What's going on

There's alot going on that's what. Here's what's happening at Emmanuel, this Saturday night we are expecting a packed house for the community wide BBQ and concert by the Isaac's. We are also working diligently on starting a new service on Saturday nights and it will kick off on Easter weekend. This service will have a very contemporary feel to it if you enjoy worshipping God and enjoying the fellowship of friends it's a must for you to be there. We are really targeting the younger generation. Our Cowboy Church campus is doing Great we have grown to almost 200 every Tuesday night and the best part is that people are coming to Christ very often. Oh yea can't forget Easter weekend, we are planning our annual Celebration in which we are expecting over 2000 people!!! Giving away 500 pairs of flip flops, turning the campus into every kids dreamland for fun and entertainment. It's going to be the best ever, because Jesus is getting our BEST at EMMANUEL. I'll keep you posted!! Come join in on all the fun if you can.

Great Start to a new year

Hey it's a new year and new opportunities to make a difference in this world in which we live in. My goals for this year are to Lead people to Jesus, Love people like Jesus and Laugh with people just because it's good for you. I hope that I will be a better _____________ in the year 2011. You fill in the blank, I have many things I want to do better at this year. Things have started well, I learned before you can do better you first have to admit you needed to improve. That's not always easy for us to do, admit failure and fix it and then it's not failure. I hope to lead fifty people to Christ this year if not more and see everyone of them follow the Lord and be Baptized and grow as a Christian. Pray for me as I share Jesus with whoever will stand still long enough to let me. Love ya have a Great Year!!!

New Year

That's right it's a new year and I am already excited about the potential that this new year is gonna bring. I have been asking God to lead me and give me a vision for what He wants from us at EBC. We have so much potential, to bad potential doesn't always equal results. I just really feel strongly that God has narrowed this year down to 3 things for me: Lead, Love, Laugh! We've got to lead people to Jesus, Love people like Jesus, and last of all Laugh with people because of Jesus, that's ABUNDANT LIFE!

Just in case you haven't heard or seen this young man his name is Lane Timothy and hehas brought a lot of JOY to the Murray family . We have lots more Great years to come.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everybody I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday season. God has been super good to the Murray's this year and we are so thankful. As many of you know we had our 4th son on September 20 and it has brought so much Joy into our house. I wasn't for sure what life would be like after Lane came along but it has been many more times GREATER than expected. Isn't it amazing what new life brings to a person and family. My prayer for all of you is that new life would come to you this Christmas maybe not in the form of your own child, but at least let the birth of Jesus Christ bring Joy to you and your family by letting him into your heart.

Well winter has come to Piggott, Ar. the wind chill is below zero today so I've got to go find some more clothes have a GREAT Day.

Baby is a blessing

Hi everyone just wanted to let everyone know that Johnna and I have our fourth son. His name is Lane Timothy and we all love him very much. I didn't realize it would be this good I guess I should of but all I could think of was what I would have to give up but didn't realize what I would be getting. Well worth the trade!!!!!!!!!! Sounds kind of like when we come to Jesus, so many people think they will have to give up so many things but in reality what you give up is no comparison to what you get. Thank you Jesus!!!!!!

What do you need God to bring back to life?

I just finished reading about the day that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead and it has got me fired up!!! Maybe I'm the only one but I've got some things in my life that once used to be alive and well and over time they have seemed to die and have no life at all. That's exactly opposite of all that Jesus is, " I am the way the truth and the LIFE" Jesus said. Maybe it's your marriage, your walk with God, your relationship with others or maybe it's your finances or even your physical health. Jesus' main emphasis was on the fact that in order for us to live we must believe in HIM. He told Mary and Martha that He was glad He wasn't there when Lazarus died so that they might believe. I don't know what you need God to do in your life today, but I know that He raised Lazarus from the dead and He can raise any dead thing in your life too. You gotta BELIEVE. Let's start seeing dead things come back to life and see what others begin to say about your God.

It is a privilege to be Son of God and I am so thankful that God is breathing life into me everyday.

Monday September 20, 2010 we get to meet Lane Timothy Murray, can't wait to see you son, dad loves you.

Good Days to Come

Hey everyone, hope you are all doing well. Johnna and I are doing well raising those boys and getting ready for number 4. Our newest addition will be here on Sept. 20. I want to say thanks to everyone for all the love and support we have received over the last several months. I never expected to be going to baby showers at the age of 43 but you know it wasn't all that bad. Lane Timothy Murray is the name we have chosen for him and it meets the approval of all his brothers. God seems to be doing some wonderful things around our house and the church here lately. I'm excited about the days ahead because I know God is wanting to bless the Murray family and Emmanuel Baptist Church. I'm ready!!!

We are going to be starting a brand new series of sermons this Sunday morning and I'm gonna call it "We Still Care". The scripture we will be looking at for the next 5 weeks will be Colossians 3:12. I am praying for God to clothe us with the things that he recommends and not what the world wants. You may not know it but God himself is the greatest designer of all.
I hope you will come join us starting this Sunday morning at 9am for small groups and 10am for the worship service. I look forward to posting weekly now and letting you know what God is doing. Let's do this!!!!!!!!

Love ya BIG,

Kevin

Murray update

Hey everyone, if anybody still checks this blog. I guess I was blogged out. Just to let you know we are all doing well and Johnna will give birth to our 4th son in just a couple of months (Sept 25) and we are all looking forward to Lane Timothy Murray arriving into this world. The summer has been wonderful very low pace and it has been Great. We have spent a little time at the lake with the boys after the baseball seasons ended and we had a BLAST. I think we will do again just before football season starts. I am still praying for God to do Great things with our family. This past weekend Ethan and I had the opportunity to go with some friends on a trail ride and fish fry and after we finished eating I had the privilege of Baptizing a husband and wife down at the river. It was so GREAT!!!! Someone comment if you read this and I'll keep it up.

Kevin

Cookin' Butts

That's right i've been up all night cookin' Boston Butts for the Junior class so they can make enough money to have a prom and after prom PARTY. I am looking forward to bed time and it ain't even lunch time. The things we do for love, the things we do for love, but that's not why I'm doing this, that would be because my wife volunteered me for the job. I am making the most of it, at least I am able to do and some folks wish they were and they can't so, not gonna complain (anymore).

Please pray for me tomorrow I am preaching the funeral of Bro. Kim Bridges son in law. He was 27 and died with a heart attack on Wednesday night. They have 2 little boys under 3. Hug your spouse today please just for Kyle and April sake we never know what today may bring so be ready for whatever.

It'sall Good

That's right it's ALL good! It has been a wonderful week so far, I was able to preach in Walnut Ridge on Sunday and Monday and God definitely came near. Tonight I was at Cowboy Church in Poplar Bluff and we had 146 folks show up to worship that same God that was in Walnut Ridge. Tomorrow night I get to do game time with 100 plus kids at AWANA's at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Piggott. Now is that a Great week or what?
Easter is just around the corner and we are making plans for an exciting Easter weekend. We are going to be having our first ever Easter weekend fish fry on Friday night thanks to some folks in the community who want to LOVE BIG. On Saturday starting at 12 noon we will have games, rides, and plenty of food for all the kids and their families. We will also be entertained by an illusionist from Dexter, Mo. right before our annual Easter egg hunt. Help us make this a HUGE success by inviting anybody and everybody. I can't wait.

Update

Hey everyone, I sure hope all of you are living life to the fullest because that's exactly what Christ came to give us. I am so sorry I left all of you wondering what happened with my uncle, well I did baptize him a few weeks ago at Cowboy Church and it was GREAT. I had many of my family members there to see my uncle commit his life to Christ. There were 193 people at Cowboy Church that night, a new high attendance. God has been doing so many wonderful things at Emmanuel and at our campus in Poplar Bluff. Last Sunday we had a woman give her life to Christ and she is going to be baptized along with several others on Easter Sunday morning and we can't wait.
Easter will be here before we know it and plans are being wrapped up to have one of the best Easter weekends we have had in years, pray that God is pleased with our attempt to Love Big!! If you haven't signed up to be a part of this special weekend please pray about taking part and don't miss out on being a blessing to someone.
Johnna is doing fine and goes back to the doctor this week, please keep us all in your prayers we are so blessed to be expecting another child at our youthful age. We are taking applications for babysitters but you must apply in person, come see us.

John 10:10

Kevin

Just God

I have to tell you this story it is to good not to. On Tuesday I was wrestling with going to Paragould to do a few things that I needed to do. I really didn't want to go, but I went anyway. I stopped at a local store to pick up some things I needed and while in the store I ran into my uncle. We visited for a while, laughed about Johnna being pregnant and then he asked me if I would baptize him. It was a God moment for me, my uncle said he had been thinking about giving his life to Christ for some time and thought it was time. That's why I was suppose to be in Paragould, to be used by God. I look forward to sharing more with my uncle about God's forgiveness and to see him surrender his life to God.