Monday, October 8, 2012

The frost is on the pumpkin!  That is what my Mama used to say when we had the first cold snap!  Well I woke up in the middle of the night and put on a long sleeve shirt to get back in the bed last night.  I think it must be in the 30's!  Oh well, this IS Ohio!  Had a really good weekend.  Got to see my Mississippi State Bulldogs beat that team from a little south of here, Kentucky Wildcats! Take that Steve Lyons! LOL!  Had a good day at home with my family.  Jenny is on the way home today!  Got to preach two services at Peebles Baptist Church.  Spent Sunday with my beloved Son John as my chauffeur and body guard. LOL. God continues to bless in my study time.  I am writing new sermons and getting new ideas that I am ready to put in effect when God chooses to open the door. We are still in the "praying and waiting stage" concerning the new church start.  Some things are becoming clear by the day.  We hope to start a bible study in the near future. I will keep you posted on that.  But in the mean time we are working on some of the nuts and bolts and what the church will look like. Continue to pray for us as we continue to seek God's Face concerning this exciting new adventure.  Make some comments and let me know what you think of what we are trying to do.  God bless

Monday, October 1, 2012

Tuesday, October 2nd
To Texas and Back!  John and I left last Wednesday to drive Ron and Shirley Hudson to San Antonio, TX where she will be recovering from her recent fall and surgery.   We had a great trip.  We drove from Cincinnati to Durant, MS to my mother's home.  Mom is doing great.  We cooked on the grill and spent a wonderful evening in Durant, MS.  We got up Thursday and drove to Madison and Ridgeland where we spent time with my brother Barry and his wife Christy.  Then we went on to see Sue's mother, Jean Butler, in Ridgeland.  We left Jackson about 1:00 p.m. and drove on to Morgan, TX, Ron and Shirley's home.  After spending a restful night there, we drove to New Braunfels, TX.  We got to spend time with Mindy and Jenny on Saturday and had some Texas BBQ!  It was great food, fun, fellowship, family, and just a wonderful time.  We are so thankful and grateful to meet Dr. Skip and Judy Raft.  They graciously opened their home to us while we were in New Braunfels!   They went out of their way to make us feel comfortable and Miss Judy is a wonderful cook!  Thank you both so much!  John and I got up at 4:30 Sunday morning to catch our flight back to Cincinnati.  Thank you so much for your prayers

Where do we go from here?  We are in the "praying and listening" stage of this process. We are appealing to God and asking Him to give us clear and unmistakable direction as to our next steps.  Please join us in seeking God's face and wisdom.  We are excited and in awe of what God is going to do in the near future.  God has big plans and it so exciting to anticipate what He is going to do next! We will keep you posted.

On a practical note, if you would be interested in participating in an exciting and wonderful Bible Study, I am planning on leading, "Created to Be God's Friend," by Henry Blackaby, as soon as we can get a group together.  It is a wonderful, powerful, challenging study.  Won't you come and join me?Intertested?  Email me or text me at howellmike53@gmail.com or 513-549-9209.  Give me a call and I will give you some more information. Looking forward to hearing from you.

In His service, Because He lives,

Mike

Saturday, September 22, 2012

 Joe Veal and I have been praying, for some time, about implementing a whole new approach to the local church.  Of course we are not going to change the message (the Gospel) and we are not going to change instructions manuals (the inerrant, infallible, inspired, completely trustworthy, Word of God).  But we are going to try a different approach.
What is the most well known business in nearly every community in America?  Biggest retailer in America! Wal-Mart.  What do we know about Walmart?
1) Everyone in town knows where it is
2) Everyone in town comes to it 2 or 3 time a week
3) Everyone talks about the bargains they got while they were there
4) Everyone talks about the friends and family they ran in to
5) Everyone talks about going back next week and seeing what they can find and who they can see
6) Everyone in town can tell you how to get there
Well what if we did church like that?
 1) Everyone in town knows where it is! Why?  Because there is something happening that is bringing glory to God.
 2) Everyone in town comes to it at least once a week.  If the church functions the way God intends it to function, everyone in town is going to want to come!  Why?  God's word is alive and proclaimed, people's lives are radically changed through the power of the gospel.,  and God's mission is being carried out on a local, national and international basis.
 3) Everyone talks about the bargains they got while they were there.  Sins forgiven, Souls set free, Powerful worship, Glorious fellowship with other believers. All bought by the shed blood of Jesus
 4) Everyone talks about Friends and Family they saw while they were there..   There is no fellowship like the Family of Faith when they are on the same page, functioning as the Body of Christ.
 5) Everyone talks about going back next week.  There will be a powerful message, wonderful worship, and the best fellowship this side of Heaven each week.  You will be challenged to walk with Jesus, lift up His name, take His message to the world, and live in the power of the Spirit of God
6) Everyone in town can tell you who to get there.  It is our intention that everyone who comes to this church will a) know where they stand with Jesus b) know how to be filled with the Spirit of God c) know what God has gifted them to do d) are functioning in that giftedness in the body of Christ.
We are praying that God give us the facility that we need to do this church.  There will be several business in the facility.  The proceeds from these businesses will finance the functioning of the church. Pay salaries, light bills, rent, etc.  There will be multiple full time staff members that are functioning in their area of ministry.  Our whole purpose will be to Glorify God and advance His kingdom and kingdom purposes.
Stay tuned there will be more coming soon!

Friday, September 21, 2012

BUBBA'S PLACE. Lots of people know me by this name. Why Bubba?  I got this name on a Senior Adult Trip to Gattlinberg/Pigeon Forge in 1998.  It stuck.  I look like a Bubba, I have been told. I am from the South, so I sound like a Bubba. So, Bubba's Place. 
This is my first posting of many to come, I hope. I want to be available help in any way I can, anyone who wants to walk with Jesus. I will offer Ideas and opinions from time to time.

Latest News:  I am looking for some folks who would be interested in an Henry Blackaby study called, "Created to Be God's Friend."  It is a daily lesson for 5 days a week, and then we would have a weekly session together to discuss what we have learned. i have done many of these studies in the past and they have been well recieved, and those who have participated have been blessed. We will begin in about 3 weeks. Interested, call me at 513-549-9209 or email at howellmike53@gmail.com.