River Park Community Church in Plain English

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RPCC

Financial Peace University

I have had the honor to facilitate a Dave Ramsey F.P.U. class this summer through at River Park Community Church. We have four weeks to go of a thirteen week class. This class has literally changed a dozen lives this summer. There are couples in this class that have stronger marriages because they are finally working together as a team on family finances. We have parents that have changed their parenting styles and are now proactive with teaching their kids financial wisdom. We have a glass jar that is full of 15 credit card pieces! They were all cut up by class members who are determined to get out of debt. The honor is to witness all this life change take place! There is power when a small group of people gather together to keep each other accountable and celebrate wins.

If you've never taken this class, I highly recommend it. You can find one near you on Dave's website: www.daveramsey.com. If you can't make one soon, at least pick up and read his book "Total Money Makeover" and start to change your family tree!

Our National Motto

Do you know what the official national motto is for the United States of America? You probably see it everyday. In fact, you probably hold this motto in your hand everyday.

Give up?

Here it is: "IN GOD WE TRUST"

Seriously! I didn't know this was our official motto. Did you? On July 30, 1956, President Dwight Eisenhower signed a law officially establishing "In God We Trust" as the national motto of the United States of America.

So here's a great question. Does this still ring true in 2009? Do you think the politicians in Washington reflect this motto in their service to the country? Why is this theme seem to be a continuous one in Washington? When was the last time a U.S. President actually prayed to the God "we trust" publicly on air or in print?

Check out this great message by Andy Stanley entitled "God & Country" as he explores the conscience of America in 2009. Then come to River Park Community Church for the compelling final part of this message series this Sunday.

Happy 4th of July weekend! And, Happy July 1st week to all you Canadians out there!

iPhone 3.0 Arrives Today!

Major change coming. Good change. It's gonna cost me. It's $10 to make the change cause I have an iPhone without the Phone. iTouch update is supposed to cost $9.99 big ones to download the update. May be worth it though. Many new and very cool features in this update. Check out the details here.

The new $99 price coupled with horrible service from Verizon Wireless over the last few months has me on the edge of a decision to sign an AT&T contract. Do you know a lot of people switching with the new iPhone price reduction?

Twitter in Church

I recently went to Catalyst West Coast where they posted twitter comments by the crowd on the big screen. It reminded me of Junior High summer camp. The last evening of camp as 500 students are gathered for the last meeting they get the opportunity to stand up and share in front of their leaders and peers. Sometimes you hear some amazing things that students had learned that week and how they plan to change the way they live once they get home. But there is always that one kid who is short on self awareness. He stands up 4 times and stretches the 2 minute time limit each time to go on about things he made up on the spot just to get chance to get up and talk one more time. I think that kid grew up and was tweeting at the conference.

Time magazine just did an article on a church that uses twitter in their worship service. What are the benefits and potential problems using twitter at church? Do you think this is the next big thing in church?

Drive Conference 2009

Got back yesterday from the Drive Conference at North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, GA. Had a great time or learning, worship and FUN!

Andy Stanley taught in the three main sessions. A few takeaways:
1. "Uncertainty is permanent and is why we need leaders. Leaders can afford to be uncertain but not unclear."
2. "It's very dangerous to attach God's name to your plans because they always change whereas vision does not."
3. "Leadership is not about making decisions on your own, it's about owning decisions you make."
4. "To be a great leader, you must be a great listener because you are probbably not the smartest person in your organization. You are just the leader."
5. "Leaders are attracted to environments where their ideas and opinions are heard. Leaders who refuse to listen will eventually be surrounded by people who have nothing important to say."
6. "In a seniority structure, title and position, rather than insight or creativity, determine who sits at the decision-making table. Eventually, a seniority structure leaves the seniors in charge."
7. "Fairness ended in the garden of Eden. When you shoot for fairness you become unjust. Shoot for what is right."
8. "Vision: A mental picture of what could be, fueled by the passion of what should be."
9. "If doing Church is hard, it's because it is. But it's worth it."

I have worked in churches where the senior leaders always sat at the decision making table. Even though these leaders had a passion for young families they didn't have a clue about how to create environments for young families. What they created was an environment that repelled young families. The results of a fair, seniority seniority structure. This could have been overcome if they invited those with insight into young families to sit at the decision table.

How have you seen the seniority structure played out in your organization?

What is an Evangelical Christian?

I am a Christian. This means that I believe the Holy Bible is a message from God to humanity. To be more specific I could use the terms "Evangelical Christian". If you don't understand those two terms let me briefly share what they mean.

The word "Evangelical" comes from a Greek word that means "Good News".
(The word "Gospel" also means "Good News")
The word "Christian" comes from the Bible in Acts 11:26 to describe those who are followers of Jesus Christ.

Placing those two words together means that I am a believer in Jesus Christ and strive to be faithful in promoting the "Good News" in my action, attitude and speech.

Here are four points that summarize the message (Good News) of the Bible and what it means to become a Christian.

--RELATIONAL PROBLEM--
1. God: the loving creator of the everything, who is Holy, or set apart, from creation. AKA: is perfect!
2. Us: humanity is not perfect. Nobody would argue with the fact that there are no perfect people. (My wife can attest to this fact by being married to me!) We all mess up, act selfish and think/act in in unGodly ways. So we have a problem. Imperfect humanity cannot have a relationship with a perfect God. God cannot stand the presence of a messed up, selfish, sinful man.

--RELATIONAL SOLUTION--
3. Jesus Christ: God's love is so audacious that He wanted to provide a way for us to have a right relationship with Him. He did this by sending Jesus Christ, who lived a perfect life, to die on a cross on our behalf. Our sin deserves death and permanent separation from God. BUT God allowed Christ to die in our place, for our sins, so that we can come into a permanent right relationship with God. Jesus saves us from the penalty of our sins. Is knowing this enough to have a right relationship with God? No. The devil even knows this and he is definitely not in a right relationship with God!
4. You and me personally: To cross the line into a right relationship with God you have to personally trust Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.
A. Savior: Trust that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins.
B. Lord: You must decide in thought and deed to make Jesus Christ your ultimate authority. What Jesus modeled and encourages people to do is what we must strive to do. Granted, you will not be able to do this with perfection BUT your new ultimate life goal has changed from following and pleasing someone/something else to following and pleasing Christ in every area of your life. How can you grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ? By reading the Bible and getting involved in a church where the Bible is taught and you can rub shoulders with people who will encourage you in your relationship with Christ.

There is nothing more significant in life than growing in your relationship with Jesus Christ. That's why I do what I do at RPCC.

Nobody can force you into this relationship with God but my hope and prayer is that you would honestly consider exploring this God who is passionately in love with you.

If you have any questions please email me: james@riverparkcc.com. If you would like to find a good church where you live I can help you find one no matter what part of the world you live in.