours - the United States of America - and praying for leaders to rise up and help us again to live out the values and principles that made this nation great.

God bless our soldiers fighting all over the world against our enemies. And God bless your families.

Today I'm especially thinking about the Chris Barton family.

Happy Memorial Day!

Baptism in the Park is tonight! We'll be serving food at 6PM and the service will begin at 6:30. It will be an awesome evening that you will never forget.

Here's a video from last year to give you a taste of what you can expect tonight.

See you there!
Jimmy