Christmas is for Pagans, Really?

Tina brought home a paper that was posted at her office telling us how bad we are in celebrating Christmas and that Christians should not participate in the Christmas season. I have one thing to say to whoever put that up and you can quote me on it: "Bah Humbug to you!"

It seems some of Tina's co-workers were upset by the paper and wanted my opinion so let me take about two seconds, well I can't type that fast, to give it a try.

No we don't know when Jesus was actually born, the Bible doesn't give us a specific day. Yes, the Christmas celebration predated as a pagan holiday as did Halloween, but that does not mean by celebrating Christmas we are honoring the pagan holiday of old. Although I agree that Christmas has been mis-used and abused, the attitude of those who celebrate Christmas is what makes it special and the person (Jesus Christ) whom we honor and celebrate makes it even more special.

Why do we entertain idiots (yes, I called them idiots) who want to make everything evil and attempt to push their beliefs on others. If the person who posted the paper wants to not celebrate Christmas then so be it, that's completely OK with me. It's like those who chose to fight over versions of the Bible. What positive impact does it have on the Kingdom of God? I am sure I don't know everything (in fact I know very little) about God and His Word, but I am pretty sure God isn't pleased by our fighting over stuff that does more to harm the message than progress the message. You see I can have unity with you and love you even if you only believe the KJV is the authorize Bible only, that's perfectly OK with me. (Enough said about that!)

Here's my point, what we do at Christmas is what really matters. If we fall into the traditions of man and allow our celebration to be hijacked by gifts, spending and the Christmas fuse we probably are celebrating for the wrong reasons and it becomes pagan, but when we put Jesus at the center of our celebration we fulfil this passage:
John 12:32 (KJV)
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
The Bible teaches us that all we do should be measured by how successful we are or how much fun we have, but do we lift Jesus up before men. When we lift Jesus up we allow Him to shine forth and He will draw men to himself.

Christmas is for Pagans, NOT!

Oh Yeah, I did what you need to do with the paper posted on the bulletin board (that was posted without signature or contact info, people who don't put their name on it, don't deserve my time) tossed it in the trash, never to bother me again!

Great Day followed by a Bad Day

Sunday was a great day as we concluded the MySpace series. The crowd was good and the offering was once again incredible. We introduced Nate and Brittney Mattox as our new Children's Pastor and the church erupted in applause, I love that! Thanks for welcoming Nate and Brittney. But like a lot of Sunday's a Great Day is usually followed by a Bad Day!

I know that none of you have bad days! Everything always goes your way and everything is perfect in your life. Well, it just don't happen that way for me. Today was one of those days. I could have just stayed in bed and done fine, but I got up and went to the office and attempted to work, but nooooo! The enemy had other plans.

All day I fought the enemy, I second guessed my every decision and had one of those I think I'll just quit and dig ditches type of days. But about the time I had everything worked out God reminded me of a few things and everything changed. Not that the problems I faced went away, it's just He gave me peace about how to handle those things His way. I wonder why we have to be reminded so often.

On Sunday I will share with you one way God smacked me in the face. I give you a little hint.

Philippians 4:11-14 (MSG)
11 Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. 12 I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. 13 Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. 14 I don't mean that your help didn't mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles.

Matt Wyrick reminded me of this in a letter to our church. Then God reminded me of it later in the day as I thought, "Compared to Matt, I have it made, shut up and quit whining!"

Well, the day is closing and I feel better. I thought it important to share with you that even a pastor has those days, you know the kinda days we all have (just telling the truth). If we are to survive we will have to learn from where I strength comes from.

On Mission

Do you ever have those days that seem to mark your life and change you? Today was one of those days for me. I spent most of the day at Lee Arrendale State Prison giving hygiene items as Christmas gifts to the prison population.

I remember my first visit to the prison a little over 8 months ago, it was not what I expected. I fully expected to have fear of being in a facility filled with people who were locked up for anything from drug charges to murder. What I found was a building filled with ladies who need to know that there are people who really do love them and I had no fear.

Today my job was to hand out emery boards. As I handed each inmate an emery board the look of excitement filled their eyes. Occasionally a lady would pass who was so overwhelmed that someone cared for them they had tears in their eyes. Of course this cause my eyes to fill as well. I saw girls as young as 18 and ladies as old as 70, each with a multitude of hurt and pains in their life.

Several stand out, like the young girl, who looked like she was my daughters age, who looked as if she were completely lost and without hope. As I handed her the emery board I smiled and said Merry Christmas. The return look told me she had not had someone care for her in a long time. Then there was another lady who walked with a cane, she had a drooping face, a face that had felt the ravages of a stroke. She spoke very deliberately and slowly as the stroke had taken her ability to communicate. Later I would hear that she was close to being released following over 24 years of imprisonment. Last week she had her first outside visit from family in over 20 years. I celebrated with her and hugged her neck and said goodbye. Next I visited with the lock-down where ladies are put when they break rules, I am not sure I could survive this as each person was in a small cell with little to no outside contact.

It changes you, it moves you, it hurts you. Now don't think I tell you this to think the prison system is not treating the ladies right, they do a great job and the staff (who are underpaid and overworked) really do care, but must do their job in accordance with the standards set forth by the court system for those who break the laws. I tell you all this in hopes that you will consider future opportunities to serve and make plans to come be changed.

I have always said, "missions will change a person". I can assure you the local mission work will grow you spiritually in ways you will never forget.

Thank you Warden Howerton, Chaplain Roberts and Jett and the staff as you allowed us the privilege to serve the ladies at LASP, I can truly say you guys helped change me today, a change that I wished every Christ follower would be willing to experience.

Gearing up for Christmas Eve

Many thanks to you for the response to yesterday's music. We opened with Steve Fee's version of "Joy to the World Let All Creation Sing" It was fresh and fun and sure to show up Wed. It was good to hear you join in on "Saviour of the World" thanks Celeste for a fine job. Carley sang a new one for us yesterday, "Let Us Adore" this is a Hillsong composition that we enjoyed preparing. We rounded out the set with "Amazing Grace My Chains are Gone"

The Christmas Eve service is gonna be good. We have a few surprises so you'll want to attend and bring a friend. Wed 4:30 or 6:00
See you there

The Doctrine of Hairology

In today's Monday Morning blog one of the topics was a message by a preacher named G.I. Barber (not kidding) and he is preaching a message about hair. You read right, it is about the Biblical Doctrine of Hair.

Since we have been talking about hair around here a lot, I thought you would enjoy this:

Hairology

Make Mine a Guitar...

By Diane Mapes
msnbc.com contributor
updated 9:13 a.m. ET, Tues., Dec. 16, 2008
We take them with us to the dinner table, the bedroom, even the bathroom stall. But in recent years, some of us have started taking our beloved cell phones someplace really startling: the grave.

“It seems that everyone under 40 who dies takes their cell phone with them,” says Noelle Potvin, family service counselor for Hollywood Forever, a funeral home and cemetery in Hollywood, Calif. “It’s a trend with BlackBerrys, too. We even had one guy who was buried with his Game Boy.”

Anecdotal evidence suggests being buried with a favorite tech device is on the upswing. The Future Laboratory, a London-based think tank, has commented on the behavior, noting it in places like the United Kingdom, Australia and South Africa. But experts are seeing it happen in the United States as well. CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE STORY.

Words of insight from Brian Houston

Once again I was just surfing and I found this on Perry Noble's blog. Take a minute and read this. Can you see it?

“The church that I see is a church of influence. A church so large in size that the city and nation cannot ignore it.

A church growing so quickly that buildings struggle to contain the increase.

I see a church whose heartfelt praise and worship touches heaven and changes earth. Worship which influences the praises of people throughout the earth exalting Christ with powerful songs of faith and hope.

I see a church whose alters are constantly filled with repentant sinners responding to Christ’s call to salvation.

Yes, the church that I see is so dependent on the Holy Spirit that nothing will stop it not stand against it.

A church whose people are unified, praying and full of God’s Spirit.

The church that I see has a message so clear that lives are being changed forever and potential is fulfilled though the power of His Word. A message beamed to the peoples of the earth through their television screens.

I see a church so compassionate that people are drawn from impossible situations into a loving and friendly circle of hope, where answers are found and acceptance is given.

I see a people so kingdom-minded that they will count whatever the cost and pay whatever the price to see revival sweep this land.

The church that I see is a church to committed to raising, training and empowering a leadership generation to reap the end-time harvest that all its ministries are consumed with this goal.

I see a church whose head is Jesus, whose help is the Holy Spirit and whose focus is the Great Commission.

Yes, the church that I see could well be our church.”

I agree Brian and I believe Fellowship has "IT"!