Great Christmas Time

Each Christmas is special in its own way, but just something real special about this year. As usual we spent one day with my side of the family and one day with her side. On Gi's side of the family, Aunt B's family was with us for the first time in many years. It was great to celebrate Christmas with them. On my side of the family, Gi's Mom, Dad, and her two brothers were there for the first time. My sister prepared an unbelievable meal; Hickory Smoked Venison, Barbecue, Turkey and all the trimmings. I'll definitely diet the first of the year.

Christmas morning Gi, I and the two girl's shared gifts. Later in the morning their boyfriends came over we shared more gifts. So blessed to have such a wonderful family.

Christmas Prayer

Since 9/11, I have prayed for all the military families who are not able to enjoy holidays together. My heart go out to the young wife who will spend Christmas apart her husband...The child who will not see mom or dad...The father or mother who will not see their son or daughter. I too wish this war were over, but I'm so grateful for those who are sacrificing their lives for the freedoms I enjoy.

Please remember to pray for our military families.

Family Christmas

Really looking forward to the next several days.

Gi will run her last Bus route this afternoon...early dismissal. We will spend some time together this evening as we normally do on Friday evenings. Probably go out to eat and get any last minute gifts that we need to.

Saturday we will go to her grandparents home and enjoy a Christmas Dinner with her side of the the family. Sunday I get to talk about Heaven in the morning service. Monday afternoon we will go to my Sister's home to be with my family. Then Tuesday we'll enjoy Christmas morning with just the four of us. It's hard to believe Amanda and Brittany are 22 and 19, they have grown up to be such wonderful people.. I know that soon they will finish college and move in their own homes, so I really cherish these special occasions we can be together.

I'm so thankful for all my family and I so much look forward to spending some time with them this coming week.

Heaven - Experiences, Comments, Questions?

Just thought I'd put this out in Blog land. I'm preaching about Heaven this Sunday. Anyone had any interesting experiences concerning the next life. Any comments or thoughts about the next life. If you were to hear a sermon on Heaven or Eternity, what questions would you like to have answered in the sermon? Any coments are welcome. Thanks

Heaven

One Minute After you Die opened a whole new understanding of heaven for me. I see heaven as I never have before. Makes me wonder how I made it through Bible college with so little understanding of heaven. After all heaven is where we are going to spend eternity. I also feel guilty having preached for 15 years, and never really thoroughly teaching on the subject. No wonder we are not longing for heaven as the Apostles did. The more I discover about heaven the more I long to be there. I'm also reading Heaven, by Randy Alcorn, another great read. This Sunday I'll attempt to communicate heaven in such a vivid way that people will look forward to Heaven as never before. Imagine if we talked about Heaven as we talked about our favorite vacation spot. And yet our favorite vacation spot pales in comparison to heaven. Heaven truly is a Priceless Gift.

Christmas Blessing

Yesterday our church gave an offering for a single parent of three in our community. We had just learned this past week that the family could use some help and encouragement this Christmas. When we shared with the church the need we did not mention an amount that we were hoping for. But after the offering was given, we had way more than we hoped for. I'm sure praying God will use the generosity of His people to bless this family that they may know His unending love for them. So great to be part of something much bigger than we are.

Purpose: A Priceless Gift

Why did God create me? Have you ever asked that question?

In general God created us for His pleasure.

'Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.' Revelation 4:11

God is pleased when we live out His will for our lives.

Being out of God's will is like a fish out of water on dry land...like putting water in the gas tank of your car...or, like substituting salt for sugar in a baking recipe.

We each have a role to fill, a part to play in God's plan. That role or part is God's purpose for our lives.

If we live every day and every moment as God leads we will no doubt fulfill that role or that part.

'The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.' Psalms 37:23

God's purpose is a priceless gift. What a tragedy if we discover in the end that we missed it!

Heartfelt Testimony

Last night our prayer meeting was really special. Several people gave testimonies of how they came to Christ. Mike Centrella, a long time member of our church, gave a heartfelt testimony. He was saved years ago at one of the Fishnet meetings in Virginia. So refreshing to see someone who has been saved for many years still overwhelmed by God's grace.

Mike Grew up in a very religious home but his family did not understand Salvation by faith and not by works. When Mike's son Zach was five years old he preached a service in our church. Zach's grandparents were visiting from Florida, and at the end of the service both of Mike's parents trusted Jesus as their Savior. Shortly after they returned to Florida they were baptized and joined a local church. Here is a picture of that baptism:




Just a few years later she went home to be with the Lord. Mike said in her final days she really yearned to be with Jesus.

Salvation truly is a priceless gift. Jesus asked this question:

'For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?' Mark 8:36 - 37

Surely there is nothing anyone would trade for being saved.

New Message Series

I'm working on the new message series that we'll launch first Sunday in January. I have planned for several months to deal with basic spiritual growth disciplines as a great way to kick off 2008.

God's Gym has been the idea for some time, but last night during our prayer time I had this idea: Rock Solid Spirituality.

Living a Rock Solid spiritual life requires discipline. Spiritual growth does not happen by accident. Paul reminded Timothy:

'...exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.' 1 Timothy 4:7 - 8

More and more I'm learning the importance of planning for personal growth. Hopefully this series will encourage people to develop a personal growth plan so they could become Rock Solid.

What spiritual disciplines produce Rock Solid Spirituality? Any ideas for this series?

Priceless Gifts

Really enjoying our current message series.

How can we not have a great Christmas with all the Priceless Gifts God has given to us. So far we have talked about Life and Salvation. The Psalmist said of His life:

'I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. ... How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.' Psalms 139:14 - 18

God knows your imperfections yet He made you and you are very special. Don't allow the Devil's deceptions to steal away your Priceless Life.

Jesus came to seek and save the lost. We are hopeless without Christ. I'm so thankful for God's Salvation. Jesus reminds us:

'For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?' Mark 8:36 - 37

Salvation is a Priceless Gift. Let's do all we can to share this gift with someone else this Christmas.

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