Independent Baptist Friends International...

Me & my sweet friend, Leah Dickey (above) and Brittany & Me (below)

Christine, Tammy, & Me!

Daniel with one of his favorite preachers, Bobby Roberson!

Me & my honey at the amazing Apple Barn in Pigeon Forge for lunch;)

Meeting one of my favorite authors, Mrs.Cindy Schaap! This was one of the highlights of the week for me getting to meet Miss.Cindy & hearing her husband, Jack Schaap, preach. I was so excited & it was wonderful!...and yep, I was one of those nerdy people in line waiting for her to sign my book & get a picture!HA!

Independent Baptist Friends International Bible Confernece...

Whew! That's one long name, but loaded with a whole lotta meaning!=)

I've been 'away' from my blogging world for a few weeks as we've had a busy schedule. Last month we made the long 18hr drive to Knoxville,TN to the 'Independent Baptist Friends International Bible Conference' hosted by the Temple Baptist Church Pastor Clarence Sexton. This is our 'home church' and it was so much fun to have the opportunity to go 'home' after leaving almost a year ago to serve in a wonderful church in North Dakota. We couldn't have asked for a more wonderful Pastor to serve under, Pastor Tony Scheving.

The emphasis for this year was TRUTH, FRIENDSHIP, and WORLD EVANGELISM. Each message was different of course, but all the messages clearly taught, from a Bible text or story, these three things. Example, when Christ met the woman at the well..he told her truth, befriended her & told her to go & tell others that she had met Jesus...if you start to read a lot of Bible stories with these 3 things in mind, you will clearly see them.=)

Because I'm a women and I was created as a very emotional being;)...I think I may have cried during most of the preaching & special music for the first 3 days..or so;)....but there is something very special about the Temple Baptist Church. I wish all of you had the privilege of visiting such a place & touring the Christian Heritage Center on the campus of the Crown College. The music is sung with such a power of God behind it, I could just feel the Lord ministering to my soul.

Yes, I did say 'feel'!...=)...I hear people shun 'emotionalism' but my friends, if there isn't emotionalism in your Christian life then you must be...for a lack of a better word.. dead...because when I get alone with Jesus in my place of prayer, or singing in my van..haha, or having my heart stirred during a beautiful special in church, or a fiery preacher pricks my heart with his words, or if I hear preaching of the cross & how my Savior bled & died for me, or recently a preacher in our church was loudly preaching about God "High, Holy, & Lifted Up!!"...you better believe if you're a Christian, you're gonna get emotional about these things!!! Whew-wee, I'm having an episode just writing this..HA!

This is such a rabbit trail, but God created me with emotions & Jesus Himself wept until he sweat drops of blood in the garden of Gethsemane! I remember the emotion of guilt I felt on the day I realized I was a wicked sinner before God, but then the emotion of pure joy when I heard how much God loved me that he sent His only Son to die for my sins, and then I felt such love & peace as I called on the name of Jesus for Salvation....I'm thankful to God that my spirit bares witness with His sweet spirit every time I hear the song "I'd rather have Jesus" or "Sweet Hour of Prayer" or "All the Glory belongs to Jesus" because every time I hear these songs my heart is full of Love for the Lord & my eyes are full of tears. Bless God for my 'emotional' Christianity! If my husband were sitting with me I know he'd give me a hearty "AMEN!" =)

There were so many of my favorite preachers there & TONS of visiting people from across the country. The training sessions that we attended each morning were SO helpful! You could pick from all kinds of different topics. I attended one by, Steve Roberson, on 'Youth Worker'...and it was AMAZING! I also heard a lesson 'The Gospel Award' with, Tommy Sexton, teaching children Salvation and how they can also give the gospel...that was SO good! Also one on 'Church Music'...how to pick/sing special music & how important the congregational singing is. Daniel & I split up for each class so we could hear a lot of different things taught & gather as much info as we could. It was wonderful.

Anyway, that's all I have ot share about the wonderful amazing conference....please make plans to attend next year. This conference is for anyone who wants to be blessed;).

I hope you enjoyed our pictures...and hopefully my video of the Crown College Choir will load! (crossing fingers)

Thanks for stopping by!