For ABC folks, remember that we have the following opportunities on Saturday, November 14th

2:00 - 3:30 pm  Meet and Greet in Fellowship Hall

6:00 pm           Fellowship Meal with Deacons and Choir Members (due to the number of choir members
                       and Deacons, spouses are not invited to this dinner, unless of course, your spouse is in
                       the choir)

7:30 pm          Choir Rehearsal

ON SUNDAY NOVEMBER 15th

Nick will lead us in worship, share his heart, and the church will vote on him following the service.

Keep Bro. Nick and his family in your prayers - see their photo below

...going makes you obedient to Christ!

...going may give you something that you desperately needed!

...your going may give someone else something they desperately needed!

...going will honor God!

...going is a way to share in the joy of what God is doing in the lives of everyone else.

...going gives you the opportunity to participate.

...going gives you the opportunity to serve!

...going can bring such sweet fellowship!

...going today means you will be blessed by five of our men!

...going today means you will be blessed by our Music Search Team!

...going could mean that you desire to glorify God and make Him known when you leave!

BUT...

...staying home will not bring any of the above today!

Right on!  Church is not made reverent by whether you have on a suit or camo! It is made holy by what is in your heart!  The goal tomorrow is to see hearts changed! To see people at church who might not otherwise come!  To have our men share their hearts in worship! 

I can hardly wait! Looking forward to posting pics tomorrow night!

Daniel 3:16-18

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not , let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."

What are the BUT IF NOT'S of your life?  These three men had been told that they would be burned alive if they did serve false gods and bow down to a golden image.  They were absolutely confident in God's power to deliver them.  However, their faithfulness to God was on full display in verse 18 - BUT IF NOT - if God's plan is to let us perish in the fire - then so be it - we will not bow down to idolatry!

What are your spiritual BUT IF NOT'S??

Are there spiritual non-negotiables for you! No matter what happens! Think about it! There should be many! The world is constantly pressing in on the church.  If you don't know your BUT IF NOT'S before the world presses in on you - you may be devoured by compromise and sin!  Think about it!

Some thoughts:

1. Sufficient sleep is essential to creativity!

2. Stress relief is essential to sufficient sleep!  Since I came back from Kentucky, I made an agreement with the Lord regarding the "junk stuff!" If it is something that I can't do anything about - then I am just leaving it in His hands and forgetting about it!   This has not worked for me in every instance - but it has in enough stuff that my stress level, on a scale of 1 - 10, has gone from 11 down to about a 2.

3. Hobbies / Personal Interests are essential!  I cannot survive living in everyone's crisis - troubles - etc. without having some outlet to follow!  I don't hunt - don't particularly find it relaxing.  I don't fish - not patient enough!  I do love exploring - so I enjoy looking at old historical sites - walking around old abandoned roads - etc. - Have to be careful in the woods during hunting season though.  

I love doing chaplain work with the Sheriff's Department.  That is relaxing to me - and ministry at the same time. 

4. Prayer - I have become much more intentional about praying "all day" and praying "in a regular season!'  I am looking for a new closet!  Something like the "creek" in Kentucky!  I used to go to the pines on the Byrd's place before they had to cut them all down!  Thought about building me a tree house in the woods! And I have thought about building a 10 X 12 building with a porch in the woods with one light - two fans!   At any rate, I am looking for a place to reflect, write, and pray!

5. Soul-winning! I am cultivating, planting, watering! Winning souls is the best thing we can do!  I figure harvest is coming! So I am working with some folks - a looking for the increase.  I have a God goal for that personally next year!  Wanting to make sure I am hearing from Him!  If it works out - it will transform our church! 

Real Evangelism     by Bailey Smith

One Size Doesn't Fit All    by Gary McIntosh

Seven Practices of Effective Mnistry  by Andy Stanley

The Hidden Value of a Man  by Gary Smalley & John Trent

My Utmost for His Highest   by Oswald Chambers

A Business Tale   by Marianne Jennings

Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire   by Jim Cymbala

Fresh Faith      by Jim Cymbala

When God Builds a Church   by Bob Russell

The Divine Conspiracy   by Dallas Willard

Each minister described the story of their interaction with their favorite book! It was really a good session.

The Gospel is something with which I am "infected," though I prefer the word "injected!"  Everywhere I go, I should purposefully be interacting with folks to give them a "dose" of the gospel.  It is so easy to do - yet we make it so hard.  We have made spreading the gospel more difficult by sticking to only one or two methods. The door to door method does not work so well - at least the way we approach it. 

First we have trouble getting the courage to go door to door.

Second, when we do we awkwardly start out in a conversation about God with no connection established with the person in the home, we are seldom effective.

Third, if they do respond, we take them away from their home to join our church - and we have ADDITION - - the adding of one person.   

    The world cannot be effectively won to Christ that way!

The "infection" "injection" method is far more effective. 

First - we live the Gospel everyday. The Lord is always on our mind and we see our purpose in life as making Him known, wherever we are.

Second - we learn to spread the Gospel in many way - prayer being chief among them. For example, you observe a friend - a co-worker - someone you don't know - having a really bad moment. Walk over to them -ask them if they mind if you just pray for them and their circumstances.

Third - you are out "visiting" - As I preached recently, follow the scriptures - find a "person of peace!" Look for an openness to help you win the community - not just the home!  Ask the people who in the community - or their street - or their road - really need the Gospel.  They will probably tell you. Then go pray with those people. The result is more likely to be MULTIPLICATION!

Spread the Gospel like a virus! Sounds good! It is good! Trust God and rejoice in how lives can be changed in Jesus Christ.

I love a "Whoa Up" morning! You can't really do anything outside just yet.  It is too cold to just sit outside comfortably.  I went to Courtyard and everyone was there talking. No one was in a hurry.

Then I went to Pierce's, the local hangout! It was full of men - we were sitting around talking to Bo (the dog) and warming by the gas heater!  Jokes, laughing, resting!   Then on to Mark and Melanie's house to talk about the radar - ground saturation - and where to locate the Fall Festival tonight!

Then on to the house! It is quiet - the house is still warm from yesterday - Andrea is baking something that smells GREAT - and I am just sitting here posting - thinking about a nap - thinking about anything and everything - and thankful for a "Whoa Up" morning!

A "Whoa Up" morning is when you just slow down - semi shut down - and just thank God that He sometimes gives you a great reason to reflect, fellowship, and slow down!

1. That Mark Batterson and National Community Church will find an open door soon to a new / or the old location.

2. That we (ABC) will get everything done to make an excellent presentation of our prospective Minister of Worship this Sunday!

3. That we will have a meaningful, powerful, and DECISION FILLED service this Sunday!

4. That the work will continue to progress on the Preschool / Children's building in spite of the weather.

5. That I will get to lead at least one person to Christ before Sunday!

        I cry every time I hear and sing along with I Can Only Imagine!

        Whatever intersection I'm in at Lucedale, it is rush hour there!!!

        Some people never see a thing as good - they always find fault! (No joy)

        God gave me such a wife as I have - I am blessed beyond measure!

        I have never really seen a genuine movement of God that totally turns a community upside down!

        I talk to myself so much!

        I cannot talk in an adult voice whenever I see a picture of my granddaughter Riley!!

Before the worship service, I had the privilege to talk with Dr. McPhail for about a little over an hour. I will never forget that time with him.  It was just astonishing to here of the pathway God has taken him through the years. He is such a humble and great man of God. 

It was a delightful day!

This week many of the nuts and bolts details were worked out in various committees. The spirit and mood was great in the meetings! Everyone is excited!  Next Sunday will be a great day and then on November 14 and 15 our members will get to meet him and his family!

PRAISE THE LORD!

Well, I have come to a moment of decision! Fortunately I do not have to make the decision today! You can help by giving me an opinion!  My laptop was purchased in 2002! It is a Dell Inspiron 5100.  I believe it is a Pentium 4 / 40 gig harddrive and 1 gig of ram!  The battery has gone bad - basically will not last over 15 minutes. 

I do use a laptop - especially when out of town. I do not travel as much - but have noticed a couple of things as of late.  A new laptop battery will cost me about $90.00.  A new laptop, with some careful shopping, will cost me about $600.00!  My current laptop is 7 years old.  I could spend the 90 bucks and the hard drive fail later in the year!  Or, I could spend the 90 bucks and get another year or two out of it!  It is a bulky laptop and fairly hefty in weight.

The new laptop would probably be a pretty good bet for another 5 - 7 years of use. It would have a much more efficient processor and have better battery conservation matters, built in camera, built in wireless etc.  There is plenty to commend a new laptop!

One more option would be to buy a netbook for 200 - 300 dollars.  I don't do as much work on a laptop when I travel! 

So, OPTION 1 - buy a battery for 90.00!  Try to extend the life of my current laptop for 1-2 years.

OPTION 2 - buy a laptop for around 600.00!

OPTION 3 - buy a netbook for around 200-300.00

COMMENTS PLEASE!

It was very personal and moving because as I was doing my study, I was distracted by some concerns on my mind! One of these was weighing heavily because it concerned family - actually my Dad!  Tears came to my eyes as I reflected on the struggles he has right now!  How I would desire that he could stand up strong - preach again - mow the yard - take care of mother - all those things he has done so well until recent months.

Just then, I felt that unmistakable presence - almost a voice but not quite - most assuredly a "hug," a comforting that warmed me from the inside out!  I cannot say that God said, "Tommy, do this or that" or "Tommy, peace be unto you."  It was more a sense of the power of God, the love of God, the peace of God, the comfort of God, and perhaps at that moment the most comforting thing for me - the sure knowledge of God!

The encounter put me at ease, with the understanding God knows my heart and mind - and knows my Dad's situation - and I can trust God to take care of everything!  God is good!

By their nature, an associational meeting is not necessarily going to be the most exciting event you will attend, but they are always good for fellowship and for some good "take away" lines!

Here are a few from last night!

"It is foolish to sit on the dock when you know you need to be somewhere else!" - 
LESSON: Follow God's mission no matter where He leads!

"Most of the people who leave church because they are not being "fed" are not putting a thing into it! They mostly just show up on Sunday morning and rarely participate in any ministry"   
LESSON: Everyone is personally responsible for the daily digesting of God's Word and prayer!

"It is far easier to do a study on prayer than to pray - and far less effective!"
LESSON: Pray!

...then helping me understand the Bible is no big job for Him!
...then helping me forgive others is not a problem for Him!
...then comforting me in time of trouble is not hard for Him!
...then encouraging me in times of discouragement is not a struggle for Him!
...then supplying my needs according to His riches is no sweat for Him!
...then empowering me with the Holy Spirit is an everyday thing for Him!
...then enabling me to resist temptation is a lock for Him!
...then leading me to be involved in Kingdom stuff is natural for Him!
...then experiencing the power of God in my daily life is not a drain for Him!
...then guarding my heart and mind is a doable deed for Him!
...then enabling me to walk in power and strength is a natural for Him!
...then talking with me through prayer is the natural flow of conversation for Him!

....if Jesus arose from the grave!!!!   HE DID!

So, I learned and relearned a few things! 

1. In this work of ministry, removing yourself from high stress circumstances is a must periodically!  

2. There is something intensely therapeutic in spending uninterrupted hours in prayer and meditation. 

3. I watched a lot LESS news and TV!  I survived - and felt much better.  

4. I figured out a couple of things that I have been sweating!  Regarding leadership - you have to lead the ones that show up! If you spend all your time worrying about the ones who don't show up - you will neglect the ones that do show up!  If you spend all your time worrying about the ones who don't show up - then the least committed set the agenda for the church.   And also, I cannot make people love Jesus! All I can do is love Him, and pray that others will choose to love Him too!

5. The grumpy gripers that exist in most churches have worked a lifetime to get that way.  Only God can change them so I am turning those few over to Him!  My stomach can't take them anymore! 

6. I can't live my life for everybody else. I have to live for it Jesus! So, I am going to quit trying to be what everyone else wants me to be in order to be who God wants me to be! 

I guess it looks like I would have known all that stuff before having a week away! I did - but time and experiences have a way of forcing you into a mold not of God's making!  It was a great week!

Preaching a tent revival is neat! It is great to worship with the community and not just a single church! Also, it was great to be in a relaxed atmosphere - we dressed casually! Of course, out of necessity since Wednesday I have worn jeans and sweater because of the damp conditions and the cooooool temps!

Heard some great music this week - and some wonderful testimonies!  God has been very good!

One of our deacons was having trouble finding a transmission for his truck - so I told him about Williams and Tucker at Sulphur Well Kentucky!  They have everything and Ronnie, the owner, is a great friend! So, I now have a transmission wrapped up in the back of my Expedition hauling it home for him.  Hey, aren't freight charges something like .20 a mile!  (it's 600 miles up here!) 

Well, enough for now! If you read this around post time, I should be south of Nashville!  Looking forward to seeing my sweet thing - well - I can't say anymore!