Video: NCM at Ironman Lake Placid

My Story

As a kid, the most important things to me were family, sports and church. My sports were baseball, football and basketball. At an early age, I realized that just going to church did not make me a Christian. I realized that many things I had done in my life were displeasing to God – lying, cheating, swearing, being disobedient to my parents, just to name a few. I realized that these things, along with all of the other wrong things I had done, were called ‘sin,’ and that this sin had separated me from God. As the Bible says, “The wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23). I realized that the payment – the penalty, no less – for my sin was death, and that if I died right then I would spend eternity separated from God in a place call hell. That reality was overwhelming. I knew I needed to do something. The deep desire of my soul was to be forgiven, to be cleansed of my sin, to be assured of an eternal home in heaven, to find peace with God.

I realized that the Bible said Jesus died to pay the penalty for my sin. The second half of Romans 6:23 says, “…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” I wanted that gift of eternal life. The Bible says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). At a point in my life this reality became crystal clear in my heart and mind: if I would simply ask Jesus to forgive me of my sin and be my Lord and Savior, He would do it. As Romans 10:9-10 says, “If you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with the heart that man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” I believed in my heart that Jesus died for my sins, that He rose from the dead, and that if I asked Him to forgive me and save me that He would. Romans 10:13 says, “Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” So, I knelt on my knees in prayer, and asked Jesus to forgive me of my sin. I told him that I was trusting in Him as my Lord and Savior, and that I want to follow Him all of the days of my life.

In an instant, He forgave me of all my sin – past, present and future. He put His Holy Spirit to live in my heart, giving me a peace that passes all understanding. He gave me assurance that I will spend eternity with Him in heaven. He began to change me from the inside out, day by day. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold all things have become new.” He continues to work in my life to this day, helping me to be more and more like Jesus in every way.

Through the years, I have had many successes, failures, triumphs and challenges, related to sports. I have played on undefeated teams and on teams that never won a game. I have been a starter at times and I have sat on the bench. I saw my dreams of a college football career shattered because of a staph infection that almost killed me and deteriorated my ACL. Through all of this, God has been with me, teaching me things, leading me, guiding me. He has never left me, and He never will.

I would love to hear your story. I would love to tell you more about how Jesus can be the Lord and Savior of your life. Feel free to contact me at dgspain@msn.com.

Ironman USA Lake Placid 2009

We had a tremendous week and weekend of ministry during Ironman USA Lake Placid. The race was wonderful, the people we met were great, and God moved in powerful ways. Here are some of the highlights.

Several churches and ministries joined together for ministry under the umbrella of North Country Ministries:

-New Bethesda Baptist Church (VA)

-Oak Grove Baptist Church (MD)

-Fellowship of Christian Athletes (Delmarva)

-FBC Kennesaw (GA)

-Rolling Hills Baptist Church (GA)

-FBC Springfield (VA)

-Immanuel Baptist Church (VA)

-Lake Placid Baptist Church (NY)

-Saranac Lake Baptist Church (NY)

-Calvary Baptist Church (NY)

Here's some of what we did:

-Served at Ironman Registration

-NCM Booth in the Expo area (sno cones, prayer station, face painting, balloon animals)

-Set up tables & chairs for the Ironman banquets, decorated them, welcomed the athletes and their families as they arrived at the banquets

-Concert at Mid's Park in Lake Placid, overlooking Mirror Lake

-Fed pancakes to 1300 people at our Pancake Breakfast on the day before the race

-Worshiped and prayed with 250 people at the IronPrayer Service at Lake Placid Baptist Church on the evening before the race

-Led an Aid Station on the Bike Course of the race

-Led an Aid Station on the Run Course of the race

-Served as Road Marshals around town during the race

-Baptized 3 people in Lake Placid (the lake) on the Fri & Sat before the race

-Rejoiced when 16 people made professions of faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior at the IronPrayer Service

-Met some wonderful people

-Rejoiced, prayed, encouraged, served, fellowshiped, laughed, had an amazing time

-Saw a great Ironman race

-Thanked the Lord for the great weather on race day

At the IronPrayer Service, athletes Brad Seng, Carrie Chavez and Jay Fetterman shared testimonies of their walk with Christ, and the difference He makes in their lives. If you'd like to hear the podcast of the IronPrayer service, click here: http://www.lpbaptist.org/IronPrayerLakePlacid2009.mp3.

Many people took photos throughout the weekend, and they are posting them on their Facebook pages and other places online. If you have some photos to share with everyone, write a comment to this blog post and give us a link to see the photos. To see some great photos taken by my friend Jordan Craig of our week of ministry, go here: http://gallery.me.com/jordancraigmedia#100090.

In addition to all of these Ironman-related ministries, the mission teams also cut and stacked firewood, helped to re-roof a home, traveled to a couple of nearby communities for ministry there, and even had time for some great ice cream at the many ice cream shops in the North Country!

Idols

What are idols? Technically, they are statues, relics, figurines, all sorts of objects that people worship. In the OT, they are referred to as "nothings, vapors, images" - in other words, hollow and empty, containing no power. The pagan nations in the land of Canaan worshiped gods of fertility, of the sun, of produce, of livestock, and more, and they would make idols to represent their deities. God warned His people to make no graven images, no idols (Exodus 20:4-6). He didn't even want them to make idols representing Him because, first of all, He is spirit and He can't accurately be represented by any image, and second of all, because He knows that human nature would lead people to worship the object rather than Him.
In reality, an idol is anything that is more important to you than God. (Col 3:5 equates greed with idolatry.) For some, their car is their idol; for others, their bank account; for others, their favorite sport or hobby; for others, entertainers may be their idols - ever heard of "American Idol"?; for others, it is sin; for others, it is a religious relic, just like the people of Canaan from thousands of years ago.

Satan - the devil - the evil one - is so crafty that he has convinced people to worship idols rather than worshiping the true and living God. People justify this in their own mind by saying things like "it's no big deal" or "this thing brings me good luck," or "I enjoy this" or "I don't want anyone telling me what to do" or "you can only trust what your eyes can see." They don't even realize that this "thing" is controlling their lives, taking their focus off of the One who is true, keep them away from the one who can give them life.

The truth is that God is more real than anything you can see, or hear, or feel. Idols are made by people, and are formed into whatever image the person who makes them wants them to be. Idols may have ears but they cannot hear. Idols may have eyes but they cannot see. Idols may have mouths but they cannot speak. Idols may have hands and feet but they are paralyzed to move or act. But God is spirit, and He is moving, speaking, seeing, hearing, acting, loving, revealing Himself. No one made God; He made us. And He loves us with an everlasting love. Read the words of Isaiah 44:6-20.

God does not want us to bow down to idols. Why? Because the Lord is a jealous God - His name is Jealous (Ex 34:14) - Yahweh Qanna. To see how strongly He objects to idol worship, read Exodus 32:1-14.

But God is not jealous in the way we get jealous. We get jealous when somebody has something that we think we deserve. We get jealous because we are greedy. We get jealous because we are needy. Guys get jealous when their girlfriend talks to another guy. But God is not like us. God is completely satisfied in who He is. He does not need us to make Him happy. God's jealously is rooted in His love for us. God wants what is best for us. God wants us to have joy, to enjoy His blessings, to have peace, to have life. God is not jealous of the idols that we bring into our lives. God is not jealous of us. No, God is jealous FOR us. Like a faithful husband, He loves His bride and wants the best for us. He knows the truth, and He knows that idols will always disappoint, they will always let us down. And He wants to give us the best. He wants to keep us from sin, to keep us protected from Satan, to give us understanding, to show us the truth, to give us life! He is the true God and eternal life is in Him. He has great plans for you (Jeremiah 29:11-13) and He wants to give you abundant life. He knows that Satan wants to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10). Idols do not deliver what they promise. But God always does. And He is all that you need.

When people bow to idols, they are settling for less than God's best. They will always be disappointed. They will never be fulfilled. They are trusting in something that cannot bring them real joy, lasting results or eternal life. At best, they are putting their hope in something that is nothing. At worst, they are putting their trust in something that is demonic, destructive, and will lead them to eternal death.

Idol worship will destroy your life.

Idols cannot help you. Idols cannot save you. Idols cannot guide you. Idols will lead you astray. Idols will let you down. But God has a better way - He is the way. God knows the truth - He is the truth. God can give life - He is the life.

Notice what 1 John 5:18-20 says:

1. Know the practice of your life - Whoever has been born of God does not sin. (That is, if you are born of God you will not continue in the practice of sinning). The word of God is your guide to overcoming sin (1 John 2:14). There are always consequences for sin. Idols cannot help you to overcome sin. But a child of God can have victory over sin every single time he is tempted.

2. Know the protection on your life - Jesus protects us from the evil one. Satan will try to attact us, discourage us, tempt us, hurt us. But he cannot touch us, literally it means he cannot "attach himself to us," because Jesus is protecting us. Satan cannot do anything to you that God does not allow, and God's purposes are always to give you life, to strengthen your faith, to draw you closer to Himself. He will never let you be tempted beyond what you are able to bear (1 Cor 10:13) and He will always be faithful to help you be victorious.

3. Know the pressure on your life - A child of God recognizes that there are two groups of people on this earth - those who are of God and those who are under the sway of the evil one. They see the distinction. And the longer they walk with the Lord the more repulsive the evil one becomes. They realize that the fleeting pleasures of sin are not worth the consequences. They recognize that there are lusts of the flesh, lusts of the eyes and the pride of life, but they know that as a child of the King they do not have to be swayed by the evil one any longer. (1 John 2:15-17) Satan doesn't care which idol you worship, as long as it's not Jesus.

4. Know the Person in your life - We know that Jesus has come and has given us understanding that we may know the true One. Not only that, but we are literally in the true One, that is we are in His Son Jesus Christ. It is a great mystery but it is true. We are in Christ, and His Spirit lives in us. He is the true God and eternal life.

So what should our response be?

1. If a person is not yet a believer, they should hear the words of Paul in Acts 17:16-34 and repent and trust in Christ.

2. Guard yourselves from idols - get rid of them, keep them away.

3. Live victoriously.

Silver Medalist from the World Championships of Skeleton Tells How God Was With Him

After a very challenging 2008-2009 sliding season including injuries, successes, and disappointments, British Skeleton team member Adam Pengilly competed in the 2009 Skeleton World Championships in Lake Placid, NY. After heat #1, he was in 15th place. At the conclusion of the race, he had won the silver medal. How did he come back from so far behind? What was his secret to success? How did the downpour of rain on the first day of competition threaten to ruin his chance at victory? Listen to his inspiring story of competition, of faith, of highs and lows, and seeing God at work in the midst of good times and bad. Listen to his story here: http://www.lpbaptist.org/testimony_adampengilly_20090301.mp3.

Related articles:

http://www.teambath.com/2009/02/pengilly-wins-gb%e2%80%99s-second-skeleton-world-champs-silver-medal/

http://www.adampengilly.com/blog.asp?menuItemOn=5&dontShowFlash=1

Thoughts about firewood and my ipod

This morning was a blessed morning. The Lord blessed me as I stacked about 4-5 facecords of firewood at our house. It's interesting how the Lord works things out. The firewood had been delivered to our house on Tuesday evening, just as our first winter storm of the year dumped about a foot of snow on us here in Lake Placid. As the snow fell, I realized that the huge stack of firewood, being quickly covered in snow, was completely blocking the entrance to our basement, and therefore I was not going to be able to get my snowblower out of the basement. That meant I was going to need to shovel the driveway THREE TIMES between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning so we could get our cars out of the driveway.

Anyway, finally this morning I had the chance to get to the pile of snow-covered firewood, to get it properly stacked along the wall leading down into our basement. As I began the process of shoveling the snow off of the firewood and then stacking the wood neatly against the wall, I had my ipod on shuffle songs mode. Every song that played was a song of praise to the Lord, declaring the goodness of God, the greatness of God, and more. Some of the artists who sang included David Crowder, Darrell Evans, 4Him, and my good friends Joel Goddard and David Ogden. As I heard songs celebrating the grace and forgiveness of God, songs declaring "this is what it means to be free!" and songs reminding me that "we are warriors for Jesus Christ!" there were times that God's grace was almost overwhelming. Who knew stacking firewood could become such a time of worship?

I have a couple of conclusions:

1. When you have a job to do, do it. Do it with the right attitude, and expect God's blessings to flow. They did for me this morning.
2. If you really believe that God is sovereign over everything (and I do) then He can even make sure you hear the right songs on "shuffle mode" on your ipod, songs that you need right at that moment.

Keep your focus on Christ at all times. He can work through firewood and ipods.

Thoughts on Psalm 1

Last year, Don Whitney spoke at Lake Placid Baptist Church on a Sunday morning, and the Lord used him in great ways to encourage us in our walk with Christ. One of the things he encouraged us to do was to pray through the Psalms.

With all apologies to Don for "Derek-phrasing" his method, here's what I heard him say: Read the Psalm, and pause every time a word or phrase causes you to notice a reason to pray. I'll demonstrate below, and tell you how this approach to prayer (I believe) is going to radically transform our prayer time at Lake Placid Baptist Church on Sunday nights, as well as transform the personal prayer time of those who will follow this approach.

This approach is not intended to be legalistic, boring or rote. It is intended to bring new life to your prayer time. See, too many times we get stuck in a rut with our prayer time, with a few phrases that we pray to get us going, a few requests here and a few "thank you's" there, and then we say "amen" and stop thinking about God the rest of the day. (Unless we get in trouble, and really need him, like if we're losing our retirement as the stock market crumbles or if we yell at our kids or need a big favor from God.) Paul tells us to "pray continually" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). This approach to prayer helps you to meditate on God and His Word long after your prayer time has ended.

You may just begin living a life of prayer to God

So, how would this work with Psalm 1?

Psalm 1

1 How happy is the man

who does not follow the advice of the wicked,

or take the path of sinners,

or join a group of mockers!

2 Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction,

and he meditates on it day and night.

3 He is like a tree planted beside streams of water

that bears its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers.

4 The wicked are not like this;

instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not survive the judgment,

and sinners will not be in the community of the righteous.

6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked leads to ruin. Psalm 1:1-6 (HCSB)

Your prayer time might begin something like this:

"Lord, You are the only one who can make someone truly happy, the only one who brings true blessings. That's the kind of man I want to be -- one that is blessed by You. I see that all around me is wickedness, mockers, sinners. I don't want to be influenced by wicked, mocking, sinfulness. Help me to not walk in that way, help me to not to be influenced by evil. Lord, help me to remember that the people who are caught up in wickedess, mocking and sinfulness are held captive by Satan and they need to be freed by Christ.

"Lord, to be happy I must be a man who delights in Your instruction. Oh, let me meditate on Your Word day and night. Let me think about Your promises. Let me see how wonderful Your words are. The world thinks that Your Word is restricting, but Lord I know that Your Word is for my good, and for Your glory.

"Lord, plant me by the river of your living water. Don't let me be like a tree trying to grow in the desert, but rather nourish me by Your Word so that I will be strong, and will produce much fruit. Lord, help the fruit of the Spirit to be evident in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. Only You can produce spiritual fruit -- produce it in me! Lord, help me to see that You will prosper me in Your ways, in eternal ways.

"Lord, the wicked are like the chaff that blows away in the wind. They will not survive the judgment. Even if they had temporal success or fun in this world, they will not survive the judgment. Oh God, I don't want anyone I know to be included in this list of the wicked. I don't want my friends and family to go to hell. Lord, help them to see that You can make them righteous. Jesus died to forgive us of our sins. I pray for my friends who don't yet know You to turn from their sins and trust in You as Savior and Lord. Then they will be part of the community of the righteous. Lord, you watch over the way of those who have been made righteous by Christ, but You know that the way of the wicked will lead to ruin.

"Lord, thank you for Psalm 1. Thank you for all that it teaches me about You, and about my relationship with You. I love You, Lord. AMEN."

So, that's an example of how to pray a Psalm. I look forward to the next three years, as I journey with God in prayer, one Psalm per week, for the next 150 weeks. I'll blog some of the entries, hopefully to encourage you in your walk with Christ.

We are praying for a Great Awakening for North America. Lord, let it begin in Lake Placid.