Bourbon: Home of Hoosier hysteria and Heaven hysteria

Hoosier hysteria is back baby! My Triton Trojans just won the sectional again and are looking to take the regional next week. Last year we won state and I can tell you that the Bourbon area is buzzing with high hopes for this year’s prospects too. As big as this is to many of us in this community, I can say that I’m even more excited about something God is doing in Bourbon. People are getting saved, freed from oppression, and are getting filled with the Holy Ghost with evidence of speaking in tongues! Heaven hysteria trumps hoosier hysteria every time! Go Trojans and Go Holy Spirit!

Friday the 13th

Friday the 13th. A day celebrated by hollywood to represent revenue generated by horror films. We choose to glorify God on that day. Last friday in our home, Marie and I hosted THE BASEMENT, our monthly youth group. We had 29 youth in our home for pizza and pop, with a 25 minute ministry time led by Cody Clemons. Some of the teens call it church because it is the closest thing they have to knowing what church is. We just enjoy building relationships with kids. Chris Miller says to “build a bridge and turn on a light”. In other words, create a means of opening up people to hear the gospel, then allow the Holy Spirit to reveal Christ in their life. That is what we try to do at THE BASEMENT.

All this is possible because of the people at home-extension. Their giving allows us to host THE BASEMENT. Evangelism is not difficult. It only requires willingness and a desire to see people come to Christ and draw closer to God. To all at home-extension we say thank you.

God created friday the 13th. Let’s take it back for the kingdom!

Recession proof!?

We are currently in the sermon series “Recession proof”. We are discussing that the kingdom of God is not subject to our current national economic woes. It is easy to only think in terms of money, but God showed me something this week in John 19:38-42. Jesus was dead. Joseph and Nicodemus prepared Jesus’ body for burial. Imagine their thoughts and the thoughts of the disciples at this time. They put all their hope in Jesus and now he is dead (sound like your 401k?) They were experiencing a spiritual recession. But just when all hope seemed lost, the miraculous happened: Jesus rose from the dead.  

Are you in a spiritual recession?  James 4:8 “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” The Holy Spirit desires to have fellowship with you. Run to Him, trust Him and obey Him. Only in Him will you truly be recession proof.

What’s in yer’ wallet!

Are you a giver or a tither?  Do you obey God and give him your tithe, or just whatever is leftover? You are giving it to God, not man or the church. Offerings are a gift above and beyond the tithe. To not give the tithe is to rob God (Malachi). YOU DON’T WANT TO DO THAT NOW DO YOU? Of course not. Besides, God’s blessings flow to those who obey him. So I ask you; what’s in yer’ wallet? Your money…………….or God’s?

JOY – Jesus, Others, Yourself

Merry Christmas!  Remember, family is more important than circumstances.  Don’t  let holiday happenings overshadow the relationships in your life.  The meal is for the family, not the family for the meal.  Focus on people, not the frustration they can sometimes bring.  Honor Christ and make this time of year joyful, not stressful.  It truely is a choice you CAN make.

Magnetic personality?

Mark chapter one tells about the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.  He is baptised(vs9), tempted(vs13), declares “the time has come” to begin his public ministry(vs 15), calls the first disciples (vs 16-20), drives out an evil spirit(vs25), heals many(vs 29-34), preaches throughout Galilee (vs 39), and heals a man with leprosy (vs40-42).

Verse 45 says that he couldn’t enter a town (due to being overwhelmed) so he stayed outside in lonely places. YET THE PEOPLE STILL CAME TO HIM FROM EVERYWHERE!

Is there something in your life that attracts people? Does your daily witness draw people to you?  DO PEOPLE SEEK YOU OUT TO FIND RELIEF FROM THEIR SUFFERING IN LIFE? People intentionally went out of their way to find where Jesus was to be healed from their sicknesses. How we respond to life situations will be noticed by those around us. Let’s be the body of Christ that heals people.

Expose your problem (not a quote from Fletch Lives)

Let me get right to the point. Do you have hidden sin in your life? Ephesians 5:8,9 says: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”

We need to find out what pleases the Lord because on our own, we please ourselves.  That’s why it is so important to be in the Word. To find out His ways and change ours to match.  When we hide sin in our lives, it is like trying to hide darkness in a bright room.  A lot of effort is spent to cover something that needs to be seen so it can be dealt with.  Instead of hiding our sin, we need to be transparent with our brothers and sisters in Christ and expose sin (confess your sins one to another) so we can be free from it! If you hide it, it will have power over you.  If you expose it, it will die and you will be free.

The only way to be able to be this venerable with someone else is to have a true organic relationship.  This is something we are experiencing at home-extension in Bourbon.  I am really excited about the fellowship and real accountability that a home group can bring, not that it is limited to a home group, but we are definitely having success in this area.

Get free! Live out Ephesians chapter 5!

You are not rejected.

Matthew 21 tells us of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem where a very large crowd celebrated his arrival by placing palm branches and cloaks on the road, and cheering him like a king.  Within a week, these people were calling “crucify him!”  Public opinion can change in a heartbeat.  Four years ago, President Bush was hailed as a great wartime leader. Now, his opinion polls are rock bottom.  We must be sure to get our identity and worth from the Lord, not from people.  People will let us down, but Christ never will.  Do you feel rejected by people around you?  Jesus knows how you feel.  Lean on Him.  Humble yourself in His sight and He will lift you up.

Creation in six literal days video with Ken Ham part 5

Creation in six literal days video with Ken Ham part 4