Yesterday marked the final assembly for 2007 at the Woodward Park Church of Christ. It was certainly a blessed year for our church family, evidenced by the following statistical data:
Average Worship Attendance for 2007 -- 797
Baptisms in 2007 -- 43
New Members in 2007 -- 42
Responses for Prayer in 2007 -- 174
Couple that with the work throughout the world in missions and the local mission efforts to feed, clothe, house and job train the less fortunate in Fresno and we can look back upon 2007 as a year in which God richly blessed our ministry.
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As wonderful as 2007 by every measuring stick imagineable, I still find myself feeling a sense of "divine discontentment." There is so much left to do, so many ministry demands that are worthy and capable of making a difference in the lives of the lost.
I hope you are joining with me in a recommitment on the threshhold of a New Year to be used by God to accomplish his work in the world in 2008. I am personally resolving to do my part in insuring that 2008 sees even greater expansion for the kingdom. My prayer is that God will use to reach out and convert 100 persons to Jesus in 2008. It's a high goal, a lofty ambition, but one that is birthed with the dream of advancing the kingdom of Fresno.
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On a personal note, I'd covet your prayers for my grandfather. My granddad has long been a great source of inspiration and encouragement in my life.
On Friday night, my grandfather was taken to the Emergency Room at Saline Memorial Hospital in Benton, Arkansas with difficulty breathing. The ER doctors discovered he had blood clots in both lungs. He spent the weekend in Intensive Care and his body has responded to medication, allowing him to be moved to a regular room last evening.
My grandfather is 83 years old and has spent his life, especially his retirement, in the service of the Lord. Because he and my grandmother were actively involved in Barton Bible Camp, I was privileged on August 1, 1984 to be baptized by my grandfather.
My life and ministry is a testimony to the godly, faith base established in me by grandparents and parents who love Jesus.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Elusive Contentment
Welcome Lorrie Centeno to blogdom. Lorrie and her family are dedicated disciples in the ministry at Woodward Park and form the real backbone for much our homeless outreach downtown.
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Has Cal Thomas been reading my sermon outlines? I couldn't help but see all the illusions to Philippians 4 in the following conclusion to an article entitled "Right Gift really isn't that elusive."
"Beginning with the Baby Boomers, we began to transition from being content with what we have to a sense of being entitled to ever-expanding pieces of the economic pie. We demand more money, more things, more pleasure.
Why has the acquisition of 'more' produced so much less -- less contentment, less happiness? When the income increases don't come fast enough to keep pace with the want increases and pleasure is not constant, many complain and moan about 'hard times.' Anyone who has not been through a Great Depression and a World War has no reason to whine.
Most of our demands are a response to marketing. We are assaulted with commercials and ads that assert our 'need' for what they are trying to sell us. When our income is insufficient to meet those newly discovered wants, the spouse goes to work to help pay for them. The kids go into day care. When these children display social malfunction, we find doctors to prescribe drugs to soothe their legitimate anxiety.
With all of the gifts you've bought by now, maybe it's too late to accept the state you're in and be content with it. But it isn't too soon to make a New Year's Resolution that next Christmas will be different.
As the sales figures pour in and the stock market reacts to whether this was a good or bad economic year, ask yourself what has your year been like. Has more stuff -- or its pursuit -- assuaged you? If not, maybe you were given the wrong gift.
That's what Christmas is really about: the right gift. Receive that gift and contentment will quickly follow.
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Has Cal Thomas been reading my sermon outlines? I couldn't help but see all the illusions to Philippians 4 in the following conclusion to an article entitled "Right Gift really isn't that elusive."
"Beginning with the Baby Boomers, we began to transition from being content with what we have to a sense of being entitled to ever-expanding pieces of the economic pie. We demand more money, more things, more pleasure.
Why has the acquisition of 'more' produced so much less -- less contentment, less happiness? When the income increases don't come fast enough to keep pace with the want increases and pleasure is not constant, many complain and moan about 'hard times.' Anyone who has not been through a Great Depression and a World War has no reason to whine.
Most of our demands are a response to marketing. We are assaulted with commercials and ads that assert our 'need' for what they are trying to sell us. When our income is insufficient to meet those newly discovered wants, the spouse goes to work to help pay for them. The kids go into day care. When these children display social malfunction, we find doctors to prescribe drugs to soothe their legitimate anxiety.
With all of the gifts you've bought by now, maybe it's too late to accept the state you're in and be content with it. But it isn't too soon to make a New Year's Resolution that next Christmas will be different.
As the sales figures pour in and the stock market reacts to whether this was a good or bad economic year, ask yourself what has your year been like. Has more stuff -- or its pursuit -- assuaged you? If not, maybe you were given the wrong gift.
That's what Christmas is really about: the right gift. Receive that gift and contentment will quickly follow.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Christmas Eve
My intentions were to take off until the New Year so as to absorb myself in college football bowl games but two really neat things have jumped out at my to share with you.
First, if you want to track Santa, go here.
And second, Megan the wordsmith has done it again, capturing the impact of returning home to worship yesterday. Her words touched my heart and I hope all you Woodward Park'ers will find encouragement and uplift from her reflections.
I've been blessed to call many places home over the last five years. I've lived in our Athens house (the residence of my childhood), the Whitney house (which we moved into my Junior year of high school), Harding University, Fort Stewart, GA, and Columbia, TN. These places are home, not because of residence, but because of people well-loved and memories made. Yesterday, as morning services were about to begin, I was reminded of yet another home I've been blessed with: The Woodward Park church of Christ.
Husband and I had not been back to CA in a year. Yet, from the moment we entered the south side door, we were reminded of the eternal love and unending welcome one only finds in two places: your biological family and your church family. We were given tight hugs, easy smiles, old jokes, and warm remembrances as a reception.
This is the church family I grew up in. These are the people who compose my second, third, even fourth and fifth sets of parents. These are the friends from church camp and youth rallies, from missions trips and devos. These are entire families we've laughed and cried with as life revealed its course. These are men and women of great renowned, if only to us. The meek, the holy, and the trying-really-hard.
My sister-in-law said last night that true friends are the ones you can not talk to for a year and still pick up where you left off. Yesterday, Husband and I picked up with the greatest of old friends who welcomed us back not only into their lives, but the lives of new babies, new loves, and old remembrances.
I was reminded yesterday why God asks us to worship with others. Sure, there are a lot of reasons for it, like accountability and confession. And there are a lot of reasons not to wander from the faith, but my human heart must confess that love of my greater family is a strong motivator to remain true to God. How could I let down so many people whom I love so much? How can I contemplate a world without my entire family? (Note, almost my entire biological family goes to this same church.)
Husband and I have a new church family in Tennessee. We are trying (we are both introverts after all) and we know that someday this new church family will also feel like a sanctuary, but, after knowing the depth of Christian love shared in our building at Millbrook and Nees, I can't imagine this coming quickly. It's good to be home.
First, if you want to track Santa, go here.
And second, Megan the wordsmith has done it again, capturing the impact of returning home to worship yesterday. Her words touched my heart and I hope all you Woodward Park'ers will find encouragement and uplift from her reflections.
I've been blessed to call many places home over the last five years. I've lived in our Athens house (the residence of my childhood), the Whitney house (which we moved into my Junior year of high school), Harding University, Fort Stewart, GA, and Columbia, TN. These places are home, not because of residence, but because of people well-loved and memories made. Yesterday, as morning services were about to begin, I was reminded of yet another home I've been blessed with: The Woodward Park church of Christ.
Husband and I had not been back to CA in a year. Yet, from the moment we entered the south side door, we were reminded of the eternal love and unending welcome one only finds in two places: your biological family and your church family. We were given tight hugs, easy smiles, old jokes, and warm remembrances as a reception.
This is the church family I grew up in. These are the people who compose my second, third, even fourth and fifth sets of parents. These are the friends from church camp and youth rallies, from missions trips and devos. These are entire families we've laughed and cried with as life revealed its course. These are men and women of great renowned, if only to us. The meek, the holy, and the trying-really-hard.
My sister-in-law said last night that true friends are the ones you can not talk to for a year and still pick up where you left off. Yesterday, Husband and I picked up with the greatest of old friends who welcomed us back not only into their lives, but the lives of new babies, new loves, and old remembrances.
I was reminded yesterday why God asks us to worship with others. Sure, there are a lot of reasons for it, like accountability and confession. And there are a lot of reasons not to wander from the faith, but my human heart must confess that love of my greater family is a strong motivator to remain true to God. How could I let down so many people whom I love so much? How can I contemplate a world without my entire family? (Note, almost my entire biological family goes to this same church.)
Husband and I have a new church family in Tennessee. We are trying (we are both introverts after all) and we know that someday this new church family will also feel like a sanctuary, but, after knowing the depth of Christian love shared in our building at Millbrook and Nees, I can't imagine this coming quickly. It's good to be home.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Merry Christmas
As my buddy Allan Stanglin pointed out in his blog yesterday, one of the joys of the holiday season for sports fans is the non-stop college football courtesy of the bowls. This year, I am participating in two different Yahoo bowl pools, one with a bunch of east coast friends through Toney Stowers, Family Minister at the Hurricane, WV Church of Christ and the other with a bunch of guys I don't know through Bobby Ross, editor of the Christian Chronicle.
Thanks to Utah's controversial win over Navy last night, I'm off to a 1-0 start!
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One of the real attractive opportunities of preaching at Woodward Park is the opportunity to have a far-ranging impact. When I met with the elders in June, 2006, we talked about the possibility of recording my sermons on DVD and making them available to churches throughout the Valley that do not have a minister.
Thanks to Steve Knutsen and his cohorts, we now have six months worth of teaching ready to ship out. The first three series ready to go are on the Ten Commandments, the prophecy of Malachi, and Paul's letter to the Philippians.
If you would like DVD's of the Preaching Ministry at Woodward Park, you can email me at jim@wpcoc.com. If you know of a church that might benefit from them, especially any churches that might be short-handed on teachers or lack a preacher, let us know and we'll get DVD's in their hands to help them.
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Finally, I want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed holiday season. I don't know if I've ever looked more forward to a Christmas morning. There are no gifts for me under the tree and the anticipation I feel for the joy and excitement of my daughters' is profound!
Thank you all for praying for me and sending me encouragement. All of you who visit here and take the time to email me are so special to me. I do hope the blessing of faith in Jesus Christ propels you to greater service in the new year that looms ahead of us all.
Thanks to Utah's controversial win over Navy last night, I'm off to a 1-0 start!
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One of the real attractive opportunities of preaching at Woodward Park is the opportunity to have a far-ranging impact. When I met with the elders in June, 2006, we talked about the possibility of recording my sermons on DVD and making them available to churches throughout the Valley that do not have a minister.
Thanks to Steve Knutsen and his cohorts, we now have six months worth of teaching ready to ship out. The first three series ready to go are on the Ten Commandments, the prophecy of Malachi, and Paul's letter to the Philippians.
If you would like DVD's of the Preaching Ministry at Woodward Park, you can email me at jim@wpcoc.com. If you know of a church that might benefit from them, especially any churches that might be short-handed on teachers or lack a preacher, let us know and we'll get DVD's in their hands to help them.
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Finally, I want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed holiday season. I don't know if I've ever looked more forward to a Christmas morning. There are no gifts for me under the tree and the anticipation I feel for the joy and excitement of my daughters' is profound!
Thank you all for praying for me and sending me encouragement. All of you who visit here and take the time to email me are so special to me. I do hope the blessing of faith in Jesus Christ propels you to greater service in the new year that looms ahead of us all.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Brush with Greatness
It was the winter of 1995, on the heels of a fall football season for the Hurricane High School Redskins. Mandy and I were living in West Virginia, serving as Youth and Family Minister for the Hurricane Church of Christ.Gary Eggleton, the high school football coach at Hurricane High School was a faithful member of our church family and invited me to participate in the annual post-season football banquet. Best I remember, the banquet was held at the Sleepy Hollow Country Club and the house was packed.
As the pray-er for the meal before the awards presentation, I was privileged to sit at the head table. And it just so happened that seated beside me for the entire evening was, at that time, the 32-year old head coach at Glenville State, a small NAIA school in West Virginia.
Following his success at Glenville State, his career led him to opportunities to coordinate offenses at Tulane and Clemson under Tommy Bowden before returning to his home state of West Virginia to lead the Mountaineers for the last six years.
So, if you guessed I got to once spend an evening sharing dinner and conversation with Rich Rodriguez, you would be correct. Yesterday, Rich Rod was introduced as the coach of the Michigan Wolverines, one of the most prolific coaching jobs in all of college football.
You know, had I only known that night what I know today, I might have at least asked him to autograph the napkin on the table!
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The greatness of Rich Rodriguez pales in comparison though to the greatness of my mom!
Today my mom celebrates a birthday and while I'd give anything to be with her this day, she and I both realize that God has larger plans for us both than the possibility of being physically together today.
Every sermon I preach. Every prayer I pray. Every visit I make. Every act of ministry bears the imprint of my mom's influence. I hope to have caught just half the grace and dignity with which my mom lives her life.
Happy Birthday, Mom! It's taken me 36 years to realize it, but I was unmistakeably privileged as your son to brush greatness everyday. Thank you for leaving an eternal impression on my life.
I hope you have a wonderful, blessed day.
Monday, December 17, 2007
War and Peace
On Sundays leading up to the Christmas holiday, I have been preaching through Paul's letter to the Philippians. Philippians is a letter that captures in a theological way many of the mottoes of the holiday season. "Joy to the World" is a dominant theme of Paul's letter in the letter. "Peace on Earth and Goodwill to Men" also receives significant attention.
One of the problems that prompts Paul's letter is a disagreement between two sisters in the church, Euodia and Syntche. Paul calls on them in 4.2-3 to put into practice the example of Jesus (2.5-11) and to seek agreement because of the status they share "in the Lord."
Philippians 4 has been called the "Peace Chapter" of the New Testament. In it, Paul says that peace is contingent upon right praying (4.6-7), right thinking (4.8) and right living (4.9).
In contrast, James 4 has often been referred to as the "War Chapter" of the New Testament. It is there that James identifies the sources of a warring spirit that breeds division and dissension. And there, ironically, James points to wrong praying (4.3), wrong thinking (4.8) and wrong living (4.4) as the sources of strife.
How we think, pray and live is essential. There can be no dichotomy between how we think and how we live.
So how are you living today? Are you living in harmony with your Christian relatives? If you find strife to be permeating your relationships, perhaps it is a direct result of your own prayers (or lack thereof), thoughts and actions.
The path to peace is to reorients your prayer and thoughts to the will of God. In back of that, your life will reflect a gentle spirit that seeks peace with all.
One of the problems that prompts Paul's letter is a disagreement between two sisters in the church, Euodia and Syntche. Paul calls on them in 4.2-3 to put into practice the example of Jesus (2.5-11) and to seek agreement because of the status they share "in the Lord."
Philippians 4 has been called the "Peace Chapter" of the New Testament. In it, Paul says that peace is contingent upon right praying (4.6-7), right thinking (4.8) and right living (4.9).
In contrast, James 4 has often been referred to as the "War Chapter" of the New Testament. It is there that James identifies the sources of a warring spirit that breeds division and dissension. And there, ironically, James points to wrong praying (4.3), wrong thinking (4.8) and wrong living (4.4) as the sources of strife.
How we think, pray and live is essential. There can be no dichotomy between how we think and how we live.
So how are you living today? Are you living in harmony with your Christian relatives? If you find strife to be permeating your relationships, perhaps it is a direct result of your own prayers (or lack thereof), thoughts and actions.
The path to peace is to reorients your prayer and thoughts to the will of God. In back of that, your life will reflect a gentle spirit that seeks peace with all.
Friday, December 14, 2007
More "Nothing for Christmas" Feedback
Several weeks back, I introduced you to Sam Laird. Sam and his wife Betty remain some of the dearest people in my life. I was blessed to work alongside Sam for four years in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas when church-wide Christmas parties didn't require a cover charge or a mandatory dress code.
Two days ago, I received these words:
Jim,
Like so many others, I was touched by your Christmas blog. Growing up in the Oklahoma dust bowl and depression, I learned to be thankful for the smallest gift, the "hand me down" clothes, and the red mesh stocking of hard candy with an orange given out by the Presbyterian church. But we never lacked for love.
When my children were small and complained that "We don't have anything to play with," I would put the family in the car and drive to the poorest area of Oklahoma City. By the time we returned home, with little conversation, the children wanted to know what they could give. The lesson remains with them to this day, for they are open-hearted and giving.
This Christmas, in my 82nd year, I too have said "I want nothing." The gifts I want are the love of family, friends, and more years to show God's love.
So my gift to you is NOTHING..........BUT MY LOVE.
Merry Christmas, Sam
I guess if I have one wish this holiday season, on a purely personal level, it would be this: can we agree that a healthy attitude of rebellion against the consumerism of the season isn't a bad thing? In view of the multitude of blessings God has already showered upon me, I regret not one word I wrote last Friday. It is a blow to tradition in my life -- an utter shock to my consumer-driven spirit. But the liberation of simplicity rests in the freedom to bask in the overwhelming blessing of God yesterday while realizing I truly want for nothing today.
Two days ago, I received these words:
Jim,
Like so many others, I was touched by your Christmas blog. Growing up in the Oklahoma dust bowl and depression, I learned to be thankful for the smallest gift, the "hand me down" clothes, and the red mesh stocking of hard candy with an orange given out by the Presbyterian church. But we never lacked for love.
When my children were small and complained that "We don't have anything to play with," I would put the family in the car and drive to the poorest area of Oklahoma City. By the time we returned home, with little conversation, the children wanted to know what they could give. The lesson remains with them to this day, for they are open-hearted and giving.
This Christmas, in my 82nd year, I too have said "I want nothing." The gifts I want are the love of family, friends, and more years to show God's love.
So my gift to you is NOTHING..........BUT MY LOVE.
Merry Christmas, Sam
I guess if I have one wish this holiday season, on a purely personal level, it would be this: can we agree that a healthy attitude of rebellion against the consumerism of the season isn't a bad thing? In view of the multitude of blessings God has already showered upon me, I regret not one word I wrote last Friday. It is a blow to tradition in my life -- an utter shock to my consumer-driven spirit. But the liberation of simplicity rests in the freedom to bask in the overwhelming blessing of God yesterday while realizing I truly want for nothing today.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Satisfied Cravings
My hero this morning is none other than the great Ashlyn Perry. Not only did Ashlyn watch the girls for me early last Saturday morning so I could get in a Bible Study but she dropped by the church office during lunch time yesterday to drop off two Chick-fil-A sandwiches.
For you deprived Californians, Chick-fil-A is without a doubt the absolute best food on the face of the earth!
Chick-fil-A's first restaurant in Fresno opened several weeks ago inside the Fresno State Student Union. Rumor has it that additional restaurants are due to open in Fresno in the near future.
One can only hope...and pray! Nothing compares to Chick-fil-A and the only cuisine downside of the move to California has been the lack of Chick-fil-A in the diet.
But that great omission was rectified on Wednesday.
Thanks, Ash!
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So Arkansas hired Houston Nutt's replacement and chose to go the anti-Houston Nutt route in Bobby Petrino.
Petrino's communication skills are the polar opposite of Nutt. Petrino cares little about "touchy-feely;" all he cares about is winning. I cannot imagine Petrino generating even a remote proximity to the excitement Nutt could at a Razorback Club fish fry.
In walking away from the Falcons with three games left on the schedule, Petrino has taken a national beating. He has been vilified on national sports talk shows. Shoot, even the sports talk radio in Fresno on Wednesday was saying Arkansas sold out and Petrino wouldn't last three years. "Pignocchio" is what they're calling him.
As I told a couple of friends back in Arkansas who called with the news on Tuesday evening, here's my unabashed prediction (and I hope you will bear with my cynicism): Petrino will have Arkansas under either NCAA Investigation or on NCAA Probation within five years...if he is, in fact, still working in Fayetteville.
Chances are, he'll be long gone.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
TAG! I'm it!
My good friend, Coy Thorp, has tagged me to participate in an ongoing blog network called the "One Book Meme."
So here goes:
1.) One book that changed your life: Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard Foster.
This book was given to me as a gift of the Bible faculty at Harding University at my graduation. It has shaped and formed my understanding in a life-altering way of what true spiritual maturity means in daily life.
2.) One book you've read more than once: Moneyball by Michael Lewis.
Since buying this book in 2004, I have read it once every baseball season. The insights into Billy Beane's revolutionary ways of scouting and development are gripping for baseball fans.
3.) One book you would want on a deserted island: The Bible.
Why? Well, remember the age-old argument of the guy stranded on a deserted island who doesn't know whether or not he should be baptized. Will he have a chance in the judgment day? Well, I would want a Bible to tell me what God expects from me so I wouldn't be the hypothetical guy on the deserted island whose eternal destiny hangs in the balance!
4.) One book that made you laugh: The Home to Harmony Series by Philip Gulley.
Gulley is a Quaker minister who writes a fictional story of a church meeting in the small town of Harmony, Indiana. The characters are so real and the situations so hilariously life-like that it is a pure joy to read.
5.) One book that made you cry: Build the Fort Today by Jim Kern.
I was first introduced to Jim Kern when serving on the Jessieville School Board and heard him speak at an Arkansas School Boards Association workshop. Kern's stories grip the heart and stir the emotions unlike much I have ever read.
6.) One book that you wish had been written: Trusting God by Joseph.
Everytime I read Genesis 37-50, I am blown away by Joseph's absolute confident trust in the guidance of God in his life. I so wish a journal of Joseph's capturing his faith walk had been written to chronicle his daily life and faith in the face of so many difficult circumstances.
7.) One book that you wish had never been written: The Left Behind Series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins.
8.) One book that you are currently reading: East of Eden by John Steinbeck.
I know it is an epic novel, but good grief, when does it ever end? Steinbeck's work is great but it is a long, lengthy read.
9.) One book that you've been meaning to read: The New Testament and the People of God by N.T. Wright.
Wright is one of my favorite New Testament scholars and this book has sat on my bookshelf for over a year. It is at the top of my "to read" list for 2008.
10.) Now tag five people.
Okay, now I get to tag five people to share. I choose to tag Allan Stanglin, Jimmy Mitchell, Rick Northen, Megan Clanton and Nick Perez.
P.S. Hey Todd Lewis, last I knew, you had no blog of your own but I would be very interested as to how you would reply to these questions. If you would, email me your book list.
So here goes:
1.) One book that changed your life: Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard Foster.
This book was given to me as a gift of the Bible faculty at Harding University at my graduation. It has shaped and formed my understanding in a life-altering way of what true spiritual maturity means in daily life.
2.) One book you've read more than once: Moneyball by Michael Lewis.
Since buying this book in 2004, I have read it once every baseball season. The insights into Billy Beane's revolutionary ways of scouting and development are gripping for baseball fans.
3.) One book you would want on a deserted island: The Bible.
Why? Well, remember the age-old argument of the guy stranded on a deserted island who doesn't know whether or not he should be baptized. Will he have a chance in the judgment day? Well, I would want a Bible to tell me what God expects from me so I wouldn't be the hypothetical guy on the deserted island whose eternal destiny hangs in the balance!
4.) One book that made you laugh: The Home to Harmony Series by Philip Gulley.
Gulley is a Quaker minister who writes a fictional story of a church meeting in the small town of Harmony, Indiana. The characters are so real and the situations so hilariously life-like that it is a pure joy to read.
5.) One book that made you cry: Build the Fort Today by Jim Kern.
I was first introduced to Jim Kern when serving on the Jessieville School Board and heard him speak at an Arkansas School Boards Association workshop. Kern's stories grip the heart and stir the emotions unlike much I have ever read.
6.) One book that you wish had been written: Trusting God by Joseph.
Everytime I read Genesis 37-50, I am blown away by Joseph's absolute confident trust in the guidance of God in his life. I so wish a journal of Joseph's capturing his faith walk had been written to chronicle his daily life and faith in the face of so many difficult circumstances.
7.) One book that you wish had never been written: The Left Behind Series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins.
8.) One book that you are currently reading: East of Eden by John Steinbeck.
I know it is an epic novel, but good grief, when does it ever end? Steinbeck's work is great but it is a long, lengthy read.
9.) One book that you've been meaning to read: The New Testament and the People of God by N.T. Wright.
Wright is one of my favorite New Testament scholars and this book has sat on my bookshelf for over a year. It is at the top of my "to read" list for 2008.
10.) Now tag five people.
Okay, now I get to tag five people to share. I choose to tag Allan Stanglin, Jimmy Mitchell, Rick Northen, Megan Clanton and Nick Perez.
P.S. Hey Todd Lewis, last I knew, you had no blog of your own but I would be very interested as to how you would reply to these questions. If you would, email me your book list.
Monday, December 10, 2007
I'm Getting Nothing for Christmas Feedback
Friday's blog article touched a real nerve, in a positive way, with so many of you. I don't remember receiving as many emails in response to a blog entry as I did last Friday. I appreciate all of you who took your time to share with me your thoughts and insights.
A couple of emails really struck me and I want to share parts of them with you this Monday morning.
"Jim, your entry made me cry this morning. I reached the same point in my life as you around five years ago. We have so much stuff that all I want for Christmas, and everyday, is to make wonderful memories with my family. Every Christmas for the past five years, my family has asked what I want and my response is the same, 'Nothing.' That, of course, is never good enough. So I tell my family to give whatever amount of money they would have spent on me and donate it to a charity of their choice. Their response is always, 'No!' So Christmas for me is a sad day because in opening presents, I realize there are so many who need it more than me. I have all I could ever want and more I don't even need."
"When I came to Christ forty years ago, I had no idea Christmas was something we didn't talk about as a brotherhood. Like playing cards and going to the movies, it was not talked about, even though some people chose to participate...While I am speaking about the Biblical elements of Christmas during December, I am cautioning the congregation not to get caught up in the materialism and consumerism of the holiday. That can be a tough walk for a conscientious Christian. I truly appreciate your blog message this morning and I'm going to read it during our Sunday morning Bible study as a reminder."
How do we break the rampant consumerism of our culture? How do we lessen the hold of stuff in our life? How do we come to recognize the provision of God for our needs while finding contentment in plenty or in want? How do we lessen the craving for more and more? How do we find satisfaction in what we've already been blessed with while diminishing our never-ending list of wants?
A couple of emails really struck me and I want to share parts of them with you this Monday morning.
"Jim, your entry made me cry this morning. I reached the same point in my life as you around five years ago. We have so much stuff that all I want for Christmas, and everyday, is to make wonderful memories with my family. Every Christmas for the past five years, my family has asked what I want and my response is the same, 'Nothing.' That, of course, is never good enough. So I tell my family to give whatever amount of money they would have spent on me and donate it to a charity of their choice. Their response is always, 'No!' So Christmas for me is a sad day because in opening presents, I realize there are so many who need it more than me. I have all I could ever want and more I don't even need."
"When I came to Christ forty years ago, I had no idea Christmas was something we didn't talk about as a brotherhood. Like playing cards and going to the movies, it was not talked about, even though some people chose to participate...While I am speaking about the Biblical elements of Christmas during December, I am cautioning the congregation not to get caught up in the materialism and consumerism of the holiday. That can be a tough walk for a conscientious Christian. I truly appreciate your blog message this morning and I'm going to read it during our Sunday morning Bible study as a reminder."
How do we break the rampant consumerism of our culture? How do we lessen the hold of stuff in our life? How do we come to recognize the provision of God for our needs while finding contentment in plenty or in want? How do we lessen the craving for more and more? How do we find satisfaction in what we've already been blessed with while diminishing our never-ending list of wants?
Friday, December 07, 2007
I'm Getting Nothing for Christmas
Sunday night before the annual Woodward Park holiday dinner, I had the privilege of sharing a brief devotional thought. I centered my thoughts around the impact our Downtown Outreach to the homeless of Fresno has made upon me for this year.I know it is more blessed to give than receive, but I'm not too ashamed to be brutally honest -- for the first 35 Christmas's of my life, the real joy on December 25th was in upwrapping my gifts. Yes, Christmas took on a different meaning when I became a dad. The joy of seeing my girls faces light up is priceless. But deep within all of us, there is that desire to receive. It is the consumer in all of us.
Yet, 18 days before the big day this year, I find myself wanting...nothing.
A couple of weeks ago, Mandy asked me, "What do you want this year for Christmas?" And for the first time in my life, my reply was, "Nothing."
I have everything I need. I have a beautiful wife and two healthy girls. I have a home that is warm in the winter and cool in the summer. I have an ample supply of food and dependable transportation. I have a great job that affords me many blessings, not the least of which is the opportunity to make memories with my girls.
And in downtown Fresno, the first Saturday of every month, I am reminded in a visible, tangible way that there are people right here in the city in which I live who crave the basic necessities of life.
Last Sunday, I shared with the church how one lady who lives in a shed provided by the city told us last Saturday during our coat give-away that what she needed most was blankets. Since the onset of the cooler weather, she has been unable to sleep at night due to the fact the sheds have no heat. Her only protection against the cold was the coat she slept in.
Upon hearing that, one of our members promptly left the church building and went out and bought 30 blankets. Those blankets were supplemented with the blankets made by several ladies of Woodward Park each Wednesday afternoon and were delivered downtown to the residents of the sheds of Tuesday morning.
Add it all up and the result is a radical redefining of the desires of my life. I have what I need and as a result, the wants of my life seem to be subsiding.
If "I'm getting nothing for Christmas" as the child's carol says, other than the love of my family and the realization of how blessed I already am, then it could go down as the most blessed Christmas ever.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
We've been "Elfed"
My family's been "Elfed." Take a second to watch the link...it is a hoot!
Sorry for the blog downtime. The confluence of ministry and family demands has been suffocating this week.
I would ask you to remember in your prayers today two families. One is the Fulton family in West Virginia. Norris Fulton passed away earlier this week. Norris and his wife, Lora, have long been pillars of the Hurricane Church of Christ. Please keep Lora, Charlie, Mary Ann and the entire family in your prayers today.
Also pray for the Amezcua family. 10-year old Sebastian Amezcua, a student at Trae's school, died as a result of injuries in a car accident on the way home from church last Sunday. You can read the Fresno Bee recap here. Needless to say, this event has gripped all the students and faculty at Maple Creek Elementary school deeply.
Sorry for the blog downtime. The confluence of ministry and family demands has been suffocating this week.
I would ask you to remember in your prayers today two families. One is the Fulton family in West Virginia. Norris Fulton passed away earlier this week. Norris and his wife, Lora, have long been pillars of the Hurricane Church of Christ. Please keep Lora, Charlie, Mary Ann and the entire family in your prayers today.
Also pray for the Amezcua family. 10-year old Sebastian Amezcua, a student at Trae's school, died as a result of injuries in a car accident on the way home from church last Sunday. You can read the Fresno Bee recap here. Needless to say, this event has gripped all the students and faculty at Maple Creek Elementary school deeply.
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