A little bit of Bible for Today! Challenging for sure!

Okay in KY.  How are you this week?  Hope all is well and that your 2015 has gotten off to a great beginning.  Proverbs 3:1-10 is one of my favorite passages from the Bible. 

Verses 1 and 2;  “My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.”

Don’t you want length of days, a long life, and peace?  I do.  So, we must not forget the laws and the commands of God.  When I fail to meet the conditions of the promises, then I fail to receive the promises.   When I remember God’s law and let my heart keep His commands, then whatever my length of days may be or whatever “long life” may mean and whatever peace can be mine, will be.  Life cannot always be measured in quantity.  A better measure of life could be in quality.

Verse 3 and 4; “Let not mercy and truth forsake you.  Bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.”

What do you think it means to “let not mercy and truth forsake you?”  Can mercy and truth actually forsake us, or is it that we forsake mercy and truth?  I guess either way, we must always let mercy and truth show in and through our lives from our hearts like a necklace.  We must never “hide” such valuables from the world.  Our world desperately needs mercy and truth.  When I am merciful and truthful, Solomon says that I am truly successful in life and living.  People will see me as a light to the world and so will God.

Verse 5 and 6; “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Sometimes our thoughts and feelings are pretty good.  However, at other times our thinking and what we feel about a situation cannot be trusted.  We can always trust in God, in His ways, His will, and His word, the Bible.  Those who know me know that I am directionally challenged.  I need guidance to a better understanding and on to the right path.  What about you?  When we submit to God’s leadership, to His will, way, and word, to what is right according to Him, He promises to direct our path of life in all that we can be.

Verse 7 and 8; “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil, it will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.”

Occasionally I meet someone who is “wise in their own eyes.”  If you ask them, they are wise, knowledgeable, beautiful, prestigious, scholarly, healthy, and of course, humble.  Yeah??  Okay!!?  God would have us be humble, for sure, but humility is never something we can brag about.  The moment we announce our humility is the very moment we cease to be what we are announcing ourselves to be.  I’m looking at myself now and finding that too many times I have been “wise in my own eyes.”  And I am certainly sorry for this.  I want to be healthy and strong.  Therefore, I must submit myself to God, reverence Him for who He is, and never allow evil in my heart and life.

Verse 9 and 10:  “Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.”

What does it mean to honor God with our possessions?  I have time, talents, and treasures.  I honor God with what I have and with who I am when I use these possessions in good and worthwhile ways.  I can’t make a list for you, but I think, maybe, you know whether or not you are honoring God with what you have.  Not too long ago, a Christian brother came into my office to confess that he just could not support the church financially, that it took every dollar he had to pay his bills.  He really wanted to, but simply did not have the funds to do so.  That week he had gone bowling with his family, attended the Friday night football game to support his high school, taken his wife and family out to eat at Olive Garden, and had driven several miles over to watch his favorite college team play their rivals.  I think you get the picture.  I can only see what I can see.  God sees everything.  If I want to have plenty and have my life to be full with blessings, then I must follow God’s instructions.  I must honor Him first, THEN the blessings will be mine.

Enough.  Have a wonderful rest of your week.  I want all that God has for me.  I will honor Him and follow Him.  Will you?

A Christian (simply and only)!

We’re having a great week in J’town, Kentucky!  I am so very thankful for life, good health, my family, friends, and especially my name and place in Christ’s kingdom, His church.  We are the church; you, me, and all who have believed in Jesus as God’s Son, repented of our sins, confessed Him, and put Christ on in baptism.  The Lord Himself added us to His church (Acts 2:27) when we are saved by grace through faith.  The church belongs to Christ.  He is the Savior, the Head and we are the saved, His body.  That is the reason we call ourselves the church of Christ: the church belonging to Christ.  Of course we can also look in the Bible (Romans 16:16) and find that congregations of the Lord’s church are called “churches of Christ.”  We are Christians.  We do not choose this name by vote or because it sounds good or because this name suits us.  We are Christians because God calls the followers of Jesus Christ this name.  In Acts 11:26 we find this name.  King Agrippa used the name “Christian” when he was almost persuaded to become one (Acts 26:28).  Simon Peter wrote to us about suffering in 1 Peter 4:16, “Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.” 

 

I have often thought about the many and varied names that people take on when it comes to religion and wondered why people couldn’t just be Christians. I mean, I realize why a Hindu calls himself a “Hindu” or a Buddhist calls himself a “Buddhist” or Islamist calls himself a Muslim or someone who will not believe in God calls himself an atheist.  I don’t fully understand why people who believe in Jesus Christ as God’s Son and claim to follow His teachings in the New Testament call themselves any other name but “Christian.”  Not too long ago I was talking with a person and asked him if and where he went to church.  I realize that “going to church” is not the correct way to word this question, but in the world today, people understand what I mean.  He answered, “Yes, I am a __________” and went on to talk about the denominational church he was a part of.  He asked me about my church affiliation.  I stated that I am a Christian and a member of the church of Christ that meets at Watterson Trail in J’town.  After my answer his immediate response was “Well, I am a Christian too.  I’m a ___________ Christian.”  My next statement to him was, “If we believe in Jesus and follow His words, shouldn’t we call ourselves what the Bible calls us:  “Christians?” nothing before the word and nothing after the word.  I am not a “church of Christ Christian” or an anything Christian.  I am also not a member of a denominational church.  I am a Christian (simply and only) a member of the church that belongs to Christ, the church of Christ.  This church exists all around the world and regularly meets together for fellowship, Bible study, worship, and service here, there, and everywhere in small congregations made up of maybe two or three Christians and in large congregations, some into the hundreds of thousands. 

 

Yes, I am so very thankful to be a Christian, a member of God’s family, the church that Jesus established, purchased, provides for, and is coming from heaven to receive to Himself (John 14:1-6).  I hope you can read this blog, think about who you are and what the Bible says, understand what I am trying to say, and make the changes you need to make to be what you need to be.  Now this is a good question to ask ourselves; “Is the person I am, the person I need to be?”

Get well and stay well in every way my friends!!

Hello from Jeffersontown, Kentucky, the Watterson Trail Church of Christ, and your friend and minister, Mickey Burleson.  We’re having a good week in J’town.  It certainly is cold.  I guess winter in Kentucky has finally arrived.  Some who have been sick are now well and able to be here for worship.  I am so very thankful for answered prayers.  We still have many who are sick with the various illnesses that accompany winter weather.  Let us keep praying for those who are sick, hoping that with rest, proper care, and time they will soon be in good health.  Also, let’s remember to give those we love a call, text, and a card to encourage them. 

My grandmothers (Loie Avery and Tennie Burleson) lived into their 90’s, took very little medication, were seldom sick, especially when they were my age, and always gave me sound advice on how to remain healthy.  When I think about it, I can still hear them say, “Son, are you getting enough rest?  Now you know when you don’t get enough rest, your immune system will be weak and you’ll end up getting sick!” and “Son, did you eat breakfast?  You know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day!” and “Son, did you wash your hands before and after…” and “Son, make sure you drink some hot tea and honey ever so often or you’ll get sick during these cold winter days.”  I am really trying to follow their instructions as much as possible.  Sometimes I push too hard and don’t rest when I should.  Sometimes I skip meals.  Not good.  I do wash my hands before and after.  And I purchased a jar of honey from one of our American Heritage Girl’s dad who is a bee keeper right after our move to Louisville.  I do drink a cup of hot tea with a teaspoon of honey just about every day.  I don’t know if this helps me stay healthy or not, but I enjoy it and well, so far, so good.  Another quote from my grandmothers; “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”  True.

What about our spiritual health?  The old adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is true when it comes to our spiritual health too.  Think about what God has told us in the Bible.  In 1 John 2:1 we read; “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin.  And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”  The last part of this verse gives us the cure for sin, Jesus Christ.  Sin is terrible.  Only Jesus can set us free from sin.  The first part of the verse gives us the way to prevent sin in our lives; reading, study, remembrance, and application of God’s word, the Bible as we live in and for Christ Jesus every day.  Think.  Wouldn’t it be better, easier on us and everyone around us, and wise to apply the “ounce of prevention” every day to our thoughts, words, and decisions?  We can do this.  Will we?

The church of Christ at 9607 Watterson Trail in Louisville meets for study, fellowship, and worship every Sunday at 9:30, 10:30, and 1:30.  We meet for Bible study every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.  The men meet for Men’s Fellowship every Tuesday (second Tuesday excepted) at Frisch’s Big Boy Restaurant on Bardstown Road.  Every Wednesday we have an afterschool program called “Trail” for our children and teens.  On Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m. the area “American Heritage Girls” have their meeting and activities at our facilities.  The women have a Ladies’ Devotional at the building every 2^nd Friday in the month.  We have a birthday and anniversary get-together at 3:00 p.m. on the 4^th Sunday in the month for those who have a birthday and/or an anniversary in the month.  Our Annual Ladies’ Day is just around the corner, scheduled for Saturday, March 21^st.  I could go on and on, but I hope you get the picture.  We love to get together and to be together as Christians.  Come on over.  You would love it.

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.