Sunday, February 22, 2015

2015 Spring Preaching Schedule

Jan 11 Neel United Methodist, Neel, Al.
Jan 18 Gum Springs Baptist, Hartselle, Al. (AM)
Jan 18 Men’s Fellowship, Motes Cabin, Florette, Al.
Jan 24 Pastors Conf. Soul Harbor, Somerville, Al. (AM)
Jan 24 Pastors Conf., No Fences, Falkville, Al. (PM)
Jan 25 19th Ave Bap, Hattiesburg, Miss.
Jan 26 Morgan County VBS Kickoff

Feb 1-3 Belmore Bap, Belmore, Al.
Feb 5-12 Guatemala Mission
Feb 15-18 Mt Pleasant Bap, Lexington, AL.
Feb 22 East Highland Bap, Hartselle, Al.
Feb 28 Men’s Fellowship, Welcome Bap, Cullman, AL.

March 1-4 Sardis Baptist, Thomaston, Al.
March 8-11 First Baptist, Addison, Al.
March 13-14 Missions Volunteers Retreat, Shocco, Al.
March 15 Huntsville Park Baptist, Huntsville, Al.
March 22 First Baptist, Blountsville, Al.
March 29- Apr 1 New Center Baptist, Hartselle, Al.

April 5 Easter Celebration Wooly Springs Baptist, Toney, Al.
April 9&11 Morgan County, Al. VBS Clinics.
April 12-15 Spring Hill Baptist, Cullman, Al.
April 17-19 Prospect Baptist, Fayettville, TN
April 26-29 First Baptist, Oak Grove, Al.

If you are interested in having Michael preach at your church or event, contact him at michael-mason@charter.net.  Or you can call or text at 256-306-6645.  Thank you.  Pray for Michael Mason Ministries daily.  

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Three Flees

1 Timothy 6:11
Remember that scene in Forrest Gump when he’s being chased by the boys on bikes?  Forrest’s legs are strapped with the braces as he tries to run and Jenny is screaming, “Run, Forrest, run!”  Sometimes the best thing you can do is run.  ...Times when running is not a sign of compromise but of commitment.  Sometimes you the best thing you can do is run.

Having been raised in the country I know a little about running.  I have ran from dogs, snakes, wasps, yellow jackets...and the man who owned the watermelon patch that night when I was sixteen when a few of us decided to enjoy a melon or two.  

The worst running I ever did was to run from God.  I did that for close to three years beginning when I was in the tenth grade at Brewer High School.  God was speaking to me at a young age about being a preacher.  I ignored Him...pretended I didn't hear the call...and ran hard and fast till I was nineteen.  I stopped running - got saved - and answered the call to preach.  That was the best running I ever stopped.

Running...You may have ran from your sister, from your parents, from the bully at school, or maybe even the cops - but you’d better learn to run from sin.  Run Forrest Run!

Paul talked about "fleeing."  It's kind of like running.  But, instead of fleeing sin, we’re fascinated with it.  Instead of resisting the devil we’re running from God.  Instead of getting out of Dodge we’ve gotten in over our head.  Paul told Timothy to flee.  Why don’t we?

In 1 Timothy 6:11 Paul said to Timothy, “Flee from these things…” Flee...  It means RUN…another translation of the Bible uses the word FLY.  You get the idea.  Paul is referring back to what he said about the love of money.  In verse 10 we see those folks as…People who love money too much…  These folks are never satisfied - Never content….Always thinking about how to make more, have more, and get more.  They love money too much and God too little.  People who leave their beliefs behind… In their greediness, they “stray from the faith.” They are no longer firmly persuaded in God, planted in His word, and pursuing His plans.  Consumed with having it all…they forget God.
People who lose their peace of mind… Their life is pierced through with many sorrows.  Why use the imagery of a sword and piercing?  Because the end result is that painful - A life that is built on riches more than God.  No sleep.  No rest.  No joy.  Paul said to run from all that.  Run for your life…  Why?  Because these things will “drown you” and “pierce you.” (vv9-10)   Run for your life. Don’t try to be reasonable – Run!

Here are Three Flees Paul warned believers about.…


  • Flee Sexual Immorality 1 Cor. 6:18-19 “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.”  This is one of the few sins that has ripple effects that can last a lifetime.  King David was forgiven, but he never completely recovered from his date with Bathsheba. 
  • Flee Lifeless Idolatry 1 Cor. 10:14-15 “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” While most of us don’t bow to images or idols – Too many of us have put God at the bottom of the list of priorities.  We believe Jesus is Savior – But we don’t behave like He is Lord.  Flee! 
  • Flee Youthful Impurity 2 Tim. 2:22-23 “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” The foolish decisions we make when we’re young can haunt us the rest of our life.  “Lusts…” The idea is sinful – spur of the moment decisions – that become a ball and chain.  Thank God for forgiveness!
Friend, let's pray for one another today.  God help us to flee.  God help us to run just like Forrest Gump.  In the end, we'll be glad we did.  M

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

You Can't Run On A Treadmill In The Dark

…Well, at least I can’t.  I tried to a few years ago early one morning.  When we first got the treadmill we kept it in the bedroom because we were going to run/walk on it every day.  After it became a place to hang clothes and stack stuff we moved it to the garage where it now serves as a reminder of all the exercise we were gonna do.

Anyway, one morning, about 5:30 or so, I decided I’d run on the treadmill without turning on the lights.  I thought the light from the digital readout on the treadmill would be enough.  Don’t ask me why…I really don’t know why.  I just thought I’d run on the treadmill in the dark.  It didn’t work.

Somehow I got off track….tried to get back on…stumbled and fell…all over the place.  I fell on the treadmill, hit my head on the arm of the treadmill, landed on the belt of the treadmill, and got thrown off as if I was riding a bucking horse in a rodeo.  I hit the chest of drawers that was beside the treadmill and knocked off all the doo dads and pictures.  No, I didn’t have the emergency shut-off cord attached as I should have.  So, treadmill was still running while I was laying over by the bed at this time surrounded by debris looking like I had been hit by a small tornado.  All because I tried to run on a treadmill in the dark.

I faintly remember Crystal looking in on me asking if I was alright…shaking her head and closing the door.  I was alone and wounded and nobody cared.  (sniff, sniff)

All of this could have been avoided if I had just turned on the light.  I could have been running in the light.  In fact, this silly story could be a lesson for me and you in all aspects of our life.  We don’t have to run in dark, we can run in the light.  Psalm 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”  Think of all the pain I could have avoided that morning on the treadmill if I had just turned on the light.  Think of all the disappointment, heartache, and hurt I could avoid if I would only allow God’s word to light my path. 

There are days when I don’t feel like reading the Bible.  There are days when I don’t want to read the Bible.  There are days when I’m tired, lazy, sleepy, busy, etc…  But, I have learned to read the Bible, every day, whether I feel like it or not.  Because, God’s word really does light my path…it really does help me see where I’m going.


I have never ran on a treadmill in the dark again.  And, I have committed to never let a day pass without turning on the light of God’s Word.  Are you interested?  Won’t you join me in the commitment to read the Bible daily…and listen as God speaks through it.  MM