Resolutions for 2016! I am resolved...

Well, we will be walking away from 2015 and welcoming 2016 in just a few hours.  Have you thought your resolutions for the coming year?  I certainly have, especially recently.  Let’s see. 

1.    Follow God’s word in James 1:19.  Boy do I need to improve on this.  I will.

2.    Pray.  Every day.  Morning, noon, and night.  Without ceasing.  God asks me to.  When I pray He promises to hear, consider, and answer according to His will.   Just do it.  I will.

3.    Think.  Meditate.  Focus.  On His word day and night (Psalm 1).  There are so many distractions.  So many “other things” to think about that are less important.  I will have a more intense focus on the “main thing.”

4.    Listen.  I don’t listen very well.  I will become a better listener.

5.    Wait.  I am too quick to judge, to just to conclusions, to misunderstand.  I must wait.  I’m not talking about procrastination.  I am talking about being patient.

6.    Humility.  Jesus taught by word and example that humility pleases the Father.  I want to be like Jesus; quiet, strong, wise, patient, kind, right.

7.    Follow when I should.  Lead when I should.  Understand.

8.    Forget what was.  Accept what is.  Imagine and create what can be.

I am resolved no longer to linger, charmed by the world’s delight;

Things that are higher, things that are nobler, these have allured my sight.

I am resolved to go to the Savior, leaving my sin and strife;

He is this True One, He is the Just One, He is has the words of life.

I am resolved to follow the Savior, faithful and true each day,

Heed what is says, do what He wills, He is the living Way.

I am resolved to enter the kingdom, leaving the paths of sin,

Friends may oppose me, foes may beset me, still will I enter in.

I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free,

Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.

Palmer Hartsough (1896)

James H. Fillmore (1896)

Wise as serpents - Harmless as doves - Matthew 10:16

Welcome!  We are praying to the One and Only true and living God in the name of His Son Jesus Christ for our friends in France and those around the world and those of our own who are suffering from ignorance, hate, and violence.  Oh that the world would come to believe and know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God!  What a difference this knowledge would make in the world. 

It seems that the world in general has always chosen ignorance over knowledge, hate and revenge over love and violence over peace, repentance, and forgiveness.  We are often tempted to do the same.  We must not yield to the enemy’s devises.  We must find a way to follow Jesus’ instructions in Matthew 10:16 to “be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”  We must always provide for our family just as the Holy Spirit commands in 1 Timothy 5:8; “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”  At the same time we must love our enemies, bless them, do them good, and pray for them (Matthew 6:44-45).  We must be wise and protect ourselves and our families from evil and at the same time never wish to harm anyone but rather to help them.

God has established a way for evil to be judged, disciplined, punished, and eliminated.  In Romans 13 we read about the responsibilities of the nation’s governing authorities.  God has placed people in positions of authority and given them the right to praise those who do good.  He has also given the governing authorities (not me and you) the power to “execute wrath” on those who practice evil.  The passage tells us that the local, state, and federal government is positioned by God as an “avenger” who “does not bear the sword in vain.” 

You and I have the responsibility and the authority to provide for our individual families and at the same time we must yield to God’s governing authorities to provide for the protection of our national security.  Not too long ago a Christian brother who is in state law enforcement talked with me about the dilemma he faces every day in his position.  The day before we met, he had to take someone’s life in the line of duty as an agent of the state.  I explained to him that in his position, he was God’s minister on that day executing wrath on one who was practicing evil, that he did not “bear the sword (In this case the sword was his firearm) in vain.”  I thanked him for his service to me and to our society.  His service keeps us safe.  Jesus said it best in the verse we saw above, “Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” 

Everything okay? There is a better way to go. Jesus is the Way.

Hello on this beautiful day (September 24^th) in Louisville, Kentucky.  I hope you are having a great week.  We are.  The church of Christ at Watterson Trail has a lot going on right now.  We are hosting a very special one of a kind “Fall Vacation Bible School” on Friday evening and Saturday from 10 to 2, October 1 and 2.  Something different!  Come by 9607 Watterson Trail and look for the “village of Nazareth” as you pull into the parking lot.  I’ll be dressed as a carpenter in the carpenter shop.  There will be several other shops to visit as we travel back in time to Jesus’ hometown.  We are so excited about our VBS.  Come and see. 

Last weekend we had a booth at the Jeffersontown Gaslight Festival and enjoyed having so many people visit with us.  We talked to everyone and handed out almost 500 invitations to our fall VBS.  All the children who stopped by our booth enjoyed playing the knock-the-cans-off-the-ledge game while the parents and adults watched and laughed.  You don’t have to spend a load of money to have fun.  Line up a few soup cans on a board and try to knock them down with a beanbag or ball.  You’d be surprised just how much fun it is.  The Christian life is the best life to live.

We are just about ready to appoint an additional elder and two additional deacons at Watterson Trail.  God has blessed the church with so many wonderful servants.  It is truly a blessing for me to work alongside Christian brothers and sisters who love God and one another.  Come out on any Sunday (9:30/10:30/1:30) and on any Wednesday evening (7:00) to see for yourself just how good and pleasant it is when people dwell together in unity.  We plan on appointing Dan Isenberg to the eldership and Bryan Montgomery and Eric Ritter as additional deacons on Sunday, October 3^rd.  We are so thankful to God for His rich blessings to us.

Our Sunday morning sermon series is entitled “God’s Questions – Man’s Answers.”  We are studying from Genesis 3 where Adam and Eve disobeyed God.  God asked them four questions:  Where are you?  Who told you that?  Have you sinned?  What have you done?  We are on question #2 this week (27^th).  Who told you that?  We must ask this question when we are faced with doubt about an issue we are facing as a Christian.  Who told you that?  Who told you that baptism is not essential for salvation?  Jesus didn’t.  He said the exact opposite.  The apostles didn’t.  The Bible doesn’t.  Who told you that it doesn’t matter when and how we worship?  Who told you that marriage is defined as anything other than one man and one woman for life? The SCOTUS may have handed down a 5 to 4 decision on an attempt at redefining marriage, but God set the order of marriage in the very beginning and will hold every human being accountable for how we live life.  Who told you that the government’s job is to provide a living for humanity?  Oh, how strong America would be if every citizen decision to work for a living.  Who told you that the church you are a member of didn’t matter?  Christ only built one church, His.  Who told you that there is plenty of time to make things right with God?  We may have many years to live and love on this earth.  And yet, today may be our last day to live.

May God bless you and yours and ours is my prayer.  How are you doing?  Is he life you’re living working out for you?  Are you happy with your life?  There is another way to go.  There is a better way to live.  The Christian life is the best life on earth.  Come and see.

We are the light of the world. Are you shining?

We’re doing just fine in our old Kentucky home, ours for the past 10 months.  My, how time and life keeps moving ever forward.  Only 10 months?  So short, yet it seems that I have been in our great commonwealth of Kentucky serving as minister and friend at Watterson Trail for much longer.  May God give us many more years of service together for the furtherance of the gospel in the J’Town/Louisville Metro community.

It has been my pleasure to support our local Jeffersontown High School Charger football team the past two Friday nights.  One loss and one win so far.  The team has a lot of potential this year.  We have a new coach and he and his staff are doing a fine job teaching a new system.  The team seems to be picking up on the new system well.  I am enjoying the Charger band (It seems only yesterday that I was on the field with my trumpet or directing the band as drum major).  Their half-time show is getting better and better.  It is good to see so many from the J’Town community supporting the school and the team.  I am also enjoying meeting new friends, taking every opportunity to show and share the love of Christ.  To every Christian and especially to our fellow Christian brethren at Watterson Trail:  Get out and see what God can do through you.  Opportunities are all around us; next door, across the street, at school, in the stands, at the store, up, down, all around.  Live.  Laugh.   Listen.  Learn.  Love. 

I can almost hear Jesus saying it.  

“You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” 

He did say it and Matthew wrote these instructions down in Matthew 5:14-16 in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.  How about it?

This Sunday morning at Watterson Trail we will conclude our series “More Than Conquerors” with a lesson that asks, “Where am I going?”  Do you know where you are going in your life?  If you continue on the path you are currently on, where will you end up?  Will you be okay there?  Is it where you thought you’d be?  Will those following you be happy about you led them?  I have found that if I don’t know where I’m going, people, circumstances, and things cause me to be tossed here and there.  Isn’t if foolish to live your life without a direction?  What was it that someone said?  “If you don’t know where you’re going, then any road will do.”  Remember the old adage, “If you aim at nothing, you’re sure to hit it.”  Where do you want to go?  Find out.  Take aim.  And get going!  Sunday afternoon at Watterson Trail is special this Sunday (6^th) because we will be singing together psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with melody in our hearts to the Lord.  Come join in.  Have a great rest of the week.  Show some TLC today and every day to those you love and to those who love you.

Don't Worry. God is able. Trust HIm. You can.

Okay.  How are you doing with the new old back to school routine?  Hopefully everyone is adjusting well, getting up a little earlier, being better organized, and looking forward to the weekend.  With all the “busyness” in our lives, may we always put God first in our thinking, speech, and in our decisions.  Jesus spoke about such things in His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:33:  “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things (food, clothing, shelter, and our daily needs) shall be added to you.”

It was a great joy this past Sunday (16^th) to meet a new member at Watterson Trail, Brother Harold Long of J’Town.  Brother Long came before God and the church to rededicate his life to Christ and begin again to work and worship with His church.  We are so very happy to have him with us at Watterson Trail.

Our Sunday morning lesson series “More Than Conquerors” continues this week (23^rd).  We are asking ourselves three very important questions: Who am I?  Who am I trying to please? and Where am I going?  Jesus knew who He was.  When I know who I am; a Christian and a child of God, people, circumstances, and things cannot change me into someone else.  This week we will focus on the second question: Who am I trying to please?  Jesus knew who to please; His Father, always His Father, God.  When I don’t know who to please, I fall prey to three negatives:  criticism, competition, and conflict.  When I aim to please God, people may like me or not, circumstances may be positive or negative, and life may get tough, but these things cannot move me from pleasing the heavenly Father.  On Sunday afternoon we are looking at God’s ability to help us every day.  He is strong.  He is Master of everything.  He is our Father.  He is able.

Our Summer Series “The Christian’s Confidence” has been a great success this year and comes to a close this Tuesday evening (25^th) at 7:00 p.m. with our final preacher, Brother Dean Beard preaching on the subject “Christ is.”  Christ is revealed, verified, declared, believed, known, followed, loved, obeyed, honored, imitated, and exalted.  He is eternal.  He IS.  It is my hope and prayer that we have all increased in our faith and confidence in Christ Jesus through this series of lessons.

We are currently in the process of appointing additional elders and additional deacons to serve Christ and His church at Watterson Trail.  Our elders are carefully and prayerfully considering our recommendations and will soon announce a list of those men of the congregation who are qualified and ready to serve.  Please be in prayer for our elders, for those who will be announced, and for the church as a whole that we will continue in faith and unity as we endeavor to further the gospel of Christ in Jeffersontown and in the surrounding community.  May God bless us.

Growing in Gladness on Sunday...

David was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22).  He wrote, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord’” (Psalm 122:1).  What about you and me?  Do you enjoy meeting with your fellow Christians for Bible study, worship, and fellowship?  What about Sunday afternoon and Wednesday evening?  What about other events and activities when we meet?

Many Christians just “go to church.”  They find no real joy and meaning in meeting with their fellow Christian brothers and sisters.  Others start out well enough, but quit before long.  Some people won’t even try.

God expects His children to come together.  Do we not realized just how blessed we are?  Are we not encouraged and challenged when we gather together?  What can we do to help ourselves and others to find joy and meaning through worship?

When you read Hebrews 10:23-25 in the Bible you find that; 1) God commands that His church meet regularly,  2) Meeting together keeps us spiritually healthy, 3) Meeting together keeps us strong and encouraged, 4) Every church meeting has its purpose: encouragement and the strengthening of our faith, and 5) We honor God when we meet together.

So how can we learn to enjoy our assembling together and reap the wonderful benefits of Bible study, worship, and fellowship?  I’ll share a few of suggestions that I hope will help us all.  First, we must PREPARE FOR WORSHIP.  Sunday mornings can be rushed and stressful or planned and peaceful.  When we prepare for the day ahead, we find that the Lord’s Day can be a blessing to us and to God.  I remember my mother preparing our family for worship.  Our preparation began on Saturday evening before bedtime.  She came into our room and had us lay out the clothes we were going to wear to church the next day.  She had us place our personal Bibles next to our clothes.  On Sunday morning she allowed us to sleep in later than usual.  This allowed her time to prepare a light breakfast for our family and ready herself for worship in peace before 3 boys and an older sister…well let’s say, made life a little more complicated.  Children need breakfast in order to learn and grow.  I remember my mom, dressed already and my dad sitting in his chair reading as I walked into the kitchen to eat breakfast on Sunday morning.  After breakfast we would get dressed and after a motherly inspection leave the house for Bible class and worship.  Cindi and I chose to follow a similar Sunday morning pattern for our family.  I have found that my children, now grown are following a similar pattern for their family.

How about you and your family?  Create your own pattern of preparation and see if your Sunday mornings can be a wonderful experience for your family.

Now that we have considered preparation as a key to a better worship experience, what else can we do?  We should BE MINDFUL OF OTHERS who are present with us in the assembly.  We are not alone.  When someone arrives late or leaves early (especially during the hymn of invitation) or when someone fails to silence their phone, these distractions often hinder worship.  Of course, there are times when arriving late or leaving early is our only option.  And certainly forgetting to silence our phones before worship is just a sign of being a human being.  However, these distractions should be the exception and not the rule for us.  Jesus taught every Christian to love one another as He loves (John 13:34-15).  And so we understand when a fellow brother or sister in Christ shows their humanity.  And when we show our humanity, we hope that our fellow Christians understand us.  Decide now that you will do everything within your power to arrive early for worship and stay until the final “amen” is said, that you will even stay a few minutes longer to meet and greet your Christian brethren and our guests.  Decide that you will make it a habit to silence your phone long before the service begins.  Let’s not be in such of a hurry in worship and fellowship.  Let’s relax, breathe slowly and deeply, and take the time that is needed for God’s rich blessings to flow over us, around us, through us, and from us.  Try something different this Sunday.  Prepare.  Consider others.  Slow down.  Stop and smell the roses.  See how it goes.

More suggestions to follow…

 

All is well in my old Kentucky home...

Hello from beautiful Louisville, Kentucky and your friend Mickey Burleson and the Watterson Trail Church of Christ.  We’re having a wonderful summer, busy as always showing and sharing the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ.  God is blessing us.  We’re thankful.

Our Tuesday Summer Series is going very well.  Brother Luke Ashby came over from the New Harmony congregation last night (16^th) to share a sermon on “Christ is Declared” as we celebrate “The Christian’s Confidence” and a study of the book of First John.  Think about all that John the Beloved felt, heard, and saw as Jesus walked on the earth.  John was there, right there when Jesus stilled the storm, right there when Lazarus came out of the tomb still clothed in his grave clothes, right there when Bartimaeus called out for mercy and received his sight, right there when Jesus spoke with Moses and Elijah, right there when Jesus was tortured and murdered, right there when Jesus asked him to take care of His mother, right there when Jesus arose and showed His wounds, right there.  Then John writes about it and so much more in his letters in the Bible.  He says in First John 1:3-4; “that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.  And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.”  One of these days, maybe soon, maybe later we’ll feel, hear, and see that what John wrote is indeed true.  Now I know through faith.  Then, faith will not be required.  And what a day that will be!

This Sunday (21^st) my sermon will be taken from only one verse, Romans 15:4.  Paul teaches us about the strong (fathers) and the weak (children).  He says that the strong should take care of the weak.  Jesus did.  God gave us His word, the Bible to help us live the way we should.  Fathers are to be teachers.  We should be patient, comforting, and hopeful.  I want to be like Jesus.  Do you?

On Sunday afternoon at 1:30 I’ll be preaching the first of four lessons from Peter, Andrew, James, and John, one lesson from each of these fishermen.  If you would like to read ahead, read Acts 3:1-10.  Peter and John were walking to the temple to pray.  They spotted a lame man who was over 40 years old sitting at the beautiful gate asking for help.  He was born that way.  Peter stopped and said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have, I give you…”  Peter spoke in the name of Jesus and the lame man arose and walked.  What a sight!  What a different world we would live in if each of us would simple make it our aim to do what we can with what we have.  Too many of us dream about and talk about what we could, or would, or should do if only we had this or that.  But what are we doing with what we have? 

God is excellent.  Trust Him and obey Him.  His way is the best way and the only way to real and lasting happiness.

Summer Series at Watterson Trail begins tonight...

It’s June.  Summer is upon us and with it we welcome our Tuesday Summer Series at Watterson Trail.  Every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. in June, July, and August we welcome 13 gospel preachers from the area who will preach to help us learn more about the confidence every Christian enjoys in Jesus Christ.  We are studying through the book of First John.  This evening (June 2^nd) Brother Alvin White from just across the bridge in Jeffersonville, Indiana will kick off our summer series in a dynamic fashion.  Then next Tuesday (June 9^th) we will welcome Brother Drew Custer from the Okolona congregation.  He will be speaking on the topic; “Christ is Verified.” I hope you will be present for every summer series session.  Our children, preteens, and teens will have classes designed especially for them.  Young adults and older adults will be meeting in the main auditorium for our special summer series.  I know that this series of lessons from God’s word will be a blessing to everyone.

God is blessing us here at Watterson Trail.  We are in the process of selecting additional elders and deacons to serve the congregation and our community.  I am in the midst of preaching lessons aimed at helping us to know the heart, mind, life, and legacy of a servant of God.  Our next series will help us understand the qualifications God has set in place for every elder and deacon.  You can find these qualifications in Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus.  Please pray for us as we endeavor to build on the foundation of Jesus Christ our Lord.  A larger foundation supports and larger congregation.

Words I will not say:

1.       “Can’t” – Philippians 4:13

2.       “Never” – Mark 9:23

3.       “Quit” – Galatians 6:9

4.       “Depressed” – 2 Corinthians 4:7-10

5.       “Hate” – Romans 5:5

6.       “Doubt” – Romans 10:17

7.       “Broken” – Acts 27

How about you?  Don’t say “I can’t” because you can through Christ who strengthens you.  Don’t say “I can never make it” because if you believe, all things are possible to him who believes.  Don’t say “I quit” because only those who refuse to quit will receive the good from their labors.  Don’t let depression master your life because though we are hard-pressed on every side, we are not crushed.  Though we are perplexed, we are not in despair.  Though we are persecuted, we are not forsaken.  Though we are struck down, we are not destroyed.  God will provide.  Don’t hate.  God’s love is everywhere, poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  Don’t doubt.  Get into God’s word, the Bible.  Faith comes through reading, hearing, and meditating on His word.  Life may try to break us.  When you read about the shipwreck in Acts 27, note that Paul and the others who suffered through the storm used the broken pieces to make it to safety.

May God bless us to trust Him and obey Him.  I will.  Will you?

Where would we be without our mothers? Well...

Happy Mother’s Day this Sunday!  Our mom’s teach us many things.  I’ll name a few.  Maybe you can remember a few lessons you learned from your mother too.

Moms teach the meaning of anticipation - Just wait until your daddy gets home.

She teaches us the lesson of giving and receiving – “You’re going to get it when we get home.”

She teaches logic – “If you fall and break your neck, you’re not going with me to the store.”

We learn medical science – “If you keep crossing your eyes they’re going to freeze that way.”

She teaches us to pray – “You had better pray that this comes out of the carpet.”

She teaches us humor – “When the lawn mower cuts off your foot, don’t come running to me.”

She teaches about adulthood – “If you don’t eat your vegetables, you won’t grow up.

She teaches genetics – “You’re just like your father.”

She reminds us of our roots – “Do you think you were born in a barn?”

She teaches us the wisdom of the ages – “When you get to be my age, you’ll understand.”

Did you mother ever say, “Wash your hands young man?”  Now this request is more complicated to a boy than you might think.  Even if we said we did, there was usually an “inspection” and a “do-over.”  Mothers require the entire hand to be clean and not just the palms.  As I recall, my mom later had me return to the wash room to learn a lesson about drying “clean” hands on the freshly washed towel rather than “dirty” hands.  She also stated that actually using soap made the entire process of hand-washing easier and better.

I remember my mom saying, “Think before you speak.  Once a word has been spoken, though you might apologize over and over again, you can never take it back.”  Oh, how true this is!  How difficult this is to accomplish even today.  Have you ever gotten thinking first and speaking second out of order?  So have I.  And afterwards though we might say, “I am so sorry” we find that the word spoken ahead of thought echoes still.  We can do better.  I can do better.  I will do better.

I remember my mom saying, “Son, guard your emotions.”  These words she often spoke to me as I walked out the door on my way to pick up my date for the evening.  Isn’t it amazing how a mother knows exactly what to say at just the right time?  Her words echoed in my head for the rest of the evening.  They still do.  I’m glad. 

This Sunday (Mother's Day - 13th) we will focus on Jesus and His mother.  Jesus’ mother is not to be worshipped.  Some people do.  They shouldn't.  Our worship is reserved only for God.  We can learn from Jesus’ mother about how to love our children.  At the afternoon hour (1:30) we will take a look at just how much Jesus loved His mother.

We have choices. Our happiness depends upon our choices!

Hello from sunny, beautiful Louisville, Kentucky.  God is excellent.  The world we live in is beautiful and good.  Many (probably the majority) in the world are peaceful, loving, and helpful.  There are some who are vengeful, hateful, and selfish.  Let’s remember this and not get too caught up in the storms of life that come and go.  Every day we make choices; choices that bring us, our families, our friends, and society to peace and unity or to calamity and division.  Just think about the kind of world we would have if we all followed Jesus’ word and His example in life.  Love one another.  Forgive one another.  Honor your parents.  Do what is right.  Obey the governing authorities.  Tell the truth.  Help one another.  Work.  Give.  Pray.  Care. Respect.  Don’t quit.  Trust and be trustworthy.  Be good.  Can you see how living the Christian life is the only way to live?  I hope so.  Live today in a different way.  Put these simple things into practice and see for yourself what a positive difference you can make in the world, your world, God’s world.

The sermon this Sunday morning is about security.  We are walking in the pathway of the Old Rugged Cross at Watterson Trail.  At the end of the way of the cross we will be home in heaven.  We will see Christ Jesus our Savior.  We will inherit riches beyond our wildest imagination.  We will get to see our One and Only Father.  We will finally enjoy the security that is like a tree planted by the rivers of water, security that is good and full of mercy, security that is eternal.  We do not and cannot have this kind of security this side of heaven.  If we meet the requirements: Courage, Reason, Obedience, Sacrifice, and Sincerity; if we share in the experiences: Challenges, Responsibilities, Opportunities, Sorrows, and Successes; then we will enjoy all that God has in store for us at the end of our journey along the pathway of the Old Rugged Cross.  How about it?  Walk with Jesus as He leads all who do toward home.

What would it take for you to believe and obey Jesus Christ?  Thomas wanted to see.  Nicodemus wanted to know.  There was a man in Mark 9 who wanted a miracle.  Are you waiting on a miracle to believe and obey Jesus Christ?  Sometimes we pray and God says, “Yes” to our request.  Sometimes we pray and God says, “No” to our request.  Sometimes we pray and God says, “Not yet” to our request.  Which is it with you?  If we wait for a “miracle” to believe and obey Jesus Christ, it will be too late.  Come join us at Watterson Trail at 1:30 on Sunday afternoon for this lesson.

God is good. He is EXCELLENT! We're busy at Watterson Trail

Hello from J’town and the Watterson Trail Church of Christ.  It’s hard to believe that we’re halfway through April.  The calendar tells me that it’s spring, but when I walk outside it seems that old winter is going away rather reluctantly.  Today the rain is falling and the temperature is quite chilly.  As my grandmothers use to say, “April showers bring May flowers.”  And you shouldn’t argue with your grandmothers, right?  God has everything under control.  I’m glad.

The Watterson Trail congregation is a busy church.  Every week we meet on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. for Bible study.  We provide several Adult classes as well as classes for teens, pre-teens, and children.  We meet for worship together every Lord’s Day at 10:30 a.m. and again at 1:30 p.m.  We meet again in the middle of the week every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. for Bible study.  The men meet for Men’s Night Out every Tuesday night at 7:00 at one of the local restaurants.  The ladies have a monthly devotional at the minister’s residence every second Friday evening in the month at 7:00 p.m.  We provide an after-school program for the youth called “The Trail” every Wednesday from about 3:30 through 8:00 p.m.  The entire church meets for “Activity Night” every third Friday at 6:30 p.m.  All these activities and events are aimed at helping us walk closer to Christ and to one another.  If you are looking for a new way, a better way to live, please come and visit with us.  God’s way is the very best way to live.

Our annual Watterson Trail “Tuesday Summer Sermon Series” is scheduled to begin on June 2^nd, only 6 weeks away.  You won’t want to miss a single Tuesday evening.  Each session will begin at 7:00 p.m.  We will have 12 of Kentucky’s very best preachers preaching on our theme: “The Christian’s Confidence – Christ.”  From first to last these men of God will be sharing lessons from the book of First John. 

Take a look and plan to be here for every session.

June 2            Christ is Revealed               Alvin White - J’ville, IN

June 9            Christ is Verified                 Drew Custer - Okolona

June 16         Christ is Declared               Luke Ashby - New Harmony

June 23         Christ is Believed                Jerry Stephenson - Midwest/L’ville

June 30         Christ is Known                   Mike Welter - Okolona

July 7             Christ is Followed               Gerry Anderson - Auburndale

July 14           Christ is Loved                     Dale Phillips - Westport Rd/L’ville

July 21           Christ is Obeyed                 Arnis Pape - Westport Rd/L’ville

July 28           Christ is Honored               Kenneth Fleming - Newburg

August 4       Christ is Imitated                Bryan Dill - Holly Hill/Frankfort

August 11     Christ is Exalted                   Eric Welch - Hamburg Pike

August 18     Christ is Eternal                   Conrad Moorer - Northside/J’ville, IN

May God bless us as we come to Him, learn from Him, and take His yoke upon us every day, for He is meek and lowly and in Him we shall find rest for our souls (Matthew 11:28-30).

God is good.  He is excellent.

LADIES DAY AT WATTERSON TRAIL - MARCH 21, 2015 - 8:30 A.M.

9^th ANNUAL LADIES DAY at Watterson Trail

This Saturday, March 21^st – Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.

Very Special Speaker:  Cindi Burleson

Plan to stay for Lunch at 12:00:  Served by the Watterson Trail Brothers

Our ladies Watterson Trail have been working tirelessly planning and preparing for this very special annual ladies event.  The parking area and landscaping is beautiful.  The building is clean, organized, and decorated.  Our speaker is well-studied and prepared to share her lessons.  Lunch will be ready and delicious.  Every Christian woman at Watterson Trail is truly excited about family and friends coming from just about everywhere to share in the activities of the day.  The entire day will be one to remember as our ladies dedicate themselves to our theme:  “Create in Me a Clean Heart.” 

Of course this is a “ladies only” event.  But men, if you would like to come out on Saturday, we have a job for you. The men of Watterson Trail will be serving lunch to the ladies.  Come and be a part of the grand event.

This Sunday (22^nd) we will continue to delve into what it means to walk along the pathway of the Old Rugged Cross of Christ.  There are requirements:  Courage, Reason, Obedience, Sacrifice, and Sincerity.  As we walk along the way we will experience Challenges, Responsibilities, Opportunities, Sorrows, and Successes.  This Sunday we will focus on SORROWS.  Everyone has sorrows.  Christians sorrow, too.  This is a fact of life.  Think about these things.  Growing up is hard to do.  Learning about life and living often involves sorrow.  I’ve learned some valuable lessons from sorrow.  We all have to deal with the enemy, the devil and his minions.  He brings sorrow (John 10:9-10).  I’m so glad that Jesus brings us life abundantly.  If God wills, we grow old and growing old means we will have to experience sorrows.  Of course, death is sorrowful.  Even when those we love die in Christ and we know they rest in Paradise, we sorrow for them and for ourselves.  We will speak about these things this Sunday.  Are you going through sorrow?  Well, when we decide to walk along the pathway of the Old Rugged Cross, sorrow is just a part of the experience.  The thing is, as we experience sorrow, our Savior knows, cares, and provides for us what we need to take another step toward Him, another step toward a place called heaven where there will be no more sorrow.

We are beginning a new series of sermons on Sunday afternoon here at Watterson Trail.  I hope you can make plans to be present.  We will ask the question; “What would it take for you to believe and obey Christ?”  This Sunday afternoon we will take a look at Thomas and see what he thought he needed in order to believe.

God bless you and yours.  Get out and enjoy this beautiful sunshine.  They tell me that Kentucky is beautiful in the Spring.  I’m excited to know.

Simple strong steady Christian living...

Hello from J’town, Kentucky.  Our weather here has been a bear recently, 60 degrees one day and -4 two days later with 10 inches of ice and snow in between.  I’m adjusting to including a plan B in my plans.  Spring is on the horizon and winter knows it.  Old winter just refuses to give in, but as we all know and take comfort in, spring is just around the corner.  I’m glad.  It will be so good to see the flowers popping up and the trees budding out again. 

The Watterson Trail congregation is doing just fine, continuing in the Way of Jesus Christ in simplicity and steadiness.  It seems that the world around us moves further and further away from these three principles:  continuance, simplicity, and steadfastness.  Is faith in God (What does Hebrews 11:6 tell us about faith?), repentance (When we sin, saying “I’m sorry” and changing our hearts, minds, and actions is common sense), confession (Either we deny Jesus as the Christ or we confess His as the Christ.  There is no in between), baptism (No matter what people say or teach, baptism is required because Jesus declared it to be), and true Christian living so difficult to understand?  Why do some feel as though these basic principles are from some bygone era and should be discounted as “old-fashioned” and irrelevant in this, our modern-day society?  The Bible is a very old book; still relevant, still vibrant, still alive, still convicting, still needed, still true.

Ephesians 4 teaches us about Christian living.  Take a look.  We are to “walk worthy” of our calling.  How?  Be humble, gentle, patient, loving, always endeavoring to maintain the “unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”  God gave each one of us individual personal gifts and responsibilities so that the church of Christ would be strong and growing.  We are to be mature in our thinking, speech, and actions, not like little children who are sometimes easily led astray from the right path.  We must not be ignorant, but always reading, studying, learning, and growing in Christ Jesus.  We must put off the old person of the world, the person who followed their own desires rather than Christ’s desires and wear the new person in Christ, the person who is righteous and holy.  We must never lie.  We must always tell the truth in love.  We must never be angry and sin.  Being angry is not sinful.  Being angry and staying angry is sinful.  Being angry and refusing to find correction is sinful.  When we are angry, we give the devil an advantage.  We must not let the sun go down on our anger.  We must never steal.  We must work to provide for ourselves and for others who are in need.  We must never curse, gossip, or speak in such a way that hurts others.  We must always measure our speech so that the things we say provide wisdom, strength, and positive change in the world around us.  When we speak words of bitterness, anger, and hate we grieve the Holy Spirit of God.  Words can kill or heal.  I choose words that heal.  We must always be kind, merciful, and forgiving.  Every person I know has a bad day occasionally.  God in Christ forgives us.  Shouldn’t we do the same for others?  Living the Christian life is truly the best way, the only way to live.

Who's your shepherd? I have chosen Jesus Christ!

Hello from J’town, Kentucky, your friend, Mickey Burleson, and the Watterson Trail Church of Christ.  I’m glad you’re checking out “Proclaiming His Praises.”  I am so very happy to share my thoughts about life and living with you.  I pray that you will come to believe in Jesus Christ.  And you will when you decide to open the Bible and your mind and heart to God’s direction for you.  Regardless of your Bible knowledge, you probably can quote at least part of Psalm 23.  “The Lord is my Shepherd.  I shall not want.”  You may need to look into the Bible to be remind yourself of just what this psalm says.  Psalm 23 is written in beautiful literary language.  It is actually a song that we sing. 

Ever see cattle lying down in the field?  They are full, at peace, and secure.  Ever walked beside still waters?  Can you remember how peaceful you felt as you looked out over the water, maybe a lake or a place in the river?  Maybe you stopped, looked out over the water, and took a deep, deep breath, then sighed and smiled.  Ever felt down and out? Maybe disappointed or depressed?  When the Lord is my Shepherd, He promises to restore my soul.  Of course, I must follow Him to restoration. 

How about those “paths of righteousness”?  We all have walked in the paths of sin.  Know that God did not lead us down those paths.  We walked down those paths under the direction of one who only seeks to kill, steal, and destroy, the enemy, the thief (John 10:9-10).  Sin always takes us farther than we ever wanted to go.  Sin always costs us more than we ever wanted to spend.  Sin always keeps us longer than we ever wanted to stay.  When we are ready to let go of sin, sin is never ready to let go of us.  When we look at sin, we may see fun or pleasure or excitement or an attempt to prove to someone else that we are in control.  When God looks at sin, He sees His One and Only Son, dying on the cross.  When I decide to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, He promises to lead me in the paths of righteousness.  He came to give us an abundant life, a good life, real life, a righteous life. 

When someone we know dies, maybe a member of our family or a friend, fear and confusion can invade our thinking, but when the Lord is the Shepherd of our lives, He is with us and so we have peace and comfort in the fact that the Lord knows, cares, and provides for us all. 

The Shepherd, the Lord has a rod and a staff.  A shepherd uses his rod and staff to correct and discipline his flock and as a weapon of protection to drive away any predator who would want to attack the flock.  We do not look at the Lord’s rod and staff in fear.  We actually find comfort in our Shepherd’s rod and staff.  There is nothing to fear as we follow our Shepherd, the Lord. 

Do you have enemies?  Everyone does, whether we know it or not.  When Jesus walked the earth He certainly had enemies.  As we follow the Lord, our Shepherd He promises provision even in the presence of any enemy. 

Back in Bible times, having your head anointed was a good thing.  Having your head anointed with oil meant that you were chosen, special, accepted.  The Lord our Shepherd anoints our head with oil.  He chooses us.  We are special.  We are accepted by the Shepherd.  

Ever felt like or said, “Life just can’t get any better than this”?  These moments in life are reminders of the cup of blessing or happiness that every Christian has been given.  It is true that sometimes we feel down and out, like our cup has been drained down even to emptiness.  Sin certainly does this to us.  Just living life sometimes drains us of our happiness.  Sometimes we feel like the cup is empty even when it isn’t.  When we follow the Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ He promises that our cups will run over. 

What will like be like under the leadership and care of the Lord, our Shepherd?  Goodness and mercy is ours every day we live.  When we die, we have a home prepared for us in heaven, forever.  Amen.

Who is your shepherd?  Who are you following?  I have chosen Jesus Christ as my Lord, my Savior, my Friend, my Advocate, my Helper, my Shepherd.  You can too.  The Watterson Trail Church of Christ is entirely and completely focused on the Shepherd.

SNOW! Mickey Burleson, welcome to Kentucky!

Welcome to Louisville, Kentucky, Mickey Burleson!  The snow is beautiful..and deep…and cold…and still coming down as I write this blog.  Of course, if you have to be outside working or traveling, you probably have a little different “take” on 12 inches of snow.  Then again, if you live in the northeast 12 inches would just be a “dusting” of snow.  Anyway, I am thankful that the winter storm is coming through on Monday and not Sunday.  Speaking of Sunday, we had a good crowd at Watterson Trail yesterday (15^th) even though the temperature was very cold and we all had heard that “winter” was indeed on its way to J’town.  We had several guests with us including a couple of guests from my old Enola, Arkansas home (Steve and Kim Mooningham).  I am happy that they were able to make the trip to visit with us and especially thankful that they were able to get home safely before the wintery weather arrived.  Thank you to the congregation for your care and sincere love for our guests at every assembly.  God continues to bless us.  We want to grow and be what God would have us to be.

We really enjoyed visiting with the group of “seniors” at the Forum at Brookside this past Sunday at 2:00 p.m.  The Forum’s activity room was filled to capacity with residents from the complex and Christian brethren from Watterson Trail.  Brother Spencer Clark, Brother Dr. Anthony Remson, and Brother Dan Isenberg led the entire assembly in singing.  Outstanding!!  Brother Bruce Fowler led the group in prayer.  God blessed me with the privilege of preaching a lesson on the importance of small things.  I enjoyed using a few props to illustrate the points of the lesson: booster cables, water, a dollar bill, a handkerchief, and a band aide.  Think about it.  Has there been a time in your life when you really could have used one or more of these items, items that seem very small and insignificant, but at the right place and the  right time not small and insignificant at all?  I keep a supply of band aides in my wallet at all times.  I think that most grandparents do.  They come in handy in the lobby of the church building when a child scrapes a knee or when I’m doing a little “handyman” work.  Those booster cables really come in handy when someone needs a “jump.”  Not too long ago I had the privilege of using them to jump start a 2012 Chevrolet Corvette.  Just ready to serve when and where God provides the opportunity, right?  When you think about it, God gives us so many examples of the importance of small things:  a little boy in a basket, a widow with two small coins, a boy with 5 loaves and 2 fish, the boy who killed a giant with a sling and a stone, a little boy born in a manger…we could go on and on.  What about you and me?  We may think that we are small and insignificant, a maybe we are in ourselves, but in the hands and plans of our Almighty God, we can be great.  Are you in His hands and plans?  Get in there.

We have a very busy schedule this week:  Elders/ministers meeting tonight (16^th), Leaders meeting on Tuesday, Bible study on Wednesday, AHG on Thursday, Activity Night on Friday, Teacher’s Workshop on Saturday, Special Pot-luck “Sendoff” for one of our elders Brother Bruce Fowler on Sunday followed a Singing in the area followed by our Birthday and Anniversary Get-together at our house.  Whew!  What a wonderful life we live as Christians.

We have some wonderful and exciting times ahead at Watterson Trail…

Ladies Day at WT – Saturday, March 21^st

Tuesday Summer Series (June, July, August) – 12 Area Preachers coming our way to preach on our theme “The Christian’s Confidence – Christ.”

Vacation Bible School – October

Weekend Worship Event (WWE) – October - Al Simmons, Statesville , NC preaching