Centrifuge Day One

By Ronald Long





FUGE!

Oh my goodness, camp is amazing! Right now I'm sitting here at the grill (place for students to hang out) and am SURROUNDED by our students and 1111 students (because there are 1166 students here total). Casey Garner had a wonderful decision to rededicate her life today. Other than that, Mike Lowrance shared his testimony with us, our students are finishing up their first full day of camp! It's been wild, but the best way to let you know about our time at camp is to show you! Enjoy these pictures!


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Day of Champions

By Ronald Long

Every year we have a great event at FBC Lexington called the Day of Champions. We invite a speaker and have them share their story. Sometimes we bring athletes, sometimes we bring in someone who has excelled in some other area. All the time our guest has a great story about how Jesus has changed their life.

Siran Stacy will be our guest speaker this Sunday March 14th.

At 9:00 am in the fellowship hall we'll have breakfast with Siran and he'll challenge our students.

At 10:15 we'll be in the worship service ready to hear Siran share his story with everyone.

I hope you'll come and bring a friend. Not just youth either! Parents and everyone else as well: bring someone with you this Sunday to FBC to hear a great testimony. I can't wait to see you there.


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Transition

By Ronald Long

One year ago today, my dad went to be with the Lord. Mom says it feels like 500 years ago and 5 minutes ago. I agree. I can remember getting in the car on Thursday morning, thinking I had way too many voice-mails for so early. I was thinking about how fun it would be to have my parents come up for the weekend so we could work on the rail for our porch. I remember thinking about the conversation we had with them last night, the five hour conversation dad and I had as I trudged back to "Day of Champions" in the snow on Interstate 40 (fair enough, I was actually in my car). I can remember hearing mom's voice. The words that would change our family.: "Not granddad, your dad." She said all three of us boys thought she said granddad. Maybe we wanted to hear about his passing instead of our dad. My granddad also went to be with Jesus this last year.

Transition. That's the word that comes to mind this morning as I think about the last year. It has certainly been a year of change. Dad and granddad both leaving this earth. Bekah and I finding out about Sophie's (soon!) arrival. Bekah closing in on her master's degree. Jamie coming closer to his graduation date. Evan finding out where he's going for the peace corp. Mom, just trying to find out what life is like by herself after 37 wonderful years of marriage.

Psalms 4 is one of my favorite Psalms. I run to it, and remember all the things David had to go through in his lifetime: the highs of being Israel's general and king, the lows of being under the condemnation of God, the loss of a newborn baby, the rebellion of his son, wars, the pressures of being a king. When I read the Psalms I don't see a cookie cutter man who had everything under control. Instead I read the real pain and real joy that comes with life. True sorrow, true blessing.

1 Answer me when I call to you,
O my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
be merciful to me and hear my prayer.

2 How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?
Selah

3 Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;
the LORD will hear when I call to him.

4 In your anger do not sin;
when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent.
Selah

5 Offer right sacrifices
and trust in the LORD.

6 Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?"
Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.

7 You have filled my heart with greater joy
than when their grain and new wine abound.

8 I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O LORD,
make me dwell in safety.

Over the last year I have had the same questions: Where can good be? Why am I having to go through this? I've also been angry, angry that this was our life now.

Praise God for His goodness and graciousness to us. He has heard our prayers and given us comfort. He hasn't made life easy, but He has been close to us. He given Himself, and that is our relief in distress.

There's been a lot on my mind since driving to Madison last night. What I know today holds is this: the start of another year where God is faithful. He doesn't change, and I praise Him for that.

As for Dad and Granddad? They don't want to come back. Why would they? The last year for them has been the most glorious thing they have ever experienced. From Steven Charnock

"When the glory of the Lord shall rise upon you, it shall be so far from ever setting, that after millions of years are expired, as numerous as the sands on the seashore, the sun, in the light of whose countenance you shall live, shall be as bright as at the first appearance; he will be so far from ceasing to flow, that he will flow as strong, as full, as at the first communication of himself in glory to you. Because God is always vigorous and flourishing; a pure act of life, sparkling new and fresh rays of life and light to the creature, flourishing with a perpetual spring, and contenting the most capacious desire; forming your interest, pleasure, and satisfaction; with an infinite variety, without any change or succession; he will have variety to increase delights, and eternity to perpetuate them; this will be the fruit of the enjoyment of an infinite and eternal God"

May all glory and honor and praise be to God almighty, the Lord of Heaven and earth.

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Storm of Praise

By Ronald Long

All youth in the Beech River Baptist Association are invited to come and be a part of the "Storm of Praise."


This will be a great worship service with music lead by Saul2Paul and a message lead by Mike Driver. There will also be skits by area churches.


Everything takes place on Saturday Nov 7th at the Civic Center @ 5 pm. Food and drinks will be served to all who register at the door. The worship service will take place at 6 pm.


We will meet up at the Civic Center. I can't wait to see you guys there!


I'm pumped, you should be too!
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5th Quarter @ FBC Lexington

By Ronald Long

This week after the football game we’ll be having a Fifth Quarter here at the FBC Fellowship Hall. Bring your friends to have a good time of hanging out, eating food, and playing games! Stick around until 10:30 pm for some drawings. We’ll open the doors at 9:00 pm and wrap up right at 10:45 pm so everyone can get home in time for curfew.

Invite your friends and I’ll see you there!

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Revival in the Time of Nehemiah

By Ronald Long

To be a Jew in exile and learn that after roughly 100 years of returning groups that there is still no wall around Jerusalem must have been hard news to hear. Perhaps that's why Nehemiah spent so much time in prayer and fasting when he heard.

Why was having a wall such a big deal? Remember that in ancient times, a wall meant a lot more than privacy: it meant protection. To learn that the place of his fathers was still in disrepair and open to attack had to have been a serious blow.

After a time of reflection (roughly four months), Nehemiah had within his heart the desire to go and oversee the rebuilding of this city. Was it because Nehemiah was a caring person? Was it because he was an expert builder? Was it because Nehemiah wanted to be recognized as a great leader? I think Nehemiah tells us why he had this passion: He knew God was faithful to keep His promises. The promise? "...if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name."

For the month of August we're going to be looking at how Nehemiah's actions reflect our own when it comes to waking up and hearing the voice of God in our lives. I hope you'll join us here at FBC on Wednesday nights @ 6 p.m.! See you here.
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Youth VBS

By Ronald Long

Imputed

What does it mean?
Why does it matter?
How could understanding one word change everything you know about Christianity?

These are the questions we're going to tackle at this year's youth VBS.  I can't wait to see you all there!  This next week we'll meet Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 6-8pm.  Each night we'll be hanging out at a different house.  Below is a list of the houses and directions to each.  

Each one has a pool which means everyone can bring a swimsuit and swim (girls need a one peice or a dark t-shirt over a two peice).  You don't have to swim though, we'll have plenty of other things to do.  We'll have Bible study starting at 7:00 pm.

Bring a Bible, a pen, and a FRIEND!  I can't wait to see everyone there.

Monday - The Henderson's
600 Hidden Hills
Lexington, TN 38351

Tuesday - The Hollis'
505 Pine Lake Rd
Lexington, TN 38351

Thursday - The Earl's
65 Oak Crest St
Lexington, TN 38351

Friday - The Ulerick's
76 Farmington Cove
Lexington, TN 38351
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