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

Over the Christmas weekend, we experienced a painful loss in the children's ministry. Floyd Hodges, aka "Prof. Gadget", died of complications from something similar to pneumonia. Floyd's wife died suddenly from cancer back in July, and Floyd became ill not long after that, and never recovered. I've known Floyd ever since I came to Hebron, and he has served as our "Time Machine" professor, a Sunday School teacher, bus driver, VBS leader, etc. He was a long-standing, loved leader in our children's ministry, and a good personal friend. What is also sad about his passing is that his and Cindy's daughter has lost both parents, and within 6 months. My heart breaks, not only for losing a friend, but for a young girl who has lost both parents. That is most sad to me.
Rob

I was thinking today about the tremendous, life-changing experience the birth of Christ was to His earthly dad, Joseph. Here he is, a simple construction worker in Nazareth, getting ready for his upcoming marriage to his bride-to-be, Mary. Nothing extraordinary about him- just a regular, working class guy. Then he finds out his fiancé is pregnant, obviously NOT by him! I can’t imagine the horror, shock, anger, fear, and sorrow he must have felt. But being a good guy, he was just planning to break everything off quietly, try to pick up the pieces and get on with his life- until the night an angel came to him, with some incredible news…
I found that, in the book of Matthew, an angel spoke to Joseph a total of 4 times, from the first revelation that Mary was carrying the Messiah, to the final word that it was safe to go back home from Egypt. No matter what his circumstances looked like, no matter what anyone might have thought, no matter how crazy it all seemed- Joseph trusted and followed God, and reaped the blessing of helping raise up God in human skin.

Imagine- those rough, calloused hands cradling Divinity; those worn-down fingernails tickling holy infant toes and nose; those thick arms playfully wrestling with the toddler God; stopping the cart, because his 10-year old son, who also happens to be the Lord of all the universe, wants to ride to the supply store with him. It must have been amazing almost every day to think that, “this cute little kid running around my house is the Lord God Almighty in human skin. And I’m teaching Him to fish and play ball and swing a hammer without smashing His fingers.” Wow.

We don’t hear anymore about Joseph after Jesus turned 12. All we know about him we find in the first few chapters of Matthew and Luke. But I know one thing- he was a man blessed by God, no doubt. And I look forward to meeting him someday, and hearing his stories about being “dad” to the Son of God. I’m sure he has some incredible stories to tell…
Rob

I've been watching a Christmas special on tv with the Brookyn Tabernacle Choir. This choir has been raising praise to Christ for over 30 years, and itself is an amazing story. It is made up of people from all walks of life- executives and janitors, business owners and construction workers, waitresses and immigrants, "red & yellow, black & white". There are also many former drug addicts, prostitutes, and criminals- all changed by Jesus Christ, and living for Him. As I see the incredible diversity of this choir, and the whole church they represent, I am reminded of what the Bible says about the Kingdom of God- "from every tribe and language and people and nation." Rev.5:9
Christ came into this world to show us the Father's love, and bring us back to Him. And when He comes back, eternity will be filled with the praises of those who have "loved His appearing." If viewing that choir is any hint, it will be nothing short of fantastic!
Rob

I took my family to see the new film, "The Nativity Story" Sunday night. What a fantastic movie! It accurately and vividly portrays the birth of Jesus accounts of both Matthew and Luke, making the pages come alive on the screen. I loved it- during parts of the film I was so caught up in the story I choked up as "the greatest story ever told" came to life in front of my eyes. So often, we think of the birth of our Savior only in terms of our porcelin nativity scenes and "baby Jesus" pictures & ornaments. This film puts the human faces on the most beloved birth in history, telling their story in such an amazing way. This story is our story, the reason for our faith and hope. This is a must-see for Christmas, for the whole family.
Rob

Thanksgiving this past week was a special time for us. We spent Wednesday down in Fayette with Lisa's side of the family, then hosted Thanksgiving day at our house. Lisa's parents came back up for it, as did my mom & dad, and several family friends, including our own Mr. Mitch from RockiTown. We had a full house, with TONS of food! We ate, ate, & ate, then watched some football (naturally), before some folks had to head for home. Later on, several of us loaded up and went to Dave & Busters, blowing some $ on video games and stuff. In all, we had a lively, food-filled, great time with family & friends. I am so thankful to my Father for His many, many gifts in my life, especially for the people that mean so much to me. Possessions & things come and go in our lives, but the relationships are what stand the test of time, especially when they are founded in Jesus Christ- that means we will have each other forever. And for that, I am most thankful.
Rob

I spent the day today raking and blowing leaves. We have lots of trees on our property, a mix of pine and various hardwoods. Across the fall, the hardwoods display brilliant colors of every variety. Its spectacular! Yet ultimately, these colors fade and fall- leaving wrinkled, rotting piles all around. So after the beautiful colors comes the long cleanup- blowing, raking, piling, burning. Its kind of depressing, actually- the colors are gone, and there's nothing anyone can do about it. And yet I know there are things that will never fade- God's Word, His love, His presence, His gifts in my life. And I know the things to come will never fade, fall, or decay. I know my Heavenly Father will fill and fulfill all our heart's desires and longings in His time, in His way.
Winter's coming, but it won't last, either. So I'll "rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him."
Rob
"The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of the Lord endures forever." 1 Peter 1:24

Today I took a ride with several Spirit Riders friends out to Comer, Ga., to the Watson Mill Bridge. This is one of the oldest covered bridges in the state, and was featured in the movie, "The Bridges of Madison County." It was built in the late 1800's, and was restored about 30 years ago. I always enjoy historical places, and this bridge trip was very enjoyable. With the leaves falling off the trees, and the weather getting colder, its time to get out and enjoy the sights and sounds while you can.
Rob

As You Vote- Count the Cost
As Americans go to the polls this Tuesday, we have much to consider. We must decide what kind of America we want to leave for our children.
We face a global threat unlike any we have ever faced before. How we respond to this threat may well determine our future. There are radicals in the world who hate us deeply, and want to conquer or destroy us. They do not want to dialogue with us- they want to destroy us.
So, what will our policy be? How will we respond long-term? Will we be led by those who believe America is at fault, that we must somehow appease and make amends, that our own soldiers are war-mongers and imbeciles? Will we grant leadership to those who would have us pull out of the battlefields we are on, abandoning our ideals and those we fight alongside? Or will we see that our lives & freedoms are worth fighting for, no matter the cost or duration?
What if, in WWII, we had pulled out of Normandy after D-Day, following the thousands of casualties of the first few days? Or if we had withdrawn from Luzon, Iwo Jima, or Okinawa, with the tens of thousands of casualties in those battles alone? What would a world have looked like under the rule of Nazism, Fascism, & Imperialism? Now, what would a world look like cowering under the fear of radical Islam & terrorism? Do we want a world under the influence of "Sharia"? There are those in the world that do...
So- who should lead us- those who say the cost is too high, the cause wrong, and that we are "stuck in Iraq"? Or will we be led by those who hold the conviction that we must "stay the course", no matter the cost?
I say we are fighting for our lives against those who would take it, and I say its better to fight the enemy in his back yard, rather than our back yards.
Some things to think about. Now go vote.
Rob

I love the colors of fall. I'm amazed and dazzled every year by the incredible display of hues in creation. From bright yellows, to neon oranges, and rich reds, no artist ever painted with more vivid colors. As far as the beauty you can see in creation, I think I enjoy the fall more than the spring. There are even flowers blooming in the fall, adding to the brilliance! Over the past couple of weekends, I've ridden my motorcycle on short trips around North Georgia, and have been awed by the colors everywhere- God's ever-changing canvas on the mountains, hills, fields, and the sky. As the late songwriter Rich Mullins penned, "There's so much beauty around us, for just two eyes to see; but everywhere I go, I'm looking..."
I believe Heaven's beauty will truly be beyond our comprehension. I believe God's heavens and earth will be perfected and free from death, decay, and disruption. I can't say this for sure, but I believe the new earth will display all the colors of spring, summer and fall, altogether. Imagine for instance- a cherry blossom tree with its white flowers out, and its leaves fully orange, at the same time! In fact, all the flowering trees and plants, in full bloom and full fall color, set against the greens of evergreens, and the bluest skies ever seen- forever.
I'm just imagining, as I sit here and gaze out my front porch window...
"According to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells." 2 Peter 3:13
Rob