A Few Pics

As many of you know, we are now located in Springfield, Mo. Everyone is doing well. Below are a few pictures from a day at the park. Be sure you check out my new Family Tree Blog: http://blackfamilytree.blogspot.com

New Family Pictures!

Just wanted to share the new family pics!

Pastor's Corner: Missions Convention 2006

Pastor’s Corner

Jesus said, “Go into all the world…”
I always find it interesting that Jesus never addresses the concerns that we so often come up with as to why we can’t fulfill his Great Commission.” It isn’t Go...if you feel called...if you feel brave enough...if you have enough time. The command is simply...GO! I pray that as we spend time during this year’s missions convention that you will be once again filled with the passion to GO into all the world!

Blessings, Pastor Brian

Locked-up for a Good Cause!

This year, I have the honor and pleasure of participating in MDA's Third Annual Football Fever Lock-up to help "Jerry's Kids®". To reach my goal I need your help! I'd like to include you or your company on my list of contributors who are helping me reach my goal. Your donation would help MDA continue the important fight against muscular dystrophy. Check out my web page by clicking on the link above. There you'll find all kinds of information about MDA, and be able to make your tax-deductible donation on-line using your credit card. MDA serves people in our community with neuromuscular disease by providing clinics, support groups, assistance with the purchase and repair of wheelchairs, braces and communication devices, and summer camp for kids. MDA also funds research grants to help find treatments and cures for some 43 neuromuscular diseases that affect people of all ages, right here in our community. I sincerely hope that you'll take the opportunity to support MDA. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call or e-mail me. On behalf of the families MDA serves, thank you! Warmest Regards, Brian Black
Click here to visit my Participant Page.If the link above does not bring you to my Participant Page, cut and paste the address below into the address bar of your internet browser.https://www.mdaevent.org/ParticipantInfo.aspx?j=7bbca76a-2707-4097-a64a-30a72ca707f4

Photo Op!

Nothing special...just needed to upload a family pic for some friends!
(click on the picture to enlarge; right-click on picture and select Save Picture As and then save it to an easy location (maybe your desktop). You can then insert it in a document or just open it and print it!)
Blessings, Pastor Brian

Up-In-The-Air Mid-week Update

Brrrrr......what more can you say? So far its been a great, if chilly and windy, week! Rhonda and Abby are going strong and the contributions seem to be gaining momentum as the week goes on. They survived the rain on Tuesday, and thanks to the timely provision of a space heater, they actually had a fairly toasty evening in their tent last night, despite brief flurries. Please keep them in prayer and if you'd like to contribute, you can do so online at https://secure2.ag.org/contributions/detail.cfm?LedgerID=9d41dc37-41b6-42bf-a843-47e184b17262. You can also stop by and find Rhonda at the Core Fitness parking lot, 1555 S. First Ave. through Sunday. If you like to contact Rhonda on the trampoline she'd love to hear from you @ 319.594.6450. Enjoy the pictures!

Up In The Air

Wednesday, October 4, 2006

Children's pastor to spend a week on a trampoline
Woman trying to raise awareness, money for group
By Brian Morelli - Iowa City Press-Citizen
http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061004/NEWS01/610040319/1079/NEWS01

If you were bouncing up and down on a trampoline, on the side of a busy road, for a week, people would probably notice. So, that is exactly what Rhonda Black is going to do.
"It's going to be so much fun," said the children's pastor at Assembly of God, 1330 Keokuk St. "I'm not really nervous, as much as (thinking) it gets so cold here."
Black is one of several children's pastors nationwide participating in "Up in the Air for Kids," an effort to raise $500,000 and awareness for the Assembly of God Boys and Girls Missionary Crusade.

The money will go toward projects such as helping orphaned or abandoned children, mentoring inner-city kids and helping children's hospitals around the globe.
"It is a bold step. Not too many people take bold steps," Black said.
Starting at 1 p.m. Sunday, Black will live on a trampoline and will not step foot back on the ground for seven days. She will set up along the road in the northeast corner of the Core Fitness parking lot, 1555 S. First Ave. Black's personal goal is raising $10,000.People can come by and pay $1 to jump for five minutes, she said. Also, while on the trampoline, she will be calling into radio stations to speak on the air and calling businesses to ask for contributions.

"I won't be jumping 24-7, but I will be jumping a lot," she said.
Black is planning a youth service Oct. 11 and kid's activities Oct. 14. Black said she also is trying to find someone to lend a cell phone to her while she is living above ground.
There will be a platform set up alongside the trampoline for a portable bathroom and her tent. Volunteer security guards will rotate shifts and stay overnight to make sure she is safe.
Friends from her church will be coming by with meals, drinks and to say hello.
"We need people to visit, even if they don't donate. It'll get boring," she said.
Black moved to the area with her husband, who also is a pastor at the church, and their two children from Missouri about 14 months ago. She said this will be a good chance to meet people in her new community.

"My goal is to be a visible part of the community. It will be a good chance for one-on-one contact," she said.

To donate

• Stop by and find Rhonda Black at the Core Fitness parking lot, 1555 S. First Ave., from Sunday to Oct. 14.
• Call Rhonda on the Trampoline at 594-6450.
• Visit online at https://secure2.ag.org/contributions/detail.cfm?LedgerID=9d41dc37-41b6-42bf-a843-47e184b17262.
  

Pastor's Corner: Students of His Word

“Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11).
I have always found this verse from Acts to be intriguing. Rather than expecting a blind-faith, Paul commends the Bereans for their desire to study and understand scripture. I believe that this verse gives us a commission to study His Word as well so that we might discern the truth of what we hear. In a world of half-truths and shades of gray, the Word of God is our source of Absolute Truth!
Blessings, Pastor Brian!

Pastor's Corner: Celebrating the King

Pastor’s Corner (from weekly bulletin)

As I celebrated the Hawkeye’s victory over the Cyclones yesterday and watched the crowd stream on to the field I was once again struck with how we celebrate over temporal things with such exuberance. While winning the CyHawk trophy for the year is a tremendous accomplishment and worthy of joyous excitement, can it truly be compared to the excitement of the spiritual victories we experience in our lives. I pray that this Sunday (and all week) we will celebrate the fact that we serve the Victorious King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (and Go Hawkeyes!!!)

Blessings, Pastor Brian

Back-2-School!

Just wanted to wish all the students heading back to school the best of luck in the upcoming year. I pray that God will bless you and prosper you in your studies. I also pray that you will be used in a powerful way to impact your schools for Christ! Be Planet Shakers!!!

1 Timothy 4:12Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

2006 BBQ Cookoff!!!

The 2006 Iowa City First A/G BBQ Cookoff was a rousing success! Unfortunately we could not decide on a clear cut winner, so all the master grillers (and brownie makers) won! Thank you to everyone who made this a success. Enjoy a few of the memorable pictures.

Yearly Celebration

We celebrated our yearly business meeting last night. As always, it was awe-inspiring to look back at the many things that have occured this year. Back to school outreaches, Light-the-Night, and Christmas specials all contributed to making 2005 a wonderful year. We saw four first time salvations as just a prelude to what God has in store for us in 2006. It has been such a privilege to join this body of believers as we seek to fulfill God's great commission for Iowa City. Our slogan; Real People on a Real Journey with a Real God is more than just words. We believe that as the people of God's church join together in seeking his face, there is nothing that life can throw at us that we cannot make it through. Thank you Father for the gift of your Church. Bind us together in accomplishing the work you have given us. Glory be to the matchless name of the Risen Savior! Amen.

Sacred Sacrifice - Easter Drama

Iowa City First Assembly of God celebration Resurrection Sunday with an Easter drama entitled Sacred Sacrifice. Drama and Song illustrated this remembrance of what Christ accomplished for his people. A huge thanks goes out to all who participated in making this a wonderful ministry event. It was so exciting to see over 75 people in attendance. Along with the drama, we also enjoyed a wonderful breakfast and an Easter Egg hunt for the children. Here are a few photos from this joyous morning.

A Miracle of Genetics

Wow...I don't understand how genetics work, but it would take God to create such beautiful kids from something like me. Just wanted to share the easter pics...enjoy!!

Storm Update

*Update* The U of I has posted a gallery of powerful pictures from the storm. Visit http://www.uiowa.edu/%7Eournews/tornado/ to see these photos.




Wow...thank God for His divine protection of lives, but WHAT a MESS!! I snapped a few photos with my Treo, but they don't really do it justice. It is simply amazing that no lives were lost in IC. This storm went right through downtown, which is always PACKED at this time of evening with people just walking around. This is such a beautiful historic down town (home of the first capital of Iowa) that I can't imagine what the cost of damage is going to be. I'm will add some more photos later with a real camera, but again we just want to thank God that everyone in our church (about a half a mile from where all the destruction was) and the city as a whole are okay. It could have been a much different story.

To God be the Glory!