Monday, February 19, 2018

A very Special PSA for a Very Special Event. My Sister is doing something exciting...!


Where the Arts meets Gospel missions is one mighty accurate way to describe the "Curtain and Lights Theatere Company".  This company is driven by the Sword of the Spirit (the Holy Bible),  motivated by genuine compassion and desire for missions work locally and globally ,empowered by the Grace and Spirit of God Himself!

Jesus spoke through Paul to the Corinthians and to us today that ..whatever you do, do so to the glory of God" (see 1 Cor. 10:31)
My sister's, as is her theatere company, as is to know, love and obey God more every day for the glory of God in all nations.

Below is the all the information straight form Heather herself, as a guest blogger today,you need to know to see and experience her next show!


"Join us for our upcoming Concert Series:
“Songs of the Stage and Screen”

A collection of songs from Classic Broadway Musicals and Hollywood Films.

Featuring Songs from: Mary Poppins, Frozen, Mulan, Little Women the Musical, The Little Mermaid, Hercules, The Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz, Beauty and the Beast, and More!

Starring Nathan Johnson, Jackson McDaniel, Conner McDaniel, Katelyn McDaniel, Grayson Fink, Regan Fink, Jaelyn Fink, Becky Glenn, Kristin Glenn, and Heather Anderson.

Hosted by Brittany Heflin Cortez

Directed by Heather Anderson

Performance Dates:
Thursday February 22nd at 6:30 PM
Friday February 23rd at 6:30 PM

Venue: The Stephenson Chapel at First Baptist Church Decatur, Alabama

Tickets: $12.00
Proceeds will fund our upcoming Summer 2018 production of Annie the Musical which will benifit the Alabama Children's Home."


Thursday, February 8, 2018

When a mentor and dear friend dies: Brother Larry Rutledge (1941-2018)


I never understood why at baby dedications, they would say "stand if you promise to help raise this baby and guide them in the Word and in good works". The reason that made me question this practice? It was due to only the parents are in the homes and they are the ones who raise children, not this big group of people who are standing and will possibly never talk to that baby as they grow up.


That is up until Brother Larry Rutledge died Tuesday 2/30/18 at the age of 72. As much as any person can know about another*, I believe he was a born-again Christian.The Bible says we will know them by their fruits. Well, Mister Rutledge was fruitful.


                The misunderstanding of the baby dedication, changed for me right then.

                           I then realized that Larry Rutledge had helped raised me.

As soon as I read on Facebook at 5am Wednesday morning, that  I realized something quite spectacular about a great number of people who are also members of the local church.

During grade school at church, Larry Rutledge was one of the RA teachers taught me about missions, the Bible, and the missionary David Livingstone.  For as long as I can remember Larry Rutledge would talk to me in kindness and truth.  Finally Brother Larry Rutledge lived worthy of the Gospel and in all ways above reproach. In a way that all who knew him noticed.

Just like the people who stand and vow at baby dedications, Mr. Larry helped raised me in the faith. He wasn’t sinless but I full heartedly believe that my dear friend did repent and believe in the Sinless one!

If Larry were still alive today he would agree and proclaim that, God created man in good relationship with God and sin marred that for all of us through Adam's fall. Then Larry would remind us, I believe that while hell is for all who sin, God made a way to avoid Hell and be most importantly have a restored relationship with God. For God so loved the world, that Jesus became sin on the Cross, that while we are still sinners Christ died for us. While death came through Adam how much more so would many be saved through the only Way, Jesus Himself. Who said that in order to be truly born-again Christians, individuals must Repent and Believe the Gospel.



*No one can know for absolute certain if someone is a Christian, and we should never do God's work, in declaring someone saved. It is always between the individual in need of grace and God, the giver of Grace whether or not someone is a believer.  

Monday, February 5, 2018

TIME IS RUNNING SHORT "Rush of Fools" for the Glory of God.

 "God is a very independent, self-sustaining God. We can write out our map, our journey of what we want to do with our lives, but God is above all of that," ... “Our encouragement would be to seek first His kingdom as a believer and that His plans and His ways are higher."-Kevin Huguley vocals, guitar for Rush of Fools. [1]



Why I personally recommend supporting the Rush of Fools financially, and soon. 



They have a goal to go full-throttle with three exciting and unprecedented content/experiences with this campaign:
  1. Brand New Music from Rush of Fools!
  2. Video Content, 24 new music videos!
  3. Something I have never heard of but am stoked about, it's called a "digital backstage pass" (see link for info on all this is!


The truth of God should lead the believer to genuine praise and reverent worship of thanksgiving and proclamation of what we know to be true of the God of the Bible. 


With many bands, it, unfortunately, seems that they seem to sacrifice either theologically sound content or the sound of heartfelt emotion.

  In steps, some Fools who from the songs I know and the research I have done I see a band that clings to the truth of the Bible as supreme (Acts 17:11) and that truth leads them to songs of joyfully and seriously worshipping the King of Glory. 


The Band "Rush of Fools" is obviously who I am referring to in this moment. Their name originated from Scripture and their content saturated with the faithful truth about God, humans, and why we are hopeless and helpless apart from Jesus. 


The truth of God should lead the believer to genuine praise and reverent worship of thanksgiving and proclamation of what we know to be true of the God of the Bible. 



1 Corinthians 1:26-31


They are not the first Fools to trust in Jesus in music and they won't be the last, praise the Lord. For someday all of those this world thought foolish for repenting and believing in a Savior who died and rose from the dead, will all be singing around His throne in Heaven forever and ever! I suggest going and reading Revelation 7, 21, and 22 the telling of what the finished work of the Great Commission will be like in Heaven. 




"... It’s this redemption that empowers and encourages us to continue as a band. ...Our story isn’t over; it will continue to be molded and shaped. As we look forward, we remember this lyric: “…all our yesterdays and all of our tomorrows are held in Your hands”. We’ve experienced it firsthand. It's Jesus that carries us and becomes the Hero of our story. The hands of Jesus that carried the cross to His death are the very hands that carry us now. And that’s the story we live to tell." [2].

Let me, the author of this blog (Zack), as a fellow believer in Christ simply echo three things that Rush of Fools is radically vocal about in a world of seemingly uncertain of anything at all. 


• The Joy and Seriousness of knowing God Himself through the Gospel of Jesus the Christ as revealed in Scripture alone. And declaring this good news to a world in need.  (See John 3:16-21; 1 Timothy 2:5-6...Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 1:14-15; Romans 1:16) An accurate summary presentation statement of what the Bible is by a well- known preacher and sender of missionaries: 


•As Christians, there is great value in being transparent about the fact that we are sinners too. One of the most common complaints and oppositions to "Christianity" is that it is filled with hypocrites. 


So to answer many individuals valid questions, if we all sin what makes Christians any different, from say, the person of any other religion (or supposed non-religion)? 

Simply put, God does.  

For it is by the overwhelming Grace of God Himself that we have been saved through faith, and this is not of our own doing, so there is no room for bragging or looking down on other sinners who need Jesus just as much as we Christians still do. 
Rush of Fools band, songs, and interviews I have been watching here of late display their belief in the Bible's clear teaching that while we are still sinners, evil at heart, opposed to God, there is a Way to be reconciled to God. In fact, the Way has a Name, and His Name is Jesus, God Himself in the form of man. 

John 14:5-6 says: Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

So Jesus makes the difference between being dead in our sin and being alive in Christ Jesus the ruler of Heaven and Earth. God made Jesus who never sinned to become sin on the Cross to take the punishment for sinners so that, sinners as we are, might become the righteousness of God! 

u God convicts, calls, and ultimately converts men unto Himself.
uWe are to humble ourselves and Repent of our Sins and Believe solely on the atoning work of Jesus Christ.




I end with this, the Gospel is the only way and one way to support the Gospel going to the Ends of the Earth is by giving to this rare opportunity with these men who are serious about Jesus and His Word.

Links and quotes..................................................................................................................................................

[1] Quote from a CBN news Article from video called Rush of Fools: An Overnight Sensation" 

Watch 'Rush of Fools: An Overnight Sensation' on CBN.com[as well as gain access to the short video's (3:11) full transcript]

[2] QUOTES FROM THE ABOUT THE BAND section online on their website right HERE
[3]. Dr. David Platt: IMB President, 2014-present day. 


High Attendance Easter service.

Dear Christians, may we proclaim truth from God and not pollute our churches and lives with traditions of man. May we not try to attract att...

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