Rock of Roseville Local

Living Perfectly Positioned: Dead Men Have No Preferences

2010-07-28T18:44:41Z

Day 82

Principle: The only comfort that lasts on earth is that which originates in heaven.

Mike Bickle writes, “Satisfied people sin less. Much of the sin in the body of Christ is a wrong response to pain, fear and the need for comfort. Sin is a false comfort that people use as a prop to get them through seasons of pain. Many people get into sin because they feel beaten up and abandoned by God and men. Even though they are not truly abandoned, they feel that way. So they reach out for immediate comfort in status, financial gain or wrong expressions of sexuality.” (Mike Bickle, The Pleasures of Loving God, 55–56)

God provides a better alternative. “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.” (1Peter 4:19) We know we are walking in resurrection life when we are more concerned about Heaven than Earth, and more interested in trusting God than understanding life’s most asked question, “Why is this happening to me?”

The Apostle Paul concludes, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind [affections] on things above, not on things on the Earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:1–2) Dead men have no preferences. They bask in total acceptance and complete resignation; as R.I.P. implies, they Rest In Peace. It is God’s will for each of us to have no preferences, not just when our bodies die, but when we choose to die to our own will and yield to Him. Die today! You’ll be glad you did.

What are your typical responses when you feel abandoned?
What do you experience when you choose to die to self and seek only the Lord for satisfaction?

Living Perfectly Positioned: The Cure For The Shattered Life

2010-07-28T18:40:25Z

Day 81

Principle: True satisfaction only comes from seeing your life from God’s perspective.

In 2 Corinthians 12:10, Paul the Apostle writes, “Therefore I take pleasure in [think well of, approve, am pleased with] infirmities, in reproaches [insults, hurts] in needs, in persecutions, in distresses [calamities, anguish] for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Did he really mean pleasure? Was Paul exaggerating when he said he thought well of, approved of, and was pleased with his insults and hurts? Or had his perspective been so radically transformed he actually found pleasure in being persecuted and insulted? It seems evident from scripture that Paul found the God of comfort in an extraordinary way in the midst of the distresses and calamities assaulting his soul.

So, what’s the cure for a shattered life? Once again, it’s the three-letter word: joy. I would personally define joy as “a deep sense of inner elation and satisfaction that comes from seeing your life from God’s perspective, and responding properly to the challenges and suffering of life.”

James, the brother of Jesus, taught the importance of responding well to suffering when he wrote, “My brethren, count it all joy [cheerfulness, calm delight, gladness] when you fall into various trials [adversities, temptations] knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience [cheerful or hopeful endurance]. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2–4)

Who wouldn’t want to be “perfect, complete, and lack nothing?” Yet, things coming up roses will not make this happen; we must allow situations to, at times, come up thorns.

Have you ever chose to give God the control within a very distressing situation and experienced His comfort?

Summer Seed Offering 7-21-10

2010-07-27T23:59:51Z

“As long as the earth remains, there will be springtime and harvest,…” Genesis 8:22

A seed offering brings the best “seed” we have to God believing for the harvest. God has spoken to our hearts that community matters and requires a sacrifice of faith. On Wednesday, July 21st, 2010, 7-8:30p, we will have a night of worship and giving! Proceeds will go to build community at The Rock by fencing in our property, putting in a playground and canopies adjacent to our building. We are believing for $50,000 to be raised! Additional funds will be raised by selling items on Ebay.

Funds raised so far: $32,857

Only $17,143 to go!

Give Online

If you wish to donate items to be sold on eBay for the seed offering you may do so at any of our services. The last day for donating at during services is Sunday, August 1. To donate items for eBay after the 1st please email Ingrid Hoem.

Thank you for giving, loving, serving, honoring and praying with all your heart!

Life Matters National Night Out

2010-07-27T23:25:00Z

On Tuesday, August 3, 2010, Pastors Joy Johnson and Penelope Larry need your help at two different Life Centers in support of National Night Out. One purpose for National Night Out is to strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships. We need 15 Rock Partners to commit to 2-4 hours to help with setup, food service, clean up, crowd control, monitoring games, etc.

We will meet at Point Natomas Apartments 5:00p-9:00p, located at 801 San Juan Avenue, Sacramento 95834; and Logan Park Apartments 3:00p-9:00p, located at 4215 Palm Avenue, Sacramento 95842.

Please contact Penelope if interested and for assignments to apartment complexes. Volunteer packets with detailed information will be sent to all volunteers. Call 916.267.5359 or email lifematters10@live.com

Living Perfectly Positioned: Unthinkable Joy

2010-07-26T23:14:21Z

Day 80

Principle: God gives us each the life He knows we need.

Can you ever imagine finding pleasure in your pain?

Paul the Apostle did. He endorsed this seemingly irrational line of thinking when he wrote, “I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation [Greek—pressure, affliction, anguish, burdens, persecution, trouble].” (2Corinthians 7:4) Is it possible to be grieved and joyful simultaneously? Absolutely! You might be brokenhearted someone has died, yet joyful he or she is in Heaven. You might be saddened your job is ending, but joyfully confident God has something better.

Faith is the miraculous ingredient that activates true joy in each of our lives. Whereas happiness sometimes waits to see what is going to happen, joy blissfully opens its arms to every moment, choosing in advance to see life from God’s point of view.

The Bible gives us the perfect response to the calamities of life: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalms 30:5b) Yet it is possible for us to resist the joy that God desires to bring to us. Joy only comes in the morning, if we choose to let joy come in the morning. We can opt to let fear or worry come in the morning, or perhaps even depression and suicide. If we so desire, we can invite discouragement for breakfast, take hopelessness out to lunch, and join despair for a candlelight dinner. It’s our call. I have spent enough time with each of these pathetic emotions, now I limit my life experiences to seeing joy in my circumstances. (1Peter 1:8) It is my choice how I choose to see the life God has given me.

Joy has to be invited into our lives and, once invited, must not be taken for granted. Just as Jesus focused on, “…the joy that was set before Him endured the cross…” (Hebrews 12:2b) we must concentrate on the joy set before each of us as we endure the hardships in life. Jesus took pleasure in His pain, and embraced the purpose behind His suffering. May God open our eyes to see that glorious purpose in our life as well.

When we spend our lives dwelling on yesterday, we shouldn’t be surprised if tomorrow never comes. Instead of embracing what is happening in our lives, many of us feel empty about what is not happening. There’s a better option: the next time you are going through hell, don’t stop. We have a fanciful expectation of what we think we need, and when it doesn’t take place we are disappointed. As God gives each of us the life He knows we need, we must therefore learn to embrace life as it is, not as we wish it were.

At the end of the day, this is really the only good option we have. Embrace it.

How do you invite the joy of the Lord into every situation?
In what ways are you able to experience pleasure in your pain and embrace God’s purpose in your suffering?

Chaplaincy Academy Info Night

2010-07-22T22:25:14Z

Rock Chaplaincy Academy Information Meeting 7/28/10 @ 6:30pm
Join us to find out how you can be trained as a Rock Compassion Team Chaplain! We’ll meet in the Birch Room on Wednesday night, 7/28/10, from 6:30-8pm. Questions? Email RSOPC@rockofroseville.com or call 916-789-7625, ext. 424

One Day to Prevent Homelessness Update

2010-07-22T18:38:14Z

This past March our church body gave $5,000 towards this initiative started by Capital Christian Center. The initiative met their goal of raising $400,000 and have, to date, collected $418,670; they have also received matching funds of $1,600,000 for a grand total of over $2 million raised!

The group expects to assist over 1,800 families or individual households during the next two years. To date 833 households have received housing assistance: 296 households leaving homelessness and 537 stabilizing with prevention services.

Thank you again for participating in this timely mission.

For more information, please visit their website here.

ReGenerate: Young Adult Worship Concert

2010-07-22T18:56:09Z

What If For 1 Night…

young adults from churches throughout the Sacramento region could come together and worship God in one place? What would happen to our city? What would happen in our lives and communities? Come find out July 31 at 7pm.

Regenerate is a joint venture event between regional young adult groups. An event like this has never taken place before in Downtown Sacramento …until now.

When & Where

July 31 at 7pm

Downtown Sacramento at 5th & L

Details at RegenerateSacramento.com

Living Perfectly Positioned: Giving All

2010-06-23T20:13:13Z

Day 79

Principle: The only appropriate response to life is joy.

Dr. Bob Pierce, founder of World Vision, a Christian relief organization, tells of an extraordinary event he witnessed with his own eyes. During the Korean War in the early 1950s, tens of thousands of refugees fleeing from the Red Chinese army attacking the north poured into South Korea. Under siege, in the middle of a freezing winter, the embattled city had lost all electric power. Churches opened their doors, having all night prayer meetings.

At four o’clock one morning, a dark, unbearably cold church was filled with multitudes of refugees. Women who had watched their homes burn and their husbands tortured to death sat in the frigid building holding their children close. Most were dressed in nothing but thin, padded cotton. The worship that night was filled with tears. In the midst of this traumatic scene, the pastor of the church decided to take an offering for the hundreds of refugees still coming into the city.

With great passion he entreated, “Something must be done to help those who are coming to us. What does this congregation have to give?” Those shivering in the crowded pews had lost their homes, businesses, and savings, and were themselves in desperate need. The pastor continued, “…and so we will give an offering of clothes.” It seemed an unthinkable request; insensitive to the obvious needs of the people surrounding him.

Yet the pastor’s appeal brought an extraordinary response. An elderly, emaciated man came forward, removed his vest, and solemnly laid it on the communion table. A young mother took the sweater off her baby and tucked the infant inside her own clothes. Soon, the table was piled high with clothes. Their lives were shattered and broken, but these nameless saints counted it all joy to literally give the clothes off their backs. If joy is how God responds to life, and if He is truly living in us, then joy must be how we respond to life as well.

Have you ever experienced joy while in a very challenging situation?
What do you think caused you to be joyful?

Acts 29 Message Series

2010-07-16T18:58:16Z

Life at The Rock, July 2010 edition

2010-07-16T18:57:01Z

We would like to invite you to read the July edition of Life At The Rock. A periodical on what’s been going on here at the Rock of Roseville. Download it here (pdf).

Living Perfectly Positioned: Drive Into The Wind

2010-06-23T20:08:26Z

Day 78

Principle: The plan of God I cannot see is greater than the circumstances I can.

A pastor friend of mine used to live in the Yukon Territory, one of the northern-most provinces of Canada. One winter day he went hunting on snowmobiles with a couple of natives.

Hours into their journey a violent storm came upon them. After a long period of fighting the snow, their lead guide gestured for the three of them to stop and talk. With howling winds and piercing snow buffeting them, they huddled together. The guide confessed,

“I think we’re lost. I’ve grown up here my whole life, and I’ve never seen this rise in the terrain before.” At those words the pastor’s heart sank. Their guide was renowned. For him to be lost in a blinding snowstorm was terrifying and unexpected. After a few moments of reflection, the pastor sheepishly said, “We need to pray.” Bowing their heads in desperation, they asked the Lord for His mercy and guidance.

Following an emotional prayer, one of them spoke up, “I believe we’ve been going in the wrong direction. Because of the intensity of the storm, we’ve been going with the wind.

What we need to do now is drive directly into the wind and snow.” For a few moments after this unorthodox declaration they remained silent. Everywhere they looked was unfamiliar. In the middle of the whiteout, all they could hear was the sound of the howling wind and their pounding hearts. Each came to the jarring realization that either this radical recommendation was a Word of Knowledge, or it would lead them to certain death, going farther and farther away from safety until they would run out of gas.

After another desperate prayer, they decided to receive the counsel and headed off full throttle into the utter unknown. Though the wind and snow continued to batter them, they steadfastly drove directly into the storm. An hour or so passed when, finally, the guide stopped, knelt down and brushed away the snow from beneath them. He could see from the color beneath their feet that they were on a frozen body of water. He then told his companions, “Since we are on water, I believe I know where we are.” He proceeded to lead them safely home.

What had saved their lives? In addition to the marvelous grace of God, they had been willing to do what hurt the most: face their fears and drive directly into the unknown. We only change when our willingness to accept God-allowed pain exceeds our fears. At times in our lives, we will all suffer a sharp painful disillusionment before we fully surrender. Even Jesus had to endure a painful crucifixion before He could say, “It is finished!” As we keep our eyes on the prize, we will eventually see all of the pressure and pain pale in comparison to the glory that will be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)

My prayer is that the Lord will help each of us to see Him working in every moment of our lives. That He will lead us to trust that, the plan we cannot see is greater than the circumstances we can.

What fears have you faced and terrifying circumstances have you confronted?
How has God changed you within these experiences?

Worship Auditions 8-10-10

2010-07-30T20:51:32Z

“God is raising up a great worship and prayer movement all over the world and we want to be a part of it. We believe that God is stirring the hearts of anointed and skilled musicians and singers, calling them to minister and serve Him in Spirit and Truth. Our heart is to envision, encourage, equip and release musicians and singers to serve the Lord and His people proclaiming the Goodness and Glory of God through worship and prayer over our city unto His return.”

We have several opportunities available and are in need of musicians to serve in our worship ministry which includes both our House of Prayer and our weekend services.

What: Musician audition for our Worship Ministry
When: Tuesday August 10th @ 6:30
Where: Rock of Roseville Auditorium
Who: We are looking for the following instruments: Drums, Bass, Electric guitar, and Keyboard
How: Please fill out the information below sign up for the audition

Download the Worship Audition Packet

cforms contact form by delicious:days

Online Photo Directory

2010-07-20T22:38:32Z

We’re excited to announce that we will have a new On-Line Photo Directory for our Rock Partners (members) so we be able to connect with one another whenever we wish!

YOU manage your own page — only put in the info that YOU want to share with others!
Password-protected; Rock Partners only and each family has their own passcode.
Everyone who participates will receive a FREE 8X10 photo!

Sign-Up today to assure your time slot! Photos slots available August 2 -22 on selected dates! CLICK HERE to sign up.

Living Perfectly Positioned: Storm Chasers

2010-06-23T20:02:20Z

Day 77

Principle: There are no accidental storms. Embrace each one.

Mountain Mike Shreve, a dear friend of our family, earned his nickname because he is one of the most knowledgeable men alive about the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Mike has lived his whole life in South Lake Tahoe and seen more snowstorms than he can remember. Located at 6,500 feet above sea level, Lake Tahoe provides some of the best skiing on Earth.

One Christmas, as we were visiting, he told me, “Heavy winters bring more bountiful summers.” The comment sparked a revelation. We all appreciate spring flowers and summer fruit, but it’s the dying in the fall and the storms of winter that bring the most bountiful harvests. Our failure to fully appreciate the storms of life merely demonstrates how shortsighted we really are. Interestingly, the opposite is also true; an over-dependence upon temporary satisfaction invariably leads to future disappointment. Bless the storms in your life, and stop chasing fleeting pleasures.

Mike also shared with me, “Every storm feels the same coming in; whether it brings two inches of snow or two feet.” We never know which storm will bring the most challenge or the most benefit to our lives. Therefore, embrace storms as they come; there are no accidental storms. An omniscient God, who always has our best interest in mind, handcrafts every one.

But, don’t lose sight if this fact as well. God has no desire to give you peace from the storms of life. His plan is to give you peace in the storm. Peace that comes when the storm stops is temporary. Learning to have peace during the storms of life is far better. This brings eternal blessings. We were created to meet Jesus in the middle of our storms. Frankly, few of us have time for Him outside of them.

What helps you find peace in the storms of your life?
What benefits have you realized from storms?