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.