Ever Feel Like You're Being Watched?

So the kids were out of town at my Parents' house in Portland, TN this weekend, and Dianna was working at the hospital on Saturday morning. Finally, this gave me the opportunity to go creek fishing all by myself. This was my time to relax out in the elements, and the place I chose was Fountain Creek at Scribner's Mill.
Let me first say the fishing was terrible today, but that's not why I'm writing this. I was fishing a decent looking hole when I began hearing a faint sound that resembled a distant running chainsaw. As I continued hearing the noise, which was beginning to distract me from fishing, I noticed that the cadence of the sound was not the same cadence as a chainsaw. That's when it hit me that it had to be some kind of wild animal that was upset at my presence.
I was facing east as the sun had just topped the rise over the rock bluff at which I was looking in the direction of this peculiar noise. I decided I would walk toward the bluff to try to get a better glimpse. Continuing to hear the noise as it got a bit louder, I finally caught a glimpse of what I'd been hearing.
I saw a bobcat stick its head over a rock at the top of the rise, and it was evident that he or she did not like me being there. I will take this time to let you know I was only about twenty yards from the bobcat as it was at the top of the bluff and I was standing in the creek below. It finally walked off as it continued to issue that high-pitched whine, similar to what you might hear a house cat vocalize when it's upset.
The next time you go fishing, though there might not be any people around, remember that you're never alone in the great outdoors. Ever feel like you're being watched?

Gospel Meeting at Campbell Station 2009

Well, I told the brethren last night it was bittersweet. I absolutely love gospel meetings, and I'm very fortunate to be able to speak at various meetings in Maury County. Campbell Station was gracious enough to invite me back to speak again this year for their gospel meeting, and I'm honored by the thought that they wanted me to return. It's bittersweet to see the meeting end; you're tired from preaching to an extent, but you've enjoyed being with the brethren in worship to God.
I pray that Brother Glen Alexander will continue his fine work with the brethren at Campbell Station for many years to come. That congregation has such a rich history with several people whom I've known in the past, including the Hobbs family. I pray that I did all I could to help the congregation in some way, shape, form or fashion.
I challenged everyone present last night with a lesson on the eternal reward that's waiting for us in Heaven, as I called out several individuals and told them I wanted them there! Heaven is truly going to be an experience we will enjoy with others who are found faithful when Christ returns. Paul said in 2 Tim. 4:8 "in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge will award to me on that day, and not only to me but to all who have loved His appearing."
For those of you who are reading this, I want you there with me. Jesus even told His disciples in John 14:3 "...that where I am, there you may be also." It's great being around brothers and sisters in the Lord's church now, but it's going to be even better when we're together in Heaven!
There has been interest by some to hear the sermons from my meeting. I have put a new heading on my blog to the left entitled "Jeremy's sermons." I've got my sermons named by their respective titles. All of those containing "Promise" in them came from my most recent meeting at Campbell Station. I will add others from my Sunday night sermons at the Bridge here in Columbia. Special thanks to Chuck Terry who made this possible for me.
I welcome any feedback you might have on any of this. Thanks for reading what I include on this blog, as it gives me an extra opportunity to express myself for those who might not be around me on a daily basis.

Ya'll come!

I've got another gospel meeting coming up tomorrow at Campbell Station, just outside of Culleoka. I have had the habit in the past of inviting fellow members of the church. While that's not exactly bad, I need to reprioritize my efforts in inviting folks to gospel meetings.
I need to be inviting those who need to hear the gospel. Those who are not saved are those in most need of the power of the gospel message. While we have questioned the impact of gospel meetings in the past, I still believe in them.
What am I going to do about it? I am going to find some people who are not members of the Lord's church and invite them to the final three nights of the meeting. I don't know why, but I feel that these are always my best sermons of the series. I'm also going to challenge those present on Sunday to do the same. Will you join me in this effort?

Looking forward to it

There are a lot of things in life to which we look forward. We anticipate supper time. We anticipate vacation time. We anticipate the return of our spouse who has been away on a trip. Those anticipatory moments make life very interesting sometimes. We're ready for those times when they arise.
As many things in this life there are to anticipate, there is something greater around the corner. When our Lord Jesus comes back as He promised, will we have been looking forward to that great event? I would dare say there will be a lot of people who are not looking forward to that very day. They will have things in their lives that they wished they would have changed. They will want more time to devote their life to Christ. They will be ashamed that they did not obey His Word.
1 John 2:28 says "Now little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming." Let us make sure we are those who will be confident at the fact that we belong to Christ when He returns instead of being ashamed in the presence of His power and might and glory. Are you looking forward to it?

The Most Important Message from God?

What is the most important message you were ever given by your parents?

• Always remember from where you came
• Do 'em a good job
• Never step on a man's gate and climb over the top

As important as some of the messages from our parents are, let's think about messages of importance from our Heavenly Father.

I was recently asked a question which was sent to several other preachers to answer: "What is the most important message all the evangelists of the NT deliver?"

Racking my brain, I begin thinking about the goodness of God, His creation, His mercy, His love, His divine nature and I see that there are many things one could address as important messages from God's Word. When it ultimately comes down to it, however, there is one message that I believe comes from the very heart of God that is of the utmost importance: The death, burial and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4: "Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you believed, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,..." This is what I like to call the bare bones of the Gospel Message!

If this message is so important, what are we doing to make sure others hear it?
Those who aren't Christians, the choice has been given you to accept Christ as your Savior or decline His offer. What will your answer be?
For those of us who are Christians, we need to make sure others know the importance of this message. If it is really that important, we will make sure no one can ever use the title of the song, "You never mentioned Him to me."

Trying my hand at video editing

Recently, I edited and mixed some old footage of a comical squirrel hunting video that Chris Lockhart and I filmed back in 2003. This was definitely a comical video that became even funnier with the effects I placed in the edited version. I recently purchased Pinnacle Studio 12 for my laptop at home, which enabled me to make this movie and upload it to YouTube. Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ercn4mK4m-U
Tell me what you think!

Trout Magnet Video

Back in September, I was able to do some trout fishing in New Mexico while I was out there to elk hunt with my parents. Jeff Smith of Leland's Lures made sure I had plenty of Trout Magnet supplies for my adventure. I have compiled a video of some of our bigger catches. Check it out at http://brotherbutt.multiply.com
Enjoy!