reachin' for real life

God’s brilliant plan, which had its physical birth at Christmas, realized its spiritual birth at Pentecost. God with us was always intended to be God within us!

Things I want to remember this Christmas – “Immanuel” means God with us, and that changes everything!

Check out my son, Ryan’s, blog. Good thoughts from a high school student committed to swimming upstream!

Yes, I’m a proud dad…So sue me!

http://crazylikepeter.blogspot.com/?spref=fb

I just got back from a powerful time of Ministry in Western Europe working with a network of leaders who are impacting their cities and nations with the good news of hope in Christ. It was a wonderful, vision fueling time of sharing, learning, and community with other leaders. However, I’m glad to be home with my family and the fellowship that I’m grateful to pastor.

We’ve got a great day planned at River City tomorrow! I’ll bring an update from the ministry in Europe and bring the 4th installment of “The Gifted.” Get ready, God is on the move! This series has been amazing as hundreds of new people have stepped up to use their gifts to serve.

We’ve got a big weekend planned at River City! I’m going to be sharing a message called “Let it Rain!” that I’d love for every attender of River City to hear. God is doing something powerful in our fellowship and I don’t want anyone to miss out.

This week is also our Connections Fair, where all of our groups are represented after every service. It’s time to get back in the saddle for the fall trimester. If you’re not in a group, you should be! Group life is one of the wonderful gifts of the body of Christ and we have a group to fit just about anyone.

And…it’s time for us to step out in faith and bring in the gifts that we committed to give for the 2nd floor children’s wing of our new facility. We have designated the weeks of August 28, September 4, and September 11 as the time to gather the contributions that we’ve felt led to give. God continues to move on people’s hearts and He is providing. Let’s all step out in faith and see what God does!

This weekend is huge and we’re working to maximize our parking and seating space. We’ve put out some extra chairs and will have both shuttles running all morning to and from Redland Oaks Elementary. So, invite a friend, ride the shuttle, and come expecting God to do big things! (And remember, there is plenty of seating and parking at the 8 am and the 1:11 coffee house services!)

Have a great weekend and I’ll see you Sunday.

I hope you’ve had a great week. I have to tell you, there is a lot of vision flying around River City these days! I am seeing people all over the place processing the implications of this idea that God has chosen us for something extraordinary!  

This Sunday, I’ll be wrapping up the “When God Chooses You” series and we are going out with a bang! You don’t want to miss this one. In fact, I want to let you know that this would be a great weekend to invite that friend that you’ve been praying for. Just ask them to come with you and see what happens!

Let’s be in prayer that God would draw hundreds of guests with thirsty souls and then do something amazing! Jesus said, “You have not, because you ask not.” So let’s ask! See you Sunday.

(Oh…and don’t be late…the team has planned a pretty cool opening that I’m kind of fired up about!)

It’s time to start believing God for some really big things. He is a really big God and he has a really big love and a really big vision. It’s fair to say He wants to do really big things…through us!

There are a lot of reasons why we might avoid the idea of big things: fear, perfectionism, false humility, laziness and the list goes on. All I know is God never called people to accomplish insignificant or easy things…He called them to do really big things so they would have to stay close to Him to see it through. And that’s always been the point, hasn’t it?

Like I said, it’s time to believe God for some really big things!

While I know it is fashionable to bash The United States and point out our flaws, I felt that it might be worthwhile to express why I’m grateful to have been born and raised here. I don’t have my head in the sand, nor am I wearing rose colored glasses, but I really do love my country. Here are a few of the reasons why.

I love the United States of America because it’s still a land of hope and opportunity. Our unique freedom has made this nation a place where truly anything is possible. I remember speaking with an Irish Pastor who commented on my optimism and “can do” attitude…He identified it uniquely American and lamented that the typical Irishman had a difficult time relating to that optimism because of their history. The whole world still sees America as a land of opportunity. Just ask any of the countless people who daily risk everything for a chance at the American dream.

I love my country because for every act of violence, greed, and malice that is plastered all over the news for the whole world to see, there are a thousand acts of love, compassion, and sacrifice that never get a mention. The reason they never get a mention is that they are so common and such a regular part of everyday American life. They can’t really be considered news…they’re just, normal. This nation is a place where kindness and helping your neighbor in a time of need is still second nature.

I love America because we are still willing to fight for what is right. No matter what the popular sentiment may be, most people in this country still know that there is evil in the world and that there are people who will try to take advantage of the weak and defenseless for their own gain. Edmund Burke said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” Whether it’s local police, the National Guard, or the US military, we still understand that freedom and peace for ourselves, and others, must be defended, even if it means the use of force.

I love my country for her exceptional generosity. Wherever there is need and poverty around the world you will see aid from the United States. I am appalled and angered as I see certain nations using one hand to throw insults at the USA while the other is outstretched to receive the aid and support which is so freely given.

I love the United States because we are a melting pot that truly embraces diversity, and always has! Contrary to the popular critique, long before the term came into vogue, America leveraged the power of diversity. We are a nation of immigrants and while we do have our own culture, which has evolved over time, it is a tapestry of our immigrant roots. Part of America’s greatness is her willingness, to the point of obsession, to learn from anyone and everyone. For Americans, diversity is more than good idea; it’s a way of life!

I love my country because of her willingness to address her flaws. Yes, there is pride and arrogance to spare in this nation of ours, but we’ll usually be the first to admit it and then condemn it! We recognize that we are far from perfect and that our power and wealth have as much potential to destroy us as to deliver us.

I love the United States of America and I pray for her. We have been blessed, by our Creator, beyond anything the world has ever seen. With great blessing comes great responsibility. May we never forget where we’ve come from and who brought us here. May we embrace a humility that is goes beyond self-criticism to real gratitude. It’s not wrong to love our country and believe in her greatness, it’s just wrong to take credit for it or to believe that it makes us somehow superior to other people. May God continue to bless America and may we continue to see it as our responsibility to be a blessing to the world around us.

Pastor Sean Azzaro

These are exciting days at River City Community Church! We are preparing for a move so big that it will mark a new chapter in God’s plan for this fellowship. We are a part of something amazing!

It’s can be frightening when you have to step out into the unknown because God has called you. But if we have learned anything, it is that the only place to be is in the center of God’s will! Anything else just won’t satisfy. I just want us to be the kind of people who say yes to Father! Great things begin by tell Him Yes!

Jesus said it best, “Not my will, but Thine be done.”

We got off to a great start with the “Lost and Found” series! I had a number of people report that God spoke to them in ways and about things they didn’t quite expect. I think that’s how it goes with the Spirit. We think and process on one level while He’s working in a much deeper place. I’m looking forward to what we’re going to see this weekend!

One of the things that gives this series its impact is that it is centered on a great story. Story is so powerful in its capacity to capture our attention and stick with us. I want to encourage you to invite some friends or family to join you for this series. It’s hard not to get caught up in a good story…and this is one that will change lives! I’ve attached the flyer below in case you want to forward it on.

This weekend is Mother’s day so be sure to show the love to Mom. One way to do that is to be in church just like she always told you! (Totally shameless plug!)

See you Sunday!