BREAKING GROUND, BREAKING BREAD

It was with great anticipation and eagerness, that we awaited September 6, 2008. That was the day when the fledgling congregation,

the Riverside Church of Christ, took one giant leap in its forward momentum. That was a day that will remain forever green in the memories of those who witnessed the monumental event. It was the day of the long-awaited "Ground breaking" ceremony of the structure that will house our congregation! We give God the glory. What a mighty God we serve!

 

God has blessed the Riverside congregation with fantastic numerical growth in little over two years. Those who led the movement to plant the church on the west side of Kerrville were overjoyed when just 25 people assembled in rented quarters in the early days. Even with many of the local members out of town for America's Labor Day last weekend, we exceeded our wildest expectation with an attendance of 185. Wow! That is 22 more people than we presently have on our roll. Folks, we are, no doubt, on our way to 200 now! Based on percentages and by the grace of God, we have to be one of the fastest growing congregations in the  United States! Praise the Lord for his magnificent goodness to us. God has used so many magnanimous and generous brethren to "make it happen." From the gracious gift of the land to the lowly widow's mite, our brothers and sisters have united their resources and their expertise in the spirit of Christian co-operation under God's mighty hand. We are "united, excited and ignited." We are spreading the flame. All we can say is, "Burn, baby, burn!" As former president Reagan once said, "You ain't seen nuttin' yet!" Then, as we Horne's like to say, "Here we come, ready or not!" Only lethargy can now hold us back, so we intend to put that diabolical commodity in the trash can. "Let us rise up and build," Nehemiah 2:18. Let's roll!

 

On the Lord's Day--Revelation 1:10, Riverside and Benoni congregations will gather together in keeping with our risen Savior's will to "break bread," Acts 2:42. With the glow of thanksgiving about our God-granted progress still warming our hearts, we remember our Jesus, whose very name means "salvation," Matthew 1:21. Without him, all our fervent activity would be futile and fruitless. It would be a meaningless "striving after the wind," Ecclesiastes 1:14. Jesus gives meaning to our existence. He gives purpose to our efforts. He gives significance to our human relationships. He gives momentum to our energy. He gives direction to our lives. He "upholds us by the word of his power," Hebrews 1:3. As the spiritual song acknowledges, "Without Him, I [we] can do nothing... Without him I [we] surely would fail."

 

"Breaking ground" on Saturday, "breaking bread" on Sunday--what an exciting life we lead! The broken soil will eventually give rise to a place where broken hearts will be healed. God will put a "roof over our heads" to protect us from the elements but not from the Devil. Our devotion to Christ will defeat the diabolical one. Let the structure we anticipate not be an end within itself. That would defeat its purpose and contribute to our ultimate downfall. It is a means to an end, my beloved brethren. It is merely a beginning in the fight for the right, Ephesians 6:10-17. It will be the major place where "we provoke one another to love and good works," Hebrews 10:24. It will be the place where we will "break bread" for years to come! We thank God who brought us to the place where yesterday we "broke ground."  Let us sing "Hallelujah" in our hearts and praise the Lord with our lips.

 

Love you all,

 

Al--"the Horne of Africa." 

 

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