PROBABLY NO PERSON on earth should be more honored by a family than a mother who seeks to raise her children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

As we approach Mother's Day (May 13), I encourage you to make this holiday a special time in your mother's life. If you live with or near your mother, give her some extra time on or around this holiday. Do something special--perhaps something she would not expect.

If she lives in another area, be certain to contact her and express your love and gratitude directly to her.  If she is deceased, rekindle some fond memories. Maybe share some of the good times with other family members or friends. 

Above all, express your gratitude to the Lord for the mother He gave you. Please note that I speak for the entire staff in wishing all Riverbend mothers a happy Mother's Day.

Here's an item for your permanent prayer list:  Riverbend Academy.

All Riverbend members should be praying regularly for the students, faculty and staff at the Academy. Our prayer should be that God is glorified in every thing that happens at the Academy—in the classroom, on field trips, in the lab, on the athletic field, during interaction among the students and in the hearts and minds of all involved.

Comparative test scores prove that Riverbend Academy has become one of the top schools in the area. The education provided is not just giving young people a chance to succeed in life but is offering an opportunity for its students to become Bible-solid Christian leaders with a proper biblical worldview. 

So in your prayer times, please keep Riverbend Academy—one of our church's major ministries—before the Lord.

IT  IS  ONLY about five weeks before we gather as a church (and hopefully as a community) for some special strategic training that we all need embedded in our hearts.  

It has to do with the future. It has to do with investing our lives into the lives of our young people. It has to do with seeing that these young people are enlightened about what lies ahead for them. It has to do with encouraging parents and grandparents to be diligent in continually providing biblical direction for the challenges these youth will face in adulthood.

That’s why we have planned the Family Foundations Conference for March 16-17.  Plan to attend; your family will be blessed.

FEBRUARY  5  is “Super Sunday” at Riverbend. It has nothing to do with the Super Bowl that evening, except that we borrowed part of that name to emphasize that we are hoping for a super attendance that day in both Bible Fellowship Groups and worship.  

We are encouraging all members to be here but really to do more than that. To have a super attendance, we should all follow the mandate in Scripture and bring at least one guest to the House of the Lord.

As the master said to the servant in one of Jesus’ parables (Luke 14:23): “Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.”

Let’s do it!

CHRISTMAS came and went quickly, didn’t it? The New Year is now in full swing, and our staff has been working diligently toward making 2012 a great year of service to our Lord through ministry. 

May we all be resolved as a congregation, as the hymn says, “no longer to linger.” May we seek the  Lord like never before. May we dig deeper for both spiritual and physical energy to combat the wiles of our arch enemy. May we become  more embedded in the Scripture. May our lives reflect the rich doctrinal truths of God’s Word.  May we all become greater prayer soldiers.

And may it all be to the glory of our great God!

CHRISTMAS is always one of the most joyous times of the year. It's a time for family togetherness, great memories, tasty food, festive music, enjoying colorful decorations, exchanging gifts, doing for others and especially worshipping our glorious Savior. 

That final phrase is the one Marki and I want to emphasize to all Riverbend members. It would be easy to get caught up in all the excitement and forget the real reason for it all.  As believers, and particularly Riverbend believers, let's remember the reason for the Christ-mas season ... and help others to remember it, as well.

IT DOESN’T seem like it has been 11 years since Marki and I sat on the front row in the Worship Center one Sunday and watched for the first time the people of Riverbend drop their offerings into the wooden chest in front of the pulpit.

We can remember tears of joy, excitement and gratitude that flowed from our eyes. But what really was special were the tears we saw flowing from so many of our members.

As a church, we had made a real commitment to missions, and the Chest of Joash march that day seemed to seal it.

We have taken almost those same seats every year since, and there’s still an heartfelt emotional joy to it.

May it continue on Dec. 4.

WOW!  CAN  YOU  believe it? Thanksgiving is staring us in the face. 

What a blessed time of the year. It is a time that our government many years ago set aside so that Americans can pause and reflect on the mercy and grace of Almighty God to our nation.

It used to be taught in the schools that our forefathers came to what they called “the new world” so they could establish religious freedom and biblically worship our heavenly Father. Now we seldom hear that.  

As we gather with family and friends during the Thanksgiving season, let’s be the leaders in reminding everyone of God’s sustaining goodness to us.

ATTENTION, Riverbend: We have a great opportunity this month to minister in the name of Christ. As one of the larger churches in the area, we should be leading the way in reaching beyond our walls and into the world around us. 

With the economic times the way they are, many people are struggling. The future for them may be a really big question mark.

Let’s all pledge to assist them as we can — giving of ourselves and our resources to help them get through this. Let’s provide ample food for people to have a decent Thanksgiving. Let’s send those shoeboxes to kids overseas.  

Let’s minister in the name of Jesus.

WHY HAVE a family conference?, some may ask.  Well, contrary to public opinion, the world’s most attacked entity is not the government, not the public school system, not the labor unions, not even the church.

No, it is the home—the family, the institution God established first. 

If the enemy can destroy the home, all other elements of society will eventually fall with it.

Riverbend desires to use God’s ways to help our families grow stronger in Biblical principles and be better equipped to combat the enemy. As I’ve said in the pulpit, our church will never rise above our families.

A family conference? ... that’s why