Blessed and being a blessing in 2015

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2015!!  We have made it into a new year!  What shall we do?  At Watterson Trail this past Sunday afternoon (28^th) I asked the church about Jesus’ Sermon on the Mountain in Matthew 5-7.  Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted for righteousness sake.”  Are you…am I poor in spirit?  Am I sensitive to those who are in distress?  Are you…am I a meek person?  Do you…do I hunger and thirst for righteousness?  Are you…am I merciful, pure in heart, a peacemaker?  Do you…do I understand what a privilege it is to be persecuted for being like Jesus? 

I want to be blessed and to be a blessing to others.  So, in this New Year 2015, I resolve to be blessed and a blessing by being poorer in spirit, more thoughtful and sensitive to the sorrows of others, and a meek person, more gentle and understanding.  I resolve to hunger and thirst more for righteousness, to be more merciful, and purer in heart.  I resolve to be a peacemaker and not a negative person or a troublemaker.  I resolve to show my fellow Christians and those who have not yet decided to become a Christian how a man of God should react when he lives for Jesus and is persecuted for it.  I have already begun my quest to be a better man for God.  He certainly is everything to me.  I should be everything for Him.  We’ll see how it goes.

Maybe you have been thinking about making a real change in your life.  Now is the time to make that change.  Jesus Christ extended the greatest, most honest and sincere invitation ever extended in Matthew 11:28-30.  He said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  Beautiful!  Simply beautiful.  Put you faith in Jesus.  Repent of your sins; the thoughts, words, and actions that have caused so many troubles for you.  Confess Jesus as the Son of God.  He is.  Be baptized to wash away those sins.  We can certainly help you with this.  Then, live a new life, saved and dedicated to God.  Upon your obedience to the gospel of Christ, Jesus Himself will add you to His church (Acts 2:47).  You become a Christian brother or sister to all who have experienced the new birth.

The church of Christ at Watterson Trail is a kind, generous, and loving congregation.  We pray all the time.  We laugh a lot and truly want to show and share God’s love.  We support each other and help each other.  We worship according to God’s pattern in the New Testament.  We are called Christians because that is what the followers of Christ are called in the Bible.  We look to the Bible for our pattern for life and living.  We invite you to come and see.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year my Friends

2014 is quickly coming to a close and the New Year 2015 is just on the horizon.  This week many of us will be traveling to visit family and friends for Christmas.  Be careful out there on the highways and byways of life.  Stop.  Look.  Listen.  Be patient with those around you.  I hear that Christmas is one of the most stressful times of the year.  Why?  Well, I’m thinking that too many of us spend more than we should.  We often don’t get enough rest.  Our normal routine is affected by shopping, traveling, and visiting.  And more than anything else, we forget what the holiday season is about; Christ Jesus coming into the world to teach us and to show us what love really is. 

The sermon this week on Sunday morning (21^st) is entitled “Why did my Savior come to earth?”  Our text is taken from Luke 4:16-20.  Jesus had just been baptized.  He had endured the devil’s temptations.  He had returned to Nazareth, His hometown.  It was Saturday.  He entered the synagogue as His custom was and was handed the Old Testament to read.  He turned to Isaiah 61:1-2 and read this passage.  He then said these words to those who were present there; “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”  He was telling the truth as He always did, but those who heard His words were filled with anger and attempted to kill Jesus then and there.  They didn’t and couldn’t because His time had not yet come.  Isn’t it amazing that Jesus fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy could be so disturbing to those who were watching and waiting on this very prophecy to be fulfilled?  Our world today desperately needs to hear gospel preaching.  We need healing for our brokenness.  We need freedom from the chains of sin.  We need to see, to understand God’s will for us.  We who are downtrodden and oppressed need liberty.  We need Jesus in our lives today and every day.  It is my sincere desire every day to show and share God’s love embodied in His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.  How about you? 

 

2015 can be the greatest year yet for you and your family.  Consider your life, what you have done, good or bad and what you are doing now.  Consider where you are.  Are you where you should be, where you want to be, where you need to be?  Consider who you look to for authority, inspiration, pleasure, and guidance.  Consider all the possible “why’s” as to how you got where you are.  Now decide if the person you are is who you need to be.  If the person you are is the person you need to be, great.  Keep on keeping on.  However, if the person you are is not the person you need to be, then make a decision to make a move.  Remember that the longest journey begins with but a single step.  Jesus extended the greatest invitation ever in Matthew 11:28-30.  He said, “Come to Me.”  How about it?  The church of Christ meets at 9607 Watterson Trail in Jeffersonville, Kentucky every Sunday morning at 9:30 for Bible study and then at 10:30 for worship together.  We meet at other times too for worship, fellowship, study, and prayer.  End the year with a revival and begin the coming year stronger than ever before.

You Prayed for Me - Thank you my friends

Hello from a lovely, growing, and very busy Watterson Trail Church of Christ in beautiful Jeffersontown, Kentucky.  We’re doing fine…the weather is simply gorgeous…I just love the holidays.  I hope you are having a very happy season so far.  Christmas is now less than two weeks away.  Hang in there.

The staff at Watterson Trail does a fine job putting together the church newsletter “Watterson Trail Religious Reminder” each week.  This week it was my turn to write the article for the newsletter and you’ll find it below.  I have always been a prayerful preacher but lately, due to so many drastic changes in my life, I have not taken the time to pray as I should.  That changes today.

If you haven’t linked in to the WT Religious Reminder, please check it out on our website at www.wtcoc.com.  Our site is always a work in progress.  We are trying to show and share the love of our Savior Jesus Christ every day here in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

I came across this wonderful poem in my studies this week and it reminded me of my own weakness in daily prayer to my Father God.  I do not know who penned it.  I have renewed my vow to God today and into the coming New Year 2015 to ask, seek, and knock evermore as Jesus taught in Matthew 7:7, to pray fervently and without doubting (James 1:5-6; 5:16), and to pray long and without ceasing as Jesus demonstrated by word and example (Luke 6:12, 18:1).  As your minister at Watterson Trail, I want you to know me as a man of prayer.  May we, the church of Christ at Watterson Trail be known as a prayerful congregation of the Lord’s people.  When I decide (I have) and you decide (Will you?  I hope you will), then we have decided.  Let us pray.  Let us pray every day.  Let us pray when we know what to do and when we do not know what to do.  Let us pray when we are glad and when we are sad.  Let us pray when in the sunshine and in the rain.  Let us pray before, during, and after.  Let us pray and keep praying.  God hears.  He answers. 

YOU PRAYED FOR ME

You did not know my need,

Or that my heart was sore indeed,

Or that my fears I could not quell,

But you sensed that something wasn’t well,

                And so you prayed for me.

My path had turned from light to black,

There seemed to be no turning back,

Then in my loneliness I felt God near,

And down the road a light dawned clear,

                Because you prayed for me.

And as your prayer to heaven soared,

God did on me a blessing pour,

                Because you prayed for me. 

ALL MEANS ALL - Come and hear in December!

Winter in Kentucky…70 degrees one day and 30 degrees the next…what an experience!  God has everything under control.  I’m thankful.  We’re doing well at the Watterson Trail Church of Christ here in Jeffersontown, Kentucky.  Jeffersontown is a part of the Louisville metro area.  I’m finally learning my way around the city on my way to my weekly visits to the members of the congregation.  I am thankful for the opportunities and the challenges that God gives me every day.  This week I had the great privilege of meeting a new friend at one of our local restaurants.  If you know me at all you know that I am always looking for friends.  This lady served our table.  I found that she was new to Louisville as I am.  She stated that she had few friends and of course, hearing this statement, I told her that she now had two new friends, my wife and me.  The conversation led to the church, a pathway that I am always eager to follow.  I gave her my card and an invitation to come and hear and see what God has in store for her and her family in His church.  She has two sons, one in high school (We have a fantastic youth and family minister, Spencer Clark and a good youth program at WT) and her oldest son is a freshman at the University of Louisville and plays on the Cardinals basketball team.  I actually watched him play on Monday evening (11/24) against Savannah State.  Louisville won by 61 points.  What a thrill it is for me to be a gospel preacher and have such wonderful experiences.  God is so good to me and to all who love Him and are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).  I will be waiting in the lobby this Sunday to welcome this family to Bible study and worship, Lord willing.

This Sunday I will begin a new sermon series entitled “All Means All.”  Jesus has all authority.  He stated this in Matthew 28:18.  John wrote about Jesus authority in John 14:6.  He wrote of Jesus, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.”  If Jesus has all authority (He does) then we cannot go to Moses or to the prophets or to David or to Solomon or to the angels for answers to questions about sin and salvation, life and living, or worship and what pleases God.  Now it is true that Moses and the Law, Psalms and Proverbs, the books of the prophets were inspired by God and were written for our learning, our comfort, and our hope (Romans 15:4).  I’ll study and preach and teach from the Old Testament until my dying day because the Old Testament was given to us by God to help us come to believe in Jesus as the Christ.  However, we must understand that though God gave us the Old Testament for learning, comfort, and hope, the Old Testament always points to Jesus Christ for authority in our lives today.

In Matthew 17 Jesus took Peter, James, and John up to a high mountain and was transfigured before them.  Moses and Elijah appeared and talked with Jesus.  Peter suggested that they build three tabernacles, one for each of the men present.  While Peter was still speaking, God spoke from the cloud and said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.  Hear Him.”  God wanted his followers to know who was in charge and who to listen to, not Moses, not Elijah – Jesus. 

Luke wrote in chapter 16, verse 16, “The law and the prophets WERE until John.  Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into in.”  In Acts 8 the eunuch from Ethiopia was reading Isaiah when Philip asked him if he understood what he read.  He didn’t and Philip began in Isaiah and taught the eunuch Jesus. 

In Christ the Law and the Prophets were fulfilled.  Psalms is one of my favorite books of the Old Testament and I often preach from Psalms.  Yet, David and the Psalms have no authority today except in directing us to and in Christ.  Solomon was only the second wisest man to ever walk the earth.  Jesus was the wisest.  Paul wrote to Timothy and told him to continue in the things which he had learned and been assured of, knowing from whom he had learned them.  Paul was speaking of the Old Testament.  Then he said that the things Timothy had learned, the Holy Scriptures, specifically the Old Testament were able to make him wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:10-17).  Again, note.  The Holy Writings, the Holy Scriptures, the Old Testament makes one wise for salvation through faith which is IN CHRIST JESUS. 

Note verse 1 of chapter 3 in 2 Timothy.  “But know this that in the last days perilous times will come.”  Now turn to Hebrews 1:1.  “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in the LAST DAYS spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom He made the worlds…”  In “time past” God spoke by the prophets.  In “these last days” God has spoken to us by His Son.  Question: Who has authority in these last days, the days in which we live?  Jesus.  Only Jesus.  All means all.

Have a Very Happy Thanksgiving from Me to You my Friends!!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!  I can hardly believe how quickly this year has flown by us.  It seems that only yesterday we were saying “Happy New Year” to 2014 and now we’re only a few days from welcoming 2015.  If you would’ve told me this time last year that this time next year I would not be living in my old Arkansas home and preaching up in the country in Enola but instead be living in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and be preaching in the city for the Watterson Trail Church of Christ, I would have probably laughed at you.  But, well, here I am.  Am I dreaming? 

Every day I think of my family and friends in Arkansas and miss them terribly, but I also know that somehow God will work everything out for good because I love Him and I am sincerely trying to live my life according to His will and purpose.  You can find that prescription for life in the Bible in Romans 8:28.  Sometimes living according to this prescription is mighty tough to do, but tremendously rewarding when we do it because God is the One who sees, understands, and blesses.  I know He will bless me and my family for our sacrifices.  He can and will bless you and your family too, according to your evident love and your obedient faith.  He has told us to “Give” (Luke 6:38).  And when we do the remaining part of this verse kicks in.  “…and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.  For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”  What a wonderful promise God makes to everyone who trusts and obeys!  God makes promises and then keeps every one of them.  What about you and me?  Make a promise to yourself and to God.  Then keep it.  Finish out this year by giving of yourself, not just here and there, haphazardly and negligently, but really purposefully sacrificing from your heart and soul, offering your time, talents, and treasures to God, to your family and friends, and to those who are in need as He presents you with the opportunity to do so. 

Take a look at Galatians 6:9-10.  God tells us to do good and not ever give up.  Read it.  “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”  Note that this passage does not mean that we roll down the window of our pick-up truck and throw out money, or that we run around getting on people’s nerves trying to “help” them, or that we neglect our own body, mind, soul, and our families to “do good.”  This passage does mean that we get up every morning  with the observant proactive intention to show and share God’s love and the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ to any and all who will hear.

I will be preaching the concluding sermon in our series “Becoming a Great Church” this Sunday morning at 10:30 here at 9607 Watterson Trail in Louisville, Kentucky.  We have studying about love, faith, generosity, unity, and leadership.  Our final lesson in this series will be about patient gratitude.  While we love, while we believe, while we give, while we endeavor to be one, while we lead and follow, while we work, we are thankful and we wait for God’s blessings, for His answer, for His deliverance, for His grace and mercy, for His prosperity, for His salvation.  Did I have to mention and preach about being patient?  Yep.  Patience is required.  Didn’t your mother every tell you to be patient?  She was and is exactly right. 

At Watterson Trail we meet every Sunday afternoon at 1:30.  Our sermon series is entitled, “God is Able – Are We?”  This Sunday (30^th) we will take a look closer look at God ability to keep what we commit to Him.  Paul wrote this statement in 2 Timothy 1:12.  What had Paul committed to God that he believed God could keep?  Come and learn and see.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day and a very merry Christmas coming soon.

I am so very THANKFUL. God is able. So are we.

It certainly is cold in Kentucky today.  The snow is certainly a beautiful sight and the sun is shining brightly.  I am thankful to be here in this beautiful place.  One thing I’ve noticed about the people of Louisville, they know how to drive in this kind of weather; steady, observant, and best of all kind and polite.  This really helps a preacher boy from Alabama through Arkansas.  I’m learning.

We’re doing very well in Jeffersontown and at Watterson Trail.  Every Sunday gets better and better.  I am thankful.  It’ll take me a few days to get adjusted to a new normal, but day by day I’ll get it done.  Please be patient with me as I place names with faces.  Thank you so much for your help, your support, your kindness, and your prayers before and since our move to J'town.

This Sunday we will continue in our sermon series; “Becoming a Great Church” with a lesson about leadership.  We will discuss the importance of reputation, character, and vision in leadership.  Paul constantly reminded his son in the faith, Timothy to be a leader, to use his time, talent, and treasure in the ministry to others.  Leaders need to lead if the church is to become great.  The church of Christ at Watterson Trail has many wonderful and talented leaders.  I am thankful.

Our 1:30 Sunday afternoon at Watterson Trail is especially rewarding to me.  I am teaching about God’s ability and then asking the church whether or not we are able.  God is able.  Are we?  This Sunday afternoon (23^rd) we are looking at God’s ability to keep what we commit to Him.  He can.  Our text is 2 Timothy 1:12.  Paul writes this; “For this reason I also suffer these things, nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”  Just what did Paul commit to God that he thought God was able to keep?  We’ll talk about a few things. I hope you can make it to the afternoon service at Watterson Trail this coming Sunday.  You’ll be so very glad you did.

Thanksgiving is next week.  On Wednesday evening before the Thanksgiving holidays (26^th) at Watterson Trail we will have a special devotional service about gratitude.  No Bible classes next Wednesday.  If you and your family are in town on Wednesday evening next week, make sure to come out for this very special time of thought and thanks.

Have a wonderful rest of the week showing and sharing God’s love wherever you are.

Thankful to God for His Greatness and Provision Every day

Hello again, this time from the city.  Well, I’m not really in the “big” city of Louisville even though my address is Louisville, Kentucky.  We are in a town called Jeffersontown, Kentucky, “J’Town” for short, just a short distance from Louisville city-center.  I hope you are fairing well where you are.

Thanksgiving is now only 14 days away.  And we have so much to be thankful for.  If only I could find the words to say “Thank you” to God, to my family, and to my friends, for their love and their friendship.  But try as I might, there are no words to say what needs to be said.  I am so very thankful.

We are talking about how we can become a great church on Sunday mornings at Watterson Trail.  Now know that God’s “great” and our “great” are sometimes two very different things.  The Lord spoke to Samuel in 2 Samuel 16:7 about this.  God told Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him.  For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  We do know that greatness is not ours by accident.  Becoming great is the result of desire, faith, planning, hard work, discipline, and patience.  The church of Christ at Rome (Romans 1:8, 16:19) was great because they had faith was spoken of throughout the entire world and their obedience had become known to all.  The church of Christ at Philippi was great because of their generosity.  In Philippians 4:14-16, Paul writes about their partnership with him in the ministry of the gospel.  Our sermon series “Becoming a Great Church” asks us to consider our Christian life and decide to become great for our great God.  Last Sunday we spoke about love.  Without love nothing else matters.  When we love each other magnificent things happen.  Love is a command that must be obeyed.  Love is a standard that must be upheld.  We show who we are when we love God and one another.  This Sunday (16^th) we will focus our attention on another prerequisite for becoming great:  unity.  Oh boy!  What did Jesus say?  A house divided against itself…well you can probably finish this statement yourself.  We must be united in the Way, the Truth, and the Life, Jesus Christ.

We have an afternoon service every Sunday at Watterson Trail at 1:30 p.m.  We meet for Bible study at 9:30 a.m. every Sunday and for worship hour at 10:30.  We take a break for lunch then come back for the afternoon service.  Our lesson series in entitled “God is Able.  Are We?”  This Sunday we will take a look at how good God is at helping us during the hour of temptation.  Our enemy, the devil does not want anyone to become a Christian.  When a person fights through the battle of doubt and faith and becomes a Christian, the devil tries everything he can to tempt the Christian to return to sin.  When a Christian refuses to return to sin, then the devil will try to sell complacency and boredom.  When this trick doesn’t work, the devil doesn’t stop.  He then uses the “deadly d’s”:  doubt, disappointment, discouragement, depression, despair, and even death.  The devil is one mean individual and I’m not buying what he’s selling, now or ever.  God is able to help us in the hour of our temptation.  We must call on His great power in our time of need.

If you are in the Louisville area and what to learn about and live a better life, come and see what the Christians who meet at Watterson Trail have that you need.  I am ready, willing, and able to help.

Moving to Louisville, Kentucky my friends...

Hello from up in the country, Enola, Arkansas and your friend and minister, Mickey Burleson and the Enola Church of Christ.  Well, life is made up of opportunities, chances, and changes.  I will be making a life-change as Cindi and I move from Enola, Arkansas to Louisville, Kentucky to begin a new ministry with the Watterson Trail Church of Christ at the end of the month (October).  The past 3 ½ years have truly been a blessing to me and also I hope, a blessing to the wonderful Enola Church of Christ.  The church at Enola has grown in every way.  God has blessed us all.  The church at Enola has been so very kind and loving to me and my family.  I pray that the church will continue to grow and prosper in the coming days as the eldership reaches out in prayer to God and in preparation and patience for a man with a dedicated servant’s heart to continue the work of ministry up in the country.  If you are reading this blog, please remember the church of Christ at Enola in your daily prayers.  It could be that you are a gospel preacher and are ready for a change.  Well, consider giving the church a call.  Take a look at our website http://www.enolachurchofchrist.com and get in touch with one of our three elders.  You will be very glad you did.

Our series of sermons “Living a Life that Really Counts” will conclude this coming Sunday as I will be preaching my final sermon as the local minister.  We have considered Paul’s indisputable, undeniable, irrefutable laws of living a life that counts.  Our Scripture text comes from Galatians 6.  What goes up must come down.  This is equally true: What goes down must come up.  By this I mean, what we sow, we shall certainly reap.  God is not mocked.  No one and I mean, no one can ever say to God, “See, I told you so.”  God is always and forever right.  Law #2 is this:  Impossible is what no one can do until someone decides to do it and never gives up or out or in until the “impossible” is proven to be possible.  Luke 1:37 is true.  If you read this verse you will see that an angel made this statement to Jesus’ mother, Mary.  “For with God nothing will be impossible.”  This was true then.  This is still true today.  This Sunday (26^th) we will look at Law #3:  Means plus opportunity equals responsibility.  When I have the means to do good and the opportunity to do good, I then have the responsibility to do good.  We’ll take a look at this in our every day Christian life.

On Sunday evening at Enola we are studying about PEACE.  Do you have peace?  We will never have true peace until we have peace WITH God.  People try to find peace in every place in the world; a pill, a drink, food, pleasure, entertainment, work, things, a new outfit, a new relationship, a new job, a new city, a new church, I could go on and on.  Peace comes to every person who trusts in God and becomes obedient to His will, word, and purpose.  Once I have peace WITH God, I then receive the peace OF God.  He presents His Holy Spirit to me when I rise up from the waters of baptism (Acts 2).  In baptism I receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, the peace OF God.  Because I have the peace OF God, I can have peace WITH people.  I have a better understanding of those around me.  Some are suffering.  Some are 100%.  Some are doubtful.  Some are faithful.  Some are immature.  Some are maturing.  Some are lost in sin.  Some are safe and sound in Christ.  Some are confused.  Some are secure.  When I have peace with God and He gives me His peace, the peace of God, then and only then can I truly have peace with people.  If you have sin in your life, sin that you have hidden away, sin that has become a personal “habit” to you, any sin then you do not and cannot have peace with God.  Isn’t it about time you answered Jesus’ invitation to “Come to Me?”  It could be that at one time you did have the peace that I am writing about.  In Luke 15 Jesus teaches us about a sheep who was lost, a coin that was lost, and a son who was lost in sin.  If you read this group of parables you will find that the son that became lost in sin remembered, repented, and returned to His father.  You can too.  Just get up and come back to your Father.  Come back to the family, the church that Jesus founded, purchased, built, and even today watches over, provides for, and blessings.  May God help us all to come to Jesus to find His peace. 

What can I say? I'm a gospel preacher!

Hello again my friends from up in the country and the Enola Church of Christ.  I write the words “Church of Christ” simply because the group of people who have been called out of the world is the church that belongs to Him.  I love looking into the Bible (Specifically the New Testament because the New Testament is where we find everything we need in these “last days” to fulfill God’s expectations for us – Hebrews 1:1-2) and finding the perfect picture of the church that Jesus planned, promised, purchased, and provides for.   

Why is it that too many people today go about planning, promising, purchasing, and providing for their own church and not His; that is Christ’s?  If you have been in the audience when I have preached you will probably remember me saying something like this:  “If you are in my house: who makes the rules?  Who has the authority?  Me!  If I am in your house: who makes the rules?  Who has the authority?  You! Right?  Right!  Now consider this.  Who makes the rules in God’s house?   Who has the authority in His house?  Me?  You?  Do we take a vote?  Do we ask the person with the most money, or with the most talent, or with the most influence?  No way.  Since the church belongs to Christ and Christ is God’s Son and since the Father has given His Son ALL authority (Matthew 28:18), then only Christ makes the rules.  Only Christ has authority.” 

Just what does it mean to have ALL authority?  If Christ has ALL authority, and He does, then He makes the rules for His church, not me, not you, not anyone else, period.  Only Jesus can say who is in His church and who isn’t.  Luke wrote this fact in Acts 2:47.  In Matthew 7:21 the Bible tells us that it takes more than words and intentions to be counted as members of Christ’s church.  And we find that if anyone can ever be pleasing to God that person MUST believe that God is (Hebrews 11:6), but more than this, the person who wants to please God must also believe that God rewards those who “diligently seek Him.”  This means that if I am to be right with God, if I am to be pleasing to Him, I must with my whole mind, heart, body, and soul seek His direction in my life.  What I think, say, and do must be brought under His authority.  I must yield.  I must submit.  If I am to be a Christian, a disciple, a follower of Christ, then I follow and He leads.  This includes what I do in the church that He planned, promised, purchased, and provides for. 

When I am counselling an individual about their spiritual relationship with God, I usually ask them to consider the church where they work and worship to see if they can find that church in the Bible.  Ask:  Am I in the church that Christ planned, promised, purchased with His own blood, and today and forever provides for?  We can know.  How does the church where we work and worship compare to what the Bible teaches?  What is the name of the church?  Is there a man’s name other than Christ’s in the church where we work and worship?  How is the church organized?  Is the church led by bishops/elders/overseers/shepherds?  Are there deacons who have been assigned the duties of ministry?  Is the Bible the sole source of authority for the church where we work and worship?  How does a person become a member of the church where we work and worship?  Is faith in Jesus Christ necessary?  The Bible says that we cannot please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6).  What about repentance and confession that Jesus is indeed the One and Only Son of God?  What about baptism?  Jesus said that baptism precedes salvation (Mark 16:16).  So does Luke in Acts 22:16.  So does Peter and the apostles in Acts 2:38.  Does the church where we work and worship recognize God’s commands when it comes to roles for men and roles for women?  Does the church where we work and worship have a worldly emphasis or a spiritual emphasis?  These questions should be and must be asked and answered for you and me.  And the Bible alone is the sole source of authority for these questions.  Our eternal destiny lies in the balance.  I just want to go to heaven.  Worldly pleasures, worldly activities, worldly lifestyles, and worldly things have little if anything to do with our decisions when it comes to Christ and His church and me.

When the going gets tough...what shall we do?

Well, we’ve had about 5 weeks to get adjusted to the back-to-school routine.  How are you doing?  You may be thinking, “If back to school was the only change we needed to make, the adjustment would not be so difficult.  Add these things (in no particular order) to going “back-to-school”:  band, football, softball, track and field, soccer, cheer, fund-raisers, concessions, part-time jobs, dating…I could go on and on…in addition to our jobs, housework, laundry, shopping, cooking, lawn work, and our personal and collective responsibilities as Christians to the church and to the world.”  Whew! No wonder too many of us get sick this time of year! How do we get it done?  How can anyone explain how life works?  Opps!  We must not forget another thing that is very important:  sleep.  We have to sleep sometime.  And what about eating?  Oh, yes.  And what about taking a bath or shower?  I think I’ll stop here because my head beginning to ache. 

I guess the way I see it is this:  In order to get things done begin by taking a deep breath.  This is very important because if you don’t breathe, doing anything will be impossible.  Then we get organized.  This is also very important.  Next, we tackle one thing at a time.  Dad goes here.  Mom goes there.  Brother here.  Sister there.  Grandpa here.  Grandma there.  Somehow some way every day one thing at a time with the help of the Lord and people all around us, we all, working together make a way to get what needs to be done, done! We are part of a big family, humanity.  When things go wrong sometimes is isn’t hard to find out why.  All we really need to do is remember what God’s word, the Bible tells us.  We have an enemy; the devil, and sadly some people side with him.  When people side with the enemy, things get extra tough on us and on them. 

I have made a decision to follow the old adage: “When going gets tough, the tough get going.”  By “going” I mean, “going” to the Father in prayer for our needs and for help, strength, and courage to face the challenges of life.  If you are having a difficult time with balancing all you have to do, begin every morning with prayer and close every day with prayer.  Pray about everything and pray in everything.  You’ll be amazed what God can do for you and through you when you ask Him to.

By “going” I mean “going” to the Bible to read, study, think about, and apply what I read to my life.  When I do, I am stronger and can see more clearly.  You don’t have to read a lot, just some, maybe a verse or two every day.  I love Jeremiah 33:3.  Lately this verse has become one of my favorites.  God says, “Call to Me, and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”  Now that is a verse that can help you and me all day long.  Just one verse from the Bible, and the Bible is full of verses just like that.  The Bible is God’s word for you and me, written to help us every day.  How about it?  Are you ready to “get going?”

By “going” I mean “going” to meet with my fellow Christian brothers and sisters for Bible study, worship, and fellowship on Sunday, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening for sure.  And I try to make meeting with fellow Christians a priority in my life.  In the Bible we can read from Hebrews 10:23-24 about why God asks every Christian to meet together every chance we get.  Read it.  “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.  And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.”   Have you been “going” when the going gets tough?  If not, begin as soon as possible.

May God bless you and me as we live our lives one day at a time!  The past is forever…well, past.  The future may or may not be.  Today is ours…24 hours to live the only life we have this side of heaven.  What shall we do?  I suggest that we “get going.”

Praying now more than ever..."Lord, teach us to pray."

September 10, 2014 – This means that tomorrow is 9/11.  I can still remember where I was, what I did, and how I felt as I watched the “Twin Towers” fall in New York City.  The entire world seems to stand still.  The skies were silent due to every air plane being grounded.  Everyone I met seemed to be in a state of shock and rightly so.  The next morning I attended our weekly Rotary meeting and had the privilege of leading the Pledge of Allegiance.  I and my fellow Rotarians have never pledged their allegiance to America as “one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” as we did that day.  My prayer today is that our country and the world would unite under the banner of the love of Jesus Christ rather than continue down a path of pain, division, all kinds of “ism’s”, war, and terror.  May God help me to do my part today and every day to promote love, grace, and mercy alongside of justice and righteousness up in the country and wherever I am.  I hope you will follow the path of peace, too.

Sunday morning in the church of Christ at Enola we will begin a new series of sermons on prayer.  I have entitled this series, “Lord, teach us to pray.”  When you think about it, prayer is work.  Prayer is sometimes very hard work.  I believe that prayer is the most important work I do as a gospel preacher and minister.  Those who have dedicated themselves to continual effective fervent prayer know what I am talking about.  “Easy” you say.  Well, we’ll see what you think about the ease of prayer after this Sunday’s lesson.  If you would like to read ahead, read Luke 11:1-10 and Matthew 6.

On Sunday evening we’re looking at some strange things people have said and say about the church of Christ.  The name of the church is in the Bible, “church of Christ” – Romans 16:16.  The name we wear is also found in the Bible, “Christians” – Acts 11:26, 26:28, 1 Peter 4:16.  Acceptable worship is found in the Bible, prayer, singing, giving, communion, and preaching – Acts 2:42, Ephesians 5:19, 1 Corinthians 11:23-30…even the day we are to meet – Acts 20:7.  How to become a member of Christ’s church is found in the Bible, faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son – Hebrews 11:6 (But faith alone cannot save – James 2:17), repentance – Acts 2:38 (Who would ever say that one must repent “because of” or because they already have forgiveness or remission of sins?  Why the need to repent for something that has already been forgiven?  This is preposterous.  Yet some people claim that “for” in this verse means “because of” rather than “in order to obtain” forgiveness of sins due to the erroneous teaching that baptism is not necessary for salvation), confession of Christ as God’s Son – Romans 10:8-10 (Confession of Christ gives us the authority or power to become a Christian – John 1:11-12), and baptism – Acts 22:16 (Yes.  Baptism is without question necessary for salvation. Well, one may question baptism, but its necessity for salvation remains.  Note the order of Ananias’ command to Saul:  First – Why do you wait? Second – Arise. Next – Be baptized.  Then – Wash away your sins. (This one phrase tells us that Saul still had sin, that his sins were not forgiven upon his faith or repentance or confession or his prayer to God.  His sins remained until his baptism.) Finally, Ananias commanded him “Calling on the name of the Lord.”  God’s expectations of every Christian can be found in the Bible – Love God supremely.  Love others as Jesus loves.  Be kind and courteous.  Be patient.  Be generous.  Forgive.  Always tell the truth.  Take care of your body.  Learn.  Grow.  Live every day in view of heaven.

If you are looking for a new adventure in your life, an adventure that will take you from where you are to where you need to be and want to be, the church of Christ at Enola meets every Sunday at 10 and again at 5 for Bible study, worship, and fellowship.  We meet again on Wednesday evening at 7.  Please consider this your very special invitation to come and be our guest. 

School is about to Begin - Ready...Set...Go!

Hello again from up in the country, Enola, Arkansas and your friend and gospel preacher, Mickey Burleson and the Enola Church of Christ.  Well, our teachers and students have a couple of days and then it’s back to the old school routine, up early, gone all day, back home tired out, and in bed early.  We all need to remember to be a little more patient with each other until we get acclimated to our new way of life.  Organization always helps make the transition easier.  My parents always had us lay out our school clothes each night before we retired to bed.  Taking a bath or shower at night gives us a little more time to sleep.  Eating a good breakfast makes the school day and work day better.  I’m not necessarily talking about a “big” breakfast.  I am talking about eating something nutritious and lasting to start the day off right.  Cindi and I have been eating fruit and nut smoothies in the morning with a piece of toast or bagle.  I make the smoothie in our “Ninja” blender while Cindi is getting ready.  Fresh fruit is always good if we have it, but if not I put in frozen strawberries, peaches, blueberries, mango, almonds or some other nut, a small amount of oats, and a little yogurt and some almond milk and maybe a little orange juice for a little bit of tangy flavor and a few ice cubes.  Delicious!!  As a matter of fact, I could eat (or drink) one right now.  It’s quick, nutritious and delicious. 

Speaking of food; man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.  Jesus said that when He was being tempted and was very hungry.  How are you doing when it comes to reading, studying, thinking about, applying, and sharing God’s word, the Bible?  I read the Bible every day.  This “spiritual food” sustains my soul (the real me) and helps me with life’s difficulties.  God’s word is indeed a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:106).  God’s word makes my faith stronger (Romans 10:17).  God’s word is true.  This fact may be the reason few people read it.  In the Bible book of James, we find that the Bible is a mirror.  When we read it, we are seeing ourselves as we really are, just like when we look into the mirror in the morning before we depart for school or work.  I look pretty silly in the morning.  The other morning my youngest granddaughter told me that I had “crazy hair.”  Well, I took a little time with some water, hair gel, and a brush and I was ready for the day.  No more crazy hair.  Sometimes I have “crazy hair” in my life.  The Bible directs me to make the changes in myself that need to be made to be the man I need to be for God, for my family, and for others.  I’m glad God gave us His word in a book, the Bible.  Are you reading it?

This Sunday morning at Enola we will be studying about Paul’s Greatest Desire – To Win Christ, To be found IN Him, To KNOW Him, To know the POWER of His Resurrection, and To know the Fellowship of His Sufferings.  We’re on lesson four.  On Sunday evening we meet at 5:00.  We are looking at Jesus Parable of the Prodigal Son.  This younger son began the journey of sin, went on the journey to the far country, wasted his time, treasures, and talents on sin, was humiliated by sin, and was lost in sin.  We have studied the first few lessons and will now study about the “lost-ness of sin.”  I am so very happy that this young man “came to himself” and came home to what is good and right.  If you are somewhere in the way of sin, come to yourself and come home to God.  Jesus said it best in Matthew 11:28-30.

Do you know my Jesus? Have you heard He loves you?

Hello again from up in the country, Enola, Arkansas and the Enola Church of Christ.  We’re enjoying a wonderful August.  Everyone is excited about getting back into the old school routine here in just a few days.  Well, almost everyone.  Our teachers would probably like to have a few more summer days.  Our students are ready for a new school year.  Parents are too.

Our theme for Sunday Morning at Enola is “Paul’s Greatest Desire.”  We have already studied about Paul’s desire to “gain” or “win” Christ and his desire to be found “in” Him.  This Sunday morning we will look at Paul’s desire to “know” Christ.  Now, how can we know anything?  And just what does it mean to “know” Christ?  I hope you can come out on Sunday morning at 11:00 to study with us.

Our theme for Sunday Evening at Enola is – “A Sinning Son and a Loving Merciful Father.”  Sin has a beginning.  Sin takes us on a journey to a far country, a country that is away from God.  In sin we waste ourselves, our time, our treasures, and our talents.  This Sunday evening we will look at the humiliation of sin.  Can you ever see yourself eating something really disgusting?  It is true.  When a person gets hungry enough, even bugs, rats, and even pig food begins to look delicious.  Sin does this to a person.  I am so happy that God is greater than our sin, that He is ready, willing, and able to forgive any sin and welcome any sinner out of the far country and back home.

This song is on my mind this morning.  “Do You Know My Jesus” by W.F (Bill) Lakey and V. B. (Vep) Ellis in our hymn book # 553 at Enola.

Have you a heart that’s weary, tending a load of care;

Are you a soul that’s seeking rest from the burden you bear?

Where is your heart, O, pilgrim? What does your light reveal;

Who hears your call for comfort when naught but sorrow you feel?

Who knows your disappointment, who hears each time your cry;

Who understands your heartaches, who dries the tears from your eyes?

Do you know my Jesus?  Do you know my Friend?

Have you heard He loves you, and that He will abide till the end?

Please think on this hymn today and know that there is One who loves you.  He loves us all.

VBS @ Enola - We're Traveling to the Promised Land

Hello from up in the country, Enola, Arkansas.  We had a great beginning to our annual VBS this evening with 119 in attendance.  We have sessions for every age; babies, adults, and every age in between.  Our theme is “The Promised Land or Bust.”  We’re studying from the Old Testament this year about the flight of the people of God out of Egypt to the Land of Canaan.  Thank you to every Christian who is so generous with their time and talents to make our VBS the great success it is.  God knows and so do we, what a blessing it is to meet together for Bible study, worship, and fellowship.  We are so very blessed.

Our VBS will continue Monday evening through Wednesday evening at 7:00 each evening.  Maybe you can make the drive up in the country to visit.  We would love to see you.  And the trip would do you good.

Can you believe it?  Our teachers have only three weeks left before the new school year will begin.  Our students have a few extra days of summer break and they’ll be back to school too.  My, my, where has the summer gone?  We are growing.  And that’s a good thing.

We concluded our Sunday morning sermon series entitled “When Faith is a Struggle” today with a lesson about God’s providence.  When we suffer God doesn’t explain it.  People try to explain suffering, but God doesn’t.  When we suffer God usually doesn’t remove it.  We may pray for God to remove our suffering and sometimes He does, but not usually.  He knows that suffering produces perseverance.  Perseverance produces character.  Character produces hope.  The Holy Spirit tells every one of us this in Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter 5, verses 1-5.  Read this for yourself and see.  He writes about our faith in Christ that saves us.  Our salvation in Christ makes peace between us and God because our sins have been forgiven.  Because we have peace with God, we have access to His grace and stand in it every day.  Our hope for now and for forever is founded in God.  Then Paul writes about how good it is to suffer and why.  The little phrase “No Pain – No Gain” is true.  Think about this too:  “Know Pain – Know Gain.”  This is also true.  It is difficult to suffer, but let us follow God’s plan and purpose and let suffering produces patience and then let patience have its perfect work (James 1).

I want to say a word or two about the 5^th Annual Gospel Crusade we all enjoyed last week at UCA in Conway.  What a wonderful opportunity the crusade was to showcase the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in such a dynamic fashion.  Every preacher taught the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth right from the Bible.  Every person who attended left encouraged in the faith and motivated to continue the fight for what is good and right.  I know I did.  Every year the gospel crusade gets better and better.  Thank you to my fellow Christians in Faulkner County, Arkansas for letting the light of Christ shine so brightly.  Let’s keep it up.

Living in View of Heaven...

We had a marvelous Sunday a couple of days ago up in the country, Enola, Arkansas and the Enola Church of Christ.  The church building was packed with Christians and we had several guests with us.  I’m so happy to be a Christian and a member of the church that belongs to Christ.  Maybe you have been thinking about life, decisions, the past, the future, heaven, hell, eternity - you know the things that really matter.  Jesus’ invitation has stood as a guiding light for generations…Matthew 11:28-30:  “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”  After every sermon I preach, I extend the invitation of Christ.  He invites all who are burdened and tired of sin to believe in Him.  Sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2).  Jesus came to forgive sin and unite us to God (John 3:16-18).  All who believe in Jesus Christ must repent of their sins (Luke 13:3).  Repentance includes sorrow for sin and a desire to turn from it.  All who come to Christ in repentance must confess that He is the One and Only Son of God, the Savior of the world (Romans 10:9-10).  When a person confesses Jesus as the Christ the very next step to salvation is baptism.  Every sin is washed away in baptism (Acts 22:16).  It is very difficult for me to understand how some people, even those who claim to be preachers and religious leaders just leave baptism out of the plan of salvation.  Jesus was baptized to fulfill all righteousness.  He left us the “Great Commission” in Matthew 28:18-20 and when you read it, note that He included baptism.  He said, “Go…teach…baptize…teach those who are taught and baptized to go and teach and baptize.”  Baptism is not the end of anything, but the beginning of everything.  Every Christian, every day, lives a saved life, adding to their faith the Christian Graces: virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love (2 Peter 1:5-10) walking in the light as Christ is in the light (1 John 1:7) bearing the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5) abstaining from the works of the flesh (Listed just before the fruits of the Spirit).  The Christian life can be hard sometimes and suffering is part of every life this side of heaven.  Jesus taught us this fact when He concluded His sermon on the mount in Matthew 7.  He said that the rain descends.  The wind blows.  The flood rises in every life.  The foundation makes all the difference between standing and falling.  I am building my life on Christ, not on the sand.  You can too.  Hear.  Believe.  Repent.  Confess Christ.  Be baptized.  Live in view of heaven.

Take a drive up in the country this coming Sunday and meet with the Christians at the Enola Church of Christ (253 Hwy 107 N in Enola).  You’ll hear a good lesson from the Bible in one of our Bible study sessions at 10:00 a.m.  We gather in the main building in the auditorium at 11:00 for worship.  I will be preaching the second sermon in our series “When Faith is a Struggle.”  Last Sunday we looked at lesson one and found that though people try to explain why we suffer, God does not.  He talks a lot about suffering, but just doesn’t’ explain it.  This Sunday we will look at lesson two and find that God does not usually remove suffering.  Think about it.  Jesus suffered.  His Father didn’t remove His suffering.  His apostles suffered.  They all gave their lives for His mission.  Paul suffered.  Have you ever read about his “thorn in the flesh?”  He prayed for God to remove his suffering.  God said no.  Paul finally died for preaching Christ.   I know this is a tough series of lessons and people don’t usually want to hear about suffering and the facts of life but as a gospel preacher, I am called to present the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Sunday evenings at Enola are so good.  We meet at 5:00 for just an hour.  We are beginning a new series that will probably take us into the fall.  We will be studying Jesus Parable of the Prodigal Son and the Forgiving Father.  I’ve entitled this series “A Sinning Son and THE Father’s Loving Grace.”  This Sunday we will consider “The Beginning of Sin.”  May God help us to read Psalm 1 and check our own lives.  Am I walking in the counsel of the ungodly?  Am I standing in the path of sinners?  Am I sitting in the seat of the scornful?  Or am I delighting and meditating on the law of the Lord night and day?  I want to prosper, so I am delighting in His law, meditating on His law, and willingly obeying His law night and day.  I need some help.  I need you.

5th Sunday at Enola - What a wonderful Day!

Yesterday was Sunday, June 29^th, the 5^th Sunday in June.  We had a terrific Lord’s Day with a good crowd (132) present for Bible study, fellowship, and worship.  Still we had several who were vacationing, working, traveling, not feeling well, or for some other reason unable to gather with the church.  We always miss our Christian brothers and sisters who are absent when we meet.  Because this was a 5^th Sunday in the month, we enjoyed a very special Enola potluck lunch together.  My, my, what a treat!  I believe that just about every person stayed to enjoy the warm and friendly fellowship we enjoyed. And still we had enough food for many more.   After lunch we all walked back over to the auditorium to hear Brother Bob Turner of the Bear Valley Bible Institute in Colorado. Thank you for staying and supporting Brother Turner.   He gave us a report of all the good things that were happening around the world for the cause of Christ.  We have been blessed and it is good and right to share our blessings with those who do not yet know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We are continuing our “Great Commission” given to us by Christ before He ascended to His Father and ours.  We find our commission in Matthew 28:18-20.

I asked the church of Christ yesterday to take a special test, a friend test.  We sang the hymn “I’ll be a friend to Jesus.”  The first verse goes this way,

They tried my Lord and Master, with no one to defend.

Within the halls of Pilate, He stood without a friend.

I’ll be a friend to Jesus.  My life to Him I’ll spend.

I’ll be a friend to Jesus, until my years shall end.

After we sang the song, I asked the church if they really believed what they sang.  Am I a friend to Jesus?  Am I spending my life for Him?  Will I be His friend until my years shall end?  I offered the following test:

1.       Friends enjoy being together.  If I am a friend to Jesus I will enjoy spending time with Him.  I will take advantage of each opportunity I have to be with Him.  I will enjoy talking to Him in prayer.  I will enjoy reading His letter (The Bible) to me.  I love to read John 6, at the end of the chapter where Jesus asked His disciple if they would leave Him like others had.  Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go.  You have the words of eternal life and we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of God.”  Peter loved Jesus and understood friendship.  I know that he let Jesus down later on, but who stood up in front of the world in Acts 2 to declare his friendship?  Peter!  Am I…are you a friend to Jesus?

2.       Friends sacrifice for each other.  If I am a friend to Jesus I will do whatever I need to do to show my love for Him. Am I…are you a friend to Jesus?

3.       Friends speak often of each other.  If I am a friend to Jesus I will have no trouble speaking about Him and sharing our friendship with anyone who would listen.  Am I…are you a friend to Jesus?

4.       Friends defend each other.  If I am a friend to Jesus I will I will defend Him.  Am I…are you a friend to Jesus?

5.       Friends are loyal to each other.  If I am a friend to Jesus I will be loyal to Him in good times and in bad times.  Am I…are you a friend to Jesus?

I hope you are a friend to Jesus.  Do you remember what Jesus said in John 15:14?  He said, “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.”  Well, do you?  You can also read in the Bible in John 14:15 where Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”  No opinions.  Just stating facts.

I hope to see you soon up in the country.  God bless you and keep you is my constant prayer.