Spring yet? Still waiting! Summer Series is just around the corner...

April 20, 2018 – Hello friends.  Glad we made it to Friday.  It’s still cool outside but very nice.  Kentucky Thunder on the Ohio River is now upon us scheduled for tomorrow (21^st) downtown.  And “Derby Day” in only two weeks away.  Be careful on the highways; 750,000+ people going and coming and gathered together can be quite complicated. 

Our annual Watterson Trail “Tuesday Summer Sermon Series” is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, June 5^th, only 6 weeks away.  You won’t want to miss a single Tuesday evening.  Each session will begin at 7:00 p.m. and last about an hour.

We will have 12 of Kentucky’s very best preachers with one Alabama preacher from Kentucky in the mix preaching on our theme: “The Greatest Questions – The Greatest Answers – The Greatest Book.”  From first to last these men of God will be sharing lessons from the greatest book, the Bible.

Take a look and plan to be here for every session.

June 5              Dean Beard, Piedmont, AL - Is anything too hard for God?

June 12            Luke Ashby, New Harmony - Will a man rob God?

June 19            Brent Donoho, Martinsburg, IN - If a man dies, shall he live again?

June 26            Larry Webb, Worthington - Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

July 3               Jerry Macon, West Broadway - If God be for us, who can be against us?

July 10             Eric Welch, Hamburg Pike, J’Ville, IN - Who is my neighbor?

July 17             Steve Johnson, North Lexington - For what is your life?

July 24             Greg Circle, Palmyra, IN - For what does it profit a man if he gains the 

                       whole world and loses his own soul?

July 31             Zack Martin, Cedar Springs - How shall we escape if we neglect so 

                       great salvation?

August 7          Aaron Erhardt, Taylorsville - For do I now persuade men or God or do I seek 

                       to please men?

August 14        Andy Baker, World Christian Broadcasting – What does it profit, my brethren 

                       if someone says he has faith but does not have works?

August 21        David Hamilton, Potter Children’s Home – Who are you Lord?  Lord, what 

                       do you want me to do?

August 28        Larry Sawyer, Big Springs – To whom shall we go?

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 in heart and in Him we shall find rest for our souls (Matthew 11:28-30).

What a Savior we have in the One and Only Jesus  Christ – John 14:6.

Jesus Christ - What a Savior - God's Amazing Grace is Amazing!

April 2018 – We keep expecting the cold and rain to give way to bright sunshine, warmer temps, and those feelings that say “summer is just around the corner.”  However, our Kentucky winter is being quite stubborn.  God’s promises are forever secure.  After Noah’s ark landed on the mountains of Ararat God said, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease” (Genesis 8:22).  God is faithful.  No need to worry.

Our Sunday morning sermon (April 8) is entitled “Jesus Christ – What a Savior.”  Whatever we do, whoever we are, whatever might happen or might not happen, Jesus Christ is Savior and Lord, and “Oh what a Savior Jesus IS.”  Whatever the question – Jesus is the Answer.  Whatever the problem – Jesus is the Solution.  Whatever the hurt – Jesus is the Healer.  Whatever the bondage – Jesus is the Liberator.  Whatever the burden – Jesus is the Overcomer.  Whatever the need – Jesus is the Supplier.  Whatever the sin – Jesus is the Forgiver.  He washes.  He justifies.  He sanctifies.  He and He alone is THE One and Only Savior.  He said it Himself; “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). 

Read and remember what Paul wrote to Titus, “a true son in our common faith” asking him to “affirm constantly” these things and that we “who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works” (Titus 3:1-8).  He writes about the “kindness and love of God our Savior” in Jesus and reminds us of Jesus’ amazing grace when he writes; “…not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Sunday afternoon at 1:30 at WT is very special.  We have been studying about “God’s Perfect Peace” from Isaiah 26:3-4.  You and I can have God’s perfect peace every day if we’d follow three simple steps:  #1 – Empty Myself (mind, heart, conscience, and body of the things of the world), #2 – Fill Myself (with faith, hope, and love, with God), and #3 – Guard Myself.  We’ve talked about steps 1 and 2.  We will conclude with the task of guarding ourselves against regret, selfishness, fear, and doubt.  Hear and do.

Don't be afraid. You can do this.

Think.  Believe.  Act.  Trust.  Every Wednesday evening at Watterson Trail one of our Bible study session is entitled “Facing the Giants.” Last week we discussed how “FEAR” can be a giant that we all must face and conquer.  We discussed people from the Bible who were often afraid:  Adam and Eve, the animals after the flood, David, Joseph before Jesus was born, the one talent man, and others.  There is a pathway from fear to faith.  God provides the way.               
       1. Be proactive, not reactive
       2. Be prepared
       3. Trust
       4. Act

Think about the weapons that we can wield against fear:

KNOWLEDGE – Isn’t it a fact that every test is easy when you know the answers to the questions?  Knowledge is vital when we face our fears.

FRIENDSHIP – Solomon wrote that “Two are better than one” and then calls to our attention all the reasons why this is true (Ecclesiastes 4:9).  Friends who stand beside us and will fight with us, not against us in the battle bring strength and confidence.

FAITH – I can only face and conquer my fears when I really come to believe that I can.  And just how does one have faith (Romans 10:17). Someone said, “If you believe you can’t, you’re right.  And if you believe you can, you’re right.”

READINESS – We must be prepared to face and conquer our fears.  Get ready.  Every morning we get up and get ready for the day.  What do we do?  We put on our clothes.  Not just any clothes, but the clothes that we’ll need to accomplish our tasks.  In the case that is before us, we’ll need a belt (of truth), a breastplate (of righteousness), shoes (the preparation of the gospel of peace), a helmet (of salvation), and of course the weapons we’ll need to battle our fears and conquer them, a sword (of the spirit) and a shield (of faith), the word of God and faith in the Savior.  This clothing is found “in Christ” (Ephesians 6:10-18).

Don’t fear.  Look up.  Prepare.  Trust.  Act.

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.