Whew what a week...

This has been a fast week. We are preparing for our new sermon series here at Lakeview. People are getting excited about it. "Soldiers of the Cross" Be prepared for whatever. Things are going to get interesting. Sunday night our pianist / organist, Jan who is 89 years young, came and brought a beautiful afghan for the church yard sale to support mission projects. She had made it herself. Someone asked the ladies group if we could raffle it off. They did not want to ask, "the preacher" for fear he might say no. Well the answer is NO. We don't support those kind of things. We don't support the lottery, playing poker, slot machines, or any other game that involves gambling. I had one ask me about the cake walks during the fall festival events. I explained that people receive a consolation prize of a cup cake. Cup cakes are valued at about a dollar so they are getting something for their donation. Some of course do not want their consolation prize but one is offered. If it was not for that point it would be gambling. Gambling is taking a chance with little or no chance of winning. We refer this gambling to coveting. Last time I checked we were instructed not to covet things in Exodus chapter 20. A little list called the 10 commandments. Coveting leads to other problems. It's best to avoid even the appearance of evil.
It is a beautiful afghan. I told Jan that I was going to use it to mark off the portion of the sanctuary reserved for the "Afghan" Division. For those in our area we will have a yard sale to benefit our missionaries at "Tribes in Asia for Christ". Brother Rey is today behind enemy lines in a country that will not allow Christians into minister. Traveling on foot into the region visiting those churches left behind due to war and civil unrest. When I think of what he goes through I really go, "Whew what a week!". Until next time.....

Who are you trying to be like?

Sunday Morning Worship Time. You know Sunday mornings ought to be a time when we gather together to worship God and celebrate what he is doing in our lives and the lives of others. Today we celebrated Jesus in song and in message as I shared what God laid on my heart in reference to Developing Christian Character. Jesus should be the Character we emulate. Scripture says that God has predestined us to be able to conform to the image of HIS son. It's great to know we can be like Jesus Christ. Sadly, too many times we emulate the world and it's actors. I remember a contemporary song that raised a question. What if Cartoons could get saved? I brought that up in the message today. Some people are like cartoon characters in their daily walk with Christ. People who act like: Yosemite Sam - Something happen in the church that they don't agree with they become the rowdiness, tootiness cowboys you ever seen. Fusing and sometimes cussing. Say's a lot about their character. Then you have the Foghorn Leghorn kind - "Now listen hear boy, ya goin about this all wrong.............." You know the Big Rooster that wants to run it all his way. Road Runners - stay in the road all day, speeding around really never getting anything accomplished but wasting energy. The Spiderman - Superman type. Double minded. One person one minute, another person the next. What is it the Bible says about double minded.. Yeah.. They are unstable in all their ways. We need to be like Jesus. We as born again, saved, faithful believers in Christ have the ability to be like Jesus. But to be like him we have to have a real relationship with him. Do you know Jesus well enough to be like Jesus. Not just know the historical Jesus but the REAL Jesus. How is your relationship with him today? Can you get closer to him so you can be more like him? Just a question! Chew on it awhile. More as time allows. In Christ Service I remain..

Richard M. Campbell Veterans Nursing Home

Today I had the awesome opportunity to sing and preach the Gospel of Christ to men and women at the Veterans nursing home here in Anderson. I have sang and preached there in the Past, my father in law a Korean War Veteran, (Photo: Left to Right - Jake, Leland Mitchell, Pastor T.) was in this nursing home due to Alzheimer's up until his death a couple of years ago. We had about 30 people come in, families and veterans to worship. Homer Johnson and Brother Richard came in to lead the event that occurs their every 1st Saturday at 2pm. Homer and Richard are members of Gethsemane Baptist Temple. Faithfully every month Homer has a worship service there. The veterans are walked in and wheeled in. They gather to hear gospel music and the Word of God shared. From all walks of life they come. It is great to see them singing and praising the Lord. One in particular is the Chaplain of the facility, Garnett Hanley, a decorated WW2 veteran, 101st Airborne , A D-Day Paratrooper, Purple Heart Winner, who has dedicated his life to these men. A Retired Sheriff Department Lieutenant, he has worked diligently for his fellow brothers in arms. He witnesses to them and ministers to their needs. Today he shared with us the story of a veteran at the home who recently passed away. Garnett told about witnessing to this man. A man that most people would not talk to because he was one that would just cuss them out. One afternoon about three weeks ago, Garnett shared the gospel with this man. Garnett said that he and the guy bowed their heads and the man said the sinners prayer. This guy accepted Christ as his savior. Another story was told about a man there that was 103 Years old. Garnett said that this old veteran asked him to pray that God would just take him. Garnett told him that when God was ready for him to come home he would call him. One day the Old Veteran asked him, today will you pray with me for the Lord to bring me home. Garnett told him he would. They prayed together for Gods will to be done. In fifteen minutes that 103 year old man saw Jesus face to face. His prayer was answered. Today when you kneel in prayer, would you say a prayer for these men and women. They have served their country well and pray for the people caring for them. Thank You Lord for Men like Garnett Hanley, Brother Homer and Brother Richard who give of themselves so our disabled and aged veterans may know Jesus Christ and worship him in Spirit and in Truth. Amen.

You gotta see this video..............

While at the Unleash Conference at Newspring I heard a story about a man named Pete. Chris Elrod, Lead Pastor of Compass Point Church Lakeland Fla.

Copy and paste the link into your browser. It blessed my heart.
This proves what I talk about everyday. A fact "As long as there is breath there is hope and it is found only in Jesus Christ."
Thank you Lord for Pete and his testimony.

Thanks to Chris Elrod for sharing it on You Tube.
Photo from Chriselrod.com and Compass Point Church Lakeland Florida.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0KtwHUwTJPk

One Prayer message

As time moves along I am ready for the upcoming event called "One Prayer". My one prayer would be for God to make us more usable. As I study on this I realize that God has to be moving in our lives to make us more usable. Also our new sermon series starts next week called "Soldiers of the Cross". I hope you can make one of the services. The call has been made, God wants you. Will you respond?

Condemnation vs Conviction

Tonight we had a small meeting of the men of the church. It is the first of what I hope to be many men's meetings under the Soldiers of the Cross heading. We discussed the importance of some issues facing the church today. One topic was Condemnation vs Conviction. Scripture tells us "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1 NASB. We are not called to be God's judge for the people. Jesus said he did not come to condemn the world.. That's because it was guilty already. No need to judge one already found guilty. Therefore who are we who judge other persons. Granted we use the word judge to frequently. When I look at an apple orchard and find a tree that has oranges on it, I am not judging the tree for what it is because I point out it has oranges instead of apples. I am just stating an observed fact. I am not condemning the tree. I know the difference between apples and oranges and don't expect to find the wrong fruit on the tree. Jesus upon leaving the temple once went to a fig tree. The tree had leaves on it and should have had fruit on it as well. Even small buds of figs. Finding none he cursed the tree, it withered and died. This is a good passage to chew on a while.
We discussed the fact that Condemnation draws persons away from God and then the fact that Conviction draws people to Christ. It's the convicting power of the Holy Ghost of God that draws people to the knowledge that they are sinners and cannot save themselves. It is that conviction of who Christ is that shows them he is the savior that they need. It is that conviction that causes them to repent of their sin and turn to God in Christ and receive forgiveness of their sins. We followed through with a conversation on what shows us we are wrong. Then turning to Exodus 20, we looked at the 10 commandments. Notice they are called the ten commandments and not the 10 suggestions. They are absolutes, they have not been done away with. Jesus said he came to fulfill them not do away with them. As we went to the first 3 commandments we shared how they are orders to be followed and not cast away or to be ignored. Chew on this for a while. Food for thought...

Why do ministry?

Here is a photo of why I do ministry. This is Gary. He lived in the neighborhood around Lakeview where I pastor. Gary had problems that were severe. He came to the services at times when he was in distress and wrapped in the grip of alcohol. We were able to share with Gary and kept visiting him and he kept coming. One night at a revival service, Gary came forward and acknowledged Christ as his savior. For 26 days he was able to stay away from the alcohol that had daily wrapped him up. Gary would pray and study. However, there was another problem he faced. One that most of us don't. A chemical imbalance and with it a deep depression. So many problems. memories and unbelieving persons came to be a problem Gary could not shake. He knew Christ had forgave him but struggled with forgiveness of other kinds. While trying to get help for his addiction he fell into a state of depression. It was more than Gary could handle. After a fight and struggle against it he committed suicide. I think of Gary when I question why I do what I do. I do ministry to reach as many of the Gary's of this world with the good news of Jesus Christ. I don't care what some people say. I believe I will see Gary again. Until that day I am going to be on the front line, standing my post and preaching the unchanging word of God. I am going to be a Soldier of Christ and on the battlefield for my Lord. If you know Christ and want to make a difference in someones life for Jesus I invite you to join us. For I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. I look at this photo of Gary. It hangs on the wall next to my desk and in the Marine vernacular I say, "Semper Fi". I don't want to leave anyone behind. I want to be ever faithful and dedicated to the mission God has called me too.