Robin Steele

In 2006, our church was exploding in growth and we needed more parking.  Since we are located on the Recharge Zone for the Edwards Aquifer, we are limited in our land usage.  We went to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality TCEQ and obtained a permit or permission to extend our parking with decomposed granite.  We also obtained permission from the city of San Marcos.  We used decomposed granite so that water would pass through it and it would not ‘count against us’.

In 2010, we faced the same scenario.  We needed more parking.  We cleared a half acre of land and put more decomposed granite and crushed pavestone.  We obtained permission from the city of San Marcos and Hays County.  We did not go to TCEQ.  We had assumed incorrectly that the previous permit would cover the new parking area.

Someone from the community reported our new parking lot to TCEQ and they came to check it out in December of 2010.  Several weeks later, we received a call from TCEQ and they informed us that we should have had a new permit to complete the parking lot.  We were in violation and needed to contact them to get everything in compliance.  TCEQ’s website says that it can fine entities up to $10,000 per day for violations.  We contacted them immediately and began taking the appropriate steps to rectify the problem.  We had already hired a civil engineer who was preparing plans to submit to TCEQ for our new construction project.  Our engineer represented us to TCEQ and we moved along.

TCEQ called us last week and let us know that they are willing to work with us and the fine assessed should be minimal.  We will keep you posted when we hear something more.

Tonight, we will have a special guest singer and speaker: Randy Phillips.  Randy is the pastor of PromiseLand West (West Austin) and the ‘Phillips’ of Phillips, Craig and Dean (PCD).  PCD has been together for 20 years and sold millions of Christian albums all over the world.  Their version of “Revelation Song’ was number 1 for almost 3 months in 2010, and Fearless won a Dove Award for Inspirational Album of the year.  Randy is a frequent host to TBN’s Praise the Lord program.  Randy is a community leader and often a guest on Bob Cole’s radio program. He is a guest host of Jeff Ward’s afternoon show on 590am.

He will be speaking to us and singing a song he wrote called, “Awake My Soul“.

Wed. March 2, 7:15pm
Children’s ministry will also be going on.  Get here early to get a good seat.

Randy’s song writing skills are amazing.  His most popular song “Crucified With Christ” was voted the leading “Inspirational Song of the Decade” (90s) by CCM Magazine.

Here are the lyrics:

When I look back at what I thought was living
I’m amazing at the price I chose to pay
And to think I ignored what really mattered
‘Cause I thought the sacrifice would be too great
But when I finally reached the point of giving in
I found the cross was calling even then
And even though it took dying to survive
I’ve never felt so much alive

For I am crucified with Christ and yet I live
Not I but Christ that lives within me
His cross will never ask for more than I can give
For it’s not my strength but His
There’s no greater sacrifice
For I am crucified with Christ and yet I live

As I hear the Savior call for daily dying
I will bow beneath the weight of Calvary
Let my hands surrender to His piercing purpose
That holds me to the cross yet sets me free
I will glory in the power of the cross
The things I thought were gain I count as loss

And with His suffering I identify
And by His resurrection power I am alive
And I will offer all I have
So that His cross is not in vain
For I’ve found to live is Christ
And to die is truly gain