The more I watch, and the more I listen to preachers of the gospel its no wonder that more and more people are turning away from the Bible, and that hurts my heart. I pray as a pastor that every word I speak concerning the Lord is accurate and biblically based with as much knowledge of the truth as I am capable of presenting. But what I am discovering is that the age of a Christian might have very little to do with determining their Spiritual maturity, because their maturity is based on what they have learned in their personal walk with Christ, not what they have heard preached from a pulpit. 
    Because if all they hear are the deep theological presentations of God's word and they go away confused or feeling unable to understand the simple, real world message of what was said, then why wouldn't they turn their ear to something that sounds simpler? Having said that, please, understand that I will never "dumb down" the scriptures of God's Holy Word. But my goal has always been to have people leave with an understanding of what the scripture means to me today, and to encourage the listener to read it, to study it, to ask questions...but sometimes even that becomes heavy for some.
    Today, and everyday that is before me God has shared an insight that sounds simple but it has had a profound impact on my own way of thinking as I prepare to preach the good news and I hope that every preacher or teacher who reads this can agree...Let's unveil the Christ, not just the promises or the punishments or the expectations or the rewards, Let's unveil the Christ, because until they KNOW Jesus in your heart, the rest is just great reading.  

Sometimes we get so caught up in doing church that we forget to let Jesus take the lead in our worship; I cannot speak for any other than the Baptist Church's I have been in but every week there is an order of service, and I think that's a good thing, there should be a degree of order in the church and it is helpful to the congregation and especially to visitors to be able to know what to expect during their time in your worship service.

But it is our idea of how to make the worship flow, it is based on tradition and experience, wrapped in prayer and offered in love, but every once in a while something happens-at least it seems to happen to me-and the order of service becomes for a moment a distant dream, and I believe that in those moments God is seeking our trust in His vision for His people.

Traditionally I have always put baptism's at the beginning of the service, all eyes on those standing up and standing out for the Lord, but when families are traveling long distances to be a part of this special occasion as they were today then my planning has to take a back seat to His glory. Baptism isn't about me, or the church congregation, it's about the living testimony shared with those who are witness to it, and first and foremost to God.

So today, when the world tried to darken the moment by having the family detained by traffic, we proceeded through our service until they arrived, and I was blessed to hear from the back room others stepping in to lead worship and prayer in my place in service to the Lord. Soon the family arrived and we proceeded to glorify the Father, not according to our order of service, but according to the instruction of God. His order of service couldn't have been better.

As a church our planning and preparation for the worship hour sometimes just won't work, and we should pray that God shuffles it up once in a while, I think it makes Him smile to see us react to his intervention, if nothing else it reminds me that He is alive and active in His church that I am blessed to serve in.

God in his power and majesty created the mountains and the seas; not with tools and effort but by the very spoken word he created them. And while they seem so overwhelming in their nature man has been drawn to climb them, to seek that feeling of achievement that only comes through perseverance and effort...but you know, if God had made the mountain smooth you couldn't climb it.

The mountain by its creation has various places for one to get a firm grip, to pull their self up a little at a time, but sometimes we may climb for a long time only to realize that the path we have chosen won't get us to the summit and then we must go back down and hope to find a more forgiving route, one that will allow us to  reach the top. God sometimes leads us to mountains in our personal life, and like his mountains the ones we face offer an opportunity to get a fresh grip, a firm hold if we will just trust the maker of the mountain.

But it isn't the God made mountain of stone, or the ice capped peak that the creator puts before us that cause us the most difficulty, and if you've faced the "life mountains" that God allows in your life you know that even they, with faith and trust in the Lord can be ascended...but the mountains that stop us in our tracks, the ones that are most difficult are the "man made" mountains, they ones built on pride, anger, jealousy, envy, judgment and every other ingredient we can add in.

These are the mountains that hurt the deepest and the longest, the ones that challenge you to give up climbing; don't let a mountain created by any man become the "hill" that keeps you from the Lord. If you need help on the climb, the Lord is listening, and I am here to pray for you and with you.  

2013 was a busy year at Elk Creek, I saw Deacons who had served for years gracefully step down and others step up to the call of the Lord to become leaders and ministers to the church body. I saw Trustees exercise true stewardship, and the church became even more beautiful, and continues to see little changes. I witnessed healing of hearts and a renewed interest in many areas, and I realized that we as a church have more opportunities and more challenges ahead of us. But reflection is just that, reflection, and it speaks of the past. As I look to the Lord for how He would have me lead his church in 2014 I am comforted that I am surrounded by a wife and two daughters that support me and work along side me in ministry, and a church that loves us...really loves us, and together we as the church @ Elk Creek can face anything, and I hope that if you are looking for a church to call home, a place where you can be a part of a family that is pursuing the Lord, then you will come and visit with us.
 
In His Service, Pastor Kenny

    I have heard countless times in recent years that the church's in America need revival; that we need to get God back in our schools, back in our government, back in our homes...but I struggle with the attitudes and the actions of the "Christians" I see and hear in the workplace, on the social networks, and in our churches. Revival is not just a catch phrase, it isn't like jump starting a dead battery, it has to be more; it is more. Our church just completed 5 revival services and while I was personally revived, reenergized, and refreshed in my heart it was also an eye opening experience concerning the "church."
    The "church" as I understand it according to the scripture is made up of those who have made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, so with that in mind revival must be a personal thing; while it certainly affects the entire body of a church it doesn't flow from the church to the believer, it flows from the Holy Spirit to each believer to the church, and we become stewards of a great responsibility, to live out our faith. 
    So if revival is for the church and we as believers are the church then revival is for us! And if we have any hope of getting God back into our homes, our workplace, our school, our government then we had better be very concerned about getting God back into our individual hearts! Posting Bible scripture on your website isn't going to get it done, clicking "like" on a picture of Jesus on a social media website is an insult, and spending time in church dressed up and playing the part is insulting to the one who allowed himself to be crucified on the cross for our sins!
    If revival is for the church...and we are the church...then why are there empty seats in every church during every revival? Maybe it is because some believers feel they don't need revival...but if revival is designed and desired to refresh us for Jesus, to reenergize our zeal for Jesus...then which believer wouldn't need or desire that?
    If you have Jesus in your heart, but life has beat you down you are not without hope and you are not beyond His reach. Maybe you need revival, maybe you need prayer, maybe you just need an ear. He is listening, and so will I.
                                                                                                 May the LORD richly bless your Spirit,
                                                                                                                                                           Pastor.

Is it merely the numbers that count? Is It based on the style and volume of the music? Is it wrapped up in the presentation? Is it about prominence? Then O Lord find me lacking on my best day as a Pastor...but wait Lord, you started the greatest revival ever with eleven dedicated followers...and the songs of praise were from the heart...and you weren't very flashy...and you were more humble than any.
It must be entirely dependent on the one, in the quiet of the heart, wrapped in proclamation of the truth, in love. Yes Lord, find me wanting, wanting to be of service, wanting to be still, wanting to glorify you.

If you're reading this and you have grown confused and weary about "today's" popular Jesus come and visit with us, come and get reacquainted with the savior.