The Life of Moses…LTC Style

L.T.C. (Leadership Training for Christ) has been a focus for members of the Lord’s church for 25 years. A branch off the Lads to Leaders which began in 1968, L.T.C. has been preparing our young men to speak, lead singing and read scripture. Our young ladies learn how to lead women’s devotionals, sign for the hearing impaired and teach younger children. (Though the boys can do the signing and teaching challenge as well!) And this doesn’t even include chorus, drama, puppets, service challenge and a myriad of other areas for training.

Perhaps the primary focus for those who find L.T.C. (or Lads) a focal point in their year would be the preparation that goes into Bible Bowl. In this ‘event’ students from 3rd -12th grades study a pre-selected section of scripture, then take an oral test to determine their retention of the material covered. Some who dislike tests avoid this event, but to others it is a challenge to see if they can learn, remember and recall the scriptures.

Below are a few of the test questions from L.T.C. 2014, “Called Out”, as we studied the life of Moses (see Exodus, Numbers and Deuteronomy).

1. Where was the blood of the Passover lamb to be placed? (Ex. 12:22)
a. the door frame b. the roof of the house c. the ground d. on the table

2. As long as Moses’ hands were held up, the Israelite army was _________ the battle. (Ex. 17:11)
a. escaping b. losing c. winning d. surviving

3. How many days did the men, sent by Moses, explore Canaan? (Num. 13:25)
a. 4 days b. 12 days c. 40 days d. 60 days

4. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, he was not aware that his face was what? (Ex. 34:29)
a. darkened b. radiant c. pale d. saddened

5. Who was asked to put a curse on Israel? (Num. 22:10-11)
a. Balak b. Baal c. Balaam d. Bashan

6. How many men went to battle against the Midianites? (Num. 31:4)
a. all of them b. 10,000 men of war c. only the Levites d. 1,000 from each tribe

7. What did God have Moses write down and teach to the Israelites? (Deut. 31:19)
a. their history b. a song c. the scroll of law d. words from the stone tablet

8. What plague did Pharaoh’s magicians call ‘the finger of God?’ (Ex. 8:16-19)
a. the water to blood b. the gnats c. the frogs d. the locust

9. Manna tasted like something made from _______ ______? (Num. 11:8)
a. unleavened yeast b. wheat flour c. raisins & figs d. olive oil

10. In Moses’s final blessing, which tribe was referred to as a lion’s cub? (Deut. 33:22)
a. Reuben b. Levi c. Dan d. Benjamin

This is just a sampling of the 100 questions the young men and women were given to answer this year at our local L.T.C. convention in Dallas, Texas. Several performed remarkably well and received high marks. And to be honest, others struggled. But knowing the answers to the questions is only half the battle. When we learn from God’s word that we have been ‘called out,’ we’ll know better how to serve our God and King. Leadership Training for Christ is a great experience, but applying the lessons learned from a study of God’s Word is worth it’s weight in gold, silver and bronze.

1, July 1, 20131, July 1, 2013

LTC…Be Devoted

In the spring of 2009 this group of young men came together to praise God with their voices. They practiced for weeks on end to learn how to harmonize and lift before the Father several songs of praise. These boys were ‘devoted’ to giving God the glory and sought to encourage those who listened. Though the years have passed and they’ve ‘grown and moved away,’ they continue to uplift and edify God’s people with songs of praise. Take a few minutes to hear their voices and listen to them as they praise the Father. A memory from the 2009, Leadership Training for Christ.

LTC (Leadership Training for Christ) has been a constant focus for the Waterview church of Christ for more than 30 years. Students have studied, practiced and devoted months to reading the scripture, Bible bowl, singing with small groups, and song leading as well as public speaking (sermon preparation), sign language and many other areas of preparation to serve in the kingdom of God. All the while, these young people are being trained and encouraged to give God the glory.

In 2009, seventeen young men (now in college or college graduates) came together to sing 3 songs with the hope of edifying the congregation and glorifying their God. These men sang three songs, Surround Us, Lord, and a medley consisting of Poured Out Like Wine, Make Me New, Teach Me Thy Ways and I Am Mine No More. They concluded with a song taken from the text of Galatians 6:2 and Romans 12:10-13, Be Devoted.

My prayer is that you will enjoy listening to these young men as they praise God with the voice of youth. The first song, Surround Us, Lord comes from the book of Psalms, chapter 125, verse 2… “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the Lord surrounds His people From this time forth and forever.” When times are difficult and the way seems hard, don’t forget; the Lord surrounds His people!

The concluding song, Be Devoted, took lots of practice and work. As noted earlier, the words are taken from Galatians 6 and Romans 12. Notice how clearly this passage speaks to our relationship with each other: “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”

Carry each other’s burdens
Carry each other’s burdens
And in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ

Chorus:
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love
Honor one another above yourselves
Never be lacking in zeal
Keep your spiritual fervor
Keep your spiritual fervor
Serving the Lord

Love one another
Serve one another
Pray for each other
Encourage one another
And build each other up

Chorus:

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love

Thanks guys for the reminder from years gone by. My prayer is that you will stay faithful to God’s word and honor your song to be devoted in brotherly love. We are reminded by your song that we are to be poured out before the King, commit ourselves to being new (putting off the old self) and then seek to have Him teach us His ways. When we do that, we will no longer be our own. May God bless each of you and your walk with Christ.

1, April 8, 20131, April 7, 2013

A Roller Coaster Ride!

Personally, the best description for the last few days of March, 2013 would be a roller-coaster ride!

Emotions were flowing as we learned of my daddy’s passing on Saturday afternoon, March 23rd. Then within forty-eight hours, we spent sixteen hours traveling to Kansas and back for his graveside service. Though visiting with family was a blessing, laying the patriarch of our family to rest was difficult at best. The next forty-eight hours brought us to the annual LTC convention in Dallas (Leadership Training for Christ). An exciting, busy but certainly focused weekend for more than 1,000 saints in down-town Dallas. But the month of March was still not over; our youngest son decided he was ready to put Christ on in baptism…at 10:30 PM Saturday night, March 30th! An exhilarating lift as we continued to ride ‘the roller coaster.’ Oh wait, the next afternoon following morning services, my oldest drove back to Tennessee to resume the last two months of his freshman year. His first time to drive 9 hours…alone. If you could see the calendar of events and feel the emotional twisting and turning, you’d know these past few weeks have been a roller coaster ride.

So how does one put this in to prospective? Any time we lose a family member, we hurt; and anytime a lost sheep is found, we rejoice. When you feel those two strong emotions within a matter of days you realize priorities have to be set. What is most important and where do I put my focus?

One of the blessings we experienced at the memorial of my daddy was the assurance of his faith, and gentle hand of sympathy from brothers and sisters in Christ. Four of his grandson’s lead the singing and read scripture, while several others shared thoughts of encouragement. But as we closed the service we all joined in singing some songs of praise and inspiration. We closed the service with the song, “Softly and Tenderly”. The message was perfect as we sang about ‘coming home’ and in respect to my dad’s passing…I believe he was on his way home. But then as I considered my son’s baptism I realized that he too began his journey as he decided he was ready to ‘come home’. Each of these events, though separated by two different extremes, bring my mind toward what’s most important. Do we listen as Jesus is calling us home?

“Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.”

Refrain:
“Come home, come home,
Ye who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!”

This song is a wonderful call for the sinner, the lost lamb, to come back to the fold of God. And I certainly saw the implications as I realized my son was indeed turning his mind to follow Jesus and come home. But as we remembered the passing of our daddy, the third verse of this song rings true. Grim as it may be…it is so true…

“Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
Passing for you and for me;
Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
Coming for you and for me.”

Roller coasters are certain to come into our lives…whether we want them to or not. The question we must ask is how will we ride? Many enjoy the thrill of the lift while others hold on tight. We know there will be times when we cry out and wish the track would level off. But the best advise is to find the excitement at every turn and hold on tight! Know the ride will soon be over and the ups and downs will eventually level off. Take comfort in remembering Christ is at the controls of life. He knows your fears and He sees your tears. And when we come to give Him our lives, even the angels rejoice. Our Savior is pleading for us all to come home…softly and tenderly.