This year is coming to a quick conclusion. And 2009 will be a year of mystery for all of us. Everything seems to be on shakey ground. The economy is taking a major dive, foreclosures are at an all time high, church attendance nationally is plummeting, Biblical truth has been twisted to suit people's fancy, friendships have been tossed aside like yesterday's newspaper and fear is running rampant. But God is on the throne and as long as we build our foundation on Him, nothing in this world can shake us.
I want to encourage you to press into your relationship with God and with each other. We need His strength daily and we need the encouragement of our church family as we all face these hard times. Fight the fight, stay in the fire. And as Kirk Cameron said, in the movie Fire Proof, "You never leave your partner in a fire!:
We have such a blessed church. Your faithfulness to the Lord and your love for each other is one of the reasons for the depth of this church. May the Lord bless you! And thank you all so very much for your love and friendhsip!
In Christ,
Pastor Rene
"...each one of you is a Living Spring that God uses to restore and to refresh many lives."
'Those who fight in the fire are refined, those who run away from the fire keep running."
Living Springs Community Church
Favorite Baseball Team - Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees
Favorite Music - Depends on my mood. Worship music. Some country, rock, hip hop, rap, reggae, jazz...
Favorite Hockey Team - You're kidding right?
Favorite Movie - 1. Rocky I 2. Lord of the Rings 3. Star Wars 4. Prince of Egypt
Favorite City - 1. New York 2. Moscow 3. Chicago 4. Neenah, Wis.
Favorite Football Team - Green Bay Packers, San Diego Chargers
Favorite Basketball Team - UCLA Bruins (The NBA died years ago.)
Favorite Restuarant - 1. LaCasita 2. Road House Grill 3. In N Out
Favorite Preacher 1. Ron Hogue 2. James McDonald 3. Charles Stanley 4. Mark Driscoll
Miscellaneous -
Favorite Stadium - 1. Dodger Stadium 2. Yankee Stadium 3. Wrigley Field 4. Lambeu Field
Favorite Color - Blue
Favorite TV show - 1. ESPN Baseball Tonight 2. Mythbusters 3. Star Trek
Here are some answers to some of the many questions that we have recieved -
Q. "Why did you start the church?"
A. Actually before I was ever in ministry, I was told that I would be a Senior Pastor. I ran from that call from
1982 to 2003. In 1998 Greg Burson told me that I needed to step into that role, I refused. In 2002 when Ron
Hogue left our former church, he told me that it was time, I refused. With every day I stayed at our former
church, the Lord kept inpressing on my heart that I was in disobedience. After months of prayer and
prophetic confirmation, the choice was obvious. One day in February 2004 I shared my heart and the rest
is history.
Q. "I heard that you guys are a church split from your old church?"
A. I love that question. Grab a calculator and do the math. When I left my former church we had well over
800 people. We started our church with 25 people, some who had left months and even years before I left.
We also had some people from the Valley. Only one family left when we did and they were blessed going
out. I tell people, if it was a true split, we would be in a bigger building! God hates division and so do we.
Q. "Are you guys Charismatic?"
A. I do not like the word Charismatic. Yes, we do believe in the gifts of the Spirit and their use, as directed by
the word of God. All the gifts are in operation today, but so is the flesh. We must becareful not to allow the
flesh to override scripture.
Q. Are you a Spanish Church?
A. I get that question all the time, because I'm Hispanic. I was born in the High Desert and so was my father.
No, we speak english and most of our congregation is non - Hispanic. But if I could speak Spanish, I would
really reach out to the Hispanic community!
Q. Are you part of the emergent church?
A. No.
Q. Is it true that all your members have your cell number?
A. Yes.
Q. "If another Pastor called you for lunch, what would you think?"
A. I hope they like Mexican food, because we're going to La Casita and I'm buying!
