Second Service Added @ the Mills

Great news to share ... last Sunday we launched a second service at the Pittsburgh Mills site. Now our services are at 9:00 am and 11:00 am. There were 167 in the first service and 79 in the second. What a wonderful beginning to the new year!

If you haven't visited us there yet please consider yourself invited.

And while I'm at it ... the Oakmont site went to two services as well - at the same times. Things are off to a great start. I'm anticipating God's move in marvelous ways this year.

Wise Words From Max Lucado

My friend Don Greb passed these on to me this week. I loved them and had to share ...

The Laws of the Lighthouse contain more than good ideas, personal preferences, and honest opinions. They are God-given, time-tested truths that define the way you should navigate your life. Observe them and enjoy secure passage. Ignore them and crash against the ragged rocks of reality.

Smart move. The wise captain shifts the direction of his craft according to the signal of the lighthouse. A wise person does the same.

Herewith, then, are the lights I look for and the signals I heed:

-- Love God more than you fear hell.
-- Once a week, let a child take you on a walk.
-- Make major decisions in a cemetery.
-- When no one is watching, live as if someone is.
-- Succeed at home first.
-- Don't spend tomorrow's money today.
-- Pray twice as much as you fret.
-- Listen twice as much as you speak.
-- Only harbor a grudge when God does.
-- Never outgrow your love of sunsets.
-- Treat people like angels; you will meet some and help make some.
-- 'Tis wiser to err on the side of generosity than on the side of scrutiny.
-- God has forgiven you; you'd be wise to do the same.
-- When you can't trace God's hand, trust his heart.
-- Toot your own horn and the notes will be flat.
-- Don't feel guilty for God's goodness.
-- The book of life is lived in chapters, so know your page number.
-- Never let the important be the victim of the trivial.
-- Live your liturgy.

To sum it all up:

Approach life like a voyage on a schooner. Enjoy the view. Explore the vessel. Make friends with the captain. Fish a little. And then get off when you get home.

New Mills Location Launched!!

Just before we left for vacation we launched our new site at the Pittsburgh Mills. It was an amazing team effort to get there in just under 5 weeks. We relocated our theater church into an 8,000 sq. ft. storefront and now have a presence there 7 days a week! In our first service we set a new record of 242. I'm thrilled with this new adventure and look forward to returning to continue getting settled in.

If you're in the area please come and join us! Service time is 9:30 a.m. and you enter through Entrance #5 next to where Linens & Things used to be.

Vacation & Great Read

This week we're having a wonderful time visiting Amie's family in Nixa, MO. It's been sunny and in the 70's nearly every day. We've feasted and relaxed and read and watched movies. Life is great!

I've just finished listening to William Young's "The Shack". It's a great book and I've really been blessed by it. I'd encourage anyone to read it. It's fiction but has a great message that offers a lot of hope. It's definitely worth your time.

EPIC

Wow! It's finally here. Yesterday we launched the EPIC adventure that I've been praying for and waiting for these past 6 months! I'm so pumped and ready to grow personally, in our family and with my church over the next nine months. If you're not familiar with EPIC let me point you to our web site at www.riversideconnect.org or our EPIC blog which is www.rccepicblog.blogspot.com.

Our family began our devotions over the weekend and I'm already feeling more deeply connected to Amie and the kids knowing we're going to be on this journey together for the remainder of the school year.

I hope you can join us!

Divine Vision

Yesterday we kicked off the new Fall Semester of small groups at RCC. It's been great to see things get underway again and I'm thrilled with the excitement and enthusiasm our church family has when we return from the Summer break.

Last night at our Small Group Leadership Training I asked us as leaders to consider what kind of a vision the Lord would give us for our small groups in the coming months. In that talk I shared some qualities of divine vision that I thought I'd include here too. They are from John Maxwell's Leadership Bible notes ...

Divine Vision …

1. It is not discovered or created, but revealed.
2. It doesn’t compete with others, but completes others.
3. It is captivating, not optional. You can’t get it out of your mind.
4. Its goal is to meet needs.
5. Its success depends on serving others.
6. It stops me before it drives me to act.
7. Its fulfillment rests on simple obedience.
8. Its purpose is to glorify God!

Great stuff! I hope you will be able to see the divine vision God has for you personally.

U.S. Open Concludes

Serena and Roger ... not too much of a surprise on either front. I've been too busy and haven't had the chance to see much of either final but am looking forward to watching them on the DVR later this week. I'm glad Nadal didn't take the title and am pleased Murray had the chance to get his feet wet in a grand slam final.

Now that the majority of the tennis season is over ... I'm heading for the racquetball courts again.