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Costa Rica Wednesday

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I know!

Yes, I know my blog is messed up.

Because of the incredible announcement this past weekend, my blog has taken off in the last few days. But today (of all days) it decided to completely crash and burn an hour before I was scheduled to leave the office for vacation with Jen.

I have frantically tried to get it back up and running before our plane leaves in two hours. But, this is the best I have been able to do. My wife and our vacation are more important than blog traffic. I hope you will hang around until I can get it back up and running next weekend after I get back. If you can’t stick with me that long, I understand. I will miss you, but you are not as important to me as my beautiful wife.

I’ll be back in about a week or so. Until then, have fun but don’t be safe. Life is too short to hold back and God’s plan is too big to not give it Him everything we’ve got.

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I love our church

This Mother’s Day is going to be the best one ever at The ROCK. We are giving a bunch of free stuff to moms because we love them and they deserve it. One of the gifts we are giving to one of our Very Important Moms is a family photo session with Millie Holloman Photography worth $650! Millie has been over the top generous to donate this session as well as a $150 print credit. Millie is one of our ROCKERS who loves moms! Thanks Millie!

If your mom deserves to be pampered, stop right now and email us at mom@rockwilmington.com and tell us why she should be treated like a queen. Then bring your mom to with you on Mother’s Day. After church you can take her to a really nice restaurant and buy her a very expensive lunch. In fact, go find her and give her a hug right now. Go on, we will wait….

You don’t wanna miss this Sunday. Dad will finish up our current series “next” by talking about what God is up to at The ROCK. It’s HUGE and it applies to your life as well. If you missed this last week, you listen to it later today. Carolyn promised me it will be up before the day is over. You can listen HERE or subscribe to The ROCK podcast HERE.

On May 16th and 17th our creative arts academy, Glory Academy presents the original, feature production of Creation. This is not one of those cheesy recitals that parents have to sit through to justify all the money they spent on lessons. Uh, uh… The productions they put on are incredible. The dancers are very skilled. There is a lot of vivid multimedia and spinning lights and more than I can describe here. Trust me, you want to see this.

Tickets are five bucks and you can pick them up after church or go online and get ‘em HERE. If you have never witnessed one of the feature productions from Glory Academy, you gotta check it out. Hey Abs and Carolyn, why don’t you guys rip a video from last year’s production and put it online for everyone? Everybody go harass them until they do it.

OK. I’ve stirred up enough for now. I think I’ll go on vacation now. Be good while I’m gone. But, whatever you do, don’t play it safe.

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A great gift

First, thank you all of you cruising by to leave comments about yesterday’s service. Jen and I can’t wait to get started on all that God is putting in our hearts for The ROCK.

There have been a lot of you dropping by. In fact, take a look at my WordPress stats as of 5:00p today.

I guess I have to start saying something of worth now… So, here goes.

Parents, one of the best gifts you can give to your children is a vacation without them. One of the most meaningful gifts you can give your spouse is a vacation without the kids. One of the most powerful gifts I can give my church is a vacation away from the responsibilities, demands, emergencies, issues and celebrations.

When I get away, my mind becomes clearer. My dreams become more vivid. When Jen and I get away, we become more passionate. Our love is reinvigorated.

When we return to our normal lives we are better lovers, more compassionate parents, bolder visionaries and more fun to be around.

That is why we are headed to Myrtle Beach after work tomorrow to catch a plane Wednesday morning for Costa Rica. I am taking my wife here.

When your kids look at your marriage, does it make them want to be married? Maybe it’s time for you to go on vacation.

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Show me the money!

My Uncle Sam is sending me some money soon in the form of an Economic Stimulus check. This unexpected money makes it easy to dream about big screen televisions, vacations, new gadgets and many other “wants”.

What is really cool about this unplanned (for us) windfall is that it’s not my money. It all belongs to God.

This check will give Jennifer and me another chance to give back to God through His church. That excites me!

In times like this, we get to choose whether we want to further the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of self.

Jesus had a lot to say about the Kingdom of self in Matthew 6:19-34. Go read it. It will mess you up when you think about the check your Uncle Sam is sending you.

When I invest in God’s Kingdom, my returns are compounded forever. When I invest in my Kingdom, I have a limited return.

So, we will use a portion of our check to stimulate the Kingdom of God through His church. What will you do with your check?

[via jonathan]

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