Remember playing Simon Says..??

     There are all kinds of games we played when we were growing up. We would play the usual sports games of basketball, football, baseball, and softball. We would also play games like follow the leader and tag. We would get our jars out and see who could catch the most lightning bugs. The game I want to spend our time talking about is Simon Says. You remember that you would do or say whatever Simon said if the person told to do something without saying Simon Says and you did it, you were out of the game. The last one standing would win the game.
     Far more important is the reality of Jesus Says.... For so long, we have taken God's word as something to be memorized or internalized. God's Word should be memorized, but if you memorize just for the sake of just that, we miss the point. God's Word should move us into action.
     What if we did everything else in this world like we do God's Word? As an example, tell your child, "go and clean up your room". What would your reaction be if they came back to you in about an hour or two and said hey, I memorized what you told me. You said, "go and clean your room". I am sure it would not be pleasant. What if they told you, I studied it real hard and I can even tell you what it means in Greek. Your child looks at you and says, "I am even going to have some of my friends come over and study about what you said and we are going to talk about what the room would like if it was clean". Yea, I know the blood would be boiling if that happened.
     How do you think God feels? He has told us to take the gospel into the world but we don't. We stand around with our hands in our pockets offering up excuses why we don't. They range from "I have a hard time talking to people" to " that's what we pay the preacher for". Both of which I have really heard with my own two ears. There is no excuse that is justified or excusable. We try to make it right in our own heads. Jesus told us to go into the whole world. If we wouldn't won't our kids to talk to us and treat us that way, why do we do it to God? We live by a double-standard.
     When Jesus left and ascended, He said He would send the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit comes, we are to be witnesses of these things. The Holy Spirit is here. He knew that sometimes the situation would be uncomfortable to some. This is why the Holy Spirit is called the Comforter. We would not need Him if it was not uncomfortable. Let's do what God has told us to do in the power of the Holy Spirit. It will be amazing what we could accomplish. We would reap the benefits of making our Father happy.

I am John Sowders and I have been to The Well..!!!

The Church,,,, A Place for Fond Memories....

     I was a young boy when I realized I was a sinner and needed Jesus as my Savior. My Dad had just gotten saved and I had seen the awesome change that took place in his life and I knew, even though I hadn't lived a long life, I needed a Savior. After all, we all do. We are born with a sin nature that has to be dealt with. Ever since the age of 9, I have been in church. The church that Christ died for has been a part of almost my entire life.
     I have been a part of some really good churches and I have been around a few that were merely a social institution. Concord Baptist Church in Flat Lick, Ky will always hold a dear place in my heart. Almost my whole family accepted Christ as Savior in that church. I remember growing up in the youth department there playing basketball and volleyball constantly. A church needs to have things going on for the children and youth. It was at Concord that I preached the charge to Larry, my brother, and his church when he was ordained into the gospel. My Dad and brother Darrell was ordained as a deacon there. At one time, my entire family served the Lord in this church. The big old cobblestone church will always be special to me.
     As I started to get older, I started attending East Barbourville Baptist Church in Barbourville, Ky. It was at this church I felt God calling me into the ministry. I began to go out and speak at youth events. Pastors would invite me to come preach for them while they were away and sometimes even just to give me an opportunity to share. There are many men in the area back home that will hold a dear place in my heart for giving me those opportunities. East Barbourville Baptist Licensed me and Ordained me into the ministry. My ordination service will always hold a dear place in my heart because my Dad got to sit on my ordaining council. My dad has been dead almost 3 years now and the other day I look at my ordination certificate and just stared at my Dad's signature. He may be gone physically but he is always with me.
     Two churches have called me pastor through the years. Both Gray Baptist and Greasy Creek Baptist experienced growth during my leadership despite that I had no clue what I was really doing. I was in my twenties. What do you really know at that age?... ha ha.... In both situations, they were running very low numbers when I went there but they witnessed many confessions of Christ as Savior and large amounts of sheep coming back into the fold. God blessed the time in those churches and I will always cherish the time that a group of people called me their pastor.
     However, I have said all that to say this. God has allowed me to be a small part of something really incredible right now. I have been a part of some good churches but Towering Oaks Baptist Church is simply awesome. I did not say perfect. Remember, I go there. That automatically disqualifies them from that status with me as a part of it. However, It is amazing to me how God is working in this place. Our staff is top notch. Tommy Pierce, Johnny Mosley, Dennis Shumate, and just coming on board, Josh Pollock are a great group to work with to bring people to a knowledge of Christ in their lives. The people of the church are welcoming and inviting. Christ is exalted in this place and I am so proud to call Towering Oaks my home.
     This coming Sunday, Christina and I will be launching The Well. The Well will be a small group that devotes itself to a greater knowledge of Christ and His call on our lives. Only God knows the impact this group will have on our community. It is my prayer that Jesus will be a matter of conversation in Greene County, Tennessee and that Towering Oaks Baptist Church will be a leader in exposing Christ to a lost community. I want my children to look back one day and reflect on the church they attended and Towering Oaks will always hold a very special place in their heart regardless of where they are living.

I am John Sowders and I have been to The Well..!!!

Windshield or Rearview.....??

     I am not recommending this but have you ever looked through the Rear-view mirror in order to drive forward? Think for a moment all the things that could possibly go wrong. The most major would obviously be if the person in front of you decided to stop. Well you know what would happen. I can still hear all the metal crashing together and flying everywhere.
     As crazy as this sounds, we live our lives like this so many times. We can't experience some of the most awesome challenges that God has for us because we are too focused on the past. We spend so much of our time dragging around the baggage of our past that we miss our incredible future. Why do we let the past haunt us? It is over. We cannot change it. If we did wrong and erred in our way, God has already forgiven us it so let it go. That is why Jesus said, "it is finished" on the cross. He dealt with sin once and for all. When I ask Him to forgive me, it is finished once and for all. Living in the past can harm you so let it go.
     Have you ever thought about the difference in size between the rear-view mirror and the windshield? The windshield is much larger indicating to us that what is ahead of us is far more important than what is behind us. I hear what some of you are saying. There have been some great things that took place in your life and you want to remember them. I didn't say the rear-view mirror was useless. There is nothing wrong with looking bad and reminiscing. Just remember not to look too long,
     It's through the windshield that I see what lies ahead. It's where we see new surroundings. We take drives and take in the scenery. It is where I see a new world unfold before me. God has a great plan for each and every one of us. He is waiting to reveal it to us on the road ahead. There is not one place in scripture where God said to look back to see where you're going. He instructed us to look back and remember and recount His presence among His people. However, He never told them to look back so they could see what lie ahead.
     "Forget those things which are behind and press forward....."

I am John Sowders and I have been to The Well.....

A lesson from Bo......

As I sit here today looking at my border collie named Bo laying under the coffee table on the rug asleep, I can't help but wonder what goes through his mind from time to time. Just a couple of weeks ago Bo was at an animal shelter with an uncertain future. His future possibly included an early death. However, Christina saw him and sought him out, paid to have him released and now his future is bright and enjoyable. He did look sad all locked up in that cage that bound him, for he was made to run on a farm.
     There is something really funny about Bo since we gave him his new life. He doesn't really want to hang out with the other dogs. He wants to be right where his master is on the inside of the home. Though he was born with a nature to run and play, he is very content to lay in the floor at his masters feet.
     I was in that cage once myself. I was bound not by wires but by sin. I was captive to it and death was my certain future. Jesus saw me in that cage and went to the cross to pay my debt. I couldn't pay it myself, just like ole Bo could not get himself out of the situation he was in.
     I find myself with a burning desire to follow in Bo's footsteps and spend my time at the master's feet. I believe Bo knows what we did for him that day and doesn't want spend his day with trivial things but would rather be close to his master. My time in the last few days have been spent doing just that, seeking out my master. My hearts desire is to follow Him wherever He may go. I know what Christ did for me and my life is an expression of my gratitude to Him.
     This isn't easy.... My mind races constantly about where God wants me and how I am supposed to use my gifts that he has given me for His Glory. So, here I am talking to you in an endeavor to find where and how God will use me............
     Master, here I am...........

shhh.... Can you hear that??

     For those of you who have ever lived or stayed in an older home, you will understand what I am talking about. Have you ever just sat with the tv off and maybe very little light on and listened? It is amazing at the noises you hear in an older house when you are listening for it. Your concentration on quietness allows you to hear things that you normally pay no attention to.
     What about sitting on the porch or deck late at night when the rest of the world has seemingly gone to bed. Nature speaks to you on a whole new level. You hear the creation of God so vividly. There is noone talking. Its just you out there listening to what the world has to say. You can hear things from miles away. You can hear a train off in the distance and you don't even live near the railroad tracks. You just sit attentive to the sounds around you.
     It is amazing what you can hear when you're not talking. I heard it said one time that the reason God put our ears on the outside of our head was so that we could listen to Him and not ourselves. That is a little funny but it is so true on so many levels.
     I want you to pause for a just a second and think about your prayer time...... What does your prayer time sound like?..... What are some of the words you use?...... What is the usual purpose of the prayer?.... Okay now I have you sorta thinking about your prayer, let me ask you a deeper question. Is your prayer conversational?...... hmmmm Yes, is it conversational? Are you the one doing all the talking or do you actually take the time to wait and listen for God to talk?.....
     How many times are our prayers filled with situations or people that we are talking to God about? We take the time, though at times briefly, to talk to Him about our needs and wants, but spend very little time waiting to hear what He has to say about it all. By nature, we are poor listeners. Think about the conversations we have with our friends. We say something and then our friend speaks back, but we don't listen to them half the time. While they are talking, we are truly listening. We are thinking about our response. We can't really focus on what they are saying due to the fact that we are occupying our mind with thoughts of rebuttal.
     Our conversations with God aren't even that elaborate. We don't even give Him the time to talk. We say what we gotta say or ask and then we are gone. How much would our lives change if we actually took the time to listen to God. I mean nothing else on your mind meditation. God, you speak for your servants listens..........

I am John Sowders and I am Second..!!!!!

And the Two shall become One....with Christ

     I have spoken on here about many topics of interest. I have shared my heart and passion for Christ. I have dealt with our relationship with Christ on many levels. Today I want to thank God for His providence and foresight. I do not want to take up this space today to discuss the theological aspects of the foreknowledge of God. I am simply going to discuss it on the basis of its truth.
     I want to focus my attention today on one particular area that God knew exactly what I would need and moved in a mighty way to make it come to pass. The area I am speaking of is when God allowed mine and Christina's path to cross. When I think about alot of the things that had to have happened in order for us to be around each other, it is amazing. There were moments in our life where people said yes to things that brought it along. There were times when we were told no that caused a shift or move that brought about other things that put us in the same place. Remember that a no that comes your way may not be a bad thing.
     By her own admission, she will tell you that she pursued me.... Although funny and unbelievable, it is true. We were at a high school basketball game and she walked right up to me in the lobby and struck up a conversation that was very purposeful. I knew when she walked away that we would end up together. I was so convinced that when I went back in and sat down after halftime she stopped and talked to someone else enrout to her seat, I didn't like it. I knew right then I was in love.
     God knew exactly the woman I would need to walk into my life and give me reason for existing again. He knew I would need someone to be patient with me while He was working on me because I would rebel. He created her just for me. When I gave in and surrendered my life and heart to God, He had already prepared her and she was more than ready to devote her life to Christ. I just love her with all my heart. She amazes me everyday with her faith. She is a remarkable woman and I am one very fortunate man.
     Life is full of challenges. Saying yes to God doesn't mean that trouble will not find its way into your life no matter how many times you hear Joel Osteen tell you it won't. Joel Osteen, there is a topic for another day. Anyway I digress, Christina is the love of my life and I couldn't imagine taking one step in this world without her. We grow deeper in our relationship each day due to our relationship with Christ growing deeper each day.
     The two shall become one,,, with Christ.....

I am John Sowders and I am Second...!!!!

Are we suppose to lay it all down and follow Him?

     Many years ago, My father-in-law decided we needed to fence the mountain off in case we wanted to just turn some of the rougher stock up on the hill. Just so you know, when I said we, it meant me. When Christina and I first got together, he wouldn't let me help him do anything, but it didn't take him too long to out grow that feeling. He and I were going to walk up on the hill and he was going to show me where to fence. I carried some fence and posts up the hill while we were going. After a little while, the hill was getting steep and I wouldn't be able to stay with him cause the load I was carrying was slowing me down. John couldn't speak cause he lost his voicebox to cancer but he wrote me a note and told me to lay that stuff down and come on. I was able to stay with him stride for stride now because I didn't have anything with me to slow me down. You know how it is too, you are constantly stopping and having to readjust.
     It was amazing how much more focused I was on the mountains and the scenery as we traveled up the steep hill. Before I laid down the fencing and posts, I was concerned with my load and was constantly thinking how much farther until we get there. I was just enjoying the walk with John now because that's all I had to think about.
     I wonder how much of our life is like that with God. We go through life and it seems that we use to have or place importance upon has disappeared. Some of the things we lose is welcomed while there some things we have to give up that we question. We worked hard for that now its gone. I use to be able to do that but money is tight now so I have limit some activities. However, what if it was going to be a burden to us while we are following God to where He is taking us. Was it something I was going to constantly have to readjust? Was it going to be something that would take my eye off the journey?
     I wonder if God sometimes treats us just like John did me that day. Lay it down and come on with me. I hate to lose things. I hate to feel like I am losing some things that I really enjoy, but Jesus said take up your cross and follow me. Does following Jesus mean that I have to give some things up. Most certainly it does. We are told to lay aside the sin that does so easily beset us in Hebrews so that we may run the race with endurance. I know when I laid down the fencing and posts, my endurance went up tremendously.
     I know it may be difficult when your world may seem to be crumbling all around you, but just remember that God may be getting rid of some things that will keep you from seeing His glory. I know when John and I made it to the top of the mountain, it was the most beautiful view in all the world. Just think about the view that God wants to show us when we get there.......

I am John Sowders and I am Second..!!!