Advent Worship

The Prophet Isaiah said, "...the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."

The angel Gabriel said, "Surprise!! Mary, you are that virgin!"

That is how the story of Mary begins. It begins with something totally unexpected...a real shocker.

Mary's response, however, is a lesson for all of us as we face the unexpected in our lives.

Worship with us, these four Sundays leading up to Christmas, as we look into the life of the one who would give birth to the Savior of the world.

Don't See The Golden Compass!!

Plain and simple...do not take your children, grandchildren, neices, nephews, neighbor kids, etc., to see The Golden Compass. Also, do not buy the series of books, His Dark Materials, by Philip Pullman.

Read more at the following links...

http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/december/12.36.html

http://www.breakpoint.org/listingarticle.asp?ID=7274

Misconceptions of Christ

Lutzer Tackles Most Common Misconceptions of Christ

Dr. Erwin Lutzer, senior pastor of the Moody Church in Chicago, has written a new book titled, Slandering Jesus: Six Lies People Tell About the Man Who Said He Was God (Tyndale House).

According to Lutzer in a www.onenewsnow.com story, today's culture is ripe with false portraits of Jesus, and the situation isn't helped when celebreties such as Oprah Winfrey color the playing field.

"The thing is that Oprah teaches that Jesus is one way among many, and that God is more interested in our hearts than he is in whether or not we believe in Jesus. And she is a microcosm of what happens in America, a microcosm of what Americans believe, that Jesus is great, but he's not the only way to God," Lutzer says.

"And the point that I make is that once you grab the seriousness of sin, of necessity, Jesus is the only way to the Father."

Dr. Lutzer cites a serious erosion of biblical doctrine as the primary factor behind the confusion about the Christ of the Bible.

Reaching the Christmas and Easter Crowd

Inside the minds of holiday-only attenders.

by John Huffman, Jr.

Every pastor encounters them: the Christmas and Easter faces that appear in church only on the holiest of days. It's easy to grow cynical about the once-or-twice-a-year crowd. On the other hand, holidays provide the opportunity to touch the lives of the "under-churched." John Huffman's perspective, originally published in the Los Angeles Times, offers insight and hope. How do I feel about Christmas and Easter attenders?

Finish this article

Happy Thanksgiving

Giving thanks for all our blessings.

Have a great Thanksgiving Day.

Worship

When Jesus died on the cross, on Good Friday, many thought it was over. But those of us who know the rest of the story know that his resurrection on Sunday changed all that. Sorrow is turned to Joy.

Well, what if the opposite happened? What if it is Sunday...but Friday's coming?

Let me be more specific. What if it's Sunday...but Black Friday's coming?

Come worship with us, Sunday, and find out what that's all about.

Role Models

Note: Mark Beeson is the Sr. Pastor of Granger Community Church. I and on their mailing list and receive their communications via email. Following is a recent letter he sent to his congretation:


Dear Church:

Our parenting series got me thinking and a recent barrage of irresponsible statements from people with great influence got me writing. You are welcome to contemplate this problematic cultural conundrum. Read on.

“I’m just a musician. I never wanted to be a role model. That responsibility lies with parents.”

“I’m just an athlete. I never asked to be a role model. That responsibility lies with parents.”

“I’m just a teacher at the school. I never claimed to be a role model. That responsibility lies with parents.”

Is anyone else tired of hearing that lame excuse for negligent behavior? So am I. I’m fed up.

I’m sick of it.

We spout this garbage presuming to guard our value of individual freedom. But this isn’t freedom, its license – comprehensive authorization to do anything we want, anywhere we like, with anyone we choose. Such lunacy absolves people of influence from the responsibility essential to it. This release, so easy to say, excuses leaders of culpability.

This simple statement, offered and accepted as transcendent truth, exempts the shapers of our society from their indispensable contribution to it.

Allowing this tripe to continue unchallenged is akin to accommodating cultural suicide.

Gain without cost, benefits expanded without exertion, profit with no skin in the game, all these precipitate tragedy and loss. Our underlying desire for sex without marriage, money without work, loyal friends (when we have not cultivated closeness, nor have we demonstrated our own fidelity) manifests itself in bad behavior. We ache with selfish ambition while despising the levels of accountability inherent to success.

We want young people to buy our music and tickets to our performances. We want them to swallow our opinions, beliefs and political orientations. We demand they accept our values and morals. Our imagined contract reads, “You give me adulation. Celebrate me and I will enjoy the license of unrestrained self-indulgence as part of the deal.” Do we think we owe nothing after we have gained so much?

Well, here is the truth.

If people are looking at us with admiration, if others follow our lives with interest, if people emulate our words or admire our ways, if we influence anyone - then, whether we like it or not, we are responsible. We are accountable and we are liable. No more excuses. We don’t have an out.

Parents are responsible too; our Creator makes that clear. But as children navigate the waters of adolescence, the people who shape their emerging values, beliefs and opinions better step up and serve them well by living well. The success of every next generation depends on the responsible influence of their leaders and opinion-shapers.

So let’s stop whining about all the pressure we feel. Step up, my friend. Accept responsibility. Lead courageously and expect God to reward you. The next generation is watching and learning and they deserve more from us than excuses.

Mark Beeson