K The Ken Bradbury Foundation

← Speeches & Workshops

Brooklyn Methodist

Feb, 2006 PRELUDE….Great is the Lord … Jesus Loves Me… Great is the Lord 
HYMN:    THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THAT NAME    171     UMH
HYMN:     HOW GREAT THOU ART               77  UMH
HYMN:     VICTORY IN JESUS                370   UMH
Special or Offertory: Just a Closer Walk, This Little Light 
GOING FORTH:     THIS IS THE DAY        657   UMH

POSTLUDE…. This Little Light or Peace Like a River 140 years ago ….. The first ship passes through the HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez_Canal" \o "Suez Canal" Suez Canal HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebraska" \o "Nebraska" Nebraska is admitted as the 37th HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S.state" \o "U.S. state" U.S. state. HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska" \o "Alaska" Alaska is purchased for $7.2 million from HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_II_of_Russia" \o "Alexander II of Russia" Alexander II of Russia, HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Dickens" \o "Charles Dickens" Charles Dickens gives his first public reading in the HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" \o "United States" United States. The first bicycle mass-produced Congress began impeachment against President Andrew Johnson Premier of the Blue Danube Waltz in Vienna Missionary HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomas_Baker%28missionary%29&action=edit" \o "Thomas Baker (missionary)" Thomas Baker killed and eaten in HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viti_Levu" \o "Viti Levu" Viti Levu, HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiji" \o "Fiji" Fiji And Brooklyn Methodist church was formed … You came out better than Thomas Baker Congrats on your 140th anniversary

My bathroom plumbing froze last night.. plumber.. side porch.. It’s not locked. No locks. .. I was blessed: someone stole my lawn mower.

After 140 years you’ve formed a very nice church here. I think it’s time someone spoke to you about theft prevention. Police say that the first rule is, Don’t trust anyone. … take a close look at the person sitting beside you. You’ve been watching me, but what have they been watching? USA TODAY: 1) shoplifting home burglary car theft

BUT: Today…. the type of theft that’s more common than any of these in our churches… … The THEFT OF JOY. For some of us… just petty theft.. for others, grand larceny.

We rush, we serve on committees, we teach Sunday School, we go three places in one night…. and before we know it, our JOY HAS BEEN STOLEN.

SO..A FEW TIPS ON THEFT PREVENTION FOR your soul

THIS IS YOUR ASSIGNMENT my fellow Christians

LIGHTEN UP Let me warn you: Christians have a reputation have a reputation for being joyless. Don’t take yourself too seriously.. Me: Chillicothe

The thing that kept me from giving my heart to Jesus Christ.. I looked around at church and thought, “If heaven is like this, I’m going to be bored for eternity.”

THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU HAVE TO DO : Realize that Jesus Christ died for you. The SECOND MOST IMPORTANT THING: nothing.

So LIGHTEN UP! The Important stuff is already done!

I recently spoke in a nearby church.. 18th hymns, 17th century liturgy, 16th century architecture, King James prayers… “Why can’t we get our youth involved?” Well Duh! Somebody stole your joy 50 years ago.

---A little boy who always knows how to brighten me, just with his smile: Matt… he knew how to lighten up. Baritone.

A FEW THEFT PREVENTION TECHNIQUES:

---Take your shoes off more often. Remember: Jesus didn’t wear socks. ---Next time somebody at Hardees or McDonnalds tells you to have a nice day, ask them why. Tell ‘em what Jesus has done for you lately. ---Send a love letter to someone you love then don’t sign it..let them suspect everybody in the whole world. ---Eat more ice cream. There’s so much ice cream in the world and so little time. ---Kidnap your grandchildren and take them on a picnic. ---Lighten Up! You don’t have a thing to do this week that’s more important than a Savior coming into the world and that’s already been done… take it easy!

You may say, “But you just don’t know what I’ve been through…” THEN YOU NEED IT THE MOST. ---Recent death in our community.. young farmer.. His wife. laughing: “I broke my video camera!” .. praying, porch..video camera…

The Great Joy in Christ is when serve others…when you work for Him. Albert Sweitzer: The only ones among you who will be truly happy are those who’ve sought and found out how to serve others.

STOP GIVING SO MUCH BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO AND GIVE MORE BECAUSE YOU WANT TO: ---What do you dread the most? Those things you have to do because you always do them and somebody expects you to do them. GIVE MORE SURPRISES! ---Give a flower to the lady at the checkout counter who’s always so friendly ---a decorated apple to the lady who always smiles at you at church.. tell her it’s just because she smiles. ---Spoke recently at a S’field church.. smiling, joy, laughing. Then the organ started and the entire congregation turned into prunes. Everything that happened was planned, predictable, and dull. Every week before church, ask God to surprise us. ---Simply tell someone... “I’ve waited all year to say this, but I really appreciate you.” ----go up to the biggest grouch you know.. even if you’re married to them.. “I just want you to know that I feel great!” ---Jan Smith… our community’s chief encourager…. Always wrote me notes of encouragement. A ministry of encouragement. ---We have a lady in our church who brings fresh flowers for the altar every Sunday (flower shop refuse)...Nobody ever brings her any flowers.

Story: two days ago. I’m on teacher’s retirement. Not a gold mine. Boy at Truman State.. piano… me: saving up to give money to campground. Tuesday 8 a.m. : ordered a new keyboard sent to his dorm. Tuesday: 10 a.m. Got my mail: $10,000 donation to the campground.

THE IDEA BEHIND CHRIST’S MESSAGE WAS A SURPRISE TO ME.. ”...When I was born, I had no idea that a baby was born 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem to take away my sins. It was a surprise to me!

  1. To keep from being robbed of your joy, FIX SOMETHING: ---Think of a problem you have which you just can’t get off your mind and you can’t do anything about. MAKE YOURSELF FORGET ABOUT IT FOR ONE WEEK. ---Think of a relationship you have which has been damaged. HEAL IT. Give your pride a vacation. Christ: I shall remove your sins from you for a far as the east is from the west. The least we can do to mend a single relationship. Dad…always the smartest person in an argument…

  2. To keep from being robbed, Give Yourself. It’s the one gift God wants most from you.

It is impossible to be robbed of your joy while you’re giving yourself to someone else. I REPEAT.. It is impossible to be robbed of your joy while you’re giving yourself to others.

God blesses giving and the giver..... I know a church...huge endowment...spirit of church stopped once they stopped struggling and giving

FIND TIME TO BE ALONE and SIMPLY GIVE THANKS TO GOD. I ask my classes, “When are you most lonely?” When I’m in a group of people.” Please take the time to be alone to soak up God’s love. If you have a happy marriage and a wonderful spouse of many year’s God bless you, but each of us works out our own, individual relationship to Jesus Christ. Take time to be alone to find joy. Take a walk alone this week.. Don’t ask for anything.. Just praise Him and let Him love you.

  1. To keep from being robbed of your joy, stop complaining.. Johnstone: Architect: the hottest places in hell are reserved for the whiner and complainers. If my life were ten times longer, I still couldn’t justify a minute of it complaining. When I speak to teachers: For every minute you spend worrying and complaining about your students, spend one minute praying. And if you’re not a Christian, go out and hire…..

Psalm 27 The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 

HYPERLINK "http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/popup.pl?book=Psa&chapter=27&verse=2&version=kjv" \l "2" HYPERLINK "http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/popup.pl?book=Psa&chapter=27&verse=4&version=kjv" \l "4" One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. 

HYPERLINK "http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/popup.pl?book=Psa&chapter=27&verse=5&version=kjv" \l "5" For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 

HYPERLINK "http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/popup.pl?book=Psa&chapter=27&verse=6&version=kjv" \l "6" And now shall my head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

Congrats on 140 years of ministry in the service of Jesus Christ. I wish you a wonderful life in Christ, ..I wish your next decades to be filled with joy. A peace that doesn’t make sense. A completely illogical smile on your face. A ridiculously happy song in your heart. Jesus is Lord! What else do you need to know?

PAGE

PAGE 5