Bible Challenge 12/26 - 1/1/11

You did it! You completed the challenge and should be very proud of yourself! Next week we will start over and I hope you will join me again as we read through God's loves story for us!

For this final week we finish up Revelation and begin Matthew.

12/26, Sunday: Revelation 7-10

12/27, Monday: Revelation 11-14

12/28, Tuesday: Revelation 15-18

12/29, Wednesday: Revelation 19-22

12/30, Thursday: No Reading

12/31, Friday: No Reading

1/1, Saturday: Matthew 1-4

Be Blessed!

Merry Christmas!

Instead of a Friday Five this week I just want to say to my Druid Hills Family: I wish you all the hope, peace, joy, and love that God will give you this Christmas. I pray you feel the closeness of God as you bask in the confidence of knowing God loves you, God saved you, and that God travels with you in your jouney.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

January 2011 Edition of the Sunshine Herald

Here you go folks! The January Newsletter available here before you can buy it! Enjoy!

JanNwsLtr11

All I Need To Know I Learned At Christmas: Hope - Luke 2:21-35 and Luke 2:36-40

Introduction
Today we are going to continue our preaching series, All I Need to Know I Learned at Christmas, as we discuss those basic concepts that you and I need to understand as believers that we can find in the Christmas story of Christ coming to earth. Two weeks ago we looked at that unabashed, child-like joy that God has for us and that we would be wise to rekindle in ourselves. Last week we took a journey through the eyes of those Judean shepherds to see how the birth of Christ offers us a peace that passes all understanding and helps us understand the “now what” of our lives. Today we are going to look at the hope that is ours because of the birth of Jesus.

We Can All Give Hope
The school system in a large city had a program to help children keep up with their school work during stays in the city's hospitals. One day a teacher who was assigned to the program received a routine call asking her to visit a particular child. She took the child's name and room number and talked briefly with the child's regular class teacher. "We're studying nouns and adverbs in his class now," the regular teacher said, "and I'd be grateful if you could help him understand them so he doesn't fall too far behind." 

The hospital program teacher went to see the boy that afternoon. No one had mentioned to her that the boy had been badly burned and was in great pain. Upset at the sight of the boy, she stammered as she told him, "I've been sent by your school to help you with nouns and adverbs." When she left she felt she hadn't accomplished much. 

But the next day, a nurse asked her, "What did you do to that boy?" The teacher felt she must have done something wrong and began to apologize. "No, no," said the nurse. "You don't know what I mean. We've been worried about that little boy, but ever since yesterday, his whole attitude has changed. He's fighting back, responding to treatment. It's as though he's decided to live." 

Two weeks later the boy explained that he had completely given up hope until the teacher arrived. Everything changed when he came to a simple realization. He expressed it this way: "They wouldn't send a teacher to work on nouns and adverbs with a dying boy, would they?" Hope provided this boy the strength to fight. Hope is what Jesus brought us with His birth.

Wishing versus Hoping
As people, we wish, dream, and hope all the time. Sometimes it’s about little things like a great parking space or getting in the fast line at the supermarket. Sometimes it’s about bigger things like wishing to win the lottery, have your favorite team finally win a championship or dreaming about a promotion or a new car. And sometimes it’s about the biggest things of all, the things that really matter, like relationships and our health.

We tend to put wishes, dreams, and hopes into the same category, but really there’s a fundamental difference between them. Wishes and dreams are passive and often have no basis in reality whatsoever. That’s what so great about them sometimes. We can wish and dream about things that might have been or what could be without any consequence. But occasionally people get stuck in wishing and dreaming. You know the types. They plan to marry their dream girl but never do anything about asking her out. They talk of a career, but never go to school. They sort of wait for the universe to intervene in their lives, kind of like that “year of a thousand dreams” that took place at Disney World where they randomly select people in the park for all kinds of rewards, even a night in Cinderella’s castle.

But hope is different. Hope isn’t passive; it’s active. And it’s not based on fantasy, but rather based upon fact. Faithful people who hope, know the goodness of God’s grace firsthand. They read their Bible and pay attention to the promises. They plan on solid things based on real information. Hopers have faith – what Hebrews calls “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (11:1). When I think of hope, I think of the hymn, “My Hope Is Built.” Listen to the lyrics: “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand.” Folks, that’s hope.

Simeon and Anna – People of Hope
This morning our Scripture lessons were about two people you’ll never find in a nativity set, but who are nonetheless, an important part of the Christmas story. Why? Because they are tremendous people of HOPE. After Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph followed Jewish law and custom by traveling from Bethlehem to Jerusalem to present Jesus at the temple. This was when male Jewish babies were circumcised according to the covenant that God made with Abraham and when their naming was made official. And families were required to bring with them a thanksgiving offering to sacrifice. Typically this would be an unblemished lamb. But for those who are too poor to afford the lamb, a pair of birds was considered an acceptable sacrifice. We get some insight into the life of Mary and Joseph when Scripture tells us that they bring the poor sacrifice of a pair of birds. And while they are at the temple, they have two unusual encounters with strangers that they meet there.

First they meet Simeon. Scripture calls him a “righteous and devout man,” and tells us that “the Holy Spirit was upon him.” He had one goal before he died – to see the Messiah, the hope of Israel. And the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen Him. This is all Simeon is living for. He hangs out at the temple every day checking out the new babies being brought in, looking for that one special infant who will deliver Israel. Maybe Mary and Joseph were flattered when Simeon searched them out in the temple and asked to hold the baby while praising God. But the flattery must have faded when Simeon started talking about how the infant would be opposed by many and would cause great pain to His mother. He even goes as far as to tell Mary, that because of this baby, a “sword will pierce your heart” (Luke 2:35). How could someone speak of such unhappy things while holding a beautiful baby?

And then before they could leave and get away from the temple, someone else approached them. This time a woman named Anna. Scripture tells us she was “a prophetess.” And despite the fact that she was “eighty-four” years old, she “never left the temple, but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying.” And she too recognized the baby Jesus for who He was. She too gave thanks to God and spoke to everyone around her who would listen about how He would redeem Jerusalem.

The Importance of these Encounters
So why talk about them? What can we learn from these strange encounters that helps us understand Christmas and our lives as believers?

Simeon and Anna are significant because so early on in Jesus’ life did they recognize the true purpose behind His arrival. They looked beyond the miracle of the birth of Jesus to the true purpose behind His arrival. They looked beyond the little baby and saw the man that He would grow up to be and what He had come to do.

Simeon and Anna had been hoping for years about the Messiah, trusting that God would fulfill the promises and prophecies of Scripture. And they were vigilant to watch and wait for the Messiah and to trust in the unexpected when awaiting His arrival. The most interesting thing to me is this – Scripture tells us that they were both well along in years – neither one of them probably lived long enough to see what became of the child who was the realization of all their hopes. And yet, without any positive proof, they still believed and they praised God.

Lesson 1 – Be Vigilant
There’s two lessons about hope to be learned from them. The first is to be vigilant as we hope. What does that mean? Webster’s Dictionary defines vigilance as “staying watchful and alert.” Simeon and Anna had much in common. They were educated and well aware of all the Scripture’s promises concerning the Messiah. They were hoping and praying to see the fulfillment of those promises during their lifetime. But they didn’t wait around passively for the Messiah to come, like most of the Jews of their time. They were both “watchful and alert,” dedicating themselves to prayer, fasting and temple worship. That’s a good lesson for us today too. Like Simeon and Anna, we too are awaiting the coming of the Messiah. Only this time it is His return we are anxious for. It isn’t enough just to passively sit around and wish for His return. We stand on the promises, we stand on hope, and we can be active in our hoping. We can be watchful and alert, dedicating ourselves to prayer, worship and service in His name. You want God’s kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven? That’s what we pray for each and every week during the Lord’s prayer. And we can be active in our hope and help usher the kingdom in through our actions.

Lesson 2 – Consider the Unexpected
Second, this morning I think we can learn to consider the unexpected when it comes to hope. While the Jews of Jesus’ time were awaiting the coming of the Messiah, most of the Jews missed understanding what was happening. This was because they had a preconceived notion about how God was going to work His redemption and what happened in Jesus’ birth didn’t match up with their grand expectations. Yet because they were vigilant and not closed off to the possibilities of how God might act, Simeon and Anna recognized it. You see, the rest of the Jews expected fanfare and got none; they expected political freedom and got freedom from sin and guilt; they expected miraculous signs and wonders and got healings for the sick; they expected a messiah who would make life easier, and Jesus grew up to talk about bearing crosses and loving your enemies. Jesus wasn’t born or lived how people expected Him to be and even He may not show up where we expect Him to either. We pray for inner peace and encounter Jesus in the midst of another struggle. We pray for healing and encounter Jesus graveside saying, “I am the resurrection and the life.”

Go Forth and Hope
Those are important lessons for us to remember about HOPE, to be vigilant and to consider the unexpected. Especially when we find ourselves in one of those seasons of life that seems especially hard. When Debbie and I lived in Kentucky while she was in seminary, we thoroughly enjoyed the change of the seasons when the beautiful leaves began to fall. We even liked the snow at first, until we had to drive somewhere in it. Somewhere around the third continuous week of snow and cold wind and gray depressing skies, we two Floridians became convinced that winter would never ever end. But our friends who had already survived some Kentucky winters told us to keep focusing on our calendar, counting the days until the dawn of spring, with its flowers and sunlight. It’s easy to be reassured and it’s easy to cling to hope, where the seasons of the calendar year are concerned.

But what about the seasons of life? What about the winter seasons we go through in life when we are disappointed or discouraged; when we are filled with doubt and discontent? What about the times when God feels far away, and it seems as if He has completely forgotten you? Anna and Simeon help stand as reminders of reassurance that January will someday turn to May. As people of faith, we can build our hope upon the solid rock of Jesus Christ, for all other ground is sinking sand. When we’re troubled about today, we can hope with vigilance and expectation for tomorrow.

A tremendous gift has been given to us in the manger. We have the promise of knowing that however hopeless our current situation may seem to us, God has never stopped working in the lives of His people. We don’t always understand His plan or His timing, but God is always present. Remember, Emmanuel means “God with us.” In the spiritual winters of our lives, when we don’t necessarily “feel” God’s presence, we can stand on His promises from Scripture and we can hold fast to the manger and His Son. May God bless you with hope as you close out this year and begin your journey into another year. Amen.

Bible Challenge 12/19 - 12/25

Greetings All!

This week's journey has us finishing up James and going through 1 & 2 Peter, 1, 2, & 3 John, Jude, and beginning Revelation.

Please note there is no reading scheduled for Christmas Day.

12/19, Sunday: James 4 - 1 Peter 2

12/20, Monday: 1 Peter 3 - 2 Peter 1

12/21, Tuesday: 2 Peter 2 - 1 John 2

12/22, Wednesday: 1 John 3 - 2 John 1

12/23, Thursday: 3 John 1 - Revelation 2

12/24, Friday: Revelation 3-6

12/25, Saturday: Merry Christmas! (No Reading)

Be Blessed!

A Google Nativity Story

Greetings All!

I found this online and thought I would share with you all.


Have a GREAT Christmas!

Friday Fives

This will be the last Friday Fives of 2010. I will resume in 2011 on January 7th.  So on to this weeks items of importance.

1. Preaching Series - This Sunday we will continue our preaching series aimed at helping all of us rediscover the joy, peace, hope, and love that God intended for us during Advent. This week we will focus on the hope that the birth of the Christ child offers to each one of us. I hope to see all of you there!

2. Open House - On behalf of Pastor Debbie, Parker, Wesley, and myself, I would like to extend an invitation to all of you to our open house. On Sunday, December 19th, from 12pm-2pm feel free to stop by and see the parsonage all decorated and enjoy refreshments and fellowship. Once you have had lunch in Fellowship Hall, feel free to walk up the backyard, or drive around, and stop by. We would love to see you.

3. Advent Bible Study – Next week will conclude our three week Advent Bible Study based on the 1977 film by Franco Zeffirelli, Jesus of Nazareth. Thus far we have witnessed the Christmas story all the way from Mary and Joseph's betrothal through the birth of Jesus.  Next week we will focus on the beginnings of Jesus' childhood ministry. If you missed any of the weeks, no worries, you can always just join us this week. Remember the last class will be December 23rd at 11am and again at 7pm and it is free. I hope you will come and join us in what is always a great time of learning and fun!

4. Salty Service - A few months back I asked everyone to consider joining up together in groups to venture out and visit some of the residents in the many assisted living and rehab facilities around our church. There are many people there that get no visitors, and we are so good with fellowship, I see a need and a spiritual gift that can easily be paired up. I wanted to give everyone an update on how this budding ministry is progressing. We have three members that have reached out and began weekly visits to three different facilities. We also have a group of people that have formed to begin visits with a fifth facility. We have several contacts at area facilities, all we need is volunteers. Many people make light work. If you are willing to spend just a few hours a month visiting with people and sharing the love of Christ please contact the office and we can help you get connected. Please consider reaching out to the people in our area and let them know we care and in the name of Jesus Christ that they are loved.

5. Christmas Eve Service – Do not forget that our Christmas Eve service will be on Christmas Eve at 6pm.  It will be a candlelight service and we will celebrate the love that is made manifest in the birth of Jesus the Christ.  I encourage all of you to make this a central part of your holiday celebrations.  I am looking forward to seeing all of you there!

Many blessings to you and your families!

Bible Study Tomorrow

Greetings!

Just a reminder that week 2 of our three week Advent study is tomorrow.   We will watch a portion of the movie, Jesus of Nazareth, dealing with the birth of Jesus.   I hope you will all make plans to attend. It is never too late to join and we would love to have you!

The study will be offered at 11AM and 7PM in the Fellowship Hall.  I hope to see you there!

All I Need to Know I Learned at Christmas: Peace – Luke 2:1-20

Introduction
This morning I would be honored if you would take a journey with me. I invite you to assume whatever posture helps you feel the most comfortable and allows your imagination to take over. Take a moment and prepare yourself. Some of you may like to bow your heads and close your eyes, other may like to open your hands palm facing upwards towards the sky. Remember the goal is get into a posture that allows you to relax, listen, and imagine. Ready?

Let's Go
I am going to describe a place to you and invite you to create that place in your mind's eye. With as much detail as you can. Before we start out on our journey I want you to mentally acknowledge any distractions you have, schedules, physical or mental exhaustion, stress, whatever it may be. Take a deep breath in...hold it...let it out. Take in another deep breath...hold it...let it out. Clear your mind...empty it of all thoughts just for this moment.

Imagine you are standing on a hillside, in a grass field. There are a few rocks scattered throughout the landscape. In the distance you can see a few houses from the edge of your village. The sky is clear and it is relatively quiet except for the occasional bleat from the sheep you are tending. Personally, even though you have to constantly deal with people making fun of you because you are a shepherd, you know you are doing noble work and feel confident in your role. Your family is not wealthy and needs your earnings to survive and that is all the affirmation you need to know you are doing the right thing. You have always been the type of person that your family depends on. You have proved time and time again your reliability and dependability. And for that you are very proud.

The sun is beginning to set and you are getting ready to turn your attention to the night and making sure the sheep stay safe. You are gazing over the horizon, looking for predatory animals, hunting animals, poachers, and all other hazards that could harm or hurt these sheep. There are a few other shepherds with you. You are talking a bit with each other, but nothing other than idle conversation.

It is now night, black night. The only light you have is from the stars above. The temperature has dropped and you are bundled up trying your best to stay warm. You think about starting a fire but that means unbundling and you find yourself unwilling to do that just yet. Then you begin to notice this glow form behind you and as you turn around it culminates in a brilliantly bright light. You begin to hear a voice out of the light say, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” You are too awe stuck to breathe, must less move. As the voice fades you begin to hear a thunderous song break out, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” You almost fall backwards from the power and concussive sound of this experience. Your heart begins to beat again, slowly and with tremendous force. Your body is almost numb and you notice that the light, the voices, the music are all gone. You are left alone with only the darkness, the chill, and a whole host of questions.
As you and the rest of the shepherds try and make sense out of what just happened, little Avi, a young man and by far the newest guy on the job, leans towards your ear and whispers, “now what?”

You may open your eyes. That is the question that not only little Avi ponders, but I think many of us do as well. Christ was born, now what? People from generation to generation and from around the world ask themselves, now what?

Peace is Ours
That babe born so long ago is a gift from God. That babe, our Messiah, came so that we might be forgiven and restored. Our Messiah came so that we may find peace. Peace in knowing our salvation is assured and we have been reconciled with God our Creator. Peace in knowing that because of that baby we will be rescued from an eternity of emptiness. Peace in knowing that we are so loved, so adored, that God came to us. After all, Emmanuel means God with us.

My prayer for each of you is that this Advent, you find a peace that reassures you of your place in God's heart. A peace that makes you certain God is with you, believes in you, and has assured your salvation. Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, Christ the King. And I encourage you to answer your “now what” by sharing this message of assurance and salvation with another who needs it this Advent.

Bible Challenge 12/12 - 12/18

Greetings Bible Challenge Friends!

I pray you have been able to stay on track with the holiday season in full swing. It can be difficult but it is rewarding to be able to spend daily time in the Word. This week we finish up 1 Timothy and move through 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, and begin the book of James. Here is the schedule

12/12, Sunday: 1 Timothy 3-6

12/13, Monday: 2 Timothy 1-4

12/14, Tuesday: Titus 1 - Philemon 1

12/15, Wednesday: Hebrews 1-4

12/16, Thursday: Hebrews 5-8

12/17, Friday: Hebrews 9-12

12/18, Saturday: Hebrews 13 - James 3

Be Blessed!

Friday Fives

Here are few things that I wanted to bring to your attention.

1. Preaching Series - This Sunday we will continue our preaching series aimed at helping all of us rediscover the joy, peace, hope, and love that God intended for us during Advent. This week we will focus on peace, that peace that was made known and revealed itself in the birth of Jesus. I hope to see all of you there!

2. Open House - On behalf of Pastor Debbie, Parker, Wesley, and myself, I would like to extend an invitation to all of you to our open house. On Sunday, December 19th, from 12pm-2pm feel free to stop by and see the parsonage all decorated and enjoy refreshments and fellowship. Once you have had lunch in Fellowship Hall, feel free to walk up the backyard, or drive around, and stop by. We would love to see you.

3. Advent Bible Study – This week we began our three week Advent Bible Study based on the 1977 film by Franco Zeffirelli, Jesus of Nazareth. This week we began with Mary and Joseph becoming betrothed and went through their wedding. Next week we will focus on the birth of Jesus. If you missed this week, no worries, you can always just join us this week. The class will run December 16th and 23rd at 11am and again at 7pm and it is free. I hope you will come and join us in what is always a great time of learning and fun!

4. Salty Service - A few months back I asked everyone to consider joining up together in groups to venture out and visit some of the residents in the many assisted living and rehab facilities around our church. There are many people there that get no visitors, and we are so good with fellowship, I see a need and a spiritual gift that can easily be paired up. I wanted to give everyone an update on how this budding ministry is progressing. We have three members that have reached out and began weekly visits to three different facilities. We also have a group of people that have formed to begin visits with a fifth facility. We have several contacts at area facilities, all we need is volunteers. Many people make light work. If you are willing to spend just a few hours a month visiting with people and sharing the love of Christ please contact the office and we can help you get connected. Please consider reaching out to the people in our area and let them know we care and in the name of Jesus Christ that they are loved.

5. Choir Cantata – This Sunday is our annual Christmas Cantata. Please join us as we celebrate the hope, peace, joy, and love, that is Jesus the Christ. It will be a wonderful morning of worship and song. I hope you can bring a friend and I look forward to seeing all of you there!

Have a blessed weekend!

New Bible Study

Hey Everyone!

Just a reminder that we are starting a new Advent study series tomorrow based upon the movie, Jesus of Nazareth.  Tomorrow we are going to begin with the study, "The Coming of God in the Flesh".

If you did not sign up, no worries, come on down anyway.  We will meet at 11am in the Fellowship Hall and if that does not work for you, I am doing it again at 7pm.

Hope to see you all there!

All I Need to Know I Learned at Christmas: Luke 1:26-38 and Luke 1:39-56

Introduction
This morning we are going to begin a new preaching series aimed at helping us to recognize those aspects of hope, peace, joy, and love that God so generously modeled for us 2000 years ago. In addition, we are also going to explore how that model is still active and alive right now. Today we are going to begin with joy, that unabashed, child-like emotion that God has for us and that we would be wise to rekindle in ourselves.

Have You Jumped Lately?
In my lifetime I have come to understand that the older we get, the less joy we exhibit. Now do not get me wrong, as individuals we still get happy. Just not as happy. Case in point, my sons Parker and Wesley. This week Debbie and I decided that it was time to start decorating the house for Christmas. We got out our calendars, looked at what night would be best and begin to develop a plan. No joy, no excitement. We were not unhappy about it, but we had relegated it to a chore in our mind. Just something else that had to get done. Now for the boys, as soon as they heard the word decorations, or maybe it was the word Christmas, they came tearing into the living room. We were literally taken aback by the emotion that was right in front of us. These two boys were smiling, jumping, and talking a mile a minute. “When can we start?” “When can we do to help?” “I want to do the tree!” “I want to put up the Santas!” Their joy was uncontainable, uncontrollable, and quite frankly awesome to experience. I then became very cognizant of how I had approached the decorating. I looked at it as a task. These boys were viewing it as a wonderful opportunity to see the house transformed into a Christmas wonderland, to see lights and bright colors splashed all around, and their joy and jumping about expressed that.

When was the last time you jumped? As an adult, when was the last time your feet left this earth, voluntarily mind you, and you actually jumped for joy? The only place where adults give each other permission to jump is at a sporting event, as a player scores the winning touchdown, basket, or goal. Other than that, I do not see too many adults jump. We're pretty shy about expressing so much giddy happiness that we literally jump for joy. We leave that to children. And in fact, in today's gospel reading it's a child who jumps for joy when the miracle of Christmas first appears.

Jumping Johnny!
In his first prophetic act, the still unborn John the Baptist leaped in his mother Elizabeth's womb when Mary walked in and greeted her cousin. The reason for the child's joy jump at the sound of Mary's voice was given to Elizabeth through the accompanying presence and interpretive power of the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth pregnant with a miracle child herself, recognizes that her cousin Mary is pregnant, and that she has been chosen to be "the mother of my Lord" (verse 43). The messiah himself is now before Elizabeth and her unborn child. This awesome proximity immediately fills Elizabeth and Zechariah's small home with all the joy, all the hopes, all the prayers for the redeeming messiah that the people of God have been waiting for. Redemption is at hand. No wonder the yet-to-be-born John the Baptist jumps for joy.

Jesus Is Happy!
Now I ask you to take a moment and think about every representation, movie, painting, or caricature, you have ever seen portraying Jesus. My guess is that most of you are picturing a serious, stoic, somber Jesus. Why is that? Leonard Sweet once remarked asking what evidence do we have that Jesus was always some “tall, long-locked, solemn, sermon-spouting fellow who walks as though he is treading on eggshells and whose face always looks as though he has just finished sucking on a big kosher dill.” Many of you have heard me say that my favorite depiction of Jesus is the portrait called “Laughing Jesus”. In this picture his head is cocked back, his mouth wide open, and he is giving this enormous belly-laugh. His whole face is absolutely lit up!

That is how I envision my Savior. Look at Scripture and the situations Jesus found himself a part of, the miracles that he performed. How many times do we read about people clamoring to get close to him? About Jesus being forced into a boat because there were so many people on the shore, that he ran out of land? About people climbing trees, houses, and cutting through crowds just to touch, glimpse, or hear our Savior speak? As humanity we want to be around those people that make us happy. So if that many people, time and time again, are going to these great lengths to be around Jesus, I cannot believe that Jesus was a 24/7 somber, solemn, and joy-less person.

Forgetting about the personality aspect for a moment, think about the miracles that Jesus performed. Remember the paralytic man in the Gospel of Mark that was lowered through the roof to be healed by Jesus. After being paralyzed for years, when he got up, picked up his mat, and walked, do you think Jesus just sat there? I would have to think these men grabbed each other and jumped around in circles, ecstatic at what just took place.

Remember the daughter of Jarius who died? Mark 5: 40b-42 tells us, Jesus came and “...after he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. Do think Jarius was not overjoyed to point of jumping. Surely Jesus, who so loved to have children surround him, scooped her up and swung her around in delight, for her life was a miracle. We can be here for the next several hours recounting story after story of the wondrous things Jesus did that would have had to cause joy in the people affected.

Jesus: The Joy Maker
From today's gospel text we learn that the first reaction, from the unborn John the Baptist, to Jesus' presence on earth, of God-in-our-midst, was joy. Joy so tremendous, joy so utterly overwhelming that it must somehow escape the bounds of earth itself and jump towards the heavens.

In John Ortberg's wonderful book The Life You've Always Wanted (Zondervan, 2002), he writes: “We will not understand God until we understand this about him: 'God is the happiest being in the universe' (G. K. Chesterton). God knows sorrow….but [his sorrow like his anger] is his temporary response to a fallen world. That sorrow will be banished forever from his heart on the day the world is set right. Joy is God's basic character. God is the happiest being in the universe.”

My favorite verse in Scripture is from the Old Testament, from the book of Zephaniah, not one that would typically make your favorite verse list. But I invite you to close your eyes and listen to the words: "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Think about that. God sings a song of joy over you!

Joy is part and parcel of Christmas. Whether it is sparked by any number of family traditions such as the trees, carols, cookies, or presents, all of these are expressions of the joy that was given to us with the birth of Jesus.

Even His Birth Announcement Brings Joy!
This birth of Jesus was not only a miracle but a tremendously huge ordeal for the teenage mother. Remember now, Mary, probably just entering her teens, is engaged and an angel appears to her with this unbelievable news that she has found favor with God and will give birth to the long awaited Messiah. Mary is also told that her older, previously believed barren cousin, is already six months pregnant with a son of her own. This causes Mary to travel the 70 miles or so to see her cousin Elizabeth and that is where we experience Elizabeth’s baby jumping for joy. All of this helps to bring Mary joy about this event and she responds in song with what is often called “the Magnificat.” In fact that song is what our Call to Worship was based upon this morning.

Mary found joy in this all of this. Listen to her words: “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be with me as you have said.” Mary had a deep trust and faith in God that carried her through even times when she could have questioned and doubted the wisdom of God’s plan for her. She had surrendered her life into the hands of the Almighty and trusted him to take care of her. That’s how she was able to journey into peace and joy instead of sorrow or bitterness over her upcoming journey.

Conclusion
This time of year can and does cause a whole range of emotions. This year I encourage you to find the joy that was intended with the birth of Jesus. Surrender your fears, your questions, and your doubts to the Almighty. Know that the One that sings a song of joy over you has delivered you. Delivered you from sin and death, and provided a way for you to experience joy not of this world. This joy is freely given to you so that you may be encouraged, uplifted, and affirmed. This joy is freely given to you so that you may freely give it to others. I pray you know joy this year in a way that is deeper and wider than you have ever known before.

Bible Challenge 12/5 - 12/11

We are entering our final month together in this year's challenge. If you have stayed on track then you are closing in on reading through the entire New Testament for the second time this year.

This week we will finish up Galatians, move through Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, and begin 1 Timothy.

12/5, Sunday - Galatians 3-6

12/6, Monday - Ephesians 1-4

12/7, Tuesday - Ephesians 5 - Philippians 2

12/8, Wednesday - Philippians 3 - Colossians 2

12/9, Thursday - Colossians 3 - 1 Thessalonians 2

12/10, Friday - 1 Thessalonians 3 - 2 Thessalonians 1

12/11, Saturday - 2 Thessalonians 2 - 1 Timothy 2

Have a wonderful week and be blessed!

Friday Fives

Here are a few announcements and important items that I wanted to pass along this week!

1. Preaching Series - This Sunday we will begin a new preaching series aimed at helping all of us rediscover the joy, peace, hope, and love that God intended for us during Advent. This week we will focus on joy, that emotion that is very much a part of the nature of God. I hope to see all of you there!

2. Open House - On behalf of Pastor Debbie, Parker, Wesley, and myself, I would like to extend an invitation to all of you to our open house. On Sunday, December 19th, from 12pm-2pm feel free to stop by and see the parsonage all decorated and enjoy refreshments and fellowship. Once you have had lunch in Fellowship Hall, feel free to walk up the backyard, or drive around, and stop by. We would love to see you.

3. Advent Bible Study – Beginning on December 9th, I will begin a three week Advent study. We will gather each week and watch a clip from the movie Jesus of Nazareth directed by Franco Zeffirelli, and then discuss it. The class will run December 9th, 16th, and 23rd at 11am and again at 7pm. There will be a signup sheet in your bulletin this week that you can drop in the plate, or you can call the office or email me to register. The class is free. I hope you will come and join us in what is always a great time of learning and fun!

4. Salty Service - A few months back I asked everyone to consider joining up together in groups to venture out and visit some of the residents in the many assisted living and rehab facilities around our church. There are many people there that get no visitors, and we are so good with fellowship, I see a need and a spiritual gift that can easily be paired up. I wanted to give everyone an update on how this budding ministry is progressing. We have three members that have reached out and began weekly visits to three different facilities. We also have a group of people that have formed to begin visits with a fifth facility. We have several contacts at area facilities, all we need is volunteers. Many people make light work. If you are willing to spend just a few hours a month visiting with people and sharing the love of Christ please contact the office and we can help you get connected. Please consider reaching out to the people in our area and let them know we care and in the name of Jesus Christ that they are loved.

5. White Sunday – This Sunday is White Sunday. Items being requested are napkins, toilet tissue, paper plates, foam or paper cups and plastic forks.  Dish soap and 55 gallon heavy-duty trash can liners would also be helpful.  There will be wicker baskets on the front pew for you to drop off your donations. Thank you for your continued support.