Christmas was full of firsts this year for us. We left Sunday after church and headed to south Fayetteville, for an early Christmas with Lisa's side of the family. I always enjoy her family, but this year, we gave a special gift to my niece, Tori, in the form of a small ball python. She had been wanting one most of the past year, since she saw mine. The look on her face when we gave her the little snake and his aquarium was definitely a "Kodak moment."
We came home for Christmas at our house, joined by my mom & dad. They had never spent Christmas Eve with us, and we all attended Hebron's Communion service, then later attended a midnight candlelight service at Grayson United Methodist Church. Both are very different in style, yet very worshipful in content.
We opened a few presents on the Eve, then got up the next morning for a Christmas Day joined by my brother Mark & his wife. Mark had never been up for a Christmas with us, and in fact had only been to our house here once or twice over the past 8 years. I was real happy to have them and our parents here. It would have been perfect if my other brother Rick and his family could have been here from Texas.
Every year, there are so many memories to be made- and held for a lifetime. I am reminded of what the Bible says of Mary, Jesus' mother, on several occasions around His birth- "And Mary pondered all these things, treasuring them in her heart." Its amazing to imagine the memories she was making, definitely for a lifetime. Like her, I want to treasure the ones Christ gives me, at Christmas and throughout the years.
Rob

I had hospital visitation duty earlier this week, here right before the holidays. I usually don't mind the duty, in fact I somewhat enjoy it- being an encouragement to people, being out on the road, being out of the office. This on-call rotation was difficult for me, though. It wasn't the miles or the number of hospitals our people were in- although covering about 250 miles between about a dozen hospitals in two days was exhausting!
What made it difficult were the people I visited. To name a few, there was a teenager who had been hit by a car while waiting to catch the bus to school, in ICU on a ventilator with probable brain damage; a smiling 3 year old boy with anxious parents, waiting on test results to find out if their son has cystic fibrosis or not; a 50-something man who had undergone his 2nd heart bypass surgery, and was lonely and discouraged. But the most difficult for me was a lady I visited up in Gainesville, who is slowly dying. I had visited her last month, and she was up sitting in her chair in the hospital room, smiling & happy. We talked, laughed, prayed together, and I just had a great visit with her. This time I came to see her, she was on life support, tubes and IV's running all over her, and she was comatose, unresponsive with eyes half opened. I was shocked and saddened. I spoke to her and prayed over her anyway, in case she could hear anything at all. She is only 11 years older than me, and likely will not see the new year.
It was a sobering couple of days, and I really have not talked about it much. I guess I am reminded that, in the midst of the wonder and fanfare of the Christmas season, even with the hope that the birth of our Savior brings, we still live in a world of suffering and pain, and this will be a sad, painful Christmas for many, and for those they love. All the more reason to look for opportunities to commit "Random Acts of Christmas", like my last posting describes.
Following the Reason for the Season,
Rob

A friend of mine who is the children's pastor at 12Stone Church told me about a December campaign they are doing. Its called, "Random Acts of Christmas." All of their members have been given cards to pass out everywhere they go, but only after they do something kind & generous for someone in need. No agenda, no other motivation except to be the "hands & feet of Jesus" across the month. All that is asked of recipients is that they go to a website, 12Days12Ways.com, and nominate someone they know for freebees- free gas for a year, groceries for a month, cars or vans, etc. It reminds me of the movie, "Pay It Forward", where a good deed was passed on from person to person. In fact, stories have been told with 12Stone's campaign that illustrate just that- even cards passed on, good deeds done, by people totally disconnected from the church.
As I think about Christmas this year, I really want to commit "Random Acts of Christmas" myself- along with 12Stone. Its a wonderful thing to do, not just talking about doing good for others, but actually putting feet to it. We so often make Christmas all about us, with our desire and clamor for gifts, parties, cards, etc. Its a reminder that Christmas is really about the One who committed the first "Random Act" of Christmas, when God gave His Son to humanity, in flesh and bone, to save us from our sins. May we (I) be daily reminded of this over Christmas, and may we all look for those we can do something for, in Christ's name.

This past Wed.- Fri. our church did something very different than anything we have ever done. We put on an outdoor Christmas festival, called "Christmas on the Corner". It was similar to a Lake Lanier, Stone Mountain, or Callaway Gardens Christmas events, with costumed characters, a live nativity, a small Christmas train, local performing school choruses, food vendors, tons of lights, etc. My family and I enjoyed it the first night, then I worked at the event the other nights. I was the announcer/host on the "Christmas Tram", which went through the parking lots picking up and dropping off people for the festival. It was our Sunday tram, decorated with Christmas lights, banners, and playing Christmas music. I completely enjoyed getting to meet people, talk up and describe the event to them, and generally be entertaining for folks. By Friday night, I heard from numerous folks that kids wanted to ride the "Christmas Train" as they called it, and wanted to see the "funny train conductor", like some came to call me. Fun time!
Which is really what I hoped to do for people when they came to the event- begin the enjoyment for them even before entering the actual park, give them a good impression of Hebron, and ultimately, of Jesus Christ.
I hope we do this event every year- I think it can become a yearly event for the community to attend, and help further Hebron's influence for Jesus, pointing people to Him in the best time of the year.
Merry Christmas!
Rob

I read a story in "HomeLife" (a Christian family magazine) about a father in South Florida who was working in his backyard. His 5-year old son was out back as well, and decided to take a dip in the lake behind the house. As the boy waded out into the cool water, the father moved closer to the shore, to keep a watchful eye on him. Suddenly, he saw movement in the water to the right of his son. Calling for his son, and splashing into the water after him, an alligator charged the boy, arriving at him the same time as the father. The gator clamped down hard on the boy's legs, but the father grabbed him too, and a death struggle ensued for the boy. A neighbor saw the emergency, grabbed a shotgun, ran out and killed the animal.
As the local media caught wind of the story, they visited the boy and his family at the hospital. In the room, as they prepared to put microphones and cameras in his face, the boy actually asked the first question. "Want to see my scars?" he asked. Expecting to see his mangled legs, the boy instead pulled up his shirt sleeves and declared, "These are the scars where my daddy wouldn't let me go."
That story hit me in the heart, and choked me up. I can't explain why exactly. As I thought about the desperate, powerful love of the father, I was reminded of two things- First, the desperate lengths I would go to save my own wife and girls. I would give my life and limbs to rescue them. Second, I thought of the desperate love of our heavenly Father, who did just that- sending His Son into this world, to rescue us from the jaws of sin, death, and hell. Only, in this case, He has the scars of the struggle, in His hands and feet. And He did not, and never will, let us go.
"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can ever snatch them out of My hand." John 10:28
Rob

Last night as I left for church, the sky was gently raining, a cool breeze was blowing, and I saw 5 deer down my driveway, by the woods. They just stood there looking at me as I slowly drove past. Just beyond, a large rabbit popped out by the driveway, stopped to eyeball me for a moment, then scampered across into the fields on the other side. I drove to church in silence, feeling as though I was already in the presence of God.
At church, we had a quiet, prayer and praise-filled service, with peaceful songs of worship and corporate prayer times, both at the altar and at our seats. I felt the presence of God strongly there too, among His people gathered before Him.
I don't know which is more beautiful, more moving- the harmony of His creation, or the assembling of His saints.
God wants us to not just relegate our encounters with Him to once or twice a week, but to see Him in our everyday experiences, and commune with Him among His people, and in His creation.
Living & walking in His presence,
Rob

I recently bought a book called, "The World As I Remember It: Through the Eyes of a Ragamuffin". It is a collection of devotionals Rich Mullins wrote between 1991 and 1996, about a year before he died in a car crash. I always loved his thought-provoking music, and I am enjoying reading his thoughts on life, love, God, Jesus Christ, etc.
I read a section the other day that bears repeating here-
"I am a Christian because I have seen the love of God lived out in the lives of people who know Him. The Word became flesh and I have encountered God in the people who have manifested (in many 'unreasonable' ways) His Presence; a Presence that is more than convincing- it is a Presence that is compelling.
"I am a Christian, not because someone explained the nuts and bolts of Christianity to me, but because there were people who were willing to be the nuts and bolts, who through their explanation of it, held it together so that I could experience it and be compelled by it to obey.
"If I be lifted up," Jesus said, "I will draw all men unto Me."
Oh, that we who follow Christ would also love like Christ! Rather than accusing sinners, and withdrawing from them, if we would be more willing to be His hands & feet, His "nuts and bolts" so to speak, we (I) would have a much more positive influence and impact on people's lives, for His kingdom.
Rob

We recently adopted a new family member- or should I say, he adopted us! Dexter, as the girls named him, showed up on our front porch one morning, nestled among several bags of old clothes we had left out for the Kidney Foundation. We had spotted him occasionally over the previous couple of days, roaming our property and drinking from our little fountain pond. I tried to run him off a couple of times that morning, but by the afternoon, he was back on the porch. When the girls found him, they felt pity & fed him. Well, now we were stuck with him!
Dexter was malnourished & flea-bitten, with several sores on his body and a broken tail- meaning he had either been attacked by other dogs, or had been abused. Either way, he was convinced he had found a safe haven here from a cruel world. He didn't take long to warm up to us, and we brought him to our vet to have him checked out. He had intestinal worms, and possibly heart worms, and they treated him for all these, as well as fleas, ticks, rabies, etc. They bathed him, trimmed up his claws, and just gave him a complete check-up and cleaning. Good as new!
They estimated Dexter is about a year old, and he is very much full of energy. He is not yet an inside dog, as he is not house-trained, and he loves to chew things... anything! He has become very good natured and playful.
I've been asking God, "Why did this little outcast end up with us? What lesson is there here for us to learn?" I'm not sure completely, but I think this might be a picture of how God's people, the Church, should be. There is a world of outcasts outside our church doors, and rather than turn away in disgust as we often do, maybe what God has really called us to do is to love them, embrace them, and allow God to use us to help clean them up. Max Lucado once wrote, "God loves you right where you are, but He refuses to leave you there." Maybe His people should do the same, like we did with Dexter.
Rob

Today I received a letter from a couple who last year at this time lost a son in Iraq. The letter told of how much my being there with them in their time of uncertainty over his initial MIA staus, then when he was found dead, had meant to the family. Enclosed was also a substantial monetary gift they wanted me to have. They wrote, "The time you spent reaching out to us, caring for us, just being there for our family, meant more to us than you know. We will never forget you."
Sadly, I had forgotten them in the past year. I recalled the night when, while I was the weekend hospital/emergency pastor, I had responded to a call to visit the house of a new couple in the church, whose son was missing in action in Iraq. I spent a couple of hours with the family, who consisted of the mom, dad, and two sisters, one of which was married with two kids in our children's ministry. As I saw the fear and grief they had, I felt compelled to keep going by their house that weekend, and on into the next week, until the word came that the son's body had been found.
I had helped in some minor details of the funeral, and had been invited to ride in the motorcyle escort of the funeral, which was a great honor. I kept in touch with the family only occasionally over the later months, then it gradually faded from my memory- until today.
Amazing what small gestures and acts of kindness can actually mean in someone else's life. What I had saw as just doing my duty, had in reality made a huge impact on this family in their time of pain. One of my daughters told me, "I guess you never know how far one nice thing can go for somebody." So true.
I remember being on the receiving end myself once, as an 8th grader 30+ years ago. I had been lumped in with a bullying bunch of boys that year, with none of my friends in classes, lunch, PE, etc. It was the worst year of my life, to this day. Constant cruelty, humiliation, pain, at the hands of these punks- I was the easy target, being the smallest in the class that year.
One day, sitting alone at lunch (as usual), Laurel Jackson, one of the popular girls in the 8th grade, left her table, came and sat with me. I don't remember all she said, but I recall this: "You're different than the other guys. I like that about you. Don't worry about them, they're all jerks. I like you just the way you are." That simple act of kindness, those simple words, spoken by that beautiful little blond, changed the course of that year for me- and I guess changed my life. I'm 44 years old, and I still recall them, and recall every detail of that moment, to this day. And I will be forever grateful.
I've heard a phrase- "Practice random acts of kindness." That's a great rule to live by. In fact, that's being the hands and feet and words of Jesus to people, as I heard a guy say once. Something our world needs more of.
Rob

I got back from my yearly road trip with my dad, and we had a great ride! We rode in east Alabama, with perfect weather each day. We first rode out to the famous Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum near Birmingham. It is 5 floors of close to 800 motorcycles and 75 race cars, from every corner of the globe. Walking in that place, was like entering the gates of biker heaven! I've never seen anything like it. We spent 5 hours in there, and could have went through it again. There were makes and models I had never heard of. I could have roamed those halls for another day. Amazing place.
We rode through the Talladega National Forest, on the Talladega Scenic Byway, which is beautiful. Not as high or as twisty as roads in NC, but a great ride anyway. While there, we rode other places as well, just enjoying the Alabama countryside. If I wasn't a Georgia boy at heart, I could make my home over there. Beautiful place.
Good to ride with my dad, for however many years we have left. I enjoy the time with him, not just on two wheels, but the talks, the laughs, the cameraderie of just being father & son. And more than that, the time we both spend, as sons of our Heavenly Father. All of this- priceless.
Rob

Lisa & I just returned from a trip to Charleston, SC for our 20-year wedding anniversary. Amazing she has put up with me all these years! I am extremely blessed. Anyway, we stayed at a very historic inn known as the John Rutledge House Inn, who was one of the original signers of the Constitution. Beautiful old home, built in the 1700's. We toured all over the historic district of the city, and visited Ft. Sumter, Patriots Point with WWII carrier Yorktown, destroyer Laffey, and a sub & Coast Guard ship, and took a horse-drawn carriage trip around the city, and just walked everywhere else ourselves. Too many sights to recount here. Exhausting, but worth every step. I swear, Charleston is the most beautiful city I've ever seen- and no one better to see it with than my lovely bride of 2 decades!
The days there just flew by, and yet were packed with so many memories. Much like our marriage has been, I reflected later. the past 20+ years have flown by, and seem to pass more quickly each year, as Lisa noted. And yet our times together have been packed with memories & experiences I wouldn't trade for anything in this world. I would not want to have shared life with anyone but Lisa, and I hope God grants us many more miles, years, and memories ahead as well. Like our visit to Charleston, I know there is so much more yet to see & do together. I have much to look back on, and much to look forward to!
Rob

Last week we took 39 5th graders & leaders to the Lost Sea Caves in TN. We arrived in a driving thunderstorm, lightning flashing everywhere. We ate dinner under a pavilion, waiting for the storm to subside. Thunder shook the mountainside, and I began to pray- we were already fairly wet, we had no towels to dry off, and I was afraid we would have to enter the caves wet. That meant our whole group would start our adventure wet, in the caves that are a constant 58 degrees. That was a recipe for a sick group.

I prayed, "Father, you know what can happen if we enter those caves wet. Please move this storm out before our time to enter, for the sake of these with me. In Jesus' name, amen."

The storm continued to roar for 20 more minutes, then when the time came for us to meet the guides and descend into the caverns, suddenly the rain stopped, the clouds broke up on the mountain, and we were able to enter the caves dry.

Some might think this a coincidence, but I say God answered our prayers, watching over us. We had a blast that night crawling through the caves, camping on the cavern floors, and returning to daylight the next morning. In every way, it was a memorable trip.

Rob

Friday I finished a 3-day road trip with my older daughter Ansley. We rode the motorcycle up in the mountains of North Carolina, riding on such famous roads as the Cherohala Skyway, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Scenic Highway 74, etc. We stayed at motorcycle campgrounds, and just filled our eyes and souls with the majesty and grandeur of the Smoky Mountains. We spent some time nosing through shops in Cherokee, visited the Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley, and mostly enjoyed some of the most beautiful roads and scenery in America.

Ansley completely soaked in the experience- she took pictures of everything, from massive clouds over high peaks, to small, colorful leaves we found on mountain trails. It enriched me watching her be so enriched by all we saw and did. She would say things like, "words can't describe this" or "pictures just can't capture this". We both felt the presence of God up in those mountains, and felt a closeness to Him and to each each other that I hope we carry with us for many years to come. I pray her heart will be always turned toward the Lord, the "Rock of our salvation", and we'll always take time to find refreshment in His mountains.

Rob

Last week was our annual Children's Camp, and it was a fantastic time! Our theme was "Breaking Free", Brent Weber was our worship leader again, and we took 240 kids and leaders back to Anderson, SC. We worshipped, had lots of fun in recreation and swimming together, enjoyed crazy game show nights and a great talent show, and grew closer to Christ as we opened His Word. What was most memorable to me was the night 17 kids came to know Jesus Christ as their Savior. It was an incredible night of worship. That night before my lesson, Brent put a single white chair center stage, with an open Bible on it, and we downed the house lights, leaving the chair bathed in the glow of one spot light. He then sat over on one side, and led quiet worship songs while 240 voices lifted praise. It was an amazing night in an amazing week.

Rob

Saturday several of my RockiTown kid's worship leaders and myself took our families up to North Carolina for a whitewater rafting trip down the Nantahala River. We got there about 10am, and spent a couple of hours bouncing around on the waves and splashing through the rapids. We had a blast! Its a rowdy enough river to have plenty of excitement, yet easy enough for younger kids to enjoy. Its been about 15+ years since I've been whitewater rafting, but we had so much much fun, it won't be another 15 years, for sure! We used River Runners Retreat, and I highly recommend them. Our guide, a young guy named Ian (pictured here with us), made it entertaining for everyone. Next time, we've decided we're going to step it up a notch- a run down the Ocoee River! Its a little tougher, not really for younger kids, but hey, we're "river rats" now!

Last night I had the opportunity to preach in a service the Spirit Riders & CMA put on with Chaplain Terry Buice, in the Gwinnett Prison. It was one of the larger services we've hosted there in some time- we had about 80 inmates attend it, and 8 men trusted in Jesus Christ. In the music, the prayer times, my sermon, and these men coming for salvation, we really felt God's presence in that prison. God is mending lives, even as they serve out their sentences.

An inmate approached me prior to the service, and gave me a necklace with a cross he had made, and wanted me to wear it as I preached, which I did. When everything was over, and all the inmates were being escorted back to their cells, he came back over to me and said, "Do you remember me? I used to go to First Baptist back when you were there." Suddenly I did remember him, and the times we had conversations over the years there. After I left and came to Hebron, he just slipped from my memory, and here he was again, after all these years, standing before me in prison. My choices had led me further into God's kingdom work, and his choices had landed him behind bars. We talked for a moment, and he asked for prayer, that God would help him walk as a man of God again when he got out. I told him I certainly would.

As illusionist Brock Gill said when he was here, "Some choices you make don't matter. Some you make are life and death..."

Rob

We finished up another year of Vacation Bible School Sunday night, with our annual VBS Family Night. It capped off a fun, loud, exciting week of great music, funny skits, and lots of kids! We had around 1700 every day, with 73 kids trusting Jesus Christ by week's end. Many said it was the best VBS ever, if not the biggest. I dreaded the weeks leading up to it, completely enjoyed it all week long, then felt sad that it was ending. God blessed all week, and we thank Him for all the ways He drew kids, parents, and leaders to Himself.

And now, Kids Camp looms ahead of us....

Rob

This past Monday- Wednesday Kelsey & I did a short "Dad & Daughter" trip up to Chattanooga, TN. We had a great time together- climbed all through Rock City, descended to Ruby Falls, visited the Tenn. Aquarium, toured Covenant College, strolled down the new Tennessee Riverwalk, and just had a great 3 days together. We needed the time together- it seems the older my girls get the busier we all are, and we often just see each other in passing. It was time well-spent.

As we left on Wed., I had made arrangements to visit Precept Ministries, right outside Chatt. This is the ministry headquarters of Kay Arthur, renown Bible teacher and writer. She has had a vast, influential ministry for decades, dating back to the late 60's. In fact, in 1974 she led my mother to Christ at a women's conference, who then pointed my dad to Christ in 1975, and I trusted Christ with Kay's help in 1979, as a 15 year old. Later, after high school, I spent a year living there, working in the ministry and sitting under Kay's teaching. She is truly my "mother in the Lord", as well as for my own mom!

I didn't think she would remember me after all the years, but when she came in, she lit up, bear-hugged me, and exclaimed, "Rob Brooks! It is so good to see you again! How many years has it been?!" We talked for about 45 minutes, just catching her up on my life, all God has done over the years and miles. Kay was very enthused to meet Kelsey, who really took to Kay immediately. She kept calling for staff members to come meet me, and some who knew me back then, still serving in the ministry there! It was an amazing time- a reunion of sorts. She wanted some pictures with us, saying she was so blessed to see me and know I was still walking with Christ, and passing on the faith to my girls and those in my ministry. She said, "Seeing you reminds of the verse, 'I have no greater joy than knowing my children are walking in the truth.' You are like one of my boys!"

I was blessed immeasureably by this lady- to see and talk with her again, introduce my daughter to her, but mostly for the faith she brought to my family so many years ago. I know the Lord and am in the ministry, in no small part due to her faithfulness to share Christ over the years. And I hope one day to enjoy seeing those I have influenced come back into my life, and see them still walking in the faith as well.

Rob

I'm flying solo as a parent this week- Lisa left Saturday for an 8-day mission trip to Iquitos, Peru. She won't be back until next Saturday. Already, I feel her absence. Ansley went to work on Sat., Kelsey had plans with some friends, so I was left alone with my thoughts. I took a ride on my motorcycle, and felt a loneliness already setting in. Today, me and the girls just hung out after church, ate, watched a movie, and now that they are in bed, I feel the loneliness again. Funny, when you are around someone a lot, or even every night after work, you don't realize how much you rely on them until they are not around. When I'm away at work, or at a conference, camp, etc., I don't feel so separated from her; I know I can call her anytime. Yet now that she is so far away and so completely inaccessable in the jungles of Peru, I feel alone, fractured, incomplete without her close by. I understand a little more of what God talks about when He says of marriage, "The two shall become one flesh"...I don't feel whole when Lisa is so far removed from me.

So I pray for her safety down there while she serves people in His name, and I pray for her safe return...

Rob

I've been reading a book called, "Plastic Jesus" by Eric Sandras, which is about how we have reduced Christianity to a comfortable, packaged, "suburbia" faith, instead of the radical, life-changing, intimate purpose and relationship with Christ it was meant to be.

One section called, "Wearing Someone Else's Shirt", got me thinking last night. The author talked about how we often wear what we think or want to define us, but all too often we are living a lie. I thought of an example from this past week. Ansley had a knee surgery Thursday, and while I was at the surgical center, one of the nurses noticed my t-shirt, a Harley-Davidson shirt from Virginia a friend once gave me. She asked me, "Like your t-shirt! Do you ride?" To which I replied, "Yes, I do." She then said, "My husband and I ride a Road King. What do you ride?" Suddenly, I was faced with a choice- Do I lie and say, "I ride a Heritage Classic" or something like that, or do I tell her the truth? She'll never know, I'll likely never see her again, and its just a small conversation. I chose to be who I was, and told her, "I ride a Yamaha Royal Star- a poor man's Harley!" She exclaimed, "What a cool bike! I have a friend who rides one of those!" I chose honesty, and I'm glad I did.

Sandras says in his book, "Christians who are living in spiritual suburbia are 'just wearing the shirt.' We often profess to be followers of Christ, but are we really following Him into what He has called us to do? Are we fulfilling our unique, God-given purpose? Its possible to say all the right words, yet never surrender our hearts and wills to God's leading. God wants us to live out our calling; He doesn't just want us to wear His shirt." (p. 52)

I want to live the life, not just wear the shirt.

Rob

Friday morning I spent about an hour talking to my mom on the phone. She was on her front porch, reading in Philippians, and reflecting on 3:8- "I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing value of knowing Jesus Christ my Lord..." Often as mom talks, she can sound like she's preaching, and speaking almost poetically as she relates something close to her heart. Over the years, its been easy for me and my brothers to simply smile and respond with, "Yeah, there goes Mom- getting all spiritual again!" But this time, I felt compelled to really listen to her. She spoke of her experiences in life, all that God has brought her through over the miles & years, and the things He has taught her and blessed her with. And yet, like the verse stated, she said she considered it all worthless in view of just knowing Christ as her Savior, Lord, and Friend.

Later in the morning, as I reflected on all she had shared, a couple of things began to occur to me. I suddenly realized, my mother is a sage- a woman of God with great wisdom and insight. The older I get, the more I want to learn from her, hear her life insights. I also began to understand how much like her I really am. Lisa pointed that out to me later in the day that, "You are so much like your mom- such a spiritual heart, seeing God in nature, loving beauty...You are definitely your momma's son!" I never thought of myself like that, but I'm actually honored by the comparison. She has such a heart for God and a deep fellowship with Him, I certainly hope to have a walk like that as I reach her years. She inspires me.

Rob

I'm sitting here reflecting on the weekend- Good Friday to Easter Sunday. I've been reading about the events of that weekend over 2000 years ago- the greatest weekend in the history of the universe. I was reading the 4 Bible accounts of that weekend, and how each writer highlighted and focused on different aspects of the events from Jesus' crucifixion to His resurrection. Taking all 4 together, one gets an incredible look at that weekend- that wild, crazy, amazing weekend. From the brutality of Jesus' final torture and execution on the hill outside the city; His final words to those around Him (including the criminals He was executed with); His final pronouncement, "It is finished"; then the sky going dark; the earthquake that shook the region; the huge, thick Temple veil ripping in half from top to bottom; graves opening up and dead guys walking around the city declaring Jesus is Lord; and a pagan Roman soldier at the foot of the cross, exclaiming, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"; the silent Saturday, followed by the most spectacular Sunday in history- a massive stone rolled aside, angels coming down, Jesus stepping out alive again, and the eye witnesses who saw Him, touched Him, talked to Him, and worshipped Him, then began to tell the world about Him. An amazing weekend, indeed!

I often wonder what it would have been like to have witnessed it all first-hand. And yet, I have been touched by it all- 2000+ years later, the events of that weekend have brought me forgiveness, hope for life beyond this one, help for living in this life, and best of all, a personal relationship & fellowship with the One it was all about anyway. So Easter is the greatest event in the history of the universe, and the certainly the greatest event in the history of my life.

Happy Easter!

Rob

Our family spent spring break in Perdido Key, Fl. The weather was amazing, especially at night- the moon was full while we were there. I went for a 10pm jog down the beach one night, as the moon was rising over the ocean. The higher it got in the night sky, the brighter it seemed to become. It was truly a moment in time, of incredible serenity. I stood on the shore at the end of my run, just worshiping God in all His silent, breathtakingly beautiful creation. I think I stood out there for about an hour, just praying and listening. I didn't want to go in. I didn't hear any profound words from God, just enjoyed fellowshiping with Him out on the shore.

He wants to touch our hearts even in the most simple pleasures and places, if we'll just seek Him & listen...

Rob

This weekend was very eventful around the Brooks house. Saturday morning the Spirit Riders took our first big ride of 2007, with 21 bikers riding beautiful back roads to Greensboro, GA.

Later in the day, Ansley & Kelsey were in the Miss Dacula Pageant at the high school. It was a long night, but in the end Kelsey won her first pageant, being crowned "Miss Freshman Dacula", and Ansley took 1st runner-up honors in "Miss Junior Dacula". A great night for the whole family- we celebrated at Waffle House at midnight! (nothing else was open...)

A long, tiring day, but a great day. A good ride on my bike with good friends, and two pageant princesses in my home. It doesn't get much better than that.

Rob

Tuesday was a "voices from the past" day for me. During its course, I heard from 6 different people from various times of my life over the past 20 or so years. Most joyful, one sad.
I heard from a young lady named Sydney, or better known to me as "Scooter", who was a much-loved teenager in a youth group I pastored back in the late 1980's. She and her husband had moved into our area in the past couple of years, in fact not far from our home, and she had "tracked down her old youth minister". We emailed several times, then she came up to the church to see me- with her cute little toddler son! We sat and talked for a long time, catching up with each other's lives over the miles and years. It was a very heart-warming time for me.
Later in the day, I got an email from an old friend named Jud from my previous church, who I haven't heard from in some years either. And yet he contacted me to inform me of the death of another friend from that church, Russ, who had died the night before. Both men had worked in my children's ministry there, and I was shocked and saddened to hear of his sudden death. I'll be conducting Russ' funeral on Thursday. Jud and I caught each other up on our families, and it was great to hear from him, even though the news about Russ was sad.
Then I got another email from a fellow children's pastor in Miss., Jack, who wanted to say "hi!" and had a couple of ministry questions for me. Jack was my associate children's pastor for a while at my prior church, and it is always good to hear from him.
Lastly, I traveled to Griffin, Ga last evening to teach a conference, and was met there by another old children's pastor friend, a guy named Tracey. He used to be in South Ga., and I did some leadership training for his people there, then spoke at a children's camp for him once. I lost contact with him for several years, then here he is, at this church I was speaking at! "Its a small world after all..."
Strange, wonderful, even a little sad, day it was. But I'm left with a Bible verse God gave me that morning, that I passed on to "Scooter"-
"The Lord your God is with you,
He is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing."
Zephaniah 3:17
I experience this verse almost every day of my life- esp. on days like Tuesday.
Rob

I was reading the other day in Matthew 8, about the time a leper came to Jesus and said, "If you are willing, I know you can heal me." To which Jesus replied, "I'm willing; be healed!" And instantly, his rotting, diseased body was made new- or as my wife said, "new skin- soft as a baby's bottom!" For so many years, I just read that short exchange and moved on, kinda like, "another Jesus-healing...cool..." without really thinking much about it.

I then began to consider how amazing this really was. Leprosy was the most feared disease of the ancient world- worse than we fear AIDS today. It was considered to be highly contagious, and was so gross-looking that those who had it were banished from their communities. In fact, it was thought to be the result of something evil in the person's life, so somehow deserved. They often never felt human touch or affection the rest of their short, painful, miserable lives. How terrible.

And yet here he is, before Jesus, seeking a ray of hope, a thread of help. While everyone in the crowd shrinks back in horror, Jesus steps to him in compassion. For the first time in maybe years, he is spoken to, he is touched, and he is healed. Jesus not only did what no one else could, He did what no one else would.

I am overwhelmed by this encounter, and I am undone. How many times in my life have I passed by hurting people, not wanting to bother, or somehow "grossed-out" by their looks, their lives, their sin, etc. Yet we are called to be the "Hands & Feet" of Jesus, like the Audio Adrenaline song states. If Jesus was compassionate, I must be also. If Jesus touched people, I must also. Its time the Church, the "Body of Christ" as we are called in the Bible, really be His "Hands & Feet". And it must start with me.

Rob

Friday night we took about 160 kids and chaperones "cosmic bowling" out in Athens. We brought in a truckload of pizza & soft drinks, and we had the whole place booked out. It was a blast- just a fun-filled night spent with our kids playing and bowling the night away. Teaching our kids on Sundays and Wednesdays is always great joy, and spending time with them in just plain fun just adds to the joy. We look forward to a great year in the children's ministry in 2007.
Rob

Today we added a new family member to the Brooks household- We bought a small female ball python! She's about 18" long, is very tame and friendly, and has beautiful colors and patterns. Ansley and Kelsey already love her, Lisa is still undecided...
I had snakes growing up- a boa from 6 yrs. old until I was 22, as well as various other kinds over those years. Lisa never liked snakes, so I never had any again since we've been married. Over the past couple of years, though, I've caught numerous snakes in our yard, and several kids in the children's ministry have bought snakes, so I've regained the old interest in them. Ball pythons are perfect snake pets- they don't get very big (3-4' long), are very tame, almost never bite, and get very comfortable with people. Molly, as we named ours, hopefully will do well with us- we'll certainly do our best to give her a good home. They've been known to live over 40 years- wow, my grandkids could inherit her one day!
Like so many of God's creatures, she is beautiful, and really is a testament to His creativity. So now a new adventure begins in the Brooks home!
Rob

Today I had the extra special privilege of conducting the wedding for my youngest brother, Mark. He and Missy had been dating off and on for several years, and just a month or so past Mark's 38th birthday, they finally got married. Mark had been single all his years, but Missy had been married before, and brings two kids into the marriage. They dearly love Mark, and he loves them, and the ceremony we did included them in a special way. Missy's daughter sang the song, "God Bless the Broken Road", which was very appropriate to both- not only in the development of their relationship over the years, but also in the personal journey each has made to get to each other here. Mark has long lived away from the Lord, but in recent years has begun to come back to Christ, and Missy gave her life to Christ in the last couple of years herself. Their journey and new life now together is all living proof of God's faithfulness, when we love and live for Him. He truly "causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him, and are called according to His purposes." Romans 8:28
Rob