Good morning!  A quick update today as my morning is filled with a meeting and then some Christmas Extravaganza video prep.

Last night we enjoyed some time together around the table at the RockFeast.  It was loud but the kind of loud that is music to you ears.  Yes, we saw the occasional bread roll flying across the room.  We saw an ice-cube or 5 fly darting towards someone.  But that happens at all family functions right?  At least the normal ones.  The beautiful part was the buzz of conversation that was happening. I'm sure the doctrine of salvation wasn't being discussed. I'm not even certain that "what stood out from my morning devotion" was brought up.  But conversation and fellowship was happening.  And that was music to my ears.  We were together, sharing a meal, as a family.  To me, that is what the RockFeast is all about.

We were reminded last night, before the meal, of 1 Peter and all we have to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.  There were many students there last night which to me represent may different situations.  For some it will be a fun Thanksgiving while others may experience a very sad Thanksgiving.  No matter the case, in Christ we have reason to be hopeful.

I hope you and your family have a great Thanksgiving!

Greetings!  That's what old people say right?  It's just we "young people" don't typically use that word do we?  Maybe it's that it's a very official greeting.  A little more friendlier than "TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN" but not as inviting as "hello."  Vintage I guess?  I'm feeling a bit vintage myself today.  I've just finished a meeting with other youth pastors from the area.  39, 30, 26, 25 were the ages.  And then there's me....46, and counting.  I get it, I'm old. But why do we have to go around the table and say our age and how long we've been in the ministry?  Why not just rent out the buildings on Time Square to let everyone know Chris' age?  That's right, Kanye already has that spot.  So I guess we just go around the table and speak loudly.

I'm totally kidding.  I'm not old, I'm not intimidated or concerned with the fact that these guys were in diapers when I first started here at RRBC.  I'm thankful for the time God has given.  I'm thankful for the patience of past and current parents. That's you!  I'm most thankful that God has allowed me to serve Him here.  I'm praying for many more years to work in this local church.  Just a friendship reminder that your brith date is seldom a qualifier to serve the Lord.  Just go and serve and allow Him to guide you as He opens the doors to ministry.
But for real, next round table I'm straight up lying.  I'm now 33 and will grow the goatee back to prove it.  But I guess that means I totally shave my head...or a touppe?  To be continued...

Even in death I'm alive!  That what the hope coming from last night.  Jesus declares this to be true in this 5th I AM statement.  He says "I AM THE RESSURECTION AND THE LIFE."  This is to say that He brings hope and life even in the midst of death.  What a huge encouragement and source of joy for us.  Death represents the most hopeless situation we could face.  Jesus steps into that and says the opposite.  Death doesn't have to be hopeless!   What's the key?   
JESUS!    "Believe in me" He says.  

The sermon notes are attached so you can follow along and be encouraged yourselves.
Just a reminder, next week we pause our series to enjoy some good ole family time around the table.  YES!  IT'S RockFeast TIME!  You guys have done a great job in signing up.  Only a few things remain.  Check out our sign-up page below!

There are many things coming up as we look ahead to the end of the year.​ 

• NOVEMBER 20 - RockFeast:  Our annual Thanksgiving meal as The Rock family.  We need your help to pull this off.  Please CLICK HERE to sign up to bring a dish, or two.
• NOVEMBER 24 - Turkey Bowl: Our annual Rock flag football game. 1p at Central Middle.
• DECEMBER 18 - Tacky Christmas Party - A night of faith, family and fun.
• DECEMBER 29-31 - Middle School Refuel Trip - Click date for more info. 
  
  • CLICK HERE TO REGISTER for MS Refuel.
• JANUARY 17-30 - High School Refuel Trip - Click date for more info

Good morning, afternoon or evening!  Great crowd and energy last night with our hooligans as we laughed together, prayed together and learned together.  Also, I do mean hooligans as a term of endearment!  There's no greater feeling than to be in that room each Wednesday night with those kids and leaders.  The only drawback is time. I wished we had more time.  Part of that is I would love to have 2 hours each Wednesday but the other part is simply being around them more.  Each camp, Dnow weekend, winter trip or hangout leaves me loving those kids more and more.  To be able to get together and simply be together for an extended period of time.  We all know time flies....life is a vapor.  I can remember my own kids resting in my arms and thinking "I could do this forever."  Forever just didn't last long enough.

The hope is a better forever is coming. All the joys, satisfactions, fulfillments we experience today as parents or people will only be experienced to the fullest in the better forever.  Sam Postelle is experiencing that this very moment.  I loved Sam and had the opportunity, along with many of our leaders, to have him for 7 years in our student ministry.  I love the Postelle family.  They are dear to our family, our ministry and our church family.  Their hearts are breaking right now in the midst of KNOWING where Sam is and who Sam is with.  That is the comfort and hope.  But we know that comfort and hope is seen and felt dimly now, especially for them. This loss hurts but for no reason would they ever want to bring Sam back....to take him from the better forever.  NO!  The hope and reality is that they will one day go to him.  That is our hope as well.  One day all the forever moments we've experienced here will be brought to completion in the better forever.  But for now, we trust in Christ, we walk in Christ we look to Christ, the bringer of the better forever.  Please continue to pray for the Postelle family and Sam's fiance Abbi.  Such a hard time but thankfully we serve and worship such a big God.  God is greater than even this!

There are many things coming up as we look ahead to the end of the year.​ 

• NOVEMBER 9 - Bonfire Hangout - At the Rainwaters. Color War, Bonfire, S'mores, oh my
• NOVEMBER 20 - RockFeast:  Our annual Thanksgiving meal as The Rock family.  We need your help to pull this off.  Please CLICK HERE to sign up to bring a dish, or two.
• NOVEMBER 24 - Turkey Bowl: Our annual Rock flag football game. 1p at Central Middle.
• DECEMBER 18 - Tacky Christmas Party - A night of faith, family and fun.
• DECEMBER 29-31 - Middle School Refuel Trip - Click date for more info.
• JANUARY 17-30 - High School Refuel Trip - Click date for more info