Today marked the first service of 2009 at ROCK Church. I really enjoyed hearing the buzz that was going around as we kick off the new year. I began our first series Margin as we take a look at where balance and space needs to be made in our lives. When we continue to say yes to everything that comes our way, we leave no room for God to work in our life. When we remove all margin, there is no room for error… or rest… or focus.

I don’t know about you, but I need more margin in my life so I can accomplish what God has for me this year. I am looking for ways that I can create space for God to speak to me through His word this year. I’m going to redeem my time.

One of the ways I am kick starting this quest for space is through our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. I have to make a confession. I completely underestimated how excited our church would be about setting aside 21 days to pray and fast. We made a huge stack of Daniel Fast Information Packets and ran out. You can still download them HERE. Some have already begun their fast. Others are preparing themselves and their families. It all begins in seven days.

I’m asking God rock my world during these 21 days. I do not not need more food… or TV… or technology… or random things to do. But, I do need to hear God speak more now than ever before. I am not content to let 2009 just happen. I am determined that I will happen to 2009.

Get ready, ’cause here we come!

This year has been one adventure after another.

• I did not know a year ago that this would be the year I follow my father as the senior pastor of ROCK Church.
• This year, David Pray became our worship and creative arts director.
• Matthew finally got married.
• I became the father of a teenager.
• I took my wife to Costa Rica for our anniversary. Man, she makes me smile every time I think about her.
• Noah (age 11) and I went to Washington, DC so he could be a part of an international leadership summit.
• I had the opportunity to have lunch with Perry Noble. I don’t think Perry will ever know how much that meeting impacted me. I have been brought back to his words to me several times this year.
• Dad and I traveled to Church Of The Highlands and saw a church that confirmed to me again that I was not abandoning my roots as we continue to transition our church. Thank you Pastor Chris Hodges and ARC!
• God crossed my path with Matt Fry from C3 in Clayton, NC. He has challenged me on some things recently as a leader that make me really nervous and that is very good. I’ve got to get him to come to ROCK Church this year.
• Jennifer and I had the privilege of going to the Catalyst Conference. God used that time to connect us to other leaders and remind us of what we are called to do.
• I had sinus surgery a few weeks ago. Yeah, that was definitely an adventure.

I have been privileged to make many fun, exciting announcements and I’ve had to make some of the most difficult decisions of my life. I had no idea how much God would stretch me this year. I am grateful for where He has brought us. This next year is going to be amazing. When I look forward to the next 365 days, I have to admit that it makes me nervous. Not scared. No, I’m talking about the kind of nervous that comes when you know you are a part of something super huge… something awesome.

I do know that I need God’s wisdom now more than ever. I need to hear His voice leading me. So, I’m going to pursue Him.

It’s going to be another great adventure. Are you ready?

When I was very young, God spoke to my dad and told him I would be just like him when I grew up. This brought my dad to tears because he was not proud of who he was. He knew that, if true, what I grew up to be would bring him heartache. He asked God to not let that happen. Then he heard God speak to him again saying (paraphrase), “Bryan will be like you. If you do not want him to be like the man you are today, change who you are.”

My dad made a lot of changes in his life. He stopped being just a professional Christian and became a true follower of Christ. He became the husband and father that God wanted him to be. He became an example that anyone could follow.

Today, I am very much like my father and that brings me joy. My wife is honored because I learned how to be a Godly husband from my dad. My kids are blessed because my father taught me how to be a dad. My relationship with God is stronger, because I learned how to pray by listening to dad pray.

Dad, thank you for letting God direct you to become my foremost example of who I should be as a man. I am honored to have become just like you.

Happy Birthday

Our new adventure of 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting is coming fast. Many ROCKERS have questions about what type of fast to commit to and how to begin. We are committing to a 21 day Daniel Fast and I want to invite you to join us.

We just posted a Daniel Fast Information Packet over at rockwilmington.com. But, you can just CLICK HERE to download it directly. I want to thank the guys at Elevation Church in Charlotte for posting their fasting info packet online. If you were to compare theirs and ours, you would see very little difference. From the beginning, Pastor Steven Furtick and his team presented the inner workings of how they do church and welcome churches to use their resources… for free! Thank you Elevation!

January 11th is coming fast. I believe we are all going to be very surprised what God will do when we give Him 21 days. I can’t wait…