Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Tuned in Tuesday



You don't get any more country than Loretta Lynn. Love her music, I know, I know to the young ones that will get this it will be a shock that this is what I grew up on. But, as you get older you too will have moments like this to pass on to others. I hope you enjoy it whether you are a fan of classic country or not. It is those memories of Christmas as a kid that make moments when you are parents or adults seem great.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Merry Christmas

Merry and Blessed Christmas to all!


Lord, Bless all the dear children in your tender care, and fit us for Heaven to live with you there. Amen.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Gospel

Philippians 2:3-4

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Thought:
For ,many of us we face Christmas surrounded by folks that are not believers it is hard!  However, we also can not be forceful towards those folks as well.  We can not continue to shove the Word into them expecting them to change by it.  Stop speaking and start doing.  I encourage all to watch the movie " Christmas with a capital C".  You will get what I am trying to say with this.  Actions will always speak louder than words.  Don't worry about how you can change someone, just let God work on them through your actions.  That will lead them to God faster than you putting in front of them with everything you say!  This Christmas lets make it about Jesus, and not your views of the season. 

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, bring Christmas to us by your will, not ours.  Amen.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Tuned in Tuesday

As Christmas is just days away, let's gather around and enjoy Emmylou Harris with this great Christmas song. I had actually forgotten about this song until I went to see the Christmas show at American Music Theater in Lancaster. Hope you enjoy, and wishing you a great week, as well as a wonderful Christmas.



MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Friday, December 16, 2011

Gospel

Luke 1:38

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
Thought:
So here is the Christmas thought that I just can not seem to get off my mind.  In order for Christmas to happen on that magical night.  Someone had to have said "yes", and it was Mary that did.  What if Mary would have just scoffed it off and not cared?  Obviously she did, and so do many of you readers.  You care enough about what is going on to say "yes" when someone is in need.  You said "yes" to helping at the local charity or soup kitchen.  Thanks so much for all of you that do say "yes" to making a difference.  we say "yes" to celebrating this season for it's true reason.  What we can not do though is after this season is over, turn our backs on what we started and leave them in the past.  we need to keep working at making the difference everyday.  Say "yes" to is to come as well.  Just like Mary did with the unknown, we are asked to do the same.
Prayer:
Yes, Dear God, Yes we will follow you and the star all year long, not just at Christmas time.  Through the pain and suffering of the cross, and the glorious resurrection.  We will follow you, with the same tenderness of Mary on the night she conceived your Son Jesus Christ and loved him from that moment on.  Amen. 

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Glee(ked)

So word is (g)leeking out that I have become a huge Glee(k) (one who follows Glee(TV show on fox network).  I was concerned as the episode started last evening that the show was going to go in a bad direction.  Never the less, as the midpoint cam and Rory read from Luke 2 in the episode I knew I would once again not be disappointed.  In the true spirit of the Christmas spirit the gang realized what the season is truly about.  Giving, caring, and loving one another.  as busy as we will be, and as hard as it might get.  The real reason why we celebrate this season has NOTHING to do with getting.  It is all about giving!  Look at what we were given as a gift from God on Christmas.  The gift of eternal grace, and salvation for all that believe in the miracle of Christ.  "Do they know it's Christmas", thanks to Glee, I have been reminded of this.

Awesome, the power of entertainment when it is used for good!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Tuned in Tuesday

Steven Curtis Chapman, O come O come Emmanuel has the stage this week. Emmanuel meaning God with Us. He certainly is during this season. Let Him come to you and invade your life all year long.



Have a great and blessed week!

Monday, December 12, 2011

Quick Gospel

Matthew 25:35-36

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

Thought:
Keep this scripture in your mind as you give this season.  The cans of soup to the monetary donations.  Whichever it is you are helping someone that needs it this season.  Not for one second do not think that yours is too small to give, it all matters.  The more it means to you the more it means to God, and we would not let Him go hungry, or cold, or be lost in the world.  Treat each of your giving moments in this manner and they will mean more to you for your closeness that it brings you to God.

Prayer:
Gracious God, keep it about you this season, not about how big we can make ourselves!  Amen.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Happy Friday

Can we just laugh today??

Have a great, blessed weekend, and find something to laugh about this weekend. This past week was hard here on Earth!!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Prayer

God, its hard down here!
Things are so bad all the time it seems.
Hunger, Poverty, weakness, materialism, self-conceit,
Things have taken control of our lives.
Bad things!
Our youth keep getting attacked,
We keep losing them to accidents.
Parents and adults are being lost too,
to addictions, and striving for the best.
Being friends and not parents!
God, it's not fun!
Why have you left us to clean all of this up.
Ooh, the sacrifices we have to make and take to do so too!

What's that you say?
You know all about sacrifices.
The Son you sent to sacrifice His life for ours.
The cruel punishment and death He undertook for me to have the thoughts of just how bad I feel I have it. 
Whats that you say God?
...And that's the GOOD NEWS!!!
Amen.

*thank you to Prof. Barrett for the new style of conversing with God.  Never go to seminary thinking of the God you know before going will be the same God you know when leaving.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Tuned in Tuesday

As december rolls along I think this month for Tuned in Tuesday we are going to go alittle (or a lot) country.  for some good old fashioned Christmas carols and songs.  So  to get this shindig started we have to open it up with some David Crowder Band.   "Go tell it on the mountain" is just how we will start this month of.  Hope you enjoy, and have a great and blessed rest of the week!!



Please pray for Conewago valley School District as they deal with the lose of 5 students in a horrible accident yesterday afternoon.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Quick Gospel

Mark 1:1-4

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Mark 1

John the Baptist Prepares the Way
 1 The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.[a]  2 It is written in Isaiah the prophet:
   “I will send my messenger ahead of you,
   who will prepare your way”[b]
3 “a voice of one calling in the desert,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
   make straight paths for him.’”[c]
 4 And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Thought:
Well Isaiah prophesied about it...
John talked about it...
Mary Delivered it...
God provided it...
The blessed babe, born in a lowly manger, our King and Saviour has come to save us all...
Are you ready for it this year???

Prayer:
Dear gracious God, prepare our hearts.  Amen

Friday, December 2, 2011

Friday Thoughts!

Yesterday, December 1st., was World AIDS Day.  Why is this important to me.  It has alot to do with my early manhood years of coming to age.  I am who I am today by the grace of God and compassion that he has filled my heart with.  I love caring for people of all walks of life.  As a young 18 year old, instead of being out doing normal teenage things at that age I was volunteering at a local AIDS resource program for the next 3 years of my life.  In that time of caring for folks and being surrounded by folks, I can look back at that point in my life and say that my pasion for reaching people started at that point of my life.  It saddens me to this very day the stigma that comes with people with AIDS.  We can no longer stand by as idle hands not doing anything.  I am not saying that you need to specifically work with AIDS patients, just something with people that ned your compassion. need to know that they are not alone in this world.  That God's love is for them as much as it is for you.  we have this tendancy to ignore the fact that God created the World and all that is in it to love them NO MATTER WHAT!  Maybe you might be the one to reach someone that feels they are not worth it or good enough to receive what God gives.  Care, Care a lot for people, it is a great time of year to learn this lesson as the stage sets for the birth of our Lord and Savior.  He came for the homeless, the impoverished, the weak, the needy, the strong, the survivors, and for you too!  That is what I see when I see the nativity manger being filled on Christmas eve service with baby Jesus.
Have a great and blessed weekend!