What We Do Together

Grace River Members . . .

M-eet together weekly

E-xperience prayer daily

M-inister with our gifts

B-ask, bathe, and bury ourselves in the Bible

E-xtend God's kingdom by bringing friends and family

R-esource God's church with our tithes and offerings

S-ense the supernatural activity of God

New & Improved Website

Hey Friends!

I wanted to share our redesigned website with you all! Check it out!

http://www.chasingrace.org/

"River Men" - Grace River Men's Winter Retreat

Couldn't be Prouder!

Grace River is not quite two years old.  We'll celebrate our 2nd birthday on December 13th.  I couldn't be prouder of the people that make up Grace River.  We've been on an amazing journey that has taken us through seven different locations already in our young life together.  I'm prompted to brag about her one more time, I guess, because the days that we are currently experiencing may be our best yet.  For two weeks in a row, we have broken the 110 mark in attendance.  There is an excitement and an expectation when we get together that creates and electric atmosphere in the room.  We have a ton of kids and great leadership to teach them each week.  The worship team is the best that I have ever had at any church.  They are passionate, prayerful, and transparent in their worship.  Our prayer team also numbers more participants than any church that I have been involved in leadership.  We are a praying people.  We have multiple ministries that are surfacing from the ground up--born of the passion of our members.  Each week, testimonies of the miraculous work of God are freely shared and applauded.  It would truly be unusual if we didn't hear about a miracle.  We're celebrating the new families that God is bringing to us each week and we're considering the new gifts that they are bringing to the mix that will help to take Grace River to the next level.  We've baptized twenty-seven people in these two years with more on the way.  I truly believe that this is the work that I was created for.  I couldn't be prouder!

You can keep us with Grace River in words and pictures at http://www.observing-grace.blogspot.com/
Read more about who we are and what we are doing at http://www.chasingrace.org/.
We would love to friend you at Facebook.  I would also invite you follow me on Twitter.

New Grace River Pictures

The latest pictures from our worship at Grace River are posted at http://www.observing-grace.blogspot.com/.  Today we had the honor of ordaining two of our pastors, Joey Scott and Derek Donahoe.  We also had a chili cookoff--I didn't win...again.  These last two weeks have been really special.  It's hard to explain but there is excitement that is even beyond what we normally experience.  Grace River is not a dull church to begin with--but recently we have really experienced the empowering of the Spirit among us.  We're drawing new families and drawing closer together as a family.  These are exciting days at Grace River!

Discovering Communion...

This past Sunday, I was setting up the communion table in the back of the middle school cafeteria where we meet each week.  One of our new ladies approached with curiosity and asked, "What's that?".  I answered, "Communion--we're going to receive communion today".  She immediately asked again, "What's that?".  I gave her a brief explanation of the Lord's Supper and what it was all about.  She then asked, "Can you show me where that is in the Bible so that I can read about it?".  Almost immediately, the best friend of this lady also walked into the room, saw the table, and asked, "What's that?".  Within minutes both ladies were seated at a table, Bibles opened, reading for the first time about Jesus' gift of communion.  Later, during the service when we were gathered as a church around the table, I couldn't help but watch with wonder as these two ladies received for the very first time these symbols of Jesus' sacrifice.  This coming Sunday, we will celebrate another first for these ladies when both of them will be baptized, along with others, in a backyard swimming pool.  We met these ladies, when in the sovereignty of God, our church was led to meet at the Severance Middle School.  You see, one of the ladies is the person who opens and shuts the building for us each week.  At first she would open the building, leave, and then return to lock up when we were finished.  Gradually she began staying longer and returning earlier until after several months, she began staying for the entire service.  And then she brought her best friend--and now they both have been attending every week ever since.  To me, the story is absolutely miraculous!  I've told them that most people go and find a church to attend.  However, they must be very special to God, in order for Him to go to all of the trouble of bringing a church to them!  These ladies illustrate the purpose and mission of Grace River--to be a safe place where anyone can come as they are and find hope and healing.  They also clearly illustrate the great love that the Father has for each of his children.  I'm glad that God has allowed Grace River to be a church without walls so that He can take us wherever we are needed.  More are waiting...

Samples' Family Update

It's about time for an update.  I have not written on the blog for quite some time.  Those that blog know that there are periods of time when you can post multiple thoughts everyday and then there are periods of time where there is just no motivation to write anything.  I don't know if I'm feeling especially motivated today or if I'm just feeling a big guilty for having not written in so long.  Either way...here I go.

I'll start with the family.  Tina signed a conract with Kregel Publications last week to write a book with one of her dear friends, Dena Dyer.  Both Tina and Dena (I like the way that sounds) are gifted writers, teachers, singers, etc.  They both have husbands who are hoping to ride their coattails all the way to the top.  This will be Tina's first published book and the Samples' house is praying for much success.  We plan to take the book on the road and to teach it wherever possible.  When the book is finished and the release date is anounced, I will certainly be letting you know (and asking to come to your church to teach it as well).

My oldest son Jaren will be marrying his fiance Jillian towards the end of this month.  It will be simple and small wedding in the mountains.  Jillian is in the Navy and they will be relocating to San Diego.  I've never been to San Diego but I look forward to visiting.  I hear that it is a wonderful place with great weather.  In the meantime, Jaren continues to teach guitar and to play in his band, A Texas Tragedy, with his brother.  They recently opened for Sheridan at a small venue in Littleton.

Zach, my youngest son, is changing schools.  Next week, he will begin his junior year at Resurrection Christian School.  He has been at Windsor for his entire academic career and so this a pretty big deal.  Rez will allow Zach to improve his grades and to get ready for college in a stronger way.  He is also excited about playing baseball for Rez.  Two years ago they barely missed winning the state championship.  We're looking forward to dedicated christian coaches who want to build strong character into their teams.  Zach is also looking for a car--something around $500--that runs, would be great.

As always, we appreciate your prayer.  We feel like God is doing a great work through our church--Grace River.  Many lives are being transformed as we continue to try to be a safe place where anyone can come as they are and find hope and healing.  I'll share more tomorrow (or the next day...lol).

Baptism Pictures

You can see pictures from our Independence Day Baptism Service @ www.observing-grace.blogspot.com.

Gem Lake Hike

Our church likes to hike and last Saturday we took our first hike of the summer up to Gem Lake.  It's a fairly easy hike (3 miles roundtrip) to a beautiful rain-filled lake.  Here are some pictures.

New Grace River Pics

Hey Everyone!  There are some new Grace River pictures posted at http://www.observing-grace.blogspot.com/.  Check them out!  We have a great church!

More VBS Pictures

Vacation Bible School Pictures

Grace River hosted her very first Vacation Bible School this morning.  We're meeting at Windsor Main Park and the first day was awesome.  The Grace River folks stepped up with 19 Bible School workers for the first day teaching 20 children.  That's a marvelous 1:1 worker/student ratio.  I thought that you might enjoy some pictures of our first day.

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1st Annual Grace River Car Show

Today was our first attempt at hosting a car show and it was a huge success.  We had beautiful cars, delicious food, and changed lives.  Here are a few pictures that Tina took today...

Grace River Band Pics...

Here are a few pictures of the band from Wednesday night's Windsor High School Baccalaureate service.  Grace River Church has an incredible group of talented musicians that God has brought together.  We are grateful...

The Church that Prays Together . . .

One of the best things about Grace River is that she is a church who prays a whole lot!  We believe that God changes things when we pray.  Stuff happens when we pray!  Over the past few months we have seen at least two miracles as individuals have been completely healed of diseases and injuries.  Our purpose statement is, "Grace River is a safe place where anyone can come as they are and find hope and healing for their hurts, habits, and hang-ups".  Physical healing is certainly exciting to see--but so is emotional healing, and of course spiritual healing.  Our God is a God who heals us!  This picture is a picture that can be taken just about every time that we get together.  We pray a lot!  We're seeing God answer...

Grace River Easter Pictures

Easter 2011

We had an amazing day of worship at Grace River for Easter.  Check out pictures and narrative at http://www.observing-grace.blogspot.com/.

A Few Suggestions...

For those of you who read my blog regularly, I would like to suggest a few others:

The history of Grace River Church is being recorded by Amy Fulton at http://www.observing-grace.blogspot.com/.  Amy writes about Grace River from her perspective as our #1 sound guru.  You'll find lots of pictures and commentary dating all the way back to our beginning as a church.

My beautiful and talented young bride Tina writes regularly at http://www.tinasamples.blogspot.com/.  She also has a website at http://www.tinasamples.com/.  Tina is a speaker, writer, worship leader and all-around God-gifted individual.  She has a keyboard and will travel if you need a speaker/worship leader for an upcoming event.  She has an amazing testimony and is a compelling teacher.

Our church website is at http://www.chasingrace.org/.  In addition to info about our young church, we hope to soon have audio and eventually video of messages and worship segments.  There are lots of pictures in the photo tab that you can check out.  We have worshipped in 5 locations in our first year.  Last summer we baptized 11 people in a inflatable swimming pool right in the middle of Windsor's Main Park.  Exciting Stuff!

A Year of Ones

Welcome to a brand new year!

Today's date is all ones: 1-1-11.

God's list of "ones" is found in Ephesians 4:4-6: "There is ONE body and ONE Spirit, just as also you were called in ONE hope of your calling; ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism, ONE God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all". If you count the "ones" you will find that there are seven of them in this passage. Seven is the number of perfection. Therefore, these are the perfect "ones"!

Ephesians 4 contains another list of seven--located in the first three verses. It's a description of how we are to live our lives. "(1) Walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, (2) with all humility (3) and gentleness, (4) with patience, (5) showing tolerance for one another (6) in love, (7) being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace".

Just for grins, let's match up these two lists of seven found in Ephesians 4 and make some application.

#1: If we all "walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which we have been called", then we will have "one body" (one church). In other words, when we all do well what we are called to do in the church, then our church is strong and unified. We are the unified body of Christ.

#2: When we serve each other in the church with "all humility", then the "one Spirit" is able to show up and empower us. Pride is the biggest threat to unity. And without unity--there will be no Spirit working among us.

#3: "You were called in one hope of your calling". Live out your calling in "gentleness". Remember that we are all broken and damaged and therefore need to be handled gently. We need to do what God has called us to do without leaving a wake of damaged people behind us. Serve the church gently.

#4: Serve with "patience" because there is "one Lord" and you're not Him . Things will not always happen in your timing. They will always happen in God's timing. Be patient and wait upon the Lord.

#5: We are to, "show tolerance for one another" because we have "one faith". What is our faith? It is the belief that we are all sinners saved by the grace of God. Resist the urge to quickly judge each other by remembering that we also can be easily judged. None of us are perfect (yet).

#6: We can serve, "in love" by remembering our "one baptism". We are baptized into Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. Each of us is sacrificially loved of God and can thus give and receive love from each other. I guess that you don't have to love the person that Christ didn't die for--but since He died for everyone--get busy loving!

#7: Finally, we are to, "preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace". It's easier to do if we remember that there is only, "one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all". He is in everyone and He is over everyone. God is using each of us to accomplish His purposes. It's bigger than any one of us could ever accomplished--that's why He called us together at Grace River.

Let me finish this up as Paul did in Ephesians 4:7, "But to each of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift". You have a gift of grace. I have a gift of grace. When we all come together and combine our grace-gifts, we become God's River of Grace! May 2011 become the "Year of Ones"!

"Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers. But they delight in doing everything the Lord wants; day and night they think about his law. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper" (Psalm 1:1-3).

May you bear much fruit this year and prosper!

Grace River's 1st Birthday Picture