Happy Birthday Leavener Ministry, Inc.It's official... Leavener Ministry, Inc. Here is the birth certificate -->

This is just the first of many hoops you have to jump through to become a legal ministry in the state and federally.

It doesn't have anything to do with who I am. My identity is not in what I do. The funny thing is... I have an official ministry recognized by the state of Indiana but I still don't have a clue what that actual ministry will look like.

My last day at Northside is still May 20th. Until then, there is plenty to do. I even get to "preach" this Sunday at both locations. This is proving to be a difficult task because it looks like it will be my last time to share with my church family as a pastor of the church. There is so much to say in such a short amount of time.

It's all good. Gotta stay focused on Jesus.

Rusty

For the last year, three Duke lacrosse players have been fighting for their freedom. They have been proclaiming they are innocent of all charges that they sexually assaulted an exotic dancer. Millions of dollars have been spent on this case (through media alone). Their short lives (and others) have suffered greatly through this experience.

Can you imagine the emotions of these three young men (and their parents) when the attorney general says, "Based on the significant inconsistencies between the evidence and the various accounts given by the accusing witness, we believe these three individuals are innocent of these charges"? What an incredible burden lifted. What joy went throughout the individuals, the courtroom, the state, and the country, even the world. Absolute relief and joy!

On the same day, in another room across the country, I got to experience people discovering even a greater joy than the three Duke lacrosse players. I have the opportunity to teach a class on the book of Romans with my very good friends Keith & Terry. Our class each week consists of 10-15 people who desire to discover truth through God's Word. I can honestly say this group has been given a desire to learn... it is absolute fun each week.

I asked the question, "What is going to happen when you and your sin are standing at the Judgment Seat face to face with God?" There is always hesitancy with that question because most people have an idea but aren't really sure. Most everyone in the class was brought up (in the church and at home) believing that we will be held accountable for our sins at the Judgment Seat.

So look at these verses: Ephesians 4:32 Colossians 2:13 I John 2:12 Hebrews 9:26, 28 Jude 24 - Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy... Romans 4:7-8 - "BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED. BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT."

Are you kidding me? How in the world can this truth be more evident in the Word of God yet we have been taught differently?

The realization of this truth caused freedom and joy to run amuck in our class. The three Duke lacrosse players experienced a temporary relief and joy. Our class experienced joy they will reign throughout eternity! One student in our class proclaimed, "I had never heard or understood this thought until tonight!!" I can imagine that he is going to sleep incredibly well tonight.

This simple truth that is hidden even within the church makes God's Word to be incredible news.

Some day... I'll stand at God's Judgment Seat and Jesus (the attorney general) will stand before God on my behalf and say, "Based on the lack of evidence I declare Rusty innocent of any charges"!

WAAHHOOOOOO!!!! Does it get any better than that?

Rusty

Once a year we celebrate what God did. We call it Easter. In most homes, it looks like this: The children awake first to discover what the Easter Bunny had left them during the night. (According to USA Today, 42% of the people prefer solid chocolate bunnies.) We slam our coffee and dress ourselves in our Easter Bests... preferably NEW! Then we go to our local church and sit through a well produced one hour service that affirms that Jesus died on the cross and rose to life on Easter Sunday. We have no problem hearing or even agreeing with the message. Why not? Everyone else is... at least this Sunday. Then it is either home to a magnificent meal or our favorite restaurant that we called ahead with reservations. We accomplished Easter for another year.

For some, it is being with family. For others, it is that one hour worship service. To the faithful, it is remembering that Jesus was resurrected.

Is that as good as it gets? One day a year rituals?

Every day... Every day... Every day... True believers experience the resurrection of Jesus every day. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15, that without the resurrection of Jesus, our faith and everything we do is useless. Why do we have to wait for Resurrection Sunday? or Easter? What if every day is Resurrection Sunday? What if every day we awoke realizing what Jesus has done for us? What if every day, we realize that we have life here on earth because Jesus overcame death? What if this one day holiday actually became an every day reality?

Paul tells the church in Philippi, that it gets much better than a one hour service once a year or even once a week. He spent the first part of his life doing the ritual things. Now all of a sudden, his life has been transformed by the Spirit of God and he wants to be a part of the resurrection of Jesus every day! And through the work of the Holy Spirit, he absolutely can! Paul gave up his self-righteousness of obeying the Law and now places his life in the resurrection of Jesus who makes him righteous. His every day relationship with Jesus, the resurrected, causes him to understand that it gets better than a one hour worship service. It is any every day, every breath experience.

Thank you Jesus for your death that absolutely leads to life... every day! That's way better than any chocolate bunny!

Rusty