Only God Can !!!

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Southbrook Church Monroe
Grand Opening was "Only God"

See and read all about it by clicking here.


And there is more here.

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Monroe Campus Grand Opening

A message to "Brookies" and "Lookies"

I know that some of you wonder, “What is it that happens at Southbrook, and what can you compare it to in life.”
















I’ll answer this with excitement, envisioning a small child looking at a huge, very old carousel with the big horses, zebras and various animals going up and down, while rows of seats are not moving at all. Onlookers only watching. Yet the carousel keeps turning to the music. It’s original design and colors have not changed since it was designed and created long, long ago. The onlookers continue to stare at it, talk about it, try to figure the patterns, the reasoning behind the design, yet it doesn’t change or even stop except to let people on or off (their choice) All along the music continues... The carousel only changes when people scratch their own thoughts into the back of the seats or on the painted surfaces of the animals.

Isn’t it funny how only those who choose to get on the ride have an opportunity to reach for the golden ring. (The free gift of eternity).

Friends, Guests, Members, God has brought you into a very special house of His called Southbrook, where a man of God like Pastor Rob has been anointed with His divine vision and an uncanny ability to hear The Holy Spirit, and it speaks thru him.

Who me? Volunteer? Part 1

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Churches, Schools, Scouting, Youth sporting leagues, Libraries, Hospitals, Animal shelters, Special Olympics, Adult sporting leagues, Nursing homes, Volunteer Fire Departments, Hospice care, Habitat for Humanity, Samaritans Purse, PBS stations, Hurricane relief, flood relief...The list of places you can volunteer goes on and on, both locally and as far away as your heart will take you.

What is a volunteer any way? Isn’t it just someone who shows up once in a while when “that” feeling hits ya, and helps out doing things you “like” to do? Justified with “at least” I did…… so and so didn’t even show up or call… Hey Jay, kiss my _ _ _ _. Who the H E double hockey sticks do you think you are coming off like that??? Whoa big boy/gal. I was talking about me. Yes me. Years and years ago. Been there, done that, OK?

Take a look at the US Military. It’s a volunteer army. Signing up is an option. Re-upping is an option. What if only ½ of the front line didn’t show up for battle? What if most of the front line didn’t show up for battle when needed? Slaughter and collapse of a great nation, either abroad or at home.

Let’s look a bit closer to home at hurricane Katrina, 9-11, the never ending Tornado Alley, and the yearly homeless chased out of their nooks and crannies by Old Man Winter, families where both parents have recently lost their jobs. Most, yes most of the help and rescue comes from volunteers.

What is it that these volunteers have in common? My guess is they feel a burden and a need to sooth it. The Apostle Paul said to the people of Galatia, “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” Then he very pointedly stated “If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.” Again, my guess is that true volunteers feel the burden of others and get out there and help those in need with a lift even of it ain’t convenient.

So what is this “Law of Christ” that we are to obey? And where do we find it written? Good question. It is God’s own Words to us. In the book of Matthew, the Pharisees who were kind of like our Supreme Court Justice’s back then, were experts in religious law. One of them, more than likely a Senior Pharisee tested Jesus with this question, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" Jesus said to him, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” Mat 22: 35-40 NIV.

I think the Pharisees were just handed a Royal smack down, the big slam, like egotistical wrestlers struttin’ round the outer edges of the rink, full of self glory, self righteousness, and self importance. Egging the audience on to cheer for them. And that’s when Jesus comes up behind him, tapped on his shoulder, smiled and then spoke… “Bam” down goes the Pharisee into nothingness.

But…I thought the egotistical wrestler won the match with his strength and honed skills? (just like the know –it-all Pharisee’s thought…). As we’ll see next, the announcer grabs the microphone and says with deep loud spoken Words taken directly from Galatians 6:7-10 “Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. ( Hey, it gets better so don’t miss this part…) So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.”

Wow, God says “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good.” This is awesome. Why? Because if God says so in His Word, then He’ll make sure we have the strength do so. It’s not about us having the strength but asking and relying on His strength to continue to help others and volunteer.

This is a good point to stop for now, so…take out your Bible’s, click on your Bibles, however you choose and read the passages above yourself. Then take a few minutes to quietly ask your heavenly Father to help you with the strength and an open heart for volunteering at your local church or where ever He leads you too.

In His love for all He has done for us,

Jay

The Crowds