Where's the Steeple?

Remember this one?

"Here's the church - here's the steeple - open the doors - see all the people."

At Rolling Hills, it is not our ambition to build bigger buildings (and steeples) - it is our ambition to build bigger people who devote themselves to a lifetime of serving Jesus by serving others. So, in launching our new website, we wanted to choose a new domain name that would reflect this missional direction. We kicked around a few ideas and ended up with: wheresthesteeple.org. Be careful, there's no www. and there's no " ' " between the "where" and the "s". I think you're going to like it.

It's easy to navigate. It's very informative. And it represents us well to others. Hope you find it useful.

You should also know that our church now has a Facebook page. After you log into your Facebook account, just type Rolling Hills Baptist Church into the search window and you are there. Become a fan, share pictures, video and stories. The purpose for the Facebook page is really to help the fellowship at Rolling Hills to connect more deeply and to share the story of what God is doing in and through our church with others. Check it out!

Lastly, I've just got to thank our worship team - band, vocalists, tech team and worship leaders for the amazing service you provide every week. I love worship at Rolling Hills and feel so connected to God when we celebrate His Majesty every week! Thanks guys (and gals)...not just for what you do - but for who you are as leaders in worship at our church.

Gratefully Yours...
Frank

"This fork is filthy!"

I really believe that if want God to use us - we've got to be useable. Are you more likely to use a clean fork or a dirty one? Are you more likely to wear a clean shirt or the one with stains all over it? Are you more likely to drink water from your kitchen sink or your septic tank? If we want God to use us - we must be clean, holy and useable.

One thing we've learned over these past few weeks as we've studied THE TEMPTATIONS, is that giving the devil a foothold almost always leads to his gaining a stanglehold. Slowly he wears down our defenses and soon we discover that sin "takes us farther than we wanted to go; keeps us longer than we wanted to stay; and costs more than we want to pay". A glance becomes a gawk - a look becomes a leer - and a sacred trust is broken. That's the story of David and Bathsheba...but it's our story too. It's the story of a slow fade.

So, I hope that you might consider those CODE WORDs I mentioned on Sunday morning: PERMISSION GRANTED. When I say "permission granted", I mean that more than anything else in my life, I want to like Jesus. If I'm going to be like Jesus...I've got to be Holy (not only "positionally" Holy but "personally" Holy). If I'm going to be personally Holy...I've got to stop sinning. If I'm going to stop sinning...I'm going to have to overcome temptation. And if I'm going to overcome temptation...I'm going to need help.

You and I need to grant permission to someone in our lives to probe, ask questions and examine us for the sake of our own Holiness. So...who is asking you?

Remember the stat we read from the DTS survey of 237 Christian men who had fallen morally and had only 1 other thing in common...they had no one holding them accountable for personal Holiness. So...who is holding you accountable?

Start with this...have you spent time alone with God in His word and in prayer today? What is God saying to you in your time with Him? Are you spending enough time with your family today? Are you being honest in your financial dealings today? Has a "glance" become a "gawk" today? Are you lying to me about any of this?

It's not easy. It's hard. Sin is like 2nd nature to us. Holiness seems strange and unfamiliar. But I'll be more Holy if somebody's watching and so will you. Is PERMISSION GRANTED?

Everyday the news reports that life is getting a little harder and the world is getting a lot worse. People all around us are losing hope. And we all wish we were a little bit stronger. If only we could be more like Chuck Norris. After all...

• When the bogeyman goes to sleep at night he checks his closet for Chuck Norris.
• Chuck Norris once ordered a Big Mac at Burger King...and got it.
• When Chuck Norris falls in water he doesn't get wet. Water gets Chuck Norris.
• Chuck Norris can kill two stones with one bird.
• Chuck Norris has counted to infinity...twice.
• Dinosaurs are extinct because of the ChuckNorrissaurus.
• Chuck Norris doesn't believe in the periodic table. The only element he recognizes is the element of surprise.
• How much wood could a wood chuck chuck if a wood chuck could Chuck Norris? All of it.
• Contrary to popular belief, America is not a democracy. It is a Chucktatorship.

Do some of those sound familiar? It is estimated that there are about 40,000 Chuck Norris jokes swirling around the internet. A website called Chuck Norris Facts has generated over 50 million hits and averages nearly 800,000 hits a day. Impressive, and if the jokes were true, Chuck would be all-powerful, all-knowing and everywhere at once. Well, okay, Chuck Norris is not Omniscient, Omnipresent and Omnipotent. But Jesus is. Maybe the key to overcoming life's obstacles is not to be more like Chuck...but to be more like Jesus.

Kicking and Screaming...Frank


John 16:33 Jesus said, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

The King is Coming...

ARE YOU READY?

We just finished the "Face of the Future" series yesterday and the End is now 5 Sunday's closer than it was at the start. Jesus is coming!

However...we should always refrain from the foolishness of suggesting exact times and dates. Jesus said that "the Son of Man does not even know". If He didn't know for sure when He was coming, but knew He was coming soon - I think it's safe to assume that we will not know exactly when He is coming, but we can know that His coming is closer than ever before.

My favorite word to describe the nearness of His coming is "imminence". And that's why we must live and love and serve with such a sense of urgency. Because the days are short until the Day. So our missional journey is not only driven by compassion and concern for the lost and the least. It is driven by our view of eschatology (study of last things), which says that if we want to show the world that Jesus loves them - we'd better do it now.

This past Sunday, Brian and the worship team introduced us to a great new song called "God of this City". The phrase "greater things have yet to come and greater things are still to be done in this city" keeps running through my head. This is what God has called us to...not someday somewhere but here and now, for the Day of His appearing is now nearer than ever before.

We're on a mission from God...
Frank

Maranatha Ya'll!

Luke 21:28When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

It seems like folks are coming to Rolling Hills these days with a sense of anticipation. There is a sense that God is at work...that His love is running rampant...that we are on the verge of a breakthrough. It's very exciting!

I try to say it often, but I'm sure I don't say it often enough, I appreciate our worship team (the band, the vocalists, the lead worshippers, the techies). You guys do a great job in creating an environment that is conducive to worship. Thanks for all you do! I'm a better, deeper, more consistent worshipper because of you. We worshipped with all our hearts on Sunday...and you led the way.

So, as I'm preaching Sunday it really begins to settle in that we should not feel anxious or afraid about the age we live in. When we are tempted to give in or give up we should remember that Jesus said to "stand up, lift up your hands for your redemption is drawing near". As we watch the news, it seems like one depressing story after another. As we watch the stock market, it seems like we're in an economic freefall. You may be struggling in your marriage or in your job.

You may be sick. You may be scared. You may be sad.

But take heart. Stand up! Lift your head! Lift your hands! Lift your voice! Why?

Because Jesus is coming! Our redemption is nearer today than ever before. That means our Redeemer is nearer today than ever before.

Maranatha! The Lord is coming! Maranatha ya'll!

Frank

P.S. Check out the new video.

The Big Game...

Sometime this Sunday evening, someone at your household will probably roll her eyes and mutter the words, "it's only a game". But we know it's more than that. It's an event that will be watched by an estimated one billion people, on television and over the internet, worldwide. It's an opportunity to gather with friends and enjoy large quantities of chicken wings, nachos and other healthy snacks. And next Monday, we'll all be talking about it. But we won't just talk about the game, we'll be talking about the fun we had together...our favorite commercials... and the Springsteen show at halftime.

It's not just a game. It's also an incredible platform for Christian athletes to share their faith. From Tom Landry to Roger Staubach, Shawn Alexander, Tony Dungy and last year's Super Bowl hero, David Tyree...Christ-followers, who, in this moment in time, have the eyes and ears of the world have not been shy about proclaiming their devotion to something or Someone bigger than football.

This year, Kurt Warner, quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals and Ben Roethlisberger, quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, lead their respective teams into the League Championship game. But they have something else in common...it's faith in Jesus.

Who did Warner thank when the Cardinals defeated the Eagles in the NFC Championship game 2 weeks ago? God. In fact, Kurt Warner's faith is well documented as he has routinely expressed it throughout his career. Both He and his wife are known publicly as born-again Christians.

You may know less about Roethlisberger's faith. Or you may remember the "cleat controversy" of 2006. Big Ben has worn the initials PJF on his cleats since he was a high school sophomore in Findlay, Ohio. But in 2006, the NFL uniform police cracked down on Big Ben (who claims he's still wearing the message somewhere - "let's see if they can find it now" he's quoted as saying).

For me, it's always exciting to hear another believer boldly proclaim their faith in Jesus. And it's also a challenge. If the microphone were in my face (or yours), would we be so bold as to give God the glory for our successes? Would we be so bold in "naming the Name of Jesus"? I'd like to think so. But the truth is, if we shy away from boldly proclaiming our faith on the small stage that most of us live on - then we shouldn't imagine that a larger stage would make us more courageous in our witness for Him.

Time Flies...

Recognize the guy on top of the pyramid? It was a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. But it seems like yesterday...time flies.

I know, it's been a long time since the last blog. How long has it been?

It was in 2008.
I was still 42.
George W. Bush was still President.
John Smoltz was still a Brave.
It's literally been a month of Sundays.
Time flies.
So sorry.

These days I'm teaching through the book of Daniel (at least the prophetic parts). Much of what we're learning compels us to live our lives with a sense of urgency. The end is near (or at least nearer). Jesus is coming soon (or at least sooner). And our time is like a vapor. Each day comes and goes so quickly. So, if we're going to live like Jesus lived, love how Jesus loved and serve how Jesus served...we can't afford to wait until the season change. We must act now!

Start by praying with me...Lord Jesus, our days are short and the times are wicked. Please come quickly and rescue us from the kingdom of this world. But please, Lord Jesus, give us at least one more day to be faithful and fruitful. One more day to "kick at the darkness until it bleeds daylight". One more day to seize the day for Your Kingdom and Your Cause.

Carpe Diem...
Frank

Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.