e-Soundings

Why Dec. 25th? - Isn't that a mistake?

   It’s true, we don't know the actual birthday of Jesus.

   One of the reasons that Dec. 25^th was chosen was that it gave the faithful Christians of the Roman Empire an alternative to celebrating the extravagant pagan Feast of Saturnalia, the major yearly celebration of Rome focused on the god Saturn.  It was linked to the Winter Solstice as days became longer and people looked forward to Spring.

   With the advent of Jesus Christ, a new, more personal meaning was offered in the midst of the dark midwinter of the northern hemisphere.

   Simply said, Christmas proclaimed that God was with us in real and tangible ways even in the darkest days of the year, even in

Are you getting the most out of Christmas?

Christmas has begun. The merchandise has been out for over a month. Christmas TV specials and office parties will all begin soon.

As people filled with the Christian faith, we know that there is another “Reason for the Season.” We know that it’s more than parties and gift exchanges.

We know that beneath all the festivities is a profound and sometimes astounding truth:
God loves us so much that He came into our world to show us just what God’s heart is really all about.

As much as we might like to ignore that truth with bright lights, tasty food and decorative packages, it’s still right there, waiting for us to pause and think about what it means for our soul.

Before Christmas gets into full swing around your home, can you take time to pause and think about what the birth of Christ means for you?

We celebrate his birthday on Dec. 25, (even though we don’t know the actual date.) as a sign that the darkest part of the year has no sway over us.

And we proclaim that God is not only a loving God but an up close and personal God.
We also share that God is not a reward we get for being good, (like many Christmas presents seem to be) and that God is 

"A Multi-Media Jesus" - 10 Suggestions to change Christmas

On Sunday, I shared a list of ways to present Jesus in a commerce-crowded culture.  Here they are for your further reflection and prayers...

1)    Attend all of our church celebrations and bring new friends with you.

2)    Start a spiritual discipline for the next 30 days: 10 mins of prayer, read the upper room daily, write a journal or a letter to God, fast a meal a day (and give the money you save to charity), write a letter a week to someone around you about your faith in God.

3)    Avoid debt, pay cash for everything.  Give "Alternative" gifts that share love three ways.

4)    Put only Christ centered Christmas decorations on your Christmas tree.

5)    Set up your Nativity Scene (Creche) in

Time to Walk the Walk...

     In the previous post I spoke of our “Core Values.”  Now we get to practice some of them.

      Over the next month we’ll have the opportunity to celebrate the birth of Christ into our lives.

     It’s also an opportunity to consider and deepen the core values of: “A joyful sharing of Jesus Christ,” providing “Engaging Worship” and “Radical Hospitality”

     Christmas is the time of year when we will have the opportunity to see many new worshippers and make some new friends.
     We want to take this opportunity to think about what it means to authentically but gracefully share what Jesus means to us.
     We also want to provide a worship experience that is