In the next few weeks, Four Rivers Church will be unveiling a new web site, a new iPhone/android app, a new Twitter page, a new Facebook LIKE page & ultimately… a new way of communicated with & staying connected with one another & the world around us.

This stuff is so exciting!

I’m looking at most of it right now. Can’t wait for you to see it as well.

In this teaching, I introduce the need for a great boost in ‘belief’ in one another.

You believe in God the Father. You believe in the Son. You even believe in the Spirit of God that lives in every believer.

But do you believe in the person who lives with God’s Spirit in them?

I want you to know… I believe in you!

I’m interested in your first impressions of your topic. What scares you? What excites you? Ultimately, how do you dfeel about your projected topic?

I look forward to your answers.

Lots of things have happened in the development of our new Four Rivers campus in Eddyville (Lyon County). Things that could be huge!

The people of Suwanee Furnace Baptist Church have agreed to give up their normal Sunday night service and have agreed to host ours. They are even going to attend with us.

I’ll be teaching live every week at first.

They already have a great kids ministry at that time & have agreed to invite our kids into it.

So, let’s blow this out big THIS SUNDAY NIGHT.

Their kids ministry called ‘Awana’ starts at 5:00, so we are going to do our meal at that time as well. Its this campuses Chili supper, so we need everyone to bring some. Be there at 5 or before & your kids can grab a quick bite & then join in to the Awana program.

Make sure you notice this… the meal starts at 5:00 (not the previous time of 5:30)

Worship will begin at 6.

We will be using their fellowship hall for the meal & their sanctuary (with our lighting, video & sound upgrades) for worship.

They have agreed to this plan for 6 months. So this gives us a great step into our next stage for the Eddyville/Lyon County campus.

We start meeting EVERY SINGLE WEEK this Sunday night.

Spread the word! Let me know that you are coming.

I am occasionally asked why there is a tattered sail in the logo for Four Rivers Church. And it’s a fair question… sailing doesn’t normally happen on the ‘river.’

This is why.

Being a part of the church is like sailing on a river. Here is what I mean.

1. Your context (local culture) is already laid out for you… much like a river. You can’t choose the details of the city of county in which you serve. You won’t always know where the next bend or curve is. You don’t simply have a wide open ocean or even lake upon which to navigate. You are required to guide your ship through the needs of your local culture.

2. Your ship is propelled by the “wind” of the Spirit of God. It is also somewhat unpredictable. God doesn’t always enlighten you to his next move. So you must be ready to react to His movement, His work, His Wind.

When you are in a culture out of your control, being propelled by a force you can’t control… yeah, that’s like leading a church.

(I should say, some leaders take their sail down & attempt to create their own force. Instead of relying on God for forward motion, they are tempted to attach a few Mercury outboard motors into their church and force it’s forward motion. This usually breaks the church. You see, sail boats aren’t intended to be driven… they are created to be blown forward by His Wind…)

3. It takes the gifts and investments of many to steer correctly. You see, even a small sail boat requires a great deal of effort to guide on a windy day. It’s never a one man show.

4. The tattered part – sometimes following Gods Will and doing His Work does result in personal sacrifice and hardship. Sometimes you will find yourself tattered by life following Christ. It’s really not the safe & sweet journey that some expect it to be.

Sailing on a river in high winds with a crew that is learning as they go & a cargo that isn’t always willing or helpful can be tough…

But the journey proves to be quite the adventure. So get on board, grab a line, listen for direction & let’s go…

I used to worry about how to raise boys. Now I focus on raising men.

This is six year old Jackson who is wearing his older brother’s ju-jitsu gi. And he is already setting his goals about growing up. Apparently, he tests for his yellow belt in karate next week.

At 6, he gets out of bed at 6:10 am every school day. Then, while Im getting breakfast together, he dresses himself and then comes into the kitchen to eat.

He is already ahead of some of my college roommates… lol

I have always wanted to be a part of a church that genuinely blessed it’s community every day of the week. And it puts a smile on my face to know that the people of Four Rivers Church, along with our partners from other churches who serve in Community-Ministries.org, are serving our community all the time.

This photo was taken at 11:20 today in the parking lot of 4RC’s Paducah campus. It’s like this every day here. As servants come to feed the hungry as cloth those who need clothing… God is honored in this parking lot.

And I am thankful.

I know that there is so great ministry going on with the folks of 4RC all over Western Ky. I just wanted to share this photo as an example of all that Jesus is doing in and through us.

Spending time with the men of Lifeline ministries this morning. These men life my spirits and encourage my soul. In then I see daily growth of spiritual depth and strength.

I love investing in them & learning from them.