I have been thinking a little bit lately about what it is that I admire most in people. There are a lot of things in the lives of many that are admirable. So many things could be mentioned but I would like to mention three of the most admirable things that really bring me to admire someone.

                  1. THE GRACE OF GOD IN THEIR LIFE. People who have Christ not only in their life but who have a Christ's Spirit in control of their life. Those who know God's grace, live in it and extend it.

                   2. LOVE. People who are loving and kind. They do not seek out friendships based upon what they provide for them, but their delight is is finding people who simply need an expression of God's love through them. It seems people like this have some of their closest friends who come from difficult and broken backgrounds, yet they delight in loving and encouraging them. I admire Christ-like compassion.

                    3. WISDOM.  These people have the ability to see situations from various angles that help in the making of wise decisions. It is evident these people wait and walk with God. They are connected with heaven and it sure helps us here on earth.

                           I WANT TO HAVE MORE OF THESE QUALITIES IN MY LIFE. HOW ABOUT YOU?

Yesterday I led our church in both services in taking an "ANNUAL CHECKUP." I think it was helpful for each who attended. In the morning we looked at checking up on our salvation. 2nd Corinthians 13:5 tells us to examine our selves and see if there is any proof that we are really in the faith?  I asked several questions, 1st, Has there been a time when you REPENTED of your sins? 2nd, Has there been a time when you BELIEVED on the Lord? 3rd, Has there been a time when you RECEIVED the Lord into your life? We expounded on each point and clarified what each of those things meant. We then went on and looked at seven other proofs that we need to know in order to be for sure that we have really been born again. I encourage each of you readers to examine yourselves as well. I don't think we doubt our salvation just because we examine. I for one can say that each time I examine myself I am more assured that I am a real born again Christian. Last evening we cam back to church and I preached the second part of that message "Checking Up on our Dedication." We spent time rating where we are in our walk with God. It was also helpful in helping each of us know where we were with the Lord. I encourage each to listen to Sunday mornings message again. You can get the morning message on our web-sight. Sunday evenings will need to be ordered at the Welcome Center. If you know someone who needs to hear a real clear cut explanation of what one must do to be saved, Sunday mornings message would help them. Order a CD and get it to them before it is to late. We had a decent attendance for an after Christmas service. Many were away and others still had get togethers. We had 640 in morning services. Had 2 adults saved in our morning services and 6 children saved in our junior church. Sunday eve was one of our lowest attendances in a long time. We had many gone, many others stayed home because of the weather as we had 2- 3 inches of snow in the late afternoon. Others I think were just tired{ and the last sunday of the year after Christmas} and others maybe because of the colts game. But for those who made special effort to be faithful it was a delight to be here. Don Ruse and his son Joel played a wonderful offertory just like they used to do when Joel lived in the area and attended Liberty. Joel then snag with his sister Janeen. It was good to see them both. The music in the morning service was a good as it gets. Well I need to leave the office and go to the funeral home for the viewing of our good friend Ed Duggan. We sure have lost a lot of our long time members and attenders of Liberty in 2009. Praise God for the Hope of Heaven. 

 I am doing what I have done every year since I have been Pastor of Liberty Baptist Church. I have come to the office and have spent some time walking around the facilities and giving God praise for what He has done on this corner over the last 22 years. I love coming to the church on Christmas eve day because there are no calls and very few stop by. Today only Barry Early was here making sure the salt was on the parking lots and sidewalks. He is gone now and just me and the Lord. I like that more than most things in life. The buildings are ready for tonight's CandleLight Communion. The auditorium is beautiful thanks to Carol and Dave Sarber. I look forward to this evening being with the family of God at Liberty as we honor our Lord as we receive together the Lords Table. Hope you will be able to be with us. This Sunday I am preaching a two part message both in the morning and evening entitled "OUR ANNUAL CHECKUP." It is a very practical message that will help each of us to look at where we are in our Christian life. I am working on a short series that we will preach in January 2010 which will help us in our thought life's . It is entitled "NEW THOUGHTS FOR A NEW YEAR." If we are not careful with our thoughts they will become the devils playground. I will preach from God's Word as He has help and hope for us in this very important aspect of our lives. For our church members I want to let you know we lost another one of our Liberty family on Tuesday. Ed Duggan went to heaven and today is with Jesus and Reba his dear wife of many years. Ed will join many others from Liberty who are spending their first Christmas in heaven. As we assemble tonight for the Lord's Table I will think of all the folk from Liberty who have gone on before us that will be assembled in Glory as we assemble by faith waiting for that Hallelujah Hour. Ed's viewing is this Monday evening at Needham's and the funeral will be Tuesday at 10 a.m. I will be preaching Ed's funeral.  I will be praying for each of you today and tomorrow as you are with family. I pray it will be a wonderful time of peace and witness. Don't forget to shine your light to your loved ones both with lip and action. They will be looking and I know you will let them see "CHRIST IN YOU THE HOPE OF GLORY!" 

 Christianity is different from religion. Religions like Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, and others teach men how to earn favor with their gods through "good' behavior and through religious works. Christianity, however, is unique. The one true God knows that sinful man is incapable of meriting or earning salvation through religious activity. The good news is that no one needs to try. In Christ, God has provided eternal salvation. How did this happen? In order for Jesus to become a human and retain His deity, He had to experience a miraculous birth. Therefore, when Jesus came to this world, He did so through the womb of a virgin. All people are born with a sinful nature that is inherited from the first man Adam. We have a natural desire to sin, to selfishness. Jesus could not be born of the seed of Adam or He too would have inherited a sinful nature. He was born, not of Adam's seed, but of a women's seed, free from a nature of sin, so He could die in the place of man for man's sin. The very first person to question Jesus' virgin birth was the virgin herself {Luke 1:34}. It seemed a biological impossibility but it was a theological necessity. Without the virgin birth we have no salvation. This Christmas let us praise God for the miracle of the virgin birth. After all, how else could God have been born? 

 What a wonderful day of services we had yesterday at Liberty. What great music we had the whole day. The morning and evening was filled with instrumentals and special solos. The Choir presentation " A LIBERTY CHRISTMAS" was one of the best ever. Each person taking a part were used of the Lord in a great way. I could tell they had been working hard and had their parts down well. Each singer, instrumentalist, p.a workers, lighting specialists, media folk each served with all their hearts. The smiles on each of their faces revealed true worship. We had a great crowd with many visitors and the gospel was proclaimed and we leave the results up to the Lord. Thanks to each believer who participated, you will be rewarded one day for your faithful service to our KING OF KINGS! We had an adult lady saved yesterday morning in our second service. PTL. Yesterday we had many already gone for the Christmas holiday, and today many more have left and will be gone through this weekend. I know we have folk in Ohio, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Michigan, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Illinois,and many other states along as many other places in Indiana. We miss them and look forward to their return but we are glad they can be with family at this holy time of year. I am really looking forward to this Thursday at Liberty Baptist as we will meet together for our Annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion. It is one of my favorite times of the year at our church. We will meet at 6 p.m. and usually it lasts about 35 minutes or so. Hope you can be here this year. I heard our brother Mike Green is out east and is having a hard time getting back to Indiana because of all the snow fall. Pray for Mike to be able to get back , I know he wants to be at the Christmas Eve service with his wife Jo. Saturday was a great day for Karen & myself. We were able to deliver Christmas gifts to 9 homes on that day. It always moves us as we see the condition of many homes and I am so thankful to be a part of a great church like Liberty that makes such and effort to help the poor and needy not only at Christmas but week after week through the entire year. Hundreds of gifts were given this year and a hardy thanks to each who made it possible. . Well I need to go as tonight at our home we are hosting the Rickner Christmas. Have a great evening and hopefully we will speak with you tomorrow. 

 When Jesus came to earth, few understood whom He really was. Angels tried to tell Mary, Joseph and the shepherds, but they were not able to understand the complete meaning of the Lord’s announcement. Today, most still lack understanding about Jesus’ identity. Who is He?

Isaiah 6:6 foretold who this Babe born in Bethlehem would be and what he would do. It declares that He would be our Wonderful Councilor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace.

WONDERFUL COUNCELOR. Jesus came to be our Councilor. He is always available to listen. When we are lonely, He is our closest friend. When we are discouraged and depressed, He lifts us up. When we are confused, He gives direction and wisdom.

MIGHTY GOD. Jesus came to give us power. He gives us the power to be saved and become the children of God. He sets us free from sin. He loosens us from the bondage of selfish desires. He protects us from Satan and all he throws at us. He delivers from temptation. He is the All Mighty God who still works miracles for us today.

ETERNAL FATHER. Jesus is both eternal and one with the Father, John 10:30. In Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead. Jesus is God, Co-equal, Co-eternal, Co-existent with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.

PRINCE OF PEACE. Jesus came to give us peace with God and the peace of God. He gives us a peace that the world cannot give, a peace that the world cannot understand. Because His peace is perfect we can sit at His feet in the midst of unpeaceful  situations and enjoy utter calmness. 

May this Christmas season find each of us more knowledgeable of who God is and more in love with Jesus Christ than ever before. This Babe Born In Bethlehem is God’s special gift to us all

 I did something today that was one of the hardest things I have ever done but I wanted to do it with all my heart. I preached my mothers funeral. I knew this was her wish and I wanted to meet that desire of hers but I really did not know how hard it was going to be. About 5 minutes before the service began I started  wondering if I was going to be able to do it. Since Monday morning when we received word about moms passing it has been a real emotional time for me. I have been so concerned for my 5 brothers and 2 sisters. I understand what they are going through and I so wanted to help them with words of truth and comfort. I wanted to be a help also to each of the 16 grandchildren and the 11 great grandchildren, and of course each family member and friend. I wanted to honor our mother and most importantly I wanted to share the gospel with all present especially some lost family members. As I stood to the podium I felt weak and not sure of myself. I ask the Lord’s help and strength. As I stood and looked out I saw my loving wife and children and their mates. I saw my in-laws Pastor & Marcele Rickner. I saw one of my mentors John Rickner and his wife Soo. I looked and saw my brothers and sisters and then so many of my church family who I knew were praying for me at that very moment. I could feel the power of the Lord bring me peace and confidence and an anointing for the task. I thank the Lord we were able to minister to my brothers and sisters. Praise the Lord for rock solid Truths that we could share about mans sin and God’s grace. Praise the Lord for heaven and the hope of seeing mom again The next time we see her she will be perfect. No hang-ups or hardships to overcome. I can hardly wait. I want to say to each and everyone who sent an email or card. To each who made a call, to so many who came to the viewing and to the funeral. To those who carried in food for the viewing and the funeral dinner. THANKS SO MUCH. Our family will be forever indebted to your kindness and love. For each of you who could not be there we thank you for your prayers. And most importantly we THANK the LORD for his comfort and strength in time of need!

 Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23 tell us that Jesus was to be born of a virgin and that his name shall be called Jesus and Emmanuel. Those two names that reveal so much about our Lords character mean so much to me today. Jesus, our “Savior” and Emmanuel, “God with us.” He who knew no sin and was all together righteous has come down to us. Religion attempts to work up to God, which it can never attain. God is far too holy and high to be reached by mans efforts.  Christianity is “God coming down to Man” in the person of Jesus. Emmanuel, God with us. That truth is so wonderful. He never leaves us as an orphan. He never forsakes us when the going gets tough. He never pushes us away when we are running from Him. He never gets so displeased when our lives become soiled by sin that He rejects us and forsakes us never to help us again. No He is always near and with one inward cry of help from one of His, He is there willing to cleanse us and set our feet on solid ground once again. Emmanuel, God with us in our hurts, pains, disappointments, discouragements in our darkest of hours. Emmanuel, God with us in our delights, victories, our happiest of hours. Emmanuel, God with us in our moments of deliberation and our decision. Emmanuel, God with us, in our moments of laughter and our moments of deepest sorrow. Emmanuel, God with us in this moment of time and forevermore in the sphere we call eternity. What a Savior, what a Friend, What a Sovereign. He is with us and close to us. He is a “Friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”

I am typing this in my office where I have kind of secluded myself since my mother’s death, yesterday. He has been with me in such a dear way. He knows how to minister to each of His children. I pray for my brothers today that they will have the same solace. Mike, Chuck, Dee, John, Chris. I pray for my sisters, Shirley, and Kay the same. For my children and theirs. Just over in the other offices I hear laughter in the Lord and that is good.  For me today laughter is not mine but sorrow. I will join others in laughter soon but must remember then that others may be in sorrow. Thank God we do not “Sorrow as those who have no hope.”

I watch out my window a see traffic flying by and am reminded that life goes on. One day my life will be over and the same will take place. Laughter in one room and sorrow in another and time for others will march on. All this reminds me that life is short and we must make each moment count. We must win souls helping them prepare for the end of human life. We must pray for others, thank God for all the years of prayers for my mom. We must do all we can to glorify the Lord in this life He has given. We must remember in the end only a few things really matter!  When we leave this world will we go to Heaven or Hell? And did we live the best life we could have lived for the Lord’s Glory.

 Yesterday we had great services and the attendance was very good for the time of season, but most importantly the Spirit of the Lord was present. What a joy preaching about the Virgin Birth of Christ. Our Lord was conceived without corruption, Hallelujah. After morning services I drove over to Upland, In about 22 miles from our church and I joined my other brothers and sisters at our mothers home. It was the old home place that mom and dad bought and moved us to in 1966. For 43 it is where they lived and raised a family. It is the place where we lived as a family and later the place we came from all different parts and assembled as a family at special times of the year. Yesterday we were there to be with our mother as she sipped from this world to the next one. She was alert until the early Monday morning hours. She slipped into unconsciousness and at 8:05 a.m. this morning she "Departed" earth and at the same moment "Arrived" in heaven. Today is the first time in my 56 years that I can't call her or talk to her if i wanted.  The last few months with mom were some of the best I have ever had with her. Her decision several months ago to come to the Lord made a difference in her life and of course mine as well. Yesterday we spoke about Jesus and Heaven and she told each of us she was not fearful about dying because she was going to be up there with the Lord. In her hand most of the time and later only in her lap lay her Bible filled with the last few months of Liberty Baptists bulletins with the sermon notes all filled out. The last think she said to me personally was "I was a good boy, I was a good boy," and then she said I love you! Next time I see her she will be in a better place and she will not have all the baggage that seem to get in the way of we humans relating with each other. She was set free this morning ! Set free from everything that keep us mortals from so many blessings. This morning she set sail and this afternoon she is set free. I can hardly wait to join her and see the change in her and experience the change in myself as we will live forever together in a perfect place. THANKS TO THE LORD AND HIS GRACE.  MOM UNDERSTOOD SHE COULDN'T WORK UP TO HIM BUT HE HAD COME DOWN TO HER. PRAISE HIS NAME!

 It is only two weeks till Christmas Day. People are flying here and there. So busy. Their time filled up with so many activities. Parties, plays & programs. Shopping and a lot of spending money and for some in a month or so that money will be sorely missed. It seems like every group at work, at school, at church has a get together. In some instances that is good, some it is only tightening the schedule and forcing choices of "I can't do it all" so something must go and in many cases the things that go are priorities which should never be pushed back in the lines of life. We must always make time for daily Bible study and prayer. Always spending some time alone with God each and every day. Always making time to witness and serve the Lord. Assembly at our church is a must even in the month of December, after all isn't Christmas about the our blessed Lord? Shouldn't His wishes be our heartbeat? Didn't He die for His church? Doesn't He want His church to be strong and vibrant on fire and on the move? His Kingdom, His Commission, His Mandate for His Church should never be somewhere below priority. When we begin to allow other things to influence us to forsake His church it will not be long till His church becomes weak and feeble in the town and area it is in. We need to read the book of Act's and remind ourselves of the early Christians and their God given desire to see His church triumphant and always moving forward. I for one pledge myself to the Lord and to His church and ask Him to help me keep my priorities right in making His church strong here in Sweetser and around the world. No matter the weather, the season, the school activity, the sport or any other temptation . The church is made up of God's people and the local church is only as strong as the commitment of those people in it. Now that may sound a little sharp today but in my opinion that is the kind of dedication we need and nothing less. "Iron sharpens iron." Have a great day!

 Had great day yesterday! I felt like the Lord wanted me to stay home and be alone with Him. Karen had some jobs for me to do and About  6:30 a.m we began on the list. I went outside for the morning and rearranged the barn and got I lot’s of things winterized. I carried wood for several hours , that is great exercise for me and I love that kind of exercise because I can see the profit in it. I came inside about 2 p.m. and began working on some inside projects. Great timing as the real cold weather started arriving about that time. Karen got home about 3;45 p.m. and began preparing some supper. We had meat loaf and baked sweet potatoes. As I was sitting with her at the table I thought how blessed I was at that very moment. After supper I began studying for my midweek lesson we will teach tonight and from 5:30 p.m. till 7:30 p.m. I studied Acts 13 – 18 . I had 46 pages of notes and lessons. Lucy came over at 6 p.m. and stayed till 9 or so. At about 8 p.m we sat down in a warm basement {thanks to the work of carrying wood and the work of keeping the wood burner going} and enjoyed the warmth  as we watched a nice Christmas movie together with the Christmas lights all around us. I thought I was in heaven. Then we were able to go to bed and get some rest so we can get with the Lord’s work today. What a privilege of enjoying the Lords blessings and the fruit of our labour.

All day I was able to spend with my Lord , and my wife, and little Lucy, and my new friend Cooper. Cooper is our new dog. He is really fun to be around. Sometimes he does the craziest things but they really bring joy to my heart. He is such an entertainer and he doesn’t even know it. I enjoy taking care of him and he seems to enjoy me doing it . God was good to us when he made pets for us .  Judy Frank sent me a little song that I thought I would pass along today for all you dog lover’s.

            GOD & DOG

I look up and I see God

I look down and see my dog

Simple spelling  G O D

Same word backwards D O G

They would stay with me all day

I’m the one who walks away

But both of them just wait for me

And dance at my return with glee

Both love me no matter what

Divine God and canine mutt

I take it hard each time I fail

But God forgives dog wags his tail

God thought up and made the dog

Dog reflects a part of God

I’ve seen love from both sides now

It’s everywhere

AMEN

Bow Wow

I look up and I see God

I look down and see my dog

And in my human frailty

I can’t match their love for me

PRAISE THE LORD FOR ALL HE GIVES IN THIS LIFE AND THE NEXT!

 Good Tuesday to each of you readers of the “Bishir Blog.” Today in north central Indiana it is cold and gray. By Thursday it is to be around 12 degrees in the morning. For some of you readers you will be reading in places like Texas and Florida and even California. It shouldn’t be 12 degrees there. Some today who read the blog are in Colorado which is having artic air and lots of snow. For some you are in Pennsylvania and you also are in the cold today. For some you are in Tennessee and others Missouri Others in other states with varied degrees of tempts and weather. The point is the conditions can be different on the outside but each of us who have Christ as our Savior can have a constant condition on the inside. The outside conditions don’t have to affect the inside conditions at all. It can be cold on the outside and warm and cozy on the inside. Jesus in us makes all the difference. We can be separated by distance today but we are united by the one who is in us. He brings us together in a spiritual way. Hallelujah.

I have found in life that there are two kinds of people- those who seek to know God, and those who seek to avoid Him. Both will succeed in the end. WHICH ARE YOU! I hope you are seeking God with all your heart, and if you are you have a promise from God, “Seek me and you shall find me.” If you seek to avoid Him you will not find Him and He will not run you down either. The human heart can be deceptive; many Christians I have met would like you to believe they are seeking God, but the question is, are they really? We can fool our selves into thinking we are seeking God but are we really seeking to know Him or are we in many degrees “Hiding from Him?” Are we avoiding HIM? Do we seek Him many times a day by reading His Word and looking for Him in every verse we study? Are we spending time in Prayer, seeking to connect with Him throughout the day? Are we faithfully attending church services and Bible Studies as avenues of seeking to hear from Him? Are we taking time and finding quiet places and practicing in the spiritual discipline of Meditation on Jesus. Are we teaching our minds hearts the habit of practicing His presence, understanding He is with us every second and we just need to acknowledge His presence. Are we abiding in Him via His Holy Spirit?

I sure want to be of the type of people who seek the Lord not avoid the Lord. I hope you have that kind of heart also. My heart can be deceptive so I have been asking the Lord if there is any way in me that is avoiding Him. Please Lord help me to see myself, please Lord reveal to me if I try to “Ditch” you, if I try to spend any time without you. If I rejoice thinking you are not with me for a while. It can be a mind thing! Help us Lord to desire you each and every moment of our lives.  

 Here in Northcentral Indidana we had our first snowfall of the season. It was just an inch or so but it was covering the ground and was very beautiful. When I got up this morning I went down to the basement to throw some logs in the wood burner and as I went my basement door I saw the snow and not only had made things so beautiful but it also had made a quite hush . Have you noticed at times when it snows it makes everything a little quieter. As I stood there and just took in the beauty and the quiet it became a place of worship to me. God is good in leading us to the most wonderful places of  experiencing His Glory. If we would be ready at all times to meet Him, He would reveal Himself more often. We must desire for Him to reveal Himself to us, if we would do this we would surely be in His presence more and more.

Yesterday we had good services. The crowds were good not great. Many of our families had sickness. Today while I was checking up on some I have found that many were sick. But non the less we had good services and the spirit in our services was great. I loved preaching both morning and evening. The message in the morning really spoke to my heart as I was preaching the truth. I don’t think I will ever go through the Christmas season as before. The truths about Bethlehem have helped me to understand how I must live in humilty not pride. And to know I have been chosen as Bethlehem was chosen. How blessed I am of God. We must constantly remember that God didn’t choose us because we are holy but that we are holy because He chose us. And we must hold close to our hearts the truth that “ Spiritual birth only takes place in the place of humility. “Sheep are birthed in fields.” And “Sheep are fed in manger’s “ It is imperitive for we believers to continually seek humilty so as to be rebirthed moment by moment unto spiritual values.

If you were unable to be with us in the morning I would encourage you to get a copy of the CD of the service, it would be really helpful for all who have a desire to grow in God’s grace. Perhaps wait till it goes on our websight tomorrow and listen on line. I really thing this message is a lifechanging message.

Be in prayer for Mike & Lori Jarvis this week. On Thursday Lori will donate a kidney to Mike. Please pray for the surgery to go well and that their  recuperation will be a fast and complete one. In our service last eve we anointed Mike with oil and prayed for healing. May each of us continue to lift them both to the throne of God.

Hope your day goes well and hope to speak with you first thing in the morning. 

A man was shoveling snow from his driveway when two boys carrying snow shovels approached him. “Shovel your snow, Mister?” one of them asked. “Only two dollars!” Puzzled, the man replied, “Can’t you see that I’m doing it myself?” “Sure,” said the enterprising lad; “that’s why we asked. We get most of our business from people who are half way through and feel like quitting.

I heard Dr. Hyles preach years ago a message where he encouraged us to cut two words out of our dictionary. The words quit and compromise. I went back to my dorm room and did just that. It has been 35 years since that college day and I have continually needed to remind myself ,”It is always too soon to Quit.” Charles Spurgeon reminded his London congregation, “By perseverance, the snail reached the ark.”

When God opens doors there will always be opposition. Our opposition comes from without and within. When God opens doors, the enemy tries to close them, and there are times when we close the doors on ourselves because we get discouraged and quit.

When we think about quitting it usually when we are tired or when we feel like we have failed or are failing. It can be at times of great disappointment or loss. It is most certainly at times when the load gets heavy and there seems to be far to many tasks to do with no energy to do them. These are the times when we “DON’T QUIT.” Call upon the Lord for help. Get to your Brother and Sisters for some support. Get some rest and stay in His Word. Get refocused but never quit. It is interesting that in Nehemiah 4  when the people were half way though the rebuilding of the wall and they were thinking about quitting , that Nehemiah was instated by the Lord to get the people closer together and to put on two new shifts. They were to work themselves out of the quitting mindset. They were to work together, encouraging each other , helping each other with the load.

Quit? Never! IT ISALWAYS TOO SOON TO QUIT! 

 It is Thursday Dec 3 2009, that is really unbelievable to me. It seems like it was only a few weeks ago that we were talking about the new millennium. It has been 10 years since then and we are still looking for our Lord to return. He is still on plan and we are only closer to this next major event on the Biblical calendar.

This week I have been preparing our messages for our three part Christmas series entitled “The Promises of Christmas.” We will be looking at Old Testament promises of the Place, Person, & Power of Christ’s first coming to this earth.

When Christ came the first time to this earth, He did not come to a BIG place or a prominent place. He came to a little out of the way place called Bethlehem. Micah 5 describes this place to be a little town and one, which was not filled with powerful people but common shepherds. When Jesus was born as the God Man He it was not with the bright lights of the world or with great acclamation of man, but the bright lights of God’s Glory was there along with the wonderful acclaims of the heavenly host. Christ was born in a humble place in the presence of humble people.

AS I was studying, this truth came to me that just as our Lord’s birth took place in a humble place that “ Our spiritual birth will only take place in a humble place.” No person will ever be born again spiritually unless it is in the place of humility. Pride must be abased and one must humble themselves in order for the Lord to re-birth them. Again once we are born again there will be no birth in the spiritual realm apart from it taking place in a little town called “Humility.” We will never learn to die to self unless we first bury ourselves in a humble place. We will never grow in maturity and Christ like character unless we do it in that out of the way place called humility. Everything born in the spiritual realm must be born in such a way. “TRUE SHEEP ARE BORN IN FIELDS.”  “TRUE SHEEP ARE FED AT MANGERS.” “THOSE WHO WILL BE KING’S IN THE SPIRITUAL KINGDOM MUST FIRST TRAVEL TO THEIR SPIRITUAL BETHLEHEM’S AND BE BORN IN HUMILITY.”

 It is Tuesday and had a little problem with our server yesterday and my blogg did not get sent, sorry. It looked like a lot tried to check the blog yesterday so to each of you and extra sorry. Yesterday i had to do one of the hardest and easiest things I have ever done. I had to preach the funeral of a friend of 22 years. For several years I thought of the potential of that event every day I left the office and passed her house on my way home. I knew it would be a very sad yet happy occasion. It was easy to preach because Nora Faye's life made it easy. It was hard to preach because Nora Faye's life made it hard. It was easy to honor such an honorable women. It was hard to let go of such a wonderful lady. Thanks to each of you who honored her at her viewing and at her funeral. 

This past weekend was a great one for serving the Lord. We preached Mike Pulley's funeral on Saturday and many heard the gospel and at the end while I was standing at the casket a 40 year old fellow came with tears and said, "I am deciding for the Lord here and now." Amen. Sunday we had good services with 720 in attendance in the morning services and a good crowd in the eve. For Thanksgiving weekend we were rejoicing. We had several decisions to be baptized in a few weeks and other spiritual decisions. 

Today has been very busy with many meetings , phone-calls, and I just came back to the office from greeting the widows who are having a meeting at the church and then going to see the Christmas lights. I sure am thankful for all the good functions that take place at Liberty on a regular basis. We have some teams out visiting tonight which is such a help. Well I will try to blog early tomorrow , hope all have a good evening.