Hey Rocky River Church (and fans). I just wanted to ask you to please be in prayer for the church, me and our staff team this week. It is a really BIG week for us! Probably the biggest part of it is that our bids will be coming in from subcontractors and our General Contractor. By the end of this week we should be under contract with Choate Construction for our building project. And, we will have a closing date for our loan.

Anyway, please be in prayer for us and that God's will be done. HE is in control.

Thank you and I Love you guys! God's best!
Jimmy

Hey Rocky River Church family. I just wanted to give you a quick building/construction update as of 3/5/10.

Our general contractor, Choate Construction, has re-posted our project for bids. We hope this will help us get numbers tighter because right now we have about a $55,000 difference between the amount we are borrowing from the bank and the project costs. Bids should be in Tuesday so we should know how the numbers are going to shake out then.

We should have a contract with Choate by this time next Friday. That will free us up to set a closing date on the construction loan and close out our current loan on the land. Tentatively we have set March 17 as the closing date.

We have applied for a usage permit on the land and that will not be approved until late in April. So as of now, we are looking at some time in early Mary for our groundbreaking day. Be looking forward to that because it is going to be truly awesome!

Many of you have been asking what you can do to help. Here are a few things we need ASAP.

1. PRAY! Be in continual prayer for the church, Choate, the subcontractors that are bidding on the project, the usage permit, and the $55,000 (approximately) we need to get this done.

2. Walk with us! Serve, attend services, GIVE, stay positive and upbeat and do everything you can to help us keep momentum going at R2C. You can make more of a difference than you know.

3. Invite! Invite everyone you know to Rocky River Church. Building or not, every Sunday we are preaching and teaching the Word of God in practical, meaning ways to the regular, everyday needs of people.

4. Remember! Remember why we exist. It is not to build buildings, but to build people. Rocky River Church exists to give people the best opportunity possible to become fully committed, growing followers of Jesus Christ.

God bless you! And thank you so much for helping us build a great church in our community.
-Jimmy

I know it is time for Jake to go, but I love that guy!

Jake, you will always be one of my favorite football players! My favorite memories of the Panthers thus far include you. I will never forget that great run we had to the Super Bowl and your leadership that helped us get there. You were a HUGE reason why we were called the Cardiac Cats! Good luck in the future! WHO DAT? YOU DAT!

Have you noticed that the church is more about coffee houses and being slick today than the Gospel? As a pastor, I'm really over cool. I'd rather be effective that spectacular.

-J

You have to watch it to the end....

This Sunday @ Rocky River Church I am continuing with our series "Sizzle" with a message called "Affair Proof My Marriage." The message is going to be as helpful as it is needful. I really hope you are making plans to be at the 9:30 or 11:00 service.

WARNING - This Sunday is going to be rated PG-13. I will be talking about some sexual matters. They won't be graphic, but for sure to the point. I promise not to go any further than the Scriptures in dealing with these sexual matters. But there is no way to talk about adultery without talking about sex. I just want you to be warned. I would not recommend that young children be in the services.

But parents, YOU should make this a "must attend Sunday" at Rocky River Church. Even if your spouse won't come with you. You should be at the service for the both of you. And for goodness sakes, invite everyone you know! This is a message your friends and family NEED to hear too.

See ya'll then! :)

I was thinking today about the folks who come to church week in and week out with no real intention of letting God change them. So why bother coming? If you're not going to let God change your life at Church, why bother showing up? If you already know you're going to leave church basically the same way you came in, then why bother coming at all? If you don't plan to open up your life to God and His Word so He can make the changes in your life that need to be made, why bother? If you never plan to take Next Steps to grow in your faith and understanding of how to follow Christ, why bother showing up? If you're just going to grumble and complain and gripe and sulk and gossip, there must be somewhere better to do it than church. If you're just listening to the messages each week for inspiration, with no intention of life transformation, why bother? If you're going to spend your time worrying about me, or someone else on the staff and what we're doing or not doing, but never examine you're own life and what's wrong with you, why bother being in the Lord's House? If Christ and His Church are never going to be your family's priority, then why bother? Go ahead and really commit to AAU, Cheer, the racetrack, a football field, a golf course or whatever. Just be real about it. If you only plan to "tip" God the rest of your life, rather than tithe and store up your treasures in Heaven, then why bother? Invest in something else - the truth is, you already are. Why bother?

We are on the verge of losing the "lost generation" (our children). And when I say "losing them" I mean to Hell. Their eternity is at stake!!! And never in my life have I seen parents more apathetic to the things that are most important (like their eternity and that of their children), and absorbed with things that aren't. It's time to get busy living for Christ, or not at all. Because if you're not willing to life "all or nothing for Christ," then why bother?

It is true that "all leaders are readers." Now, not all readers are leaders. But all leaders are readers. If you're not learning you're not leading. For some of us, the reason our churches aren't growing like they could is because we're not reading like we should. Grow up pastor and learn to read.

Okay, THE MOST READ PERSON I KNOW ON THE PLANET is Nelson Searcy, the Lead Pastor of Journey, Church of the City in New York, NY. He's is doing a webinar next Tuesday called "How To Read More." Here's a blurb from Church Leader Insights about the webinar and what you'll learn.

[From The Website]
- How to find time to read (without robbing time from the more important things)
- How to know what to read (and what NOT to read)
- How to increase your reading speed (hint: its not by becoming a speed reader)
- How to retain what you read
- How to get everything you can from a book
- How to stay motivated to read (and not to feel guilty if you aren't)
- Plus much more.

All leaders are readers but did you know that Nelson never completed a book from start to finish prior to age 17? Yet today he (conservatively) reads five to seven non-fiction books a week.

He likes to say "God just gave me a passion to read" and while that's true, he's also developed a system (imagine that!) for reading that improves recall and keeps him focused on what is most beneficial and helpful to his ministry as a pastor and leader of leaders.

[Me again]
This webinar is required for all of my staff at Rocky River Church. It should be required for yours too! Here's the link to register today for only $23.95! Enjoy....

https://nelsonsearcy.infusionsoft.com/cart/store.jsp?view=4&i=p1067&navi...

Hey guys. I'm really excited about our 2nd Annual Marriage Retreat to Charleston, SC. We have a great group of folks going. However, we've had four couples that have had to cancel. That means we have four spots open. We have to give a final list of couples going next week! If you'd like to go with us we HAVE TO KNOW NOW! So shoot me an email and I'll get you registered - or get you more information.

-Here's some of the basic information:
-Dates: March 19-21 (Friday through Sunday)
-Cost per couple: $325 / This includes two nights hotel, breakfast Saturday and Sunday, and lunch on Saturday.
-Deposit required by next Monday - $100.

My email address is jimmy@rockyriverchurch.com. I hope you can make it. Again, if you just want more of the details shoot me an email.

This is the video trailer for Sizzle, a new sermon series we are kicking off this Sunday @ Rocky River Church.