Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

• I love the Christmas holidays.
• I love spending time with family and friends.
• I love opening gifts of course, oh and watching other people open there's - lol.
• I love watching some good movies.
• I do not love the marathon of "A Christmas Story" that Brooke locks the TV on each year.
• I love relaxing and chillin out for a few days after a year of ministry.
• I love the food and playing Monopoly with the kids.
• I love the cheer and joy that almost everybody brings :-)
• I love watching people consumed with lifting other people up - BTW, where is that the rest of the year?
• I LOVE JESUS!

To one and all: Merry Christmas from our house to yours! We send all our love and we pray that God would fill your home with His love and comfort!

BLESSINGS!

MT

Things I'm thankful for this Christmas...

Here are some random thoughts on a wintry December Monday in Indiana...

1. I'm thankful for a great wife - Tonya you're the best! We will soon be celebrating 30 years of marriage - thank you sweetie. God has certainly blessed me with you!
2. I'm thankful for my kids - Brooke, Weston and his wife Ashley.
3. I'm so thankful for the joy of being a grandparent. Wow, nobody fully prepared me for the joy that you get from your grand-kids. Amariah and Abigail you have stolen my heart.
4. I'm so thankful for awesome parents and family. Mom, Dad, Mike, Kim, Brian, Bob and their families too. Love you guys!
5. I'm thankful for a great church family. They have and continue to be people that blow us away with their love and support, in the good and hard times. My church: YOU GUYS ROCK! I think we can all do better and in 2009, we will!
6. I'm thankful for the Christmas season. It a time to kick back a little, spend time with family and friends, and to recharge yourself for a New Year.
7. I'm thankful for great friends in my life. The list is too many to name, but you know who you are! You have spoken into my life and ministry and we have laughed and cried together. What I am today is partly because of you.
8. I'm thankful for my church Staff. God bless you guys for all you do for Him.
9. I'm thankful that the Dolphins have 9 WINS so far this year and that they are in a 1st place tie in the AFC East! That's already 8 more than 2007. With facing the Chiefs this next week, they should at least reach 10. We may have regained a little respect this year.
10. I'm thankful that IU has hired a Men's Basketball coach (Tom Crean) that we can believe in. We have a mess in Bloomington and we've got to get it right. I believe he is a great man for the job.
11. I'm thankful for the joys and stresses that the game of golf brings. Man, I enjoy that game. I only played 8 or 9 rounds this year, but this next year look out!
12. I'm thankful for my health and that of my family. Psalm 103, reminds us to "...not forget all His benefits, who healeth all our diseases...". Thank you Lord!
13. I'm thankful most of all for God's gift to us all - JESUS! Jesus you have done so much in my life. Lord I could never repay you for the many blessings, but I am SO thankful for all that you have done for me.

Your Thanks and Thoughts???

BLESSINGS!
MT

Joy of Salvation...

This Fall, we've seen a lot of people coming to Christ in our services. It is always a real joy to see. Yesterday, I met a lady by the name of Sabrina who came to Christ in our service. I know that this happens a lot in our churches, but my question is, "Do we at times get too familiar with this event"?

Well, as I reflect on my conversation with her after service, it reminded me of how precious and powerful the gift of salvation truly is. David said, "Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation". What a blessing to know that the God of all grace and mercy sent His only begotten Son to die such a death so that we could be free! WOW...

People all around us everyday are carrying hurt, pain and heartache as they traverse through this life. Look for it, watch for it and minister to it! Keep in mind that but for the grace of God there go we. Remember what the Lord has saved you from and out of. Knowing that His arm is not short, nor His ear heavy. He can reach even the vilest of sinners and bring them out! PTL!!

BLESSINGS!

MT

Fireproof: the Movie!

Have you seen it yet? Man oh man what a great message for marriages and relationships today - WOW! Last night, we saw it with Weston, Ashley and Abigail, plus a lot of people from our church family. Since we didn't have a scheduled church service this week because of 5th Sunday, we invite those in our church to go with us and watch the movie on the big screen. It was awesome!!

A key line from the movie; "Never leave your partner behind in a fire".

I don't have to tell that the institution of marriage is under attack. Not only from flesh and blood enemies of godly marriage, but spiritual principalities and powers. The devil knows that if he can destroy homes, he can destroy families and eventually churches. The movie Fireproof empowers godly marriages to overcome and win in the battlefield.

Marriage today can be defined by any type of relationship imaginable. We must stand beside the value of marriage between 1 man and 1 woman, as outlined in God's Word. I know that we are on the timeline of God's eternal plan, but listen friends, Romans 10:14-15, "But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!..." Let your salt be salty and your light bright!

I applaud Kirk Cameron and the work that he has done and continues to do to support the work of God. He has sacrificed what could have been a lucrative career to proclaim godly values. Get out there and support it, by laying done your movie dollars for something worth while!

BLESSINGS!

MT