How is everyone today? Hope you are having a good Friday! This morning most of the schools in our area are canceled, Karen received a phone call at 6 a.m. telling her she had a 2 hour delay and at 8 a.m received another call telling her that school was again canceled. Because of so many cancelations in the last several weeks she now must make up those days June. She is not so pleased with that as we have Rachael & Chris being married in early June. I stayed home an hour or so this morning with Karen and enjoyed the time with her. If it works out I will try to go home and spend a little time with her late afternoon. When we have changed schedules it is wise just to adjust and make the best out of it. Tonight Karen & I are having a young family over for a snack and to watch the new released film "FIREPROOF". We are hoping to see the marriage strengthened and possibly one of them come to know the Lord. I have heard nothing but good things about this film and it would be a good thing for some of you to purchase the video and have a family over once a month and watch it together. Just an idea, we need to throw as many hooks in the water as possible. Last evening we had a good midweek service. The roads in many places enabled many from attending, we didn't run buses but we still had a pretty good attendance. I was really surprised and very pleased with the commitment of our people to midweek at Liberty. I personally enjoyed teaching on Revelation 2 concerning the Church Of Smyrna, wow, what a tremendous church they were and to realize the Lord had NO CONDEMNATION at all concerning this church. When we stand before the Lord at the JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST I sure hope the Lord will be well pleased with Liberty Baptist Church Sweetser. 

For all you faithful blog readers we are working on a few changes ! Pastor Ryan who is my teacher with technology is going to show me how to use pictures and video on the blog, so look for that in the next few days. Also some other things I think you will find enjoyable. Stay in contact, let me know you are  out there! Have a great day.

 It is Thursay and I am taking a little time for my blog. It is already 1:30 p.m. and the day has been really moving fast for me. I think that happens when you are behind and facing deadlines.  I ususally blog first thing in the morning when I get to the office { around 7-7:30 a.m.} but today because I needed to get Brenda { my secretary of many years} my outlines for tonights service and Sunday's services it pressed me to work on those first. Then some schedueled meetings and now on to the blog before other things on the agenda. Always seems like lot's to do but the alternative certainly dosen't interest me. We are having church tonight, the parking lot and sidewalks have been cleaned and the buildings are warm for all who brave the elements and attend this evening. I will teach in the auditorium on "The Seven Churches of Revelation" Tonight we will focus on two churches, Smyna and Pergamum . How interesting this study has been to this preacher, hope to see all you who will attend the auditorium class along with all you others who will assemble in their respective places. Judy Smith has been in the hospital this week, Larry Shipps is now home but is shut in with a IV, Betty Richey attempting to get a surgery schedueled, Larry Brooks is at home unable to get out now with his health, Olin Jones is still at Colonial Oaks attempting to gain strength so he can go home , and the List goes on. Please remeber to pray for those who are less fortunate in health and also those who need jobs and financial help. Make sure to get a PRAYER REMINDER tonight and take it home and pray daily for those in need. This Sunday I will preach from Act's 8:  a message entiled "FIRST IN KINGDOM FISHING" . We wil preach in the morning on lessons from the deacon Phillip and how he won souls. In the evning we will look at "Simple Stratagies for Witnessing". Well I must go for now, hopefully tomorrow I will blog a little earlier in the day for all you who check before you leave for work. Have a great day in the Lord and look for "Divine Appointments" to witness for Jesus. 

 This morning when I woke up I immediately began thinking and here is what was on my mind. "Get up and get up now." For me I don't get up slowly or gradually, I must get up fast and immediately. If I lay there I won't be getting up I will be going back to sleep. Now for some maybe you wake up gradually, not me! In order for me to wake up I must get up and I better do it immediately or I will sleep progressively.  This morning while I was kicking out of bed I thought to myself it is like that in the spiritual realm also. If you think you can gradually get up from a spiritual fall or a spiritual rest slowly, you may not get back up at all. When we are down spiritually if we think we will get going again slowly that just won't happen. To lay there thinking I will take this slow and I will lay here awhile longer is about the worst thing you can do. You will stay down a lot longer than you  intended. It must be fast, immediate and just get up kicking and moving. If you think you will just lay there another 5 minutes or so all you are doing is staying in your half awake, half asleep condition and you are formulating a bad habit of non-productivity.  Now there is a time to sleep, rest and recharge but when it is time to get up and move both physically and spiritually do it immediately and with all the energy you can muster. Proverbs 6:9  says "HOW LONG WILT THOU SLEEP, O SLUGGARD? WHEN WILT THOU ARISE OUT OF THY SLEEP". Hope you have a great day of being awake and alive and making life count for eternity.  

 Well it is Monday morning and we are in the office and off to another week. Yesterday I preached 3 times and taught 1 class. That really seems to make me more tired then it used too. We spoke on Friendship in all the services yesterday and that has helped me to appreciate my God given friendships. If you were unable to be in the service you can listen online and get the biblical principles on this important subject. Ben Franklin said "Be slow in choosing friends and slower in changing friends". I agree with that. We will have a full week of ministry, lot's of things to do so we would really appreciate your prayers. This past week we saw a young 13 year old girl who was led to the Lord by one of our congregation and she was in church on Sunday. We also were informed that a young man who has been attending for some time was saved on Friday evening in his home. He had been attending Liberty and had listened to the messages and witnesses for a long time. He was under conviction and finally got alone and gave his life to the Lord. His wife told me he is a new man. I spoke with him and it was evident he had the joy of the Lord. He is now taking our new convert Bible studies and is thinking on Baptism. Also yesterday Grace Kimmerling was baptized by her father in our evening service. What a wonderful thing to witness! The crowds were great both morning services and last eve was a full house again. Well I have to get to our staff meeting so I must go for now. Have a great day!  

 It is Friday morning and I just finished meeting with Pastor Mike our Youth Pastor. We were discussing midweek service last evening and he was telling me about the teen meeting and all who were there and how things went. We are so thankful for our teen ministry and for each of our teens who prioritize Thursday evenings as a time to gather at church to grow closer to the Lord. There are so many other activities they could go to , so many things which could draw them . We are sure that the devil works hard to get them to other places besides church. We are also thankful to those parents who help set proper priorities for there children and teens. Parents who decide what is best and those who help their family hold the line on spiritual training. Parents who refuse to bend to pressure of immature and fleshly demands, but those who consistently put spiritual training above so many other things. It does pay great dividends !!! The Father & Mother have great responsibility to lead and not be led by the children. A godly parent will listen to the desires of the Lord more than the desires of a immature child. A biblical parent will lead their children in the ways of the Lord and not bend or be pressured by the whims of their children who have yet to learn how to overcome the flesh and the tempter. A good Christian parent sees their own responsibility to teach and train there own to use the good resources available to them. Karen & I are so thankful for the resources of the church that were available to us. I encourage each parent at Liberty to use the Sunday School program, Awana, Heavens Harmony, Kid's Konnection, just to mention a few of our children's ministry's. Also take advantage of the Teen Ministry as it is geared to help you in the teaching and training of your teen in the things of God. Resources are available but unless they are used they really can't help you and yours. Parents you cannot do everything, you must prioritize, I will pray for you as daily you choose the proper schedules for your most precious treasure. I hope you can tell this preachers burden today. Maybe this little blog will help a parent to refocus and make some adjustments that will pay off big time. I see these little children who are so filled with promise of becoming champions for Christ but they must be led by example and they must be taught and trained to walk with God. It will take dedicated parents to get the job done. Parents dedicated to consistently lead their children to CHRIST FIRST, CHRIST SECOND, CHRIST THIRD , CHRIST ALWAYS! 

If you are reading our blog from someplace other than the state of Indiana please let us know. We are just trying to gain some info . Just  go below and click comment and let us know. Thanks !

 I am back in the office after taking a day away. I stayed home yesterday and did HOMEWORK !  Slept in awhile but still up at 6:45a.m. . Saw Karen off as she leaves for the classroom by 7:15 a.m. I made a pot of coffee and spent several hours studying and finishing preparation on Sunday's messages then went outside and carried wood for several hours. We have a wood-burning stove and mostly heat by wood. I love carrying and stacking the wood, it gives me great exercise and time to think and pray. Then I cleaned out the stove and made it ready for another week of safe use. Then I sat down and ate a little lunch and decided to do something helpful for my wife. I cleaned the entire house. That took me about 3 hours but I know it saved Karen 3 hours tonight after school. Then we went back out and swept the garage and cleaned some snow out of the walkways and driveway. Finally filled the bird feeders and then went in to clean up. Beth called and Karen & I went over to Lucy's house and had some Chili & Cheesecake. Spent some great time with Lucy, Beth & Ryan. Then went home sat with Karen as she read and I did some computer work, filled the wood-burner for the eve and went to bed. You may think that doesn't sound like a good day off with all the work, but I love it. It helps me so much to get my mind off of things that can add such stress. Of course I had phone calls from people in the eve with issues and I have to work hard not to think on these things till the morning, but it is good to get a day to your self and one which allows your mind to rest, and your body to work. Tonight we will be teaching on Revelation chapter 2 on the Seven Churches of Asia. What a series it has really helped me personally to look at our own life and ministry and make adjustments. Hope to see you tonight. We are still asking all the Bishir Blog readers who live out of the state of Indiana let us know they are reading the blog. We have had several email us in our regular blog comment spot and others in our regular email. We would like to see how many different states are represented at this time. 

This Sunday I will be preaching on "FIRST IN KINGDOM  FRIENDSHIPS" I read a quote and it said "It Is Easier To Forgive An Enemy Than It Is To Forgive A Friend" What do you think about that quote?? Let me know your thoughts.

 This Sunday I will be preaching in our morning and evening services on "KINGDOM FRIENDSHIPS" This morning I have already spent 4 hours in preparation for these messages. Our Friendships are so important and the Lord has a lot to tell us about how we can be good friends and the type of friends we should have. If we have 5-6 really lifetime friends we are so blessed. Solomon the wisest man that lived on the earth besides Jesus seemed to have everything but didn't obey the wisdom he had granted to him and because of this he seemed to lack one thing Friendship of the Lord and of other people. In Ecclesiastes he says it is all vanity and he seemed so all alone. In chapter 4 the one who is so lonely teaches perhaps the most about the importance of friendships. Now friendships with other people is so challenging and so rewarding. If you live within driving distance of Liberty I challenge you to get here for Sunday services. But even with earthly friendships they will fail on occasion and we need to understand this. But there is one friendship that never Fails. One friendship that is never a "No Show". One that never Falls Asleep. "He who watches over Israel will neither slumber or sleep". "GOD WORKS THE LATE SHIFT". God always has your back! And every other part of your being as well. We disciples like football has its 12TH MAN we have our 12TH Witness. The invisible 12Th is known as the PARACLETE, The Holy Spirit of God, The Comforter! He is the one who is always with us who will never leave us. What a Friend we have in Jesus who sent another one as His own kind. Never alone, Never Alone! A Friend who runs in in when others are running out. Now I am thankful for faithful friends and I plan on being one but only one is perfect! ONLY ONE IS THE PERFECT FRIEND! 

 Hey we are trying to find out some info just to see how far reaching our blog has become. If you live outside the state of Indiana and you read our blog would you let us know by sending a comment with the state you read from. If you would like let us know who you are also . Thanks for your help! 

We had a great weekend of services hear at Liberty. It was extremely cold and even had snow but the people still filled the facilities. Our first "Lord Teach Us To Pray" training times of the year came on the heels of the coldest days of the season. It was 15 below on Thursday eve and on Friday night it got back down to 10 below zero. Saturday morning we were not sure what to expect. We didn't have midweek service because of the cold so we missed that opportunity to promote the event and also didn't have that time to get areal solid count for the day. By faith we went ahead and prepared for the day and when we got up on Saturday morning it was still below zero and with the breakfast scheduled for 9 a.m. and training at 9:30 a.m. I wondered who would come out in those elements? Praise the Lord we had 151 people who participated. The passion for prayer was ignited in our families and church. We had a great breakfast and a good time of teaching along with training on how to pray. Many prayed for the first time in their lives publicly, it was great to be a part of!! Then on Sunday the tempts had warmed up but the snow came in through the night and continued up till church time but we still had over 700 in attendance in the morning services. Last eve the auditorium was full and the children's ministry's were full also. Yesterday morning we preached a straight and strong message on being a Godly wife and husband, and in the eve we preached a very strong message on being a Godly child and parent. Many comments were made in appreciation for taking such a strong stand on Biblical Truth. We need to get back to doing things God's way, especially in building families. I think one of the things that breaks my heart the most is to see precious little children whose parent's don't take seriously the leading of their children. Wrong priorities and a lack of concistant eventually training that eventually brings the child to not make much of the FAITH is so disappointing. To see precious little ones with so much potential if only the parents would sell out and walk with God and in so doing set proper priorities for their children to follow and make habit of. I am thankful for the parent's who are working hard in this area of life, but for those missing the boat I pray for them to wake up and see they have such a short time to make it count. This past weekend Pastor Ryan loaned me a book to look at and it would be good reading for any parent attempting to rear children for God's glory. The book is by Larry Fowler who is with AWANA INTERNATIONAL its title is "RAISING A MODERN DAY JOSEPH". You may want to get this book and use it as a help in rearing your children for God. This Sunday we will teach on how FRIENDSHIPS are so important in the Kingdom of God! Hope you have a great Monday in the Lord. 

 It is Friday morning and I really missed having church last eve and seeing all of you who regularly attend midweek service here at Liberty. Today we are gearing up for our first "LORD TEACH US TO PRAY" Prayer Breakfast tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. We have had many prayer breakfasts but this one is a little different. We will meet for a GREAT breakfast { and I mean great} at 9 a.m. til 9:25a.m. for breakfast & fellowship. At 9:30 a.m. we will begin our teaching time along with testimonies of beleivers who have learned how to overcome fear and become successful prayer warriors. During that segment of time we will also have time for questions and answers on the topic of prayer. At 10 a.m. we will dismiss. For those who can stay longer at 10.am. we will have a time for more questions and answers and at 10:15 a.m. we will have a training time for prayer. We will split up into small groups and each group will be led by an experienced prayer warrior. If you stay for this very practical time it will allow you to step up to your fear in a safe enviornment and experience coorporate prayer. This training time will last approximately 20-25 minutes. You will not be expected to pray out loud but if you do you can only pray for 1-2 minutes. This will enable beginning prayer warriors to step up to their fear knowing it is short and in a safe environment . If you stay for the whole time it will only take 1 & !/2 hours. If you saty for the first part just 1 hour. There will be CHILD CARE provided if needed. We also encourage children in elementary and up to attend with their parents as they also can learn. I know it is cold but let's let the Lord "TEACH US TO PRAY"!  JUST DO IT! STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE! Hope to see you tommorow morning! 

 Today in our area it is really cold. Now I mean really cold! I mean 10 below Zero cold. Listen I mean with the wind-chill at church time tonight it is to be 25 below zero cold! I can hear all you Liberty people who have gone south for the winter LAUGHING ! Shame on you, you know you are not to rejoice in another's Suffering. What is really weird is it is sunny and very beautiful out but one step outside your eye lids freeze in place. Because of the severe cold for tonight we just made the decision to cancel church services for the evening. Those of us who were involved in making the decision really didn't like the decision we made. You see we really believe in the Church and it is our belief that the church doors need opened as often as possible. We believe that what was going to happen this evening was life changing and very important to God's Kingdom and also important to our community and the nation. Even though our desire was to assemble, after thought, discussion with some experienced leaders and time in prayer it seemed that this was the decision that would be best. But before the decision was made we asked what was best for the People and what did our Lord want us to do. Now for some this decision would have been a little easier as they may have jumped at the chance to stay home or do something else and  they would wonder why the decision was so tough to make. But here is the point of what I am talking about, how do we make decisions? For many of you decisions are a part of your daily routine. Fathers, mothers, employers, single moms, leaders in many areas all making decisions which influence others in many ways. Let me help you to know how to make good decisions. First get all the facts as many as possible then find some good advisers and discuss with them their opinion. After that spend some time asking God to lead you. If you have been walking with Him in the first place this will not be difficult and as you listen to His voice He will prompt and give peace. Step up and decide !! Don't second guess your decision and in most cases it will be OK. In a few cases you may see in time that you need to make another decision to change the first decision but that happens less if you are walking with & leaning on the Lord. Well hope you have a Warm Day inside your heart in spite of the very Cold day we are having outside.

 Ever got up in the morning and before you knew it your mate does something and you think to yourself "They really are being a Jerk"? Then you get in the car and on your way to wherever your going you run into one of those drivers { who is ahead of you or maybe behind you or maybe coming toward you} who is in your estimation a Jerk!  Then you stop to get a little gas and a cup of coffee and the clerk is a real Jerk! Once you arrive at work the other employees or the employer they are being real Jerks also! You turn on the radio and listen to talk radio while you work and you can't believe all those callers are being Jerks and that radio host seems to be one today also. At lunch you take a little time reading the paper and you can't believe how many Jerks are in the world. In the afternoon you check your email and guess what, several of your friends are acting like Jerks today also! You get home from work and let your dog out for awhile and then you try to get him or her back in and WOW the dog is being a Jerk !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now may I say this ??????????    "WHEN YOU RUN INTO MORE THEN 2-3 JERKS IN ONE DAY YOU MAY BE THE JERK"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!            THINK ABOUT IT! 

Today we are in the office and hoping to study for Sunday's and Thursdays messages. Also have several appointments this afternoon along with several hours of phone calls to make. I have a dinner date with wife and am looking forward to that. Remember to pray for Olin Jones, Larry Brooks, Sherry Sage who has surgery in the morning. Roy Richey who is Wilma Richeys husband and Dave Richeys father is having bypass surgery as I type. Judy Smith stands in need of intercession for her health along wit Chris Clevenger who has dialysis several times weekly. Betty Richey is having some testing along as is  Gerri Pattison. Many others who are not well and for all our seniors who are having a hard time getting out to church in this bad weather. 

 Hey all you bloggers how are you. I just checked my blog to see how many readers we had today and for some reason the blog I posted this morning did not get posted and I can't find it anywhere. It was a good one too. Well I don't have time to to write another since I was to be home about 22 minutes ago but what a lesson! Sometimes we think we have things taken care of and we really don't. How about you is there anything you think is handled and perhaps it really didn't get through? Perhaps a message you wanted to convey to someone,did they really get the message? Perhaps a promised job to do, did it really get done. We had a great day yesterday in church for this time of the year. Lot's of great decisions were made for the Lord. Well I must go for now. Lord willing I will blog in the morning early! 

It is Friday morning and still cold in Northeast Indiana. Our office annex is beginning to get a renovation. We are changing our reception area along with secretary offices and waiting lobby changed to help make our offices more people friendly and practical. Also we are building a new deck and entry outside to help get into our offices in an easier and more welcoming fashion. New entry doors and some new doors inside will help also. Along with that we are having our phone system updated to allow us voice mail along with many other new tech helping those who call in as well as those in the offices. So all you Liberty people begin to look for some positive changes and remember we can do nice things like this and do it all for God's glory because of your faithful giving. I just wanted to share that as the construction crew was here and it helped remind me what was happening. Last evening in midweek service it was nice to be together and study about the Lord. We had Men and Ladies in prayer along with Bible studies for all ages. Some in our adult study requested that I put the lesson outline in my blog today so I will do that at the end of the blog today. Hope it helps. This morning Brenda Ressler our main secretary for many years brought me a special coffee in along with a caramel doughnut. I know she reads this blog and when she sees I mentioned this she woud have preferred  I would not have mentioned it, but it encouraged me to remember to do little things for others because it sure sweetens up the day. Whose day can you sweeten up this Friday? Look for someone and have some fun doing it. I for sure didn't have to have the doughnut {the coffee may be another thing} but it sure was good and the thought behind it even better. Dr. Jack Hyles one of my mentors used to say "If your saving it for a rainy day , it's raining on someone today" . Look today and see where you can encourage someone today by a kind statement, a kind word! 

Some prayer requests I would like to share. Continue to pray for the Gordon & Atkins families in the loss of Tracy. It will be needed now more than ever. Also Larry & Libby Brooks, Larry is very ill. Also Olen Jones has been moved from the hospital to Colonial Oaks extended care unit, please pray he regains his strength so he can be home  and get back to normal. Prayer is powerful! I will be preaching on prayer Sunday morning and evening. 

Here is the outline for last evening!

"BEFORE THE HEREAFTER"

A. The Subject of Revelation {Rev 1:1}

B. The Scribe of Revelation {1:1-2}

C. The Spiritual Blessings    {1:3}

D. The Source of Revelation {1:1-2}

E. The Saviour of Revelation {1:5-7}

F. The Seven Churches of Revelation{1:11}

    1. Literal Churches

     2. Ages of Churches

     3. Types of Churches

G. The Seven Candlesticks {1:12-20}---- The Seven Churches

H. The Seven  Stars --The angels or messengers {Pastors } of the churches.

 It is the 8th of January already and here in Indiana it is real cold and icy. Time is flying for me, it is hard to believe we are into the second week of January already. Tonight at church we will begin our 4 week adult study on Revelation chapters 1-3. We will look at the Seven Churches of Asia. This study is about 7 particular churches that existed and ministered during the first years of the church age. They also represent particular time segments of the entire church age. It is an convicting study as we find CHRIST in the MIDST of each church looking at what is going on. How the Pastors and Leaders are leading the church and also how all the believers are living as well. Christ in the Midst of Liberty Baptist church, I wonder what He would say about us. I wonder if many really care. Well I know I do and that is why I want to study together as a congregation this very important part of scripture. Our plan is to ask the Lord to show us what is in our church that Jesus is pleased with and if there is anything He is unpleased with that we would repent of it and put it out. Our prayer is that not only will we do it as a church but as individual Christian's as well. It is as if Jesus comes to our church for inspection, to our homes for inspection, to our work places for inspection, to our fun places for inspection! Christ in the Midst of our everyday lives. Christ looking things over and telling us what He likes and what He doesn't like. HOPE YOU HAVE EARS TO HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT HAS TO SAY! If you live in this area hope to see you tonight at 7 p.m. and if you live out of the area why not take a few days of personal Bible study and study this great text. Perhaps you could get a commentary to help you .Go on line and google search the Seven Churches of Asia.Hope you have a great day! 

 It is Tuesday afternoon about 2:30 p.m. and just got back to my office after leading in Tracy Gordon funeral service. The auditorium was full and the Lord used the service in a special way. The testimonies, music, Congregational, memorials and the scriptures were all filled with hope. Hope was our theme for the day, and how the Lord's hope helped each of us. I spoke from Hebrews 11:1 and 12:1. Praise the Lord He was here to minister to each person in a personal way. If any would like to have a CD of the service  sign up for a copy in the foyer.

Today I chose to ride in the funeral coach to the cemetery. the person driving today was a lady who has worked for the funeral home for only a few months. She asked if it minded that a lady was driving and I said not at all I ride with my wife often and that I think some of the best drivers I know are women. I was wanting to compliment her on something because I was going to witness to her. As we began to talk she said this was the 3rd funeral she had helped with at our church and that there was something warm and inviting about our church that is not in most places. She continued and said that she really enjoyed how I as the Pastor ministered to people especially taking a heavy thing and making it lighter and how the crowd came alive at such a time. I thanked her and then asked if she had ever been saved? She said yes and that her family was a Christian family. We rejoiced and as we returned we shared with each other about our families and lives. When we got to the church She let me out at the auditorium door and then she said "I will be visiting your church soon"!  The point is we need to be LOOKING for those divine opportunities to share Christ and invite to church. Hope your doing that this week! Have a good day! 

 If you would like to leave a memorial note for Tracy Gordon just click on "Post a Comment" below and we will deliver each of them to the family and will share many at Tracy's memorial service at Liberty on Tuesday morning at 10 a.m.

 It is Monday morning January 5,2009. When I was young I can remember sitting in Industrial Arts class as a 13 year old 7th grader. Our teacher was teaching on how Americas cities were growing and by the the year 2000 how things might be. That was 1965 and as he was talking I was thinking if i would even live to see that date, and if I did I would be 47 years of age at that time. That seemed so far off and now we are into our 9th year of this new millennium. Time really does fly especially if you are living for a purpose on a daily basis. Yesterday we spoke on "FIRST IN FAITH" and went to Genesis 22 and looked at Abraham's great act of faith as he was ready to offer up his son Isaac. One of the verses said he got up early in the morning to fulfill his purpose for that day. I am sure glad God gives us a real reason for getting up each day. As we serve the Lord the days do go by faster and faster. Time flies and then time ends. Use your time for eternal things. Don't waste time use time! Stay busy doing the right things with your life. Make sure what you are doing is by Faith because that is only stuff that pleases God. 

Yesterday at Liberty we again had a great Lord's Day. Had over 700 in morning attendance and last eve the place was full. Many decisions were made at the altar and the spirit was wonderful. We had 1 baptism of a young teenage fellow and took a new family into membership. The Lord is bringing new families , yesterday we had several new families that told me they sensed this was where they were to begin attending, AMEN! Hope your day is a wonderful day of Faith! Remember  Faith Strengthens With Testing, Faith Serves with Submission, Faith Sees with Assurance, Faith Sacrifices with Confidence, Faith Satisfies God's Expectations & Faith Secures God's Blessings.

 It is Saturday morning and we are gearing up for another wedding here at Liberty. Kristin Frank & Dustin Templin will in just a few hours take Holy vows and become one flesh in the sight of God. Please pray for them! We had 23 men for Men's Prayer this morning and what a great time of getting ahold of God. I personally believe that the special prayer meetings are the most important times our church comes together. This morning we had a new man who came without any other inviting him. He said the Lord had been convicting him and he wanted to begin on the first Saturday of the year. We prayed with him and WOW how he poured his heart out to God. When he came to ask if he could pray with me he said he was a little uncomfortable, that he may not pray out loud. I said that is fine, God will honor you for your obedience. All of our group prayed and then suddenly he began and before long there was not a dry eye in the room. Let me encourage you to find a weekly corporate prayer meeting and begin to practice this kind of prayer! 

AGAIN TODAY IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND A MEMORIAL TESTIMONY CONCERNING TRACY GORDON YOU MAY DO SO BY JUST CLICKING COMMENT AT THE END OF THIS BLOG. WRITE A FEW LINES OF HOW HER LIFE TOUCHED YOURS AND WE WILL SHARE IT WITH THE FAMILY AND SOME AT THE MEMORIAL SERVICE ON TUESDAY! 

Hope you each had a nice New years Day. On Wednesday of this week I stayed home with Karen and studied most of the day. We were able to study for 7 hours straight in peace and quiet without any interruptions and were able to prepare two complete sermons. Then for our New Year's Eve celebration we stayed home and and baby sat for Lucy and our son Mat's dog Gabe. Now that may not sound like a real exiting New Year's Eve to you but I really enjoyed it. Karen & I brought the new year in a little early as we went to bed at 10:30 p.m. On New Year's day we got up and went to Abby & Jay's house and spent the day working to help get their new home ready for them when they return in a few day's from their honeymoon. While we were working we received a call from Steve Atkin's telling us how they didn't think Tracy {their daughter] would live out the week. Karen & I were going to finish up our work and go by and see Tracy later that evening. Just an hour later Steve called and said that Tracy was gone, that she was in Heaven. My heart was so broken but also so thankful for the Cross and for the Hope of Heaven. As we spent time with Tracy's husband Wade, her mother April, her dad Steve and her little 5 year old daughter Rosalyn we spent time talking about Tracy and her steadfast faith in her Lord. As I held Roselyn in my arms and prayed for her I knew that Tracy had imparted her faith into this little girls heart. Roselyn said to me "My mommy died but she is in heaven with Jesus and grandma Violet". What great faith a little child can exhibit! As I held this little 5 year old I remembered Tracy who wasn't much older than that when she first came to Liberty Baptist with her parents over 20 years ago. She was 9 years old and was one of the sweetest little girls you could imagine. She grew up at this church as a child, as a teen as a young lady. She was married at this church and dedicated her first child and if health would have allowed I am sure she would have dedicated a few more. Now she will have her funeral at this church. She told her mother just last week how she loved her Lord and how she loved her church. Well may I say to you her church loved her!!!!! So many lives she touched, so many lives she taught, so many lives that will never be the same because Tracy came in contact with them. She only lived 29 earthly years but accomplished more than most who live much longer. As I write this blog my heart is heavy as I am sure most of our congregation's hearts are today. But we need to remember that it wont be long till we will see her again. Please pray for the family today.

Heaven Is A Wonderful Place

Filled With Glory And Grace

I Want to See My Saviors Face

Heaven Is A Wonderful PLace

Heaven Is A Wonderful Place 

Filled With Glory And Grace

I Want To See My Sisters Face

Heaven Is A Wonderful

Heaven Is A Glorious 

Heaven Is A Wonderful Place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But Untill Then We Will Go On SInging

Untill Then We Will Carry On

Untill The Day We Behold His Glory

Untill The Day He Takes Us Home!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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PERHAPS YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE A COMMENT ABOUT TRACY JUST CLICK COMMENT AND SHARE WHAT SHE MEANT TO YOU.WE WILL SHARE THESE WITH THE FAMILY AND SOME ALSO AT THE FUNERAL.

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Funeral Arrangements

Viewing-- Needham Story North

              Monday Jan 5th

               2p.m.-4p.m.----- 6p.m.-8p.m.

Funeral--Liberty Baptist Church

             Tueday Jan 6th

              10 a.m.  Viewing 1 hour before service at the church 9 a.m.