Pray For the Craig Family

Good Morning Riverbank,

As I am writing this my thoughts keep going to the tragedy that the Craig family right here in our community experienced this past weekend of the accidental shooting of a 7 yr old boy by his 10 yr old brother in a hunting accident.  Some of you I am sure know the family and others affected by this tragedy.  There are no words to describe what they must be experiencing.  I have children the same age and I can only imagine the trauma for those that were present when this happened.  I encourage you to do what I have done as this has come to mind.  PRAY!   Pray for comfort, emotional healing, peace and for them to cling to God rather than turn on Him.  The following words of the 23rd Psalm have been my prayer.  Let us continue to lift this family before the God's throne of Grace.

Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.

Psalm 23:4

Share His Love,

Pastor Brian

For the News Report on this Tragedy Click Here

Testimony - Amazing Miracle

Good Morning Riverbank,

And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.

Heb.2:4

I shared on Sunday evening about my hunger and need for God to move powerfully and to confirm our message through signs and miracles just as he did for Jesus and the early believers.  

On Monday I recieved the following e-mail of how God moved miraculously in our sister church in Missouri.  I have cut and pasted two emails below, first the email with the prayer need that I received last week and then then the answer that I received on Mon.  Be encouraged.  God is at work and he can meet your needs and the needs of those around you.  Step out in faith and ask Him to move to heal and meet the needs of those you encounter each day.

Sent: Monday, November 15, 2010 9:58 AM

Subject: Prayer Need

Please pray for our church family and our building project. After many months of communication about financial needs we would have at the end of this project and after multiple opportunities for people to come on board in this area we have reached the crucial point. This Sunday we will be sharing with the congregation our need to meet a $110,000 gap that we have in funding the final construction costs for our project. We are praying and believing that the Lord will meet this need through his people and that things will continue in the process. We would appreciate your prayers and your intercessors prayers as well. Thanks and God Bless! - Marty

On Nov 22, 2010 9:37 AM, "Marty Smyser"  wrote:

Just wanted to say thanks to you all for your prayers and support. Yesterday was just an amazing day for us as the Lord really showed His hand and His people showed their faithfulness.

 

We shared the financial need to the church yesterday and asked those who had made pledges to move up their pledges if possible and for those who did not pledge to make a pledge. We laid out all the options and then ask for the money to be available to the church by December 31, 2010. We simple shared that the building would be completed it was just a matter of how and when it would be done. The response was absolutely amazing as we raised $143,640 to be in hand for the church by December 31.

 

However, that was not the only blessing for us. On Friday Dale Bentch called to let me know that we would be receiving $60,000 from the sale of their facilities and the final closing of the Versailles church. This was a complete surprise to us and has basically knocked this construction project out of the park. With a total of $203,640 we are set and on the way to completion of this building in just an amazing faith filled way.

 

As I type this I am still pretty emotional about the whole thing. Just an amazing God we serve. Thanks again for any part you have had in our success. "Prayer is the work of ministry not the preparation for the ministry" Thanks! - Marty

Trust in God and stay hungry,

Pastor Brian

Live Worship this Sunday at Riverbank

Good Evening Riverbank,

I am excited to announce that we will have a LIVE WORSHIP TEAM this Sunday evening  for our gathering at the Riverbank.  The worship team from Harvest Chapel in Dilwynn (They just recently joined the Cornerstone Network) will be coming to lead worship.  Victoria and I had the pleasure of joining them for Sunday Morning worship a few weeks ago and I guarantee that you will be blessed.  

I will be preaching from the following passage in Acts.  Study and pray over this as you prepare your hearts for what God wants to do on Sunday.

No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:

‘In the last days,’ God says, 
‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. 
Your sons and daughters will prophesy. 
Your young men will see visions, 
and your old men will dream dreams.

 In those days I will pour out my Spirit 
even on my servants—men and women alike— 
and they will prophesy.

And I will cause wonders in the heavens above 
and signs on the earth below— 
blood and fire and clouds of smoke.

The sun will become dark, 
and the moon will turn blood red 
before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives.

But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be saved.

Acts 2:17-22

Prayer focus - Ask God to show up in a powerful way and fill us a fresh with the Holy Spirit and for those that He wants to touch to be present.

Come and bring a friend.  4-6 PM at the American Legion Hall in Shipman,

God Bless,

Pastor Brian

Deep Roots - Community Part 3

Good Morning Riverbank,

It is a glorious morning in Nelson County.  

They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosityt—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

Acts 2:46-47

As you read this passage and think through the ones I have shared over the last couple of days, keep in mind that the early Church did not make two distinctions that we often make in our thinking.  First, is the distinction between what is spiritual and what is secular.  For them everything was a spiritual activity because they were filled with the Holy Spirit wherever they went.  Second, there was not a clear distinction between who was "in the church" and who was not.  These activities were taking place with believers and non-believers present and this is why so many were being saved.

Allow, the Holy Spirit to shine a fresh light these passages as you read knowing that this was a lifestyle, not just something they participated in.

Have a Wonderful Day,

Pastor Brian

Deep Roots - Community Part 2

Good Morning Riverbank,

A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 

Acts 2:43-45

So as the new church formed and met together in homes and the temple courts what was happening among them?  There was a "sense of awe."  Do you have that same attitude of worship in your life?   They performed and experienced miracles that gave evidence to the power of their message about Jesus and brought healing and life to many people.  They gathered together for worship, and they had an incredible spirit of generosity.  

Wow, what a powerful, God breathed life.  As we form this church in Nelson Co.  we want to have deep roots of community and experience the power of God working in our lives just like the early believers.  Pray for God to pour out His Spirit and for us see this vision fulfilled in Riverbank.

Living abundantly in Him Today,

Pastor Brian

Deep Roots - Community Part 1

Good Morning Riverbank,

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

Acts 2:42

As the early believers formed community after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost they were very intentional about how they lived their lives.  In the verse above we see that they were committed to learning about how to live a godly life, to growing in relationships with each other, and growing in their relationship with God through prayer.  

Sometimes we make the community that Jesus created for believers (The Church) so complicated, when right here in Acts we see the simplicity of living a life of relationship with God and others.  

In the next couple of days we will see the results of this life.  As you pray today ask yourselves, "Am I committed to living my life in community with others just like the early believers did?"

Be Blessed,

Pastor Brian

Be Content With Who You Are

Be content with who you are, and don't put on airs. God's strong hand is on you, he'll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God, He is most careful with you.

1 Peter 5:6-7 The Message

Why is it so hard for us to be honest with who we are are the good, the bad, and the ugly?  Sometimes, "church" is where we put on the biggest front and then we wonder why people say that the church is full of hypocrites?  We men may be the greatest offenders in this area.  In the book Wild at Heart, John Eldridge calls this front that we put on "the poser."  People ask us, "How are you?" and we answer with spiritual language that hides the struggles of our lives.

So there is the problem... we all have done it.  How do we break free into honest living that is healthy for us and our relationships?  I think the key is in the first part of this verse, "Be content with who you are."  We all are not perfect, we make mistakes and we sin. But, we have been set free from the power of sin through Jesus death on the cross, we love Him, we hunger for the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and we are growing to be more like Jesus.  Along the way we have victories and defeats, joys and heartaches, strength and struggles.  

Let us be content with who we are and God's strong hand will be on us to promote us at the right time.  As we live in authenticity our relationships will grow and those that are hurting around us will be drawn to the power of Jesus that they can see at work in our lives.

Live under God's Strong Hand today,

Pastor Brian

Change the Atmosphere Wherever You Go

Romans 15:13

 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

What a powerful promise.  I have been reflecting this week on the fact that because the Holy Spirit fills me as a believer in Christ then everywhere I go brings the Spirit of God into that place.  It doesn't matter whether or not that place is a church worship service or a gas station.  That is exactly what happened Sunday evening when we went to Lovingston to bless our community.  Because, we were there and filled with the Holy Spirit, the atmosphere of the grassy area besides Blossom's Florist was changed.  I could sense it and I believe our guests could sense it as they came are were blessed.

This Sunday afternoon we will get the same opportunity.  Due to the fact that about 90% of our families are involved in the Rec. Dept. Youth soccer tournament Sunday afternoon, we will have our gathering at the soccer field to cheer on the Riverbank kids.  We won't meet at the Shipman Legion Hall.  And, remember that as you are there the Holy Spirit filling you is changing the atmosphere around you.  Be a blessing, reach out, share a word of encouragement, and invite someone into relationship with God's people.

Take Care,

Pastor Brian