Prayer Requests

Pray for mom. Dad called today to say that they have found a blood clot in her leg and will be putting in a "Green Filter" tomorrow AM. This is a filter they but in to catch the clot before it reaches the heart.

Pray for our Launch Team meeting this Friday. We will be viewing our first custom made video that I hope to have completed Thursday. The meetings are for anyone that has any interest in what God is doing through Metamorphosis. Pastor Chad shares the vision, the needs, and the method that we are using to reach those that are far from God.

Pray for Jayson Payne's Mom who will get the results of an important test tomorrow. Some other tests have shown that her cancer may be coming back, and she will learn the more definitive results of that test tomorrow.

Pray that God keeps me in the center of His will.

Thanks for your prayers!!! They make all the difference.

Rob

Never Mind

I had a post here but after Drew started singing Omazing Grace (you can find it at YouTube if you want) I decided that it would do more harm than good to the younger generation.

I'll preach that sermon another day.

Rob

First Day (not at the office)

There are so many things that need to be done and need my attention at Metamorphosis... but all day was spent in a surgical waiting room with my dad in Greenwood. Mom was in surgery for almost 7 hours! She is doing well, and will be in the hospital for at least two weeks.

I'm pumped about a meeting I will have tomorrow with a friend of mine from North Greenville College (University Now) that has been a part of a church plant since we were at NGC together. I hope to learn some things that will help us save a lot of time and energy as we don't want to waste any time.

Pray that I get a new computer soon. This is the first MAJOR investment of funds we have and I want to make the right choice. Anyone got G5, iMac, or MacBook Pro sitting around their not using?

Thanks for all your prayers.... keep up the good work ;) Rob

Last day of a great ministry

I suppose that title is dependent on your like or dislike of me personally, but that's the way my friends from New Hope left me tonight. It was really cool that I was able to just hang out with some folks that really encouraged Pastor Chad and I. The choir even collected come money and gave me a great card where they had all signed a little note, and included a gift card to...... you got it...... Lowe's!!!

I will be writing about our church plant "Metamorphosis" in the coming weeks, so stay tuned and stay in prayer for us, and New Hope. God has already blessed with offices that we have moved into!

Pray for Mom as she will have her knee totally removed in the am down in Greenwood. I'm going to get up early and get down there to hang with Dad during the surgery. She will be in the hospital for at least two weeks, with a total of 6 weeks without her knee. They hope to get the infection under control quickly, and her pain should be less even without the knee joint in place.

Thank your for all your prayers, and keep up the good work!
Rob

My Kids are Growing Up!!!

Papa and Nanna (Mandy's parents) were kind enough (or dumb enough) to keep our kids from Monday night until this afternoon. (thursday) They did this so that we could work on our new house and not have to deal with them in the process. This is the longest that Mandy and I have been without them, and I didn't like it!!!!

Last night, after my last choir rehearsal with New Hope, I had the most amazing phone conversation with my son. He told me of the pool that Papa took them swimming at, and all the fun events of the day. I could only think about how much I wanted he and Alex home with me. Drew is getting SOOOO grown up and Alex is about to really begin talking.

After I get this house stuff done, I'm going to find a way to spend a meaningful couple of days with my family!

later
Rob

Thanks Jayson!

I met this guy named Jayson through Matt Roper. You remember the weather guy on Channel 7 Jack Roper, well Matt was his son, and Matt and I lived together while he was going to Lander and I was at Tech. Anyhoo, Jayson and Matt were room mates before Jayson married Melissia. (I think I spelled that right) Now Jayson is to this day one of my very best friends. He came by the new house last night just to check up on what was going on. Thanks for being such a great friend, Jayson. I pray that God will continue to bless you and your ministry for Him.

I hope to paint the hall bath and install the cabinets tonight. Pictures will come soon.

Random Thoughts on a Saturday Night

Today has been a long day. We put the last piece of sheetrock on the wall and ceiling today!!! We should have the hall bath completed by the end of next week and be ready to paint the entire house the following week.

Special Thanks to my friends David and Carrie Barnes, Wendy West, Banu Mufale, my dad Wayne Funderburk, my father-in-law Dean Webb, Joey Roach, Thomas Jewell, and my beautiful wife! They have all helped get to this momentous occasion. (all the drywall is up that is)

Special Thanks also to Jane and David Baldwin who brought over some NICE cardboard boxes. I plan to use some of them to move into my new office this Thursday. I haven't seen it yet, but I understand that we have had some really nice office furniture donated to us.

The praise band just wrapped up our Saturday night rehearsal, and I'm excited about tomorrow. I hope that God uses the music and the Word to bring someone to a saving relationship with Him.

OHH and I'm really excited about tomorrow night. We're having a joint service with our student ministry in the gym to "Send them out" to reach their friends at school.
My prayers are with all the teachers and students as school begins. Drew doesn't start preschool for another week.... and it's too hot to go to school anyway.

All in all I have to say that I am really proud of Pastor Chad and what I see God doing through him. He would have to be my "hero of the week" if I had one. He has promised more postings on his blog soon, so go check it out.

Also... update on Mom. She will have her new knee taken out Monday after next (the 27th I think) They are actually going to take the artificial joint out and fight the staph infection.... then, 6 weeks later, put the joint back in. Pray for her health and sanity. Those of you who know mom know that she isn't one to lay around for a day, much less 6 weeks.

Good night, I love you all! Yes... even you (although I heard what you said about me!)

Rob

Under Construction

OK... so everyone in Mauldin seems to have a different story. Here are the facts -
1. My last Sunday serving at New Hope is Aug. 26th.
2. I will be out of the parsonage by Sept. 30th.
3. I agreed to these terms with the Deacons of NHBC. Yes we asked to stay until January. No we didn't get "run off". I have never heard of anyone agreeing to be "run off". Actually I've been "run off" before, and this was nothing like that! I feel that this is best for Chad and myself, and maybe for New Hope as well.
4. NHBC is paying my salary and benefits through September. This is very kind and I am most appreciative of it.
5. I love NHBC and in no way want to see anything we have done or begun stop. Case in point, I am leaving all of my sound equipment in the gym so that the early service will not skip a beat. (pardon the pun)

I hope that this clears the air and you can now go out and tell everyone.... not! You do and I'll hunt you down like the evangelism linebacker! If your going to do anything, go tell someone that Jesus loves them, and that they can know the one who created them. Tell them who their daddy really is! If we talked about Him as much as we talk about each other, what a different world this would be.

I will be removing my link from nhbcmauldin.org in a few days, so note that you will no longer be able to link to this blog from there. You can however, type in the address www.robbiefunderburk.blogspot.org and reach me from there. I soon will have a new web page with lots of exciting news and reports from the church planting scene.

My new house in Mauldin is indeed under construction, I'll post some pics tomorrow.

No, I haven't forgotten about the pics of Noah. I'll post them soon.... I promise!

later

Are you ready for some football?

We used this last year and someone put it on GodTube.
It's worth watching.... and go tell someone about what He is doing in your life.

God of Details

My God is so good! He continues to amaze me with how He has a huge plan and only gives us what we can handle of it..... when we can handle it.

As some of you know, Mandy and I bought a house right across the street from Lyle and Donna Watson in Mauldin. It is a "fixer upper" and demolition will cease tomorrow and reconstruction begins this weekend. We have basically gutted the entire inside down to the stud walls. (((a little known fact--- before I surrendered to full time ministry I had my own remodeling business (or sub-contracted under someone else). This will be the third house that Mandy and I have renovated since our marriage, not counting the one that I did while we were dating)))

Anyway, God (with the help of some of His people who previously owned the property) practically gave us the house. We couldn't share what God was doing through them, but it was awesome to hear that they just felt led to offer us the house at the price they did!

Today Mandy started her journey being a working mom. She will eventually be working 3 - 12 hour days instead of 5 - 8hour days. She came home excited because she is going through orientation with one of the girls that was in our Student Ministry at Eastview Baptist in Belton SC. God gave her a friendly face at just the right time.

Noah looks just like Randy did as a little kid. This is actually a good thing because my brother is def the better looking of the Funderburk boyz. I had a great time with him today playing in "Uncle Buddy's Pool" down the road from my parents house in Greenwood.

Please continue to pray for my mom. Her doc has told her that they will make a decision in the next two weeks to take her knee out or continue trying to fight the staph infection with antibiotics. She is ready to have it taken out... but she is trying to be patient.

I know I promised pictures of Noah, but be patient. My computer connection is still giving me trouble and I hope to have it fixed by the weekend.

To those of you who called today to check on me and encourage me.... thanks!

God is going to be glorified in all of this!

Well... I've gotta go finish reading the book that Pastor Chad spoke of this past Sunday Jim and Casper go to Church

.

-- Later

Deep Thoughts 2

For those of you who don't know the skippy, last week Pastor Chad announced to New Hope that He and I were going to launch a new church in the coming year. I expected folks to get upset, some to get mad, some to get sad, and yes..... some to get glad. (it rhymes and I'm sure it's true for those who will admit it)
New Hope is one of those special churches that having the title Associate Pastor really means you are a pastor. I have been so thankful for the opportunity to counsel with folks who would come by, or those that have called and just needed someone to talk too. For some, they obviously love me. They are deeply hurt that our relationship, on a pastor / parishioner level, is coming to an end. However, they know me well enough to know that this decision was made after much prayer and struggle with God, and that ultimately Romans 8:28 is going to apply.

Saying all of this to say..... I'm still the same guy that MOST everyone loves. Although my position will change in your life, I will still be Robbie. My family and I need your prayers, as well as Chad & Wendy. If this was all about me, I would stay at New Hope forever. I have it made there! Best choir in Greenville, I live in a HUGE house rent free, I don't even cut the grass!!!! New Hope has done a great job of taking care of my family, and I appreciate that more than words can say.

The bottom line is..... it's not about me, or even my family. I've been in the center of God's will, and I've been way out of it. I'm not willing to get out of His will again for anything. I learned that lesson the hard way, but I learned it well.

Being that God has so clearly called me to this, I strongly believe that He has someone lined up to pick up where I leave off. I have been thankful for the love and support that have been given to me and the Music Ministry of New Hope. I think we have accomplished a lot in the past years, and know in my heart that God has a man lined up ready to take it to the next level.

That's enough for now.... Chad and I will meet with the Deacon Ministry in a few hours to discuss how long they feel we will continue to be effective at New Hope in our positions. This wasn't our timetable, but I'm sure none of it took God by surprise. He has been so faithful to supply all of our needs. May His will be done!

I Love You Jesus!
Rob

My Nephew Noah

Tomorrow my nephew and his grandmother (his mom's mother) will arrive at GSP airport! Noah is 8 weeks older than Alex and we have never seen him in person. This is Randy's (my little brother) boy and his family lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The last time we went to Colorado was before Drew was born to go snow skiing in Vale.
BTW once you ski on "real" snow out west, it's hard to go to the mountains around here..... anyway..... I'll post some pics of Noah and Drew and Alex as we spend some time down in Greenwood at my parents house this weekend.

To my church NOAH (crystal.... she gets this nickname due to the fact that when she answers any question with no... she adds the ah... nooooahhhh NOAH) Her blog is here (Crystal S) You are still the original Noah as far as I'm concerned! Well, of course God's man with the big boat was the first, but you know what I mean.


Later -