It's a Great Day!

Sunday, September 30, 2007 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

It's a beautiful day here in Indianapolis this morning! I trust that it's a beautiful day where you are, whenever you read this post. Remember, that even when it's raining, the sun (and the SON) continues to radiate above the clouds of circumstances.

I am writing this post just before the beginning of our Sunday morning "Worship & Word Encounter." We use that phrase to indicate our purpose for gathering together. We expect to encounter our living God through worship and the ministry of the Word!

You listen to our Sunday service LIVE by logging onto our ministry website, http://www.newcovenant.org, and clicking on the "Listen Live" link.

Again, have a great day!

WEDNESDAY WISDOM: Insights on the Power of a Seed

Wednesday, September 26, 2007 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments


Click here to listen to message, "The Seed Principle."

Genesis 8:22 "While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease."

MAR 4:30 And He said, "To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade." And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.

The mustard seed represents something small that has the potential to grow much bigger than normal. What makes something as small as a seed have the ability to become proportionally larger that most other plants? God made it that way. The kingdom produces that way.

We were created to be produce superabundantly. The problem is that we have been trained and conditioned to think otherwise.
The seed DNA contains all the instructions needed to grow in what is was designed by God to become. Every seed is a parable of God's miraculous power. Mankind has never produced a seed. We can only cultivate, nourish, and manipulate it.

A seed is a life container. Full of potential waiting to be released, like a firelog. The plant is already in the seed in embryo form.

A seed is always the beginning point of something new.
Genesis 1:11, Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth"; and it was so.

There is a principle here that says: People and most living things were created with the ability to produce seed for the purpose of propagation. This is obvious in people, but we don't consider it in other areas because we don't farm. We discard seeds, we never plant them. We're in the habit of discarding seeds since we can always go to the store and buy ripe fruits and vegetables.

Abraham had to choose Isaac over Ishmael because the "seed" had to be propagated through Issac, according to God promise.
Genesis 21:12-13, But God said to Abraham, "Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed."

A seed has singular purpose.
Deuteronomy 22:9, "You shall not sow your vineyard with different kinds of seed, lest the yield of the seed which you have sown and the fruit of your vineyard be defiled.

Seed is meant for sowing:
Ecclesiastes 11:6, In the morning sow your seed, And in the evening do not withhold your hand; For you do not know which will prosper, Either this or that, Or whether both alike will be good.

Because of the Seed Principle, We can act on the promise of God:
Haggai 2:18-20 (NLT) "Think about this eighteenth day of December, the day[a] when the foundation of the Lord's Temple was laid. Think carefully. 19 I am giving you a promise now while the seed is still in the barn.[b] You have not yet harvested your grain, and your grapevines, fig trees, pomegranates, and olive trees have not yet produced their crops. But from this day onward I will bless you."

The seeds we sow include: Words, Time, Finance, Labors, Human life and faith:
Luke 17:6, So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.

Sowing brings a great harvest!
Psalm 85:12 (NLT) Yes, the Lord pours down his blessings. Our land will yield its bountiful harvest.

"WEDNESDAY WISDOM" - Having "Ears to Hear"

Wednesday, September 12, 2007 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

"If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear." And He said to them, "Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him." (Mark 4:23-25)

There are four ways in which all of us choose to listen, which affects how we hear.

Passive Listening • Passive means, “not active, but acted upon.” Passive people are generally sluggish and disengaged—believing that “whatever will be, will be.” Passive listeners only “purk up” when something is said that has the promise of easing their burdens or bringing more comfort into their lives. A passive listener does not act until they are acted upon.

Convenient Listening • Convenient is defined as, “Situated within easy reach.” The convenient listener only applies his heart to hear when the information or task is within easy reach.

Critical Listening • The word “critical” is defined as, “exhibiting the spirit of one who looks for and points out faults and defects.” Communication often fails because of critical listening that is more concerned about finding faults than in understanding the content and meaning of the message. Critical listeners are not motivated to learn and grow. Such persons usually develop a self-righteous attitude that does not permit them to objectively consider what others have to say.

Active Listening • This should become our goal: To actively listen so that we can “hear” the communication. “Active” is defined: “Not waiting to be acted upon." Active listeners are prepared to apply what is heard and act on it—regardless of circumstances. People who rise to positions of authority and responsibility are those have learned to be active listeners. People of strong faith are those who have learned how to listen to God, meditate in the Word of God and allow the Holy Spirit to lead them in every endeavor of life. As Paul said in Romans 10:17, “So the faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” The person who hears can be entrusted with greater authority and responsibility. Hearing produces a faithful spirit, which brings you into the “true riches” of God.

"Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own? (Luke 16:11-12)

Happy Birthday Dad!

Friday, September 07, 2007 Bryan Hudson 1 Comments


Happy 71st birthday to my father, Horace Bryan ("H. B.") Hudson! Today, dad and I traveled to Ball State University in Muncie to visit with my son Jonathan. We enjoyed some quality time together in Jon's off campus apartment (much neater than his room when home, I might add!).

We celebrated dad's birthday over lunch and traveled back to the campus for the dedication of the new Dave Letterman Building for Communications and Media. Dave was on hand for the ceremony. Jon, a BSU senior, is taking an audio production class in this state of the art facility.

I am grateful for the presence of dad in my family's life and in our church. Having lost my mother in 2003, I gained a renewed perspective on spending quality time with the people I love. While in Muncie, a couple of other things did not get done in my office. Those items can be rescheduled, but I cherish the time with dad and Jonathan today.

Get Connected!

Tuesday, September 04, 2007 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments


On Sunday, September 2, I shared a message titled, "Get Connected!" The focus of the message was to show the importance of believers getting connected to God's plan of reaching out to others. In turn, we help people get connected to Christ and to a better life. We also want to grow our church by reaching out in this way.

During the meetings, the ushers distributed "Get Connected!" flyers and we asked everyone to distribute them widely. These flyers should be given to friends, co-workers and posted at public or approved locations (Carry a supply of tacks for this purpose).

The message is simple and compelling, "Get Connected!" It's intended to provoke thinking on many levels of connection to God, family, health, finance, etc. When people login to our church website, they will see a Get Connected! link. This link takes visitors to the "Connected!" community online newsletter and blog. This site contains useful information such as weather forecasts, wellness information, a Bible quiz, inspirational items, and much more to come.
Feel free to offer your suggestions to help make Connected! a often visited web destination.

The Harvest is Now!

Saturday, September 01, 2007 Bryan Hudson 1 Comments

With Labor Day coming on September 3, we have reached the unofficial end of summer. We still have about 20 days left before summer ends, but now is the time when we think about Fall. If we were farmers, we would be preparing to reap our harvest. If you're a student, you're headed back to school.

We have our "official" dates, but we tend to think in seasons. Most of us are not farmers, but we know this is the season of the natural harvest. Sometimes, natural seasons stir up thinking about spiritual seasons.

Jesus used the example of a harvest to teach His disciples about preparation and action:

31 In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” 33 Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. (John 4:31-36)


Christ sat with His disciples, not eating as He normally would, but probably lost in thought while looking at a field that was coming closer to the time of reaping. As usual, the disciples pressed their natural concerns, while Jesus always looked at the big picture. When offered nourishment, He stated that His nourishment was to do God's will and finish His work.

Jesus didn't react to the disciples' complacency about the time of harvest being four months away. He responded, with purpose and passion, to the "white fields" of souls that are always ripe for harvest! He looked at the farmers' future harvest, but considered present human needs, and trained His disciples (and us!) to do the same. As Creator, he might have contrasted the whole process of "seedtime" and "harvest" in light of both natural and spiritual transformation. The seed of God's word will produce a harvest of salvation and blessing for those who trust Him.

We don't need natural seasons to motivate us to action, we only need to follow the example of our Lord Jesus Christ! We can sow and reap based on our obedience to God and our love for souls! Faithful actions will cause us to rejoice together as people discover new life in Christ!
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