Next month I will be going to North Carolina to lead a Cornerstone Celebration which is a local church ministry focused on the mighty act of God's intervention in human history. Specifically I'll be preaching on the incarnation (Christmas), the Atonement, (Good Friday) the resurrection (Easter) and the coming of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost). I also will be leading a Faith-Sharing workshop which I hope will better ground the participants in what the Christian faith means and the importance of sharing it with others.
I also will be leading the Faith Sharing workshop at our church on February 10 at 2:00 pm. This is the first time I am using this particular material so the church here in Leoti is helping me prepare for the teaching time in North Carolina. So far we have about 20 signed up here at the church. If you'd like to participate, call the church office at 620-375-4554.
But the real reason I am writing is to ask this question as it pertains to the faith:
How much difference would it make in your life if at midnight tonight you ceased to believe in Jesus Christ?
I highly encourage you to ponder that question and then I'd like to hear your comments. For those of you who will be taking the class, you have a heads up to at least one of the questions I'll be asking and addressing.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
THURSDAY THOUGHTS!
There were a lot of responses to the last blog - interesting since it was just a bunch of miscellaneous questions (Wednesday wonderings). In light of that I thought I'd add a few more mindless(?) statements for today's cyberspace chatter:
So you want to know who Cory is? - a great guy from Larned who is active in Emmaus and Chrysalis and was instrumental in confirming my appointment to Leoti. You may better know him as Leigh Anne's (Smades) husband. (Still welcome to move to Leoti).
How bout them Cats? Both men and women basketball teams.
Kyle is about to commit himself to going to college at Southwestern College in Winfield. Had a good visit on Monday. What say you?
Do you ever watch Everybody Loves Raymond? Talk about disfunctional. Yet it's not much different than what's happening in so many families these days.
The buegill as our state fish? Hmmmmmmmmmmm.
So the Europeans don't want to give an award to the authors of a book with the three little pigs because it might offend Muslims? Come on, people need to get a life.
Jesus came to simplify things. So why do we continually make things more difficult?
I'm officiating a funeral tomorrow. "Where O death is your victory? Where O death is your sting? But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!"
Friday night means another basketball game. "Keep thoughts to self. Keep thoughts to self. Keep thoughts to self. Keep thoughts to self".
I know of a ministry need if you'll call me before Sunday. It would be extremely helpful to someone who is struggling. Call me, please. Thanks!
Have a great weekend!! See you locals in church.
So you want to know who Cory is? - a great guy from Larned who is active in Emmaus and Chrysalis and was instrumental in confirming my appointment to Leoti. You may better know him as Leigh Anne's (Smades) husband. (Still welcome to move to Leoti).
How bout them Cats? Both men and women basketball teams.
Kyle is about to commit himself to going to college at Southwestern College in Winfield. Had a good visit on Monday. What say you?
Do you ever watch Everybody Loves Raymond? Talk about disfunctional. Yet it's not much different than what's happening in so many families these days.
The buegill as our state fish? Hmmmmmmmmmmm.
So the Europeans don't want to give an award to the authors of a book with the three little pigs because it might offend Muslims? Come on, people need to get a life.
Jesus came to simplify things. So why do we continually make things more difficult?
I'm officiating a funeral tomorrow. "Where O death is your victory? Where O death is your sting? But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!"
Friday night means another basketball game. "Keep thoughts to self. Keep thoughts to self. Keep thoughts to self. Keep thoughts to self".
I know of a ministry need if you'll call me before Sunday. It would be extremely helpful to someone who is struggling. Call me, please. Thanks!
Have a great weekend!! See you locals in church.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
WEDNESDAY WONDERINGS
I was JUST wondering:
If it snowed in Leoti for 30 days in the winter would we cancel school 30 days?
Why the boys are struggling as a basketball team.
Why people who live east of Manhattan think Salina is in western Kansas.
If Cory Stelter would consider moving to Leoti. (with family)
Why Easter is on a different Sunday each year? Jesus' birthday doesn't change from year to year. Why should the day of his resurrection change?
If there is any real reason to return to Daylight Savings Time?
Why people have cats for pets?
Why I had to pay $75 for a book for Kyle at school? What's up with that?
If anyone is tired of hearing about Britney Spears?
How anyone can call rap music? - an oxymoron - like postal service, good cabbage, or United Methodist.
What people with who are covered with tattoos will look like in 30 years. Yikes!
If it's okay to laugh in church?
JUST WONDERING!!
If it snowed in Leoti for 30 days in the winter would we cancel school 30 days?
Why the boys are struggling as a basketball team.
Why people who live east of Manhattan think Salina is in western Kansas.
If Cory Stelter would consider moving to Leoti. (with family)
Why Easter is on a different Sunday each year? Jesus' birthday doesn't change from year to year. Why should the day of his resurrection change?
If there is any real reason to return to Daylight Savings Time?
Why people have cats for pets?
Why I had to pay $75 for a book for Kyle at school? What's up with that?
If anyone is tired of hearing about Britney Spears?
How anyone can call rap music? - an oxymoron - like postal service, good cabbage, or United Methodist.
What people with who are covered with tattoos will look like in 30 years. Yikes!
If it's okay to laugh in church?
JUST WONDERING!!
Friday, January 11, 2008
BREAKING CAMP!!
Last Sunday I preached a sermon entitled "Time to Break Camp" from Deuteronomy 1:6-8. As you recall God reminded the Israelites that they had stayed at the mountain long enough and it was time to "break camp", to get a move on. The mountain was not the destination, it was merely a stopping place in the midst of a journey, a time of preparation for entering the promised land.
I wonder at times if we as individuals or as the church find ourselves at a stopping place regarding our walk with Christ. And then as a result, we find ourselves stuck "on the mountain", at a stopping place with no intention to move forward. I don't believe that is what God has in store for us as as it pertains to our relationship with him and with others. Even the Apostle Paul said "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal...". Implied in those words are God's words to"break camp", to move forward, to forget the past and get on with it.
I want to challenge and encourage you all to take the necessary steps to continue the faith journey, to continue to grow in your walk with Jesus, to continue to move beyond being comfortable, maybe even complacent. The Israelites were on the move to the promised land but found themselves stuck at the base of a mountain for too long. We as Christians and as the church are on the same journey - to the promised land. But we can't get there unless we get a move on. Let's break camp, shall we?
I wonder at times if we as individuals or as the church find ourselves at a stopping place regarding our walk with Christ. And then as a result, we find ourselves stuck "on the mountain", at a stopping place with no intention to move forward. I don't believe that is what God has in store for us as as it pertains to our relationship with him and with others. Even the Apostle Paul said "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal...". Implied in those words are God's words to"break camp", to move forward, to forget the past and get on with it.
I want to challenge and encourage you all to take the necessary steps to continue the faith journey, to continue to grow in your walk with Jesus, to continue to move beyond being comfortable, maybe even complacent. The Israelites were on the move to the promised land but found themselves stuck at the base of a mountain for too long. We as Christians and as the church are on the same journey - to the promised land. But we can't get there unless we get a move on. Let's break camp, shall we?
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
BOWERS CHRISTMAS 2007
M.L's side of the family met for Christmas at the Best Western in Emporia over the weekend. Here are a few pics.
The "bingo table". Of course, Luke's mouth is open. 
"...but we want to open presents now"
The newly engaged Keith and Cheryl - congrats!
Grandma Bowers and Bev checking out the loot.
Had lots of fun and ate waaaaaaay too much!!
JUST CHRISTMAS 2007
Here are a few pics of the Justs from our travels this past week to see our family. Check out the previous blog for Bower's pictures (M.L.'s side of family).
Little Brayden in his Jumperoo he got for Christmas. 
The family at Eric's house in Topeka on the 26th.
A four generation picture of Justs.
All the Justs at dad's house in Aulne. We clean up pretty good don't we?
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