Tommy Mitchell / The Rurban Church Blog

Why I will Be @ ABC Tomorrow Morning!

1. Some of the best things that have ever happened to me have happened when I was at church!

2. People will love me! (I will love them back)

3. Some people will hug me! I respond well to attention!

4. Some people will need me - I will need some people!

5. I will get to sing praises to God! 

6. The coffee will be great! 

7. Snacks will be good!

8. People will be able to share blessings and burdens!

9. We will celebrate life eternal!

10. I will be expecting to see God do some awesome things!

oh, I am the pastor - so I guess that seals the deal!

The Walk!

Whenever I am blocked on a project, stymied by a problem, concerned about a need that I am not sure how to meet, struggling with how to help someone with a problem, I have found that it is time to WALK!

When I walk - I relax!

When I walk - I start creating!

When I walk - I talk..... to God.....to myself.....to the people I am thinking about it! 

When I walk - I get energized!

When I walk - my stress goes down!

I love to walk!

Keeping Life Interesting!

How do you keep your life interesting?

1. Work hard!

2. Don't worry about who gets the credit!

3. Do something new!  My friends are painting a car this weekend!

4. Intentionally try to be a blessing to someone else every day!  Try to make sure some of these people are people you do not now!

5. Ask God to help you see people as He sees them - love them as He loves them! (with action)

6. Pray - especially to see how God is working in your world!

7. Love the Word of God - read it as vital information - not just to punch a spiritual checklist!

8. Worship with the body of Christ! Enthusiastically!

9. Give away some stuff!

10.  Make your own list!!!!!!

Can I have an "AMEN?"

There are just some things that are so obvious that they a deserve a big "AMEN!"  Can I have an AMEN?

I'm no fashion expert, but more and more I observe people who obviously received VERY BAD fashion advice!
          (does someone really look at some of this stuff and say, "oh that it looks good!")

Clipping your fingernails in church is a distraction! (seriously)

Text messaging during the morning sermon is just plain rude!

Leaving your cell phone ringer on during worship demonstrates a total lack of technological know-how!

Swabbing your girlfriend / boyfriend's tonsils in Wal-Mart may seem wonderful to you - it looks pretty shabby to everyone else!

There's nothing that says, "I'm most likely to succeed " like a check-out person with a huge hickey on their neck!

Something is fishy when people are well enough to work Monday through Friday, play all day Saturday, and are mysteriously unable to attend church on Sunday due to a recurring "whatever!!!!"

If you dress like your teenager, you will look like a 40 year old teenager!  Not good!

The twenty items or less lane at Wal-Mart does not mean less than 20 carts! It means less than 20 items!

Perfectly healthy people parking in the handicapped spots somehow makes me want to crush their cars with a bulldozer!  Just sayin.....

I'm sorry - but I just believe that when my refrigerator, deep freezer, washing machine, or car quit working completely, that hauling it off is supposed to be past my front yard!

Well, can I get a big Amen?????  I feel better now!

 

 

 

 

Life ..........

In reading the status updates that people share on social media, I often note that people will share a variety of life events and then conclude that "life                      !"     What goes in the blank varies! Sometimes it is a statement that "life is good," "life is great," or "life is bad!" (Usually stated in some slang term I am not comfortable putting in print!" 

Most of the time, life is whatever life is at that moment! Sometimes for some folks, life is both good and life stinks all within a few hours of each status update!  Which got me to thinking about how folks these days seem to live in the moment.  Maybe it is natural for all of us to some extent - but it also says something about us that we are so easily thrilled or disappointed by the everyday give and take of life!  

Our joy and satisfaction in life will never come from just the things that are present here!  Our ability to deal with life must come from a satisfactory relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ! Hebrews 13:8 says that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever!"  That being the case, if I am properly and passionately relating to Him, my highs and lows in life should be tempered by the Almighty hand of God!

"Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you!"  1 Peter 5:7  This instruction really does sound more profitable than melting down with discouragement in the face of tough news or circumstances.  Life here is uncertain, up and down, emotionally charging and emotionally draining!  Yet, the Lord is certain, consistent and is the source of real abundancy in life!  

In recent days, I have faced several challenges that have been difficult! Yet my life is not really determined by the news of the day!  My life is determined by the Lord - my steps are ordered by Him.  

Life is ... abundant! Eternal! Victorious! Possible!   ....through Him!

Religious Schizophrenia!

Sometimes I notice things that puzzle me! They fit under the category of "religious schizophrenia!"

A raging topic in south Mississippi is prayer before school events - primarily football games! (YES I AM FOR THEM)   In the midst of people being up in arms over the possibility that these prayers may be sidelined, we can hardly get people to attend prayer meeting at church!  Look at any church - 99% will find that prayer meeting is their lowest attended gathering!  I look at all that passion about prayer at a football game and long for that same passion to be expressed regarding praying together as believers at church. Hence the term - religious schizophrenia!

We lobby for prayer at a football game - but can't be found at the local church prayer meeting!

We spend vast amounts of money to send people around the world to spread the Gospel - but will not walk next door to share the Gospel with our neighbor!

We clamor for the 10 Commandments to be posted on public property (YES I AM FOR THAT) but probably could not name more than 3 - 5 of the commandments.

We claim we are too hard pressed to tithe while we drop a $75 - $100 on movie tickets and snacks at the theater! 

I'm sure you can think of more!

Basic Rules Still Apply!

1. If you break it, fix it! 2. If you make a mess, clean it up! 3. If you hurt someone, apologize! 4. If you did it, don't blame everyone else! 5. If you took it, return it! 6. Unless you know it, don't repeat it! 7. If you are not sure what to say, keep your mouth shut!

30 Days to Change Your World!

Hey ABC folks!  We have completed 4 Sundays of conversation about ourMission!  During this time, I have been urging you to get involved missionally with people mostly outside our church family!  I have heard from some folks talking about the blessing it has been to them to share with people on a daily basis in ways that bring blessings to others. (and to yourself as well!)  

Let me encourage you a moment! 

1. GET STARTED!!!  If you have not yet engaged in 30 Days to Change Your World, then get started now!  Pray and seek God's wisdom for ways you can engage and impact people in your world for 30 days.  In 30 days, new behavior can be learned!  

2. Have high Expectations!  Look for God to bring amazing divine appointments into your life each day! This expectation makes each day special, adventuresome, and exciting!

3. Beyond the 30 Days!  When you get beyond those 30 days, start looking at people and places where God might place you on a regular basis - loving, caring, helping, listening, and sharing with people who will get to know you - and eventually get to know your Christ!  

4. Blessings Abound!  Being a blessing to others will always bring blessings to you!  You will find that seeing others as Christ sees them - helping them in Christ's name - loving them in the nature and manner of Christ - will bring a joy in your life that is unrestrained! 

If you have not yet started on your 30 Days, why not?  God has called you to be on His mission to the world every day!  Let's do it!