Romans 10.9-10 is the gospel in its most basic form

Romans 10.4 Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. Christ is the goal and the fulfillment of the law. The idea that people can get right with God by keeping the law has been terminated. The law cannot save you. Paul has explained this many different ways throughout the book of Romans.  The law does not bring salvation (3.20)  The law reveals sin (3.20)  The law condemns us (3.19)  The law brings wrath (4.15)  The law was added so that the trespass might increase (5.20)  We are justified by faith apart from the law (3.28)  We are not under law we are under grace (6.14)  We died to the law (7.4)  We are released from the law (7.6)  The law was powerless to save us (8.3)  Christ is the end of the law (10.4) We are not saved by keeping rules and regulations. The gospel is not a list of dos and donts. Paul says in 10.6-7 that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave and that is the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Jesus has completed all the work necessary for our salvation at the cross and God raised him from the dead. And now, God wants you to believe it in your heart and confess it with your mouth. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Romans 10.9-10 is the gospel in its most basic form.

Deer hunting is therapeutic for me

I've been scouting for deer and building tree stands. Last night I saw 23 deer - 8 bucks. Two were 10 point bucks. A nice 8 point was 50 yards from my stand. I think about it a lot. I love it! Deer Hunting is Therapeutic for me.

Teaching at Marshall University

I began a new semester at Marshall University. I love to teach. I love to work with counseling students. I feel so blessed because I love what I am doing. I love to preach and I love to teach. I thank God for the opportunities he gives me to serve people in different settings.

Two Weeks of Church Camp

I just finished two weeks of church camp. I went to sleep as soon as we got home and slept till 3am. I just woke up. I was exhausted. So were Kim and the girls. Church camp was great! A spiritual high. We will remember it forever. We will remember worshiping, laughing, praising, praying, pranking, singing, and all the other stuff we did together. I am especially thankful to my friend Dana Lewis who served as a camp counselor. This was Dana first year at church camp and he did an outstanding job! The kids loved him. Dana helped the kids build three crosses from Locus trees he had cut down - they stripped the bark with draw knives and put the crosses together. The climax of camp was when the kids carried the cross to be erected. It was moving! We worshiped! The kids could feel the weight of of the cross - they heard the thud of it hitting the bottom of the hole when it was erected - they sang and worshiped. Thanks Dana. Every counselor did an outstanding job with the kids. I am not going to name them all cause I need to get back to preparation for this Sunday's lesson. But I am so thankful to everyone of the counselors who took their vacation time to spend with the kids. I am thankful for George, our youth minister, for helping me - this was my first year as Dean. I am looking forward to next year. Our children, Amber, Tori, and Shayna, look forward to church camp all year long. No kidding! They start planning for church camp in November. I understand why - it is such a spiritual high. It makes us feel close to Jesus and to each other. We make memories that will last a lifetime.