I set this blog up to be a part of the new website the church is doing.  We should have the new site live soon.  I wanted to take one sermon when the website went live and explain why I choose tharsei as the name of this blog.  I have been holding on the series I am going to start on the beatitudes, but I don’t want to wait anymore so I went ahead and explained to everyone Sunday why tharsei was chosen.  It means to “take courage.”  I used Matthew 14 as my text.  In this chapter, Jesus walks on the water to the disciples.  When they are frightened by his presence, he tells them to “take courage, not be afraid that it is him.”  I identify with the disciples in the boat.  There is a storm going on, I’m in the boat because Jesus made me get there and now when he is coming to me, I just get more frightened.  I need to remember to “take courage.”  Jesus is coming.  I don’t have to be like Peter and try to walk on the water.  Jesus never asked that.  Just stay in the boat and when Jesus gets there it will be OK.

Thanks to Ben Valdez for speaking to us Sunday after our lunch at Spring Hill.

My apologies about the sermon recording.  I forgot to bring the recorder with me Sunday so the is no sermon recording this week.  I’ll do better.

Here is Sunday’s bulletin

10-09-11

We focused Sunday on the idea that God is constantly working on us.  We used the idea of God as a gardner and how the gardner works to make the vineyard the best it can.  It’s easier on our lives if we can do the pruning to ourself.  However, God is there working to change us and while it may not be comfortable or what we want, it is for the best.

This coming Sunday we will be going to Spring Hill for lunch.  They have reserved a room for us and we will have a special speaker.  Ben Valdez will be speaking to us and I am looking forward to hearing from him.  See you Sunday.

Barry

Here’s the sermon if you want to listen

God Plants and He Prunes  

Here is Sunday’s bulletin

10-02-11

Sunday we focused on the importance of serving.  Jesus sends his disciples out to preach and serve.  Maybe we put too much emphasis on the “and” and try to separate preaching from serving.  Maybe serving and preaching are the same thing just done in different ways.  Can’t have one without the other.  You can listen below if you want to hear the fuller version.

This coming Sunday if you are going to be in my Digging Deeper class, be sure to read Obadiah before you come.  Should be a great discussion.

Sermon:  Preach to serve, serve to preach

Here is Sunday’s bulletin

9-25-11

We had a great Sunday yesterday.  We celebrated our 10th anniversary as a congregation.  It’s always a good thing to mark these kind of milestones and to celebrate them.  We had a good crowd and thanks to Dana for the work on the pictures.  I enjoyed watching the video and seeing the children who have grown up and the faces of so many others who have been a part of helping to make this congregation what it is.  The youth chorus sang for us and that was a treat.  Thanks to everyone who worked to make this a special day.

Remember that this Sunday is our Sunday to focus on service.  We will meet at 11:30 and there will be opportunities for you to sign up to serve in this community.  I look forward to the emphasis that we will be placing on service as we go forward.  Be sure to be there to see what opportunities are available.

Here is Sunday’s sermon

What Story Are You Writing?

Here is Sunday’s bulletin

9-18-11

Here are a couple of pictures

Well, now that Labor Day Weekend is behind us it is time to settle down into the fall schedule.  The new classes after church seem to be going well.  Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to be a part of my Digging Deeper class.  The youth are getting into Genesis for their Bible Bowl prep and we have even seen some cooler weather though this week it looks like the heat is back.  Hopefully this will be the last round of 100 plus days.

This coming Sunday is our 10th anniversary celebration and I am looking forward to it.  If you have not RSVP’d yet, please do so by calling Cynthia Winters.  We need to let Rudy’s know how much food to bring.

Keep praying that the fires can be put out and for no more loss of life and property.

Below I have posted the last two sermons since I missed posting last week.  Also I will start posting the bulletin from Sunday here also for those who missed it.

Have a great week, Barry

Sermon:  What Did Jesus Do?

Sermon:  Reflections on 9-11

Here is Sunday’s bulletin

9-11-11

We had a great Sunday yesterday.  We started the new classes at 11:30 and discontinued the 5:00 meeting time.  Melissa began preparing the youth for Bible Bowl.  This year they will study Genesis.  Will Ed was able to start his class on the WBS material.  I am excited about the possibilities that the work Will Ed and his students will be doing.  I also started my class called “Digging Deeper.”  We ended the day with a youth devo at the Radosh’s home.  Scott May was baptized at the devo and we are proud of him and the commitment he has made to Jesus.

The sermon yesterday was in recognition of the 400th anniversary of the publication of the KJV.  What a tremendous influence it has had over the centuries.  The sermon is posted below if you want to listen.

Take care, Barry

Listen here  

Hello Everyone,

This Sunday will be the launch of our new format.  It is rather different so this will be an interesting change.  The workshops on Bible Bowl, Digging Deeper and World Bible School will start shortly after morning assembly.  I hope everyone will have a chance to check out these workshops.  The 10th anniversary is coming up soon.  September 18th will be here and I am looking forward to seeing everyone who can make it that weekend.  So many people have helped to make this church what it is today and it will be good to see some of them as they return for that day to celebrate.

Here is last Sunday’s sermon

Baptism:  The decision point

We had a great Sunday.  It was good to be back and see everyone after being gone.  it was also great to see all the school supplies that had been donated. I know there are some families in our district that will appreciate those supplies as they start the school year.  Thanks to everyone for their generosity.  I will post a couple of pictures below from last Sunday.

It will be interesting as I get this new blog started.  This is a part of the re-vamping of our current website.  There will be a link to this blog on the church’s web page and I am looking forward to getting it up and running.

I will also post last Sunday’s sermon here so that those who would like to keep up with the latest sermon series can check in and keep up when they are gone.  This will also give those who are looking for a church home a chance to hear what the preaching is like at the Lake Travis Church of Christ.  Last Sunday we explored Romans 6 and what it means to be baptized into Christ.  We become family and that makes all the difference.

Any way, here are the pics from Sunday and the sermon.

Thanks for looking and listening,

Barry

Listen Here for Sermon