The Christmas Story Matthew 2 December 27, 2009

The Christmas Story Matthew 2 December 27, 2009

10When they say the star, they were overjoyed. 11On coming to the house, they say the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

Random thoughts about gifts
Johnny Carson story...bought son a tank $100, played in the box
Next year, the kid gets a box

Jesus Got Gifts
Gold, frankincense and myrrh
Why do the wise men bring gold, frankincense and myrrh?
Uses of them:

1. Gold is obvious
   
2. Frankincense is an aromatic resin obtained from trees - it is used in incense as well as perfumes
   Signifies that he is to be worshipped
   
3. Myrrh - symbolism of this gift?
   
   Nicodemus, comes bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds of weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound if in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews - John 19:39-40
   
   In the ex 30 myrrh is mentioned as a primary ingredient in the holy anointing oil
   
   Psalm 45 mentions myrrh as a kingly fragrance
   
   On the cross...and they offered him wine and mingled with myrrh; but he did not take it - Mark 15:22-23

There is probably all kinds of symbolism, but the real fact of the matter is that these are the valuables of the day. That which was traded on the overland trade routes. They needed the money to make the trip to Egypt...

Jesus and his family made a long trip to Egypt, to get away from King Herod. Does that mean that they were illegal aliens?

So the son of God receives gifts...
But only what he needs - they don't retire, they are not on lottery winners 3
Does not consume more just because he can

Man am I preaching to myself today

We give and receive gifts
Movie - A Christmas Story
not much to use - the boy wanted a bb gun

Strangest gift you have ever received? [elephant]
Strangest gift you ever gave...

Why do we give the gifts that we give

Gifts we give...
Shoes to my son...needed
Shoes to my wife or daughter????

Rock band - the Beatles
Sweaters....really....?
Little cars - I love them, but if you see the collection...something is wrong

so why do we give the gift that we give?
To some degree, each of us have limited resources
Is there a higher purpose to our giving

Do you give something, just so that you can say that you did?
Of do you try to better the person with your gift

But Pastor, Isn't joy enough? Sure.maybe joy is enough, but let's think about what we give.
Wouldn't want to give bb guns would we?

best gift you ever received...easy bake oven...vibrating football field
Vibrating football
Dad gave me - Character

Gifts...gold, frankincense and myrrh
the best gifts prepare us for the journey of living, they are not simply consumed

whether we give or receive
Really Good Gifts do things for us on the inside
When we give back, we get back...something happens to us...
And when you are on the receiving end, you just are good in your soul

God gave gifts at Christmas
The gifts of Christmas are not gold, frankincense or myrrh
But a child, a son, salvation, love, grace
God gives us what we need

What kind of things so we ask god for?
Better cars, better jobs, more sweaters?
Give us this day our daily bread.

Sometimes we just have to remember that God has promised to supply our needs. Nothing more.
Paul said, I have learned to be content...

How are we using our resources...

when we give in ways that provide meaning and joy and life, we experience the gift of a spiritual life.

We give as God gives.

God gives us gifts that matter.
Let's not worry so much about wanting more or blaming it on God when...
We don't get what we want...

Whatever you get this year, load up extra stuff and give it to the poor.

Random thoughts of giving...

Conclusion
Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: Money and status are not basic human needs. Rings and jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts... the only true gift is a portion of ones self-----that is what God gives to us...

'We don't have enough time is life left to worry about who didn't do whatever to be able to get together more...no guilt, not hurt feelings, just a constant effort to cherish any time we can get together!!!

Christmas Eve Sermon 2009 Isaiah 9:2

Christmas Eve Sermon 2009 Isaiah 9:2

2The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

On Christmas Eve we celebrate the light that has come into our world, Jesus Christ brings the light of God's love and grace

Darkness is universally understood. We sense it in war and fear. Even scary movies and our bumbling in the dark looking for a switch. As children we all had a fear of being lost in the dark, unable to make if home and we grow into adults and sometimes, that darkness and those fears are still present. Except now they are no longer child sized, they are adult sized and they are not imagined but real.

But this Jesus makes our lives wonderful, changing us from the inside out. Except we don;t always feel wonderful do we....

It's A Wonderful Life movie - 1947
Starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed
Jimmy Stewart is George Bailey
An average man in many ways who lives as each of us tries to live, reaching out and caring about others as we can.

Things are all well until he faces a crisis in his life.
He will lose his job, his family, end up in prison. Decides that he is worth more dead than alive. He wishes he had never been born

Goes out onto a bridge to end it all.
Is met by his guardian angel; Clarence who shows him all the good he has done in his life.

He saved his brothers life
He stuck up for the little people
Sign on wall - "All that you can take with you is that which you have given away."
Served the community
He was a good father and husband

Angel helps him see what the world would be like without him - the world is different and on one knows him He does not like this world.
Clarence says...Strange isn't it each mans life touches so many others lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole.
What a gift, you had a wonderful life...wouldn't it be a mistake to throw it away

Begs for his life back. His life where people know him and he gets to play a part. Begs for another chance. I want to live again.

Gets that chance, runs home embraces hie family. All of this friends come over and celebrate the gift of life...it's a wonderful ending.

Have you ever felt like life was not so wonderful?
Have you been feeling down-unneeded? Maybe you are here tonight and you as I have had times in your life when you wondered if it was worth it.

Let an angel come to you and stop and think of all those you have helped.

Transition One
What if they all came back, all those in whose lives you have invested come back to show their appreciation?
What if we lined them up right here and they could speak to you.

Can you see their smile, can you hear them say thank you?

If someone is here tonight that helped you, be sure to tell them thank you.

But I want to say thank you for them tonight for every person whom you have ever helped.

But Pastor, I never saved any one's life. I an not very involved in the community. Really I have not lived the wonderful generous life.

Do not let others rob you of your joy. You may not have done it exactly as others thought that you should,

just a little light is all that it takes - a spark of faith within your heart, small as a mustard seed
And suddenly we are standing on holy ground because one of the amazing things about light is that it dispels darkness. The smallest amount of light is infinitely more powerful than massive amounts of darkness. The smallest amount of light turns a dark place into holy ground.

1. Have you visited someone in a hospital? Alli in the hospital.. Something else, something sacred, something more going on here. Something else is going on in that room that we only get glimpses of from time to time
2. You are at a restaurant of grocery store visiting with a server that you have got the chance to know. They are telling you their story about how they don;t go to church anymore because they got tired of being judged and condemned. You look at them with the most sincere face and tell them the truth. Our church will not treat you this way. You will be welcomed and loved. They know immediately that it is true because the light always dispels the darkness.
3. Maybe you went on a mission trip or spent time reaching out to the needy here locally in Kansas City.
4. Maybe you have dome to a funeral visitation and stood by a friend in their hour of need. Something happened in such moments and the light goes forth.
5. New church start "The Beacon" one little light becomes 5, 10, 25, 50, 75.......100
   
   We have to learn to set aside the negative message and remember how to offer this message just as Children, unencumbered by the cares and worries of this life, are a great source of light - letter from Skylar to Luka
   
   Dear Luca, I wanted to give this to you. This is a story that is so true.
   And this is how it goes. A long, long time ago, Jesus was born.
   He was born in a manger that was so warm.
   Shepherds looked up in the sky, They saw a Angel flying high.
   The angel said, "Peace on earth good will to men."
   Jesus Christ will forgive our sins.
   Three wise men from far and along came and hummed their favorite song.
   They brought presents...myrrh, frankincense, and gold.
   And that's why we celebrate Christmas. Love, Skylark
   
6. At Thanksgiving I asked Olivia what she wanted Santa to bring her. Her reply: "MOM, DID YOU KNOW that Christmas is not about Santa bringing gifts? It's about celebrating the birth of baby Jesus and giving gifts to poor people!" A week later, we were in Barnes and Noble looking for gifts for family members. she said, "Mom, we need to buy a gift just in case there weren't enough. Something that would work for a boy or a girl." She promptly picked out a children's Bible. "In case the needy person didn't know about Jesus."

And the list of Jesus dispels the darkness

Transition Two
If you still feel that you would not be missed, well then here is what I must tell you.
The message of the light comes to us and for us. You are forgiven and free. Tonight is your night. Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your life. You can make a change. Reach out. Help another. Make a difference. Receive and share the love of God and the world will never be the same.

Receive this light of Christ. Giving God's love and amazing grace. This is your chance to live a life of significance. A life filled withe meaning and purpose.

Never underestimate the power of one little light

When you do an act of kindness
You become a part of something bigger than one alone
Your influence goes out into the world for good, exponentially.

The light of Christ was not meant to be balled up in the hearts of Christians or held prisoner within the confines of a church.
It is out there, within you tonight as we speak.
We just have to learn to give it away.

Conclusion
You know that this is the time of the service when the pastor lights his candle and passes it to the ushers, and they pass it around. What if this year, something different happens, what if you have the light out there and you get it out of your pocket and the light begins from you, from places all over the congregation.

A spontaneous combustion of the light of Christ from within the congregation - because we just can't hold it back.

Jesus, the light of the world, can make our lives wonderful.

Joyeux Noel Isaiah 2:1-5 December 20, 2009

Joyeux Noel Isaiah 2:1-5 December 20, 2009

1this is what Isaiah of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem; 2In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised about the hills, and all nations will stream to it. 3Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." the law will go out from Zion. the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. 5Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.

The prophet for tell a time when the Lord will come to earth, he will teach us his ways and we will walk in this paths. This is not just a baby in a manger but a king who will rule with justice and put an end to war. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. The one to come will make wars cease

• Arabs and Israelis
• Muslims and Christians - 9 crusades over 200 years 1100 - 1300

Point is, this kind of stuff will end. This is a new kind of kingdom and a new kind of king who has the power to end wars.

Story of the Christmas truce - go tot side papers...

the movie story that we share today is a little known from 2005 Joyeux Noel

Academy Awards: Oscar, Best Foreign Language Film of the Year, France; 2006.
Golden Globes: Golden Globe, Best Foreign Language Film, France; 2006

Setting is WW1 - began in summer of 1914...revolutionary war tactics - WW1 tactics...trench warfare...snipers, machine guns

Time to charge...

In between the trenches is no man's land

Story begins that in 1914 the Germans received Christmas trees
both sides get something extra to drink

Germans put their trees up on top of the trench on Christmas Eve

Everyone is having a great time
Laughter, drinking, relaxing in a time of great fear

Then one side starts to sing, and the other side listens.
The song changes the tone, the moment, the heart

They creep their heads out of the trenches to watch and greet each other. Then on brave German man steps out. He is singing Silent Night.

Then the bagpipes of the Scots begin to play along.

the German officer goes to get his singer
The Scottish officer comes out
The officers end up in the middle of no mans land

Pretty soon they are all out...pouring out of their trenches into no mans land
Sharing a handshake, a name, tobacco, a drink of whatever they had. Pictures of their girls.

In the midst of a world that is encompassed with war, there is still a great hope for something better

The Christmas truce of 1914 occurred at several places along the front.
Daily get togethers, soccer games
Finally had to move the regiments
The war raged on for 4 more years....16m dead 21m wounded

Return from side papers

One little tune breaks the night, and it calls forth something more, something deeper than how we normally live. Calls us back to how we are supposed to be

So about now you are saying that you are glad that I finally have a sermon that is not picking on you.

You are not in the Army. You are not at war.

You are even powerless to affect whether our country is at war or not. the whole premise of the sermon is far removed from where you live.

Is that what you are thinking

[Take nothing that I say now as regards to our country and war. I do not know the information that our joint chiefs and president know. I am a poor preacher - let's talk about us.]

Well, not every war is nation engaging nation.
Sometimes wars are neighbor to neighbor
Business associate to business partner
Employee to fellow employee
Cousin to cousin
Brother to brother
Husband to wife
Wife to husband

In this Isaiah text we find people living in the presence of swords and spears, nations in dispute with one another

And you in a battle today, if you are, then this king has something to say to you
Maybe you are mostly at peace, just an occasional was
Little fight at work, little problem at home, in line at Macys

Woman was killed on Friday night in a road rage incident in KCK

What I was a teenager, people my age and a little over drove VW buses, marched for peace and loved one another. I missed most of this because I was a part of the establishment.
But I have had much sympathy for them over the years. But where are they now? They all own homes, drive cards and are working hard to protect their way of life. They have become a part of the establishment. We sell our principles to keep our comfort. What is mine must be protected at all costs.

We end up reacting instead of action

This same Jesus who promised to bring wars to an end will settle the disputes between many. Verse four

And so the song goes out, the tune goes forth...
What image does this conjure up in your head
Back at home, in my church
With my parents
Time of comfort
Time of the presence of loved ones
Simpler time
A child is born a baby given
God loves us
And we are saved


This same Jesus who promised to bring wars to an end will settle the disputes between many. Verse four
Here is how he does it - you choose to see a better way, you choose to lay your weapons down

If you are in battle, it is time to lay down your weapons. Climb our of your trench and step towards your enemy.

Road rage, don't pick up your sword
Pride and arrogance in the office, put your weapon down
Power struggle at home - lay down your sword
I heard of someone recently who did not take up a fight
I was contacted by another about a threatening email

My kids like to say, don't be a hater
Jesus said, Do not render evil for evil but overcome evil with good

You do not know what they will do, but you do know that there will never be peace until you lay your weapons down.

this king who is to come invites us to be on the front line, the first of a new kind of people. In Advent, a new day is dawning. A new king, a new kingdom. A kingdom of love

and so we are invited by verse 5
"Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord."

And so we light a candle of hope


Walk to the manger.....

Intro to Walk to the Manger 2009

We are so glad that you have joined us for worship today.
In a few months we will close with out song of sending
But now, one of our blessed traditions at WCC is the walk to the manger.

Just as shepherds and wisemen of old to worship and to offer their gifts
We too take time each Christmas to offer our gifts and worship.

If you have brought a gift today I invite you to join me as we take a walk to the manger.

A Christmas Carol - Isaiah 9:6-7 December 13, 2009

A Christmas Carol - Isaiah 9:6-7 December 13, 2009

6For to us a child is born, to us a son is giver, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called wonderful Counselor, Might God. Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. the zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Imagine a wonderful government

Charles Dickens wrote the Christmas Carol in 1843
Charles Dickens goes into a bar and orders a martini....olive or twist?

Beloved story
Among the most truly Christian of movies
1951 - starring Alistar sin - dad's favorite - edited for faith

I make no apology for learning so heavily upon his movie...for he message today...

Quoting scripture - what are the scriptural points that Dickens wants to make?
Inviting people to overcome human nature/sin and live the lives for which we were created

You know the story
Ebenezer Scrooge is a bad guy

Christmas is a humbug - my life is about me
Collecting more and more to himself
His heart is not open to those around him
He does not share his time, money or joy with others
He has no joy
Christmas is a poor excuse for picking a man's pocket

Let the poor and infirmed die and so decrease the surplus population

This is human nature at its worst.
Taking for ones self
Doing the minimum - he supported prisons for debtors

God look upon such a world and wants to send a savior

He is visited by 2-4 spirits
Jacob Marley - Christmas Past - Christmas present - The spirit of things to come

Visit of Marley
Jacob Marley: In life, my spirit never rose beyond the limits of our money changing!Now I am doomed to wander without rest or peace, incessant torture and remorse!

Ebenezer: But it was only that you were a good man of business, Jacob!
Jacob Marley: BUSINESS? Mankind was my business! Their common welfare was my business! And it is at this time of the year that I suffer most!

Goes to window, sees spirit figures around homeless person...
Ebenezer: Why so they lament?
Jacob Marley: They seek to interfere for good in human matters, and have lost their power to do so forever.

So the visits of 3 spirits begins
spirit of Christmas past...
He learns that he used to be a better man.

As your business prospered Ebenezer Scrooge
A golden idol took possession of your heart

Scrooge on door
when life becomes about our stuff we begin to miss what is really important.

Spirit of Christmas Present
Mortal! We spirits of Christmas do not live only one day of our your. We live the whole three-hundred and sixty five. So is it true of the Child Born in Bethlehem. He does not live in men's hearts one day of the year, but in all days of the year. You have chosen not to seek Him in your heart.
So you will come with me to seek him in the hearts of men of good will.

Visits the happy poor, his nephew, his former fiance.

nephew quote...who suffer worse than him for his attitude?
When we are me centered we are unhappy
It's the take it and lose it, lose it and find it.

then he visits former fiance
1 Corinthians 13 - Alice serving in the poor house
If I have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I an nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but hove not love, I gain nothing

you cut yourself off from fellow beings

You must learn this lesson
Who are these children, are they yours?
This boy is ignorance this girl is want
They are man's They cling to the Spirit of Christmas for protection of their fetters
Beware of them both, by beware of this boy

Want is bad enough - ignoring want
Want needs of others is worse

Spirit yet yo come
Tim dies...we have a short time on this earthy
they comfort themselves by reading - Psalm 91

1He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty 2I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. 3Surely he will save you from the Fowler's snare and from the pestilence. 5You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 7A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand but it will not come near you to guard you in all your ways;

They pawn his stuff
I thought that he was never going to die....so did he

finally Scrooge is leaning on a grave stone

I am not the man that I was
I do repent - I will change
I am not the man that I was

Resolution
Wakes up - What day is it
Christmas day - I haven't missed it
Dancing - giddy

Give his house keeper a raise - 2 shillings raise to ten

Sends a turkey to the Cratchetts

Goes to nephew previously scorned now goes to bring good cheer
Looks upon his Nephew's wife
Can you forgive a pigheaded old fool who has not had eyes to see or ears to hear all these years

They dance
I don't deserve to be so happy---But I just can't help it

He became as good friend, master, man as any city ever knew.
It was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, "God Bless Us, Every One!

And so a child is born, a son is given

There is a gift of a son - Does anyone here have a son?
The radical unbelievable nature of this gift
Gods acts in amazing generosity
Giving us an amazing gift

God is one fail swoop has saved all those who will hear the message
How happy that must make him

In acting with radical generosity he also gives us an example that we can follow the joy of a generous life - I see it around here.
Generosity 3/4 of the kids in the pageant were not even born when this building was opened. And 300 children adopted and 52 grandparents

We all have choices to make
Are we takers or givers - Consumers or distributors

Is it about me or does God want to use me to be a part of a group that changes the world.
Jesus changes people from the inside out
God's expression of love changes us and we become a part of a movement that is caring about others

Quote of Christmas Present
Mortal! We Spirits of Christmas do not live the whole three-hundred and sixty-five. So is it true of the Child born in Bethlehem. He does not live in men's hearts one day of the year, but in all days of the year.

Each day that God gives us, we have a chance
Open the window...what day is it?
for the Christian, every day is a day of celebration
Every day is a day of thanksgiving, a day of joy.

Charlie Brown Luke 2:8-14 Dec. 6, 2010

Charlie Brown Luke 2:8-14 Dec. 6, 2010

It's a Charlie Brown Christmas.....
Snow is falling..."Christmas time, is here, happiness and cheer, yuletide by the fireside...

Charlie Brown: I think there must be something wrong with me, Linus. Christmas is coming, but I'm not happy. I don't feel the way I'm supposed to feel.
I just don't understand Christmas, I guess. I like getting presents and sending Christmas cards and decorating trees and all that, but I'm still not happy. I always end up feeling depressed.

Linus Van Pelt: Charlie Brown, you're the only person I know who can take a wonderful season like Christmas and turn it into a problem. Maybe Lucy's right. Of all the Charlie Brown's in the world, you're the Charlie Browniest.

A number of insults...
He thanks Violet for a Christmas card the she did not send

Psychiatric help needed...
Do you think you have pantophobia?
Lucy Van Pelt: The fear of everything.
Charlie Brown: THAT'S IT!

Charlie Brown is going to direct our Christmas play
Lucy Van Pelt:Here he comes! Attention, everyone, here's our director. [Charlie Brown enters, while everyone applauds]
Charlie Brown: [sarcastically] Man's best friend.

Charlie Brown goes out to find a tree...
Do something right charlie Brown...
Linus Van Pelt: [after Linus and Charlie Brown discover the little tree] Gee, do they still make wooden Christmas trees?
Charlie Brown: This little green one here seems to need a home.

[Charlie Brown and Linus return with the puny little tree]
Violet: Boy, are you stupid, Charlie Brown.
Patty: You were suppose to get a good tree. Can't you even tell a good tree from a poor tree?
Violet: I told you he'd goof it up. He isn't the kind you can depend on to do anything right.
Patty: You're hopeless, charlie Brown.
Frieda: Completely hopeless.
Lucy Van Pelt: You've been dumb before, Charlie Brown, but this time, you really did it.
[pause; then everyone burst out laughing]
Lucy Van Pelt: [laughing] What a tree!

Charlie Brown: I guess you were right, Linus. I shouldn't have picked this little tree. Everything I do turns into a disaster. I guess I really don't know what Christmas is all about?[shouting in desperation]
Charlie Brown: Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?
Linus Van Pelt: Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about?
Linus tells the story... "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping over their flock by night.
Linus Van Pelt: That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown..

Then Charlie Brown, fresh with Christmas spirit, heads out to decorate his little tree
Let's watch....show video 22:17-23:27

Charlie Brown: I've killed it. Of! Everything I touch gets ruined.

the kids come out, they fix up his tree...
Everyone: Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!

Kids sing, Hark the Herald Angels Sing....

and so Christmas comes, even for Charlie Brown

In the biblical Christmas story the Charlie Brown's are the shepherds.

• low social standing
• regarded as untrustworthy outcasts
• Shepherds were men whose vocation had become despised
• men who were not regarded as members of the synagogues because their work kept them busy in the fields - blue laws
• It's not the kind of job you dream about when you're a kid!

and to these people God makes an announcement

What God is doing is upside down, backwards, brilliant, comforting
God comes to the least of these.
To the losers, the pathetic, depraved, spiritual zeros. Those at the end of their rope, the bankrupt, the empty, the lepers, the lame of the world

In almost every church or religious group there are people that think that if we are going to be really good God people, we should not hang around with these folks. But we should hang around with those who look like us...

not the...the unpopular, unbeautiful, immoral, odd ducks
not the...illegal immigrants

How many of you were cheerleaders, popular in high school? I was not...are you sure that you want to hang around me?

Our brains think
God does not bless people like this
God blesses those who work hard and keep their noses clean.
God blesses those who can earn it.
and when our brains think that way...And suddenly we are full of ourselves. We become the Pharisees.

This is how religion functions...what good thing must I do to be worthy of God's blessing?

Think about who gathers with Jesus later in his ministry? Prostitutes and tax collectors and sinners. People that did not fit in, the sick, the poor, the lame.
So much so that he is accused of...hanging with the undesirables
Luke 7:3 John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath the devil. The son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

How about the story of the banquet from Luke 14:15-23
Man throws a feast. Invites his friends
They all have excuses...bought a cow, got married
21The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.' 22Sir, the servant said, what you ordered has been done, but there is still room. 23Then the master told his servant, Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.

Who ends up attending? Those who most of us would never invite to a great banquet.

Imagine the Hilton Garden Banquet Room filled with the homeless, the poor, the sick, those who have nothing. and they are feasting, they are dancing. And God is throwing the party.

None of my business...what if instead of a feast for us to raise money, we raised the money for the ministry and let the homeless come to eat. they would never forget it.

But this is what God says in the announcement to the shepherds:
You are blessed for no reason of your own deserving.
You are blessed because I have something to say, and what I want to say is that I love the little people.
Those who need me.
Those who have no other hope in this world then to put their trust in me.
I will entrust them with the message of love and they will spread it.

There is not test of their righteousness. No proof that they are good God followers
That angels show up and God makes a statement to the world - an announcement

Peace on earth good will to men on whom my favor rests
On whom my favor rests
Those who did not think they were something
Those who are not full of themselves
Those who are not so busy running all over, keeping up with the Jones's
Those who are open, and have time, and maybe that is all that they have
Those who are ripe for the message

There is something about the message of God's grace that just rushes out to the poor.

Everyone in this section who has done the unthinkable. God is with you.
Everyone in this section who has really goofed up their like, God is with you.

God is on the side of everyone who there is no reason that God should be on their side.
This is counter intuitive
No wonder they call it good news.

I have an idea---
Find the weakest person in your world, the one that no one wants to hand with and buy their lunch. Give them a gift card to Panera. Ask how they are doing. If you are in high school, go sit at their lunch table.

Here is another thought
Sometimes you can't fix something, but you can make an announcement.

So lets end this sermon
If thisannouncement happened today, where would it take place
Not Lee's Summit, not WCC, probably under a bridge somewhere

but we are sill the partakers when we come to understand that we can't earn it. We can't deserve it. It is a gift to the lowly of heart.
good news. God loves you.

And to those who are particularly broken inside
If you are there and you are tired of pretending...
you may have a nice house and a nice car,
but inside you relate to the shepherds, the broken, the sick, the fed up
Peace on earth. God is with you. God's favor rests on you. Good news to you.

And so we light a candle of hope.

Prayer
God help us to see your blessing.
Deliver us from the religion that makes us think we can earn it. Let us rejoice in your announcement. Let us rejoice in your love.

The Grinch Luke 1:5-17 11/29/09

The Grinch Luke 1:5-17 11/29/09

5In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly dicision of Abjah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly. 7But they had not children, because elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.

8Once when Zechariah's divison was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9he was chosen by lost, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10And when the time for the burining of incense came, all the assembled wordhipers were praying outside.

11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the alter of incense. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was start.ed and was gripped with fear. 13But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. 14He will be a joy amd delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15for he will be freat in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. 16Many of the people of Isreal will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17And he will go on berfore the Lord , in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the reighteous - to make reay a people prepared for the Lord."

As the old testament ends...Malachi 4:5 See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. 6He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers;
No prophetic voice for 400 years

As the new testament begins
2 children are born
One prepares the way, one is the way
John sthe Baptist acnnounce the kingdom

Intro
The arrival of Jesus is the seed of the kingdom
The promise of the kingdom is here
When the kingdom comes
Hearts are changed
The hearts of the fathers are turned to the children
Patriarchal society...power used for ones own benefit
There is no mention of the prodigal son's mother

Most kingdoms are about
power, territory, genocide, lust, greed, power

But this kingdom is different
Hearts of the fathers to their chirdlre.
This is the work of John the Baptist
When the Missiah comes, this is what everyone is supposed to be about
this is the work of everyone in God's kingdom

the Christmas story, tho simple is hard to put into everyday life...
A baby is born...and what?
I know this story...please make it come alive

One way that this has been done over the years is by artists and writers who have captured part of the Christmas message in great works of our time. It is hard to catch, but there is something about these great films that speak to us about the true meaning of Christmas

Grinch story - Tell the story

Happy whos in whoville

Singer: You're a foul one, Mr. Grinch/your a nasty, wasty skunk/Your heart is full of unwashed socks, you soul is full of gunk/Mr. Gri-inch/The three words that best describe you are as follows, and I quote: Stank, stank, stunk!

Every Who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lost, bu the Grinch who lived just north of Whoville - did not. The grinch hated Christmas - the whole Christma season. Now, please don't ask why; no one quite knows the reason. It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight. Or it could be that his head wasn't screwed on just right. But I think that the most likely reason of all may have been that his heart was two sizes to small.

Grinch: That's the one thing I hate! All the noise, noise, noise, noise!

Grinch: I must stop this whole thing! Why, for fifty-three years I've put up with it now. I must stop Christmas from coming...but how?

Narrator: The he got an idea. An awful idea. The grinch got a wonderful, *awful* idea!

Middle

Grinch: I know just what to do!
Narrator:...The Grinch laughed in his throat.
Grinch: I'll make a quick Santy Clause hat and a coat.
Narrator: and he chuckled and chuckled...
Grinch: What a great Grinchy trick. With this caot and this hat, I'll liik just like Saint Nick!
narrator: Then he slunk to the ice box. He took the Whos' feast, he took the who pudding, he took the roast beef. He cleaned out that ice box as quick as a flash. Why, the grinch even took their last can of Who hash.

Late

Grinch: Pooh-pooh to the Whos!
Narrator: ...he was grinchily humming.
Grinch: They're finding out now that no Christmas is coming! They're just waking up, I know just what they'll do. Their months will hang open a minute or two, then the Whos down in Whoville will all cry, "Boo Hoo."

Grinch: That's a noise
Narrator Grinned the Gricn...
Grinch: That I simply must hear!
Narrator: So he paused - and the Grinch put a hand to his ear. And he did hear a sound rising over the snow, It started in low...this it started to grow. LET's WATCH

Show Video At This Point

Narrator: But this...this sound wasn't sad. Why...this sound sounded glad. Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small, was singing, without any presents at all! He hadn't stopped Christmas from coming, it came! Somehow or other, it came just the same.

Grinch: It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes or bags!

Narrator: He puzzled and puzzled till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! Maybe Christmas, he thought , doesn'c come from a store. Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!

Narrator: And what happenedn then? Well, in Whoville they say that the Grinch's small heart grew three sizes that day. And then - the true meaning of Christmas came though, and the Grinch found the strength of *ten* grinchesm plus two!

Narrator: He brought back everything, all the food for the feast. And he, he himdlef, the Grinch - carved the roast beef

Final scene: "Christmas day is here at lost, as long as we have hands to clasp. Christmas day will always be, just aslong as we have we. Welcome Christmas, while we stand, heart to heart and hand in hand.

What were his problems - How do we relate to this?
His kingdom was about him.

He was talking to himself
When our hearts are stuck on ourselves - they get smaller
We get blind
People vs things People vs ideas
We have to choose if we will love things or love people
That will determine if our heart is little or big

Don't you just love it? They didn't need the stuff
Do you need the stuff?
What if you came down the stairs and there was nothing there?
Would you still gather in the kitchen and sing and hold hands?
I wonder what Christmas will be like for those who lost everything in the Independence fire?

When our hearts are turned towards God we remember what is really important
Slavtion army bell ringing

The message of Christmas ti transformational...hearts are turned

• To one another and back to God
• The hearts of the rich is turned to the prro
• The hearts of the homeless, welcome the rich
• Old to young - young to old
• Left to the right - Right to the left
• White to black - black to white
• Fathers to their children - children to their parents
• Wives to husbands - husbands to wives
• Every heart turned back to God

And when we are turned toward God, we don't need the stuff.
We remember what is really important

Where is your heart turned?
This king who is coming invites you to turn you heart toward others

and so we light a candle and prepare our hearts.

In Israelite Society

name and the life of a father were continued in the life of his son

When a man had a son, his son was an assurance that his name would be not forgotten

Sones helped their father in his old age,

brought him prestige in the community,

and protected the family in times of danger.

In a patriarchal society men are the leaders of their household

and they make decisions on behalf of their families.

• Where we live
• What faith are we?
• Who will my children marry?
• Haw many wives do I have?

Generally, a patriarchal societies, men hold all or most of the positions of power and leadership.

Celebration Service

Celebration Service



I was glad they said to me, let us go to the house of he Lord

The rich young ruler
Tell story
It was about his heart

Abraham & Issac
Tell story
It was about his heart

Woods Chapel
Tell story
It was about their heart
I celebrate your heart

I celebrate the God who calls
Much work has been done by God always plays the principle role in the drama rescue
I celebrate his love
i celebrate his mercy
i celebrate his forgiveness
I celebrate his grace

All that you have done in last 25 years

I celebrate the people
Young children will learn the stories of the Bible
Youth will have a safe lace to hear the claims of the Gospel
Adults will bring their children to learn, find something good for them
Marriages will have the opportunity to be saved
Those who do not believe that church had anything to offer them will find that they do have a place where they fit in
The lost will be found
The broken will be healed
People will find hope, community, purpose in Jesus Christ

Tomorrow for the first time, these people will sit in this room and seek God
I celebrate what you will do to reach them
I celebrate what God will do to reach them

Let God be glorified
I was glad when they said to me, let us go into the house of the Lord

I invite you now to sing along and celebrate, the house that mercy build.

The Gifts and Calling of God are Without Repentance Romans

The Gifts and Calling of God are without Repentance Romans 11:29

Annual Conference
Covenant of ministers
Gal at Annual Conference who retired - Chrystal Wicks

The concept of the covenant
Greater and lesser powers
Abraham
Jonah
Offer to all through Jesus Christ
You are a member of the covenant

What are you offered through the covenant?
What are we called to do?
You may not feel that you are doing a very good job representing God
You are still called

When we think it is over, God is still working

What are we called to do?
[my dogs bigger at annual conference]
I don't care about hoe many are in worship
I don't care how many softball teams we have
I don't care how big this group or that group is
I want to know that the message is getting thru
I want to know that we are hearing his voice
I want to know that the blind are finding sight
The lost are finding their way
That husbands and wives are treating each other with love
I want to know that Christ is alive in your heart.

It is time for us to move forward, it is time for us to solve problems
What is God calling you to do
We need some to paint/landscape/start new programs
Help with the youth

The gifts and calling of God are without repentance
God never gives up
He keeps knocking, asking, seeking
Hear his voice, answer the call, be the one.

Star Date 2012 Proverb 3:3-8 11-15-09

Star Date 2012 Proverb 3:3-8 11-15-09

3Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind then around your neck, write them on the tablet of our heart.
4Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
5Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6in all your way acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
8This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your cones.

Series - start dates...reasons to be thankful
10000BC
22 AD
2012 this is a sermon about trust and fear

Dec 21, 2019 at 11:11 am, the world will end
Maya's "Long Count" calendar marks the end of a 5, 126 year era.
Here is some information about it:
extremely close conjunction of the Winter Solstice Sun with the crossing point of the (Equator of the Milky Way) and the (path of the Sun).

some believers that the data may mark the end of civilization or perhaps the beginning of a time of great tribulation. It is also getting increasingly poplar to refer to the astronomical event as "galactic alignment" some Nostradamus connection

Are you excited? Fearful? Worried?
show the video clip
sky is falling

illustrated n movies: 2010 Armageddon, the Post Man, Independence Day, The Day After, Left Behind movies

trust, fear and rejection
these kinds of movies and doctrines play on our fears
some in the church have played on our fears

In our lives we have a dance going on between trust and fear
What fear?

• Fear that we will be left out,
• that we will not make it to heaven
• that we don't know the secret info
• fear that we are not good enough

Instead of trust, many Christians are awash in worry and fear

Why are we interested in this end of time stuff?

1. We are afraid that we will live and die and that seems meaningless
2. Maybe we see the Christ life as an eternity thing not a today thing
3. someone, some church has put the fear of God into us

If this is not your experience, the smile and enjoy my dysfunction

If this is your experience, then I hope today to set you free

I received a good dose of fear from the church

• youth group visited by men with guns
• sermons that told me I was going to hell
• they had us passion out tracts in the SF Golden Gate Park, on Fisherman's Wharf
• Studying the 2nd coming charts in college
  

Ahh, second coming charts

So much of this is built on nothing...some of what I am going to tell you may be new.

Hapax-building a doctrine on something that has one point of reference

• rapture
• 2nd coming charts

who said that this random arrangement of a few scriptures should take up so must of our time and cause us so much fear?

Is the Bible a magic book with secret bible codes - if we just learn them then we will have the power? or a book that God gives us to learn to trust him through faith in Christ.

Rapture-Suppose to be a hope, but the people that I know that talk about it all the time are living in fear

• Am I good enough
• Will I make it

Beside being hapaz, I want to tell you something else about this doctrine

Doctrine arouse in the 1830's [two green poles]

Darby and Scofield

Arose in American

Almost absent in orthodox faith, they are not intruded by this

Getting dates, making charts and worrying about the second coming is just wrong...

dates people set that are wrong

Sept 12, 1997 - Y2K - the 90's and the 00's are riddles with dates set by one group or another - May 21, 2011, Dec. 21, 2012

in systems like this, normal people yearn for peace. Some take in the teaching on Sunday but the rest of the week try to forget it and live a normal life

here is my question...would you rather learn about the end of the world or how to live life and trust God here and now

conclusion
we don't have to worry about nay of this
2 Timothy 1:7 - For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

The gifts of the Christian like is a daily walk of joy
We don't have to worry about 2010 or tomorrow

you can choose how you will live
worried or trusting
a life of trust - celebrating the good
enjoying the simple things
living in the now
recognizing the gifts that God has given us here and now

Trust in the Lord and lean not to your own understanding...
If will bring health to the body and marrow of the bones.
I am thankful today that we can live a life of trust

Thankful for forgiveness of Sin Matthew 9:1-8 11-8-09

Star Date: Thankful for Forgiveness of Sin Matthew 9:1-8 11-8-09

1 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.

3At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, "This fellow is blaspheming!" 4Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? 6But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority n earth to forgive sins..." then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home." 7and the man got up and went home. 8When the crown say this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.

Veterans please stand

Intro
November is a time to be thankful
series - start date 33
the ministry for forgiveness - a very simple thing that I think we don't think about as we should or as ofter as we should

what is happening in This story?
the religious crowd is keeping people in bondage
Jesus is setting them free

this story is about friends bringing a friend....
why are his sins forgiven?11
What does this do to your theology?

this story is about a man on the fringe of society.
Broken. Paralyzed. Rejected. Discouraged
What is Jesus expecting?
I am bad, I am unworthy, I am pitiful

Common thinking was that he may have been paralyzed because he had sinned.
Some people believe that God punishes them - John 9:1-3

1As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3"Neither this man or his parents sinned, " said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed n his life."

Sandlot theology - populist
Some people think that good people have god things happened to them, and bad people have bad things happen to them, good luck at that.

The rain falls on the just and the unjust. [Matthew 5] You can't expect good results because you have been good. And bad things in our life does not mean that you are bad. It is complicated, and we have to learn to trust God, no circumstances

Anyway, Jesus says....
"Take heart, Son; your sins are forgiven."
Yet he says, take joy.
Joy in what
Your sins are forgiven

To those on the margins, to the broken, to the paralyzed of life
Your sins are forgiven
This is not just a pie in the sky thing.
This is a here and now thing.

Some Christians say, I can't wait until I get to heaven because I have felt guilty my entire life for 60 years worth of sermons that told me I was a sinner.

Today I am thankful for this...our sins are forgiven

How can this be good new for us today?
Big and little sins
They don't seem the same to us.
If it is our sin, they seem huge
God can forgive everyone but me

middle
what is we got what we deserved...What it you were being punished - What if you were not forgiven

Ever have a friend that would not forgive you? Even after a divorce or separation, there remains a judgement.

If I do not forgive Dan I do not release him to live
He can hate me
He can self differentiate
He can so everything he can to more on

Bu the fact remains,
Every time I see him and he sees me, he is drug back into the pain of the brokenness
Only when I release him, is he free to live.

If I do not forgive someone else, can I ever understand the forgiveness of God?

Let's look at this another way
What would be the worst thing that your pastor could say on Sunday morning.
I don't believe in the resurrection. The resurrection is a myth.
What is that bad?
It is the core of the Christian faith
If Christ is not raised, we are still in our sins.

1Corinthians 15:17
17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

Why do we act like we are still in our sins
The message we give to others is that Christ is not raised.
Our witness of the faith is that the resurrection is a myth

And this is what Jesus is saying

You don't have to worry about the bad things that you did when you were in college. The bad things you did when you were in a mid life crisis...

We can live with a heart that is clear and clean.

But what I did was so bad and it was just a month ago
So here is the new formula, Jesus died on the cross for everyone's sins
that are at least a month old and medium size or smaller

Either his blood cover our sin or it does not.
These are his words...your sins are forgiven
See, this is good news

This relationship with God, the story of redemption begins with love, not sin
Remember your faith story
What do you remember
I am a bad person - I am a big sinner
No
God loves me - Jesus died for me.
I am forgiven

conclusion
we must make a choice about our lies
will our lives be sin centered or Christ cantered
everything is bad or everything is good
guilt centered r grace centered

to the life o bondage , to the life o being paralyzed by sin, to the life of---a life of joy and celebration
And so I am thankful that my sins are forgiven

So we have good news
Take joy, your sins are forgiven

Dale, take heart, you sins are forgiven. Ann take heart. Bill take heart. Janet take heart. Matt take heart, your sins are forgiven.

All Saints Day Mark 12:28 Nov. 1, 2009

All Saints Day Mark 12:28 Nov. 1, 2009

Today is all saints day
Where did all saints day come from?
Honoring the saints of all time.
Honoring those who have died that we knew and loved
Goes back solidly 1200+ years

Explain the series
Star dates:
10,000 bc
one million years bc www.10000bcmovie.com

why go back 10,000 years - Honoring those who looked up at the sky and honored God
Abraham was not counted for righteousness because he believed in Jesus or because he went to the temple, no Bible, no doctrine, no priests, only the heart of a man seeking after the god who reveals himself in all of creation.

I find to be an amazing picture.. yes the scriptures and the church needful, but it all begins with the heart of a man seeking after God.

Medieval saints, Augustine, Aquinas, St Ignatius, St. Francis, John Wesley, whomever is on your list.

Some feel that the veneration of saints begins to lean towards polytheism

I think we can appreciate the contributions of those who have gone before us that we never knew without worshiping them...
St. Francis...I can love his statue and love his prayer and not get hung up on the rest of it
Prayers of Ignatius of Loyola

Let us give thanks for their lives

Honoring those loved ones whom we have known that have died in our life
My mom, my dad - I miss my Dad. There are so many questions that I want to ask him.
just as we are getting things figured out, he was gone.
He never got to mentor me thru my late 40's or 50's
I miss him

If you have loved ones that you are not sure about their salvation...
don't be too hard on those that you don't think fit the bill.
A vision
I was asking God about someone and I received a bit of paranormal experience, a vision that told me that they were in heaven
Laugh if you like, but I am just saying, don't go so hard on those folks

Give thanks to God for their lives

wondering who the saints are around us
Write down a name or two on you bulletin
Who is an example of the Christian faith...
Tear it off, give it to me....

Asking the question, can I be one?
worried that we will not measure us
I am suggesting to you today that we have made Christianity too hard - too complicated

• You must know all of this
• You must believe all of this
• You must do and not do the following...
• The result is a guilt laden, confused, group of people
• that we cannot carry the load
• so we so not try

Jesus made it very simple...only two things...
Love the Lord
Love your neighbor

Points to this story....

Of the Prodigal Son after he goes off and lives tumultuously and wastefully
There is a wonderful phrase - The line days, "And then he came to himself."
It wasn't something strange or bizarre or coming into some new experience. It was like coming home in the deepest kind of way. You come not to something foreign or some new discovery or special knowledge, but you come to yourself. Jesus made it very simple. Once we strip away all of the human rules and just get down to what we are supposed to do and be.

There is a wonderful phrase - the line says, "And then he came to himself."

it wasn't something strange or bizarre or coming into some new experience. It was like coming home in the deepest kind of way. You come not to something foreign or some new discovery or special knowledge, but you come to yourself.

Jesus made it very simple...only two things...
Love the Lord
Love your neighbor

You see, I think it is possible. Once we strip away all of the human rules and just get down to what we are suppose to do and be.

What is your purpose that in your life there would be only 2 rules...love God, love your neighbor

I think in 20,40 or 100 years, we will be on someones list

Love God, Love your brother and sister. Measure everything by that. and give thanks that Jesus made it this simple.

DNA-Body of Christ Psalm 122:10 10/18/09

DNA-Body of Christ Psalm 22:10 10/18/09 - commitment Sunday
Psalm 122:1 - i rejoice with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD."
Psalm 122 - i was glad when they said to me, let us go to the house of the lord

Well today is commitment Sunday
No reason to feel funny. We need to do this once a year.
If you are a visitor don't worry about any of this...if you are a member...
should feel like a celebration

Series on the body of Christ....
Every person is a soul
We are connected
Week 3 - DNA

DNA is what makes us tick - the power of corporate participation.
The total is worth more than the sum of it's parts.
Corporate Energy. Moves in concert to accomplish Goal.
-Starfish and the Spider - Self re-generating DNA
Together, we are something awesome
Not because Jeff says
But because we have learned together what our mission is

Is it worth supporting?
This should be the easiest sermon I have ever preached
Why I Love Woods Chapel

Where do I begin....
The scripture says I was glad....

1. I love WCC for what it does for Children.
   We care, Sunday school, youth group
   And you have raised mine.
   
   The scripture says I was glad when they said...
2. I love WCC because here I have won the friend lottery

the people make me glad - I was glad when they said to me
What are there so many good people - Kent Chappelow

I received a note from someone on this topic
I love the people of Woods Chapel Church! I have made lifelong wonderful, caring, compassionate friends here. I feel the love of our congregation, not just here in our building, but also in our community. Everywhere I go, I seem to run into someone I know from church. It always fills me with a wonderful feeling when I am at the grocery store, the mall or at a restaurant to receive a friendly greeting from a WCC friend. AH

I love Wood Chapel because of Gina & Kevin, Kris B, Megan, clay, Lisa & Tom, Tom H, John M, Jeff M, Easton, Brian Swanson, AJ & Theresa, Jim & Pam, Erin, Charlie & Shawna, Julia F, Jerry & Shelley, Chad & Carla, Terry M, Paul Q, Eric S, every Sunday school teacher that has had one of my kids in his or her class, the men who welcomed me to the softball game in 1997, the prayer team, the people who take card of our building and the grounds, those who teach adult programs. those who lead and participate in the many missions and ministries and because of every single person who lets us offer them the love of Christ. DT


3. I love WCC because you treat me and others with grace

This is what makes it the house of the Lord.
What is different here? this is the grace place...we feel Gods presence because we focus on his love.

In your blog you talked about those who were turned off by church. I was one of those people many years ago. I'm so thankful I found WCC

i wanted to share the email I received from my friend - she is a self-described non-believer in Christ and doesn't think church is a place where people feel as if they belong. I've shared my experience about my huge spiritual growth (relaxation? peace?) since coming to WCC. She was interested and asked me to share more...Little by little I 've shared with her and she CAME! How awesome. And--she really felt comfortable and enjoyed the experience. How cool! SM

I love Woods Chapel because when I walk in, it's even better than going home. I feel safe and loved there, and my friends feel like my family. I've even "adopted" one lady as my Woods Chapel mom, because she is kinda like my chosen mom. I love that when I walk into a building, I immediately feel better, and I don't feel judged or afraid that I might do or say something wrong. - Lori


Grace
You may recall a conversation that we had one time in which I was running off at the mouth about my perception that nearly every church denomination...and maybe even many local churches, had a pet doctrine that is perceived to separate them from others. We talked about churches that "specialize" in gifts...in performance...in the law...in worship styles, etc.

I went on to say the Woods Chapel may also have a pet doctrine by which we are known. You asked what is it? I responded..."grace, grace, grace...that's all you hear around here." Truth be known...I love Woods Chapel, in part, because "grace...grace...grace" isn't just talked about, it's practiced. No one is examining my life and critiquing it to see if it measures up...although there are a couple of precious friends that care about me enough to be honest with me when something needs to come to my attention.

Motivation is a critical component to growth. I come to know God better as I walk and talk with Him as Friend to friend...not because someone is shaming me or instructing me to get to know God better, or inspecting by fruit.

We can talk about Grace until it becomes cliche', but grace practiced does not require much talk. bobf

Somehow the word generosity comes to my mind

I have watched your generosity, and the kindness that you show to others will live on for generations. Acts of generosity are the joyful moments that help us live in eternity, in the here and now.

I watched you care about that person. I have watched you take in a stranger. I saw you give the coat off you back.

When we give ourselves away the way that you do, I know that we are in our fathers will.

finally, I love WCC because we offer something real.

The missions make me glad
Whatever you did for the least of these

Dreaming big dreams: adoption, Russia,Jamacia, permission giving, prom dresses

this place is different. It's different...hard to put into words sometimes...but you cannot help but feel it when you just sit back and listen each week in church. it's a warm place...not churchy.

The honesty makes me glad - Authenticity, reality, no pretending

I love WCUMC because for 25 years, without fail, this is the place that I can come to and immediately feel surrounded by peace, love, understanding and hope. This church is my rock and my salvation.
October 15, 2009 1:26 PM

A few months ago my wife and I brought some friends to our church for the very first time. These had a deep need. It didn't matter that they weren't members, it didn't matter that they had never served the church, it didn't matter that they had gone a long time being unchurched. What mattered was they were in need of help, not financially, not medically but spiritually. They needed a place, a hand, a life raft, some tools, to cope with what life had laid on them.

Woods Chapel provided that for them, unconditionally. I can't begin to tell you how proud I am of the people at our church. They reached out to them in more ways than I know of. Someone they had just met, they treated like they had been coming to our church for 10 years. I didn't have to ask, our folks just knew what to do.

His family's journey is on going and I know Woods Chapel is their home. Our church has hundreds of ministries and you're always telling us to make room for more. It never hit home with me until my friend needed help, when I needed help, Woods Chapel was there. You may not have known my friend, but you need to know that he found comfort in each of you, comfort in our church, deepened his faith with help of those at Woods Chapel.

Conclusion
So what? Therefore:

We aren't giving our money just to have a beautiful building. We are giving to each other.

Our efforts and money go farther when we pull together
Is all of this worth supporting? I think so

I am simply suggesting to you today that we have much to be thankful for. I invite you to join me and my family as we make our commitments for 2010.

Body & Soul - Body of Christ Mark 8:34-37 10-04-09

Body & Soul - Body of Christ Mark 8:34-37 10-04-09

Intro
October is stewardship month and it is a time when we are all asked how much this is really worth?

• The building, the teaching, the missions, the caring
• The life that God asks us to lead

I want to talk today about who we really are
Next week I want to talk about how we are really all connected
Oct. 18 I want to talk about why all of this is worth supporting with your time

This won't feel uncomfortable

Let's stand for our scripture reading

Mark 8 34Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Body and soul - Who are we really

Commons sense, human sense tells you that you are a body. Size, shape, gender, skin color, eye color...this is why we have such trouble with body image and plastic surgery. We actually think that this is it, this is us

That is why so many people are afraid to dies

Sermon 1 year ago - candle on a chair, everything else is just dressing it up

A living soul
Genesis 2:7 the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. [Soul KJ]

Definition
The soul is not the self. The soul is not the ego
The soul is not the mind

Thinking too much is the enemy of the soul

The soul is hard to describe - the soul knows what is good

The soul is that part of you that comes alive on the beach, near a waterfall, in a quiet walk in the woods. Something happens tot he inside of us that we just cannot explain.

It is the most important thing that you have
It is actually what you are
It is the part of you have grows in relationship to God

Everybody is out looking for people and places with "soul", people can't define it, but thy know it when they see and feel it; and they respond to soul powerfully

Annual review with DS - How is your soul?

Jesus asks, What can you give in exchange for your soul
Traded guitar for a plastic tank
There are many bad trades in the world
Trade work, pride, ego ever soul
These are bad trades

What can you give in exchange for your soul? Money. youth, power
Nothing about this life is forever - Only your soul
These is nothing that is worth more, or more deserves your attention than soul

How would I live my life if I realize that I was primarily a soul, not a body?
How would i use my resources differently?
would we change our priorities?
Spend time - he that wins souls is wise - Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise

Part of the work of the soul is to invite others to be whole
The letter I got in the mail. Then stand on the corner and yell at people

How are souls won? You win souls, one soul to the next.
The mower guy
The school teacher...never going to get profit sharing, no golden parachute
How many of them I have seen whose hearts are all about the kids

the decision that you make should make sense for your soul
Would you invest money in the stock market if you knew it was going to crash
Would you buy gold if you knew that it was going to be worth less

Hyper inflation. Hungary inflation was 207% per day
1921 1$=60 marks
1923 bread 3 billion, lb meat 36 billion, a beer was 4 billion
Such is the end of earthly investments
You have never seen a hearse pulling a uhaul
2 men and a truck don't do funerals
You can't take it with you
Investments that last are the investments of the soul

How do we say something important?
By giving it our time talent, treasure
Heart always follows the money
Heart always follows your investment
Even among the many that recognize they have a soul or they are a soul,
few people take the time to feed their souls

closing - Matthew 13
44"the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

Where are you trying to go in this life?
House at the lake? Expensive car?
Climb the corporate ladder
There are no rungs on the cross, only nails

God prospers you, not to raise your standard of living, but to raise your standard of giving

Time to go down the ladder of success to find the world of the soul

So what does this message mean for me
Soul care - how to do it

1. Quiet time, not brain time, quiet time
2. Slow down - actually do less
3. Talk to God, take time to listen
4. Invest in the things of the soul

world communion Sunday - we have in common, a soul
Sons and daughters
God's family