Lessons I’ve Learned

Ecclesiastes 3:1 “For everything there is a season.”16 years on GNCC as your “Pit-Pastor.” It has been amazing - God has been so good. But there is more ahead, and it’s time to turn the page. How do I know? Because God really does talk to his children! “My sheep hear my voice and I call them by name” (John 10:3)(Chuck announces this is his and Jessica’s last GNCC as chaplain.)

The devastation across the Southeast is very sobering and our prayers go out to families affected. As we pulled the Team Faith rig into the John Penton GNCC, the remnants of Hurricane Helene were in force, though not nearly to the extent the southern states experienced. Afterwards, there was a calm, still breeze and a beautiful rainbow in the sky! Chapel on Saturday was on the Genesis 6 Flood and the mentions Jesus and Peter gave it regarding the End Times. There is only 1 door, and Jesus is The Way!  

Being persecuted for following Jesus doesn’t always look like we think. As far back as the first martyrs, false accusations and made-up stories were the basis for arrest, interrogation, imprisonment and ultimately death.  As the old saying goes, “The more things change, the more they stay the same!” How can we recognize the current signs? How do we prepare? We discuss this (and more) at the Mountaineer GNCC Chapel. 

Christ-less Conservatism will not save America. It’s not the Elephant, not the Donkey, it’s the Lamb! How should Christians be viewing the times, the culture (and the election) we’re living in? God judged his Chosen Nation for the sin of child-sacrifice. Will He not judge us? We come into this election with a pro-abortion candidate vs one who no longer fights for the unborn. Does it really matter which of them gets the title? How should we be preparing? Beans and bullets? Lots of questions, but ultimate answers are found in God’s Word. 

How do we know it’s all true? Creation, The Flood, Jonah and the Whale. There’s one KEY in the Bible. If it’s true, then it’s all true! The Resurrection! Paul said “If Christ was not raised from the dead then our preaching is in vain.” Chapel service from Snowshoe unpacks the debate for Ultimate Truth.

Andy Davis filled in at the Mason-Dixon GNCC with a great message! From Genesis to Revelation: God redeeming his special creation and will culminate with the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. It was a fascinating overview of the Bible - informative, practical and applicable. (Recorded live at a racetrack, so background noises are part of it. Worth the listen though!)

We’ve talked about Samson and Jephthah the last couple rounds. They both made terrible mistakes and seemed to be poor leaders. We used them as “bad examples!” However, they BOTH are listed in the Hebrews 11 “Hall of Faith” passage! Why? How? Maybe we should examine “what is faith?” That’s what we did at the Powerline Park GNCC. This message was pre-recorded as I was not able to attend. Trevor Lemaster and Clayton Kawasaki represented Team Faith, set up the pits and hosted chapel. Give a listen and let’s grow in our faith! 

“On Purpose, For a Purpose!” God outlined his plan for Samson’s life, yet Samson never fully stepped into it. God’s purposes prevailed, but Samson’s life was full of drama and disappointment. What lessons can we learn from the strongest man who ever lived? This was our discussion at The Hoosier GNCC 2024. 

The Old Gray in Monterey, TN was the hometown GNCC race for Team Faith. Really cool to have Brian O'Rourke come out and share some stories - from botching the opening prayer at a jet ski race to winning gold at X-Games! There were some definite low points in between. We turn to Matthew 16 and look at what it means to “give up your life in order to gain it.” God’s economy is backwards, inverted and so totally worth it!

How did the crowd miss that Jesus was The Messiah? They started out so good: “Hosannah!” But within a few days, “Crucify him!” Jesus came to fulfill a promise God made way back in Genesis, yet the people assumed he was there simply to defeat Rome. When we make up a god in our own image, culture will absolutely sway us. Look at the story of Jephthah in Judges 11. This is a most unusual Palm Sunday message! However, it makes the point that we need to stand on Truth found in God’s Word.