I am honored to have been asked to speak in this special time of celebration for the Liberty Church.   Not only is this one of the my most enjoyable pastorates, but it is also the church where Delia accepted Christ, therefore, holding a special place in her heart as well.

I am focusing on our commitment to Christ as this has been the theme of the Liberty Church all year long.  Friday, I spoke on the subject of “What I am willing to do, personally, in my commitment to honoring Christ and becoming the person God intended for me to be.  I called the church to choose to re-commit in their service to Christ.  Tonight, I will dwell on What God IS DOING for us, and through us, in order to help us accomplish His call on our lives.  Finally, Sunday Morning, I will address the issue of what God is doing through the Christian body, the Church and the commitment we must make IF we are to reach the world with the gospel message.

This weekend, at the Bethany Church, Pastor Anthony Dowdy will be preaching and I know the folks will enjoy him.  So, pray for him, pray for R.J. Riddle as he leads the worship services and pray for the Revival here at the Liberty Church as we seek God’s movement on our lives.  See you on Tuesday, Lord willing.

It’s been 10 years since that horrific day and the national “anger” that was felt by most of us on that day seems to have been tempered to the point of near forgetfulness.  Ask the WW2 Verteran, will you ever forget what happened at Pearl Harbor?  They haven’t and we mustn’t either!

Some have blamed the U.S. for the atrocities and others have turned this issue into a matter of being “compassionate” to our enemies.  Yet, I for one, see it as it is … 9/11 was an attack on the “way of life” that we, as American Citizens have enjoyed for over 200 years.  It was an attack against our personal rights and to the freedom of worship.  It was an attack upon the U.S. Constitution and an attempt to open the door to an continued internal attack upon Christianity, by political and spiritual liberals who seem to want to always blame our country for this world’s ills!

Have you noticed how “compassionate” we’ve become towards those who oppose the United States and how we have sought to appease our enemies while they are constantly looking for ways to destroy us?  Have you noticed that while we are “hugging the necks” of our enemies that the proverbial knife is being placed between our shoulder blades?  Have you noticed that in the name of “tolerance” that we have become brainwashed to accept the ways of Islam while Christianity is under a barrage of attacks?!!!

While I forgive those who truly seek forgiveness and I hold out my hand to help my fellowman, no mater who he/she may be, I will NEVER FORGOT what happened to our nation on 9/11/2001 and I hope you don’t either!

We face a crossroads in our nation’s history and we must CHOOSE which way we will go.  Will we give up our rights and privileges as citizens of the United States?  Will we become a nation of Governmental Dependents waiting for “Uncle Sam” to wait on us hand and foot to only find ourselves eventually under a socialistic government? Will we, in the name of “tolerance and diplomacy” allow other nations to dictate “How” we govern ourselves and lead us down the road of destruction?  Will we, continue down a path of fiscal irresponsibility and eventually end up “slaves” to a foreign country who owns our debt?

It all starts at home … its starts with me, my family, my community, my state and my country!  We can’t change a world by seeking to be like them!

Let me close by first thanking God for being privileged to live in the United States of America.  Next, I pass on my thanks to the American men and women in our military who fight to maintain our freedom.  Finally, thanks to the Christian who continues to stand for Christ, who continues to fight for the right and who is allowing God to move in their lives to make a difference in the world we live in.

I’m taking the spot, paid for, by another couple who could not attend and graciously offered me their spot. (Kenny & Genny Burns) Thanks!

This is the first time I’ve ever attended this conference & I will walk away a better man & a better leader because of the privilege of being able to attend.

Great leaders in their particular fields of expertise sharing their stories & imparting nuggets of practical wisdom that can be applied to our individual lives and that of the organizations & churches we serve. Priceless!!!

While the challenges we face in our political and economic situation are dire, the OPPORTUNITY to reach more people for Christ is perhaps greater than its been in a long, long time!

In my experience, I have noticed that we often fail to reach up to God until we are experiencing personal struggles and sometimes tragedies that turn our attention from the pleasures to the pains of life.  The bible teaches us that in the “last days perilous times will come …” and that people will become “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.”  I see that don’t you?

Yet, when the money’s gone, your belly’s hungry, your health’s declining and your world is turning upside down, many people will start looking for some “REAL” answers to life’s delimmas … and guess what, we, who are Christians have the “eternal” answers to the world’s problems … It is and always has been … JESUS CHRIST!!!

Without getting into, what I believe are prophetic fulfillments of the “end times”, I can see God calling his people into action … it is the “simple gospel message” of salvation through Jesus Christ alone!

Good News!  You don’t have to be rich … you don’t have to have your “act” together … you don’t have to be a Republican, Democrat, Independent, Libertarian or a Tea Party Supporter … you don’t have to be white or black or hispanic or asian, or …. YOU just need to see yourself as a person who is spiritually bancrupt, unable to redeem yourself and cast yourself on the mercy and grace of our wonderful Savior Jesus Christ and, if you truly “mean business” … He will forgive you and begin to take charge of your life, so that, no matter what’s happening AROUND YOU, no matter what’s happening TO YOU, but rather, what’s happened IN YOU through Jesus Christ, will grant you the capability to ENJOY a NEW DAY as God fills you with hope, peace, joy, love and so much more as you surrender daily to his will.

So, trust in Jesus today, find a good, bible believing and teaching church and attend it, pray daily, read you bible faithfully and watch God turn you into a NEW, UNBELIEVABLE YOU!!!

Again, the day started out with opening worship @ 9:00 a.m. promptly.  We’ve had a great praise band leading the worship with a Spanish group leading the first part of the week and a group from the O’Fallon, IL church plant (now doing very well) leading Tuesday Night and all day Wednesday.  Bill Easum from 21st Century Starategies shared with us on Wednesday Morning and Wednesday night worship services.  His focus was looking at the coming trends in Church ministries and looking at what the church can expect to face over the next few years and how we must prepare ourselves for it.  He didn’t focus as much on the world trends, as he did on the “church” trends in what it is taking to reach the world for Christ in the local situation.  He did a superb job.

In the morning worship, Delia, Ruth and I attended the workshop by Dr. Kevin Leman as he addressed the issue of leading for change based the teachings found in his books on Parenting, Grandparenting and Marriage Relationships.  I found it quite informative as the principles he taught is tranferrable from relationships with family unto our relationships with everybody.

He explained that there is a difference between being an “authoritarian” versus leading with “authority”.  He looked at the extreme dangers found in those, whom he called, “permissive” parents where the kid can do anything and virtually controls the parents, versus the “authoritarian” who has a compulsion to “control” every situation in life.  The joy of serving Christ is found somewhere in between.

Some points I walked away with were:

1.  We must let kids FAIL in order to prepare them for life.  Giving kids everything they want DOES NOT help their self esteem but rather builds them up for major problems in the future.  Kids, like the rest of us, need to understand, “Personal Responsibility.”

2.  Rather than “praise and reward”, parents need to learn to use, (what he called) Vitamin N and Vitamin E … Saying NO and Being an Encourager to their children!

3.  The 1-2-3 method or Warning their children is nothing more than cooperating with their misbehavior.  The kids always know, “Dad or Mom doesn’t really mean it the FIRST time …”

4.  Respond rather then React.

Some of his books, include, “How to have a new kid by Friday”,  “The birth-order Book”  (He told us that he originally titled the book, “Abel had it coming!” but his publishers wouldn’t let him use it); and about 40 others …  You should pick some of them up and read them … He was both informative and very funny in his presentation!

Joey attended a workshop on the use of sound in the church.

In the two afternoon sessions, we split up again, with me following up on the Computer Class that helped me learn how to use a Bilbe Program better in bible study and in lesson (sermon) preparation.  Ruth attended a worshop on “parenting is heart work” lead by Dale Bates and Joey attended another workshop on Projector use and lighting.

I completed the last worshop led by Joey Graves (He’s a good friend, Pastor and married one of the young girls whom I served as her pastor for 9 years of her life.  He spoke on the transistion of churches looking for pastors, staff and the importance of a good transistion.  (And, no … I am not planning on leaving Bethany … someone always reads more into it than what’s intended.)

Ruth finished up the workshops with “Why Kids Misbehave” and Joey on another Sound System Class.

The evening capped it off with Bill Easom (mentioned earlier) giving practical tips on preparing for the future as God’s Church.

Byron Beck served as the Moderator of the 2011 Summit and did a terrific job as did all those in the planning process.

Now, its time to pack and make our way back home.  Lord willing … see you all this afternoon …

The next letter was “O” for Obedience as noted in 13:7 & 17 and in James 3:17.  Finally, the last letter was, “P” for perseverance.  A common theme throughout the book of Hebrews.  Dr. Ury said, “When the fantastic runs out, we must persevere!”

I attended a workshop on Logos software and its benefits (Personal Preparation and Growth Workshop) while Ruth and Joey attended the followup to the workshop I attended yesterday, on “Communicating for Life Change.”

The afternoon was taken up with the business meeting of the General Association and Delia and I gave blood at the Red Cross Blood Drive.  Tonight was outstanding with Dr. Kevin Leman speaking on the importance of the marriage relationship, pointing out the need for husbands and wives to start looking at life from behind the eyes of their spouse.  He was hilarious in his presentation but very pointed in his sharing.  He will be speaking again in the morning.  He spoke for over an hour but could have kept speaking, as the crowd was throughly enjoying his talk.

The New General Baptist Messenger was handed out this evening to all the crowd and it will be a quarterly issue (48 pages) in magazine format that is FREE to all General Baptist families.  All you need to do to get your copy is to get on the mailing list and one will be mailed to you each quarter.

Tomorrow will start all over again with Morning Worship, 3 workshops and evening worship.    It’s been a joy as over 1,000 GBC people gather together to praise the Lord and learn from each other, how we can best minister in our separate localities and communities.  Next year’s Summit is scheduled to take place in Springfield, MO.  I hope you will make plans to go.

However, after a few years, her grandmother took charge of her and often left her in a closet for the day without food or water until she was able to return home.  The one thing that sustained her during those difficult times of life, was the Scriptures and Hymns her Great Grandmother taught her when she was but a little girl.

In spite of over two (2) years of depression, God’s grace and faithfulness proved true and as her psychologist advised her, she got out of the house and began to reach out to others and stopped wallowing in her own miseries!  Her message was one of great faith, and the power of prayer, faith in God and the ability to make a difference in the lives of others.

After that, Delia and I attended a workshop lead by Christian Psychologist, Gary Smalley on “Guarding your heart”, in which he addressed numerous tips on protecting your heart from demonic attacks and the power found in memorizing the Word of God. 

One statistic he noted that I found quite interesting, was that when children are taught to memorize Scripture at an early age that those who truly apply themselves to its practice, 70% end of STAYING IN CHURCH the rest of their lives!!!  Dr. Smalley suggested that all pastors should go to their home churches and work on a Bible Memorization Program for the congregation, such as is put out by the Awana Club, The Pioneer Club, The Navigators, etc.

Ruth and Joey attended a workshop on developing Volunteers in the local church.  It was lead by Gary Baldus, the Lead Pastor of our Church Plant in Florida that is averaging about 800 per week in worship.  They power of “assimilating” new people into the ministries of the Church is something we all must learn how to do more effectively.

I attended a Workshop called, “Effective Evangelism” taught by another church plant leader and his wife, Carl and Julie Nichols from Revolution Church.  He gave several resource suggestions and told the story of his church.  They are 9 months into the church plant and they are running about 300 right now and haven’t dropped below 200 but twice since they started!

Delia and Joey attended a workshop on using Social Networking in the communication and outreach of the church.  Ruth and Delia then attended a workshop put on by the Women’s Ministry Department lead by Thelma Wells, who is also the author of the book the Women’s Missionary Socieity are studying from in 2011.

I finished the afternoon with a Children’s Minsitry Workshop led by Kim Ayers from the Real Life Church in Springfield, IL who offered suggestions of both cost effective and FREE resources to draw from in putting together and effective Children’s outreach program.  She has seen their Children’s Minstry (Kindergarten – 5th grade) grow from 50 to over 110 over the last three (3) years.

Tonight, Dr. Bill Easum spoke on the Transformed life.  His text was taken from Colossians 3:1-10 and he was a powerful speaker. 

Now, its 11:30 at night and we just finished viewing the new Christian Film, “Couragous” and all I can say is that it was AWESOME!!!  It is the best one yet!!!

I can’t say too much about it, (it is going to be out in the movie theaters on September 30, 2011)  but will plan on getting as many as I can, to go and see it at the movies and support the Christian Films Industry or view it at the Church if we can get a copy of it or watch it in the privacy of your own home when it goes to DVD.

It has a strong Christian message, focused on dealing with the loss of life as Christians, forgiveness,  and Christian Fatherhood!  It will make you laugh out loud and then, just a few minutes later, leave you with tears streaming down your face.

I can’t think of a better film to view with your family, friends and lost people whom you want to come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.   The message is POWERFUL, so don’t miss this movie … you will love it!

Each night, I will sit down and share a few thoughts with you as to the happenings of the day as the Summit continues. 

The Summit starts tomorrow morning with worship @ 9:00 a.m. and the WMS Speaker sharing with us.  Her name is Thelma Wells and she wrote the book that the WMS ladies across the world are using in their monthly studies.

We have our first workship @ 10:45 a.m., break for lunch at noon, and they back at 1:30 p.m. a nd 3:00 p.m. for two more worshops and then we gather for worship again, Monday night @ 7:00 p.m. with Dr. Bill Ury speaking.  After the Service, for those wishing to stay up, we will be able to watch the newest Christian Film coming out later this year, called, “Courageous.”

Each day will be similar with over 40 workshops being presented with speakers such as, Dr. Kevin Leman, Dr. Bill Easum, Dr. Gary Smalley and many, many others.  They is something for everybody’s interest.

Looking forward to great worship and Christian teachings from all the wonderful guest who will be sharing with us.

Yesterday morning at the Bethany Church we had our closing program and we wrapped up another year in trying to reach kids with the gospel of Jesus Christ.  This year’s theme was built around Nazareth, looking back at the boyhood days of Jesus.  Each night, different skits were shared several people with the main story being told by Mary (portrayed by Susie Riddle), the mother of Jesus and a friend of hers by the name of Eunice (portrayed by Leah King and Ashton Howell).

Sierra Waller took pictures all week and did a superb job in putting them together for all of us to see Sunday Morning in a video presentation.

Thanks kids for coming, to the staff who worked hard in preparation, to Mary Ann, in your hard work and preparation and to Jesus, most of all for Your wonderful Salvation that gives us the “WHY” behind all we do … to His honor and glory!

Many have taken this holiday as an opportunity to get away and enjoy some family time and to rest and relax, and we hope they enjoy a refreshing and enjoyable time.

I hope everyone enjoyed a great Independence Day Weekend and truly appreciates our Christian Freedom as well as our Freedom as a people of the United States of America.