As the Middle School Pastor, here at Oakwood, I have seen many moves of God and have been thankful for lives changed. This Weekend, my thoughts were “THIS NEVER GETS OLD!” The ultimate treasure for the Kingdom of God is one more life turning to Jesus Christ. The ultimate joy here on Earth is to see students that came through the Oakwood Student Ministry return as leaders to invest back into the next group. The excitement for the upcoming days is to see what steps each student takes as they follow the Lord and walk in His ways.
We saw over 500 students sign up this year. 55 of those students made the decision to follow Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. With the help of over 50 small group leaders and almost 400 volunteers, students heard from the Speaker, gave over 12,000 cans and food items to our Local Salvation Army, built long lasting relationships, and ended with a celebration service on Sunday to see 44 baptized. God is SO GOOD! Thanks to all that served to extend the Kingdom of God!
Our Fusion Wednesdays are beginning the year with a look at the Journey ahead. As 2017 has now ended and 2018 is at the beginning , we find a place in time that we have memories, good or bad, in the rear view mirror and a new horizon ahead. At this place, we carry hopes and dreams of making things better and growing along the way. However, what we don’t commonly encounter in our hopes and dreams of new resolutions and new beginnings is the truth of life. No matter what we wish to become, there will be OBSTACLES ahead.
No one likes to think about OBSTACLES on the journey of life. In fact, how we react to them may indicate what type of person we are.
That might be why this video seems to be very engaging .
Watch this “Digital Exclusive” as an unexpected man tackles great obstacles on the American Ninja Warrior Show.
Why does this video seem to be so engaging? What are we hoping as a six minute and thirty second video captures us?
I was first amazed, then I wanted to see the 81 year old character WIN! Yet, my thoughts about the man brought disbelief as well. The truth is, it was all a show, and there is another reveal clip on YouTube.
What about you? How do you react to OBSTACLES that come your way in life?
A man that had many OBSTACLES brought upon him, as he boldly preached the Gospel and fervently served the Lord, brings it into perspective for our daily lives in Christ.
Read Philippians 3:12-14
12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Paul looks at his life, OBSTACLES and all, and lays the past aside, with a diligence to PRESS ON and STRAIN FORWARD.
Much like at true old man might have taken the Ninja Warrior course, Paul strains with all he has, and in the OBSTACLE, he keeps his focus on true hope, true resolution, and ultimate RESURRECTION!
When we look at the horizon, and press on toward the goal of the upward call of Christ Jesus, we find that in the face of OBSTACLES we have a power to move forward on the journey of our faith. The hidden secret is that it is usually the OBSTACLES we face, head on, that move us to growth. It is also in the time we tackle the OBSTACLES that we see the death of ourselves and the RESURRECTION POWER of JESUS CHRIST.
What are your hopes and dreams for the NEW YEAR? What OBSTACLES do you need RESURRECTION POWER to overcome?
Parent Resources 