Buffets

One of the worst movies ever has some great quotes. The buffet scene is a classic. Makes your stomach turn! Enjoy this scene. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7r2_STF8oo

Transition Update

It has been a while since we updated our friends on our transition and move to Columbus in June. We made a trip to Columbus this past Friday to look at the house that we are interested in buying. We placed our house with Century 21 on April 13.

We have been busy packing, doing small home improvement projects and taking care of end of the year school transition items.

Osage City has scheduled superintendent interview dates for May 6-8. It will be an exciting process for the community.

Continue to pray for our move and God leading the right person to Osage City to be their next educational leader.

A Great Sunday

On Sunday we enjoyed worshipping at the Emporia Ave Church in Wichita. This is a very special place where Debbie and I worshipped for 5 years when we lived in Wichita.

It was great seeing good friends like the Phelps, Parkeys, Duncans, Burketts.............The memories are priceless.

Have A Favorite Baseball Player?

He was my favorite baseball player of all time. Growing up I tried to pitch just like him. Dave McNally was was one of the best pitchers in all of baseball during the 60's and early 70's. He was on two World Championship Teams and was a very humble individual. Back when I collected baseball cards I had every card of his. Most were autographed by him.

Here is the information on one of the best pitchers not to make the Baseball Hall of Fame:

All-Star: 1969, 1970, 1972

The best left-handed pitcher in Orioles history.

McNally was born in Billings, Montana, on Halloween in 1942.

He signed with the Orioles in 1960, and made his major league debut on September 26, 1962, about a month before he turned 20 years old. It was a good one. McNally pitched one game, a late season start, and threw a two-hit shutout.

In 1963, McNally went 7-8 with a 4.58 ERA over 125 2/3 innings, and in '64, he was 9-11 with a 3.67 ERA in 159 1/3.

In 1965, at age 22, he started to get it together. McNally pitched 198 2/3 innings that season, going 11-6 with a 2.85 ERA (121 ERA+). The next year, he won 13 games with a 3.17 ERA, and won the clinching game of the 1966 World Series sweep of the Dodgers, outdueling Don Drysdale, who gave up a homer to Frank Robinson for the only score of the game. The Orioles threw 33 consecutive scoreless innings in that Series.

McNally battled injury in 1967, but came roaring out in 1968 with his best season, and one of the best seasons ever by an Oriole pitcher: 22-10, 1.95 ERA (150 ERA+), and 202 strikeouts. Again, like Mike Cuellar, that was the one and only time he would strike out 200 batters in a single season.

McNally regressed some the next three years, but he was still a fine pitcher, and won 20 games every season, including a career-high 24 in 1970. After the '71 season, McNally went 13-17 in 1972 and 17-17 in 1973, which was his second-best season by ERA+ (117) in a season where he pitched at least 200 innings. He was 16-10 with a 3.58 ERA in 1974, his final year with the Orioles.

He also hit a grand slam in game three of the 1970 World Series against Cincinnati, the only pitcher ever to hit a grand slam in a World Series game. He hit it off of Tony Cloninger, who once hit two grand slams in a game for the Braves.

McNally was traded by the Orioles to Montreal on December 4, 1974, which netted the Orioles one season of Mike Torrez and a decade of Ken Singleton. A great trade for Baltimore, as McNally pitched just 77 1/3 innings with a 5.24 ERA and retired at age 32. Interestingly, McNally and Andy Messersmith became baseball's first two legal free agents. Messersmith signed a big deal with the Braves, and McNally simply walked away from the game at age 32. Both had played the 1975 season without contracts.

Dave McNally passed away on December 1, 2002, at the age of 60, in his hometown of Billings, Montana.

FRANCHISE RANKINGS4th, ERA (3.18, min. 800 innings and being a starter)9th, adjusted ERA+ (107, same qualification)2nd, Wins (181)5th, W/L Pct. (.616)4th, Games Pitched (412)2nd, Innings Pitched (2652 2/3)3rd, Strikeouts (1476)3rd, Complete Games (120)2nd, Shutouts (33)

Columbine

Great article from USA Today on Columbine 10 years later.

http://usat.me/?34754154

Communion

When you take communion next, consider the following:

As you break the bread remember how religion broke Jesus.
If he would have chosen to remain whole we would have no one to save us.
He is the bread of life.
We are called to follow in his steps.
We each have him in our system because he was broken down into Spirit form.
His body was crushed like grapes.
In following him, we cannot be effective unless we yield to being treated as bread and grapes; picked apart and crushed.
Much of religion is for the followers of man-rules.
Christianity is for the followers of the Suffering Servant.
The standard for world evangelism is formulated through communion. Broken and squeezed of our own recognition, we are to be willingingly/voluntarily torn apart with the hope others will remember our God as they dismantle us through criticism, avoidance, and painful judgment.

Terry Rush

Passing the Torch

My Final Charge this past Sunday night to the Young Professional Group at Central as Kevin and Kristen Johnston become the new ministry leaders..........................

I remember just a few short years ago Jeff and Santhi visiting with Debbie and I about participating in a very special ministry. Jeff and Santhi were about ready to move to New York City and they were seeking a new teacher for the Young Professional Class. Debbie and I prayed about it. We were asking God to give us a special ministry at that time and he did.

That torch was passed almost 5 years ago.

Joshua passed the torch of leadership to a new generation. Joshua’s final charge to that new generation is found in Joshua 23. Joshua knew that he would soon pass from the scene, and he was concerned for the new leaders that God would raise up to follow him. His words to them that day apply to each one of us today who desires to be the kind of servant God wants us to be. This passage is a reminder to us of what God cares about.

Joshua 23:1-19

1 After a long time had passed and the LORD had given Israel rest from all their enemies around them, Joshua, by then old and well advanced in years, 2 summoned all Israel—their elders, leaders, judges and officials—and said to them: "I am old and well advanced in years. 3 You yourselves have seen everything the LORD your God has done to all these nations for your sake; it was the LORD your God who fought for you. 4 Remember how I have allotted as an inheritance for your tribes all the land of the nations that remain—the nations I conquered—between the Jordan and the Great Sea in the west. 5 The LORD your God himself will drive them out of your way. He will push them out before you, and you will take possession of their land, as the LORD your God promised you.
6 "Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. 7 Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. 8 But you are to hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have until now.
9 "The LORD has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you.
10 One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as he promised. 11 So be very careful to love the LORD your God.

In these verses I want to focus on four principles:
· Give God all the credit
· Obey his Word completely
· Cleave to him only
· Love him more than anything else

The first principle is:

1. GIVE GOD ALL THE CREDIT
This principle is found in verse 3: “…You yourselves have seen everything the LORD your God has done to all these nations for your sake; it was the LORD your God who fought for you.”

The thing that impresses me throughout the book of Joshua is that Joshua was a man of tremendous humility. He was a leader who did not draw attention to himself. Joshua constantly centered the attention of the people on the CHARACTER of God, rather than his own personal CHARISMA. The important thing for Joshua was what God had done and what God could be trusted for, not what Joshua did. Joshua gave all his successes back to God as His accomplishments.

We need to learn this same lesson. It is often easy to begin our Christian lives giving God the credit. But as we grow older and as our accomplishments increase, our tendency is to forget the source of our strength, our abilities, and our achievements. But if we are putting God first we
will always reflect with humility that it is God who is responsible for all we are and have.

Let me mention something else that is very important: When you give all your successes back to God as His accomplishments—then you don’t have to be depressed and discouraged over the opinions and criticisms of other people. When you give all your successes back to God as His accomplishments through you, you are free from being demoralized by any superficial evaluation of failure in your life. Because you were not doing it to seek credit for yourself. You were doing it for the glory of God. Since it was all for Him and for His glory, the only judgement and opinion of your life that ultimately matters is the judgement and estimate and opinion of the Lord himself.

The SECOND PRINCIPLE is found in verse 6. “Be very strong; be careful to OBEY all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left.”
If you want to be successful in life…

2. OBEY GOD'S WORD COMPLETELY
In chapter 1 God commanded Joshua: “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8). This became most important in Joshua’s life. He committed himself to a life of obedience to the Law of God. Now he urges this same commitment on a new generation of leaders in verse 6: “Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left.”

What is it that most honors God and which God most delights to honor? Is God most honored by an eloquent profession of faith? No. Many have called Jesus “Lord, Lord” but have later fallen away and stopped serving him. Is God most honored by great natural abilities or talents? No. There are many who have had great abilities and talents but have wasted them on worthless goals. Is God most honored by an attractive appearance or a winsome personality? No. Saul stood head and shoulders above his countrymen. He seemed to have everything going for him. He was called by God, gifted by God, and anointed by God. But he failed miserably.

The true answer to the question “What most honors God and what does God most delight to honor is found in Samuel’s words to Saul after Saul had sinned: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams” (I Samuel 15:22). That’s the answer. The thing that most honors God and that God most delights to honor is OBEDIENCE.
If you want to be successful in life, immerse yourself in the Word of God, and live in uncompromising OBEDIENCE to it. Then you will experience God’s power and blessing on your life and ministry. There is no substitute for OBEDIENCE.

The THIRD key to spiritual success is found in verse 8…
3. CLEAVE TO THE LORD ONLY
“Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. But you are to CLEAVE to the LORD your God, as you have until now” (v. 7-8).

The term “CLEAVE” means to hang on tight, to stick like glue. The same word is used in Genesis 1 about the exclusive relationship between a husband and wife. Here we are called to trust God and not to trust any other resources but God.

Just as Israel had to constantly contend with the influence of the Canaanites and their gods, we also have many other philosophies of success in the world competing for our attention and trying to seduce us with false promises. There are many temptations, even when we're trying to do the Lord's work, not to rely on the Lord. There will be temptations to water down His word, to give up because of discouragement, or to pursue methods that are not pleasing to Him. But Joshua calls us to hold fast to the Lord. The promise is that as long as we are cleaving to the Lord in willing, practical obedience, God will honor what we do. This is true of an institution as well as an individual.

The FOURTH principle is found in verses 9-11: “The LORD has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as he promised. So be very careful to love the LORD your God.”

The final principle of spiritual success found in these verses is:

4. LOVE GOD MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE

This is an intense call to self examination: Do I really love God more than anything? Do I love him more than my family, job and all my stuff?

One statement that I often remember someone telling me when I was young was to “Never love people more than you love the Lord.”

Jesus said to Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" (John 21:15-19.) Everything depends on that. As we grow more deeply in love with the Lord Jesus, everything else in our life will find its proper place. Relationships will work the way they're supposed to work. Loving him with all our hearts will result in spiritual success in the things that really matter from God's perspective.

So Central Young Professional Group let me leave you today with the same charge that Joshua gave to the new generation of leaders in Israel. If you want to be successful in life, it is laid out in this passage: Give God all the credit—give all your successes back to God as His accomplishments; submit yourself to His Word; stick to Him like glue in willing, practical obedience; and love him with everything you’ve got. As you do this you will find that God will do wonderful things in and through your life.

Debbie and I pass this on to you as Joshua did for those that he loved.

On My Top 10 List to Play at Number 8

As every golfer Pebble Beach is a must. Since 1919, the exquisite beauty and unique challenge of Pebble Beach Golf Links has thrilled golfers and spectators alike. Pebble Beach is ranked #1 by Golf Digest.

On My Top 10 List to Play at Number 9

Sand Hills Golf Club built in 1995 in Mullen, Nebraska is about 100 miles from civilization, but one of the top 50 golf courses in the United States. Built by PGA Golfer Ben Crenshaw its a private course where the members fly to North Platte and drive the 2 hour trip northward to one of the most remote parts of the mid-west.

On My Top 10 to Play List at Number 10

Wolf Creek Golf Club in Mesquite, Nevada. A beauitful course. On my top 10 list to play someday. Many say it looks like the lunar surface of the moon.

Wedding Pictures

A family picture at the wedding. The only one missing is Chris.


Our new daughter.

Still

Easter morning in our YP Class we discussed something that we have lost that is very important that we need. The aspect of quietness. Quietness in our personal life as well as in our corporate worship time.

The following words are to a song called Still that I really enjoy. After looking at the words go to the youtube site below to see the video and hear the song.

Slow down today and enjoy listening to God!

Still

Hide me now
Under your wings
Cover me
Within your mighty hand
When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father you are king over the flood
I will be still and know you are God

Find rest my soul
In Christ alone
Know his power
In quietness and trust-
When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father you are king over the flood
I will be still and know you are God

Reuben Morgan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2aM4HUbzlo

Easter Sunday

Sunday's Coming, Rejoice in the Miracle of Easter!

It's Friday. Jesus is arrested in the garden where he was praying.But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. The disciples are hiding and Peter's denying that he knows the Lord.But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. Jesus is standing before the high priest of Israel, silent as a lamb before the slaughter. But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. Jesus is beaten, mocked, and spit upon. But Sunday's coming. It's Friday.

Those Roman soldiers are flogging our Lord with a leather scourge that has bits of bonesand glass and metal, tearing at his flesh. But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. The Son of man stands firm as they press the crown of thorns down into his brow. But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. See Him walking to Calvary, the blood dripping from His body. See the cross crashing down on His back as He stumbles beneath the load.I t's Friday; but Sunday's coming!

It's Friday. See those Roman soldiers driving the nails into the feet and hands of my Lord. Hear my Jesus cry, "Father, forgive them."It's Friday. But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, bloody and dying. But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. The sky grows dark, the earth begins to tremble, and He who knew no sin became sin for us. Holy God who will not abide with sin pours out His wrath on that perfect sacrificial lamb who cries out, "My God. My God. Why hast thou forsaken me?" What a horrible cry. But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. At the moment of Jesus' death, the veil of the Temple that separates sinful man from Holy God was torn from the top to the bottom because Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, heaven is weeping and hell is partying. But that's because it's Friday, and they don't know it but Sunday's coming.

And, on that horrible day 2000+ years ago, Jesus the Christ, the Lord of Glory, the only begotten Son of God, the only perfect man, died on the cross of Calvary. Satan thought he had won the victory. Surely he had destroyed the Son of God. Finally he had disproved the prophecy God had uttered in the garden and the one who was to crush his head had been destroyed. But that was Friday.

Now it's Sunday. And just about dawn on that first day of the week, there was a great earthquake. But that wasn't the only thing that was shaking because now it's Sunday. And the angel of the Lord is coming down out of heaven and rolling the stone away from the door of the tomb.

Yes, it's Sunday,and the angel of the Lord is sitting on that stone and the guards posted at the tomb to keep the body from disappearing were shaking in their boots because it's Sunday, and the lamb that was silent before the slaughter is now the resurrected lion from the tribe of Judah, for "He is not here," the angel says.He is risen indeed!

It's Sunday, and the crucified/resurrected Christ has defeated death, hell, sin and the grave.

It's Sunday. And now everything has changed. It's the age of grace, God's grace poured out on all who would look to that crucified lamb of Calvary. Grace freely given to all who would believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary, was buried and rose again.

All because it's Sunday

Good Friday

And They Crucified Him

Mark 15:22-25 -- They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him . . . It was the third hour when they crucified him.

1Cor. 15:1-3 -- Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures

Quote for the Day

The essence of genius is to know what to overlook.

William James

Columbus Update

We made a quick trip to Columbus on Saturday with Brian and Allison. My mom and dad met us as well. We looked at a couple of additional houses in our search for our new home.

Please continue to pray for our transition, sell of our house and the transition that Osage City is now under going. I know my current staff is anxious and nervous about the search process for a new district superintendent.

Central Moves Forward

The Central Elders asked me to introduce a special series of messages yesterday morning. The Elders will be challenging the congregation with a series of lessons this month on certain areas that they would like to see Central improve on as they move into the 101st year as a Church.

I appreciate these 5 men and the vision and love they have for Central Family.

I was asked to challenge the congregation in our worship and in the study of God's Word.

Here were my thoughts:

The month of April will be an exciting time for the Central Church. Not only will Central be celebrating its 100th Anniversary on the weekend of April 26, but our five Elders will be challenging us as a congregation with a series of special messages beginning this morning.
The Central Eldership has been in prayer over the past few months discussing the future, looking back at the past, and developing goals that they wish to see Central accomplish as we seek what Christ wants us to accomplish for Him in 2009 and beyond.

Central has achieved its past success because of two very important ingredients;
1. Prayer
2. Purpose

The spirit of involvement seems to be virtue in the history of this congregation, along with the characteristics of love, faith and biblical truth.

Emerson once said that "People only see what they are prepared to see."
This morning may God prepare us to see what He wants us to see as we begin to look at the future of the Central Church.

Proverbs says, "Without a vision the people perish." The Apostle Paul was unable to proceed in his ministry until he had a vision of a man from Macedonia calling him.

Peter had a vision that "God shows no partiality” and it changed his life. In this world in which we live today, the most vital churches are those that can clearly articulate how God is calling them into the future.

This is actually a very simple concept that only becomes complicated when the vision Jesus gave is blocked by human philosophies and traditions. Most people do not realize that Jesus has given us the vision for the church in clear, concise, and in an easy to understand format. Look at Jesus’ vision for the church in Matthew 28:18-20:

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

The Vision of the Church:

1. Jesus is the authority of the church.
2. Go into the world to make disciples.
3. Baptize them according to scripture.
4. Teach all to observe and obey everything that has been commanded.
5. The Lord is with us and guiding His true church every step of the way.

The primary reason the church exists is the same reason we as individuals exist – to bring glory and honor to God. That purpose is fulfilled through four basic functions:

Evangelism – reaching the world around us with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Discipleship – teaching individual believers to become less self-centered and more like Christ – to become imitators of Christ.
Fellowship – building relationships within the local church body and creating unity and love for each other with the goal in mind to fulfill Jesus’ great commission to make disciples of all people, teaching them to observe all things God has commanded.
Worship / Praise – acknowledging God for who He is and what He has done. We worship through song, communion, obedience and proclamation of His word.

After much discussion and prayer the Central Eldership have developed six areas of focus for 2009, that they will be sharing with us over the next few weeks, as we move forward into our 101st year as a congregation.

One of those areas that the elders have asked me to share with you briefly this morning is an increased Focus on God’s Word and Worship.

The increased Focus on God’s Word and Worship is very important as we begin to examine what we can do to as individuals and as a body as we develop and grow as a Christian and as a Church.

Worship should be a central part of the Church.

1. It’s a means of directing our attention to God and Christ.

2. It’s a means of increasing our devotion and dedication to our creator.

3. It’s a means of expressing our praise and thanksgiving.

4. It’s also a means of confronting our sinfulness with holiness from A Savior who died.

God’s Word is the source to help us accomplish the purpose of worship.

God’s Word should not only be a part of our personal daily study, but be a part of worship itself.

As we look ahead to the future what can we do to enhance our worship and allow God’s Word to be our number one source for all of our life’s answers.

Three things we need to remember as a congregation:

1. Our Worship to God needs to be heartfelt Praise

Psalm 57: 9-11

Our corporate worship should be a time we look forward to each Sunday. A time to lift up our hearts to the Creator of the universe. We need to put our entire being in to our worship time.

2. Our Worship must be God centered and Bible Based

2 Timothy 4:1-5

What does God’s Word say about worship. Plenty. He gives us directions on how he wants us to worship him.

3. Our Worship needs to be about Him and not about Us

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;bring an offering and come before him!Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;
—1 Chronicles 16:29
Oh come, let us worship and bow down;let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
—Psalm 95:6
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
—John 4:23-24
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
—Romans 12:1

It’s not about our likes and dislikes it’s about giving Him what He deserves. The very best worship as possible.

As we are challenged by the elders during the next few weeks we need to remember that many good things have been accomplished in the past and much work has been done; but we cannot rest on what has been done or be content with the accomplishments that have occurred.
Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:13-14

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

In other words, the best is yet to come.

We worship and serve the same God today who:

· Parted the Red Sea and dried the ground for 2,000,000 to walk across.
· Completely covered Mt. Sinai with His glory and caused the mountains to shake.
· Caused the mighty walls of Jericho to crumble to the ground.
· Controlled famines, droughts, or years of plenty.
· Conquered hundreds of thousands of enemy soldiers by using only 300 Israelite volunteers.
· Sent fire from heaven to consume a sacrifice, the stone altar, and all the water in the trench.
· Miraculously caused a virgin girl to give birth to His Son.
· Empowered men to heal sick people and raise the dead.
· Raised Jesus Christ from the grave in victory over sin.
· Caused prison chains to fall from Paul’s wrist.
· Inspired a book that in unparalleled in the history of all literature.
· Created a church that has lasted 2000 years through persecutions and trials.

That same God is the God of the Central Church of Christ. The same God that we worship and read about in His Word. This same God can work his power in ways that words cannot begin to express.

But we must believe and expect that He will do so. We must step out in faith knowing God will shower Central with His continued blessings.

Remember the best days of the Central Church of Christ are yet to be lived as each one of us joins together in worship and in service to the glory of God.

Go Lady Sooners!

The University of Oklahoma Lady Sooners play Louisville today in the NCAA Basketball Final 4 from St. Louis. Go Lady Sooners!

Time Moves On

The older I get, the more I think about the past and those that have influenced me in my professional career and personal life. On Wednesday, I led a leadership seminar in Topeka on the Effective Superintendent and Board Relations. I spoke to about 30 principals who have the desire to some day become district administrators.

I remember as a building principal 20 years ago sitting through a seminar on the same topic. I thought I would never have to deal with the variety of subjects that were being presented on that day. Now I'm the old guy trying to encourage and pass a on few secrets that I have learned sometimes the hard way about working with a board of education, faculty, staff and community.

I have really been blessed over the years that I have had great boards. Not just good boards but great ones. Boards made up of individuals that have kept kids as the first priority.

I appreciate those lessons 20 years ago from my mentors about dealing with a board on a daily basis. It has helped me understand their viewpoints and hopefully have allowed me to become a better educational leader.