Let the Frenzy Begin!

Last Thursday we were all busy feeding our faces with turkey and dressing; watching the football games; reminiscing about holidays past; playing board games with the kids and deciding if we should have yet a third piece of Grammy’s homemade pumpkin pie.

How much can change in just a week?!  We moved from the calmness of thankfulness to the frenzy of making it through Christmas, to surviving yet another crazy four weeks.  Some of us were glad we got the Christmas lights up before the cold weather hit; others of us are climbing ladders in the cold this week trying to get those all-important lights up on the roof, reminiscent of Chevy Chase in the Christmas movie, Christmas Vacation, which is a classic to watch each year.  Then there are the Christmas cards to get ordered online.  We can no longer send plain cards.  No, we need to send photo cards with 3-4 photos on them.  It’s hard enough finding one picture that’s good of everyone, now we need to find 2-3 more! 

Then come all the activities and parties!  There are a myriad of church activities and wonderful concerts, plus the children’s Christmas services and the Advent Workshop.  Couple that with all the family get-togethers and all the holiday traditions, like going to the Guthrie to see A Christmas Carol, or going to the Nutcracker or going to the sing-along Messiah concert, and it’s easy to see why we are all stressed out.  Whew!  Just thinking about everything makes me exhausted! 

The question that kept popping into my mind this week, as I made my way to Target amid the sea of crazy shoppers, was this thought:  What about Jesus?  Now, I know we need to get all the right toys and things our kids want for Christmas, but have we become so driven by cultural and societal pressure that we need to top each Christmas past?  Do we go to more and more parties, more open houses, sing-a-longs, plays, concerts, and business/corporate events for our jobs, that we kind of push Jesus to the side more and more? 

On Sunday, we begin the first week of the Advent season, which is a season of preparation, the preparation for the birth of the King of Kings, our Emmanuel – God with us.  While all the Christmas activities are wonderful, there is nothing as wonderful as the gift that God gave to us on that first Christmas more than 2,000 years ago.  And, that gift, the gift of Jesus the Christ, is a gift that will never need to be returned, it always fits and it lasts longer than Aunt Martha’s fruit cake!  As we all enjoy the parties and fun Christmas activities in our lives over the next few weeks, may we never forget the real reason to celebrate! 

"Where are you, Christmas?"  That’s the theme of this year’s Calvary Christmas Concert, which is this Sunday at 3 and 6 p.m.  What a great question to ask ourselves every day during Advent!  Let’s keep our eye on the best present under the tree this Christmas – Jesus the Christ.  And, the best thing is – we don’t have to fight the crowds to find it and it is totally FREE to those who wish to receive it.  Wow!  Now that’s the REAL gift of Christmas!

May Christmas fill your heart with His love in a new way as we journey to the manger. 

Advent blessings,

Pastor Carol

I'm Putting My Ego in the Trunk

So, are you in the trunk or the driver’s seat?  That was the question Pastor Skip raised at this weekend’s services.  He said that when the ego is in the driver’s seat, the heart is in the trunk.  Yikes!  How often have we all left our hearts in the trunk, and how often have we tried to tell God what we want Him to do for us? 

In Acts 8 this past week, it’s easy to see that Stephen’s faith and heart was in Jesus.  Jesus was in the driver’s seat and Stephen’s heart was filled with faith.  No matter his fate, he knew that Jesus was driving the car and because of that he would be okay, even if that meant bodily death.

When we read about Stephen’s stoning, we often times marvel at his faith.  Deep inside, we ask ourselves, if we were called upon to stand our ground and proclaim the Gospel even onto death, could we or would we be willing to do it? 

In our world of consumerism, it’s easy for us to relate to Simon in Acts 8, when he offers to buy the power of the Holy Spirit.  Simon is a reflection of his society, just as we are.  In our world, if you have money and resources, you can most likely buy just about anything you want.  But the one thing you and I can’t buy is a relationship with God.  That must be sought after; and then it’s given freely to those who ask for it with a contrite heart.  The Gospel is not for sale, as Pastor Skip reminded us, but God’s love, mercy and grace are given freely as gifts to those who truly seek Him.  

Next week is Thanksgiving.  For many of us we will gather with family or friends for a feast.  We will stuff our faces and watch football; eat some more and watch still more football; then hit the stores on Friday morning stampeding like a group of wild buffalo to a watering hole, to grab the latest toy or flat screen TV sometimes taking someone down to grab it.  Of course, none of you good Christians would ever think of doing that?!?

Amid all the consumerism and feasting next week, let’s remember that the best gift can’t be purchased at any store.  It is not for sale!   It’s a relationship with God!  And His free gifts can’t be bought or sold, but only graciously received.  So, in between the turkey and the football games next week, take time to remember the One who has provided all the blessings in our lives. 

I’ve waited to find a time to use this song by Bobby Bare called Drop Kick Me Jesus Through the Goalposts of Life.  While it’s a funny song, there are some simple truths in it.  Enjoy!

May we always park our egos in the trunk and put our faith in Jesus Christ in the driver's seat!  Can I have an AMEN?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Pastor Carol

We Win Either Way!

Last weekend, Pastor Steve challenged us to have a “but, if not” faith no matter the circumstances we face.  Whether we look at the story of Stephen in Acts chapter 7 or if we read about Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego from the book of Daniel, they all had a faith that realized that, even if they die, they win because God’s promises are forever.  They knew that they had a God who would never fail them.  They may be persecuted, stoned or thrown into a fiery furnace, but God’s promises to them would never fail them. 

When my dad was dying from prostrate and bone cancer a number of years ago, I asked him if he was praying for healing; after all, I had scores of people at Calvary and around the world praying for him to be healed.  My dad turned to me, with his deep brown eyes and with a smile on his face, and said, “Carol Ann, yes, I pray for healing, but you see I win either way!  If God chooses to heal me in this world, then I have more time with all of you, but if God calls me home, I will spend more time with Him.  I win either way, whether I live or whether I die.”  Wow!  In those 30 seconds, I realized the depth of my dad’s faith.  It was simple and direct; yet it was profound and full of depth. I win either way!  My dad had that “but if not” kind of faith that Pastor Steve was talking to us about this weekend. 

We, as Christians, win either way!  That thought empowers me.  So, if that’s the case, why do so many of us hold back from sharing our faith with friends and neighbors?  Why do we shy away from standing firm in our faith when we know that we win either way?  Why do we not speak up?  What do we fear?  Death?  In a world that tells us that faith doesn’t matter and what we believe is a fairy tale, we need to stand firm in the Word of God knowing that He will never leave us or forsake us.  His promises are as true today as they were for Stephen. 

Shane and Shane have a great song called Burn Us Up.  It tells the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel Chapter 3.  The first part of the song is Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego talking to King Nebuchednezzar, and the second part is them talking to the God Almighty.  It’s a song about having a “but if not” faith. 

Whatever fiery furnace you are in or whatever stones are being hurled at you this week, remember that God walks with you.  And, as my dad so wisely said to me, we win either way!  Praise be to God!

In His Mighty Grip!

Pastor Carol

Get into the Ring for Christ

At the worship services a couple of weeks ago, I challenged each of us to get into the ring for Christ.  So, how did it go for you over the past couple weeks?  Did you get in the ring and pull out all the stops?  Did you have an expectancy that God would show up and give you the holy boldness you needed? 

Many people on that Thursday night and Sunday morning came up to me after the services with many questions about the Holy Spirit.  How do I get filled?  How does the Holy Spirit work?  How can I have the boldness of Peter in my life and faith?  Some mentioned the services this week were so wonderful and so filled with the Spirit.  Yes, that weekend’s services were pretty lively.  There were the children’s’ choirs, the adult choirs, and of course, a crazy pastor running down the aisle to the theme song from Rocky with big red boxing gloves on challenging you to get in the ring for Christ!  I must admit, all of those special things did add to the service, but as worshippers of Jesus Christ, we should come each Sunday with an expectant attitude.  We should expect God to show up, not be surprised that He did! 

God is here every Sunday, but sometimes we may come to worship with a vast array of other things on our minds that clutter our experiencing Him.  However, if we come each week and put those things aside and focus on God during worship, we will experience God!  God is always “in the house!”  It’s not about feelings, it’s about our hearts.  Our hearts need to be open.  Moving those 16 inches from our heads to our hearts makes all the difference.

Peter was changed by the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and he was never the same!  He knew God was with Him and that God was directing His path.  He knew that God would show up!  He didn’t doubt that for a second while he and John stood before the Sanhedrin after their arrest for preaching and teaching about Jesus Christ.  The holy boldness they had came from the Holy Spirit.

Just like Rocky, a fighter who was past his prime, who was a lost cause, he goes on to victory, beating the more talented opponent in the original Rocky movie.  We too are like Rocky.  We are all lost causes, but through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit we can also become like Peter and John.  All we need to do is get on our knees and pray, believe and receive God’s power in our lives! 

So, if you have not yet given it a shot, try to get into the ring for Christ and see how He shows up!  I guarantee you He will show up!  Get ready!

Here’s an older worship song that reminds us of God’s amazing presence!

To God be the Glory!

Pastor Carol