Blog Truth

Heading to CT!

Matt R. — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 23:46:57 +0000

Tomorrow morning at 5:15am we will be heading the airport to fly to CT for vacation/update/ordination! We are excited about being able to get away for a short vacation and to visit family and friends.

I am so thankful that God has provided capable men in the church to direct the work while we are gone. I have three different men filling in for 2 Wednesday evenings (8/25, 9/1) as well as Sunday School and Morning Worship on Sunday, August 29th. We will miss everyone here in Jax, but are confident that they will be able to get along just fine without us.

This Saturday evening at 6:30 I will present my doctrinal statement to the men of Truth Baptist Church in CT. I will be preaching in the morning service and giving an update on the ministry in Jacksonville in the evening service. Lord willing, if I can pass the examination:), I will be ordained in the evening service.

We would appreciate your prayers as we travel with two young children!

There is None like my God!

Matt R. — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:46:11 +0000

The Lord has been encouraging my heart as I have been meditating on the awesome character of my God. I thought I would just share some passages that have been an encouragement to me!

1 Chronicles 29:11-13 “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. 12 “Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. 13 Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name.”

Jeremiah 10:6-7 “There is none like Thee, O Lord; Thou art great, and great is Thy name in might. 7 Who would not fear Thee, O King of the nations? Indeed it is Thy due! For among all the wise men of the nations, And in all their kingdoms, There is none like Thee.”

If you have some verses that have been a blessing to you on the greatness of God, please leave them in a comment!

Our First Vacation Bible School

Matt R. — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 14:29:23 +0000

Some of the children

Mummy Mobile Races

Egyptian Costumes!

This past week we held our first Vacation Bible School for children ages 3 years old to the 8th grade. God greatly blessed and brought a growing number of children each morning! Thank you to those of you who prayed, invited, and worked in VBS! May the Lord use this effort to reach children and families with the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

A big thank you to the teen group from Truth Baptist Church in CT who came down to help us run the VBS! We worked them hard with flier distributions, set up and tear down each day. They also ran the lessons, games, and crafts.

One Year Anniversary!

Matt R. — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:08:45 +0000

On Saturday evening we celebrated the anniversary of Truth Baptist Church! God has blessed us and our church exceeding abundantly beyond all that we could ask or think (Ephesians 3:20)! Our first service was held on July 26, 2009. I am so thankful to the Lord for the faithfulness of several who have attended since the first service and for those God has brought us in the past year! To God be the glory!

Here are a few pictures from the anniversary banquet we held at the Baptist Hospital downtown Jacksonville. Our guest speaker for the evening was Pastor Martin Masitto from Victory Baptist Church on the north side of town.

Bradley family decorated!

Those able to attend

The view from our window on the 8th floor!

Rescue helicopter below us

Great fellowship!

Our theme verses for the evening were:

1 Chronicles 29:11-13 “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. 12 “Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name!”

VBS! August 2-6, 2010

Matt R. — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:30:06 +0000

We are gearing up for Vacation Bible School August 2-6. We are excited to have the teen group from TBC in CT coming down to help us run our first VBS. We will be using Answers in Genesis “Egypt File” material.

Here is the flyer that I designed to be distributed to children in our area:

Front

Back

Please pray that God will bring children and families and that His name would be glorified as the result of these efforts!

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing!

Matt R. — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 18:37:50 +0000

On Sunday evening, June 6th, I tried something I have been wanting to do for a while. In an effort to help our people grow in appreciation of the hymns we sing, I preached a sermon based on the text of one of our well known hymns, “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” Many of the arguments people have against singing hymns are based on the assertion that hymns are dull and dry. I would agree with that statement if you do not put out the effort to focus on the words you are singing. Rich spiritual blessing is available to those who apply their minds while singing hymns.

If you are interested, you may listen to that sermon here. God has blessed us with men and women who have put rich theological truths to text and tune through which the Word of God may grow in our hearts. I believe our people as well as myself received a great blessing meditating on the thoughts. I hope that you will also!

Bible Study at our House Tomorrow Evening

Matt R. — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 02:48:41 +0000

We are planning to have our regular Bible study and prayer meeting at our home tomorrow evening. Patrick Geisenburg will be sharing a lesson he prepared on 1 John 2. Look forward to seeing you there!

Titus Matthew Rowley!

Matt R. — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 01:01:51 +0000

We are pleased to announce the arrival of our son: Titus Matthew Rowley! God answered our prayers and gave us a healthy son and mommy! We arrived at the hospital around 9:00pm Monday evening and he was born at 3:13am July 6th. He weighted 6 lbs. 12 oz. and measured 20 inches long! He shares his birthday with his mom! Jen says he is the best birthday present ever! Thank you Lord and thank you for your prayers!

At the Hospital!

Matt R. — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 05:30:13 +0000

Dear Friends,

Jen and I are at the hospital having a baby! Please pray for a safe and healthy delivery for mom and baby. We arrived a the hospital around 9:00 pm Monday evening. Things are progressing well. Lord willing, Jen and baby Titus will share a birthday! Jen says this is the best birthday present ever! We are excited about the prospect of another family member and will keep you posted along the way.

Love,

Matt and Jen

How Devoted Am I?

Matt R. — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 02:54:55 +0000

Reading through the book of 1 Samuel I came across an interesting verse in 1 Samuel 5:5 – “Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor all who enter Dagon’s house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.” I am always amazed at the devotion of pagans to false gods! They superstitiously worship and direct their lives according to those who don’t even exist! (i.e. Muslims, Buddists, etc.)

I worship and serve the living and true God, the Creator (Genesis 1:1)! No one or anything can even begin to compare to the greatness of my God (Isaiah 57:15; 40:12-31). How devoted am I to Him? Do I worship and honor Him? Do I direct my life according to His desires? He is clearly the Living and True God (1 Samuel 5:4)!