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.