What is your opinion of what may be the most important thing needed in any relationship. Communication? Understanding? Selflessness? Patience? Compromise? Flexibility? As far as i am concerned  all of these are very important but the most important element in any relationship is FORGIVENESS. Real genuine forgiveness. I heard Dr. Ware say something last eve in our Thursday Revival. He was talking about Matthew 6  in the Lord's prayer where we are taught to pray for Forgiveness and to grant Forgiveness to others. He said "The price of hating someone is to high a price". It has a price of bad health, lack of rest, guilt, etc, but the real price is we "Break Fellowship With God". We don't experience the forgiveness of God when we don't grant forgiveness to others. Let each of us pray about this as we relate with all the people of our lives.  Who today do you need to grant forgiveness. Go to God and say Lord help me to release them and forgive them. Then let them know with treatment and attitude. Just forgive them and let the Lord handle their injustice. He will take care of them. What do you think? 

 What have you told the Lord today that you are thankful for? Giving Thanks is so important in each of our lives. We should be thankful to all the people in our life that make our lives better in some way. Really, we should even be thankful for the people in our lives that make life a little harder at times. Yes we should be thankful for and to people but we really should be thankful for and to the Lord! To fail to be thankful to God is a most grievous sin. Thanksgiving can only come from a heart of thankfulness. Each of us need to work on this as it isn't natural to be thankful. Our old natures will never do this on their own. Thankfulness must be cultivated by the Holy Spirit. It is interesting in Luke 17:11-17 that Jesus healed 10 lepers and only 1 came back to give thanks. That reveals the tendency of the old nature. When the 1 came and thanked Jesus he was asked by our Lord where are the other 9? This reveals that it God is very interested in this discipline in our lives. The primary purpose of thanksgiving to God is to acknowledge His goodness and honor His glory. I want to work on this in my life and encourage you to work on it in your life. Our days should be spent in thankfulness to the Lord. "Thank You Lord" should be on our hearts and lips 100s of times daily. Maybe you need a Thanksgiving List to help in the beginning, pull it out when you think of something  you are thankful for and write it down, I will guarantee-you that the list will grow large, very large. Have a very good Thankful Day.

Well it is Friday morning and another day of life. Last evening we were blessed with another great service. We had several people pray last night to receive Christ as saviour with one young adult man coming forward to make a public confession. Praise the Lord we also had one of our largest attendances for a Thursday night service at Liberty. This Sunday we have several adults planning on following the Lord in believers baptism. You know that is what it is all about !!! This should be our focus!! We spend so much time and effort in so many things that when they are all done they simply burn up one second into eternity. I have been praying lately that the Lord would help me to be a better steward of life. That He would help me to discern what I am to be active in and where to put my emphasis. You know we can't do all the  world tells us to do, and we can't do all that seems to be expected of us by people. But we can do all that the Lord wants us to do, all that He wants us to participate in. We must be wise about this and in order for us not to miss what we are to emphasize and put our time and energy into , we must be in tune with the Lord. We need His leading, His voice, His will. He will give us great peace about this if we learn to listen and lean upon Him. I will be speaking about this on Sunday morning at Liberty, as we look at Psalm 25. I am so thankful for the Lord and His guidance ! The Christian life is all about His being with us." Emmanuel With Us". I am rejoicing today that "HE IS HERE". He is with me, He speaks, He makes all the difference in life. IT IS HIS PRESENCE!!!!!!!  Have a great day and hope to see all you  "LIBERTYITES" on Sunday.

 Today I was thinking of the prophet Elijah. Now this man had power with God! James tells us that Elijah "was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he payed earnestly that it might not rain." As a result of Elijah's prayer, it didn't rain for three and a half years Then Elijah " prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit." One word in that passage stood out to me with significance - the word  EARNESTLY. There was a marked intensity and fervency to Elija's prayer. James says it was  'effectual and fervent which  means energy. meaning it makes much power available. That is what this kind of fervent, earnest energetic prayer does.  This kind of prayer is effectual, it has wonderful results it has power to work. 

Much of our prayer lacks this kind of fervency which God requires for effectual results. But when a person sincerely cries out to God as his only hope for deliverance , provision, or protection, we can be quite certain the cry will be fervent. Charles Spurgeon said, " He who prays without fervency does not pray at all'. We cannot commune with God, who is a consuming fire, if there is no fire in our prayers. Spurgeon went on to say it is essential that prayer " be red hot", and "cold prayers ask the Lord not to hear them. "Those who do not plead with fervency, plead not at all". The psalmist said " I cry with my whole heart." My challenge today is that we would really become fervent prayer warriors! For one, I  am having a profound work being done in my life for prayer, Lets ask God for more. I am facing so many things that I really can't do a thing about but I know the Lord can solve each and every situation. We need to pray fervently and watch the impossible take place. May many of us today choose to pray individually  alone, and corporately together, FERVENTLY. Hope your Tuesday goes well. 

 Hey! It is Monday and it has been a very busy weekend and today has been very busy, for the first workday of the week. We had a very good day in yesterdays services. We had folks at the altar in both the morning and evening. During last eve at the end of the service a dear young lady came forward after the service and began to share with me how she was saved years back but that several years ago she walked away from the Lord and that her life had gone down so bad. I told her the story of the prodigal son and she began to weep. We prayed and she gave her life once again to the Lord and she left the service rejoicing and planning on seeing me this week so she can begin being discipled. How I rejoice that it is that simple! If we repent and come to the Lord we can go rejoicing. Psalm 4 tells us that it is the Lord who puts "Gladness in our Heart". I am so thankful for the Lords closeness and His relating to me. He makes all the difference in a life. Talk with you tomorrow!!!!! 

 What a great night last evening at Liberty. If you were not here you must get a recording of the message. Evangelist Brian McBride preached from the text of Psalms 131. The title and emphasis was "The Weening of a Soul". Wow it was dead center. A must to listen too over and over. Order the CD or DVD you will not be disappointed and you will receive much help as many already did. Hey, I want you to ponder something over the weekend. I just got back from preaching the funeral of Jackie Carter and spent a lot of the emphasis on Hope. At the graveside we spoke about the hope we have in the resurrection and I was able to see people helped by having hope. Then on my way back to church I was thanking the Lord for His Hope and the thought came to me that Hope is only for now in this world. I realized that there is NO HOPE in HELL and also there is NO HOPE in HEAVEN. There we will see by sight. HOPE is for now and it is the Hope we have in Christ that makes all the difference for us on this earth. What do you think? Ponder on it and make a comment. Have a good HOPEFUL weekend! 

 Hey, I want you to think about something today!!!!! Jesus told us to "Be Fishers of Men", right? Well here is the thought , if we would be "Fishers of Men" then Jesus would be "Cleaners of Men", Amen.  Often times in my zeal and real concern for the development of christians I get really frustrated when I don't see the development as much as I would like. Now I know the Lord uses His children in the development of other of His children but it is the LORD who really gets the job done in the life of His own! When you get frustrated with the development in the life of another christian who you are trying to help to become mature just remember,   ------  "You Catch 'Em, He'll Clean 'Em" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 It is Tuesday morning and what a beautiful day again in this part of Indiana. It has been almost perfect weather since last Friday. We should rejoice every day we live but on sunny, pleasant days it just seems a little easier. One thing I know for sure today is that our God is on His Throne. He has everything under control!!!! We need to remember that each day, but I think most of us already believe that and the real struggle we have is He doesn't always agree with us as to what is best. He is in control and that seems to be our problem that He is allowing or orchestrating circumstances we don't enjoy or understand. May I encourage you as I exhort myself to Trust the Lord today with what He is allowing into our life. He is a Great God of purpose who is performing certain things in our lives both individually and corporately. I am glad He is in control and not myself. I am sure I would mess things up and it would be a whole lot more stressful. 

Hey Liberty Family we had one of our own {Lori Glass} lose her mother last night. Jackie Carter who lived outside Fairmont was found in her home where she left this world for heaven. Just 3 - 4 weeks ago Karen & I had visited her in her home, what a sweet visit it was. She had attended Liberty on occasion when she felt up to it. She knew the Lord as her saviour and that is the most important thing at this time. Please pray for Lori and Jim at this time. Send a card, stop by the funeral home, when you see them tell them you love them . Well I need to get going, have a great day in the Lord.

 Well it is Monday morning and what another great weekend of services at Liberty Baptist in Sweetser, In. Saturday we had our monthly Deacon meeting and the spirit was so sweet. I appreciate each on of our deacons and their families. These men are each active in ministry and are such assets to the Lords work here at Liberty. I appreciate their advice and support in all we do here. In both morning services , sunday school and the evening services you could sense the Holy Spirits presence. Last night especially in the auditorium it seemed as if the place was charged with another source, because it was , the source was the Holy Spirits revival power. I believe we were each recharged and revived in that service. Praise the Lord for His continued presence with this assembly!  Now it is Monday morn and we must get back to our jobs, and the everyday routines of what life is all about. Now is the time to take what we have heard from God and practically apply it to our lives. This week I want to be a "Tree Planted by the Living Water". I want to be that big  oak tree that we read about yesterday in Isaiah 61:3. Today I want to reject godless wisdom and receive Gods Word into my life. Today I want to be more of a Prayer Warrior as I cry out to God in prayer with confidential faith. I want to step up to my giants with confidence and pray that the Lord will befall them, each and everyone! Gods Word is to be heard and then to be practiced by faith. TODAY is the real invitation of every sermon. Let each of us meditate on God's Word and  in our  "Today's" apply that which we have heard so we might declare to the world around us the GLORY OF OUR GOD!! 

 Often the very thing I need the most is what I don't want the most. Let me give you an illustration that has happen many times in my ministry, in fact it has happened several times lately. We have had families which have visited Liberty and not stayed because of the commitment level expectation perceived was too high for them. Only later they realized that it was this kind of Pastor or people or church that was the only kind which could really help them. So later they call and seek help because they know they can get help there by those committed to Biblical Truth. Now I am not talking negative about these folk , Praise God that they will seek help . Now the point is we often don't like the high standard of commitment but we like what it can do for us. It is the same with the Lord, we may resist Him when we want ease or our way but when it is tough we know His ways are best. I think we should be thankful for the committed christians who expect a lot from us and who from their commitment have gained strength in order to help us. They may rub us the wrong way on occasion when they won't ease up and even in our difficulty expect us to practice God's Word. But perhaps we should appreciate them even more  for their love and desire to hold us to TRUTH. Often the very thing I need is the very thing I don't want the most. It is like taking medicine. Satan will often  tempt you to think the person who is really helping you is your enemy. I for one as a Pastor have felt many times for some reason they are upset with me and all I have tried to do is to help,often with a great expense. Well there are some thoughts , hope your day is going well. 

 Had a great day at Liberty yesterday! Had 3 saved in our services and many other decisions made. In the second morning service a dear mother of a 4 year came after the service and told me that she really needed the message I just spoke. She shared how this was her 3rd Sunday in  row to be in our services, and how she had been church shopping for awhile. She began to cry and said she didn't need to do that anymore as she knew Liberty was the place for her and her little boy. She shared how the Lord had used the message in her life an she would never be the same again. Then last evening what a wonderful service. There was so much excitement in the air as the auditorium was packed people of all ages. Many families were sitting with their children and grandchildren as "One Way Street" children's ministry team came to hold our service. What an awesome job they did for the Lord. A visiting family which sat behind me shared after the service that this was their 2nd service and that they had made their decision to make Liberty their church home because of our emphasis on children. I am so glad that Liberty is a fun place for children. Not only fun but a learning place, a place where children want to come and enjoy their Lord. I think this pleases the Lord. One grandmother said to me, she didn't come to see the puppets she came to see her grandson see the puppets, Amen. I realize not all looked forward to seeing puppets last eve, but for those who live outside of themselves they like this lady were here to see God work in others lives. And you know what as they watched the Lord work in other lives they experienced the Lord working in their own life. What is interesting to me is something I have watched my entire ministry. Now ponder this and evaluate. Here goes. Yesterday in the same service which we heard so many wonderful responses there were also some who were miserable and upset over this or that. Some who could barely listen and others who only hardened." The same  sun that softens the clay also hardens the clay. "  What makes the difference??? I think it is the HEART! Is our heart soft or is it bitter? Is it selfless or is it selfish? Is it humble or is it pride? Is it teachable or is it all knowing? I pray for  my heart daily! I hope you do the same. Have a good day and remember the 4 points of yesterdays message.   1. Refuse to compare yourself with others. 2. Rejoice in what you have already. 3. Release what you have to others. 4. Refocus on the eternal not the temporal. 

 Last night we had an outreach booth set up at Marion First Friday. Each first Friday eve of the month during the summer lots of venders, games , entertainment and even church groups attend this activity on and around the courthouse square in Marion, In. Liberty has several faithful people who go and set up fun things to do for the attenders but with a specific intention to give the gospel to those who will listen. Last evening they saw 22 young people and adults pray and receive Jesus as Savior. We had on of our teens lead 2 to Christ and it was her first time to lead a soul to Christ. Now that is exiting!!!!!!!!! Also today I had given an address to one of our visitation teams and when they got to the address the person had just moved as they found an empty apartment. As they began to leave next door someone was selling 2 mopeds scooters, so they went to look at them and the fellow who was selling them began to speak with them. Long story short this 83 year man prayed and asked the Lord to save him and asked if our church could stop by and visit him in the future. Now that is exiting also!!!!!! You know if we would get our eyes off of some things and unto eternal things and then speak up for the Lord it would change our life and the life of hundreds more. Please pray for a 18 year old teen who who just yesterday that sat with me for about 45 minutes and we gave him the gospel but he wanted to think about it. He is flying to Texas today and will not be back for many months. He was visiting his grandmother who attends Liberty and he had attended Liberty several weeks. I gave him a Bible and a Somewhere Forever Video and he promised to watch it and read the Bible. His name is David, please pray for him and his salvation. You know the Lord wants to use each of us to give the gospel out, why not go and tell someone right now? Maybe just get on the phone and invite someone to church for tomorrow morning? Hope to see all you LIBERTYITES tomorrow at church!

 Well it is good to be back home. I love vacations and the chance to get away but I love being home! There is something really special about being in the place God has planted you. It was good to be in midweek service last evening as the Lord was so evident. Last night I was planning on speaking but the Lord changed plans and Tom & Carolyn Curtis spoke and testified. It was great! Tom And Carolyn are missionaries we have supported for over 14 years. In the afternoon when they arrived the plan was for hem to take 15 minutes and update us on how their ministry was being used of the Lord. Well as I stood in the parking lot speaking with them in my soul the Lord seemed to be telling me to let them have the whole evening service. I really wanted to teach and the topic was one I was really wanting to share but the Lord had other plans. I am so thankful that the Holy Spirit in the believer will lead if we learn to listen. 

Thanks for all your prayers for traveling mercies. When the plane landed at Indy Karen and I thanked the Lord for all His protection and then I was reminded that we still had a car trip home to Converse, and then I was reminded I need 24/7 protection. Praise the Lord for His constant unseen hand which oversees all our lives! Liberty Family we really need to pray for Tracy Gordon today and of course all her family. Tracy is in the hospital and is very ill! Why not lift a prayer for her right now? As I think of Tracy and so many like her who are facing very difficult things it makes me focus on the important things of life, but most importantly it helps me to "COUNT MY BLESSINGS" and to give thanks instead of complaint.