Just a note to let everyone know that I have moved my blog site. The new address is:

bobrogers.blogspot.com

I read a quote this week that simply said, "The first person you lead is you". WOW!

I think far to often than not, we as people, get so caught up in the rat race of life. That from the moment our alarm clock goes off until the last thing we remember is our head hitting the pillow. We are on the go. We are creatures of habit.

So as I read that qoute, I began to think. We as Christ followers get so obsessed with the things of life that we believe have to get done. That we truly miss out on what it actually is that should get done.

I have a friend, who has over the past several months kept reminding me that all God is asking is for us as His children is to "be still and know that He is God". A passage I believe is often quoted, but very rarely obeyed.

I have been asking myself what is it that God is trying to tell us there? Then it hit me. "shut up, slow down, and just listen". You know God wants to speak to us, the problem is that we are too busy to listen.

I don't know about you, but when I was a kid and didn't listen to my earthly father, there was some form of discipline. And what I have found out is that it was usually never very pleasant.

So my question is this, if we don't take the time to slow down and discipline ourselves to really find out what it is God is telling us to do, then how can we as Christ followers complain about some of the circumstances we have gotten ourselves in to?

Just some thoughts!

In Him,

Pastor Bobby

In my time in Ministry I have seen and heard alot of things. Some for the positive, and some negative. I tell people all the time. There are two types of people that we CHOOSE to hang around.

Those that have a positive influence in our life. And those that have a negative influence.

By positive I do not in any way mean people that agree with you all the time, or are what we call "yes" people. People that influence you in a positive way are those that genuinly care about you.

They care about your successes and they care about your failures. They challange you to be the person God has called you to be. They tell you the truth not with any hidden agenda. They will lovingly let you know when you may have messed up. They are those that will follow you in the pit of hell just to watch your back.

I am so thankful that God has placed those type of people in my life.

Then there are those negative influneces. The "they" people. The ones that will criticize every move you make. Not to offer any help, but to make sure that they point out your flaws to make themselves look better. To be honest, they are just mean!

What I have found over the years, is that those negative influencers, usually have a hidden agenda. They are usually the ones that for the most part are Sunday morning spectators. They are always telling others how it should be done, never to help do.

Now please do not get me wrong. God allows those people into our lives as well. But I believe that He does these things to help us see the type of people that we as Christ followers, are not to become.

I am so thankful that I made the decision a long time ago to stop hanging around those negative types of people. Not that as a pastor would I ever not take the time to minister to anyone and everyone. That is what I am called to do!

Life is to short to be wasting time with the complaining Christ followers. There are too many lives at stake, and to be perfectly honest, mean people suck!

Just some thoughts!

In Him,

Pastor Bobby

All I can say is, WOW! What an incredible day today at LifeBridge. God is really doing something  in the midst of, what I believe is going to be the greatest transition in LifeBridge history.

Some thoughts about today.

• As usual, the worship band was AWESOME and people were really worshipping. Show me a better team anywhere!
• Mike's message was right on point with that fact that we as Christ followers should always be looking for what it is that God wants to do next in our lives.
• I believe that LifeBridge Church is going to explode in 2009.
• People really responded well to the announcement of the Next move for our ministry.
• It blew me away by the number of people that went out of their way to ask what it is that they can do to take it to the next level.
• It never suprises me of how the enemy try's to work, but how awesome is it when God's people really come together and understand that "it's so not about them".
• Ravens are going to the Superbowl. (wishful thinking)
• I have the greatest friends in the world.

I know that there were alot of mixed emotions today. But Always remember that we do not know what tomorrow may bring. All I know is who it is that allows tomorrow!!!

Just some thoughts!

Let me know what you think.

In Him,

Pastor Bobby

Man what a day today at LifeBridge. Once again God showed up in a huge way. The worship team was as always right on point. (they rock!)

But more importantly the message today of Christ followers turning back to the Bible was exactly what people needed to hear.  If they were listening.

In the message today, it was refered to that there are to many Christ followers out there who for the most part may have way to much wax in their ears. So I started to think.

In James it tells us to not just be hearers of the Word, but more importantly doers. I know what your thinking, if I have too much wax in my ears, how can I do what I cannot hear?

But I do not believe that the wax that was refered to was meant for the hearing part, but more on the lines of the doing. See I believe that there are way to many Christ followers out there that really know alot more than they do.

A head full of knowledge is worthless if it not put into practice! and doesn't the Bible say something like, those that know what to do and do not do? well you know the rest!

My point is this, we need to take the Bible and as Mike said today intently start to seek what it is that God really wants us to do in every area of our lives.

Some of us are really bound by the things in our lives that we know not to do and need to start putting into practice what God wants us to do.

That could be in our marriages, or in our thoughts, or how we respond to people, how people respond to us, what types of places we should frequent whether it be physically or on the internet and so on... you get my point!

What are you doing that reflects who you are in Christ? Are you really in every area of your life putting Go on display?

So I say this, is there to much wax in your ears?  If so maybe you should begin by cleaning them out with a Bible Q-tip!!!

Just some thoughts!!!

In Him,

Pastor Bobby

You have heard it said, that everyone has an opinion. My opinion is just that. My opinion. Yours is that as well. Your opinion.

I think opinions are awesome, they really lead to some great discussion. But, they can also lead to some really hurtful things. See opinions can be both good and bad.

I have heard alot of opinions from people in the past that have been really positive and at that same time really mean spirited and well, just plain evil.

Take this blog for instance, I let people on the front end know that the things I write about are things that God is teaching ME from MY own opinion.

So I started to really think. What if, we as Christ followers really tried to stop using our opinions and started to find out what it is that God wants. WOW! isn't that a new concept.

Take this election, there are alot of people who will offer their opinion as to who would make the best President. But as a Christ follower who is bound and called to uphold the scripture, I should not begin to offer my opinion until I find out if it totally lines up with what God has to say. 

Remember Christ followers should be voting biblical principles, not opinions!!!

I have heard the statement that, "opinions are like a certain part of the body, we all have one and that they all stink!" So as a Christ follower, the next time you start a conversation with, "well I think". Stop yourself and ask the question, is it truly what God thinks?

And by the way, if you plan on leaving your opinion on this blog. Do me the favor of at least leaving your name...

Just some thoughts!

In Him,

Pastor Bobby

Well, it has been a while since I have written a blog. I really didn't think that people actually read this thing anyway!

But today was yet another incredible day at LifeBridge. From the opening song to the closing prayer it was really evident that God was in the midst of some awesome things.

I really think that this series that we are in has turned out to be one of the most impacting series that we have ever done.

I know first hand many awesome stories of God really working some miracles and restoring marriages that were on the verge of ending. "Thank you Jesus"!

I think that people, married or single have really recieved this series with open hearts and minds looking for whatever God wanted to do in their relationships. I know for me, it has been life changing.

I am really thankful that I work alongside a group of leaders who really try to keep up with the issues of today and straight up give you the truth of Gods word. (without compromise) I think that way to many churches today are afraid of offending someone when it comes to giving the truth.

I am really looking forward to what it is God is going to do in the changed lives of people through the ministry of LifeBridge Church. I know God is going to do some incredible things and I am glad HE allows me to be a part of it!!!

Let me know what it is God has done or is doing in your life through this series.

Well I am tired and a little depressed in the Ravens, so I am going to sleep!

Just some thoughts!

In Him,

Pastor Bobby

WOW! What an incredible day today at LifeBridge. Right from the opening song, you could tell that there was something electric about today. Yes I really could have just prayed and told everyone "thanks for coming".

God really showed up in an awesome way. I had an opportunity to preach today and I think I left everything I had on stage today. Today was friend day and the message of "Deepening Friendships" really wore me out!

My prayer is that God will use the message I gave today to encourage people to step up their game in the friendship category and cause us to re-evaluate whether or not we are striving for that friend that as I said today, "really knows us, yet still likes us any way".

I just wanted to say what an honor and privilage it is to be apart of LifeBridge Church. God is really in the midst of doing some incredible things and I am so grateful to Him to allow me to come along for the ride.

So let me know, how about you, do you have that person in your life that you can truly say is that deep friend that I believe we all need, and are searching for.

Well I am beat! I am going to watch football and fall asleep.

Just some thoughts!

In Him,

Pastor Bobby

Yesterday also marked the end of the Student Ministry as we know it. The Student Ministry will no longer be meeting on Sunday morning during the regular service. Instead we have decided that we were going to do whatever it takes to help students that will eventually graduate, start to plug into ministries of the church.

We are by no means stopping the Student Ministry. As a matter of fact I believe that the ministry is on the verge of some God sized plans. We are going to be meeting every Thursday Evening from 6 - 8PM with a service that will Rock their world!

I often talk about the importance of "Reaching the next generation" and I make no apologies for that! I think people just need to understand just how important that statement is.

Statistics show that 80 to 90 percent of the people that come to Jesus, do so by the age of 18! And people often refer to students as the Church of tomorrow. To which I strongly disagree. They are the Church of TODAY!

I am so thankful the I am a part of a Church that "GET'S IT". I truly believe that LifeBridge is going to make a difference for the next generation.

It seems that my last post really stirred up some controversial communication and debate among some blog readers. To that I say GREAT! My prayer is that I can help people with a "mindset change". Or the phrase I like to say, "It's so not about me".

You have heard it said before, the only thing constant in life is change. But I also believe with all of my heart that when you try and please everyone, you please no one.

So yes LifeBridge has a TARGET as a church. That is why we are Purpose Driven. Now, with that target we leave no one out. We just say, understand God has called us to lead. So get on board and let's ride the wave together.

Again, just some thoughts

In Him,

Pastor Bobby

Did I just hear a wooooooooooohoooooooooooo?

That's right for many students it is back to school. And as I walked my daughter to school yesterday I couldn't help but notice all of the different students. The new clothes, and new shoes, as well as all of the trendy new hair styles.

But the one thing that I wondered as my daughter gripped my hand was how many of those students have a relationship with Jesus. For that matter, even know about Him. So as always my mind began to wonder.

But more than my mind wondering my heart began to break. See many of those students, from kindergarden to 12th grade may never hear the name of Jesus let alone have a relationship with Him.

And it was at that moment, God once again showed me that as a Christ follower I have to be willing to do "whatever it takes" to reach that next generation. Now some of you will say, "what about the older folks" and to that I respond, I believe that if you take the time to invest in the next generation, they will be the ones that are reaching their mom's and dad's, aunt's and uncle's, grandmom's and granddad's.

It is not that we as  Christ follower's leave anyone out. But it all starts with the next generation.

I think it was said best on Sunday when Mike stated that we as Christ followers shouldn't come to Church to see what we can GET. But to offer what we can GIVE!

So as a Christ follower, who has a white hot passion for seeing the next generation come to know Jesus.  I am always asking myself what can we as a Church do to reach them?

I think there can be alot of things that can be done. Maybe change the music style with which we worship, (to that I say go for it) Maybe that music on a Sunday is to be a little louder. (wear ear plugs) I think that there can be many different things we can do to make that happen.

But the one thing I cannot change, is the mindset of people. See in order for us to reach the next generation we have got to see that they need reaching. And only God can change the heart and mind.

So I challange you, the next time you see a student, ask yourself, am I willing to do "whatever it takes" to see the next generation reached for Jesus. 

Just some thoughts!

In Him,

Pastor Bobby