Old things have a special place in my heart. I have a fondness for old photographs, old weathered wood, old antique jewelry, old… Well, you get the picture. Why the fascination with old things? I like to think of them as relics, not just of bygone days, but of the lives each piece touched. 

My parents handed down some old things to me. I had my maternal great grandfather's gun, which I've now passed along to my oldest son. I have Bibles that belonged to both sets of grandparents. I have a large portrait of my great uncle; my paternal grandpa's brother who became a doctor. He drowned trying to cross a swollen creek en route to tend a patient. These are only a few of the old pieces I have. Each one is like a living piece of history…my family history.

​This morning as I was having my coffee, I looked at some interesting photos on my Facebook timeline. They were photos of an abandoned castle in the forest in Belgium. Although abandoned, the rooms still included furniture and fixtures. Such as a small library with shelves full of books and stacks of books on the floor, some strewn haphazardly across the rug. There were toys in the hallway and at the top of the staircase. Several photos could have been from an attic or storage room. But what struck me most was that, as I looked at the photos, I could almost smell the mustiness of the rooms; the fabric of the upholstered furniture, the draperies, and the bed covers. Some of the rooms looked as if they could have been abandoned only yesterday…some for decades. Some appeared in good shape. Others showed decay and neglect. But, oh, the musty smell seemed so real!

I wonder. In our spiritual lives, do we ever smell musty? Does our walk with God sometimes bear the musty smell of decay and neglect?

The scriptures tell us that the sacrifices of the Old Testament were a sweet-smelling savor to God. 'And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man..." ' Genesis 8: 21

Jesus Christ was our sacrifice…the perfect Lamb of God, without blemish, offered in our place. 'And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.' Ephesians 5: 2

Through our lives, presenting ourselves as a living sacrifice (Romans 12: 1), we offer up a pleasing fragrance to God. 'But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.' 2 Corinthians 2: 14

'For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,' 2 Corinthians 2: 15

When I was a little girl, my daddy never wore a suit unless doing so was necessary for a special occasion. I can remember my mother taking his seldom worn suit out of the clothes bag and hanging it on the front porch to air. The fresh air and sunshine were necessary to rid the suit of the musty smell of many days in the closet, and, hopefully, of mothballs. 

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 3: 27

Can others see Christ in us? Is it evident to those around us that we are clothed in Christ? Or have we allowed the things of the world to manifest themselves in our lives so clearly that His likeness is no longer visible? Do our lives still hold 'the fragrance of the knowledge of Him?' Or do our lives instead hold a musty smell; empty of the things which bear witness to an active relationship with Him? Do we cling to the Savior as we did when first we clothed ourselves in Him? Or do we openly display the things of the world; striving only to reflect His image on special occasions?

It is my prayer that our lives always bear the fragrance of the knowledge of our Lord; that we always bear witness to Him. I pray that we never abandon our walk with the Savior. I pray that our hearts are always a warm and welcome abode for Him…never musty from emptiness and being closed to His presence. Instead, let us keep our hearts open to the freshness and vitality of His love. As each of our old treasures from the past are relics of years gone by, may our lives be reflections of the abiding love and likeness of He Who never leaves or forsakes, but is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
 
Marva Jo Hardage

    For the remainder of the summer, National Park Church will be participating in a sermon series entitled Keep Christianity Weird. The idea of this title came from the city mottos of Austin, Texas and Asheville, North Carolina – Keep Austin Weird and Keep Asheville Weird. Citizens of both cities proudly proclaim and adopt this slogan, because the essence of their cities is found in their respective weirdness. They fear that their cities will become like any other cookie-cutter city, which would mean that the uniqueness of their cities would be lost, if they do not intentionally insist on maintaining the customs that make them abnormal. The same danger threatens Christianity when it loses the strangeness of its message – the peculiar story of a crucified God. If we, as the church, have grown comfortable with this narrative and depiction of God and being his followers, then we have likely sanitized the radical gospel of Jesus. Jurgen Moltmann suggests, in his book The Crucified God, that “Christians who do not have the feeling that they must flee the crucified Christ have probably not yet understood him in a sufficiently radical way.” At the same time, the cross is the event that is intended to shape the lives of followers of Jesus. Our hope is that all will feel welcome to come and learn why adjectives such as foolish, strange, and weird are embraced by Christ’s disciples as fitting and profound descriptions of Christianity.

Adult Sunday Morning Class: This summer we are having a combined adult class which will meet in the Auditorium. We will be journeying through the book of Philippians. Our time together will allow us to explore specific ways that the church can more faithfully orient itself around the self-sacrificial example of Jesus Christ.

Taylor

Camp Create hosted at National Park Church in Hot Springs, Arkansas has reached max capacity for our 2018 camp, The Greatest. 

We look forward to meeting our performers and are so excited about what you will learn and seeing you create!

​​The theme this year at Camp Create at National Park Church in Hot Spring is: "The Greatest" drawing elements from the film, The Greatest Showman. 

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me."

Missed the Message? Click Here.    

Over the next two weeks, we are studying how to celebrate every moment of life, no matter the circumstance. To start off on the right foot this year, we are committed to prayer and meditating on God's words to us. May we be near to God, His Word, and His Presence. 

First Set of tools, meditation on scripture by using a modifiedLectio Divina, 

1. Engage - What’s happening?
2. Allegory - Find Symbols and Themes. 
3. Reflect -  How does this Speak to you?  
​4. Invitation - How do I respond to this?
5. Blessing - Pick a person or group of people and write a blessing to them. 

Example:
Text: John 1:43-50
1. Engage - What’s happening?
The first disciples find Jesus. He finds them!

2. Allegory - Find Symbols and Themes.                                                                  
Sometimes they are obvious like this passage. Lost and Found, Messiah, Israel, Angels ascending and descending like in Jacobs ladder dream Gen 28 - This common theme in scripture of lost and found. A God who has always been in pursuit of his people. A God who goes after lost sheep, broken down travelers and wayward sons, and immigrants who’ve never heard his name. 

3. Reflect -  How does this Speak to you?  
 "We can never fully find Jesus until he find us! That's the part that speaks to me the most this morning." 

4. Invitation - How do I respond to this? 
Like the disciples, come face to face with Jesus and said, You are the messiah. You are my savior.

5. Blessing - Pick a person or group of people and write a blessing to them. 
Sometimes it's easier to answer what my response should be if we give a blessing to one of the characters in the text. For instance, what would it look like as you studied this passage to give a blessing to Nathanael  

"Nathanael, you are fearfully Found. May you see in every moment of life that  you are found and known…you always have been.  Days are coming when you will question this. Remember, Jesus saw you under the tree and he saw you in your mothers womb. Nathanel remember the Fearful and wonderfully made psalm. Moments of anxiety will come that could make you forget you are found in Jesus." 

Sunday
Growth opportunities
Sending our children off to school allows them to grow, to grow in ways we both hope for and could never expect. We ask God to help us lead growing children closer to Him, both in their physical being and their spiritual.

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man. Luke 2:52


Monday
Fear of the unknown
Every child wonders about the unknown, maybe even has a little fear about new things. Every parent worries about their sons and daughters experiencing the unknown. We ask God to grant us peace in the face of things we cannot see.

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. Psalm 56:3


Tuesday
Excitement for challenges
Challenging projects and new subjects ignite discovery in our children. When parents, friends and church family help meet new challenges with excitement, great things happen. We ask God to renew our joy daily in the face of challenging circumstances.

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:12-13


Wednesday
Anxiety about achieving
School days bring the pressure to achieve, to win, to score, to accomplish, and all these are good pursuits in the proper balance. Too much pressure leaves our children and teachers with anxiety about how to perform and meet the standards. We ask God to grant us clarity in seeing our goals and achievements as our best efforts, no matter the outcome.

And he said to his disciples, Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. . .your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:22-34


Thursday
Discernment about the world
As children experience the world, each moment is a teaching. Will they seek a wise answer to deal shrewdly with danger? Will they nurture a calm heart and deal tenderly with those in need? Will compassion and caution remain balanced in their steps? We ask God to give us wisdom as we lead our children to discern His ways in their daily life.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans12:2


Friday
Wearing the name of Christ
All of life is an opportunity to wear the name of Christ. With every school t-shirt, uniform and jersey our children wear, help them also bear Christ’s image in their words and actions. We ask God to provide guidance where our children show His light.

And above all these put on love, which binds every thing together in perfect harmony. Colossians3:14

modified original: Dana Spivy Glover

   I remember people always telling me, you look so much like your dad, or your grandad, or your mom. As a young child, I didn't like to hear that. I wanted to just look like Patrick. So, I would do things to stand out. I'd wear pink shirts with purple shorts...it was the 80's... I'd fix my hair in different styles. I'd make sure and dress sharp as I got older. I wanted to be unique. You know... the most unique people are those who don't dress a certain way, but those who act a certain way.

   My Grandad has always worn the same clothes since I can remember. The same wrangler jeans, the same cowboy boots, and the same button down long sleeved shirts. I asked him once why he always did this. His answer, "I want to be a simple man." "Why?" I asked. "Because, I want to communicate a simple Gospel.

 A welcome reminder to us all. May we all present a simple Gospel both with our words and with our lives. 
For good or bad, each of us will be remembered for our actions. For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.


​Patrick Luse

This week  we offer a prayer of blessing for our students, families, & educators.

Kids we love you. We are excited to see how God uses you this year. We want to hear how much you learn, things you experience, and we want you to recognize how God works in your life.

Parents, Teachers,  and caregivers we love you. We are excited to see how God uses you this year. We want to hear about what you learn, things your experience, and we want you to recognize how God works in your life.
While our children experience some of the anxiety that goes with transition, it’s nothing compared to the heart of a parent or caregiver. It has been said that when children go off to school, work, or new transitions in life,

“It’s like our heart leaves our body walks around the earth. All we want to do is bring it back to ourselves.”

The Father knows that feeling because He sent His son and all Jesus wanted to do was to bring us close to Himself.

We pray that we would learn what it means to be led by the Spirit, because the milestone of going back to school, for us, is primarily faith development. This week, we remind each other of the dedication of faith we made concerning our children. To lead them, guide them, and show them what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

 We are reminded: THIS TASK IS NOT DONE ALONE, because faith development is – by the Spirit, through relationships. We join together and bless our children and families in this milestone.

------------------------
    Father, Your word tells us that a wise man will hear and increase learning and that a man of understanding will attain wise counsel. Lord, give our children teachers who can provide wise counsel and inspire them to search after learning. And when they have learned, give them understanding in how to apply what they know. Make them wise.

   Father, help our children to understand that whatever work they do is not to please teachers or even to please their parents, but it is ultimately to please You, their Heavenly Father. They work for You and not for anyone else.

   Lord, grant that parents may rest in the fact that Your grace is sufficient to carry them through whatever comes their way, especially when we mess up. When challenges arise that are too much for them, You are carrying them by Your great strength.

   Jesus, when we compare ourselves to others, it is easy to focus on ways we don’t measure up instead of focusing on what You have made us to be. In those moments, remind us to focus on what is true, what is noble, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely. Lord, anything good or praiseworthy, help us to meditate on those things.

-amen

 

– Patrick Luse

In middle school, I joined a drama group who performed every Thursday night at the Inner City Ministry. One of the song leaders in the ministry would always sing, “Wade in the Water.” It became a favorite of mine, the kids, and everyone who heard it. Sung with many verses, improvisations, and even a rap lyric thrown in for good measure.

While the Civil Rights History of this spiritual provides for some excellent stories about Harriet Tubman & others; It declares for us that God is doing something in “the water.” Should that be: the trials of your life, the confession or your heart, or the final transition of life. God’s angel shows up to trouble your waters…And thats a good thing! “Rise up! Be Healed!”

As the man in The Book of John exclaimed, “I have no one to carry me into the water.” Remember, Jesus will always step in and say to you, with power of His Spirit, “Rise Up!”

Rise up, O Sinner!
Rise up, O Heartbroken!
Rise up, Sweet Ann!

- Patrick Luse

  “Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.” (‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2:15‬)

   The Lord says, as laborers in My harvest, I want you to be  precise, very careful as it relates to My harvest of men and women for my Kingdom. Be direct and plain with the gospel entrusted to you. My gospel will help you correctly and directly explain My words and will help the hopeless wanderer find Me. You must also continue to harvest until every last one is brought in. Be careful to bring in all of those that you have an opportunity to reach.

​Blessed be the name of the Lord!

   The Gospel is the good news that although we are sinners and worthy of God's wrath, God, in love, sent His Son to be our substitute, bearing our punishment, so that we could be made completely righteous in His sight. This righteousness is based only on our trust (faith) in this completed work of Christ and not our own performance.

Allen Coker