Not feeling well.

That's right it's almost Christmas and I don't feel very good. My dad always gave me good advice and it was this "you'll feel better when it quits hurting" what's hurting is my head. Please pray for me to get better. Thank you.

I do hope all of you are doing fine and looking forward to celebrating Christmas. If you would like to start early you can attend one of my good friends Troy Gramlings church services live on the Internet. They start tomorrow night (Thursday) at 6pm our time. You can just go to www.flamingoroad.org and click on the Internet campus and enjoy the entire service. If you attend let me know what you think. Don't forget about our services at Emmanuel this weekend we have a wonderful musical drama that will be presented by our choir and drama team.

I hope to see you all this weekend at church.

Kevin

So good to be missed

I'm sorry to all of my faithful readers about the 2 day absence but I have been away from my computer. We are preparing for our first open house in some time. The Murray home is going to be opened up for the World to enjoy. This Sunday from 3pm until people quit coming we are going to open up our home to everyone that would like to stop by and visit. We are so proud of the home that Emmanuel provides for us to live in. The Murray family wants everyone to know how much we love and appreciate all that you do for us.

I do hope to see all of you this Sunday morning as I share about The Ultimate Gift. There is a lot of excitement in the air right now so you do not want to miss what takes place this weekend. Call someone and have them meet you at church this week. We are going to have hot apple cider in the foyer this week so come early and enjoy some time with friends.

See ya Sunday.

Murray Moments

Go Cards Go!

Pictures of Cowboys

These pictures have been on the camera since this summer and I just got them loaded on the computer. Hope you enjoy my family.

Comments

I want to hear from you. If you would leave me a comment and tell me about your most memorable Christmas. I promise not to tell your story to the church without your permission. If you would rather e-mail me you can send it to kevin@eblovesyou.com

I hope all of you are having a Great day. My day started out with a phone call from a church member who encouraged me. Words are so powerful. They can lift you up or tear you down, I hope that you will use your lips to speak words of encouragement to someone today. You can change the course of someones day by just saying something nice. Try it!

The week looks busy pray for me. I am the chaplain at the hospital this week, so I get to "make rounds" sounds important. Tonight is Cowboy Church in Poplar Bluff, tomorrow is nursing home ministry, bible study and AWANAS. Keep all of our ministries in your prayers as God works thru all of our volunteers. Thank you to everyone who makes things happen around our church. I love this place and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Right now I have to prepare myself for a chili lunch that I have been invited to with a bunch of good old boys. I'll let you know how it was.

Isn't that snowman cool.

Logan the Sky Angel Cowboy

Churched looked Great

The church looked as good as it has ever looked this past weekend. From beautiful trees and bright lights to a bigger than life size snowman. I had so many people comment on how Great things looked. What did you think? I just wanted to say thanks again to all of our volunteers who spent countless hours making our building come alive for Christmas. Thank you.

We not only enjoyed the beautiful building this weekend but we also had a Super Sunday. The attendance was wonderful, fellowship sweet, and the worship was outstanding. I enjoyed sharing about the gift of being included. I did receive a phone call from someone who said that sermon was just for them. They must have felt left out before. I hope everyone knows how much God loves you. Christmas is a time when everyone should feel special but unfortunately not all do. We can make a difference this Christmas by looking for those who may not feel apart of any group and include them in ours. Take someone to lunch, give them a call, write a note I've learned that it doesn't take much to make a big difference.

It is my goal to bring some Joy to someone everyday. Why don't you try that today. Let me know if you succeed. I hope all of you have a wonderful week, and don't forget you better cry and you better not pout because it's way to close to Christmas.

Tell someone about our website today and invite them to this weekends service. It is going to be an incredible day.

Something I enjoy

For those of you who may not know, one of the things that I enjoy doing when I get the chance is team roping. I started as soon as I moved to Piggott over 12 years ago. The horse that I am riding in this picture is a horse that Wade Harris trained and we eventually bought after someone else had him. (I am the one in front, Wade is the one behind the cow) I have had so much fun over the past 12 years learning to rope and ride. I still have a long way to go but I am having fun. I said all that to say that tomorrow I am going to Jonesboro to compete at a roping and I may not get back in time to blog so I just wanted all of you folks to know where I was and why I hadn't blogged. I'm looking forward to it, I'll let you know how I do. See you Sunday!

WOW what a tree

Have you ever seen a 7 foot Christmas tree with 3000 colored lights on it? I can tell you this it is amazingly beautiful. If you were at church last Sunday I introduced you to a poor looking tree that was leaning and had no hope of blessing someone at Christmas. Guess what, someone gave that tree some special attention and loved it enough to spend some quality time restoring it's beauty. Now it is being used to brighten the lives of many people from miles around. You can't miss this Sunday because you have to see the transformation that has taken place.

I am sitting up in the balcony working and I am able to see the tree come to life. The person working on it is taking her time to make sure that every branch is taken care of and that the star on top is perfect. As I sit here and watch I am reminded of my own life and how that 27 years ago someone picked me out of the crowd and began to transform me. When others looked at me as a poor looking tree that didn't have a lot to offer Jesus saw my potential. On January 1, 1980 Jesus began to put His light in my heart. Over the past 27 years He has been blessing me and using me. As I look at this tree and see all the lights and how it is impossible to miss and be blessed by, I pray that my life will continue to glow even more the longer I live and serve the Lord.

You may not feel very useful this Christmas but I want all of you to know that Christ left out no one when He came. You are special and useful. Come this Sunday and hear about the Great Gift of being Included by God at Christmas. Only 2 more days, I can't wait.

WOW how time flies!

Isn't it amazing that Christmas is just around the corner. This picture was taken over the summer while we were in Breckenridge, Colorado and it seems like it was just yesterday that we were there. Time has a way of slipping away.

Everybody usually gets really down when they start talking about that kind of stuff. Let's look at differently, if time is flying by, why not get on board and enjoy the ride. One of these day we won't feel like flying. I am all about adventure and fun (fun mostly) so let's set out to have some fun at times expense. As you can tell our little boys are eating well and growing big. Often when Johnna and I talk about them growing up we get a little depressed. I don't think that is the right approach, there will be plenty of time to be depressed when they're gone but right now let's enjoy the "time" we have and have some FUN! Hey it's Christmas do something as a family and make some memories so that when you are old like my Dad you will have something to sit around and laugh about. Time isn't a bad thing, it's a precious thing use it don't waste it.

I hope all of you have a Great weekend and you complete it by coming this Sunday to Emmanuel to be WOWED by what is going to happen. Don't miss it, and bring someone with you because it will be twice as much fun if you share the experience with a friend.

Lovin' Life,

Kevin

Close games at Hoxie

Last night I watched our oldest boys play basketball against the Hoxie Mustangs. It was an enjoyable evening for the most part. Logan (7th grader) played one of his best games of the season. His team pulled out a nail biter with just 16 seconds left in the game they took the lead on a 12 foot jumper from Will Winberry. Logan hit 2 free throws after a Hoxie player was called for a technical foul and that sealed the victory. Way to go 7th grade Mohawks.

The Junior high game was sloppy to say the least. We played very sloppy for most of the first half but found ourselves down by only 2 at the half. In the second half we played much better and our effort was commendable. Tanner played well in the second half by attacking the boards and going strong to the goal. I wish I wasn't so intense at sporting events but I find myself yelling instructions way to much. I am very proud of all three of our boys and I hope that each of them know that.

Sports has always been a big part of my life. It can be a very positive thing if you don't allow it to become more than it should. The thing I love to watch at just about any sporting event is an athlete who is busting his tail. I mean playing hard on every play. Effort has beaten talent many times. Just because you have talent doesn't guarantee a win. That is great to hear because not all of us have a lot of talent but yet we can all put out an effort. In the church there may be more talented people than you but understand this God is not so much concerned with your talent as He is your effort.

The junior Mohawks may not have started well last night but they finished strong. That strong finish led them to a victory. You may not have started your walk with the Lord very well but there is still time to finish strong. Be remembered as someone who gave a great effort.

Big give away this Sunday!

I couldn't wait to tell you, this Sunday everyone is going home a with a gift from Emmanuel. Bring a friend and let them get in on the surprise. I can hardly keep from telling you all the exciting things that is going to happen this Sunday morning. Spread the word by email, phone, or visit but don't come to church this Sunday alone.

I need your help, we need more people stopping by our website. Starting this Sunday we will have cards with our web address on them and you can pass them out to people you come in contact with. I am hoping for 1000 hits before Christmas morning. We have lots to share let's get busy. Big news about a website contest coming up this Sunday as well.

WOW I love Christmas!!!!!!

Game Day.

Today is going to be another Great day. I am on my way to pick up Rudy for breakfast but before I do I just wanted to write a few lines and encourage all of you this morning. I have spent the last few days with what I have diagnosed as a ear infection today I'm going to see if I am right, (i'm going to the dr.) I haven't been able to hear very well out of my right ear and it is driving me crazy. I take so many things for granted how about you. My hearing has been one of those. This little health issue has caused me to wake up and give thanks for all the abilities that I do have. I don't want to waste the God given gifts such as hearing and speaking that God has given me so today I am going to try my best to lend an ear to someone who needs to talk (my left one) and use my mouth to speak encouragement to someone. Why don't you do the same. Let me know how it goes.

Oh yea, Game day! Tonight the Murray boys have a basketball game at Hoxie and I am fired up about watching them play. I love my life and all of you are a big part of it.

Don't forget to come and see the transformation of that sad Christmas tree this Sunday you will be WOWed!!!!!!

WOW starts off wtih a bang

Yesterday we kicked off a new series at Emmanuel called "Gifts that make you go WOW! I talked about the fact that God chose two ordinary people to do extraordinary things. It is a huge Gift from God for Him to choose to use us. I hope that each of you will grasp the reality that God wants to use you! How cool.

Speaking of being used let me tell you what 21 teenagers and 6 adults did yesterday. Immediately after church the youth set up a call station in the foyer of the church and made 1207 phone calls to people in Piggott. The reason for the call was to simply wish the community a Merry Christmas and ask what we could pray for them about. These kids made a huge difference in just a few short hours. I came in about 4 o'clock and wanted to take them all out for milkshakes and they wouldn't leave. I stood and watched as the well organized machine ran to perfection. They received 196 prayer request, prayed over the phone with almost 1oo individuals and got hung up on 96 times. Our teenagers ROCK!

Yesterday was just another indication of how important leadership is to a church. I want to thank Dave and Karen Green for giving great leadership to our students yesterday. If you want to know what I mean by the fact that being used by God is a gift just talk to Dave or Karen and ask them what if feels like to be used by God, better than that maybe you should ask one of the students who spent yesterday afternoon being used. (wow that was a long sentence)

I want to challenge those of you who are following along to find a way that God can use you and go to work. Start today and let me know how feels to be used by God.