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This came in my email this morning. It is from a blog called SBC Voices and is written by Dave Miller, a pastor in Iowa. Enjoy!

Here are the non-debatable, inarguable realities of Christmas. You may not agree. This is America. You have the right to be wrong!

1. George C. Scott was Scrooge and other versions are vying for second place in "which is the best 'Christmas Carol'" discussions. He is the gold standard.
2. Die Hard was an entertaining action movie set at a Christmas party. It is NOT a Christmas movie and only heretics, Gnostics, and liberals say it is.
3. The Christmas classic "A Christmas Story" should have ended with the narrator, the adult Ralphie, appearing with an eye patch, after shooting his eye out with the BB gun.
4. Egg nog is ample proof of a fallen world. Bletch.
5. Artificial trees are for artificial people. A true celebration of Christmas requires a REAL tree decorated with enough strings of lights that it becomes a fire hazard.
6. I don't care about the lack of theological depth, Silent Night is a beautiful hymn and it needs to be a prominent part of our Christmas celebration!
7. Grandkids make the celebration of Christmas both infinitely better and more expensive.
8. Dieting at Christmas is both immoral and impossible.
9. Mary knew a lot and those who constantly criticize that song are theological nit-pickers who don't understand poetry.

Have a blessed Christmas season!

This morning, Thursday, we discovered our front door glass had shattered. It looks as if someone took a rock to it. The good news is it's a double pane glass so, we are good until we can get it replaced.

That got me thinking how on the outside we can be beaten up by life. We struggle with relationships, finances, family, and personal issues. Many times, these struggles create havoc on the inside and we become distressed, depressed, disappointed, and distracted. The one comfort we all have is Christmas.

When Jesus came to Earth, he came as flesh and blood so He could relate to us. He has saved us from the worldly problems and has given us the strength to get through them. His Spirit lives within us to empower us to be overcomers. James tells us to "count it all joy when you encounter various trials." It's hard to believe we can be joyful in the midst of a crisis. Yet, God uses those times to help us grow to rely more on Him and grow us to be more like Christ.

This Christmas, take some time to reflect on the birth a baby that changed not only the world, but each one of us as well. Remember, like the door on the outside, we may look battered and beaten, but on the inside, we are whole and complete in Christ.

Have a blessed Christmas season!

Christmas is a little over two weeks away. Are you ready? Are you beginning to feel the rush? The rush to decorate, bake, wrap packages, or even buy the gifts? I beginning to feel it all.

As I sit this morning working on this newsletter, I thought of the rush that Mary and Joseph felt as they neared Bethlehem. Being pregnant traveling that distance by foot (no, the Bible doesn't say anything about a donkey.) You moms, how did you feel near your due date? Could you have walked 90 miles in 5 to 7 days? Imagine the rush she felt. "When are going to be there?" or "Are we there yet?"

Then it came time for the birth. Imagine how Joseph was rushing around gather up towels and boil hot water. Imagine him running around to get help for Mary. Here's comes the baby in His time in no rush.

What a rush that must have been? Not the speed of movement, but the rush of emotional excitement to see her newborn baby. It was time for her and Joseph to slow down and just enjoy their gift.

This Christmas, take some to slow down and bask in the glory of the season. Enjoy the lights remembering that Jesus is the Light of the World. Like Mary in Luke 2:19, we should follow her example as she was "treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them."

Have a blessed Christmas season!

Can you believe that Christmas is just a little more than three weeks away!? Where has the year gone? Time doesn't really fly by, but it sure feels like it.

As we are approach Christmas, let me encourage you to read a chapter of Luke a day. Then by Christmas you should have a greater appreciation for the birth of our Lord and Savior.

This week in my quiet time, I've been reading Revelation and will finish the book tomorrow. In chapter 21 it says, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away." That is the end result of the birth of Jesus. Heaven! Salvation is a never-ending gift we receive from our Father in Heaven. Merry Christmas!

The first Christmas after Raetta and I started dating, she bought me a special Christmas gift. However, I didn't receive it until several weeks after the New Year's Day. You see, she ordered a personal monogrammed sweater for me. It took a long time for the store to get it embroidered, so I waited patiently. The gift did arrive eventually, and it made feel very special and loved.

This Christmas, remember that the gift of salvation through Jesus is only the beginning, the best is yet to come. The birth of Jesus led to Jerusalem, Jerusalem led to the cross, the cross led to the grave, the grave led to the resurrection, and that led to our salvation.

Truly a great eternal Christmas gift!

Tomorrow, we celebrate Thanksgiving. As you ponder all the blessings you are thankful for, add these to your list.

1. If you’ve heard of Jesus, you’ve had more access to the gospel than 4 billion people in the world.
2. If you have the entire Bible in your language, your language is one of only 700 out of 7000 languages with a complete translation.
3. If you worshiped this past weekend without threat on your life, you’ve had more privilege than many believers around the world.
4. If you have sufficient food today, you’re better off than 800 million people around the globe who are chronically undernourished.
5. If your children have clean water, good sanitation, and proper hygiene, they’re uniquely blessed (in fact, World Vision estimates that 15,000 children under five die every day from preventable causes like diarrhea, malaria, and pneumonia).
6. If your children have a roof over their heads, they’re better off than at least 150 million street children in the world.
7. If you’re a Christian, you’re redeemed, held in the hands of God, and destined for heaven. No matter what you’re facing today, you have reason to be grateful.

Onward and Upward!

Next Thursday is a day we celebrate as Thanksgiving Day. It is a day for us to remind ourselves of the many blessings we have received from our God.

God has blessed our church in mighty ways this pass year. He provided all the funding needed to finish the building remodel. He opened doors for us to receive a grant and a tax refund. He blessed us with an outstanding one day of sacrificial giving. In addition, He has brought us together in greater unity with our sister churches the Good Shepherd Church and The Filipino International Christian Fellowship.

On a personal note, He has blessed our family with cute granddaughter. Raetta and I both have recovered from COVID -19 with any major issues. He has blessed my family in so many ways this year.

With all that God does for us, we should be grateful daily. I guess that's why Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5, "In all things give thanks to God..." In between eating turkey, watching football or shopping; take a moment and thank the Lord for the blessings you have received. Be grateful this Thanksgiving!

Onward and Upward!

Over the years, I've been sick many times. This past week I've experienced a unique illness with COVID-19. On Wednesday of last week, I received my annual flu shot. Late Thursday, I began feeling like I had the flu and felt it was reaction to the vaccine. By Saturday, I knew it wasn't the flu but just a very bad cold. After our service Sunday, I tested positive for COVID. Thankfully today, I am slowly getting better.

This illness has really slowed me down. Yet, through it all I knew that my Great Physician was watching over me. It could have been a lot worse, and I am truly grateful it wasn't. I don't know where you stand on vaccines, but I would suggest you get the COVID vaccine. I wouldn't wish this virus on anyone. Thanks for all your prayers!

Onward and Upward!

Since Halloween is Monday, I thought this list by Church Lawless might be of interest. Here's his thoughts on a Christian celebrating Halloween.

1. Genuine believers differ on this question, and we should be respectful of those who differ with our position. There is room to disagree on this issue and still be brothers and sisters in Christ. All of us need to prayerfully seek the Lord’s direction. 
2. If your Christian conscience tells you “no” about Halloween, trust your heart. Seek the Lord through His Word and prayer and follow Him in this matter. You have to be able to rest at night knowing you followed the Lord’s direction as you understood it. 
3. Believers who participate in Halloween should do so with caution. My primary concern is not with the night itself, but that we sometimes numb ourselves to evil when we dress like demons, ghosts, death, etc. There’s nothing inherently wrong, though, with wearing a costume.
4. No “holiday” should give believers permission to party in ways that are displeasing to God. Whatever you do on Halloween, do all for the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31).
5. Handing out candy is not a poor choice. Greeting neighbors on the porch can, in fact, be an open door to developing relationships. People are coming to you, so take advantage of the opportunity. Just don’t be stingy with the candy . . ..
6. If you give out candy, consider also providing something else (like hot chocolate) to promote conversations. Engage parents and grandparents who stop for something to drink while their kids get candy. Those conversations can lead to long-term opportunities for evangelism. 
7. If you give out tracts, be sure to give out candy, too. I’d probably say something like, “Here’s some candy, and here’s a great story to read as well.” Let the kids enjoy the candy and trust the Holy Spirit to do something with the Word.
8. Believers might open their homes to have a party on the same day. If you’re worried about not participating in Halloween night, plan another party in your home. Invite a few families. Have fun. Eat candy.
9. Parents might consider teaching their kids generosity on Halloween. Instead of roaming the neighborhood collecting candy, maybe you and your family can take fruit and candy to a children’s home or a homeless shelter. 
10. When you give candy, whisper a prayer for each taker. My guess is that you will pray for some kids for whom nobody else has been praying. Only God knows how much each child needs a prayer covering.
11. Be open to revising your position. The world is changing around us. The decision you make concerning Halloween this year might not be the best decision next year. In the meantime, just walk with God daily and trust Him when next October comes. 

Or you can celebrate Reformation Day!

Onward and Upward!

It has really been smokey lately around here. When I walk outside, I can smell burnt wood, it is hard to see any distance, and if I'm out in very long I begin to develop a headache. The rain can't get here fast enough to clean the air.

Driving to the church office, I was reminded of an offering presented to God as a pleasing aroma to Him. That phrase is used 88 times in the Bible. Each time it is associated with an offering to God. It was "pleasing" usually is used for expressing God's favor toward the sacrifice and worshiper. The symbolism reminds me of the way a steak smells on the grill. It is a pleasant aroma!

How is your offering? In Romans 12:1 it says, "Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship."

Is your offering a pleasant aroma or just smoke? Offering ourselves as a living sacrifice means we fully commit our lives to Him, we seek Him, we pray to Him, we obey Him, and we witness for Him. Think how your offering is presented to God. Is it pleasing or stinking?

Onward and Upward!

Tuesday, I attended the Puget Sound Baptist Association Annual Meeting. Prior to the evening meeting a leadership conference led by Jeff Iorg, president of the Gateway Seminary and our former NW Baptist Convention Executive. The topic was "Maintaining Spiritual Vitality in Cultural Chaos."

I found this topic interesting. We do live in chaotic times and according to the Bible, things will get worse. Culturally living in the Pacific Northwest is vastly different than many parts of the country. We seem to have our own unique culture and all the chaos it brings into our lives.

Dr. Iorg shared one of the main ways to maintain our spiritual vitality is to maintain our spiritual disciples. Spiritual Disciplines are those things we do daily to grow in Christ and to nourish ourselves spiritually. He gave us four core disciplines to practice, though there are others.

Here's the four: Bible reading, Prayer, Worship, and Rest. It is so easy for us to make excuses and let these slide. Excuses include, "Life's too demanding," "I have enough from my past study," or "I go to church and get all I need." Those are just myths that our enemy has gotten us to believe. Don't let him win!

Follow a reading plan daily and if you miss a day just go to the next day. Pray daily by praying as you go to work, clean the house, ride the bus, or in a corner all by yourself drinking coffee. Worship not just on Sunday, but every day as you realize all God of riches, He blessed you with in your life. Lastly, rest. Slow down and "smell the roses." Get away with no phone, computer, or work but with your family and just enjoy God's creation.

These disciplines will allow to hold up under the pressure of the chaotic world we live in today!

Onward and Upward!