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

Last weekend I got to participate in something that was a huge honor for me. Hebron hosted the funeral for Lance Cpl. Stephen Johnson, the soldier I talked about in my last blog. The Spirit Riders motorcycle group was invited to participate in the funeral procession, along with members of CMA and a group called the Patriot Guard Riders. These bikers are a group from across America that attend the funerals of fallen soldiers, to honor them with color guards, and to insure any protestors don't show up and get close enough to disturb and disrespect the family.
We rode at the beginning of the funeral procession to the cemetary, and provided flags at both the church and the cemetary. This was a great honor for all of us involved, and humbling to have been invited by the family to participate. Whatever anyone may feel about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, our young men and women are there fighting terror for us and the people of those countries, so we won't have to fight them here in our own backyard. For that, we owe Stephen Johnson and all our armed forces a debt of gratitude.
Rob

This weekend I was the on-call pastor, taking emergency calls from our people in need. I got a call Saturday from a new family in our church, trying to reach a pastor for prayer. Their son was serving in Iraq with the Marines, and his company had been attacked by enemy insurgents. His Humvee had been blown up, and he had been blown out of the top of it. The family here had been told he was MIA- missing in action. They did not know where he was, and after 14+ hours had no clue what had happened to him. The company had been attacked near a water canal, and some thought he had been blown into the water, but there was no trace of him. I took their call, and went to their house, praying with the family and spending time with them. The worry, the not-knowing, all caused a lot of fear and stress. I tried to bring as much hope & comfort as I could.
Today, they got the word that their son had been found, and he was dead. I went back over there this evening, spending more time comforting and helping any way I could. They were grieved at the news of his death, but relieved to finally know what had happened. Their soldier son was a believer in Jesus, really living his faith, and the family took great comfort in that. The days and weeks to come will be difficult, but they know God knows and feels their hurt, and will be near to them in this time. They also know they will see their son again, as we all will see the Son, never to be saddened by separation again. That brings me great hope as well.
"We do not grieve as those who have no hope..."
Rob

October 1st was a day of real worship for me. I woke to a beautiful morning, and thanked my Father in Heaven for its quiet splendor. At church, the worship in our RockiTown kid's church was amazing- kids singing out loud with all their voice & heart, spontaneously standing, raising hands, closing their eyes, etc. We could feel the presence & pleasure of God in that room, both hours. I enjoyed an afternoon with Lisa, talking and swinging on the porch, as our girls were off with friends. It was satisfying, intimate fellowship and conversation. At the evening service, a group called "Praise in Motion" led us in worship through ballet set to praise music. It was captivating. Young women dancing their worship of God was a beautiful sight, and our hearts were caught up the moment. Women are so exploited in our society, yet this was their beauty as God intended it to be seen. On the way home, I saw a colorful sunset, painted across the sky as with brushstrokes, and I worshipped as I rode.
Worship is so much more than standing and singing some songs out of a book, or listening to someone else sing, "Amazing Grace." Real worship is our response to the presence of God, and flows freely from us when we open ourselves to experience Him. That is often out in His creation for me- and yet today it was with His people, in two different settings. It was an extraordinary day.
Rob

Wednesday I took the day off to do something with my parents & brothers that we never have done before- we all went for a motorcycle ride! One of my brothers flew in from TX, the other came up from Locust Grove, and they both rented bikes, then we all went for a day of riding together. We rode through towns all around Lake Oconee where my parents live, and it was an incredible time. We also stopped in Rutledge for lunch together, just the "original Brooks 5", another thing we haven't done since we were all back in school.
Yet as our day came to a close, it all ended on a sour note. I had left for my home, and my dad, mom, and brothers rode the rentals back. Mark took one bike, Rick the other, and on the way there, my dad got to ride Rick's rental some. Not far down the road, in a tight corner, my dad lost control of the big bike, went into the dirt/pinestraw in the corner, and slid out, himself flying off the bike. He sustained 5 rib fractures, 3 pelvic fractures, and ended up at Atlanta Medical Center. Amazingly, upon x-ray, his bones had all reconnected, and everything was where it was supposed to be! By Thursday p.m., the docs sent him home, saying, "There's nothing we can do for you here that you can't do for yourself- Go home!" Today, he is sore & stiff, but getting around pretty good. I told him he's like an old wild turkey- wrinkly, stubborn, and tough. He even plans to get back on and ride again in a few weeks- in his OWN bike, thankfully!
I'm blessed with great families- both in the one I was born into, and the one I nurture now.
Rob

I just got back from a 4-day road trip with my dad. We rode our bikes up into N. Carolina to the Blue Ridge Parkway, and rode it, the Cherohala Skyway, the Foothills Parkway, and famed "Tail of the Dragon", US 129, among other roads in NC, TN & N. Ga. Four days of fun riding, breathtaking mountains & valleys, and great fellowship with my father, and our Father. Riding up there in the higher elevations of the Smoky Mountains is both awe-inspiring and dangerous. A fellow biker wiped out up on the Blue Ridge, right after this picture was made, and we were the first to come up on him and help. The sights we saw, the experiences we had, and fellowship we enjoyed made it among the most memorable times of my life. We both found a deeper friendship as father and son, and found a deeper worship and intimacy with our Heavenly Father, up there on those roads, among those mountains. The sad part is always when the journey ends, and you must come back to civilization (such as it is!). And yet I know, from the very heart of God, that a day will come when the adventure will never end, the discoveries will never cease, the fellowship will never be broken, and the beauty will be eternal & unblemished. For then, as Tolkien wrote, "The road goes ever on..."
"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, what God has prepared for those who love Him..." 1 Corinthians 2:9
Rob
p.s. Check out some of our ride pics- http://spiritriders.net/v-web/gallery/

Yesterday I turned 43 years old (young). I had spent the morning riding my bike and meeting my parents for lunch, and when my girls got home from school, they said they each wanted to take me out for my birthday present. I went to the mall with Anlsey, then to a motorcycle shop with Kelsey. I had two great "daddy & daughter" times, in the same day! When Kels and I got back to the house, we walked in and "SURPRISE!!!" a bunch of the RockiTown leaders and families shocked me nearly to death with a birthday party! I nearly had a heart attack! Totally caught me by surprise. I'll post some pics as soon as some of them send me a few. Anyway, we ate, talked, laughed together on into the evening. What a great time it was. The older I get, the less I expect big things for birthdays (you want to forget them, if possible!), but the more I look forward to times with family and good friends. And these folks are among my very closest friends. I'm thankful for family and friends in the Lord- we'll always have each other in Him!
Rob

This past week Lisa & I spent our 19th wedding anniversary in Perdido Key, Florida. We had some much-needed alone time, and we got to do some fun things down there as well. We ate at several local favorite restaurants, took long walks down the beach, and visited the nearby Pensacola Naval Air Museum. That was a fascinating trip! We also found the Pensacola Lighthouse, the first one built on the Gulf Coast. It is 150 ft. high, and 175 steps to the top! The weather for our time was warm and mostly sunny, and we completely enjoyed being away from the busyness of our daily lives. I think the older I get, and the longer Lisa & I are together, the more I deeply love her, and the more I want to do things together with her. The girls are everything to us, but we know one day soon they will go on to make their own lives. When they do, we want to make sure we don't have to get reacquainted, that we can spend the rest of our lives enjoying the years together.

This past Sunday we did a special promotion for our 5th graders before they move up to middle school this week. We had a gameshow for all of them to be contestants in, they selected all the music, and we showed funny video highlights they wanted to see from the past several years. I challenged them to have courage, make wise choices, and follow Christ, based on the story of Paul's nephew in Acts 23. I gave them an equation for life, to sum up what we hoped for them-

Live what you learn + Do the right thing = God's blessings

Good code to live by- so few Christians today learn (much less live) God's Word, so few make wise choices based on His Word, and yet they all want God's blessings. We told the kids that God honors those who honor Him. That's a truth all of God's "children" need to heed.
Rob

This past weekend one of our well-known children's leaders lost his wife to cancer. She had only been diagnosed with it back the end of June, and now she was gone. The shock and sadness of a loss so sudden and unexpected was hard to comprehend. I was thinking about it today, because so far in my life, I've not lost anyone really close to me. It was sad when each of my grandparents died, but I was not extremely close to any of them, since they had lived far away most of my life. When I think about my own parents aging, and about getting older myself, I find myself thinking about Heaven and eternity more. Its hard for us to imagine it, since all we know is this life, this place. I can't imagine the pain it will be when my parents pass on, or if my wife, girls, brothers, or close friends were to die. But we live in this life for only a short while, then God promises us a place of no tears, no goodbyes, no ending. The older I get, the more I find comfort in that, though I can't completely comprehend it yet.
No more death, no more goodbyes, no more funerals- How I long for that day!
"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes,..." Revelation 7:17
Rob

We got back today from an overnight caving trip with a group of our graduated 5th graders. We took them up to Sweetwater, TN to the Lost Sea Caverns. We arrived for supper and then the standard "tourist" tour- a view of the special formations, the walking tour, and the glass-bottom boat ride on the underground lake. Then we got "The Wild Tour"- with guides, we climbed, crawled, and squeezed our way through undeveloped parts of the caverns over about 2 hours. It was a blast! We got dirty, tired, and were definitely cured of any claustrophobia we may have had! We then camped out in the caverns, and left after breakfast this morning. The whole trip was a great time to spend with our 5th graders before they move up to middle school in a couple of weeks. We also spent some time talking about things they will face in their teen years, and how to keep anchored to Christ. I pray that the kids coming up and through our kid's ministry will "live what they learned", and always remember the times we have shared together.
Rob

I'm writing this from Kid's Camp, up in Anderson, SC. We finished our final night here, and its been an amazing week! We carried 378 kids & leaders here, and have enjoyed awesome, fun worship with Brent Weber, crazy daily comedy skits with our teen intern team, great water games with our Rec. staff, lots of swimming at the city water park, and good Bible studies on the "Armor of God". Tonight, we shared the Gospel of salvation with the camp, and had 27 kids want to trust Jesus Christ! Then we had a celebration talent show, and it was so much fun watching our kids cheer each other on. Truly, its been one of those times that, even as an adult you find yourself thinking, "I would love to just stay in this moment, feel this love & joy, enjoy this family-feel, forever." And we will, one day in Heaven. This has definitely been a little taste of what's to come. I'm drinking this up, looking forward to the day we'll never "put the cup down".
Rob

4th of July weekend was a great time for me and my family. My brother, Rick, came from Texas with his family, and my youngest brother, Mark, was there all weekend, as well. It had been several years since our whole family was together at one time- we had not even been able to get together on major holidays in at least 3 years, maybe longer! We all spent Sunday through Tuesday together- my family, Rick's family, Mark, and my Mom & Dad. It was refreshing to be all together again. As kids, my brothers and I fought constantly; now, we look forward to times we can be together. Its funny- I'm the oldest, but I'm often mistaken as the youngest! I'm the shortest, have the most hair, and the least gray. I certainly enjoy that, and rub it in with them when I can!
Its always good to get together with those who mean alot to you, yet always sad to say goodbye. I look forward to the day, in Heaven, when ALL those we have loved, those who have followed Christ, will celebrate together, and never say goodbye. What a reunion that will be....
Rob

I was reading in Psalms the other morning, and found myself in Psalm 42. It begins with the following- "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for Thee, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?"
I got thinking about that, how David hungered and thirsted for fellowship with the living Lord. We often "thirst" for so many other things- recognition, material things, relationships, etc. Yet Jesus says, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled." I often chase after the wrong things, and thirst for things that won't really satisfy my soul. David had it right- those who thirst for God, who really devote their lives to knowing, loving, and living for Him, they will be deeply and eternally satisfied. That's where I want to find my thirst quenched, as well.
Rob

We just finished a week of Vacation Bible School, and it was a blast! We did a western theme called "Treasure Canyon", sharing with kids the real treasure of knowing Jesus Christ as one's Savior and Lord, and living for Heaven with Him, where the real treasure is. We had over 1700 attend every day, and saw 101 kids come to Jesus Christ. A lot of people made this incredible week happen, and I'm amazed at how our folks pour themselves heart and soul into this every year. It takes so much work to get ready for, and it is so much fun all week, its almost sad when it over! Oh well, Camp is up next, and that's always a big time, too!
Rob

This weekend I had a most amazing, memorable experience. I got to perform a wedding renewal ceremony of my good friends, Tommy & Tracy. They have been through much difficulty over the last few years, and I have been privileged to be there to help, encourage, and support them through it all. As Tracy wanted to surprise Tommy with this ceremony on their anniversary, I was overwhelmed with the tremendous honor to be asked to perform it. As they stood before each other, and their girls stood with them, I thought about everything that brought all of us to this point. I thought, "Of all the places I could be, and of all the things I could have done with my life- I wouldn't trade being here with them today for anything in the world." So often ministry is hard, thankless work, but when you really get involved with people and live life together, its very humbling and rewarding to be there in the important, memorable times in their lives. I love what I do- moments like that with Tommy & Tracy, and times like RockiTown, VBS, camps, etc., make the difficulties of ministry worth it all.
Rob