It’s hard to believe that 2010 is here. As with any new year, people have made their “New Years Resolutions” and are praying that they will be able to keep them. Some people may decide that this is the year they want to stop smoking, or this year they are going to get healthy and exercise more. Losing weight is the first thing that comes to mind when we mention resolutions. Personally, I know I have made resolutions in the past, but I can’t remember what they were; I guess I didn’t keep them!

I am all for resolutions. Anything we can do to better ourselves personally is great. But what could we do as a youth group, or as a church to really make a difference in the upcoming year?  
 
Our youth group, along with other youth groups across the country, will be taking part in a year-long challenge. Each week of this challenge requires each student to read 2 chapters of the Bible, give their testimonies or share Christ with 2 people, fast 2 meals, give $2 in offerings, and spend 15 minutes in prayer daily. The result at the end of the year from a resolution like this would be fantastic!

This doesn’t have to be a youth only challenge. All of us could benefit from these requirements. I believe it would make for a strong youth group with more faith, more Biblical knowledge, a closer walk and prayer life with God. A larger youth group would also result from effective witnessing! The group as a whole would be stronger, as would each person individually.
  
So this New Year, make those personal commitments to yourself, but also think of what you could do for the Kingdom of God. We are the body of Christ! The betterment of one member of the body benefits the body as a whole.  

1 Cor 12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

-Bro. Wesley Combs

National Youth Convention was held in Nashville, Tennessee this year and its theme was “Go.”  This theme meant that people should go out into the world and spread the gospel.  In each service, the pastors talked about something people needed in order to go out into the world and witness. 

On the first night, Pastor Michael Jadrnicek preached a sermon entitled “Willing to Go!”  He talked about how people need to be willing to get involved with others before they can lead them to God. 

Pastor Jeremy Lang, a missionary to India, preached the next service on “Gone With The Wind.”  His sermon was about not being swayed by the winds of false doctrine, and instead getting some wind blowing for God. 

Reverend Tim Hammond preached the second night service on “Where Are You Going?” He talked about how going was not enough; that people must go with a purpose and cause. 

Reverend Wayne Francis preached the second morning  on “Go To The Horizon.”  He talked about how a horizon is never attainable but people still seek after it.  Therefore people, as Christians, must set God as their horizon in their “spiritual sailing”.   Pastor Kenneth Carpenter preached the last service of National Youth Convention on “Having Sight But Not Vision”.  He said that we must have a vision of what God wants us to do before He can use us. 

National Youth Convention this year made people think about how they were living their lives and what God wants them to do.  We learned how to take what God gives us to go out and reach the world for Him.

My favorite service was when Reverend Francis preached.  He only preached for what seemed like twenty minutes and then the Spirit of God broke loose.  People were running to the altar and the Holy Ghost was moving through the place. 

For the late night entertainment on Thursday there was a talent show. There were acts that ranged from signing to rapping.  It really showed how much talent there was at the conference. 

The music during the services was performed by very talented people from many different churches.  Throughout all the services God could be felt, and everyone seemed to receive what they needed. 

The hotel was very beautiful with all the Christmas decorations.  It was the perfect place to meet new people and to fellowship with friends. 

I really enjoyed this National Youth Convention with the awesome services and the good hot chocolate at the hotel.  Next year’s National Youth Convention does not seem like it can come soon enough!

You can now check out website for any weather related schedule changes. Look for a large red scrolling message at the top of the screen.

I come from a family that loves cars.  Not just the cars themselves, but driving them. Fast.  For example, instead of just teaching me to drive like a normal parent, my dad rented a parking lot, set up cones and taught me and my brother to race.  We learned about speed, shifting and proper entry into corners.  I also learned later that it is never a good idea to say, “It’ll stick” to the high school driving instructor…

Because of all this, it was no surprise when my dad told me I needed to read a  book that combined racing, philosophy and a good storyline.  I read the book, and got more out of it than I anticipated.  

The point that has stuck with me the most is this: the car follows the eye.  This means that when you are about to wreck, keep your eyes where you want the car to go instead of looking at the ditch you are headed for.  This helps you focus on pulling the car out of trouble.  It’s a hard thing to do.  Everything in you wants to look at that ditch, but looking there only makes the disaster inevitable. 

Believe it or not, this same concept applies to us spiritually.  When we are facing a wreck in our lives, our first instinct is to focus solely on the problem, thinking we can manhandle our way out of it by sheer will.  It doesn’t work.  It is only when we focus on God that we can regain the road and pull out of the calamity that confronts us.

An example of this is Abraham.  God told him that he would be a great nation, but he had no children.  He and Sarah tried to fix the situation themselves with Hagar and Ishmael, but this only led to a bigger wreck.  When Abraham looked at God instead of his problem, God provided the answer: Isaac. 
 
“He (Abraham) staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
And being fully persuaded, that what He had promised, He was able also to perform.”Romans 4:20, 21

When we take our eyes off our problems and look to God in faith, He will take care of us.  He has promised to. The car follows the eye; faith follows God.  It’s easy to look at the wreck that is about to happen in our lives, but when we do, we will wreck.  It is only when we look past the problem to God for solutions that we have a chance to arrive safely at our destination.