Daniel Ausbun
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The Transformation of Kanye West? (from Sherri)

1/20/2020

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Kanye West and the Sunday Service Choir
SO I did a thing. I attended my 1st rap concert. Granted it was a converted Christ follower, but it was AMAZING! Misconceptions are easy to make based on your spouse, your clothes, your history and your prior actions or words. To experience a concert by Kanye West at the Strength to Stand Conference in Pigeon Forge, TN this past Sunday was to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit.

This world renown multi-million dollar rapper/singer/song writer stood up on the stage surrounded by a gospel choir, almost eliminating his stage presence. From the moment he spoke, words of scripture emanated from his mouth. To say he has been criticized is an understatement, from Christians that doubt his sincerity to previous music followers who denounce his current beliefs.

I have heard many doubt his conversion as a public ploy. Today I can tell you that I felt the Holy Spirit come down upon the LeConte Convention Center. God was with over 12,000 students present, making it one of the largest gatherings of Christian teenagers in America to date. I cried with his sincerity, with his desperate pleas that God will strengthen his legs to stand. The conference emphasized that the messages given were meant to be taken, not just for a moment, but for eternity.

There was once another conversion who turned people’s heads, Saul, a renowned Jewish leader that actively killed, jailed and persecuted Christians. Acts 9:1-2 states, “Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.” One experience with Christ on the Damascus Road turned his life in a 180-degree path in Acts 9:3-9. I would venture to say that God transforms lives with astounding circumstances today, just as He did in Paul’s time. Jesus Christ is “the same yesterday, today and forever” Hebrews 13:8.  God often uses the most unlikely suspects to spread the gospel. Zacchaeus was a thief, Moses for a murder, and Kanye West is a rapper - but it is not about us, but God.

The world will mock, doubt and discourage, but I pray that God will strengthen Kanye West, his family (Kim Kardashian West) and his ministry. His humility, God-given talent, and immersion of the Word was surreal. Matthew 7:1  states, “Do not judge, least you be judged.” I praise God that He allowed Christ to cover my sins with His blood so that I will not be judged as I should by this sinful life. I pray that God will strengthen His chosen ones and bring the gospel to the world, despite our sin and unworthiness. After all, it is about God’s glory, not ours.
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Atypical Pastor’s Wife? (from Sherri)

1/15/2020

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God called me into the ministry when I was 18 years old, with bright starry eyes of traveling the world to tell the unreached about the Gospel. Fast forward 7 years,  I met my husband to be, who was in seminary studying to be a pastor. Never would I have dreamed of being a preacher’s wife, but obviously this is what God had planned for me when He touched my heart and led me into the ministry.

I come from a Godly home, but it was certainly not perfect, is there such a home? As I started out in college I went down the path many young people travel.  Church attendance drops and God is substituted with worldly ventures. One day I woke up in a cloud of depression with God pulling me towards Himself. As Christians, God will allow us free will, but there are always consequences. For me, I became debilitated with depression until I chose to walk in God’s ordained path for my life.

If you know me, I love hard, have a loud mouth, and often don’t sensor my thoughts. I am silly, stubborn and get anxious when events don’t go the way I imagined. I seek approval of others and want everyone around me to be happy. I often get told that I am not a typical pastor’s wife. But what does that mean? I would venture to say that there is no such thing as a typical pastor’s wife. We are all called to serve the Lord and the church. God knows our faults, our sins, our struggles, we are all sinners that God has selected to use to spread the Gospel on earth. What a daunting honor.

With all my imperfections how can I serve our amazing, living God in such a way that will glorify Him? I do my best with God’s strength. I try to share the joy I feel from the Lord in a genuine way. Do people read my intentions wrong? Do I come across as insincere? I honestly don’t know. I struggle with my self worth and my ability. Yet God constantly brings people across my path to share His love and encourage them in their walk with Christ.

I am not a perfect example of anything. But are any of us really? Romans 5:8 states, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” And because of this mercy the Lord tells us to, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” Romans 12:11

I would venture to say that I am more like the regular church attender than others realize. God has just happened to call our family into a leadership role. My children whine, fight, complain, and I grumble. Some mornings, I am so tired I could absolutely sleep through church. I worry about what other church members think about me and if I am even an effective tool of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 12:1-3 states, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

My friends, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38 Don’t let fear, discouragement or lack of self-confidence influence your ability to speak truth into other’s lives. Be the preacher’s wife in someone else’s life. An imperfect, saved by grace (flamboyant) person who wants others to know about Jesus’ saving love. Be bold in your faith and see how God will use your gifts and abilities that are unique to yourself. Do not let Satan discredit your effectiveness but claim Christ in victory.

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3 Commitments You Need to Make in 2020

1/4/2020

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New Year's Eve at the Magic Kingdom
This past New Year we celebrated by joining thousands of other families by going to Disney World. The Magic Kingdom was so crowded on December 31 - Disney closed the park. One of the workers told me when it reaches capacity of 100,000 - it has to close for safety.

The line for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train was 210 minutes. I took a picture - see below. That's 3 hours and 30 minutes for one ride!

Disney does one thing exceptionally well - they're committed to making memorable experiences. They want to please you, the consumer. They're prepared to accommodate anyone. The girls' hair appointments took longer than expected; they gave Sherri free fastpasses. You leave their four parks not thinking about how hot and humid it was, or how much everything cost, or how you spent nearly the whole day standing in line - rather how much you enjoyed everything. Disney's focus is on you.

God wants us to do the same for Him. Disney's commitment is to you; God wants our commitment to Him.

Here are three commitments you need to make in 2020:

First, you need to commit to the church. God created and established the local church. We worship Him weekly by supporting what He established. You will not grow closer to Christ if you rarely or half-hearted attend a local church. Christians gather at church.

Second, you need to commit to God's Word. Same principle as the church, if you aren't reading Scripture, you're not growing in your relationship with God. We know God through the Bible.

Third, you need to commit to keeping your word. Jesus said let your "yes" mean "yes" and your "no" mean "no" (Matthew 5:37). If you tell someone on Facebook you're praying for them, stop everything you're doing and pray for them. If you tell someone you'll see them at Sunday School, knowing you'll likely not attend, you're lying. Spiritual growth comes from doing what you say you're going to do. If you made a New Year's resolution on Wednesday, keep it until December 31, 2020

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