And It Continues...

Just a quick post to let everyone know that the videos have been updated on youtube with clips from the Gong Show.  Also, if anyone knows where we can find a Christmas template, please let us know. Happy Holidays.

You Tubage

Ok, due to overwhelming demand and various threats(kidding), we have uploaded the VLB "Everything" skit onto you tube and now onto this blog. So, if you would like to check it out, go for it and hopefully it will be a blessing. Please leave some comments as to what you would like to see, if anything else, on you tube. Here's the link to our video page - TCOGA Videos

- Josh 

Without holiness no man shall see the Lord...

What is holiness? What does the scripture mean when it expresses the above statement? What does perfecting holiness mean? Isn't it an inward cleansing of the heart by the blood of Jesus? Isn't it daily choices from a pure heart to please God? When the blood is applied to our hearts there is nothing unclean left there. It's when we allow the things of this world to penetrate our heart again that we become contaminated by the pollutants of this world. The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, the pride of life. We desire the things we see if our heart isn't holy before the Lord. The things we desire that aren't pleasing to God, but pleasing to us, is our flesh warring against the Spirit. The Spirit is always willing; it's the flesh that is weak. The pride of life is those things that make us feel important, or that we are something more than we are. Ambition is good, but it must be tempered with a holy heart or it will slowly but surely take us away from holiness. You know it's so old fashioned today to say holiness, but the bible still says we must have it to see the Lord. Many people want to address specifics of dress, entertainment, and the list goes on and on. However the outward dress, the choices of entertainment, the ambitions of this life all stem from a heart condition. If the heart is right, the rest will automatically fall into it's rightful holy place. You can't legislate righteousness, meaning you can't make enough rules, laws, regulations to get people to stop the outward manifestations of unholiness in the heart. You must start at the root; all evil, fleshly attributes, unholy lifestyles, dress, and entertainment are a heart problem. We have to want to please the Lord from a pure heart and we will follow the doctrines of the bible willingly, not out of fear or as a grievous chore to do. But with a holy desire to please God because he first loved us and gave his life that we might escape the evil of this world. The school system required uniforms this year hoping it would bring peace to chaos. Well I hope it helps, but you can't dress sin up, you can't cover it over with a uniform. You see the public schools took Christ out a long time ago and without him all you have is darkness. You can take a pig and wash him up and clean him up and put a nice collar on him, but the minute he sees mud he's headed straight for it. Why, because the "pig" is in him. If we want to live holy in this generation it will take the blood, a sincere desire to serve him and take a stand daily to keep clean of the spirits of this world. You see when my heart got right with God I wanted to abide by all the things that the word says for me to do, willingly. The advice to members is only hard to those that want the world and God too. And light and darkness will never mix. God wants somebody that's real, not with lip service, but with the service from the heart. Create in me a clean heart and purify me, purify me. Create in me a clean heart so that I may worship you. Holiness is still the only way to heaven. Don't you want to go? Be holy.

IYC Begins

Michael and BJ left yesterday for International Youth Camp! LUCKY! (Well, blessed I mean!)

I'm so excited for them, and I can't wait to hear all about it. Maybe they'll get some pics we can post on here!

Has anyone else from Antioch ever been to IYC? Maybe y'all can share your memories with the rest of us!

Some Thoughts on VBS

VBS was sooo much fun this week! Even our youngest member of VBS, Sara, enjoyed herself. :-)

I was happy to see so many new faces this week. I hope they keep coming back with their parents!

I am thankful that Antioch doesn't leave us VLB's out when it comes to Vacation Bible School. We need ministering to, and I have felt that this week. It is also a blessing to be an older VLB and have the new ones coming up under me... I want to be a help and encouragement to them, the way that I have been ministered to.

Hope that makes sense! Thanks to everyone that made VBS so great this year!

Parade of Nations

PLEASE be in much prayer regarding the Parade of Nations this year. Because we are using the youth the school calendar for many is a hindrance. So please pray I have 18 more positions to fill and it's just 3 weeks away. Thanks young people.

Yay for Youth

I am so excited about this blog! I hope you all will be too! VBS was spectacular last night, although much of my time was spent finishing our team's cross. I have to give a big thanks to Michelle and Brad as they actually were the last ones working on it and gave up a lot of their "fun" time outside to help our team out. I want them to know I love them and appreciate them.

If you haven't been able to attend all of VBS, though I understand, you are still missing out! It is such a great place to have Godly fun. Tonight is the last night, and may I add the old adage...be there or be square! 6:30pm!