Back from the Youth Trip

What a great trip! We just returned from our youth trip to Winter Extreme in Gatlinburg Tennessee. I don't think there is anything more exciting than to watch young people praise the Lord in an environment that places no restrictions on who they are. Free from opinions and culture, young people are honest enough to worship in spirit and in truth. No judgmental eyes allowed. No one telling them to "take off their hats," or "pull up their britches." No one looking down their nose at the blue hair or the extra earring or two, or three, or four . . .

When we stop looking at the outside of the cup, we start seeing what is on the inside. As I sat there in that auditorium and watched the church of the future experience the presence of God in a way that we, as adults, are too afraid to encounter, I was reminded of a small, overlooked passage in scripture that kept coming to my mind over and over again.

In 1st Samuel, the prophet is sent to anoint young David to be king. As he searches, God Himself speaks these words, "The Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." This past week I saw the hearts of our young people. I saw them reach out to their God in a way that I have yet to see adults (anywhere) reach out. They were unhindered in their praise of Him. There were no judgmental eyes monitoring their every move, but yet no one smoked any pot, no one got pregnant. I witnessed no illegal behavior or gossip of any kind. I saw people genuinely concerned about their walk with Christ and the impact they can have in their world.

During our trip, hundreds of young people made true, sincere decisions for Christ concerning who they are and what they are going to be in Him. The youth@the park made six public decisions alone! Two rededicated their lives, three committed their lives to full-time Christian service and one accepted Christ as her personal Lord and Savior. It doesn't get any better than that!

Church, our kids are on fire for God. My biggest fear is that some judgmental mind will come along and try to throw water on what God has begun in their hearts. My prayer is that they will continue what God has begun, and that I, as their pastor, will do all that is in my power to protect them from judgmental fire fighters.

You go kids!

Pastor Keith

A New Day

Wow, what A year! I never knew you could cram so much stuff into so little a time frame. We have begun a great Journey together here @ The Park. It may have seemed like a whirlwind at times, and it may have often felt like stumbling in the dark, but I can honestly say, "I think we are coming out of the fog."

Many of you have been through a lot this past couple years. You watched as a pastor that you loved and who deeply loved you, answered the call of God to move onto his next assignment in ministry. You experienced "doing church" for 18 months without the leadership of a senior pastor. You saw friends and family move onto other places of service. You felt alone and scared.

For the first time in a long time, Blackwelder Park Baptist Church knew what it was like to struggle. And struggle you did. God brought you through a very difficult time, but I think all can testify that He never left you or forsook you. The lessons learned in those difficult times are some of the most valuable lessons of life.

As you stumble in the fog you learn to slowdown and depend on God. You learn to lighten your load. You learn that through God, all things are possible. In the fog, you will find abilities you never had, and friends you never knew. You learn to walk by faith and not by sight.

But always remember, the fog is nothing more than God's signature of blessings on a new day. It's mist waters the ground and protects it from the heat of the day to come. The fog is God's way of calming our life down.

I think one of the best experiences I have had since returning to NC is sitting on my front porch in the morning with my daughter, sipping a cup of coffee and waiting for her bus to come pick her up for school. It's quiet (well at least after the bus comes and picks Katie up). I sit there in the mist of the morning and listen to the sounds of the community. I can't see what's going on, but I know its happening. I know that God is at work in my life, and He has given me a new day to impact the world for Him. Whatever the day before held is gone. Its a new day. I take another sip of my coffee, stand up, walk to my car and start the long drive to work. The windshield wipers piercing a hole in the fog as I emerge into the new day.

The past is behind. The day is new. The opportunities are great. And God is with us. Who can be against us?

Love you guys,

Pastor Keith

Wow, what A year!

Ultimate Investment

It is Sunday night and I am sitting in the living room trying to unwind from all the holiday festivities that have been taking place over the past few weeks.  I can't believe it is only 4 days to Christmas.  It seems like only yesterday we were in the dog days of summer but tonight they are calling for 20 degrees.  I love it!

The tree is up, the lights are on, the house is fully decorated.  Church this morning was a sea of red and green sweaters in the midst of a poinsettia forrest.  The old Christmas favorites were sung, cards were being distributed and "Merry Christmas" was the greeting of the day.  

What a great day it was!  We finished our 401kingdom series with a message entitled The Ultimate Investment."  God used that message to teach us that the greatest investment we could ever make in God's kingdom work is our own life.  

Jesus, at the end of His ministry said: "These things I have said in order that you might have peace, in this world you will have tribulation . . ."  I thought it so interesting that He said "you might have peace," but He told us we would certainly have tribulation.  Trials are certain, peace is a choice.  We can choose to receive the peace from God, or to reject it.

How ironic is it that at the end of Christ's earthly ministry He offers peace, and at the start of His life on earth the angels announced His birth by saying, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace to men of good will?"  

Peace is the result of listening to the things that He taught us.  As we learned today He taught us 4 major things dealing with peace.  He taught us to love each other as He loves us, to believe He will accomplish that which He has promised to do, He taught us to walk in fellowship with Him to the cross, and to abide in Him always.  When we do these things  we have peace with God and with one another, just as He said we would. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give."

He left peace with us, because He wants us to give it to others just like He gave it to us.  He wants us to give it away.  

How do we give it away? 

The same way He gave it away; 

by laying down His life for the sake of others.  

"Greater Love hath no man than this, then that He lay down His life for His friends."  That My friends is the ultimate investment, and what Christmas is all about.

This blog is a test, it is only a test.  If it were a real blog, I would have something interesting to say, but quite honestly, I am drawing a blank (something that happens more frequently, the older I get).  

This has been a test from the emergency blogcast network.  

You will now be returned to your regular programing