It is Friday morning and it is a beautiful one in this part of Indiana. We had great services last evening. The midweek meal was very nice. We had pulled pork and WOW it was good. The fellowship at the meal was just as wonderful. Thanks to all the ladies who help provide this meal for the Liberty family. We had our new electives start and the attendance was good and the Bible was taught in many different topics. 

Yesterday I came to the office early and had several appointments and at noon I went to our granddaughters house and picked up Luci so I could spend several hours with her at Grandparents Day at her preschool. When I got to the house she was waiting for Pap Paw outside and she had the prettiest little pink and green dress on any little 5 year old could have. We had our picture taken by her mommy and our first born daughter Beth. We hurried up and got in the car, I put her seat belt on and off we went to Converse. I pulled my mirror down where I could see Luci and we had a great little talk as we drove. As we parked the car and opened the door for her she was ready to go. She began to lead Pap Paw to the front door and then up the stairs to her class and she led me all the way. I thought of the verse in the Bible that tells us we shall be led by little children. I met her teachers and took my seat behind Luci's and we began a fun filled afternoon. 

Luci had also invited her great grandparents Tom & Cleta and we were joined by them. It was good to see them and to spend few hours together with those of Luci's physical linage. Grandma Karen had to work, Grandpa and Grandma Frank were out of state as were Grandma & Grandpa Rickner. They always are there and I am sure they hated to miss this special time of helping Luci grow up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Now for sure I was already busy and had a lot to do. I had to reschedule some things and I sure am glad I did. Most everything we do is very important, most of it is eternal. I don't make much time for unimportant things as there is so much to accomplish for eternity. But what we did yesterday between 12 and 2:30 P.M. was as eternal as it gets. We did some very important things.

We had SONG TIME as we sang songs like "Copycat and Wiggle Worm." We had BIBLE STORY TIME with Eli the Eagle who told us about a man in the Bible named Zachias. We had COLORING TIME where both of us need to use the right colors and counts to do the job right. We had PICTURE TIME where Luci and Pap Paw sat in the big chair and said "Cheese" and laughed together. We had a special time where we PLANTED A FLOWER together and Pap Paw had to clean up the floor because Luci decided  the teachers foot needed planting as well. As I was cleaning up the mess I thought she sure is a lot like her daddy!  After that we went back to the classroom and did had my favorite time SNACK TIME! Luci and I decorated a cookie. We put icing on it and marshmallows and we were supposed to put a Lifesaver Gummy in the center but it didn't make it there because it took a detour to Luci's mouth before it made it to the cookie. All in all it was a good afternoon. 

Pap Paw was 57 and Luci was 5 but I think I learned more than Luci yesterday. Every-time She looked back to catch a glimpse of Pap Paw wether it was when she was being a willy worm or when she was getting ready to pour potting soil on the teachers foot what a thrill it was to my heart to see how she sought my approval and knowledge just to know I was there. A lot of people needed me yesterday but so did this little five year old. 

Luci learned lots of things yesterday, but perhaps she learned just a little more how much she is loved and how much she is believed in, how much she is valued. Pap Paw learned yesterday how satisfying it is to stand behind someone especially your little 5 year old granddaughter. I learned the importance of example of love, caring and priority. I learned a little more clearly about how fast life goes by. About the potential of little children and how important it is to help to develope them into who they will become. I also re-learned how the simple things of life bring the greatest joys. Yes inspite of all the negative there is great and positive things going on all around us. 
 

ALL IN ALL IT WAS ONE OF MY MOST ENJOYABLE AFTERNOONS IN SOME TIME. 

 TODAY IN HISTORY!

1. ANOTHER MONTH HAS ENDED. Time is fleeting. Make May a great month in your Christian life.

2. 1812- LOUISIANA WAS ADMITTED TO THE UNION. Pray for this state today. 

3. 1945- HITLER COMMITTED SUICIDE. What a tragic life. Let us remind ourselves today that sin will reap a whirlwind. The sin of pride will take us a lot further than we want to go. 

 THIRTY SEVEN YEARS ! It is hard for me to believe that 37 years ago today was the day I came to Christ and sought His forgiveness and His wonderful salvation. I was 19 years old, jut a few weeks away from my 20th birthday. For 37 years now I have been indwelled by the Holy Spirit. He walks with me and talks with me every moment.  For 37 years I have lived with the knowledge that I have been forgiven of all my sin, past, present and even future sins. For 37 years I have known the privilege of being able to speak directly with the Sovereign of all the universes. He listens and answers each of my pleas. For 37 years now I have never been alone, He has been my best friend One who has never forsaken me and One who is sticks closer than a brother. For 37 years now, every time I have opened up His Bible He has revealed to me truth and it has set me free in every area of life. For 37 years I have read, studied and meditated on this life changing Book and He has taught me every day new principles to live by. For 37 years now, I have had the privileged to live for Jesus, to attempt to bring glory to His worthy name. I haven't always succeeded in this but I can honestly say { with tears in my  eyes this very moment} I have tried to bring as much glory to One who saved me by His grace.

For 37 years now we have attempted to be faithful to His church, to tithe and give, to witness to others about this one who found this poor lost sinner 37 years ago. For 37 years we have attempted to bring honor to Jesus with action and with inner attitudes that only He would see on many occasion. 

It seems like it has only been a few years ago that I went to church at Union Chapel Baptist for only the second time in my life. I heard a powerful message preached in power of the Holy Spirit. I sensed the presence of God in a praying church. And in that last Sunday of April 1973 I went down to an Old Fashion Altar and repented and gave my life to Jesus and He took it and Rebirthed me and my life has never been the same. I mean, it was a difference as day and night. Only God can do something like this. And the great news is He isn't finished with me yet! He has plans to change me more into His likeness. 

I am thanking Him today for what He has done and what He is doing and what He will do in my life for all eternity! I am so unworthy and to think that He would save this poor lost sinner and make me a child of His is more than I can understand, but I accept it by faith and say THANK YOU JESUS, THANK YOU JESUS!

TODAY IN HISTORY!

1. 1789- WASHINGTON GAVE THE FIRST INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

2. GERMANY SIGNED AN UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER IN WORLD WAR II. What a great day that was in American and World history. Germany has been rebuilt now so let us pray for this nation to have a great moving of God's Spirit in her. Also may we pray against dictators and godless leaders who move nations into such terrible atrocities. 

3. Witness to a lost soul today. Invite a person to church this Sunday. Who knows you may see someone like Terry Bishir come to Christ from such an effort. 
 

 Have you learned the Secret of Satisfaction yet in your life? This Thursday I will celebrate 37 years of knowing Christ personally, of having the Lord in me and of experiencing His presence in my life. For 37 years I have known HIM, and s I have walked in His fellowship it has made all the difference in my life. Through the many years I have learned the secret of satisfaction. What is it that really brings contentment and security, guidance and peace?  In our Sunday School Class this past Sunday we began a study on Psalm 23. In verse 1 it says, "THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD I SHALL NOT WANT."  What truth, what comfort, what strength!

The world it seems is filled with unsatisfied people. Even in the church it seems this dissatisfaction is a spreading disease. How many truly satisfied people do you know? For sure, people can have all the things of the world and not be satisfied. John Muer, a great naturalist was speaking to Mr. Harriman the great railroad magnate who because of his great wealth held a large influence in his day. Mr. Muer said to Mr. Harriman, "I m richer then you are." How is that ? " I have all I want you don't have all you want, I am richer." Ecclessiastes 5:10 says, "He that loveth silver shall NOT be satisfied with silver."  I have learned in life that not just money can't satisfy but nothing in this world can satisfy completely and always. Not possessions, people, power, prestige, pleasure, NOTHING. It is like the little boy who always wanted more pancakes then his mother would make him. Finally one day mom decided to make him all the pancakes he could eat. She kept making pancakes and he kept eating. You want more ? Yes! You want more? Yes!  You want more? Yes! You want more? "I DON"T WANT THE ONES I HAVE EATEN." He had gotten sick on eating to much. Often we get dissatisfied because we get all this stuff in the world. 

Now there is true satisfaction to be found. It is not in things or people it is in having a SHEPHERD! "THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I SHALL NOT WANT." Did you hear that? I shall not want! When the LORD is our shepherd we will get the WANTER fixed. When we find out He is our all powerful shepherd it will change a lot of things in us  and one is we will grow secure and content and SATISFIED. Only Jesus really satisfies. 

THE LORD- He is Sovereign, Jehovah- The self Existing One. He can meet every need and want I have. He can work in my heart and even change my wants and make them desires that will satisfy once I attain them. 

IS- Has always been and always will be.

MY- Not the shepherd but MY shepherd. He is Personal. He loves me and wants to care for me in all ways because he loves me so.

Shepherd- Cares for the sheep. Guards , Grazes, and Guides.

SOVEREIGN + SHEPHERD = SATISFACTION!  The only way anyone will ever have true satisfaction is to say and mean it, THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD. Only when you say the Lord is my shepherd can you say, I SHALL NOT WANT. So many people think the secret of satisfaction is having a God who can give them everything they want. No, the secret to satisfaction is the LORD HIMSELF. 

Psalm 37:4 " Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." That does not teach if I love Jesus I can have a big car or a big house. Delight yourself in the Lord and you will find He will change the desire of your heart. You will be desirous of the one thing that will satisfy, Jesus Himself! Your hearts desire will be to bring glory to Jesus. That is what will bring true satisfaction, to know you are satisfying Him. The deepest need in our heart is Jesus. Thats what we were made for, that is what our heart was created for in the first place. "In Him we live and move and have our being." We will never be satisfied apart from HIM! 

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD AND IT IS NOT THE THINGS HE GIVES ME THAT GIVES ME SATISFACTION IT IS AS HE GIVES HIMSELF TO ME AND AS I TAKE HIM AND FOLLOW HIM I FIND THE GREEN PASTURES THAT ONLY SATISFY! 

TODAY IN HISTORY!

1.1822- U. S. GRANT WAS BORN. Of course he was President of our nation but perhaps even more important he was a great general in the union army. Pray for our military men and women today.

2. 1791- THE BIRTHDAY OF SAMUEL MORSE. The inventor of the telegraph.

3. 1882- RALPH WALDO EMERSON DIED. Yes we all must die. May we redeem the time and use our fleeting moments wisely in the service of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

It is a rainy Monday morning but I think I will make it a sunny one here in my heart and head. Christ rules and I know the sun is shining above the clouds. Christ is our sunshine, the choice is ours today whether to let the rays of God's sunshine breakout in our lives or to allow the cloudy day to rule. Hope you choose the brightness and warmness of His SON-SHINE. 

Yesterday we had a wonderful day at Liberty. Great crowds in all the services and many at the altars in all three services. Many have made comments about how they sensed the power of the Lord and how the Lord challenged them to seek His Spirit filling. 

New Hope Baptist had good services as well. Pastor Robert spoke in the morning and Mike Crouch led in the evening service. Testimonies were shared in the eve as well viewing the last video in the FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN series. This series has been so powerful and practical at this time for the New Hope family.

Prayer is an amazing line God provided for direct access to His throne. D.L. Moody once said, "Next to the wonder of seeing my Savior will be, I think, the wonder that I made so little use of the power of prayer. Truly, it is a resource we should avail ourselves of continually.

Sometimes, however, we jam this line of communication and prohibit our prayers from being answered. Dr. John Rice often spoke of the hindrances to prayer. Below is a list of seven hindrances to prayer.

1. PERSONAL KNOWN SIN IN THE BELIEVERS LIFE. {Psalm 66:18}

2. STRAINED RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN HUSBANDS AND WIVES. {1st Peter 3:7}

3. UNRECONCILED WRONGS,DEBTS, OR OFFENSES BETWEEN CHRISTIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS.{Matthew 5:23-24}

4. AN UNFORGIVING OR BITTER SPIRIT.{ Matthew 18:21-22, Ephesians 4:32 }

5. THE SIN OF COVETOUSNESS. {James 4:1-3 }

6. NEGLECT AND INDIFFERENCE TO THE WORD OF GOD. { Proverbs 28:9 }

7. PRAYERLESSNESS ITSELF. { 1st Samuel 12:23 }

How tragic it would be to allow any of these things to hinder our prayers from the answer our Heavenly Father delights to give. Hope you look these verses up today and meditate on each one. Make sure to take time each day this week to spend in quality prayer, it really will change your life, your home, your church, your nation, your marriage, even the eternal destination of may of your friends and acquaintances. 

TODAY IN HISTORY!

1.CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL DAY. Things would have been a lot different if the Union would not have been saved. Thank the Lord today for his keeping this nation together through the years.

2. 1954- THE NATIONWIDE TEST OF THE SALK POLIO VACCINE BEGAN. This was a great day in America and the world. Pray today for scientists and others who are working on cures for cancer, and other dreaded diseases.  

 Last evening we taught on Romans chapter 14. What a great chapter to learn what to do when we are in the grey areas of life. Now praise the Lord that most often things are either right or wrong and we have clear mandate on how we should believe and behave. On occasion it is not so simple. It is not black or white , it is grey. The Romans were dividing over diet and days. Some believed it was right to eat meat and others thought you should only eat vegetables. Some thought you should keep holy days and others thought every day was a holy day. The Lord said there were some who were strong believers {brothers], and some weak believers{brothers]. The strong ones were the ones who knew the scriptures better and understood they did not have to obey legalistic dietary laws and ritual holy days. The weaker brethren hadn't come to that place yet. God's answer might surprise some. He told the strong believers to not despise the weak brethren and He told the weak brethren not to judge the strong brethren. He instructed each to love the other and not tear them down but to build each other up. They were instructed to let the Lord do His work in each one as He was master of their lives not them. He instructed them to stop judging each other and star thinking about themselves and prepare for the Judgement Seat of Christ where the only true and righteous judge will pass judgement on motives and works of each believer concerning reward or loss of reward. 

In the context we find that some of the Roman Christians were majoring on the minors and minoring on the majors. The major things were Righteousness, Peace and Joy. The major things were to trust God to work in the weaker  and the stronger. To let Jesus be God and for believers to stop trying to play God in others lives. The major things were to be unified even in our differences. 

St. Augustine said centuries ago. 

IN THE ESSENTIALS WE HAVE UNITY

IN THE NON-ESSENTIALS WE HAVE LIBERTY

IN ALL THINGS WE HAVE CHARITY!

I say AMEN to that. 

Today IN HISTORY!

1.1564-WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE WAS BORN.

2. 1616 - WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE DIED. At age 52 died on the same day he was born. He sure left some treasures of reading. 

3. 1791- THE BIRTHDAY OF JAMES BUCHANAN. Our 15th president.

44. 1800- THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WAS ESTABLISHED.

5. 11896-THEFIRST PUBLIC SHOWING OF A MOTION PICTURE. There is nothing evil in motion pictures unless they are misused. It seems today that the motion picture industry misuse most of it's efforts for evil instead of good. 

 Tonight I will be teaching in our elective class from Romans chapters 14-16. In his last chapter to the Romans Paul begins reflecting on several groups of people. First he remembers FRIENDS HE WANTS TO GREET! Just many of those who had befriended him through the years. Friends who had made a difference in his life. Friends who had remained faithful to him through thick and thin. The second group he wanted to acknowledge were FOES HE WANTED TO AVOID. Foes, who were enemies of the gospel, foes who were teaching false doctrine for a selfish purpose. Foes he wanted the Roman Christians to avoid as well. The third group was FAITHFUL SERVANTS. People who the Lord had brought to Paul all over the many places he had taken the gospel and planted churches. People who were still being faithful and still making a difference in many lives as well as in Paul's life. As I was reading Paul's list of FRIENDS, Foes, & Faithful Servants I began to reflect on the hundreds and hundreds of people who have made the differences in my life. I wanted to add chapter 17 to the book of Romans and make it one where I began to list all those who have been Faithful Friends. I think chapter would be the longest in the Bible. If you have been a friend to this Christian/Preacher in any way through the years let me say thanks and I am asking the Lord to help me be a faithful servant and friend and never a foe to all of you! 

TODAY IN HISTORY!

1. 1913- THE BIRTHDAY OF JACK WYRTZEN. A great evangelist and founder of  "Word of Life" ministries.

2. 1451- THE BIRTHDAY OF QUEEN ISABELLA. 

 If you read yesterdays blog you know that we are working with Coper our dog on being a little more obedient. I went home last evening and had a serious talk with him. He sat there with his head hung low and with the saddest eyes I think I have ever seen. At first he did not want to sit there, his daddy had come home and he wanted to play and eat treats but that was not the plan of his Master for the first part of the evening. We spoke to him in a very stern voice and explained that he was to stay in the yard and not break out, and if he did there would be a high price to pay. Perhaps the highest price was his dad & mom would be very displeased and he would not receive our good pleasure but he would need to stay in the garage alone for a while. Alone to think, alone, to experience what life is without those who really care for him so very much. Alone, to learn to be better and obedient. He seemed to listen and he certainly knew that he was in deep do do. I think we were making an impression and he would think a little more  about  breaking the barriers next time. 

Now all the time it seemed to me he wanted to say something so after I was finished I asked him if he had something to say. At that moment he let me know about the squirrels that would come into the yard and get him so riled up. And not only the squirrels but the raccoons, deers, foxes, birds, and other tempting pests. He wanted me to know they would come into the yard as if to say you can't catch me Cooper! You can't go where I go. Your Master says you can't leave the yard. Our Master lets us go anywhere at anytime. Your master tries to keep you from having fun and your master is just controlling and mean. Cooper said they always tempt him to,  COME ON OUT AND PLAY! I listened patiently as a good father does and a patient master should. Cooper went on to let me know if that wasn't hard enough the horse next door was always making loud noises reminding him about that undiscovered barnyard with all its unusual smells. 

I looked and listened to this young pup and tried to understand about all those temptations. I got an idea and said Coop, you and your mom and dad are going out for a little walk where we can teach and have fun at the same time. I am going to put you on a leash and take you out into that unsafe world and we will have a little adventure along with a little classroom time. He was so exited and so was mom. If mom can get dad to walk under any situation she is a happy camper.

So we went out for the next hour and a half and walked through the woods and fields on our properties and our neighbors. Cooper was having fun but learning things as well. I let him get trapped a few times in some thickets and thorns. That hurt and lessons were learned. He would want to bolt and run off on a scent but he found the master had a pretty good hold on the leash. It was a good walk, many lessons learned together. It took time to teach and will take more but the benefits for both dog and master will return many fold.

Now Cooper will need to understand that his tempters will always be there and he must learn to ignore them and focus on what his master desires. He will in time.  It may take time and it will take the consistent training of the master but it will happen as he grows up and becomes a mature pup. Today Cooper has been left outside and I am praying for him that he will be able to say no to all those temptations and by the way I am doing the same for myself and YOU! Have a great day.

 Today In History! 

1.1718- DAVID BRAINARD WAS BORN. David was the son-in-law of Jonathon Edwards that great preacher who preached the sermon, Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God. He was a great prayer warrior and preacher. He was a missionary to the eatern American Indians. You should look for books and materials to read about the power of prayer he had. Often he would pray all day and night in the snowy fields around indian camps as he would ask for them to come to Jesus. I want to be a prayer warrior like that.

2. 1889- ADOLF HITLER WAS BORN. What a contrast of the free will of life. David Brainard and Adolf Hitler.

 Good Monday to each blog reader. It is nearly 3:30 p.m. and just now able to get to blog for today. Sorry for all you early morning readers you will probably red this on Tuesday morning. We had good services yesterday at Liberty Baptist. We had 3 baptisms in the morning services, Amen. We spoke on "Who is the Lord God?" In the evening we spoke on " Jesus Love the Little Children." I enjoyed preaching God's truthful word. This morning we preached Burr Nelson's funeral message. We sensed leading from the Lord to speak from Psalm 23. We gave 4 lessons from this great Psalm, Jesus is the Life Giving Shepherd, Jesus is the Death Giving Shepherd, Jesus is the Grace Giving Shepherd and Jesus is the Eternity Giving Shepherd. God spoke and I could tell He had moved in our midst with His all Powerful words. At the grave side the Lord gave me a 5th point and that was Jesus is a Seed Sowing Shepherd. Our hearts were ministered to by His word once again. Please pray for Becky and all the family.

Some of you know that we are attempting to train our dog Cooper to stay in our yard. We have an electric fence and over the last several weeks he has learned well and hasn't attempted to get outside of it's boundaries. Karen & I were very pleased that he had learned to stay in the boundaries and that we would have better control and he would be safer. Guess what happened yesterday afternoon? You are so smart, yep he broke the boundaries and went on a rampage. We couldn't find him and we had to leave for Choir practice and a meetings before church last evening. While I was teaching a Discovery Class I received a phone call from Beth our daughter who lives across the road from us. She was somewhat upset, as she expounded to her precious dad that OUR dog was at her house and on her porch and he was a mess. He had been down in our neighbors barnyard and had horse manure all over him. Because of His private escapade now he was all over her new porch furniture and Roxie their little Yorkshire also had manure all over him because of MY little Cooper. Because Cooper had bolted and broke the boundaries he now wouldn't break back through to get home because he would get another jolt so he thought he would just go and hang out at his sisters house.  Beth didn't take to that so well. He stunk, he was filthy and because of it now her new furniture was stinky and filty.Cooper rubbed off on Roxie and now she had to get Cooper back home in a very inconvenient time.  And guess another thing, I had to go over and clean that up after church. Needless to say Cooper was literally in the DOGHOUSE last evening.

Lessons , you bet ya! Think of our sin. Think when we bolt and break through the boundaries. We get in the barnyards of life and get filthy. We get stinky. We rub off on others. We mess up others orderly lives with our own disorderly lives. We inconvenience others and disrupt there already difficult lives. We need for some to pull off what they are already doing and walk us back over the boundaries so the shock is not so severe. Now if others need that, may we have the grace that Beth had yesterday and do that, but maybe we need to think about these things before we bolt and break the boundaries! Maybe we should just stay in the boundaries in the first place so we don't get in the manure of this world, so we don't get that stink and filth on others. SOMEBODY SAY AMEN! 

TODAY IN HISTORY!

1. PATRIOT'S DAY- Pause and thank God for our country.

2. 1775- THE BATTLE OF LEXINGTON.

3. 1893-THE FIRST GASOLINE BUGGY, TESTED CAR. 

 Sunday I will attempt to speak in the morning service on "Who is the Lord God?" I will use 2nd Kings 1 for my text and we will look at 5 particular truths concerning who is God anyway. My first point is God can be a "Forgotten God." The Old Testament people of God surely neglected Him and often forgot all about Him. We will find that the Lord will not stand for His people to do such a thing. I think America has forgotten her God. I have suspicion that to a great degree many American Christians have a forgotten God as well. It is an insult when we are not mindful of our Lord and when we seem to forget He wants to be everything in our lives. We get so busy and so focused on the now and this world, that we just kind of forget and if we do this long enough we begin living life as if there is no God. The results are tragic in every area of our lives, but most tragic is God is not glorified. Along with that is that people forget what God can bring to their lives in salvation and power for living. Who would you think would work hard to lead us into busy and wrong priority living so we would forget God? You guessed it Satan! 

If forgetting God is possible and its tragic results so terrible what can we do to build into our lives the habits of remembering God? Think about it. What were the ways God gave us to remember Him? I will mention at least five ways in Sunday mornings message but there are many more. What are some practical things we can do so we will not forget and neglect God?  If you have any ideas make a comment. If you are interested in answers , we hope to see you in church this Sunday morning. 

TODAY IN HISTORY!

1. 1862- SLAVERY WAS ABOLISHED IN WASHINGTON D. C. 

2. 1867- WILBUR WRIGHT WAS BORN. Thank the Lord for the modern travel of flight. Days are different in we can be in so many more places so much faster. Think of D.L. Moody and his evangelistic thrust if he would have had airplanes. 

 I received a phone call this morning at a little before 5 a.m. It was Becky Nelson letting me know that her husband Burr went to be with the Lord about 4:35 a.m. Many of us from Liberty have been going to the house for the last 8 days or so as Burr has been slipping into eternity. Becky has been surrounded by all the children and grandchildren and most importantly by her Lord. Jesus is a Faithful Friend who sticks closer than a brother. Burr would say, "There are two things you can't get out of this world without doing! One is Pay Taxes and the other is Die." Well, Burr physically died on tax day 2010. 

I was thinking, it really is true we each have to pay the Final Tax of life, which is physical death. Each one of us have an appointed time to die, the book of Hebrews and many other passages in the Bible teach that clearly. Praise the Lord today that Burr isn't having to pay his taxes on his sin for all eternity.  I well remember the day Burr bowed his heart and head, repented and received Christ's payment for his sin taxes. AMEN!  If you think the IRS is terrible to deal with you ought to think about the judgement of sin and the cost sin charges both here and when we leave this world for those who have not had their sin payment washed away by the Blood of Jesus! 

For Burr today he is seeing not only does he owe no final tax but that the great tax collector is not demanding what is owed but is giving a BIG UNDESERVED TAX RETURN. I am sure he is having the best TAX DAY OF HIS LIFE! I can here Burr say right now, are you sure I don't owe something, and the answer coming back, NOTHING , NO OUTSTANDING BILL, IT HAS BEEN PAID IN FULL, YOU WERE WISE ENOUGH TO PREPARE FOR THIS TAX DAY, ENTER INTO THE JOYS OF THE LORD!  WOW what a day that will be, an eternal tax return for which we will rejoice and praise our Lord for all eternity!

I am reminded afresh that the message { the gospel} that we have must be shared with everyone we come in contact with. Because for each one who doesn't hear the GoodNews or rejects the Goodnews will pay tax forever. That tax is so awful and terrible! May we each do our part in getting the seed out of the barn today. Lord help us to get the salt out of the shaker into the world where it is needed so very, very much. 

TODAY IN HISTORY!

1. 1861- LINCOLN DECLARED OFFICIALLY A STATE OF WAR IN THE CIVIL WAR. What a terrible war. American against Americans. Families against Families. It reminds me of churches that are split so often, usually over not so important ideas or preferences. Pray for unity in our nation and our churches today.

2. 1912- THE TITANIC WAS SUNK! Lots of lessons from that tragedy.

3. 1865- LINCOLN DIED AT 7:22 a.m. He had been shot the day before and died on April 15. Pray for our President today. 

 I had just turned 13 and our family had moved to to the little town of Upland, Indiana. The house they had bought was one of the oldest yet nicest in town. It had been owned by the vice-president of the Upland bank and was maintained very well. It was really large compared to the 900 sq foot house we lived in before. There were 6 of us children at the time so when we moved to this two story with a full basement it was pretty exiting to say the least. We loved roaming through the wide spaces of the house especially the basement. It was a full basement but like many of that time it was not all finished out. It had a several large rooms in it and several smaller rooms. One of the smaller rooms was had a work bench in it with a door that could be closed so I really enjoyed this room just to tinker in and mess with old radios and things like that. It was really cool but there was one problem, it was really DARK in the basement. What made it worse was the electric switch at the top of the stairs didn't turn on all the lights in the rest of the rooms in the basement. It would be dark in the work room until you went in the room and turned on the switch. Now I know for most of my readers that when you were 13 years old you were not scared of the DARK anymore but in some cases that was not true for me yet. Especially in my basement where my older brothers would tell me very scary things had happened there. I knew they were just having fun but when you were in the DARK and began thinking about these things you could get yourself pretty spooked out. How many of you remember looking for the string that would pull the light on, on more than one occasion I would walk into the string and think I was a goner. 

Now there was a painfully obvious problem with the work room in the basement, you had to go through the Dark to get to the LIGHT!.But when the light would come on the fears I had would be suddenly gone. I would then turn the radio on and begin to have fun in the light of the room. 

Just as I needed the light to dispel my fears, the dark world needs the light of the Lord Jesus Christ to dispel its fear, worry, and challenges. 

As Christians, we have the source of the light, we are merely lighthouses. The light that shines through us is Jesus. John 8:12 puts it this way, "I am the light of the world:he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." Jesus is the source of the light, but we are to let that light shine, so others can see Christ through us.

As we go about our Christian lives this week, let us not forget to be lighthouses through which the world can see the Lord. Dispel the darkness of the world around you with a shining testimony for Christ. 

TODAY IN HISTORY!

1.1743- THE BIRTHDAY OF THE GREAT THOMAS JEFFERSON. What great contributions this man gave to our country and the world. Pray for our nation to have such leaders today.

2. 1836- A.J. Gordon WAS BORN- This was a great pastor in history. Pray for your pastors today. Have you sent a card or shown some sort of appreciation for them lately? Many read our blog that attend other churches than Liberty. Make sure you are helping your Pastor. Remember your pastor is the only person in your church that has no pastor. 

It is Monday morning and what a great weekend we experienced. On Saturday we met with all our Pastors and Deacons as well as our Treasurer and Financial Secretary for Liberty. I so much appreciate the unity and partnership we share. After nearly a three hour meeting we walked out more united than ever to see that the Lords work here at Liberty would move forward for HIS glory. After our board meeting we visited several families who were in need of a personal visit. We made lot's of phone calls and then we met up with our son-in-law Chris' parents John and Debbie. They had come from St. Louis for the weekend to be with Chris and Rachel. It was great to see them, Karen and I really count them as friends and we always enjoy our time together. We spent the afternoon catching up with both of them along as with Adam their high school senior. They brought their new doggy "PACO." So "Cooper & Paco " also got to meet for the first time. They became friends but I realized I need to help Cooper learn to be a better host. I will attempt but not sure Cooper will get there may take more hotdogs then I want to buy. On Sunday we had good services. In Liberty's morning services Pastor Chas preached and I was able to stay for first service and the Lord used him to preach a powerful message on "Our Great God." Then I drove to New Hope Baptist and preached there in they're morning service. They had a good crowd and two adult men received Christ after we spoke on the "Return of Jesus." Last nights service at Liberty was really good as Pastor Mike gave a report on the missions trip to Costa Rica, special prayer was made for our very own Bob Vigar and we spoke from Isaiah 32 on "Kingdom People." By the way if you missed the 12 person ensemble sing in church last eve you missed something. What a great service. 

                         FOR ME TO LIVE IS _______________________!

The last week we have witnessed here in Northeast Indiana nature coming back to life. Just a few weeks ago the landscape was barren, dull and gray, but now it is alive with vivid greens and bright colors. 

What makes you feel alive? What do you think about , dream about, talk about more than anything else? What is it that gets you exited? If you had to fill in the blank in this statement, what would you write? "For me to live is _______________."

The great Apostle Paul filled in the blank with the word, "CHRIST." Jesus Christ was not just someone who had a part of his life but was his life! Jesus was absolutely everything about his life. I pray that Jesus will be like that in my life. Paul said in Collossians 3:3 that for all who have been redeemed and regenerated in Christ that they are hidden in Christ. In verse 4 he goes on to say that Christ "Is our life." 

As we witness nature coming back to life it encourages me to continually allow my Lord to bring me back to life. I once was dead in trespasses and sin but have been raise from spiritual death unto spiritual life through Jesus Christ my Lord, 1st John 5:11-12. 

Are you alive? This is not whether your heart is beating . Rather, do you know Christ. If so is he only a small part of your life. Do you only THINK ABOUT HIM a few times a week or do you THINK WITH HIM every second of life. Are you spiritually GREEN OR GRAY? May this be the day you give the Lord everything there is about you so you will experience everything there is about HIM! Because He is what life is all about! 

TODAY IN HISTORY!

1.1850- ADONIRAM JUDSON DIED. From a humble beginning this great missionary had grown to having a staff of 163 missionaries and helpers. Pray for all the missionaries you know today.

2.  1861- THE DATE OF THE ATTACK ON FORT SUMPTER.

3. 1945 - FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT DIED.

4. 1945- HARRY S. TRUMAN BECAME PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

5. 1955- THE SALK VACCINE WAS ANNOUNCED A SUCCESS. For many years the dreaded decease POLIO was scourge on our society. My own mother had it as a child and lost the total use of her arm for the rest of her life. Thank God today for the many medical breakthroughs in our lifetime.  

 It is Friday morning and I am sitting in our office at my home. I have been up and prayed and am waiting for one of our fine members {John Depouy} to come by and pick me and Pastor Ryan up for breakfast. Early this morning John Rickner called and we talked about the day and he and Soo will be staying at the hospital with Bonny Vigar as Bob has surgery this morning. We prayed with Bob & Bonny at their home and are praying for them even as we blog. Please be in prayer for this family today. As I sit here and am able to look out on the property God has allowed us to oversee for the past 20 years I am filled with thanksgiving. 

The Redbud trees are out in all their glory. The leaves are busting out and the grass is as green as I have ever seen. Taylor Creek which runs through the property is flowing and the sound is gentle and steady. God is displaying His glory in this springtime sitting. We are blessed to be alive and to know the creator of all this creation in a personal way. I want to break out in song right now, How Great Thou Art! We need to be mindful of our Lord every moment of our lives. I pray that there would not be one moment that I am not aware of His presence and that I am praising Him to the degree of His worthiness. You know if we just begin to practice His presence He reveals Himself in "Everything and at Everytime."

TODAY IN HISTORY!

1. 2010- YOU SHARED THE GOSPEL WITH ANOTHER PERSON.

2. 2010- YOU TOOK TIME FOR A "QUIET HOUR."

3. 2010- YOU SENT A CARD OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO A FREIND.

4. 2010- YOU READ YOUR BIBLE. 

5. ETERNITY - YOU WERE THANKFUL FOR THIS PRODUCTIVE DAY IN HISTORY!

 Yesterday I was able to spend the day with the #1 person I would prefer being with, my wife Karen. Karen is on spring break and we were able to go shopping and have a bite to eat and just be together. Yesterday was like heaven on earth for me. I had to work real hard to block out all that was going on elsewhere and I had to work hard not to think about what I needed to get done this week for ministry. So many situations and so many demands, so many things that I know need taken care of. People to see, sick to visit, sermons and lessons prepared for Thursday and Sunday. Funerals needing prepared for and many needing advice and council. Ministry leaders needing direction and guidance. Yet my wife needed me and I needed my wife. It was so pleasant to be with her and I think refeshing as well.

This morning I came in early and prepared for tonight's lesson. I also counciled a fine couple this morning and at 9:30 a.m. went to the funeral home and officiated my third funeral in 7 days.  I have been face to face with what really matters, what really is important. Matthew 6:20-21 says, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. Death is appointed and is a reality of life. I am reminded that we all will die, and we each need to be ready to do so. At any moment it may come to me or to one I know. I also am reminded that I must do all I can to help people get ready for this appointed moment of their life. People are not ready to die unless they know Christ and they cannot know Christ unless they hear the gospel and they cannot here the gospel without a witness. It is their choice to receive or reject but I we must share the message so they can decide to believe and receive or not believe and reject. Another thing I must do to get ready for this moment is to send my treasure ahead. Eternal treasure is my talent, time, money and service sent ahead by faithful works done in His name. After I type this blog I will go to Becky and Burr Nelsons because the family has been called in as Burr faces possible death or should I say graduation? It may seem grim to speak about death but we really must prepare we must be ready and help others to be ready as well. God used James in his epistle to say" Our life is but a vapor that appeareth for a sort while and then it vanisheth away." That is true concerning earthly life but Jesus said in John 11 " He who believeth in me shall never die" ;letting the believer know that we will live forever in eternity. When we begin to live for eternity it gets much easier to send our treasure on instead of spending or hoarding it for this day. Jim Elliot was right when he said, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."  We need to live each day as it were our last, each hour as it were our only one we would ever live!

Hope to see each of our Liberty Family at Midweek services this evening!

TODAY IN HISTORY!

1. 1513- PONCE de LEON TOOK POSSESSION OF FLORIDA IN THE NAME OF THE KING OF SPAIN. Pray for God's people in Florida.

2. 1812- LOUISIANA WAS ADMITTED TO THE UNION. Pray for God's people in this state today.

3.1847- THE BIRTHDAY OF F.B. MEYER. A great preacher , writer  of days gone by.

4. 1854- THE REGISTERED LETTER SYSTEM WAS INTRODUCED. 

 Good Tuesday to each of you Bishir Blog readers. Sorry about the length of time between our last blog. I took last Friday and spent it with Karen and yesterday I officiated Brenda Westfalls father, {Verl Baileys} funeral. When I came back into the office I was surprised with the amount of phone calls I needed to return. It was past 5 when we left the office and guess what? I FORGOT to blog. I went home and spent some time with Karen, as this is her spring break. But I FORGOT the blog till I was in bed for the night and was thinking about the day and the next day. I was busy and in the midst of my business I FORGOT! Isn't it a great truth that our Lord never forgets. And equally wonderful is He never gets busy. Can you imagine what would happen if this morning He had to many things happen all at one time that He forgot to bring the sun up! If He was so overwhelmed the pressures that He forgot to provide the breath that each of us need to breath this very moment. If today He got so busy that He forgot to listen to us when we prayed or that He forgot to provide safety for us from all the unseen dangers we face today. Fact is, God never forgets and He never gets to busy that He can't keep up with all that needs done. He holds the world in His hands and He has it all under control. That is good news for those of us that get a little to busy and we begin to "Short Circuit" and forget some important things along the way. Hebrews 6"10 teaches that God is not unrighteous in that He can forget. God cannot forget because He is perfect, sinless, almighty in His character. We forget on occasion because we are limited in our nature. Thank the Lord who helps us so much to be better than ourselves. He helps us forget a whole lot less than before we were saved and He helps us not get so overwhelmed but we are limited to say the least. One day that will change but until then we must understand ours and other's limitations and His unlimitedness. 

Easter Sunday we had wonderful services at Liberty. Our attendance for the morning services was 820. We saw 11 adults receive Christ as Saviour, 5 followed the Lord in Believers baptism. We had a very well attended evening service as we celebrated the LORDS TABLE. Our Easter offering was { $56, 488.35 }.  New Hope Baptist  had 297  in morning attendance. Pastor Robert Cupps spoke there and reported the spirit was exiting. We also supplied the pulpit ministry for 1st Baptist Church in Russiaville. Our own Barry Early preached there and reported the attendance was 62 and 2 people were saved. AMEN what a  great Easter 2010! 

TODAY IN HISTORY!

1. 1830 MORMONISM WAS FOUNDED BY JOSEPH SMITH.-We should be more dedicated than ever to preach the truth and share the gospel with more intensity and fervency . The cults are so dedicated to a false message may we be just as dedicated or even more with the true message.

2. 1837-GEORGE MULLER OPENED HIS FAMOUS ORPHANAGE.-He rented two houses that thirty children could live in each house. From this humble beginning the Lord used him to build an orphanage of 1,677 children , and fed them daily by prayer and faith in God. 

3. 1909- ADMIRAL PEARY DISCOVERED THE NORTH POLE.

4. 1914- THE UNITED STATES ENTERED WORLD WAR I. 

 I am here in my office early on Thursday morning. Many of you know that I believe the Bible teaches that Jesus was crucified on Wednesday  not Friday. Because of that fact for many years I have personally practiced focusing on Jesus cross from Wednesday to Sunday of Easter Week. Last evening the Lord brought to my mind Philippians 3: 10- 11 and this morning I can't get away from its powerful words. "That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection." Paul had already mentioned the deep , experiential knowledge of Jesus Christ that comes at salvation { v.8 }. But still the cry of his heart was, THAT I MAY KNOW HIM. Like Paul I desire to know my Lord better. At salvation we knew the saving knowledge of Jesus but as we grow in Him we desire to know Him in a deeper way, in a more powerful way. Like Paul I desire to experience the POWER of HIS RESURRECTION IN MY LIFE. Paul knew there was no power in the law and certainly in the flesh he could not overcome sin or serve God. But because he and we know Christ and have had God's righteousness imputed to us , we have been given the Holy Spirit and the same spiritual power that raised Jesus from the dead. 

His resurrection was the greatest display of Christ's power. Rising from the dead revealed His absolute power over both the physical and spiritual realms. We as Paul have experienced Christ's resurrection power in two ways. First, it was that power that saved us, a truth found in Romans 6:4-5. Secondly, in Christ's resurrection power we are sanctified. We can defeat temptation and trials, lead a holy life, and boldly and fruitfully proclaim the gospel.  We can gladly exchange impotence for Christ's resurrection power, and desire to experience its fullness.

Philippians 3: 10 goes on to show that we should not only desire the power of the resurrection but that we should desire to now the FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERING AND BE CONFORMED TO HIS DEATH. A fact we each need to understand "NO CRUCIFIXION NO RESURRECTION." In order for us to know His power we must know His  cross.  God is saying that if we want to live we must learn to die. We must die to this world and its values. We must die to our self and our natural natures. We must yield to the ONE who taught us death and a resurrected life. We have a promise that if we continue to seek Him and His resurrection power we will also begin to understand how we must die to self and we can only do this with HIM. Fellowship means we enter into this death with Him and in His example. No one ever suffered in this world like Jesus, and His suffering was all undeserved. He was persecuted and experienced suffering from this world because He would not live according to its ways. So must we learn to fellowship with Him in this cause and as we do we will suffer but we will never suffer without His great power and aid to do so. Hebrews 2: 17 teaches us He is uniquely qualified to help us in our weakness and infirmities. In our most intense times of suffering for Him He comes in sweet fellowship and then we experience His power to endure. Philippians 2: 11 goes on and tells us all this is "in order that we may attain to the resurrection from the dead." That will be our GLORY!

"GALATIANS 6:14   'BUT GOD FORBID THAT I SHOULD GLORY, SAVE IN THE CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST."

TODAY IN HISTORY!

1. THE APPROXIMATE DATE OF THE JEWISH NEW YEAR. This is the first month of their year.

2. 2349 B.C. THE FLOOD WATERS WERE DRIED. Genesis 8:13

3. 726 B.C. HEZEKIAH CLEANSED THE TEMPLE.  2nd Chronicles 29:17

4. 1490 B.C. THE TABERNACLE WAS SET UP. Exodus 42:17, 34

5. 517 B. C.- GOD TOLD EZEKIEL TO CLENSE THE SANCTUARY. Ezekiel 45:18

6. 457 B.C.- THE ISRAELITES  PUT AWAY STRANGE WIVES BEFORE THE TEMPLE.  Ezra 10:17

7. 515 B.C. - Ezra STARTED TO JERUSALEM TO REBUILD THE WALL.

8. THE TRADITIONAL DATE THAT THE CLOUD CAME UPON THE TABERNACLE AND THE GLORY OF GOD FILLED THE HOUSE OF GOD.

9. 1490 B.C.- THE GIFTS AND OFFERINGS WERE BROUGHT IN DEDICATION OF THE TABERNACLE.

Interesting to say the least that this date in history has so much significance with Israel!