My Child,

You may not know me, but I know everything about you.
Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.
Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation.
Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book.
Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live.
Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother’s womb.
Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented by those who don’t know me.
John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love.
1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child and I am your Father.
1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father.
Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore.
Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession.
Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul.
Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me.
Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires.
Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine.
Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you.
Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart.
Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes.
Revelation 21:3-4

And I’ll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth.
Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus.
John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.
Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you.
Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you.
1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love.
Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me.
1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again.
Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I’ll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7

I have always been Father, and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is… Will you be my child?
John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.
Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad
Almighty God

Joy is one of the most essential fruits of the Holy Spirit. Without joy you have nothing of use.

Take for instance Joy detergent, Almond Joy, or a Joystick. What happens when you run out of Joy?

You have an empty bottle, all you have left is Almond, and you video game doesn’t work. Life just isn’t as good when you run out of joy Maybe you’ve lost some of your joy. Something is bothering you, troubling you or you’ve got worry that just wont go away. You’ve been disappointed, hurt, or grieved or you’re running on empty, you’ve lost your joy. We read in John 2:1-11 how Jesus restored joy to those who attended a marriage celebration in Cana. Jesus can do the same for you today. Jesus is in the joy restoring business.

Our joy is completely found in Jesus. It is not found in things or stuff, it is not found in people, it is not found in a church, or a pastor, it is found only in Jesus.

The story is told of a man who was shipwrecked and lived most of his adult life alone on an obscure island on which no other human being had ever set foot. After many years of isolation, a ship came his way and a rescue party was sent ashore. He welcomed them, of course, then proceeded to show them around. Pointing to a small log cabin, he said, “This is my house. I built it with my own two hands.” Then he showed them a second building. “This is my Church,” he said. “I built it with my own two hands.” Then he showed them a third building, saying, “This is the Church I used to go to.”

No matter where we may go or what may happen to us, we can always find joy in Jesus. As you read this take your Bible and read John 15:11 and John 17:13. These verses tell us Jesus desires for us to experience and have within us His joy. In every experience of life there can be joy. As I attended a funeral of a very good friend a few days ago, I was reminded that her life was full of joy and we need to carry that on.

The story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, “This is good!”

One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off. Examining the situation, the friend remarked as usual, “This is good!” To which the king replied, “No, this is not good!” and proceeded to send his friend to jail.

About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured him and took him to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake. As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone who was less than whole. So untying the king, they sent him on his way.

As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak with his friend. “You were right,” he said, “it was good that my thumb was blown off.” And he proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened. “And so, I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this.”

“No,” his friend replied, “This is good!”

“What do you mean, ‘This is good’? How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?” “If I had not been in jail, I would have been with you.”

Even when we do not think at the moment, a life experience can be joyful, it can be when we follow Jesus. We just have to make sure we are following Jesus and not our own hearts or our own desires.

I heard the story of the woman driving through a snowstorm just outside of Denver. She was completely lost and struggling under the hazardous weather conditions. She was relieved when she happened upon a snowplow. Since she was lost she decided to follow the truck and kept as close to the machine as she could while it removed snow from the road. At times the blowing snow almost cut off her view, but she kept following it.

After some time, the snowplow stopped and the driver got out and came back to her car. “Lady, where are you going?” he asked. “I’m on my way to Denver.” she replied. The truck driver replied, “Well, you’ll never get there following me! I’m plowing a parking lot!”

Before we let others lead us, it would be helpful to know their direction. The Bible teaches that one of the fruits of the spirit is joy. It is produced by the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Are you spirit filled? If you are there can be joy.

I pray you will have a joyful time each day.

Friday, May 7 • 7pm • Temple Baptist Church

From Nashville, TN comes an exciting male group called Tribute Quartet.  Combining energy, talent, and enthusiasm for their craft with their calling and desire to minister to others, Tribute Quartet is quickly establishing themselves as a premier musical entity in the gospel arena. Tribute Quartet will soon be emerging on the scene with a brand new, fresh sound of their own. A “tribute” is an expression of honor, respect, or high regard. So, it’s no coincidence the name Tribute Quartet so aptly fi ts these men and their mission to honor the music, singers, and Spiritual messages that have so defi nitively shaped gospel music down through the years. Often humorous, never predictable, and always upbeat, the message and music of Tribute Quartet will leave you refreshed and uplifted.

A “Bucket of Hope” consists of a plastic five-gallon bucket packed with selected foodstuffs. For approximately $30 anyone can purchase the materials and assemble a “Bucket of Hope.” The food contained in a single bucket will feed a Haitian family for a week. You are also requested to include a $10 cash contribution, placed in an envelope and attached to the lid of the bucket, to offset the cost of transporting the relief buckets to Haiti.

Buckets must be packed with a specific list of food items inside. Salida Christian School students helped pack the buckets.

Temple Baptist Church will pack 20 buckets.

For more information call the church office or click here to visit the NAMB website.

AN ELECTRIFYING EVENT IS COMING TO SALIDA!!

Dates: Sept. 22-26, 2010
Time: 7:00 pm
Where: Andreas Field House, Salida CO

“We’ve had them at Prestonwood on several occasions… and I have to tell you that we have never had such an amazing response to evangelism in our church as we’ve seen with Team Impact… One of the clearest, most effective presentations of salvation in Christ that I have ever see…”
Dr. Jack Graham, Sr. Pastor
Prestonwood Baptist Church — Plano, TX

Team Impact, some of the strongest men on the planet, will be making several public appearances in the Salida in September. With demonstrations of astounding feats of strength – such as shattering five feet of concrete with one blow from their massive arms and snapping baseball bats in half with their bare hands – Team Impact members are sure to capture the attention of both the young and old; all to share an inspiring message of hope.

Team Impact is a group of world-class athletes, including champion power-lifters, previous WWE wrestlers, and former NFL football players. The men of Team Impact travel the globe motivating and inspiring people of all ages and have performed their amazing presentation in front of millions.

With the problems young people face today, Team Impact has taken seriously the task of reaching America’s youth with a timely message through their highly acclaimed school assemblies. Visiting nearly 1,000 schools each year, this group has the unique opportunity to speak to hundreds of thousands of students about the dangers of drugs, alcohol and the importance of academic excellence.

In addition, Team Impact appears regularly on television programs including their own weekly show where millions of people around the world are able to see their extraordinary demonstrations and hear their inspirational message. You may visit www.team-impact.com to learn more about the efforts of Team Impact.

You are cordially invited to join us for our Valentine Banquet sponsored by Legacy Youth Group. We will have a night filled with Food, Fun and Frivolity. Bring your Sweetie (or Family) and plan on joining us!

Time: 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Place: TBC Fellowship Hall
Date: Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010
Menu: Lasagna, Salad, Garlic Bread, Desert
Cost: Free (donations accepted)
Entertainment: Legacy Youth Group
Raffle: To follow Dinner

Hope to see you for a night of Fun!!

Tim Smith & Vickie Kilmer
Youth Leaders

They went into the living room and sat down on an old couch with the foam and springs exposed. The bus pastor asked the kid, “Where do you go to church?” The young boy surprised the visitor by replying, “I’ve never been to church in my whole life.” The bus pastor thought to himself about the fact that his church was less than three miles from the child’s house. “Are you sure you have never been to church?” He asked again. “I sure haven’t”, came his answer. Then the bus pastor said, “Well, son, more important than going to church, have you ever heard the greatest love story ever told?” and then he proceeded to share the Gospel with this little nine year old boy. The young lad’s heart began to be tenderized and at the end of the bus pastor’s story the bus pastor asked if the boy wanted to receive this free gift from God. The youngster exclaimed, “You bet! The kid and the bus pastor got on their knees and the lad invited Jesus into his little heart and received the free gift of salvation. They both stood up and the bus pastor asked if he could pick the kid up for church the next morning. “Sure,” the nine old replied. The bus pastor got to the house early the next morning and found the lights off. He let himself in and snaked his way through the house and found the little boy asleep in his bed. He woke up the little boy and his brother and helped get them dressed. They got on the bus and ate a donut for breakfast on their way to church. Keep in mind that this boy had never been to church before. The church was a real big one. The little kid just sat there, clueless of what was going on. A few minutes into the service these tall unhappy guys walked down to the front and picked up some wooden plates. One of the men prayed and the kid with utter fascination watched them walk up and down the aisles. He still didn’t know what was going on. All of a sudden like a bolt of lightning it hit the kid what was taking place. These people must be giving money to Jesus. He then reflected on the free gift of life that he had received just twenty-four hours earlier. He immediately searched his pockets, front and back, and couldn’t find a thing to give Jesus. By this time the offering plate was being passed down his aisle and with a broken heart he just grabbed the plate and held on to it. He finally let go and watched it pass on down the aisle. He turned around to see it passed down the aisle behind him. And then his eyes remained glued on the plate as it was passed back and forth, back and forth all the way to the rear of the sanctuary. Then he had an idea. This little nine-year-old boy, in front of God and everybody, got up out of his seat. He walked about eight rows back, grabbed the usher by the coat and asked to hold the plate one more time. Then he did the most astounding thing I have ever heard of. He took the plate, sat it on the carpeted church floor and stepped into the center of it. As he stood there, he lifted his little head up and said, “Jesus, I don’t have anything to give you today, but just me. I give you me!”

Whether this story is true or not, I do not know, but I love the point of the story. Our God does not want just our “stuff”, He wants US!

So that raises the question, How much of you does He have? All? Part? None? Does He have it all? Jesus has love us and given His all for us, we must do the same.

As a part of an assignment for a doctoral thesis, a college student spent a year with a group of Navajo Indians on a reservation in the Southwest. As part of his research he lived with one of the Navajo families, sleeping in their hut, eating their food, working with them, & generally living the life of a 20th-century Indian.

The old grandmother of the family spoke no English at all, yet a very close friendship formed between them. They spent a great deal of time sharing a friendship that was meaningful to each, yet unexplainable to anyone else. In spite of the language difference, they shared the common language of love & understood each other. Over the months he learned a few phrases of Navajo, & she picked up a little of the English language.

When it was time for him to return to the campus to complete his thesis, the tribe held a going-away celebration It was marked by sadness since the young man had become close to the whole village & all would miss him. As he prepared to leave, the old grandmother came to tell him good-bye. With tears streaming down her cheeks, she placed her hands on either side of his face, looked directly into his eyes & said, “I like me best when I’m with you.”

Isn’t that the way we feel in the presence of Jesus? He brings out the best in us. We learn to see ourselves as worthy & valuable when we’re in His presence. The hurts, the cares, the disappointments of our lives are behind us when we look in His eyes & realize the depth of His love.

God loves you more that you can ever love Him. And when we extend His invitation it is always an invitation of love. You see, I can never pay Him back, nor can you. I can do anything & everything in the way of sacrifice, but I can never repay the debt of love that I owe.

God doesn’t require the debt to be repaid. He just wants us to accept what He has done, and to love Him for it. He has given His only begotten Son. Do you love Him for that?

Then express that love today, and show God that you really do love Him.

New Years Message

Christmas Message

The Dare 2 Share conference our youth group recently attended was modeled after this scripture.

Friday evening began with scripture, testimony, stories and worship music. We were able to get a glimpse of who God really is. At the end of the first night an invitation was given. Hundreds of teens accepted Christ for the first time. Two from our group. Praise God! Several others recommitted themselves.

The first act of a play began with great intensity. The play was about a Christian girl whose friend died. She had not shared the Gospel with him and his unsaved soul was in Hell. The characters in the play received a video tape from him and the torment that was now his fate. The drama was gut wrenching and very intense. As I looked down the row of seats at our kids, tears flowed as the reality of Hell was realized. I was nearly sick to my stomach as the thoughts raced through my own mind of people I need to share the Gospel with. So many in our group were completely broken by what we were seeing through the drama.

Before the night ended we worshiped God with a renewed thankfulness for His Grace. All of the adults in our Group had been ministering to our kids as we talked about the nights’ events. Wow!

Day two started with more worship, teaching, stories, scripture and testimony. Vickie and I attended a leader conference in the morning and were energized and refocused. As we rejoined our group a new series of short plays had each of us looking inward at our own sin and shame. As a symbolic way to let God forgive our sin the kids wrote down on paper their most shameful sin. Later they tore them to pieces and were laid at central cross in the arena. We told each child that God forgave them and God loves them. Many more tears. Tears of joy and relief!

After returning from lunch we learned some new techniques to share the Gospel. The Goal of the Dare 2 Share is to have kids evangelize and share the Gospel in every school in our country. That’s 67,342 schools in the United States! Sounds like a lofty Goal? In our Group we had kids from four schools represented. At the Denver conference where several thousand teens from 11 different states. Possibly a thousand schools were represented. Our kids were energized and could not wait to start sharing the Gospel.

At the dinner break was a prayer walk at an assigned school in Denver. This was a touching time for our group. As we walked the campus of a school we picked up trash and prayed for the school and individual students at that school. We walked a second time around the school grounds and prayed for our own schools and students at our school.

After dinner we returned for the second act of the main drama re-emphasizing Heaven, Hell and sharing the Gospel. We ended the night in worship. Isn’t God Great!

In between it all we shared laughs, played whiffle ball, ate pizza, and talked openly of God. We began to formulate a plan for sharing God with all the students of Salida. I truly believe that God broke nearly everyone down for different reasons at this event. And then filled us back up for a deeper relationship with Him. Vickie and I could never have ministered to our group and my heartfelt appreciation goes out to Ron McCarty and Cindy Smith for all you did. Also to Bobby Orzechowski and Jessi Smith as young adult sponsors.

I hope to share more with you in the next newsletter.