We got it started today didn't we Renovation?!

We started our new 5 week series today called Leaving Lust Vegas. 

I gotta say they were some really uncomfortable folks in the house today... which is ok. 

The place looked great and hats off to the First Impressions Team. They looked great in their black and white w vest on... serving up some love and OJ to everybody.

Wow was Jack aka Frank Sinatra awesome or what?! What a voice. Just a side note that He is blind though you could not tell as he performed. Having "Frank" with us was a cool addition to the morning!

The looks and the vibe especially at the 9.19 Gathering from the crowd was an interesting thing. I think just the idea of what we were trying to do, how we are doing it, and the content was a little much for some... for my generation on up. Which I totally get. I grew up in the church and we never talked about sex, other than don't do it and the consequences of doing it which is a good start but left a lot to the imagination.

It was interesting though the difference at the 11.00 Gathering... this is becoming more of a collection of college, young adults... which seemed a lot more engaging from an outward appearance... I think it is a reflection of the distinction between this generation and the one that I represent. Because of the pornagraphic culture that we live in and the lowering of the bar of morality that this generation has grown up in the content that we talked about today is just everyday reality.

I talked with many today... some were so appreciative, some were taken back, some we a little surprised... I think overall it was a great start to a very difficult but needed discussion in the church. 

Did you know that there are parties going on in our city/burbs for middle school kids to have oral sex... kind of an initiation into "teenagedom" 11,12 13 yr old girls engaging in oral sex like it was nothing... we will be talking about some of these realities over the next few weeks... comfortable no.... needed absolutely!

Heard that Starting Point is off to a fantastic start... week 2 and already some great dialog from what I hear!

We had an awesome time this afternoon hanging out with Scott Stockton and all of the GroupLife Coaches and Leaders. What a huge blessing Scott is and his leadership. So excited to see our GroupLife leaders taking steps in developing their own skills both personally and spiritually. Our hope and pray is that everybody who calls Renovation home will get connected into a group... a circle of influence and relationships!

Great seeing many first time guest... be interesting to see the results of having some billboards in our community promoting the series. 

I had several people comment to me that they had been "fishin" this week... loved it. Let's remember that we are all called to Fish!

On a side note... went to the game... what a bummer.

It was kinda of cool to see Heath Evans #44 the starting Fullback for the Saints playing out there. I coached Heath his senior year at The King's Academy in West Palm Beach. He was an incredible HS football player... led the entire state of Florida in scoring... took the football team to the State Final Four which is a BIG deal in Florida. I was the Basketball Coach and Heath played after he finally signed with Auburn... he was a stud then... now to see him 10 years later still playing in the NFL is pretty amazing!

Hey TE look up and throw to TO!

WOW... what a day at Renovation...

started this morning as a group of guys came together at 6.00 am for Men's Fraternity! Awesome to see and hear quick stories of men that are desiring to be all that God wants them to be... to live UP in a culture that is calling men down... is going to be a great journey this year... any man can come you just have to get up...!

Praise the Lord for a little help from our friends... we had to haul up a bunch of tables/chairs up from the basement into Renovation Station as we are getting ready for our Strategic Service Fall Kick Off event Saturday night... we are going to have a lot of fun... there is a theme but I'm not saying... all strategic service volunteers you should have received your invitations... 4.30 - 6.30 pm Saturday night in the PowerZone Theater!

This is for ALL teams... First Impressions... Tech.... Renovation Students... Renovation Station... Administration.... everybody is invited!

Saw so many kids at Homework Club this evening playing outside that live all around us... DJ, Rolondo and many others... very cool!

We got our Divorce Care Group up and running tonight... this is open to anybody... call office for details.

Our ladies Bible Study Group was a huge hit... 24 ladies showed up w food in hand... potluck style! I poked my head in the room (food smelled great) for a minute... just blown away by the ladies I saw in the room... crazy good!

Joshua and his leadership Crew did an outstanding job of creating a great environment for our students this week... looked great and then to see almost 50 kids walk in... it was off the hook! 

Just a side note... there is all  kinds of activity this week going on across the street at the caz mini mart. Much more than what has been normal... groups of kids mostly guys hanging out... wannabe Crips and Bloods... wearing there colors... 15, 20, 25 kids sometimes just hanging out in front of store... nothing good going on for sure... so we have some girls that have been coming to Renovate from Jasper Parish (a very tough project) and so here they come again tonight. There is like 8 or 9 of these girls walking up the street and they get to the mini mart and of course all the dudes start talking them up and saying crazy stuff. So I am watching this unfold as I am walking over to the RC with Coffee for the ladies group... i start to wonder will these girls have what it takes to come on over and cross the street leaving these guys and all of their peer pressure behind... they pass and walk to the corner... then they peel off and the girls cross the street leaving the dudes behind and walk into an environment that is safe, welcoming, warm, ready for them, adults ready to love on them and bless them... 

All in all I gotta say to was a pretty good day... celebrate good times come on!

I love stories of redemption... it never gets old!

I got several emails from some Renovation stakeholders over the last couple of days. One was from one of our guys that brought a neighbor to Renovation Sunday morning... first time ever to go to "church" she hears... then responds by giving her life to Christ!

Another lady shared how awesome it was to pray with a young lady that gave her life to Jesus Christ... how powerful it was to be able to experience this "new birth" with this young lady.

Another young boy with tears flowing prayed to receive the gift of Forgiveness... when you get to share those experiences with others it moves you, it inspires, it humbles you!

So thankful to God that we get to see real repentance and real life change all around us...

Speaking of being thankful...

Peace of the CIty is off to a great start this week. I dropped in Monday to see how many kids showed up and I was blown away. Leena the new Homework Club Director was so excited because it was full! It was also full of our neighborhood kids! Awesome to see kids get off the school bus in front of the Renovation Center and walk in the door and up the stairs to hang out with adults that love kids and who will give them an extra chance to make it in life!

Great stories...

We started a party in heaven today... got to see a handful of people come into a personal relationship with their heavenly Father at both the 9.19 and 11 gathering!

We finished up this version of our Finishing Strong mini series by discovering for many people the incredible story of Manasseh. I love unpacking stories from scripture that are not mainstream... in the margins. The story of forgiveness, grace and mercy in Manasseh's life is extraordinary and is worth investigating. 

Yes we had a great day at Renovation...

It takes a ton of committed volunteers to pull of our weekend Gatherings... so thankful for each person who does even a "small" part. There is an old Gospel song that I grew up hearing... little is MUCH when God is in it... and that is really the truth.

Some get to Renovation around 7.30 to help get the coffee going... the lights turned on... the bagels cut... the signage up on the sidewalks... the band starts rehearsing while Renovation Station gets ready to rumble... actors and singers show up to go through the PowerZone presentation... small group leaders get there rooms ready... it is always an exciting time every week as I walk around looking in on all that so many are doing in order that somebody will show up for the first time... some little boy or girl, some dad or mom... some college student... you name it they come and we must be ready. We may never get another chance to show the love of Jesus Christ with them again... so to all of you - THANK YOU!

For those who have been thinking about getting inVOLVED... stop thinking and join the "band" there is nothing like serving in a circle of friends and seeing how your investment together has so much impact... you will be a blessing and in return be blessed!

Speaking of a blessing... it was awesome to see three of our single mom's yesterday put on a luncheon for 35 other single mom's and their kids. Corinne, Kelley and JoAnn put together an incredible environment and experience for these moms at the renovation house. Several mom's found out about it as Corinne was putting the sign up on Hertel and she talked with a mom and she went and brought a couple of mom's with her! We had some 25 kids that Joshua and some of our Renovation Students helped to watch and love on... 

Getting ready to launch a few new environments this week...

Men's Fraternity... Wed morning @ 6.00 - 7.30AM in the renovation house

Divorce Care... Wed nite @ 6.00 -8.00 PM in the renovation house

Women's Bible Study @ 6.00 - 8.00  on the 3rd floor of renovation center

Please be in prayer as God uses these next step environments to help men and women draw closer to Him and to help them find His plan and purpose for their lives!

That's it for now.. movie time... my Sunday night ritual!

Off we go... a new season of ministry as we launched Renovate (our experience we have for students 7th - 12th grade) tonight!

It was really exciting to see 40 students mostly all from our community! We had 15 JV (7th & 8th gr) and 25 Varsity (HS) come to our first night. Many students first came this summer to The Walk or SummerJam which is why we did those events... to build bridges into students lives from the NW community... we began this summer and now we get to see the fruit of that investment!

So proud of Joshua and his team of mentors/investors/workers... they did a great job!

The diversity is awesome and I can already imagine seeing many. many more students walk through our doors especially when we get the basement finished! It is going to be a great place for our students to hang out. 

Earlier today I got to spend some time hanging out with other church leaders from around the city and also from Syracuse. We meet together once a quarter to help strategize/encourage/pray for... the mission that God has for humanity and how we can be the hands/feet/heart to accomplish this task. It is always a great time!

Also had a great time hanging out with our partners Peace of the CIty at the open house... we got to talk w a lot of moms and kids about coming to the after-school programming from 1st grade up through HS... can't wait to see how many will take us up on the offer of this great opportunity... free of charge for their kids great benefit! 

Renovation please be praying that God will move in the hearts of many parents and kids to be a part of Peace of the City.

While you are praying... please pray with me that God will move in the hearts of those who call Renovation home to get involved in the leading of our Wednesday night programming for kids, teens, and adults!         That's it for now!

We are attempting to launch a new experience for those who have or are experiencing the heartache of divorce... Divorce Care ... This is a nationally run program that has been a real blessing to many folks at The Chapel over the years. The leadership asked us this summer if we would like for them to come to Renovation this fall and launch this ministry. We prayed about the opportunity and felt it would be a real benefit to our community. 

We start tomorrow night and it meets from 6.00 - 8.00 pm in the Renovation House/offices. People will love Rick and Sue as they help lead people through this very difficult season of life. Even if you have not signed up you can just drop in and meet Rick and Sue and see if this might be a good place to take your next best step with God and with others!

This is my third Labor Day weekend as a church planter... who woulda thunk it?  

Not me... 

10 years ago I was in Dade CIty Florida trying to figure out how to be a youth pastor/worship leader (yikes)/husband/dad (2 kids...dbl yikes) if you would have told me then where we would be in just 10 years I would have told you to stop smokin whatever it was you was smokin...

10 years of following the "Wild Goose" and here we are and I gotta say I love it and am totally blown away by what God has done and what He is continuing to do all around me.

Had a great time yesterday as we looked hard at what it means to Finish Strong especially us men!

We had 70 kids over in Renovation Station!!

Joshua is stepping into more of a leadership role as Earl has stepped out and has gotten a lot of our students involved in the drama/music during PowerZone... I love seeing our JV/Varsity students getting inVOLVED early, developing a culture of serving and serving with excellence and passion even though they are "only" teenagers!

If you have a passion to mentor/act/sing/serve make sure you go by the resource table Sunday (or call the office -819-4100) and fill out an inVOLVED card we can get you plugged in at Renovation Station!

Had a bunch of 1st time guest w/ us... which always excites me to see... love meeting talking w/ and hearing how they get to RC.

Had a chance to have a phone conversation tonight w/ Scott Stockton our Director of GroupLife... so encouraged, and jacked about all that is going on. We are praying that everybody gets connected into a group... it is where LIFE... it is where we take the next best steps in our relationships w/ both Jesus Christ and others! 

We grow in CIRCLES not in rows! Get in a circle this fall!

Does everybody know that we are launching our first Divorce Care group this Wednesday night... just show up... 6.00 -8.00 in the Renovation House/offices.

also for you guys...

Men's Fraternity starts next Wednesday morning at 6.00 -7.30 sign up this Sunday or just show up... wk books are $10... I can't wait to see how God is going to use this environment to help men FINISH STRONG! 

Any man can come... they don't have to attend RC or any where... bring a friend with you!

School starts tomorrow for the Cockrell clan... can't believe that we have an 8th, 5th and a 1st grader... time is truly flying by and I ain't a liking it one bit!

Gloria started teaching her two classes at BUff State last week so the Cockrell fam is bout to get busy!

Hope everybody had a great LD!

What a week we have had around Western NY... you gotta love it since we are coming out of the the coolest/rainiest summers in 25 years!

We had a camp fire on the patio last night while we enjoyed some campfire snacks... hobo pies, banana boat's, smores... good times!

We have been busy around Renovation this week. We had our calender meeting this week that kicks us out to next summer... while we are trying to get ready for a number things coming up, here is few things about to happen...

Finishing up the renovation down in the basement for our students... gong to have a warehouse vibe to it.

Finishing up some of renovations in the auditorium that we didn't get to last fall...

Renovating two rooms on the 3rd floor of the renovation center... one is a place for our women's Bible study on Wednesday...

Starting an environment for 5th and 6th graders called Club 56... this will happen on Wednesday nights... this is the other room on the 3rd floor we need to get working on this week!

We are trying to extend Renovation Station to the 11.00 Gathering for kids birth thru 3 yrs old.

Continuing to develop relationships  with other churches and ministries within NW Buffalo and surrounding areas of the city...

We will be launching a renovation center... which is a year long (meeting together once a month) relationship built with other churches to help realign, rethink, recapture the Mission that God has for the Church at Buffalo as we try to reach every man woman and child with the full representation of the Gospel...

We are partnering with Peace of the City more than ever to reach, love and help the kids and families of our neighborhood... Open House is next week...Wed & Thursday (3.00 - 5.00) we need some help canvasing our neighborhood telling folks just what Peace has to offer so call the office or just show up we will put you to work!

Joshua is getting the Renovation Student Ministry up and running... he had a great time with our leaders this past Wed nite... we have some great workers/mentors/encouragers that's what you are when you work with kids and teens... I know God is going to use this team to reach many students for Christ over the next school year!

I could go on but will stop for now...

God is doing some amazing things in and through GroupLife so I encourage you to get involved in community and in serving... we grow in circles not in rows so find a circle of friends to get to know and a circle of friends to serve with... it will revolutionize your life!

In the middle of all that is going on I feel a certain sense of urgency to make sure we "stay upon Jehovah" we have to stay close and clean to our Savior Jesus Christ... please be praying... talking with... lifting up... meditating upon... the One!

What a stretch of nice weather we are having right now... don't you love it?! I know I am digging it!

Had a great time with our small group tonight. We have been meeting since the summer of 07... we put this group together from our early Elmwood days. We didn't really know each other and it is always a time of transition when a group of people come together and begin to know each other... hear the journey that has brought people to this point in their life. Once a group gets some traction it starts to get fun. One thing that defines this group is when we all get together (the guys and girls get together seperately) we laugh ... a lot. I love the fun and joy that comes out naturally. 

We are trying to encourage folks who call Renovation home to get in a group this year... we grow spiritually/relationally in circles not rows. So if you haven't found a group yet mybe you should start one... talk w Scott Stockton Sunday!

Wow we had an additional $22,000 in Love Revolution committed this past Sunday! That is fantastic. Can't wait to hear and see the stories that God has in store for those that are committing to give to our LR initiative... God is faithful... you can count on that!

Can't believe that this is it! Last week of summer... where did it all go? 

Getting ready for the fall and all that is going to be happening around Renovation. 

We are making some great progress down in the basement this week. We had the crew from Teen Challenge come in today and help get some demo done... love those guys they get after it! Should be able to paint the ceiling and walls next week... hope to have it operational within the next two weeks!

We are also going to try to finish some projects in the Auditorium this fall... we will be having some work days coming up once school gets back into full gear.

We are getting ready for a series like we have never done before... more to come... stay tuned!