Christmas Eve Preparation

I had to share with you all this awesome quote that I read while preparing for preaching on Christmas Eve. It comes from Alan Culpepper and he says: "A humility born of need may be the prerequisite for entry into this new kingdom." Now that can preach!

Luke 2.1-20

This coming Christmas Eve I will be preaching on Luke 2.1-20. I love this passage ---- and especially how the King James Version (KJV) puts verses 11-14: "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." The KJV just makes my heart remember days of sitting around and listening to my Dad read from Luke. When I hear "for unto you is born this day", I think that it is addressed to me. That this child ----- was born to me. Interestingly, notice that this address is presented to shepherds in the fields ----- and not to the child's parents. For this child ------ who has come to bring salvation to sinners ----- was born for the whole world. Even poor, peasant shepherds ------ even poor fisherman ------ even tax collectors and prostitutes ------ even the lame, the blind, the destitute ----- and even you and me. This child is our King ----- one who is to reign in our hearts and over all the earth, as we do like the shepherds did in verse 20: "glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them." Merry Christmas to all of you.

Westboro Baptist ?Church?

I have been doing a great deal of research lately on Westboro Baptist Church. I have actually found their protest schedule website. Apparently, this morning they are protesting a Methodist Church in Mulvane, Kansas. I would like to ask a question. After reading this snippet --- they actually make the case that this is helping them to love their neighbors. What do you all think of that claim?

Mulvane United Methodist Church in Mulvane, KS December 19, 2010 7:45 AM - 8:15 AM
WBC will picket the Mulvane United Methodist Dog Kennel to warn all who attend that there is death in that pot! So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof. (2 Ki. 4:40.) Don't walk, RUN from this place! The Methodists long ago dropped any pretense of believing or preaching truth when they allowed women to be preachers and when they began the satanic ritual called "affirmations" - blessing sodomite "couples". The same God who said "thou shalt not lie with mankind as with woman kind, it is abomination" (Lev. 18:22), also said "thou shalt not kill" (Ex. 20:13). When you teach the people that it's okay to be a sodomite, you teach them it's okay to conspire to commit murder. You have utterly failed in your duty to your neighbor to love them as yourself by lying to them about their sins. You did this because you hate God and you hate your neighbor. Not to worry though; we love our neighbor, so we will tell them the truth because that is the only hope for any human. If any of you have an ear to hear, come out from among them, do not partake of their filthy deeds and obey your God! Do that TODAY!

Matthew 1.18-25

This coming Sunday I will be preaching from Matthew 1.18-25. Something that has stuck out to me as I have been studying this passage is verse 19: "Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly." In this passage we can see that Joseph had got wind that Mary was pregnant and was wanting to not hurt her ---- but to "put her away" quietly. He would have been totally justified in not taking Mary as his wife. Here, Joseph loving Mary by dismissing her ----- rather than being harsh with her. We could put a term on Joseph such as chivalrous. He is not wanting to harm his betrothed, but at the same time he feels as if he cannot marry her since she is pregnant with another person's child.

Down South ---- we know about chivalry. I recently read a quote from Stanley Hauerwas on chivalry ----- it goes like this: "But I am never sure I know what women want. I think I need to know what women want because I was raised to think that my job as a male is to give women what they want. I am sure I learned that lesson from my mother. I have always assumed that my task is to make the world all right for any woman who is kind enough to love me. Paternalistic scripts die hard in the souls of Southern males."

For Joseph ---- he is not wanting to harm Mary ---- hence, he dismisses her. But God has different plans and sends an angel to appear to Joseph in a dream. God throws out the status quo ----- and writes Joseph into the gospel story. A story that is centered and focused on the salvation of sinners.

Do you all think you could have acted on this revelation from an angel of the Lord?

Little Drummer Boy

Baby Jesus, I am a poor boy too.

Isaiah 35.1-10

This coming Sunday we will be focusing on Isaiah 35.1-10. This passage begins by describing nature bursting forth in color and with joy. The natural world will give abundantly of itself ---- give rushing water, pools, streams, and swamps. And all of this is breaking forth at the traveler is moving along the highway called the Holy Way. This comes specifically from verse 8, which says: "A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God's people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray." What does this say to us about the relationship of creation with God's people traveling through deserts and the wilderness?

Christmas Party 2010

For those of you that missed the Annual Christmas party, I uploaded a video from the party. The audio is really rough ----- sorry about that ----- there was a lot of background noise. Please enjoy this rendition of the 12 Days of Christmas, Person County style. If you cannot see this because you are on facebook, follow this link to my blog.

Flash Mob

You have to check this out. If you cannot see this because you are in facebook follow this link. This is one of the most awesome witnesses I have seen in a long while. Hallelujah chorus in a mall.

John the Baptist

This week we will spend some time with John the Baptist. I will be focusing on Matthew 3.1-12. I have always wondered why John the Baptist had such a profound influence on the upper elites of Judea? Why would they come all the way out to a river to get baptized by this guy that seems to be such a ruffian? Just to prove my point, it says in verse 7: "But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, 'You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee form the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance.'" This seems like an unlikely candidate for the upper crust of religion to come out seeking to be baptized. I wonder if it has something to do with the traditional role of prophet and royalty that is so prevalent in the Old Testament? What do you all think?

Buddy Pack Program

If you are on facebook and cannot see this follow this link.

BBQ Overview ---- You really need to watch this

This is a great overview of BBQ for all of you. If you cannot see this video then please follow this link.

Romans 13.11-14

The new year begins for the Christian Calendar on this Sunday, November 28th. So, happy new year! It is the beginning of Advent. A time where we reflect on the coming of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ ---- and prepare our hearts and minds for his coming. I will be preaching on Romans 13.11-14. Verse 14 says: "Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." There are points in our lives where we make ridiculous statements like: "I need to go and find myself." How does that kind of statement jive with: "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ"? Can you still be yourself and put on the Lord Jesus Christ?