Another Christmas has come and gone; it seems like we take weeks to prepare and then in the course of 2 days its over. The tree is coming down, outside lights are being turned off and rolled up, and all the presents have all been opened, or have they?
Every year at this time we miss this gift. I'm sure for many of us it didn't make it under the tree. It probably wasn't on our list of things to buy, we didn't have to wrap it.
It's a gift that doesn't cost us a thing; sounds to good to be true?
God's grace is a gift freely given to each and every one of us because of the sacrifice His Son made upon the cross. It's the greatest gift you and I can receive this holiday season and yet many of us may not have even opened yet.
Go ahead check under the tree if its still there, look once more. If you don't find it it's not to late. Before the New Year arrives may I suggest you make this resolution. Let the power of the Holy Spirit work within you this day and in the days ahead; come to know Jesus Christ and the good news of the Gospel message.
God's grace means our sins yours and mine are forgiven not just for today but yesterday and for all the tomorrows to come. Go ahead open the gift of salvation, its the gift that's free and one that keeps on giving for an eternity.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
The season of song
During this Advent season as we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Christ child one is surrounded by the sounds of music. The traditional Christmas carols and old standards such as "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" can be heard 24/7 throughout the malls and shops as we go about the task of buying gifts and making prepartions for holiday parties.
Listening to the music often takes me back to different times and places. On more then one occasion I have sat back and reflected upon a song that has caused images of those distant times and places to flood back into my mind.
My father couldn't carry a tune in the proverbial "bushel basket" but oh how he loved to sing "Oh come all ye faithful" at the candle light Christmas Eve service. He' get up on his toes, fingers tapping and let it rip; the rest of the family would move a little further down the pew. I'm sure you have your own memories good, bad or indifferent with the songs that are being played and sung this holiday season.
There are two songs that I especially love to hear, one old and one relatively new. The old one is "What Child is This" to the tune of Greensleaves and the new one is a song written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene. It's entitled "Mary did you know" and it can be found on You Tube. Give it a try and I think you'll add it to your list of holiday favorites. As the late great Burl Ives sang and I echo "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas" y'all.
Listening to the music often takes me back to different times and places. On more then one occasion I have sat back and reflected upon a song that has caused images of those distant times and places to flood back into my mind.
My father couldn't carry a tune in the proverbial "bushel basket" but oh how he loved to sing "Oh come all ye faithful" at the candle light Christmas Eve service. He' get up on his toes, fingers tapping and let it rip; the rest of the family would move a little further down the pew. I'm sure you have your own memories good, bad or indifferent with the songs that are being played and sung this holiday season.
There are two songs that I especially love to hear, one old and one relatively new. The old one is "What Child is This" to the tune of Greensleaves and the new one is a song written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene. It's entitled "Mary did you know" and it can be found on You Tube. Give it a try and I think you'll add it to your list of holiday favorites. As the late great Burl Ives sang and I echo "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas" y'all.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Advent
This coming Sunday will mark the 3rd Sunday in Advent. On the church calendar Advent begins with the 4th Sunday before Christmas day and ends on Christmas eve. The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival" and I am reminded of the words to a song by Brian Doerksen:
Come now is the time to worship
Come now is the time to give your heart
Come just as you are to worship
Come just as you are before your God
Come.
Christmas is a time to make preparations to celebrate the first Advent of the Christ child and to hope and pray for the second advent, when Chirst will return again with His heavenly kingdom. Come let us make preparations in ourselves and our churches; let us turn away from the extravagence that has become Christmas and turn instead towards God.
Ask yourself are we truly celebrating the birth of God's own son on earth or are we celebrating a holiday some might still refer to as Christmas. Come.
Come now is the time to worship
Come now is the time to give your heart
Come just as you are to worship
Come just as you are before your God
Come.
Christmas is a time to make preparations to celebrate the first Advent of the Christ child and to hope and pray for the second advent, when Chirst will return again with His heavenly kingdom. Come let us make preparations in ourselves and our churches; let us turn away from the extravagence that has become Christmas and turn instead towards God.
Ask yourself are we truly celebrating the birth of God's own son on earth or are we celebrating a holiday some might still refer to as Christmas. Come.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Goodbye
Recently the community in which I served for the past two and one half years suffered from the loss of one of it's own. The funeral was held this past Thursday and though I was not in attendance I'm sure many were saddened by this passing.
I've shared this passage with the one most affected by this death and I think it bears repeating. The Apostle Paul wrote in 2nd Timothy, "For I am already being poured out like a drink offering and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness...
Go in peace my sister in Christ. You did indeed fight the good fight, all the while keeping your faith. Now you've finished the race and you're wearing the crown in your heavenly home. We know that one day we'll all be together again in a world without end - Amen.
I've shared this passage with the one most affected by this death and I think it bears repeating. The Apostle Paul wrote in 2nd Timothy, "For I am already being poured out like a drink offering and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness...
Go in peace my sister in Christ. You did indeed fight the good fight, all the while keeping your faith. Now you've finished the race and you're wearing the crown in your heavenly home. We know that one day we'll all be together again in a world without end - Amen.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Thanks-Giving
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, a day set aside to commerate a moment in history when the Pilgrims celebrated that first meal in Plymouth colony. It's a day that we celebrate with food, football and family (usually in that order).
Thanksgiving, is actually two words isn't it; thanks, and giving. The pilgrims gave thanks that in their new land they were free from religious persecution. What do you have to be thankful for this day? Think about that for just a moment won't you? I know that times are tough economically, maybe you've just lost a loved one, and you're thinking there's not a whole lot to be thankful for this year. Wrong, you still have a God that loves you and will care for you even when you think that He's not listening or has abandoned you. Remember always Matthew 6:25-34, do not worry.
But what about the second part of that word; giving. Jesus said "I did not come to be served but to serve." Tomorrow is an excellent day to give in service to others. Invite a friend for dinner that has no where else to go, serve food at a shelter, turn off the TV and talk with those around you, its not like there won't be another FB game.
Let us GIVE THANKS tomorrow for the blessings of each and everyday God has given us. Let us GIVE THANKS for His Son our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who came to us, suffered with us and died for us so that our sins, yours and mine would be forgiven and the prophecy of eternal life would be fulfilled. Let us GIVE THANKS to the men and women who have fought to give us what the Pilgrims sought so long ago - the freedom to worship God.
Thanksgiving, is actually two words isn't it; thanks, and giving. The pilgrims gave thanks that in their new land they were free from religious persecution. What do you have to be thankful for this day? Think about that for just a moment won't you? I know that times are tough economically, maybe you've just lost a loved one, and you're thinking there's not a whole lot to be thankful for this year. Wrong, you still have a God that loves you and will care for you even when you think that He's not listening or has abandoned you. Remember always Matthew 6:25-34, do not worry.
But what about the second part of that word; giving. Jesus said "I did not come to be served but to serve." Tomorrow is an excellent day to give in service to others. Invite a friend for dinner that has no where else to go, serve food at a shelter, turn off the TV and talk with those around you, its not like there won't be another FB game.
Let us GIVE THANKS tomorrow for the blessings of each and everyday God has given us. Let us GIVE THANKS for His Son our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who came to us, suffered with us and died for us so that our sins, yours and mine would be forgiven and the prophecy of eternal life would be fulfilled. Let us GIVE THANKS to the men and women who have fought to give us what the Pilgrims sought so long ago - the freedom to worship God.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Penn State
The events of this past week at Penn State serve to remind us, once again, that we are worshipping things other than God. In this case it was a "legendary coach," or an esteemed university or America's favorite pastime, football, or maybe all three; but in any case all have been smudged, tarnished and dirtied because of selfish pride, lies and greed.
Last week the house of cards came tumbling down as the "alledged acts" of one man, compounded by other men could no longer be swept under the sod of Happy Valley's vaunted footbal field.
People will ask, why did God let this happen? Do you really think God's hand was upon those who were alledgedly involved in this whole sordid affair? This is a world filled with evil people who prey upon the old and the weak; in this case the victims were young boys. What was it that Jesus said about those who prey upon children: "and whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these who believe in me to sin it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea."
Let us pray as Paul says without ceasing for the children who's lives have been changed, and who's love and trust have been damaged possibly forever. Let us pray for their parents and family, grant them patience and understanding and help them replace their anger with love and compassion. Let us pray for the prosecuters and defenders of the alleged perpetrator and last but not least let us pray for the alleged perpetrator himself.
Remember this passage from Romans 12:9, "Do not take revenge my friends but leave room for God's wrath for it is written, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay" says the Lord.
Last week the house of cards came tumbling down as the "alledged acts" of one man, compounded by other men could no longer be swept under the sod of Happy Valley's vaunted footbal field.
People will ask, why did God let this happen? Do you really think God's hand was upon those who were alledgedly involved in this whole sordid affair? This is a world filled with evil people who prey upon the old and the weak; in this case the victims were young boys. What was it that Jesus said about those who prey upon children: "and whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these who believe in me to sin it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea."
Let us pray as Paul says without ceasing for the children who's lives have been changed, and who's love and trust have been damaged possibly forever. Let us pray for their parents and family, grant them patience and understanding and help them replace their anger with love and compassion. Let us pray for the prosecuters and defenders of the alleged perpetrator and last but not least let us pray for the alleged perpetrator himself.
Remember this passage from Romans 12:9, "Do not take revenge my friends but leave room for God's wrath for it is written, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay" says the Lord.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Which God is yours?
In my last blog I asked you to identify your God; was He the God of the OT or the God of the New? Again the reason for this task came from a newspaper article written by Mr. William McKenzie in the Dallas Morning News, Tuesday, November 1, 2011. In the article Mr. McKenzie sums up a report filed in the Baylor Religion Survey. It showed that "believers" in a judgmental God (OT) have more, not fewer anxieties than "believers" in an engaged, loving God (NT).
According to the research those raised in an environment that preached "hellfire and brimstone" have 45% more concerns related to social anxiety, and 33% more concerns related to compulsions.
If on the other hand you were taught about God's love for His children and His concern for the "down and out", well you have 31% fewer mental issues.
So are these two one in the same God of course they are, but like any loving parent they must exercise their love according to needs of their children. If the child has been disobedient then there are consequences for their actions. If the child on the other hand needs loving attention and guidance, well God is there for us as well.
All we need to say about God is found in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." OT + NT = Salvation (enough said).
According to the research those raised in an environment that preached "hellfire and brimstone" have 45% more concerns related to social anxiety, and 33% more concerns related to compulsions.
If on the other hand you were taught about God's love for His children and His concern for the "down and out", well you have 31% fewer mental issues.
So are these two one in the same God of course they are, but like any loving parent they must exercise their love according to needs of their children. If the child has been disobedient then there are consequences for their actions. If the child on the other hand needs loving attention and guidance, well God is there for us as well.
All we need to say about God is found in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." OT + NT = Salvation (enough said).
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