It's almost Christmas

It's almost Christmas. I'm really looking forward to our Christmas Eve Candle Light gathering this Thursday evening at 7 PM at the Holiday Inn Executive Center. The kids really love it. It's a great celebration of Christmas for the whole family.

I love our Christmas Eve gathering for the following reasons.

1. the sacred music

2. the candles

3. the pictures

4. the families

5. the message of Christmas

Christmas reminds us of the real value of Christianity. God loves you and took action to restore your fellowship with him through His Son, Jesus Christ. It's a beautiful thought. Because of Christ Jesus we have peace with God and peace in our hearts. The Bible says, "We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1)

Many people today can only dream about peace. There are wars and conflicts too numerous to count which destroy people's lives. Not to mention the domestic squabbles which plague us at home. Most live without peace. Christmas reminds us that peace is possible. We need to know the Prince of peace to truly know peace in our hearts.

I wish you peace this Christmas season and throughout the year. Pastor Tom

Trouble

The trouble with trouble is that it leaves us hopeless and confused. Have you ever been lost? I have an interesting story to share.

My son, Micah was born in Kiev, Ukraine, a city of 3.5 million people. It was January and cold. After his birth, I was responsible to secure a birth certificate and get things underway with the US Embassy for a social security number and a US passport. Time was important as Micah couldn't fly with us to America without the correct documentation.

Before I could work the US Embassy side, I had to get all of the Ukrainian documents in order. Let me fast forward, so I don't bore you with the details. I was on foot looking for a certain government office tucked away in a downtown building. I had given up my car because of traffic and was continuing the search on foot. I knew I was close, but just couldn't find the office. I asked a number of people on the street for help. Many didn't know or didn't care. Others, tried to help, but only helped me get lost with their bad directions. Finally, after an hour of wandering and growing increasingly frustrated, I asked one more person for help. This time the person not only said, "I know where it is located"; they promised to show me the way. Five minutes later my search had ended.

In life we face all kinds of troubles and most of the time we are trapped in our trouble. We don't know the way out. It's not until someone shows us the way or shows us a better way that we are able to find triumph in the midst of our trouble. What kind of trouble are you facing today? Let Jesus show you the way.

In John 14, Jesus knew his disciples were troubled. Jesus was going to the cross and then to heaven. Judas was betraying Jesus and Peter would deny him. The disciples were troubled and confused. Jesus said to them, "Don't let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me." (14:1) Then he said something even more profound, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Jesus had been talking about the hope of heaven. Now he claims that he is the way to get to there! WOW!!

In life that's what we really need -- someone to show us the way out of our trouble and into a life of triumph! That's why Jesus came, to show us the way. Join us Sunday as we trade our troubles for triumph and we look at the beauty of Jesus as the way to heaven. See you there. Pastor Tom

Resurrection and Life

Living sure beats dying. I just wrapped up a grave site funeral in 18 degree weather with snow falling and wind blowing. It reminded me of all the good things we share together in life such as memories, adventure, good food, love and marriage, our children, fishing, hunting, sports. The list could go on and on. Life is definitely better than death. And yet, death is certain to come to all of us.

Death reminds us to value our life and live with meaning and purpose. In John's gospel chapter 11 we encounter a story about life and death and how our relationship with Christ can produce life even after we die.

Jesus said in 11:25, "I am the resurrection and life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" He said this after one of his close friends, Lazarus had passed from life into death. But, Jesus had a plan. He would raise up Lazarus form the dead.

From out of this powerful story flows both historical and spiritual realities. Historically speaking, archeologists tell us that churches were built on the grave site of Lazarus from as early as the 4th century if not earlier. In other words, this story spread through out the region and down through the pages of history. People came to believe in Jesus as the Christ because they saw him raise up Lazarus from the dead. It's hard to dispute a miracle when the very evidence is walking around and living just like you. Tradition tells us that Lazarus later served in Cyprus as the Bishop of the church.

Spiritually speaking, there are some very important truths we learn from Lazarus' story about how we can live a resurrected life. Let's take a look.

1. Faith and a change of mind - Faith is the first step to receiving the glory of God in your life. When Jesus said, "Take away the stone," others expressed practical concerns. Lazarus had been dead for four days (11:39). But Jesus wanted them to have faith. Jesus' offer of life must be received by faith.

2. Obedient action - Although their minds told them no, their spirits said "yes". They obediently removed the stone (11:41). Faith must always be followed by action. If we say we believe, we need to live like we believe.

3. Removing the old life - When Lazarus came out from the grave, he was still wrapped in grave clothes. Jesus, then, commanded "Take off the grave clothes and let him go." (11:44) This may be the most important step to living the resurrected life. Removing the old life allows us to step into the new life we possess as a child of God. Whatever is holding you back must be thrown off.

This week believe the promise of Jesus and live the resurrected life for which Jesus died and you were redeemed. See you Sunday as we celebrate the resurrection and the life.

Pastor Tom