New Year's Resowhat?

As I sit writing what will be my last blog entry for the year 2009, I am struck by the fact that every year at this time, I tend to do the same type of thing. I spend no small amount of time thinking about the new year and trying to make a new set of commitment's, or resolutions to follow into the new year! One thing I have noticed over the years is how in many instances the same old resolutions continue to crop back up year in and year out: eat less fried food, drink less coffee, watch less cable, read more, exercise more, have more fun, etc. etc.!

So this year I am going to take a new approach - I am going to try and develop a 'greater desire' in key areas of my life, rather than accomplishing certain tasks or making strides, I am going to try to work on perspective in the new year (that ought to be fun!).

It might look something like this:

Rather than saying I am going to read the Bible More, Give More Money to the Church or attend services more faithfully,
I am going to try and develop a 'hunger' for God in my life that cannot be quenched apart from His presence!

Rather than telling my wife I love her more, or calling her more from work, or doing the dishes more (thought she would probably love all of those things)
I am going to try and develop a deeper relationship with my wife and to grow in my desire for her companionship and love!

Rather than buying my kids all the latest gadgets or getting them the best coaches money can buy and the best equipment my credit card can afford
I am going to try and get to know them more and to grow in my knowledge of how God has designed them and explore the young men and women they are becoming

Okay, you get the idea - move it ought of the realm of what we can accomplish and move it into the realm of who we might become and how we might grow deeper into the relationships Christ has given us this year. Yes, you can try this at home! Take some time over the next week or so and see if you might come up with some resolve on 'being' rather than a new commitment to 'doing' (doing by the way the same things you tried to last year, an the year before that, and the . . . )

So, have fun with your resolution this year. My resolution for our church and community is that we will experience on deeper levels than ever before a close and rich intimacy with Christ our Lord! Do more, build more, grow more, attain more - that stuff is easy - grow deeper with Christ and others - now that takes the Lord and that is truly where I want to be. Besides, I am tired of trying to give up drinking coffee anyways!

From His Grace! For his Glory!
Biz

Merry Christmas to All

Symbols of the season - or traditions of Christmas has been our focus for the entire advent season. On Christmas eve our focus will culminate as we gather together at 7:00 p.m. for our Christmas eve service and light the Christ Candle in worship of our Savior. The Christ candle is at the center of the Advent Wreath as Christ is at the center of the Season of Advent. This service is annually one of our 'best' of the year as we spend a few final moments of the season focusing on Christ as our Light in this world.

As you plan out your family activities I want to encourage you to put your 'Christ family' first this year and join us - making Him central in your celebration of the season. Perhaps this year you can make our Christmas Eve Service a new Tradition that Points to Christ for you and your family?!? If you are a Westsider, then invite your family to join us with you! Our service is designed to be Family Focused, so plan on staying together as a family - yes, bring your children with you - they will be richly blessed and enjoy this service as well! We will have 'parent' rooms available for those of you who might need it, but let's plan on coming together as a family this year to celebrate our lighting of the Christ Candle!

I do hope and pray that you and your family are looking forward to and will have a very Merry Christmas this year! May you have a Christmas filled with the joy of Christ and may you and your family know His Love during this very special time of year. I hope to see you tomorrow night! If not, then maybe plan now to attend next year - begin now preparing your family for launching Christmas day by celebrating the Christ Child in worship on Christmas Eve!

Merry Christmas!


Biz

Benevolence Offering on Christmas Eve. Please remember that we will have our offering plates/baskets in the back of our sanctuary on Christmas Eve. All the funds gathered during this service will go to the benevolence needs that exist within our own congregation. I know that a family or two will be very blessed at the end of 2009 because of your giving!

Christmas Traditions, Pt. 3 - the Shepherds

I think my favorite of the Christmas Stories recorded in the Gospels is the one found in Luke 2 about the Shepherds! Here is my top ten reasons why I like this story over the others.

10. The Angels first announcement was to Shepherds - cool! We would announce this to dignitaries and 'movers and shakers' today - yet God announces his coming to a bunch of smelly shepherds - give us all hope, right?!?

9. The Shepherds were scared to death - who wouldn't be - an angel is speaking to them about God coming to the town next door.

8. The Angels took the fear they felt and turned it into peace - they said, 'fear not' even as Christ does today!

7. The Angles announce 'good news and great joy.' Boy, I sure wish we looked at Christmas through that lens today . . .

6. The announcement of God's Son took more than one Angel - yep, God calls out the whole 'Army of hosts' - how awesome is that?!? Puts our puny announcements in perspective, doesn't it?

5. Golden Rings - okay, just kidding. God let's us know that the most blessed of people are those of us 'on whom His favor rests' - nothing quite like being loved by God, Saved by His Son - that is truly the blessed life!

4. The Shepherds start talking about Jesus! When was the last time you and I talked about Jesus with people we know??

3. The Shepherds took off to find him! When was the last time . . . see number 4.

2. The Shepherds see him and they worship Him - they are drawn to Him and they praise Him! Hmm, worshiping someone other than ourselves - what a great idea!

1. Jesus' mother, Mary - pondered these things in her heart - just like a mom. Betcha she had a baby book somewhere in their wardrobe - now that is a baby book I'd love to see.

Okay, some are better than others, but what do the Shepherds tell you about Christ this Christmas season? The lessons are many - read it for yourselves and just live out one of them - might change your life forever!

Traditions that point to Jesus!
Biz

Christmas Traditions, Pt. 2

I cannot remember the last time I walked any distance further than a 1/2 mile or so. In fact, last night I had to walk a block to see Santa drive through our neighborhood. To be honest with you, any further than that and we would just have to catch him at the mall. My own resistance to walking only heightens the impact of the Story of the Wise Men. Several men (we don't really know how many) set out on a journey that could have taken as much as two years (not real sure) to visit a child - a savior child who was prophesied to bring deliverance to Israel (remember, the wise men weren't even Israelites - they were probably Persian). Simply Amazing! From His earliest of days, Christ always drew a crowd and often drew them from the least likely of places.

This text is rife, however with irony. The non - Jewish caravan of astronomers/astrologers come a great distance, yet we have no record of the Jewish authorities traveling even within the city to see Jesus. One would think that at least the Chief Priests would have followed the wise men to see the child. Even today, I am amazed at those of us who do and those of us who do not seek Christ! And, I think it all comes down to the simple fact that we must recognize who this child is before we ever consider seeking Him.

The Wise men recognize at least three truths about this Christ that point to the Hope we have for deliverance in Him. They first recognized Him as Sovereign - indeed a King! They brought gifts (at least three, maybe more) that were fit for a King and they laid them at His feet. Secondly, they recognized Him as Shepherd - the Old Testament term for One who protects, guides and deals mercifully with His sheep. This Idea of Shepherd King is not new, rather it is steeped in the richest traditions of the Old Testament and help us understand that the pre -Christian Jew would be looking for exactly this in the form of a Messiah. Thirdly, they saw Him as Savior. This is evident in the fact that they worshipped Him. We are not sure how fully developed their understanding of Christ as Savior was, but it is certain that they understood this child fulfilled more than just the role of a good earthly king or person. They were so sure that they crossed cultural barriers and land masses, intentionally undermined a corrupt and paranoid ruler (Herod) and brought untold wealth in the hopes that they would catch a glimpse of this Christ King. Who do you see when you look at this child? To what do your traditions point today? Do you see a Sovereign, a Shepherd and a Savior?

If we see Him as some ancient story of a good man who did some good in his time, then we will probably not leave the couch this Christmas season. But, if we see him as the Wise Men did in Matthew 2, then we would cross the wildest of terrain for the simple hope of being near him, if even for a moment. Here is the good part in all of that, though, we don't have to cross the wildest terrain - no, Christ has crossed it for us! He has come to us and the tradition of the Wise men helps us see that so clearly. All we need to do is recognize and receive him - and then only will we move to seek Him!

Traditions that Point to Christ

Biz

Christmas Traditions, Part 1

I love Christmas! Without a doubt it is my favorite time of year. I love the lights, the gifts, the grandeur, the seemingly kinder communities and people, all of it. Most of all, I love the traditions the come with Christmas. I will never wish you a Happy Holiday - not because I do not wish to identify with those who do not celebrate Christmas - but because for me a 'Merry Christmas' greeting is a tradition I look forward to and freely give and receive during this time of year. I love the tradition of getting the tree, putting the lights up, singing carols, being with family and friends - I even love the tradition of buying a gift that comes from my heart that I can give to those I love! But, in our home there are a couple of traditions that stand out as moments that define the season for me.

One of my favorite Christmas Traditions is our Christmas Eve Candlelit service. We have celebrated this every year of our marriage in some way or another and it is something I look forward to with much anticipation each year. In my mind is is just the right place to be the night before Christmas - gathering with friends and family at the church and joyfully thanking Christ for the gift He has, is and will continue to give us - the gift of Himself. A second, moment defining tradition is our families traditional reading of the Christmas Story each Christmas morning, BEFORE we do anything else. Every year I think the children will want to skip this and move right into the opening of their presents, but I am amazed year in and year out as they too look forward to this time and recognize that the greatest gift we have received is the gift of the Christ child, or God with us, as the prophet Isaiah said so long ago.

How about you and your family? Are there traditions you celebrate - one's to which you look forward with much anticipation this time of year? Even in the toughest of times, traditions can keep us grounded and give us hope. The remind us of a past that in some way helps us navigate the present and look with hope into the future. They help us focus in on what is most important in life and how we have changed, are changing and will continue to change even as we participate in traditions that rarely, if ever change! You know, Christianity was birthed into a rich tradition that we too celebrate today. If you read the Gospel writers you see that they quoted liberally from the Old Testament to clue us in that God was doing a new thing, a radically new thing, but this new thing was steeped in what He had been doing all along - claiming a people for Himself!

This Advent Season, we are going to spend some time at Westside focusing on three key traditions: Purification (this Sunday), Redemption (next) and then Celebration (the 20th). Join us each week and bring a friend with you - everyone, all of us, need a good reminder of the great traditions that have gotten us here!

Celebrating the Traditions that Point to Christ!
Pastor Biz

Personal Thanks to everyone who prayed for my family and Luke a couple of weekends ago. He is doing great and all is well - thanks to Pastor Pierre for doing such a great job on such short notice!!

Raise The Roof Update: As you know, we are in need of raising 20,000.00 for a new roof to put on the sanctuary, thankfully we have repaired the leeks and the job as been done really well so they are not, to my knowledge, recurring. Currently we have right at 6,000.00 which means we need 14,000.00 more. I am excited to let you know that we have a gift of 5,000.00 pledged to the roof fund IF we can come up with the other 9,000.00 by January 2010. While I know that times are tough, I am asking each of us to think and pray about a Christmas offering to help push us to that 9,000.00 mark. What a great blessing it will be when the roof is overhead and we can look back with thankfulness to the Lord and His faithfulness for providing! Please join us in this effort and let's 'raise the roof' funds together!