It's About the Cross...

Merry Christmas!

Twas the Month Before Christmas...

Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.
See the PC Police had taken away,
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.
The children were told by their schools not to sing
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.
Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.
As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.
Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !
At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace
The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.
So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS,
not Happy Holiday !

Please, all Christians join together and
wish everyone you meet during the
holidays a
MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christ is ‘The Reason’ for the Christ-mas Season!

Seeker Friendly Churches...

This picture is of a billboard in Chattanooga, Tennessee and is a perfect example of what Dru Morgan is talking about in the following note that he wrote on Facebook:

Many in the church today believe that the only way to reach the world is to give the unchurched multitudes what they want. Hundreds of churches have followed precisely that theory, actually surveying unbelievers to learn what it would take to get them to attend.

Subtly the overriding goal is church attendance and worldly acceptability rather than a transformed life. Preaching the Word and boldly confronting sin are seen as archaic, ineffectual means of winning the world. After all, those things actually drive most people away. Why not entice people into the fold by offering what they want, creating a friendly, comfortable environment, and catering to the very desires that constitute their strongest urges? As if we might get them to accept Jesus by somehow making Him more likable or making His message less offensive.

That kind of thinking badly skews the mission of the church. The Great Commission is not a marketing manifesto. Evangelism does not require salesmen, but prophets. It is the Word of God, not any earthly enticement, that plants the seed for the new birth (1 Peter 1:23). We gain nothing but God's displeasure if we seek to remove the offense of the cross.

My complaint is with a philosophy that relegates God and His Word to a subordinate role in the church. I believe it is unbiblical to elevate entertainment over biblical preaching and worship in the church service. And I stand in opposition to those who believe salesmanship can bring people into the kingdom more effectively than a sovereign God. That philosophy has opened the door to worldliness in the church.

Adapted from Ashamed of the Gospel, © by John MacArthur. All rights reserved.
http://www.gty.org/Resources/Articles/511

Who Is God...

During my last trip to Memphis, I attended the Sunday morning service at Kirby Woods Baptist Church. I did a church search on the Southern Baptist Convention website and after reviewing the KWBC website, I felt like it would be a good place to worship.

I wasn't sure what to expect but when the pastor prayed the opening prayer and said "I pray that if there is one here that doesn't know you that they would be convicted of their sins and turn from them and put their trust in Christ", I knew it was going to be a wonderful service.

Rev. Jim Collier preached a message titled "Who Is God?" This was his opening statement:

"There are many different concepts of who God is all around us. We hear different things on the radio and see things on the tv and we read things in the newspaper and we hear things like well as long as we all believe sincerely it doesn’t matter what we call God. And we hear things like as long as we just love one another then we’ll honor God and we’ll all eventually get to where we’re going as long as we do what we think is right. Friends I want you to understand that while that might be nice and while that might be generous it’s not biblical and so we need to see what God’s word says."

I won't spoil the rest of it for you but please take the opportunity to listen to this sermon. I promise you won't be disappointed. It is directly from God's word and teaches repentance and faith in Christ. Click here to listen to this message in it's entirety. I pray that you will be as blessed as I was.

In Loving Memory...

In Loving Memory of my daughter
Hallie Brianne Weber on her 16th birthday

October 30, 1992 - January 9, 1993





Precious Babies...

A precious baby ten weeks old,
was called to heaven by our Lord.
Young parents, so brokenhearted,
grieve the loss of child departed.

Friends and loved ones rallied round.
Love, support and grace abound.
Yet still 'tis sad to see them mourn
their precious baby girl is gone.

A tiny baby safe and warm in mother's
womb and still unborn.
Life was ended by mother's choice,
tiny baby had no voice.

'Tis sadder still when life unborn
by choice is ended and no parents
mourn.

Anonymous

Peavine Baptist Church at Cloudland Canyon 10/26/08...

Deeper Conference 2008...UPDATED

For me, the Deeper Conference was filled with moments of excitement, peace , conviction, soul searching, worship, enlightenment, and pure joy just to name a few. I am in the process of writing about the experience and what I took away from it but there is so much to tell. So stay tuned for part two coming soon!

Another highlight to the conference was the fellowship we had with other attendees. This man was behind us in line for dinner on Friday night. I never got his name but he was so kind and we thoroughly enjoyed talking to him. He is from Canada and had driven 16 hours by himself to attend the conference. He works for a radio program called Cross Currents. He also gave us a copy of the canadian version of the million dollar bill.


This is the Gene and Melba Harris. They were sitting on the row in front of us and during one the breaks Gene came up and introduced himself to us. They are members of First Baptist Woodstock but it turns out that he was born and raised in our neck of the woods in Fort Oglethorpe. We chatted during the breaks and he even got our address so that he could send us some tapes of Johnny Hunt's sermons. We had asked them if Johnny Hunt always preached like he did at Deeper and they said oh yeah...he was even holding back today.


This is Terri...she was in front of us in the line for Ray and Kirk's book signing. We started talking and she told me that she used to be a Mormon but got saved after she started listening to WOTMR.


This is Clint...he was behind us in the line for Ray and Kirk's book signing. He started talking to us and asked us if we had been enjoying the conference. He is from Virginia and was so excited to be there.

Wretched Taping/Way of the Master Radio Show...Updated

Yesterday, Kevin and I had the privilege of attending a taping of Wretched. We had a great time!!! We were under the impression that we would just be observing the show but while we were waiting outside, we were informed that some of us would actually be on the set and participate in the show. We were at the end of the line so I thought for sure we would be able to hide in the back. Wrong...we were right on the set but we were kind of behind a beam and there were some people in front of us so we could still hide and yet had a great view all at the same time.

Kevin and I were both blessed by the hospitality that was shown to us while we were there. There were close to 100 people that showed up for this and we were all treated like we were family. Everyone was so kind, accommodating and approachable. We weren't rushed in and rushed out...they introduced everyone to us and they visited with us. Todd came down and talked to us before the show as well. During the taping, Todd tackled three topics: tithing, voting for a pro-choice candidate and keeping the sabbath. All were very interesting and thought provoking as he put a different spin on each one of them. The audience members were given an opportunity to debate these topics with Todd. It was great!!!

After the show, we were taken upstairs to where they do the Way of the Master radio show. Again, everyone was so nice. Todd showed us around and visited with us. He also explained how they do the show every day and how they come up with their material. David and Rick also spent time with us and answered questions. David is hilarious! He had Kevin and I laughing continuously. As an added bonus, Justin Peters came for the taping and I was able to meet him and tell him what a blessing his testimony was to me. On top of that, I was able to see and meet some familiar faces from the Ambassador's Alliance website including Marcus Pittman who has worked so hard on the Five Hundred. Todd had to start the show but invited us all to stay and observe and visit. He let everyone come in and out of his office while he was doing the show and it didn't even phase him. I was very impressed!!!

This day is indeed going in my top ten of best days!!!

We're Losing It...

Million Dollar Bill in Memphis, TN...

Today I traveled to Memphis, TN where I will be working this week. I drove straight through so needless to say, when I got here I was tired and hungry. I ordered dinner from the onsite restaurant so I wouldn't have to go out. I paid for my food and then gave the gentleman a million dollar bill. He thanked me and as he turned to leave he looked down at it then stopped and said "I already have one of these". I thought he was turning around to give it back to me but he looked at me and said "a man gave me one of these in place of a tip". He said "but he gave me my first million dollar bill and now you have given me my second one" and kind of laughed it off. I was caught off guard by what he said so I just apologized for what that man had done and asked him to read what the million dollar bill said because it was important. He said that he would and then left.

I was thrilled to see that the million dollar bill has made it to Memphis, TN but saddened that it was used in the way that it was. I pray that God will give me another opportunity to speak to him this week and find out if he read it!

Collaboration...

So much has happened over the past two weeks that I have not had time to sit down and write anything on my blog. Tonight, even though I am physically tired, my mind is racing so there is no telling what this post will end up being about. :)

I have been reading the book Do Hard Things which was really written for teenagers. Since I have two teenagers, I got the book with the intentions of making them read it. However, I wanted to read it first so that I would know what it was about and could talk to them about it when they read it. Well, it has ended being a tremendous blessing to me and has come at just the right time. I am working on a large project that is extremely hard and at times, even seems impossible. Chapter seven in the book talks about collaboration and how much more can be accomplished for God when christians come together and combine their strengths to complete a task.

One of the best things that has happened since I have been working on this project has been meeting some wonderful christians who are excited about evangelism and who also use the Way of the Master principles. One of them is Dr. Sampson who is the pastor of Parkway Baptist Temple. He has been helping me with my project while also working on his own. Here is part of an e-mail that he sent me today:

We are currently going through the Way of the Master again at Parkway on
Wednesday nights. The last of the series will be shown this Wednesday. I started a program called "A Summer of Soul" using The Way of the Master. We have over 80 people participate in street evangelism and have seen around 20 people receive Christ. PRAISE THE LORD!

I am leaving for Grenada this week on a mission trip. I have the opportunity to preach in a Soccer stadium that holds 4000 people. Please pray that the stadium will be filled each night. The men that are traveling with me have gone through The Way of the Master and will be using it there.

Prayer is also powerful in numbers so let's come together and pray for this trip and for this project (hopefully I will be able to announce more about it soon) that God would be glorified and that souls will be saved!

I Am Yours...

This video brought tears to my eyes. I especially like the part where the hands are holding up the person (you will see what I am talking about when you watch the video). What a wonderful reminder that I am soundly saved...that I belong to God...that He is there to hold me up...and that nothing will ever change that and it is all because of the what He did on the cross. This was too good not to share. I hope it blesses you as much as it did me!

300 saved in Mexico...

Recently, a new acquaintance of ours went with a group from his church on a missions trip to Mexico. God used them in a mighty way to spread the gospel. Here is an excerpt from an e-mail he sent me regarding the trip:

Just got back in today from Mexico. To say I had a great time is an understatement. We had over 300 souls saved in the week we were there! All to God's glory. It is a ripe harvest field there. I got to preach in a prison on Saturday - that was a thrill.

We handed out nearly 3,000 of the Spanish "Are you a Good Person?" booklets in Chihuahua City the day before we flew out. It was very encouraging.

Praise the Lord!!!

1st Annual Sonny Swanson Memorial Golf Tournament...

Bad Girls of the Bible...

I just finished reading the book Bad Girls of the Bible and What We Can Learn from Them by Liz Curtis Higgs. While I didn't really care for the fictional retelling of the biblical stories at the beginning of each chapter, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the real woman's story and the commentary that she gave on each one.

Liz put these bad girls into three categories: bad to the bone (Potiphar's wife, Delilah and Jezebel), bad for a moment (Lot's wife, Sapphira and Michal), and bad for a season but not forever(Rahab, the woman at the well and the sinful woman who annointed Jesus' feet with her tears). I don't know whether this is a good thing or a bad thing but I could identify with each and every one of these women. However, my favorite chapter was the one on Rahab. This is an excerpt from the last page of that chapter:

"It’s grand to see our heroine Rahab so touted, but I have one question: Why did the New Testament writers still insist on calling her a prostitute? Can’t she lose the old label? Must those of us with a hairy history wear our pasts around our necks like a scarlet thread for the rest of our lives?

Yes. And No.

Paul and James mentioned Rahab’s past for the same reason people share their testimonies today – to demonstrate the “before and after” power of knowing the Lord. Stories of how God has changed lives aren’t intended to glorify sin; they are meant to glorify God’s grace.

Even so, some people have a hard time getting past our past. When I share my story – candidly, not trying to make it pretty because it wasn’t – I watch some of the dear women in my audience emotionally, even physically, pull back. The room grows very quiet, and their eyes reveal their thoughts: “Oh, you were that kind of woman.”

It’s not judgment so much as it is a foreign concept. Women who’ve grown up in the church don’t always know what to do with a Rahab. Especially in a smaller fellowship, Rahabs may feel they don’t fit in, that no one “gets it.”

Beloved, if that’s you, listen to Lizzie: There are thousands of us. After I share my own story, women track me down and pour their hearts out. “No one in my church knows.” “I can’t tell a soul.” “I always thought I was the only one.”

Take heart, my sisters. We’re not the only ones.

Thank the Lord we’re finding our way back to the cross, nailing our sinful pasts to the foot of it, and pressing on. The apostle Paul was an “other” too. Different? Ooh baby, he persecuted the Christians – and then became one! He called himself “chief among sinners” yet proclaimed himself made new in Christ.

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. Romans 1:16

If God can turn a harlot into a holy vessel, entrusting her with the very genes that would one day produce the King of Kings, surely those of us with a past can leave our shame in the rubble and walk away, fixing our eyes on the One who washes us white as snow."

For the longest time my past controlled me. Another quote from the book, "bad girls blame their situations, good girls rise above them", reminds me of how I ran from God and made excuse after excuse, blaming my past and thinking that it was too bad for Him to forgive. I will never forget Todd Friel telling me that we can't outsin God. That is so true and it has taken me a long time to learn that, but now, I look at my past and it just magnifies the grace that God bestowed on me in spite of it. He sent His son to pay for my past and now, when He looks at me, He sees Jesus. How selfish it was of me to think that my sin was greater than His sacrifice.

VBS-Army Adventure Camp

A Difficult Witness Encounter...

Thursday evening the kids and I met my family and some friends of ours downtown to watch fireworks. I made sure that I had plenty of tracts because it would be the perfect opportunity to do some witnessing. There weren't a whole lot of people there to begin with. The kids were sliding down the hill on pieces of cardboard and they were having a blast! A lady and her 3 year old son came up to watch the kids. Austin offered to let the little boy slide down the hill with him. His mom agreed and off they went laughing the whole way down. It was obvious that this lady had been battling cancer and as I sat there and watched the kids slide down the hill, I also watched this mom soaking up and cherishing every second of the experience. She smiled from ear to ear and laughed with joy watching her little boy have such a good time. She even ended up climbing the hill and sliding down with her son and they both laughed the whole way down.

The kids continued playing and she was standing off to the side so I thought it would be a good time for me to go talk to her. I walked up to her and started talking about the kids a little bit. Then I gave her a million dollar bill. I went through the law and gospel with her. She was very open, honest and receptive. But her joy had turned to sadness and she was no longer smiling and laughing. I felt terrible! I had interrupted her momentary escape and forced her back into the reality that she faces on a daily basis. I know that it was the right thing to do but it was not easy. My heart breaks for this lady and I would like for you to join me in praying for her and her family.

July 4th Pictures...

Ruth Graham-SCWN Annual Praise Breakfast...

This was my first time attending the Scenic City Women's Network Annual Praise Breakfast. There were over 500 women that attended the event this year. The thing that I love about the Scenic City Women's Network is that whether or not you have been a member for a day or for ten years or whether you are even a member at all, you are always treated as if you have been a part of this group for years. These are some of the nicest women I have ever met and I have never felt like a stranger. Ruth Graham was a blessing and an encouragement! I love the quote that she shared with us..."make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes".

My Testimony (in a nutshell)...

For many years I longed for peace
And something that would bring relief
From all my sorrow, guilt and shame
I only had myself to blame

Time and time again I prayed
Jesus, come into my heart today
Each time I thought I had figured it out
But a short time later returned the doubt

Then one day on the radio
I heard a different kind of show
The Way of the Master was the name
Law then grace they did proclaim

Each day I listened so I could hear more
Then came conviction too strong to ignore
I wrote and asked for help one day
The response, we’ll gladly show you the way

In the mirror of God’s law
The magnitude of my sin I saw
Like a light the law did shine
On all the sin I’d tried hide

With my conscience having done its part
By making ready for grace my heart
I understood that I needed to be saved
From the wrath of God on judgment day

The good news of the gospel now made sense
I could be pardoned at Christ’s expense
Jesus bore God’s wrath for me
When He bled and died on Calvary

Humbled, on my knees I bowed
And asked God to save me now
For all my sin I said “I’m sorry”
And promised to live for His honor and glory

With a contrite heart, I did pray
From these sins I’ll turn away
I put my faith and trust in Christ
And at that moment received new life.

written by Wendy Branam
6/26/08

WOTM Basic Training Week 3...

Last night we added four more to our group which was very exciting! Kevin said he was a little nervous with there being more there but I think he handled it well. Most of the pictures you see are from the group exercise in which we practiced using the ice breakers(tracts) to start a conversation. I see the excitement starting to grow as what we have been learning is coming together now. I am already looking forward to next week and can't believe that we will be halfway through. See you then!

The Five Hundred...

Way of the Master Basic Training...

This is take four of the group photo from tonight's meeting. I am so excited about this course and I am so glad that you were able to join us. I can't wait to see what God is going to do in our lives, in our church and in our community when we can go out and share the good news of the gospel biblically and effectively. I will be praying for each of you!

Riverbend-Fireworks...

Austin talking to two ladies after he showed them the pink and blue optical illusion tract. He handed several of these out while we were waiting for the fireworks to begin. He loves to hand out tracts!

Fish Magazine...

David Hamilton, publisher of Fish Magazine, at Riverbend on faith and family night. It was a pleasure to meet David and to learn more about the magazine.

Riverbend-Faith and Family Night...

This is a young man that I had the opportunity to witness to at Riverbend. My son had given him and his friends a million dollar bill. They started laughing about it so I walked up to them and asked if I could talk to them about what Austin had just given them. One of his friends took off immediately. I asked this guy if he thought he was a good person...the other two friends slowly inched away and until it was just him. He was not going anywhere though. I believe that the Holy Spirit had already been dealing with him and he was ready to hear what I had to say. He said he thinks about it everyday when he wakes up. So I went through the law and the gospel with him. He was very receptive and I believe he understood exactly what he needed to do to be saved. His name is Frank...please pray for him!

More pictures of riverbend!

Happy 60th Israel...

To celebrate 60 years of Israel's independence, the International Board of Jewish Missions hosted a concert featuring renowned international concert pianist Sam Rotman. Mr. Rotman has performed over 1900 concerts in 57 countries. I had the privilege of attending this event and I was mezmerized by the music that was played. He made it look so effortless. But what was even more fascinating was the testimony of his conversion experience. If you get a chance click here and read it from his website. It is truly inspiring!

Click here for more pictures from this event.

New Friendship Gospel Hour...

The New Friendship Gospel Hour is a television broadcast that my church presents twice a month. It is aired on a local cable channel and is a wonderful ministry that gives us the opportunity to spread the gospel in our community.

Bro Hoyt could not be there tonight as he had to be at the funeral home. The lady that was scheduled to sing was also not able to come due to a death in the family. David, Wayne and Dink stepped in and did a wonderful job running the broadcast in their absence. Holly, Tracey and I manned the phones. Katelyn even stepped up to the plate and sang a couple of songs for us. All went well and God was glorified.

Please pray for this ministry and for the people in our community. I spoke with a man tonight who called from his hospital room to request prayer. I spoke with someone who is battling an addiction. I spoke with people who wanted to request prayer for lost loved ones. I spoke with people who just wanted to call in a say that they loved the Lord and were blessed by our broadcast. There are so many needs and I consider it a privilege to be able to talk to these people and pray for them and encourage them and point them to Christ. I always leave the broadcast with a different attitude than when I came in because I am always reminded of how blessed I am.

Visitation...

God has been working in our church in ways that I have not seen since we have been attending there. People have been getting saved and the desire to witness and share the gospel is the strongest I have ever seen it. Here are some pictures from our visitation on Monday night. Several people were witnessed to so please pray for
them.

Million Dollar Question...

These pictures were taken on the day that my daughter and two of her friends all repented and put their trust in Jesus Christ. We went to eat after church and the kids started handing out million dollar bills (gospel tracts) in the restaurant. The picture you see here is of two young men reading their million dollar bill.

So what is the million dollar question? The million dollar question is Will you go to Heaven??? If you are not sure click here.

Transformed...

Romans 12: 1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

It would take days for me to share in detail how this conference impacted my life so for now, here is a summary of my experience at Transformed:

I learned that:
1. I don't want to be guilty of depraved indifference
2. I will have to battle the spirit of fear when I go to share the gospel
3. I want to demonstrate the fruits of the spirit and not just manufacture them to look good on the outside.
4. I want the cross to be as real to me as it was to Joseph of Aramathia and Nicodemus
5. I want to see tear filled converts and not fear filled converts
6. I don't want money, or anything else, to motivate me more than the love of God
7. I want to be on fire for God and it will take faith, love and compassion
8. I have to worship and serve God. If I am going to raise my hand in worship I had better be prepared to extend a hand in evangelism for service to Him.

I laughed, cried, battled Satan, drew closer to God, overcame fears and insecurities, quit making excuses, handed out gospel tracts for the first time (didn't get beat up), witnessed the power of prayer, met the people that pointed me to Christ, shared the whole experience with a dear friend...and I was transformed!

The only way that this conference could have been any better is if Emeal Zwayne could have been there.

I praise God for continually pouring His blessings out on me even though I don't deserve them and I thank Him for the ministry of The Way of the Master.

Click here for more pictures.

Casting Crowns...

Tonight's Casting Crowns concert was incredible! To all those who went with me, I had a wonderful time! I laughed more tonight than I have in a long time...you have blessed me beyond measure! Click here for more pictures.

Sonrise...

Sonrise is an interactive resurrection pageant put on by Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tennessee. This was our third year attending and I am still amazed at the amount of detail that is put into this event. Unfortunately, the batteries in my camera died during the Garden of Gethsemane scene so I didn't get any pictures of the trial, crucifixion or resurrection. Maybe next year!

Click herefor more pictures.