I went to bed the night before looking forward to the Back 2 School Bash the next day. It had become one of the signature community events Suncoast Worship Center put on every year.

At 2:30am I was awakened by my wife Lindsey who was great with child. Anyone who has been on a trip with me knows that if I am awakened out of a deep sleep, I wake up violently. I shot up out of bed, worried that I had overslept and was going to be late for the Back 2 School Bash. “We’ve got to go to the hospital. The baby is coming.” is what Lindsey said. What’s funny is that I was SO out of it, that I was actually relieved that I hadn’t overslept for the event.

Back to that in a minute, first let me give some backstory.

With our first three kids, the deliveries were scheduled. No surprises. Show up on this day, you will have a baby before day’s end. Cadia was different. We found out early into the pregnancy that this one was different. I won’t go into details, but Lindsey was having a high risk pregnancy. We had to go to specialty doctors offices, many different ultrasounds, etc. The biggest change was that this was going to be a c-section. This was scary. Lindsey is very much against c-sections unless the baby’s life is in danger. Needles to say, there lives could’ve been at risk with a natural delivery, and we were on edge anyway since this was all new to us. (I was a wreck actually)

The Doc said he wanted to schedule a delivery at a certain time period. We felt that it was waiting too long. She was at full term, and we wanted Cadia to be delivered on Friday. But, HE went to medical school and I did not, so we scheduled the C-section for late the next week.

Because of the risk involved, he gave us warning signs. If we saw any of these particular signs we were to rush to the hospital immediately.

Back where we left off…

One of those warning signs had taken place in the middle of the night. So, I went from being relieved to being in semi-panic mode. We called parents, and Pastor Phillip to let them know what was going on. SO thankful that Courtney (Willimas) Arnold came over to stay with the kids until my family could get there.

We rushed to the hospital where they confirmed that Cadia was ready and she as coming now. They had to prep the room for a c-section before she came on her own. Shift change happened at the hospital, and we were nervous as to what was going to happen next. I had been praying pretty much all throughout the night. It was then that the next shift nurse walked into the room. It was an angel sent from God Himself. A familiar face came into the room with God’s countenance all over her. It was Petal Williams. (Her daughters had been in my youth group at SWC). She reassured us that everything was going to be alright. Not much longer after that, Lindsey was wheeled into the OR for delivery when Maria Medina (another nurse, and family friend) showed up to comfort Lindsey.

30 minutes later we were blessed to look at Cadia for the first time.

I was filled with joy as my wife and my child were both safe and healthy.

That was 2 years ago today. It’s hard to believe it was that long ago. She should still be this size. But here’s a few pics of the last 2 years.

NIV “44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

Rain is not a negative thing. We sometimes view a rainy day as a bad day. Or we use the phrase “When it rains it pours.” meaning of course that when something bad happens, other bad things will accompany it.

But in an agricultural society like in Jesus’ time, rain was a blessing. So verse 45 could read; “…he gives good days to good people, and evil people. He sends blessings to the good and the bad.”

I have to admit that years ago when I first heard this concept, I struggled with it. I would think, “Why does God give blessings to the unrighteous?” I get the first part. Sometimes God allows good days (sun to shine) on the evil and the good, but this viewpoint says that God goes beyond just good days and he actually blesses the unrighteous (or unjust -NLT).

It is then that I am forced to read verse 44 again. As difficult as it is NOT to hate our enemies, we are called to go beyond that. It may be a good thing to “not hate” our enemies, but we are to continue to show Christ’s love and bless our enemies by loving them and praying for them. By doing this, you are aligning yourself with them so that the next time the rain falls on them, some will fall on you as well.

So, I’m trying to decide who to take to the race this Sunday. Here are the choices.

1. The Wife. Wants to go, but finding someone to babysit 4 kids for 5-6 hours is an issue.

2. The Charlotte. My firstborn and most likely to be interested in the race. Sometimes has a little bit of an attitude when she needs a nap (right in the middle of the race).

3. The Son. Ceaton is my only boy, and would enjoy some of the race, but I fear it’ll be too long for him.

4. The Unknown. Now before you put, “Take me!” seriously consider that most of you would have to drive here from wherever and you would have to spend the day with ME!

All day there is music piped in from FCS radio. Usually the playlist has about 2 hours of music that randomly plays featuring some of the artists that we are selling.

I mention this because there has been a song on there for the past 2 months that stands out above the rest. Natalie Grant’s “The Greatness of Our God”

Here are some of the lyrics:
No sky contains
No doubt restrains
All You are, the greatness of our God
I’ll spend my life to know
And I’m far from close to all You are
The greatness of our God

I have learned more than almost any time in my life, just how true this is.

This week has already been amazing, and it is only Tuesday! So I’m going to post random events that happened so far this week that remind me just how great God is.

• I have had amazing volunteers helping get the church ready for this weekend. Even those who don’t like the colors are still helping paint!

• I met a couple in the store yesterday that came into the store looking for a church to attend. Praise God for opportunities like this. I shared who we are, and they are interested in checking us out Sunday!

• Found a beautiful picture that matches the paint perfectly for the foyer. (it’s the little things sometimes)

**** EDIT****
While typing this very blog, I heard from a co-worker at FCS. A man that I had spoken to about CenterPoint Church came into the store and asked for me, and about the church. She told him where we are and when we start, and he seemed encouraged to come. Again I thank God for opportunities to reach people, and I thank him for friends who will help me do that. She doesn’t read this blog, but thank you Rachel for passing along CPC info!

If this is how great things are on Tuesday then I can’t wait until Sunday!

There is nothing that can ever separate us
There is nothing that can ever separate us from your love
No life, no death, of this I am convinced
You my God, are greater still

www.centerpoint.tv

Here is my first day of…

…4th Grade.
For some reason i changed schools alot growing up.  In Kindergarten and 1st grade I attended Tropical Elementary in Merritt Island.  After that, we moved to Rockledge where 2nd and 3rd grade were at Hans Christian Anderson Elementary.  I’m not sure why I transferred again, but in 4th grade I went back to Tropical Elementary.

Now I was excited about going back to my old school.  I could reunite with my old buddies, and my old crush Courtney Buchannan.

It was lunch time this day, and I was the last to use the restroom located just outside the classroom.  The teacher offered to hold the class until I finished, but I said go ahead, I had been at this school before, and I KNEW where the lunchroom was.  After finishing my business (ahem) I walked out to see a class (which I assumed was mine) heading toward what I thought was the cafeteria.

They went through the doorway and disappeared on the other side.  I hurried up to get there, and went barging through the door to find myself in the ESE classroom.  Oops!  Wrong door.  I was horrified.  There was no way i was going to go into another wrong door, so I went back to the bathroom to retrace my steps.  For some reason I could not remember 3 years earlier to where the cafeteria was, so I just went back into the bathroom, and sat on the toilet for the rest of the hour.  (at least it seemed like an hour)

You see that was the bad half of what happened that day…what would happen next, would scare me to death.

Let’s flash back a couple years to get the back story here….

It was 1st grade here at Tropical Elementary, sometime in the middle of the school year.  On this particular day, I had managed to sneak my fathers Sony Walkman portable cassette player out of the house and listen to it on the bus ride to school.

For those of you who know me, I mean REALLY know me, you understand that there was no one in the world, form 1978-1984, cooler than Russ Taff.

Well I had been jamming to Russ Taff a little too much…like during class.  The teacher took away the Walkman, never to be seen again.

You see, I was a good kid…this was the first time I had EVER had anything confiscated.  So as far as I knew, that Walkman had become property of “Ms Kitta: 1st Grade Teacher”   My dad asked about the Walkman after a few days, but after he never found it, I guess he assumed that he had misplaced it.  Surely Rodney wouldn’t DARE touch dad’s walkman.

Now back to my first day of 4th grade.

After the whole lunch incident, I was on edge.  This was the worst first day in the history of the world!  The afternoon seemed to drag along, until I heard that familiar ding of the intercom.

You can imagine my horror when it was MY name that was called to go to the office.

I took the slow walk of shame down the aisle and made the left hand turn toward the door.  I could feel the stares and hear the whispers, “What did he do to get called to the office on the FIRST DAY!”

It probably only took 2 minutes for me to reach the office, but it seemed like an eternity.  My head could not have hung any lower then it was when I pushed open the office door.  The secretary asked, “Are you Rodney Cannon?”  “Yes.” I replied softly.

“I have something for you” she said as she handed me this yellow envelope that was rather heavy.  I could not even imagine what this was, but as I began to unravel the red string from the figure eight that held the envelope closed, it dawned on me!

I was overwhelmed with excitement as the walkman began to slide out into my hand.  the secretary had a big smile on her face…she must have loved Russ Taff too.

Nothing could have made that day any better in my eyes.  I couldn’t wait.  As soon as I walked out of the office I put the headphones on and pressed play.  The familiar sound of the guitars filled my ears, and I began to tear up as I heard Russ sing “Not gonna bow to your idols…We won’t bow oh no,  NO!”

SO went the first day of 4th grade, 1986.

On Wednesday nights we here at CenterPoint are doing a study on the book of James. In my studies recently, I came upon a verse that stands out to me.

James 1:21 (NIV)
21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

The word “planted” in this passage comes from the Greek word emphutos; meaning innate. Innate in the medical community is our body’s ability to heal itself. God has designed our bodies to heal themselves. (All except our teeth. I’m still struggling with Him about that one, lol) I learned from my chiropractors (who are Christians) a few years ago, that innate is the brain sending signals to the rest of the body through the spinal cord.  It was their job to align the spine so that the signals could make it to their destination without interference.  This way, the body can heal itself as quickly as possible.

So We are to get rid of all moral filth, and evil that is so prevalent, and humbly accept the word that is innate in us. We are to allow God’s word to heal us from the inside.

Another interesting thing about innate is that it is, for the most part, involuntary. Meaning you cannot stop your body from trying to heal itself. Sure you can do things to slow down the process, but if you break your arm, your body will begin to mend that break whether it is set or not.

I certainly would not try to mend my own broken arm.  I will go to a physician and allow Him to set my arm, so that innate will begin the healing process.

Lord, help me to daily get rid of all filth and evil that would pull me away from the innate which you have given me, your Word planted deep within me.  That is what can save me.

blessings to you all.
-Rodney

www.centerpoint.tv

Imagine if you would, the strongest man in the world.  Now picture this man married to a woman who could bench press more than most men ever could.  Let’s go one step further.  Picture their children.  What do you see?  Do you see big strong boys, ready to take on a lion (if one happened to cross their path)?  What if they were small, frail, weak.  That wouldn’t seem right.  Here are two parents who are incredibly strong, yet their kids are weaklings!  

Unfortunately our churches are filled with these people.  Those who have the All-Powerful God as their father, yet they live scared and weak lives.  

It amazes me that all over the church world, there are buildings full of people who have been saved for years, yet they feel unqualified, or unequipped to disciple someone.  We live in a day where we have the world at our fingertips.  The Bible is translated into hundreds of difference versions and languages.  We have access to sermons by the best and brightest leaders in Christianity available to watch with just a click of a mouse.  Yet people feel weak, and unqualified to speak to someone about the love of Jesus.  Some may muster up the courage to invite someone to church, and that’s a start, but they’ll do that to allow someone else to share Christ with them so they don’t have to.  

When we do this, we look like the scrawny children of these massive parents.  It just doesn’t look right.

One of the reasons we feel this way is partially because of access to all of these great ministries.  We’ll see someone doing ministry great, and we begin to compare ourselves to them thinking, “I could never be as good as them.”  And when we begin to compare ourselves to others, we begin to take our focus off of our Creator and what HE can do through us.  

We’re afraid to say “Follow my example, as I follow Christ’s” 

No one is perfect, but a baby Christian needs to know that too.  Life isn’t going to be all rose petals and chocolate covered cherries once they give their lives to Christ.  They need to hear from someone who has been there through the hard times and is still holding onto their faith just like Caleb.

When Caleb was 40 years old, he was one of only 2 people out of (possibly) millions that thought the Israelites could defeat the Canaanites.  The other 10 spies convinced the people that it was too difficult, and they could not win the fight.  Joshua and Caleb knew that with God’s strength they could defeat ANYONE who stood between them and their promise.  

45 years later when all the doubters had passed on, 85 year old Caleb stood gazing on to a land that soon he would inhabit.  He knew God would deliver them then, and he knew it now.

Where are the Calebs today?  Were are the 85 year olds that will stand up and say, “With God’s strength, we can do this!”  Where are the 40 year olds who are unafraid to speak the Truth of God in this dying world?

You can do it!  God is your strength.  His Holy Spirit is the power that we need to be bold in these times.  

God fill us with your Spirit, and give us the strength to reach the lost.

  CenterPoint Church

It was a great day at CenterPoint today. “God is Certain” was the focus.

I heard a story from Andy Stanley recently that I shared in service this morning, and i’ll share it here too.

Andy Stanley was invited to meet the president along with many other church leaders in Washington DC last year. While waiting in this hallway for Mr. Obama to show up, Andy was privileged to meet a man named Rev. Otis Moss. Rev Moss is a black minister who was born in central Georgia in 1935. He was orphaned at a young age, and experienced some of the worst times that our country had to offer. He followed his call into ministry at age 19, and was able to develop a relationship with Dr. Martin Luther King, and march along side of him during the cvil rights movement on more than one occasion. He experienced more hatred and racism than many today ever have. But, through all of this he kept his faith in Christ. During this conversation, he paused and stared off into the distance and quoted Romans 8:38 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him…”

Right in the middle of his story to Andy Stanley, he quotes this verse. “All things” the Word says. Rev. Moss’ “all things” are different than yours or my “all things”. He has seen America at it’s worst, yet he still clung to the fact that in times of uncertainty, God is certain.

It was not long after that quote that Andy noticed the secret service men approaching with Mr. Obama behind them. The very first African-American President in our nations history was approaching, and it was because of sacrifices made by this man he had just met. Andy Stanley thought to himself, “I’m about to meet a president, but i’ve just met a saint.”

In times of economic and political uncertainty we can be sure that our God is certain. He is faithful, and unchanging. During the darkest time in Jesus’ ministry, when his disciples had all fallen away, one had betrayed him, and one of his closest denied him, God was doing his greatest work. When it seemed like God was nowhere to be found, he was at the epicenter of the salvation of mankind.

Be blessed this week.
-Rodney

www.centerpoint.tv

When I began this blog, my fear was not having enough to write. Now vie found myself not blogging because of too much to write.

I will try to get better in the upcoming weeks. Thanks for dropping in, and thanks to those of you who found your way here from our website centerpoint.tv

Love you all.
Rodney

There is nothing on this earth that I hold more dear than my wife and children.  Even though I have 4 kids (and yes, we’re done) it always amazes me when babies begin to recognize faces.

Cadia is 5 months old now, and has been recognizing me for quite a while.  She is full on grasping whatever in in her reach, and her instinct is to put whatever is in her hand, into her mouth.

I walked into the bedroom where she was laying the other day, and of course she immediately smiled with her whole face.  The kind of smile one gets when they think about the best Christmas they ever had, or the kind you get on your wedding day.  Not every time she sees me does she smile like that.  But when she does, it melts my heart.

I started thinking about this.  Does God feel this way when he recognize him?

Now there are times when I’m sitting in the  front of the van, reaching back to give her a pacifier, trying to get her to stop crying, that she doesn’t smile.  That doesn’t mean I love her any less, she’s just not recognizing my face.  She may stop crying when she sees my hand, but that smile isn’t there.

God is constantly being father to us.  He is feeding us, pacifying us, cleaning our messes, etc.  Why do we not recognize him during those times?

Back to that day on my bed.

When I saw that smile, and my heart melted, I instantly laid down next to her and began to tell her how much I love her.  Her smile would get even bigger (I didn’t know that was possble) when I would gently stroke her cheek.  And of course, what would she do?

She would grab my hand and put my fingers in her mouth.  I laid in that bed for half an hour, allowing her to just gnaw on my fingers, and Psalm 34:8 came to mind.  “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”

She was happy when she saw me.  She was ecstatic when I touched her, but she was not satisfied until she tasted.

I am happy when I see God at work.  I am ecstatic when I feel his touch.  But I am not complete until i’ve tasted.

God loves us.  He longs to just spend time with us.  To gently stroke our cheek and tell us how much He loves us.

I can picture me and God in that same position.

“I love you Rodney…”

“I created you…”

“I died for you…”

“I’ve got great things in store for you…”

All the while, I look into his eyes, and try to contain my excitement.  Occasionally it will escape my lips as a squeal.  Then as I grab his hand and place it into my mouth, I am completely fulfilled.