Thanks-Giving-Day

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Cor 9:15

Today as we celebrate Thanksgiving with friends and family, what are you Thankful for? As I tried to answer this question myself, immediately I think of all the blessings in my life. I also think about even some of the hurtful stuff He has allowed me to experience. On one hand it is hard to get to a place where you realize your hurt is part of the process God needs you to experience. On the other I have learned, being thankful is more about who God is than what is happening to me at any giving time.

If you are anything like me, I have some incredible positive things in my life, and some pain to go along with it. One particular Thanksgiving stand out in my life. It was the Thanksgiving right after hurricane Andrew in 1992.

We had just lost our home that August 24th and barely escaped with our lives. Our children were from ages 1-10, so we used the Thanksgiving celebration to really evaluate what we were thankful for... nothing like a traumatic experience to help you put things into perspective.

One by one we went around our handed down table asking the threaded question: What are you thankful for Jacob, Ashley, Jon, and Igor? Then it was the parents turn… first Grecy, then me. Collectively we all echoed the same thing; thankful for each other and thankful to God! Isn't that after all what Thanksgiving is all about?

While most of our kids are grown and gone to live there lives, I will always cherish this experience in my heart. Even though it came at a difficult time in our lives, it also produced the most sincere attitude from our hearts. Don't miss this opportunity with who you call your family/friends to do the same.

On this special day, the designated day we give thanks, thank God for his indescribable gift and take in all that you can with those around you love.

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving? I would love to hear from you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

ia

A Great day at FRC Doral

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Check out the Children's Ministry time.

People enjoying a great time in the courtyard after the 11am service.


Many of you came out today with friends and family. You brought many different types of foods and desserts. There was music, a fun house and a great time for the entire family.

More impressively was the number of you who walked up at the end of the service and took a domino in your hand as pastor Troy encouraged and prayed for you. So many of you responded that some had to stand in the aisles. Way to go!

Today we reached a new high of 380 folks. I thank God that all of the hard work and anticipation of our leaders did not go in vain. There was a record high in all of the ministries!

There was the mother who brought her teenage son for the first time and asked me to pray for him. The wife who somehow convinced the husband to come. And the single guy who invited the friend. Those are just a few of the many people I met today. I'm so proud of each of you, you did exactly what Jesus asks us to do, take the risk and be life-changers.

Today you also got to meet all of our pastors, leaders and those who serve you every week. As we continue to grow and reach our community, I encourage you to get involve by participating in a ministry team. Whether it is in worship, Preschool, Children, setup/teardown, or First Impressions teams, there are great opportunities for all of you.

Stop by the information table or speak to one of our leaders on the weekend about how you can get involved.

A BIG thanks to all of you who work so hard this weekend to make it a great experience for those who attended.

Have an awesome week and a "Happy Thanksgiving"!

ia

Don't miss the "Thanksgiving Celebration"!

Monday, November 12, 2007

This Sunday we are clebrating BIG with an International Feast like no other. Food from over 30 countries will be represented. So come hungry and come early! We will have live music by The Jaz Trinity, a domino contest for the competive in you, and a Jump House for the kids.

As we celebrate however, there are somethings to remember as we give thanks to God. Thank Him for:

1. What He has done, is doing and will do in our lives.
2. The people he has put in our lives to do life with.
3. The opportunities he gives us to make a difference in this world.
4. For FRC and the vision God has given us through Pastor Troy to partner with people to reach their God potential.

This week we asked you to do several things as we prepare:

1. Sign up to bring your favorite food (we provided the dish, you provide what goes in it)
2. Make sure you bring someone along with you to service. If we just get together and have a good-old-time, we would have missed the opportunity we are all praying for. Don't miss this!
3. Come early! I know this is really hard for most of us, but please do whatever you have to do to make sure you are there by 10:30 with your food. An area will be designated for you to drop off your great tasting creation.

It is going to be a great time together. I look forward to seeing all of you there!

Pray for good weather!

ia

Baby Darwin is finally here

Friday, November 9, 2007

November 9th at 8:54am will be a day I will always remember. My daughter Ashley and Darwin gave birth to their first (our fifth grandchild) child.
Isn't he cute?
We have been having many discussion about this little boy. His father, being from the Dominican Republic, wants him to become a baseball player. Many decorations, clothing and toys already point him in that direction.

The grandparents are causing some controversy by getting little Darwin Soccer items and musical toys... specially drums stuff. Leave it to the Grandparents to always intervene and try and get there way. It makes for some fun times together.

As I held him today, I went back in my mind to when Jacob (picture above) was born. I rejoiced knowing that here we are building the future generations; and the question for me is: what will I leave behind for them to build on? This is what I know, what I do now may take time to have an impact, but it won't be wasted.

There is nothing more important than what we leave behind with those we love most; our families. It really is what matters most of all.



Mom is doing well, eager to get home and begin her new role as a mother. Thanks to so many of you who have been praying for us all. Thank you for sharing this time with us.

we love you all,

Igor and Grecy (proud Grandparents)

Bob's Trip to Cuba

The road to my God potential led me to Cuba...

I just got back from Havana, Cuba and I am fired up! God is working through FRC in Cuba. He has allowed us to come along side some churches there. We visited Iglesia Bautista del Cerro. This church was celebrating their new church building. A building FRC helped them build. This might not sound like much, but in Cuba, where most of the buildings are crumbling, that is huge!

At Iglesia Bautista del Cerro people are connecting to God, becoming like Christ and influencing their world. In a communist country where there is virtually no freedom, that is amazing! I talked with these Christian brothers and sisters. I felt their excitement and the joy in their hearts. Each one expressed how thankful they were to FRC. It was awesome to see them worship and fellowship in a new building.

We celebrated big time! Sunday morning, we worshiped for several hours. We sang, we prayed, we ate and we loved one another. It was standing room only and lasted for 3 hours.

Sunday night, we turned it up a notch. Remember I said that many, many buildings in Cuba are falling apart (the streets have horrible lighting too). Picture our taxi riding by these ugly buildings with hardly any light. Suddenly, you see Iglesia Bautista del Cerro with lights gleaming like a beacon on a hill. A brand new building in the middle of crumbling ones. God's house, sticking out in all of its glory for those who hunger for Him. That is how the night started for us. Then, we celebrated and glorified God with song, testimony and recognition. It lasted for 5 hours.

The Pastor called Garland, Peter and me to the stage. They recognized FRC for our part in their ministry. I will never forget the faces in the congregation, full of love and thankfulness. As I stood on stage with the plaque they gave us, I realized I represented every FRC Campus. We all share in what took place that day and what will take place in the future at Iglesia Bautista del Cerro. All the glory goes to the mighty God we serve!

Iglesia Bautista has 30 small groups and a seminary that is training 50 young people to become Christian leaders. There are plans to start a food ministry as another way to connect people to God. It is exciting to see God at work in Cuba.

Thank you God for using FRC to reach and influence the world.

Blessings,

Bob
Romans 10:13-15

If you have questions or comments, please feel free to write to Bob @ rselecky@bellsouth.net.

Trunk or Treating in the rain (more pics here)

Thursday, November 1, 2007

When things don't go like you planned, do all you can, then trust God along the way. After many months of planning and praying, the day was here, and so was the rain and the wind. However, along with the rain and wind, came the people... from all over the place. Early estimates predict over 3,000 folks came out in-between the short stoppages of rain to celebrate.

One of the "new" participants this year had some great things to say on his blog.Check out Julio Anta, from Anta’s Fitness and Self Defense his experience on Trunk or Treat Anta News and Events.


I have already received emails from people saying they will be by this week to check out one of the services. Here's a comment from one of the attendees:


Hi Ashley

It was our first time at Trunk or Treat and our children loved it! We heard about it from some friends. It's a great idea and nice for the children to be surrounded by Christian love and get some candy while doing it. Unfortunately, I did not receive a card but that's ok, I will definitely be visiting the church soon. Thank you again for such a memorable Halloween for our children and for us as well.


I want to thank all of you who volunteered your time to work so hard and get wet and make this event possible. The way you greeted, gave out candy, sang and played music, set-up several times under the rain, and just would not give up, makes me extremlly proud and encouraged to be one of your pastors. I know without a doubt that God blesses those who labor; and we have experienced that firts hand at this year's Trunk or Treat event.

A big Thank you to all the schools who participated:

Eugenia B. Thomas k-8 Center Principal: Mayra Falcon
Doral Middle School Principal: Tatiana De Miranda
Ronald Reagan/Doral Senior High School Principal: Douglass Rodriguez

A special thanks to the folks at Ronald Reagan/Doral Senior High School for hosting our event for the second year. You guys are trully a blessings and I thank you for always being willing to support our efforts.

I look forward to seeing all of you this Sunday. We will be having Baptism in the Courtyard, make sure not to miss it.

Until then, God's best!

ia