Monday, March 3, 2008

eagle's nest

well, thanks to kara, jenny's sister-in-law, we tried another church on sunday.

eagle's nest was pretty nice. we went to the 1pm service and it was pretty full. this was their third service of the day. we walked in to really nice people and great worship. you know what i loved? i could hear the people around me worshiping. sounded really nice.

between worship and the sermon, the associate pastor (or youth pastor or someone) got up to take the "tithe and offering". he gave a little 5 minutes story/sermon about tithing. i really liked that because i believe in tithe and want to go to a church that preaches it, easily.

the pastor, rick godwin, looks like he just stepped out of the 80's :) (he had on a turquoise jacket and funny tie), but speaks really well. at first, michael and i both thought he just read a lot from his notes, but once he stepped away from his notes and just started preaching, it was really good.

the church is in the process of building a new building called the summit (i think, i don't totally understand where it is and what all it is). you know, when we move to our house in july, we'll be moving to "the summit". it's a different summit of course, but still kind of cool, i thought. :)

my mom mentioned how she used to love rick godwin and watch him a lot on television. sunday evening, my dad called and said the same thing. he used to watch him and said he had some really great words from the Lord. i must say that i'm happy my parents know of this guy and think he's godly. their opinion means so much to me.

michael and i both seem to like it, so we think we'll try it again this coming weekend.

jesus, please continue to show us your will and the place you are calling us to be.

11 comments:

ree said...

Oh, yea! I'm so glad that you found a place that you are liking so far!!
That is the hardest part of moving, I think, especially when you've grown so attached to the pastor you've had pretty much your whole life!
And they're attached to you, too! That's hard to beat!

Adam said...

Finding a new church is hard, we looked for over a year and a half before we found a place we feel like God wants us to be for now. I think it is important if you find a church you like committ to it for 6 weeks. Decide to go to no other church and after 6 weeks if you still like it stay, if not move on. I'm praying for ya, I know God has great plans.

Kia said...

I'm so glad you liked it! The new church they are building is also on 281 but outside 1604 (I think it is 281 and Marshall Rd). From the looks of the pictures it is going to be huge! I'm sad we are moving only because we will be too far to continue going to Eagle's Nest. Now the hunt is on to find a church in Austin.

Oh yea, if you are still looking for a dentist and oral surgeon in San Antonio, let me know. I can recommend you a great dentist and oral surgeon.

Mark said...

Hi Everyone,
You don't know me but my name is Mark, and I was forwarded your blog from a friend of mine. Don't ask me how she found it because I haven't got a clue. Anyway, that's beside the point, the reason I'm sending you this message is because I would hate for you to get caught up in something without having someone tell you the truth. I was a worship leader at Eagles Nest for over 10 years and for most of those years was very proud to call ENCF my home. However recently we learned, through some very good friends who were on staff there, that the Pastor, Rick Godwin, has been secretly taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from the church "missions fund" & spending it on himself, his family & friends. You can read all about this by clicking on the following link to the Express News article that originally brought the story to the public back in November. (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/religion/stories/MYSA111807.01A.church.2a4b302.html) Please know I'm not telling you not to go to ENCF... I just wanted you to know what's going on so that you can make an educated decision... By the Way, we have many friends who still attend ENCF and we pray that God blesses and protects them from deception. We left because we couldn't serve in a church where the Pastor and the Elders see nothing wrong with taking money given to support missions and outreach and waste it on luxuries for themselves. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but if our roles were reversed I hope you would do the same for me.
Blessings,
Mark

David Blazer said...

I hope you are still trying out Eagle's Nest. Kia is right it is an amazing place to worship and grow in Christ. If you have any questions about the post from Mark, you can find me in the back of the auditorium prior to every service and during worship. I would happy to discuss any concerns you have and answer any questions. I know you will enjoy the services and the family of believers.

Kia can answer any questions about me. I hate that they are moving.

David Blazer

Unknown said...

Look carefully at "Mark" and his comment on Rick Godwin. The fact that he starts off with someone forwarding this blog and does not know how they found it...come on..if you google Rick Godwin, this blog shows up (the way I found it). And being the praise and worship leader..ummmm, okay, that is really believable. The fact is there are people that have nothing better to do than try to bring down Rick Godwin. Trust me, I would bet my house this guy has never met Rick Godwin. I have met Rick, attended his church, he has preached in my home church, and has mentored my Pastor. He is under a microscope. Listen to the word, read your Bible, follow your spirit, and attend a good church (like Eagles Nest). I am sure you were one of many blog entries "Mark" did that day and probably cut and paste most of it.

BoycottTBN said...

I am the person who sent Mark this link. I found it by using google and this link came up. Mark is an outstanding person, and a lovely godly man. He and others were hurt very badly by the behavior of Rick Godwin. No one is allowed to question Rick Godwin in any way. He has HIS (not God's) church set up where he is accountable to no one....that is why he was able to get away with all that wasteful and greedy spending.

Rick Godwin is now being sued for slander by a former member and friend who Godwin vilified from the pulpit.

He abandoned his first daughter, Shannon, after he got divorced and remarried to his teenage wife that was one of his youth group students. Shannon's mother (Rick's ex) died tragically and Rick and Cindy first put Shannon in an institution and then an orphanage where they would allow no one to visit her.

Finally, three years later, some relatives on her mother's side found out where Shannon was and after hiring an attorney and promising not to prosecute Rick and Cindy for taking Shannon's trust fund and going to Hawaii on it, they allowed the grandparents to adopt her. Here's a post from Rick's ex sister in law from the blogs at mysanantonio.com:
----------------------------------

This was posted on the blog at mysanantonio.com. It is the statement from the ex-sister-in-law of Rick Godwin, who is livid with Rick Godwin for vilifying her dead sister, and Shannon's mother as a drug addict.

http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/feedback/archives/2007/11/21809.html

The following information speaks for itself. It is public record.

State of South Carolina
County of Richland
In The Family Court Case #77DR400474F
Order:Annie E. Ballasso {Petitioner}
VS.Richard Luke Godwin,
and Shannon Yevette Godwin {a minor under the age of 14 years}
Hearing Scheduled before me on 27th day
of April,1977,Law firm of Dent,Kirkland,Taylor and Wilson ,Rep
Richard Luke Godwin
Attorney,For Annie E Ballasso Was
Jan S Stripling,
Judge was J.MCNARY SPIGNER
RICHLAND COUNTY FAMILY COURT,
March 30th 1977,
Natural Mother'' LInda Diane Godwin Natural father Richard Luke Godwin.
Child Shannon Yevette Godwin age 11.
Adoption was approved at same time To Carl W,and Annie E Ballasso,at
family court,all Reference should be directed to
Case # number,77DR400474F
March 30 ,1977at Columbia South Carolina.Richland County Court House,


dont hate: So according to you i can go to the web site and just pick this area because whatever is public is printed on a web site.

ANSWER: No, I never have suggested to go to a web site to locate this information, another fabricated conclusion.

dont hate: NO IT DOES NOT, SO WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THIS TOO WHATS YOUR PART OF THE MONEY?

ANSWER: Money has nothing to do with this. It is about your habitual denigration of my deceased. Only a Godless Barbarian can demonstrate the vile regrugitation of false accusations that you continue to display. Including, but limited to drugs. Diane was not a drug addict. I challenge you to display the 'proof' of this allegation, as you claim you have. Either show us or you are a liar. You will not because it is not true.

I do not intend to dignify your filth with a response any longer. The people of this blog can decide for themselves. However, look forward to meeting you at the grand opening of the Summit, as we plan to attend.

Posted by: ex sister-in-law at March 31, 2008 10:58 AM

BoycottTBN said...

Another post from the ex sister in law of Rick Godwin:

I felt it important to respond to the character attacks lodged against my sister, Diane. I have done that. Yet, 'dont hate' continues to plant the seed of doubt regarding our family to further exalt and defend the events surrounding Rick Godwin.

Since you asked 'dont hate', I will give you the answers to your questions dated March 29, 2008 @ 12:48 pm:

Why isn't Rick and Cindy fighting for the souls of his 3 grandchildren if the first daughter is so bad?
Posted by: Mike

Hello guys this is dont hate,

hey mike how do you know he aint? Rick is not going to tell you his business, why should he, you all would probably twist it around and make him seem the bad person again.

ANSWER: Rick does not. Rick has only seen his oldest grandson, Robby, one time & that was very briefly. He has absolutely nothing to do with his grandchildren or Shannon. Yet, Shannon has an undying and unconditional love for him. I, personally, do not understand why.

Cindy recently sent Shannon a box of cookies for Valentine's Day. How generous of her, right? Cindy continues to taunt Shannon even to this day.

dont hate: And another thing, how do you know that Rick has NOT done anything for Shannon? unless you were there, you have no say so what so ever, none of you do, you were NOT there, your question should be, after reading these blogs, this person who wrote and said they were the "in law", my question to you and i hate to do this, but i want to prove my point, where are the parents of Diane? now the "in law" if he or she really cared why did they not fight for shannon too, think about it, where is Diane's brothers and sisters and parents they could have easily got Shannon, why did they NOT? thats the question you need to ask?

ANSWER: I was there. We did fight to get Shannon. We got her from the orphanage where Rick and Cindy had her stored away.

Diane has two sisters, of which I am the eldest. I called, my sister called and our mother called to speak to Shannon, and often. Every time we called, Rick or Cindy would say that Shannon was either asleep, or in the bath tub or at a friends's house. One day I got a call from a lady that asked if I was Diane's sister. I said yes. She told me that her daughter had seen Shannon on the playground at the orphanage. This kind lady was also a church member at Rick's church. My sister, my mother and I immediately drove to the orphanage in Columbia, SC. When we arrived, we explained that we were family and asked to see her. We were not allowed because Rick & Cindy had left instructions - no visitors for Shannon. We hired an attorney, got a court order to allow us to see Shannon. A deputy escorted us to the orphanage and presented the court order. I so clearly remember being led to a room where we all waited for Shannon. When she came in, she ran to my mother trembling and crying and would not let her go. We sat there holding each other and crying, our hearts were broken. Rick agreed to allow my mother to adopt Shannon. He had taken all of her trust fund money with the exception of about $6,000. He told the judge that he did not have the money to repay it. So, Rick cut a deal for himself. Only in exchange for avoiding prosecution , did he agree to allow my mother to adopt Shannon. The judge signed the paperwork and we left with Shannon immediately.

So, that is what happened, it is the truth and it is all public record in Columbia, SC. The year of 1977.

I hope this answers your questions, dont hate. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask because...I WAS THERE.

Posted by: ex sister-in-law at March 30, 2008 12:48 PM

BoycottTBN said...

I am the person who sent Mark this link. I found it by using google and this link came up. Mark is an outstanding person, and a lovely godly man. He and others were hurt very badly by the behavior of Rick Godwin. No one is allowed to question Rick Godwin in any way. He has HIS (not God's) church set up where he is accountable to no one....that is why he was able to get away with all that wasteful and greedy spending.

Rick Godwin is now being sued for slander by a former member and friend who Godwin vilified from the pulpit.

He abandoned his first daughter, Shannon, after he got divorced and remarried to his teenage wife that was one of his youth group students. Shannon's mother (Rick's ex) died tragically and Rick and Cindy first put Shannon in an institution and then an orphanage where they would allow no one to visit her.

Finally, three years later, some relatives on her mother's side found out where Shannon was and after hiring an attorney and promising not to prosecute Rick and Cindy for taking Shannon's trust fund and going to Hawaii on it, they allowed the grandparents to adopt her. Here's a post from Rick's ex sister in law from the blogs at mysanantonio.com:
----------------------------------

This was posted on the blog at mysanantonio.com. It is the statement from the ex-sister-in-law of Rick Godwin, who is livid with Rick Godwin for vilifying her dead sister, and Shannon's mother as a drug addict.

http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/feedback/archives/2007/11/21809.html

The following information speaks for itself. It is public record.

State of South Carolina
County of Richland
In The Family Court Case #77DR400474F
Order:Annie E. Ballasso {Petitioner}
VS.Richard Luke Godwin,
and Shannon Yevette Godwin {a minor under the age of 14 years}
Hearing Scheduled before me on 27th day
of April,1977,Law firm of Dent,Kirkland,Taylor and Wilson ,Rep
Richard Luke Godwin
Attorney,For Annie E Ballasso Was
Jan S Stripling,
Judge was J.MCNARY SPIGNER
RICHLAND COUNTY FAMILY COURT,
March 30th 1977,
Natural Mother'' LInda Diane Godwin Natural father Richard Luke Godwin.
Child Shannon Yevette Godwin age 11.
Adoption was approved at same time To Carl W,and Annie E Ballasso,at
family court,all Reference should be directed to
Case # number,77DR400474F
March 30 ,1977at Columbia South Carolina.Richland County Court House,


dont hate: So according to you i can go to the web site and just pick this area because whatever is public is printed on a web site.

ANSWER: No, I never have suggested to go to a web site to locate this information, another fabricated conclusion.

dont hate: NO IT DOES NOT, SO WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THIS TOO WHATS YOUR PART OF THE MONEY?

ANSWER: Money has nothing to do with this. It is about your habitual denigration of my deceased. Only a Godless Barbarian can demonstrate the vile regrugitation of false accusations that you continue to display. Including, but limited to drugs. Diane was not a drug addict. I challenge you to display the 'proof' of this allegation, as you claim you have. Either show us or you are a liar. You will not because it is not true.

I do not intend to dignify your filth with a response any longer. The people of this blog can decide for themselves. However, look forward to meeting you at the grand opening of the Summit, as we plan to attend.

Posted by: ex sister-in-law at March 31, 2008 10:58 AM

Member said...

People Mark, is one of those people who hate God and Summit, they are just wanting to stop the church from continuing, However the real story is they mark, larry, abe levy, and jim yolstrum tried to take over the church, but it failed, then they tried another plan to bring in his family and still that did not work, these people are just there to stop God's move and these people are not wanting it, but still the church prevailed and SUMMIT is complete, and it is awesome, don't believe everything you hear, judge for yourself come visit us at SUMMIT.

Member

Unknown said...

Is it soup yet