It was night 2 of SummerJam and it was inCREDIBLE!!

First of all we started the day going down to the river and meeting with Bert from the Mayor's Office who is in charge of all graffiitti removal so we painted over the area under the Peace Bridge and off the Porter Exit by the railroad track... The Mayor met us out on the work site and said some really nice things to the students! Bert told Joshua he thought we knocked about 9000 sq ft of grafittii out... many hands make light work!

We came back to Renovation and had lunch and then got ready for the SJ program which starts at 5.00 ea night. I asked Glenn our Super SummerJam Chef how many pieces of (fabulous) chicken he had to grill... 380 alright I said I hope it last... it did until the 381st person showed up! We did run out but hew that meant we had a bunch of people!

We had another incredible night of energy packed teaching, singing, drama, dance, video... so much energy it was awesome.

We had over 120 new people show up last night... we had a total of 430 counting volunteers!!!!

God is rocking @ 567 Hertel Ave... come check it out!

Are you serious? We have experienced the amazing activity of God in such incredible ways over the last few weeks...

Friday night rocked as we saw a cast of 55 (25 different HS represented) students from all over Buffalo put on a great production of Romeo and Juliet reMIX... we had over 550 people JAM into the Auditorium... it was a moment i shalt not soon forgeteth!

We then got ready for an exceptional Sunday morning Gathering as we had me pastor, Jerry Gillis come down and wrap up the Simply Irresistible Series for us as he gave a great challenge to us by unpacking a difficult parable that Jesus gave us some 2000 years ago but is still crazy relevant today... we talked about being not good but great stewards/managers of what God has entrusted to each one of us! It is our final value we want to champion at Renovation... Stewardship of Life.

We were also joined by some of our friends to help lead us in ridiculously great worship... Julius just nailed Never Would Have Made It... Renee, Crystal, EC, Marshall thanks for hanging with us also you guys rocked it and blessed us all!

We were joined by a small army of HS/college students from my bro's youth group in Willmington NC... 70 of them rolled in late Saturday night so it was great having all of those amped up students in our gathering at 11.00!

We then had a great "GettinReadyforSummerJam Party" Sunday night as we got ready for our kickoff tonight!

So today the students joined by about 15 of our own students and workers started the day by hearing a great friend and local pastor Matt Brown give a dynamic challenge... then they all got busy... very busy working all around our campus! We got a years worth of work done in one day!! Many hands make light work especially when you have 190 hands and feet with 95 passionate hearts!

Which all of that led up to our SummerJam kick-off tonight at 5.00...

Would anybody come...?

Yes they would or I should say they did! we had some 200 of our neighbors from NW Buffalo join us for a great dinner (thanks Glenn and team) along with our work team we fed over 300 people...

We had a great first night of programs... Jon's students just blew us away by leading all of the small group environments... everybody was super engaged... most had never heard, seen, or experienced anything like what they did tonight!

Can't wait to see how many we get back tomorrow night!

I am still blown away and pumped but dead-dog tired so more updates tomorrow... Renovation everybody needs to try to come out at least one night... we had a lot of just regular Renovation folks being a part of tonight... I know the Cockrell kids loved it! 

Ok I give up... throw in the white towel...uncle... Lord could we get a little summer around here especially next week!

Kevin O'Connell said it is the coldest July in like 50 years! 

Anywho we are celebrating a great Riverside Family Fun Day this week but really getting ready for Romeo and Juliet REmix this Friday night & SummerJAM stRTING Monday night both right here @ the RC!

FIrst of all let me say way to go RC for buying some 100 plus tickets for the Romeo Juliet REmix for this Friday night at 7.00 pm! I love the culture that is developing at Renovation as we see a need or a chance to bless... we jump in! TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE at the door so if you didn't get at ticket Sunday grab some friends and come on... it is going to blow you away as you see these kids bring a little Shakespeare to 716! Some of these students call Renovation home ... like Juliet so come on and celebrate what these kids have achieved and be moved to tears as I have just by watching rehearsal... it is a compelling retelling of the old story so DO NOT MISS IT!

Then Saturday we are getting ready as 70 HS/College students and adults drive in from Willmington NC (get here around midnight) to partner with us to put on SummerJam an experience for the entire family. They will be staying on our campus along with about 15 of our student/adults through out the week.

We will be doing work projects around the area by day and putting on the SummerJam program in the evening!

This Sunday night form 4.00 - 7.00 we will be having our "Getting Ready for SummerJam Party" as we get our campus all ready for the week... putting up temporary fencing... cleaning the campus... praying for the week!

We are also closing out our Simply Irresistible Series this Sunday... I have loved this series because I sense it has helped many people understand who we are and what we are about and what we want to get after in the days to come! I have loved the drama team helping us every week! We will be doing more of that in the future (who knows what thespians lurch at RC) 

Speaking about Sunday... just a heads up if I were you I would not miss it... the worship in song is going to be awesome... we got some friends hanging with us... DO NOT BE LATE because you will see and hear something you probably have never seen at "church!"

Gotta go to a meeting for SummerJam... have a great day RC!

We had a weekend to remember!

Riverside Family Fun Day was a huge success!

We had over 200 volunteers!

We fed lunch to over 1300 people...

We had 56 agencies partnering with us to engage, equip, instruct, encourage the community of NW Buffalo

We had some great entertainment by local musicians on the stage

We had tons of kids having a great time in the Kidzone sponsored by our friends @ ABC Rental

We had people leaving the event loaded up with helpful information from how to start a savings account to where to go for literacy development

We had FUN

We built a bridge relationally

We turned on lights spiritually for hundreds of people

We showed NW Buffalo the muscle and love of Christ's Church

We got to see a bit of "Up There" down here in Riverside Park

Thank you to everybody who helped... all the churches and organizations!

THEN we moved to today and we kept the theme we started last week... 

We grow more in circles than we do in rows...

We talked about Strategic Service or serving strategically... Applying our hearts and our hands to the place of greatest demand.

We are taking a hard look and asking God where He wants us to plug-in both in GroupLife and in Strategic Service over the next few weeks as we get ready for a new year!

I can't wait to see and to hear all the new stories of people over the next year how their walk with Jesus Christ has gone to a "whole nother level" since they engaged their lives strategically to be in community and to serve in community!

Today was a great day... blows me away every week to see the activity of God throughout Renovation!

We have a busy week as we get ready to host Romeo & Juliet REmix... 7.00 in the Renovation Auditorium

and getting ready for SUMMERJAM!

Thank You Father God!

Hanging out early at the offices today... a beautiful morning once again! 

Thinking about and praying about the next two weeks fro us at RC. We are about to embark on the craziest two weeks of our short existence as Elmwood or RC as it relates to building bridges relationally and turning on lights spiritually in our community.

Saturday is Riverside Family Fun Day which if the weather holds out should be a great day of partnering with Victory Assembly, True Remnant and The Chapel at Crosspoint... can't wait to see The Church exercising her gifts, abilities and passion in a concentrated place and effort!

We have 50 agencies coming together in order to give help and assistance to people, kids, families in NW Buffalo.

Then we have Peace of the CIty's... Romeo and Juliet (reMIX) coming to the stage Friday night at 7.00... these kids are going to blow you away! Some of these kids would not be able to do this last summer... because they didn't posses the power of reading and understanding a script... but because of the Ephraim Initiative and the investment of mentors and the hard work of these kids - you will see them onstage performing Shakespeare for crying out loud!

You can get advanced tickets only at RC this Sunday... $2 for adults, $1 for kids... love to PACK the Aud out!

Then we turn around and get ready for SummerJam starting that Monday night!

80 students/adults will roll in about midnight Saturday (night after Romeo Juliet...yikes) ... we will finish our Simply Irresistible Series that morning and then have a "Gettin-Ready" Party from 4.00 - 7.00 Sunday night... we will have to put temporary fencing up around the front of the campus, put a tent up, clear the stage and then put the SummerJam Set in place for the week, get all the rooms ready in Renovation Station... we will take some time to pray together for the week asking God to go before us and to help us have the needed hands and hearts to let this community know that we love them and most important that God loves them!

So the next two weeks are going be off the hook! 

Don't miss out on being a part of History... HiS-story... For His glory and for our great benefit!

Then my enemies will turn back  when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me.

Psalms 56:9

Wow what a statement of good news!

Charles Spurgeon wrote these words 

It is impossible for any human speech to express the full meaning of this delightful phrase, “God is for me.” He was “for us” before the worlds were made; he was “for us,” or he would not have given his well-beloved son; he was “for us” when he smote the Only-begotten, and laid the full weight of his wrath upon him—he was “for us,” though he was against him; he was “for us,” when we were ruined in the fall—he loved us notwithstanding all; he was “for us,” when we were rebels against him, and with a high hand were bidding him defiance; he was “for us,” or he would not have brought us humbly to seek His face.

He has been “for us” in many struggles; we have been summoned to encounter hosts of dangers; we have been assailed by temptations from without and within—how could we have remained unharmed to this hour if he had not been “for us”? He is “for us,” with all the infinity of his being; with all the omnipotence of his love; with all the infallibility of his wisdom; arrayed in all his divine attributes, he is “for us,”—eternally and immutably “for us;” “for us” when yon blue skies shall be rolled up like a worn out vesture; “for us” throughout eternity.

And because he is “for us,” the voice of prayer will always ensure his help. “When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies be turned back.” This is no uncertain hope, but a well grounded assurance—“this I know.” I will direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up for the answer, assured that it will come, and that mine enemies shall be defeated, “for God is for me.”

O believer, how happy art thou with the King of kings on thy side! How safe with such a Protector! How sure thy cause pleaded by such an Advocate!

If God be for thee, who can be against thee?

Woke up to the most beautiful morning you could hope for in the middle of July! 

Caleb and I headed to church to get ready for a fun day at the RC... pancakes on us was the theme this morning.

We set up a couple of tents on the front yard and a crew of people cooked pancakes and sausages for anybody and everybody that wanted them!

I just get blown away to see Renovation team members jump in and get done what needs to get done!

That was again the case today.

Today was week 5 of Simply Irresistible and the core value we talked about today was Authentic Community.

We were meant to live life in relationships and community not alone.

We talked today about how when we first start our spiritual journey and we find ourselves coming to a gathering of Christ followers... called Church... that we hear things for the first time or maybe again for the first time and because our hearts and minds are in a place that is more sensitive to the Holy Spirit we grow. 

We take steps... toward Christ which is great.

But if all we do is come and sit in rows we will hit a lid, we will find ourselves feeling like there is more or that there should be more... which would be correct.

You see we will never reach the potential in our relationship with Jesus Christ or with others if all we do is stay in rows but when we move from rows to circles that is when we will see more significant transformation in our lives.

Circles of relationships, friends... purposeful, significant, strategic relationships... life on life.

If you missed today I gotta say it was one of the most enjoyable gatherings we have ever had!

Instead of talking about community we experienced it.

We moved the rows out and put up tables.

I loved the buzz of conversations all around... new relationships started with people who we have seen... but never really talked with... not today. It was great to see people engaged in conversations, laughter when normally everybody is quiet with all eyes focused on the stage listening... or attempting to listen!

We also had all of our groups that we have established out front for people to get better exposed to an hopefully today will foster some new groups for the fall!

We have some new groups coming for the fall... Divorce Care, Game Plan (for men), Starting Point (for seekers, returners, and new to Christ)

I think we are at a launching point for us to experience some break-though opportunities in our community based on authentic relationships and being obedient to follow hard after God.

To top the day off we got to see 4 people baptized which is just awesome! I know there a lot more folks in the Renovation Family that need to cross of this line of obedience... so have courage... take the plunge!

Didn't know if everybody knew that Shakespeare is coming to 716 on Friday, July 24 at 7.00 pm right here in the Renovation Auditorium. Yes you heard it right, Peace of the City and Renovation is presenting a remix of Romeo and Juliet! 

The kids have been working hard everyday from 3.00 - 6.00 everyday this summer getting ready. Cast members are in the Aud working on lines, dance steps... the drama crew is upstairs making costumes, sets, props... there is all kinds of activity going on all around the campus and I love it!

So cool today, had a man come up and said he wanted to volunteer his time and his wife also wanted too and they have been attending RC from day one... but wanted to invest in helping Peace of the City... YES, that is what I'm talking about!

Back to Shakespeare... we have about 50 totaling cast and crew working together... I know Carlee has really enjoyed going up everyday and being a part of the costume crew!

This is a ticketed event... $2 for adults and $1 for kids and you can purchase the tickets at the door!

There will also so be a small art exhibit and gallery that will showcase the art from the kids involved in the Ephesus Art Camp that Peace is also running over on the Eastside.

I would love to see a ton of Renovation Crew there that night to support these kids... it should be an awesome evening of fun, romance and redemption!

Just coming back from having a great lunch with Joshua and Burt the Anti-Graffittii Czar for the Mayor's Office (which I will talk more about later)  I noticed a Police car on the corner of our campus facing the Mini-Mart across the street. As I got out of the car I could hear some serious yelling going on... I had an idea who it was and so I walked toward Hertel in front of the Renovation House and sure enough we had us another Family Feud going on.    

The first time that I walked through the campus I experienced the same Family Feud… what was a little shocking was the intensity and vulgarity that was coming not from the kids but from the mom… while her beautiful little 6 yr old daughter stood right beside her.

Today it went beyond the front porch to across the street to grandmother’s house and all of NW Buffalo could hear it… I am sure they could…

Josh and I went over two times to help cool the situation down… it was about to get real ugly…

We have already seen 2 people shot and killed and handful of others injured in just the past few days in our neighborhood… didn’t want to see anymore tragedy hit our streets.

As Josh and I stood there by the basketball hoop (we escorted the two brothers behind the Aud to help them “cool” down a little) I could see the pain, frustration in these young men’s eyes… a life-time of hate, anger, resentment, prejudice thrown at them from their own mom… of course they are going to respond in likeness… the vileness by which they spoke, I should say shouted at each other was practically demonic it was so wretched…displayed once again in the open as dozens of people walked by…

The Police Officer said she had been watching this go on for the last ten years. She thanked us for all that the Church was doing… cleaned up the property, after school programs (thanks Peace) a play was coming (once again thanks Peace) having things for kids and teens, for bringing positive energy to the neighborhood, caring enough to actually do something… she had processed all of these things by simply driving by over the past months… observing us.

Wow – God thanks for letting us have the chance to be a Light in a Dark place… the staff prayed today (again) that He would send us Laborer’s that were strong in heart, big in faith, humble in Spirit and willing to stay the course in serving and reaching this community that HE loves and wants to see RENOVATED from the inside out!

Just another day at the RC office!

One of the things I want to help other parents with is finding resources that help us be the best parents, mentors, guardians that we can be. 

Parenting is not easy no matter the circumstances... nobody gets an easy pass on parenting!

I always love to find good resources to help me be a better dad not just in the moment but for the future... the next season of life we find ourselves in.

Gloria and I have a teenager now living with us... that is new season of life!

I cannot operate in the same way now as did when Carlee was 10... things change, she is changing.

I have a daily email that comes to me every day and it has been very helpful and I would encourage all parents to sign up and get this FREE resource it is ALL Pro Dad there is also an email resource that goes to moms called imom ... they are both great resources!

Here is a link to the article that went out today on helping our kids learn the value of working at home (chores) and actually doing them well!

Here is one word of encouragement... don't compare your parenting skills and abilities to other parents... everybody's circumstances are different. It is easy to beat yourself up on what you see others doing that you might not be doing with or for your Kids but don't excuse away the potential of doing something similar either... always a fine line to balance... think with the end in mind... keep going forward, don't stop in helping lead, inspire, correct your kids toward God and toward good character!

Let's lead them to grow in wisdom and stature before God and men!

Today we celebrate freedom! 

We live in a country unlike any other in the course of history... hard for us to fully comprehend this reality but we should at least be incredibly grateful and thankful for those whose shoulders we are now standing on. 

Will we be the generation that folds under the pressure of current culture... will generations to come look back and identify "our time" as the tipping point where everything changed?

Our lives count, our decisions matter, what we do and or don't do can still change things. 

As we have been talking about the core values in our Simply Irresistible series I am motivated by what could be and should be in our community not by all that we can and should do... but what each of us should BE.

We should BE a community of faith that is defined by our character, heart, integrity... these issue's are fundamental to us being reflections of the ONE who lives... inhabits our lives our souls.

It is out of our "be-ing" that we do. 

We have to mature to a point where we understand that we have to take responsibility for our lives... physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually... that is a GRANDE order... apart from surrendering our lives to be led and guided by our heavenly Father and Creator we will fall short...

But with Him we can.

My pastor has said this often and it is so true... the Church is a spiritual organism and must be led by spiritual people.

Why does it matter?

Because FREEDOM is at stake!

Not just political freedom, not just physical freedom but spiritual freedom!

We are born into bondage... this culture and the ruler of it wants every person no matter where we live to believe that we are free but freedom can't be found our gained in a culture of lies... only when we step into the truth, the TRUTH of Jesus Christ will we find and obtain true freedom.

It is for freedom that He came, He died, He rose and now no matter what Gov't may say or do... every man, woman and child can experience freedom... true freedom

that is why we the CHURCH must BE and DO what He has created us to BE and Do so the world will know, and see and experience the Kingdom of God... NOW!

Happy Fourth of July... let's celebrate our Freedom!

It is incredible how many stories in the past week or so has come across the local and national radar screen... A Senator, King of Pop, a Young man, Pastor... when it comes to the idea of living our lives not how the unwise live but as wise it never ceases to amaze me how short sighted and easily duped "us peoples" can be!

How can smart, intelligent people, men and women be so stupid? 

It's always easy for us to see the piece of wood in other people's eyes all the while not noticing the LOG in our eye!

As I have heard about some of these stories I can't help but think about our series the Best Question Ever.

The thing about that question is how it uncovers... exposes are real intentions, agendas even though we would never admit it most of the time. We are willing to blow right by every barrier, guard rail that God puts in our lives in order to satisfy our desires, our agenda, regardless of what is BEST for us and those we love... 

the result?

A Senator and his wife, boys, devastated... because he kept saying "nothing is wrong with it" living right on the ledge until he crashed over it...

A 50 year old man's life is cut short and his full brilliance never completely expressed because of drug addiction and much more...

A young man is sentenced to 6 years for drinking and then driving... killing a young mom, a sister, a daughter...

A pastor saying one thing and living another... a marriage, kids, a congregation shocked, mad, sad, devastated, confused...

Satan comes... prowling like a lion seeking whom he may devour, kill, steal, destroy... we flirt with disaster even though our Father in Heaven warns us to not live this way... back away from the edge and the ledge... live a regret-free life... a fool-proof life!

Right or Wrong is not our queue but what is the WISE thing to do!