Just living the Christian life - What an amazing adventure!

March 2018 – The Christian life – Are you living it?  It is an everyday thing, not just on Sundays or holidays.  Do your family and friends know that you are a Christian?  Of course, we don’t have to wear a badge that says, “I’m a Christian” for them to know.  They can see it in the way we think, speak, act, and live.  Life is tough sometimes and we often let Jesus down as well let ourselves down.  Don’t be dismayed.  God’s love is unlimited and so are His patience, His kindness, and His grace.  Just begin again today.  Don’t look back.  Look ahead at the fantastic adventure called the Christian life.

Can you “see” the church of Christ where you worship growing…growing so much that we simply have no more room to put people coming to worship God every week?  It is possible only when you and I can “see” it happening!  If we “dream it” and realize that ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD all the while trusting, praying, and working toward that vision inviting and reminding our family, friends, and neighbors about the glorious Savior we love and the church that brings us so much happiness, we will day after day “see” God’s blessings abound all around us.

Of course you and I both know that growth takes time.  Think about it.  What does a 16 year old need to do to be 21?  Well, she simply needs to live 5 more years, one day at a time, one week at a time, one month at a time, one year at a time.  Patience is a requirement.  Eventually she’ll make it to 21 and Lord willing beyond.  Of course, after a few more years she’ll probably look back thinking, “What was I thinking?” 

Everyone person we know needs a Savior, the One and Only Savior Jesus Christ and a family of Christians like the one we enjoy in the churches of Christ.  They just don’t realize that they can have and enjoy the salvation and consolation that comes with Christ’s amazing grace.  Let’s tell them.  And keep on keeping on.

I'm just standing in the curve...

JANUARY 2018 – Wow!  2017 is now history.  Don't look back.  Look ahead.  I'm letting go of yesterday in order to fully grasp and enjoy today.  I will live one day at a time.  What is it that they say; "Yesterday is history.  Tomorrow is a mystery.  And today, well, its a gift.  That's why today is called the present.

Not too many years ago I was sleeping soundly after midnight and awoke to the terrible sound of a car crash.  Just around the corner from where we lived there was a sharp curve in front of a large oak tree.  Four teenagers were in the car driving too fast, distracted, and careless.  They missed the curve and hit the tree head-on.  I jumped out of bed, clothed myself, and ran just up the street to see what one never wants to see, a sight that remains etched in my memory.  One teen survived.  Three did not. 

A police officer was first to arrive.  I was second.  After quickly introducing myself as the minister just up the street, the office gave me a job to do.  “Preacher,” he said; “Take this flashlight, stand in the street in the curve, and stop anyone from coming into the scene of the accident.”  I did.  And in a way I am still fulfilling this officer’s directive today. 

In James 5:19-20 we read, “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death, and cover a multitude of sins.”  Oh, how I wish I could have been in the curve earlier that night, with a flashlight, waving my arms, yelling “Slow down” or “Pay attention” or “Please put your cellphone away” or anything that would have made a difference in the outcome. 

As Christians we are called to look out for each other and for all who may be headed in the wrong direction.  The Apostle Paul wrote in I Corinthians 9:19, “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more.”  He stood in the curve of life with the flashlight of the word of God to direct anyone from the way of sin and death into the way of salvation and life.  There are a few of us standing in the curve and we need your help.

December 2017 - Almost there! Thank you to our Teachers at WT

DECEMBER 2017 – Lately you have probably noticed that we have a few more children, present at Watterson Trail.  What a tremendous blessing it is to have young families with their children here with us for worship, Bible study, and fellowship.  Having children in our midst tells us that we are alive and well as a congregation of the Lord’s people.  Children in our midst also calls us to a cherished responsibility and privilege to provide for them access to the gospel of Christ on their own personal level.  It is my prayer every day as your minister that God will bless us with many more children of God, both young and older in the coming year 2018.

I ran across this poem in my studies this week and thought about the privilege we all have at Watterson Trail to serve each and every child that God sends to us.  I don’t know who penned this poem, but what a reminder it is to all who serve our children in any and every way.

MY TURN IN THE NURSERY

Last Sunday was my turn in the nursery to work. 

My heart wasn’t in it; my feelings were hurt.
A child from its mother did not want to part
And it cried a lot with its broken heart.
I prayed that soon the hour would end,
That I could relax – no more children to tend.
Soon the hour was over; it felt good to be free.
I said, “Once a month was too much for me!”
The very next Sunday as I sat in the pew
A very good sermon, but visitors were few.
But down came a woman and her soul was saved.
She was the mother of that crying babe!
Then it dawned on me that I had been a part
Of one being saved – giving God her heart.
From that day on I would never dread
Working in the nursery while souls are fed.

A special thank you to our deacon over education, Ray Frederick and every Christian brother and sister who dedicates themselves, their time, talent, and treasure to see that every child of God, both young and older "grows in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him be the glory both now and forever.  Amen"  (2 Peter 3:18).

The Main Thing is the keep the Main Thing the Main Thing

November 2017 – Only eight Sunday’s left in the year.  Let's make it our aim to finish out 2017 strong and faithful in our giving and in our living.  With so many plans, obligations, and expectations, especially during the holiday season, we sometimes find ourselves overextended in time, mind, and money.  Jesus asks each of us to put first things first, to remember that the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.  Jesus knows our needs and desires.  He asks us to "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33).

I read about a man who knelt with his preacher one night and prayed as he committed himself to give a tenth of what he earned to the Lord.  His first week’s pay was $100 so his offering was $10.  As he grew older he became more prosperous and his tenth became $20 and then $50.  He moved to another city and soon his tenth became $100 then $200 then $500.  He then called his old friend and former preacher to please come by to visit.  The preacher arrived at the man’s beautiful house.  They had a good time talking over old times and finally, the man came to the point with the preacher, “Do you remember that prayer and promise I made years ago to give the Lord a tenth of all I earned?  How can I be released from that promise?”  “Why do you want to be released?” asked the preacher.  “It’s like this,” the man replied.  When I made that promise I only had to give $10, but now my offering is $500.  I can’t afford to give away money like that.”  The preacher looked at his friend and said, “I’m afraid we can’t get a release from that promise, but there is something we can do.  We can kneel right here and ask God to shrink your income so you will only have to give $10 again.”  The man declined.

$20,000 for my brand new car.  $10,000 for a piece of sod.

$10,000 I paid to begin a house – A dollar I give to God.

A tidy sum to entertain – My friends in pointless chatter.

And when the world goes crazy mad, I ask, “Lord, what’s the matter?”

Yet, there is one big question – For the answer I still search

“With things so bad in this old world, what’s holding back the church?"

“But this I say; He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work” (II Corinthians 9:6-8).

God bless our famly and friends in Texas and Florida...

SEPTEMBER 2017 – I hope you are now settled into your “new normal” with school now back in session with summer coming quickly to a close and fall on the horizon.  We’re so very sorry for our fellow Christians and our neighbors in Texas and also in Florida who are facing such dire life circumstances.  We are praying for them daily and it is our pleasure to assist them personally and as a congregation of the Lord’s church.  Thank you for your generous and regular financial support for our local, national, and world mission efforts.  God bless them and us.

It has been said that every football team could use a player who could play every position perfectly, who never fumbles the ball or misses a tackle and who never makes a mistake…but there’s no way to get him to put down his hot dog and drink and come down out of the stands.  There is seldom any shortage of critics in the stand who say, after a player has made a mistake, just how the play should have been made.  It probably wouldn’t be too difficult to find a person who would have scored the winning touchdown if he had been running the ball.  You see, it’s much easier to talk a perfect game than to play one.

The Christian life is a race that is to be run, a fight that is to be fought, and a life that is to be lived every day, rather than something that can simply be done sitting on the sideline looking on.  In Hebrews 12:1-2 the Bible says; “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”  We must come out of the stands and participate in the race before us and not just be an onlooker.

There is a race that has to be run, a fight that has to be fought, and a life that has to be lived.  In order to race, fight, and live we must "lay aside" whatever it is that is keeping us from racing, fighting, and living and race, fight, and live.  Simple.  Right?  Well, that's another story.