So the other night, I had a dream that the youth group raised money to buy me, their youth minister, a new Nintendo Wii.  I don’t know the statistics on how often those kinds of dreams come true, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed on this one. 

I’m reminded though of another dream I had several years ago.  At age 17, I had plans to become a teacher, but not just any teacher.  Do you remember the tv show “Head of the Class?”  Substitute teacher Charlie Moore was the coolest teacher anyone could ever have.  That’s what I wanted to be.  Then one night, I had this dream where I was preaching to other teenagers.  I have always believed that was the moment God took who I was and what I wanted to do and called me into a specific ministry.  I already wanted to work with students; God just shifted the setting from school to church.  And now it’s like I’m literally living a dream come true.

But I wonder how many of us have had crushed dreams?  How many of us have given up on what we always dreamed of because we’ve been broken by the world or even others in the church? I can recall specific incidents where my dream balloons were shot down by people I thought were some of the most Godly.

I say quit listening to and following the people in the world and letting them squash your dreams.  Take this scripture to heart: “Pursue God passionately and He will make your dreams come true.” Psalm 37:4 (my personal paraphrase)

I’ve mentioned that dream about the Wii to some of the youth, but in case they lose focus, my birthday is in October.

 

Upcoming Youth Activities

Student Evangelism Conference – Aug 1,2.  We’re probably there as you are reading this.  Pray for us as we take part in an evangelistic outreach in Arlington.

Back to School – Aug 25.  Keep your eyes peeled for various activities surrounding this eventful time.

See You At The Pole – Sept 24.  We’ll be hosting a SYATP Pre-Rally on the 23^rd.  More details to come.

www.plungeonline.com (fbcws youth website)

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Questions or comments? E-mail us at kara@fbcws.org or call 817-246-2171.

Friday, August 01, 2008

Up coming Children’s Activities

August 3, at 3:00 p.m. Putt-Putt

August 17, at 4:30 p.m. Drive-in Movie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LLL Breakfast

Friday, August 8.

We will leave the church at 7:30 a.m. to go to Old South Pancake House.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Happening Now

Vision – Part 1

First Baptist, White Settlement, has been around for over 140 years. I know most of you know that. But it does make you wonder how any organization can last that long and how will it continue for another 140 years? One thing that is for sure is change. This church has survived and prospered because it has grown and changed and adapted. It has continued to build new buildings and reach new people and preach the Word of God.

One of our priorities as a church is our desire to reach young families. Some people wonder out loud, “But what about me? I’m no longer young!” I don’t think I need to remind any of you that I’m no longer in the “young married” department either. I still remember the day when I no longer qualified and I was a little depressed by the fact. But research tells us that most people who accept Christ will do so at a younger age.

Does this mean a senior adult can’t come to know Christ? Of course not. Tim Lockhart shared a story last week about a man who was 93 when he was miraculously saved. The first person my father ever baptized was a man in his 80’s. It can happen. But the vast majority of people will be reached in their younger years. This is where we need to focus the majority of our efforts.

Does this mean we stop ministering to people my age and older? No way. Every person who attends this church is important to us. We value the wisdom and maturity of our older church members. I can’t imagine a day in the life of this local body of believers where senior adults are not a significant part of what God is doing.

I’ll talk more in the next Newsletter about this topic and the need to reach this generation for Christ.

Christianity is not about good and bad, but rather about life and death. Jesus did not come to make us good but to make us alive. The difference between a believer and a non-believer is not that the believer does good things and the non-believer does bad things. The prime difference is that the believer is alive and the non-believer is dead. I believe that the Bible is explicit about this.

Adam and Eve were allowed to eat from any of the trees in the garden except for one - the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. God wanted them to have life, not merely an ability to distinguish between right and wrong. Adam and Eve were deceived into thinking that being smart about good and evil was more important than life from God and living for God. They were wrong, and we still make that same mistake today. Adam and Eve died the SAME DAY they ate from the wrong tree, even though they lived physically for many more years.

Jesus did not come to make us good; He came to give life. What tree are you eating from? How do you strive to live?

I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10 NKJV)

 

 

International Student Household Supply Day for Southwestern Baptist Seminary

These students need household items for setting up house keeping here in the United States. Items are to be taken on August 18 from 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the Recreation and Activities Building at 4617 Frazier Ave. For more information, see Gloria Hutchison.

Coming Soon