The other night I was watching television with my wife and kids.  They really wanted to watch the Shrek Christmas special and so I did not care and we watched.  It was funny but really lacked the true meaning of Christmas, it was a Christmas special that completely left out Christ but talked about Christmas being about family.  There was though a quoted that has keep running through my head since then.  Shrek who is an oger is having a hard time with Christmas and celebrating it and then says this:

“Ogres don’t celebrate Christmas. Ogres don’t celebrate anything”.

That quote I found to be powerful.  How many of us are Ogres when it comes to celebrating Christmas or anything?  How many times are we found not celebrating people’s victories and successes?  How many times are we not celebrating what God is doing?

The Message says this for Philippians 4:4 – Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him!

Do you celebrate Christmas, God, people’s life events, whatever or are you an Ogre? 

I want to be one who celebrates!

Let me hear your thoughts.

We all have junk that we carry around – if you do not think that is the case then your junk could be lying or lack of perception.  How do we do it though?  How do we deal with the Junk that we carry around.  I know the good Pastoral and Christian answer is to give it to Jesus.  Even in that – how do we do it?

I think we talk about it to others.  We pray about it (which is talking to God about it).  We talk about it more and more but then we get to the point where we stop talking about it and deal with different Junk.  But there is still a missing piece and that is found in this verse.

1 Peter 5:7 tells us this: Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 

For me the casting part is easier that the remembering that he cares for me part.  Some days can be a little bit harder than others but if I cast and keep in perspective that He cares then I might get rid of some more of this Junk!

What about you – how do you deal with Junk?

I found it interesting that Meet the Press would have Rick Warren on for a full half hour.  If you would like to watch the interview you can watch it here.  There are several things that I really like about Warren and one of those being the confidence that he talks with about Christ and what he believes it looks like to be a committed Christian.  One of the most interesting things he said (he did say many) is: 

“Your self-worth and your net worth are not the same thing”. 

I love this because I have lived and spent a ton of time with people who think that they are the same thing.  He makes such a power point because how many times have we seen people who lose it all and they lose everything including themselves.  He is someone I think who gets it as he gives so much of what he has away.

How about you – do you measure your self-worth?  By your bank account?  Your attendance numbers?  Your offering?

We need to keep in mind always (self reminder here) that self-worth comes from Christ!

What do you think?

 

I am preparing for first week of the Christmas Series which I have called “Christmas in four-part harmony”.  I am excited about it because I am taking the four parts of the Christmas story from Luke chapters 1 and 2.  This week is about Zachariah and Elizabeth.  There is so much in there that I am not sure I can fit it all in but one problem that I am having and that is getting into the Christmas Spirit.  I think it might be because I have not had my Thanksgiving meal yet.  I am praying that the Christmas Spirit hits before Sunday.

You in the Christmas Spirit yet?

I like to deer hunt.  It is something that I have not been able to do for years (I grew up doing it with my dad but have not lived places where it was very possible) but now I am in a position where I can do it nearly everyday for at least a short time.   I have been out several times over the last week and missed several shots at some of the biggest bucks I have ever seen in the woods.  When I was younger I would have beat myself up about it but now I have noticed something has changed.  I am just grateful that I have had the opportunity to get out and that I have seen deer.  I am just enjoying being in nature and spending time with God.  I have missed hunting but more than that I have just missed the alone time with God and the peacefulness that comes with it.  I am so glad that God has blessed me to regain something I was not sure I would be in a position to do again.

In this there are a couple of things: I am blessed to have something back that was gone for a long time.  I am seeing growth in myself.  I am really enjoying being with God in nature.

Have you ever got something back you thought you lost?  Are you seeing growth in yourself?  Are you enjoying time alone with God?

Just watched a report on how people are making their skin  lighter and Sammy Sosa (the former Baseball player) has dramatically lightened his skin.  Why don’t people fee comfortable in their own skin (this could literal here)?  Why is it that so many people do their best to change themselves physically but to change on the inside so many people do not.  Do not get me wrong, I know that there are those that do, but if I had to guess the number of those who change themselves physically is much higher than changing on the inside.  I am not against being healthy but plastic surgery or skin lightening or anything like this, I just do not get it when it is for vanity.

My experience in over 11 years in counseling is that physical changes are good but changes on the inside are the lasting ones.  I think most people do not do it because it is not as painful to change the outside as it is on the inside.  I see who we are in Christ as an important piece in all this. 

What are your thoughts on this?

Josh Cribbs walks with late coach’s son on his senior night

Just a good story about somebody who did something nice for no publicity – Saw it on yahoo sports yesterday.

By Chris Chase

In a dismal year for the Cleveland Browns, wide receiver/returner Josh Cribbs has proved to be one of the only bright spots. Last month he showed he’s equally good off the field.

The Pro Bowler traveled to Berea, Ohio, to walk onto the field on senior night with the son of one of his former college coaches. Michael Drake, a senior receiver at Stow High School, lost his father, Mike, in 2005 to lymphoma. He had assumed he’d be accompanied by his mother and sister for senior night introductions and was stunned when he saw Cribbs arrive minutes before the game.

”I looked, then looked away, then said, ‘Why are you here?”’ Michael recalled. ”I was shocked.”

A receiver, cornerback and holder for extra points, Michael said Cribbs offered advice before his final game.

”He said, ‘Play your heart out. This is it. Give it your all. Don’t ever stop on any play. Keep pushing,”’ Michael said. ”I almost felt worried. I didn’t want to look bad for him.”

Michael’s late father recruited Cribbs to play at Kent State and served as a father figure to the D.C. native during his time at Kent. Mike Drake was the offensive coordinator for the Golden Flashes during Cribbs’ freshman and sophomore seasons. Cribbs played quarterback in college and credits Drake for helping him drive home the fundamentals that he still uses today. So, when the idea of returning for senior night was pitched to Cribbs this summer, he didn’t hesitate.

It’s a small gesture, but it says a lot about the character of Cribbs. He apparently didn’t feel the need to talk about it publicly; this happened Oct. 30 and, as far as I can tell, yesterday’s report in the Akron Beacon Journal is the first it’s been mentioned. Similarly, Drake’s mother is quoted in the piece as saying that Cribbs took great pains to underplay his presence at the game for fear of taking away the spotlight from Michael and the other seniors. This shows a humility that other professional football players could sometimes stand to emulate.

Cribbs is back on the field Monday night when the Browns host the Baltimore Ravens.

Anythoughts on this story.  I have a lot of respect for Josh Cribbs.  I do not know if he is a believer in Christ or not but all of us could learn a lesson from him. 

If you aim at nothing, you will hit it everytime.  I wanted there to be focus for us as a church over the next year so the following are the goals that were set in relation to the vision.  What you need to understand is that these are some big goals for this church.  I pray that we exceed them all!

1 year Goals

•In 1 year I envision 75% of those on the church roll attending service regularly and  at least 25 new members.

•In 1 year I envision at least 10 adult baptisms and 15 child baptism.

•In 1 year I envision Sunday School attendance average 150 or more.

•In 1 year I envision the Youth ministry averaging 30+ teens or more.

•In 1 year I envision the children’s ministry growing by 100% to 150%.

 

 5 Years Goals

•I envision baptisms monthly because people are finding Christ because we are actively sharing our faith.

•I envision attendance in all services having increased by at least 200%.

•I envision home and foreign mission trips yearly.

•I envision a church that has 100 teens regularly

•I envision a children’s ministry that is helping children to grow and helping parents.

These are what we are shooting for – any thoughts?

Thank You for your  prayers!

Here is a quick review of what I shared last night with the Church.  I have said nothing new but only really what Jesus has called us to do.

One Vision working on three areas at the same time:

•Reaching to Membership who do not attend (inside)

•Moving along in our personal growth in Christ (inside)

•Reaching to those who do not know Christ and do not attend church anywhere (out)

Here are the 4 basics that we are shooting for:

Reaching – We are a church that is reaching out in the name of Jesus. 

Moving – We are a church that is moving  forward in Christ.

Building – We are a church that is building relationships with Christ and each other.

Serving – We are a church that is gladly serving Christ, the community, and each other.

I will share more later – but again – Thanks for the prayers!

I am needing your prayers this weekend as I unveil the vision that God has laid on my heart.  I will be sharing it on Sunday Evening.  It has me excited about what God will do here in the years to come.  It has me excited about seeing lives change and people being connected to Christ. 

Please offer a prayer for me and for the church.