This is the week of the fourth of July, the birth of our nation. Without coming off too corny, I am proud to be an American. Yesterday is a perfect example of why I feel this way as God's children we're able to come together to worship the Almighty without worrying about being persecuted. This week I will blog in a public restaurant about things concerning the Lord's church. Feeling very blessed this morning.
Along those lines, Wednesday night we will be meeting at Riverside Park for our own "Patriotic Picnic". Just bring a side dish as everything else is provided (i.e. drinks, hamburgers, hotdogs, etc.). Everything will get started at 5:30 pm. If you want to bring a Frisbee, football, corn hole, or something else to enjoy with others, do so. I know a mean game of horseshoes will be taking place. It should be a great night. If we should have bad weather we will meet at the church building. Beginning an hour before the event we will start sending emails, posting on Facebook, Twitter, and phone tree for those who do not have access to a computer, IF we will be moving to the Coffee Shop.
It was a good day Sunday. It was announced Matt Woodson has placed membership with us. He has been coming for some time as well as attending Harding University. He feels this is a special place he wants to contribute to in his spiritual life. Welcome Matt.
We finished up the storyline, if you will, of the Book of Daniel. Daniel in the Lion's den is always one of the popular accounts in Scripture. Chapter 6 ended with the introduction of Cyrus, the Persian King. This is the guy who would allow the Hebrews to go home. Now, read the Book of Ezra this week, as it gives the account of Cyrus sending them back to Jerusalem. 70 years in the making! The Maestro orchestrated the whole thing. Praise God!
This Sunday we will get started with the many dreams and visions that are found in the later part of this book. I would appreciate some extra prayers as I try to decipher the meanings as well as put them in an organized presentation. As a preacher, it gets really "fun" - chapters 2 and 7 deal with the 4 kingdoms and a great kingdom, explaining it different ways. Chapter 8 only deals with two of the kingdoms, while chapter 9 and 11 deal with only one. Got it? Yeah, me neither. Now you know what I have been doing all weekend as well as the rest of this week. Eventually, we will deal with angels. The Book of Daniel gives one of the most awesome details of there special servants of God and what is going on behind the nations of the world. Isn't the book of Daniel boring? :) I really love this book.
Have a great week, and hopefully we will see you Wednesday evening.
Monday, June 30, 2014
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Early Monday Report
It's Sunday and I'm looking over the Gulf of Mexico into Tampa Bay. It has been a great week for me and my family in Anna Marie Island. It is the first time, in the last three years, the whole family has been together for vacation. Needless to say, after a week of watching the sun rise and set on the Gulf, fishing, eating delicious (unhealthy) food, reading a 600 page book, and walking around the city, etc., I'm ready to exchange my flip-flops for some hard soled shoes. This evening the Book of Daniel will be back to my #1 book of choice. Our current series, "Maestro", is moving in full force this Sunday - Daniel and the Lion's den.
I would like to thank Tom Harrelson for filling in for me while I was gone. It is good to know we have several men capable of delivering well prepared sermons while I'm able to spend some alone time with my family. I really hate I missed the joint worship with the Gifford church. Looking forward to it next month.
For those interested, the Spiritual Growth Workshop is this weekend in Orlando. I have enjoyed being apart of this over the years and know many of you have prospered due to attending. Click on http://spiritualgrowthworkshop.com/home.html to get more information.
Also, coming up a week from Wednesday, July 2nd, will be our patriotic picnic at Riverside Park. More information will be coming the week. Right now make sure you circle this evening on your calendar.
As always, make sure you check on those around you that wasn't able to make it this week. Call or visit one our shut-ins. Overall, do something nice for someone.
I would like to thank Tom Harrelson for filling in for me while I was gone. It is good to know we have several men capable of delivering well prepared sermons while I'm able to spend some alone time with my family. I really hate I missed the joint worship with the Gifford church. Looking forward to it next month.
For those interested, the Spiritual Growth Workshop is this weekend in Orlando. I have enjoyed being apart of this over the years and know many of you have prospered due to attending. Click on http://spiritualgrowthworkshop.com/home.html to get more information.
Also, coming up a week from Wednesday, July 2nd, will be our patriotic picnic at Riverside Park. More information will be coming the week. Right now make sure you circle this evening on your calendar.
As always, make sure you check on those around you that wasn't able to make it this week. Call or visit one our shut-ins. Overall, do something nice for someone.
Monday, June 9, 2014
Lights Out!
Yesterday morning the outer lights of the auditorium would not turn on. Sunday night, three of the lights, down the middle aisle, decided to go out as we ended. We figure in a couple of weeks we will be more like the early church using candles. Evidently we have some electrical issues that are being looked into, which generally means big expense. Just what Danny Brackett needed, another project to look after on our buildings and grounds. Let him know how much you appreciate everything he does around here. By the way, this weeks sermon is called "Turn Out the Lights... the Party's Over." No relation to our lights going out (I hope).
Despite the electrical issues the atmosphere yesterday was great. When Christians shine their lights it makes a huge difference. The congregation sounded good in our singing Sunday morning and night. Sunday night I enjoyed hearing my son preach. No doubt mom and I are biased but we appreciate all the encouragement you gave him afterwards (as well as over the last few years). We feel very blessed to serve and be a part of this church.
Along those lines, I want to commend this church on the attitude displayed in our Sunday Morning Bible class. It is a very challenging subject which has the potential to make everyone comfortable (no matter what you believe) at some point in time. Saying that, we need to speak up and discuss those things that you may disagree with. Do it in love but feel free to work through things. In fact, you may even agree with the teacher but you're not sure until you ask some questions. But what if you disagree? Treat them as a brother in Christ. "In Doctrine - Unity; in Opinion - Liberty; but in all things Love." Once again I commend you for the way everyone has handled themselves.
Speaking of Bible classes, we need more volunteers in our children's program. The last thing we want to do is have the same people teaching classes for years without a break. Everyone has the potential to burn out so we want to eliminate that from happening. In turn, a fresh teacher makes for better classes for our children. We talk about the future of the church often, but unless we give them the best opportunities it is just talk. See David Paladin or Andrea Wild if you are willing to take a turn in our kids program.
Finally, I want to induce something a church adopted by its leaders. It is called the Monday Rule. Basically, no one is allowed to complain to the church leaders on Sunday, they have to wait until Monday morning. Why? Read the article. I am 100% in agreement with what the writer expresses. http://timspivey.com/the-monday-rule/ Think about it.
Enough for today. Continue to reach out to those who sit around you. Let us know if there is someone who needs special care. May God bless you this week.
Despite the electrical issues the atmosphere yesterday was great. When Christians shine their lights it makes a huge difference. The congregation sounded good in our singing Sunday morning and night. Sunday night I enjoyed hearing my son preach. No doubt mom and I are biased but we appreciate all the encouragement you gave him afterwards (as well as over the last few years). We feel very blessed to serve and be a part of this church.
Along those lines, I want to commend this church on the attitude displayed in our Sunday Morning Bible class. It is a very challenging subject which has the potential to make everyone comfortable (no matter what you believe) at some point in time. Saying that, we need to speak up and discuss those things that you may disagree with. Do it in love but feel free to work through things. In fact, you may even agree with the teacher but you're not sure until you ask some questions. But what if you disagree? Treat them as a brother in Christ. "In Doctrine - Unity; in Opinion - Liberty; but in all things Love." Once again I commend you for the way everyone has handled themselves.
Speaking of Bible classes, we need more volunteers in our children's program. The last thing we want to do is have the same people teaching classes for years without a break. Everyone has the potential to burn out so we want to eliminate that from happening. In turn, a fresh teacher makes for better classes for our children. We talk about the future of the church often, but unless we give them the best opportunities it is just talk. See David Paladin or Andrea Wild if you are willing to take a turn in our kids program.
Finally, I want to induce something a church adopted by its leaders. It is called the Monday Rule. Basically, no one is allowed to complain to the church leaders on Sunday, they have to wait until Monday morning. Why? Read the article. I am 100% in agreement with what the writer expresses. http://timspivey.com/the-monday-rule/ Think about it.
Enough for today. Continue to reach out to those who sit around you. Let us know if there is someone who needs special care. May God bless you this week.
Monday, June 2, 2014
I'm Baaaack!
Just when you thought your spam filter had gotten rid of me, I'm back with the Monday Morning Report. The last couple of weeks the ministers have been trying to get reorganized while A'Lana is taking some time off. Hopefully this week you will get email updates again. Just remember, I am the best speller in the office now, which means you can expect some errors. But we will do our best. Now for the report.
Yesterday was a really great day. Jerry Cutshall began a adult class in the auditorium that is going to be good as well as challenging. It is about being the true church Jesus came and died for on the cross. May we remember our theme: "In doctrine - unity; in opinion - liberty; but in all things love."
Worship was also uplifting, despite the fact I had the wrong songs up for David Brooker. In the middle of the night it finally hit me what I did (or didn't do). It will not happen again. Fortunately it was David up there instead of me. He had no notice of the songs we were singing nor did he know what was coming up next! Yet, he made it as smooth as if he had a week to prepare. We are very fortunate to have a song leader like David.
Speaking of singing, Sunday night was REALLY good. I don't know if it was the smaller setting, or everyone was in a mood to sing, or what, but the harmony and volume was great! A big thanks to all of those who got up and lead. I'm looking forward to doing it again next month.
Our sermon series is in full swing. If you missed yesterday you can read Daniel 3 this week to catch up. By the way, I do a "Sermon Recap" on my Facebook page on Mondays that deals with the highlights of the lesson. Send me a "friend" request if you are not currently getting these. Next week we will be diving into Daniel 4 in a lesson I call "Mad Cow Disease." One of the really interesting accounts in Scripture.
Speaking of Daniel, if you have a Kindle you can download a free book on the Book of Daniel called The Derision of Heaven by Micheal Whitworth. Today is supposed to be the last day to get the free download. He is an excellent writer and author of several books. This book, along with another he published, are award winning (the other is called The Epic of God). He preaches for the Carter Lake Road church of Christ in Bowie, Texas. I started reading it this weekend. Although I plan to stay one chapter behind the sermon I'm preaching so you can get a fresh look into the lessons we are studying. Go to http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E6TXA76/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_2QDItb16C53K1 You may not have a Kindle but a computer that has a free Kindle app, like iPad, Windows8, or other versions that will let you get the book. Just an idea for anyone who wants to dig a little deeper.
Yesterday it was announced that Reagan Brackett is going to Africa this summer with Harding as a mission-based study abroad program. The goal is to help students understand the missionary needs of Africa while experiencing Zambia first hand. This is not like studying in Paris, as each of the students had to take an intense two week survival course to be allowed to attend (ask her about it sometime). The reason I mention this to you is, first of all, pray for Reagan and the work the students will be doing. Secondly, the students are asking for donations to buy supplies for the people in those villages, things we generally take for granted, such as aspirin, bandages, arm slings, antibiotic creams, antacids, iron tablets, etc., etc., etc. There is a collection jar in the foyer if you would like to help out.
Well, that is enough for now. Remember to check on those who sit around you who may have been missing Sunday. Send a shut-in a card or give them a call. If you find someone who needs special attention please let the elders or ministers know. Thanks.
Yesterday was a really great day. Jerry Cutshall began a adult class in the auditorium that is going to be good as well as challenging. It is about being the true church Jesus came and died for on the cross. May we remember our theme: "In doctrine - unity; in opinion - liberty; but in all things love."
Worship was also uplifting, despite the fact I had the wrong songs up for David Brooker. In the middle of the night it finally hit me what I did (or didn't do). It will not happen again. Fortunately it was David up there instead of me. He had no notice of the songs we were singing nor did he know what was coming up next! Yet, he made it as smooth as if he had a week to prepare. We are very fortunate to have a song leader like David.
Speaking of singing, Sunday night was REALLY good. I don't know if it was the smaller setting, or everyone was in a mood to sing, or what, but the harmony and volume was great! A big thanks to all of those who got up and lead. I'm looking forward to doing it again next month.
Our sermon series is in full swing. If you missed yesterday you can read Daniel 3 this week to catch up. By the way, I do a "Sermon Recap" on my Facebook page on Mondays that deals with the highlights of the lesson. Send me a "friend" request if you are not currently getting these. Next week we will be diving into Daniel 4 in a lesson I call "Mad Cow Disease." One of the really interesting accounts in Scripture.
Speaking of Daniel, if you have a Kindle you can download a free book on the Book of Daniel called The Derision of Heaven by Micheal Whitworth. Today is supposed to be the last day to get the free download. He is an excellent writer and author of several books. This book, along with another he published, are award winning (the other is called The Epic of God). He preaches for the Carter Lake Road church of Christ in Bowie, Texas. I started reading it this weekend. Although I plan to stay one chapter behind the sermon I'm preaching so you can get a fresh look into the lessons we are studying. Go to http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E6TXA76/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_dp_2QDItb16C53K1 You may not have a Kindle but a computer that has a free Kindle app, like iPad, Windows8, or other versions that will let you get the book. Just an idea for anyone who wants to dig a little deeper.
Yesterday it was announced that Reagan Brackett is going to Africa this summer with Harding as a mission-based study abroad program. The goal is to help students understand the missionary needs of Africa while experiencing Zambia first hand. This is not like studying in Paris, as each of the students had to take an intense two week survival course to be allowed to attend (ask her about it sometime). The reason I mention this to you is, first of all, pray for Reagan and the work the students will be doing. Secondly, the students are asking for donations to buy supplies for the people in those villages, things we generally take for granted, such as aspirin, bandages, arm slings, antibiotic creams, antacids, iron tablets, etc., etc., etc. There is a collection jar in the foyer if you would like to help out.
Well, that is enough for now. Remember to check on those who sit around you who may have been missing Sunday. Send a shut-in a card or give them a call. If you find someone who needs special attention please let the elders or ministers know. Thanks.
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