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.