Archive for December, 2008
Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year – I can say that right?
Posted by: Pastor Chris | Comments (1)In America the Christmas War continues. We all have witnessed it. It truly is a “Silent Night” in so many ways. The battle has been fought through fear tactics. Schools are threatened lawsuits if they have a nativity or a Christmas program that mentions Christ…even though they have won these battles in court School boards don’t know this. Merchants don’t want to offend anyone so they try to be neutral but in doing so they offend those who hold to the true meaning of Christmas and a majority of American’s who still celebrtate Christmas in some form or fashion. I don’t have to tell you, you have probably witnessed it. If you are one of them that wants to take away Christmas or say Happy Holidays so not to offend then please put this in all of your Christmas Cards:
“Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2009, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country. This statement is made to you without regard to your race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference.”
How insulting this must be God, but also to our Founding Fathers of this the Greatest Nation on God’s Green Earth. It not the holidays…its Christmas!!!
So to all who know the Way, the Truth and the Life and are not afraid to speak the truth:
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
“As for me and my house we will serve the Lord” We will not follow the gods of the people.
To all of my congregation – know that the Great Shepherd loves us all and your pastor is proud to serve Him and you. Have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS that is filled with Christ’s message and love and have a Blessed New Year in which the Hand of God guides you every day.
Pastor Chris
Hey church family and friends…I just wanted to share a special note with all of you about Josh Metzger. From a human perspective it is sad that Josh only had 8 years on this earth. His journey here was short and many of us may question a little boy dying of brain stem cancer. I agree with that assessment for anyone who does not know the Lord or understand the consequences of sin or the brokenness of God’s creation or the hope that we have in Christ as our redeemer and so forth. The big picture is this…we are not promised another day, not even another breath. Death will call upon us all. The consequence of sin is that bad things do happen. Life is not perfect. But the Good News is that God has made away for us to live life now with Him and to know that our eternal home with Him will be without tears, pain, or death.
We speak of coming Home for Christmas…Joshua truly experienced a homecoming like no other this Christmas. I know it will be a difficult Christmas for Joshua’s family – the loss it great. I hope that this Christmas we can mourn with the Metzger family with the hope we have in Christ. We can cry with hope. We can mourn and be comforted.
Below is an email that Dave Baughman wrote about Josh…be blessed.
Over the past few weeks, Josh has had the opportunity to meet a lot of very unique and famous people. From Labron James, the Cleveland Browns, many Kent State Football players, Mickey & Minnie Mouse and my favorite, Tinker Bell. But Sunday morning Josh met who I believe is his biggest hero of all. Josh Said that He came and spoke to him and said that he will have to suffer a little, but then it will all be ok.
My Friends, Josh is ok now. God called him home Sunday morning.
His departure was peaceful. He flight home was first class and the reception when he got their was like non other I am sure. The cost of the ticket on that flight was very costly, but that is ok. It was paid in full by someone that Josh knows very well.
Life is but a whisper in time. We all have travel arrangements to make. If you would like to know who paid the price for Josh’s ticket home, you need only look for that star. Wise men still seek him. He will be wrapped in swaddling clothes this December 25th, for all to see. I hope you all except that gift.
May the life of Joshua Metzger remind us of the importance of the babe of Bethlehem. He came to show us the way…will you seek Him?
Merry Christmas to all.
I am a firm believer that Christmas is about Christ. I also believe that Christmas is Christmas…I don’t celebrate the holidays this time of year…I celebrate Christmas. I am truly offended by our culture trying to appease everyone while we compromise all that is good in the name of tolerance. We need to speak out against this movement in our culture. This Christmas learn a new art called TOSSMAS. When someone sends you a HOLIDAY maganzine tell them Merry TOSSMAS. When someone wished you a Merry Christmas make sure they know how Merry you are.
See link below…and Merry Christmas!!!
http://www.citizenlink.org/videofeatures/A000008654.cfm