Michael Menchaca, a member of the infamous Cleburne Barndogs and a former member of my youth group, is struggling to overcome Bacterial Meningitis in the ICU of Harris Hospital in Forth Worth.
As you might imagine, his family is devistated and worried, and would deeply appreciate your thoughtrs and prayers.
Here's Mike's Facebook page if you would like to leave him a message.
If this description is new to you, you might want to do some reading here, and to examine what's being said below:
Recently, I met with a group of religious leaders who have become increasingly disturbed by the alliance between evangelical Christians and the Republican Party. Karl Rove, President Bush’s political strategist, has brilliantly and successfully served as the matchmaker to arrange this union, which was consummated in the last presidential election when 83 percent of evangelicals voted Republican.
The meeting was joined by the Rev. Jim Wallis of Sojourners magazine; Father Richard Rohr, a well-known Catholic writer and speaker; Brian McLaren, a leader of the emergent church movement; the Rev. Dr. Cheryl J. Sanders, a prominent African-American pastor; the Rev. Noel Castellanos, a strong voice in the Hispanic community; and several other outstanding Christian communicators.The purpose of this gathering was not to create a religious left movement to challenge the religious right, but to jump-start a religious movement that will transcend partisan politics. Believing that Jesus is neither a Republican nor a Democrat, we want to unite Christians who are concerned about what is happening in America. We are evangelicals who are troubled by what is happening to poor people in America; who are disturbed over environmental policies that are contributing to global warming; who are dismayed over the increasing arrogance of power shown in our country’s militarism; who are outraged because government funding is being reduced for schools where students, often from impoverished and dysfunctional homes, are testing poorly; who are upset with the fact that of the 22 industrialized nations America is next to last in the proportion of its national budget (less than two-tenths of 1 percent) that is designated to help the poor of third-world countries; and who are broken-hearted over discrimination against women, people of color, and those who suffer because of their sexual orientation.
Because being evangelical is usually synonymous with being Republican in the popular mind, and calling ourselves “progressive” might be taken as a value judgment by those who do share our views, we decided not to call ourselves “progressive evangelicals.” We came up with a new name: Red-Letter Christians.Who first suggested the label? A secular Jewish Country-and-Western disc jockey in Nashville, Tennessee. During a radio interview he was conducting with Jim Wallis, he happened to say, “So, you’re one of those Red-Letter Christians - you know - who’s really into those verses in the New Testament that are in red letters!”
Jim answered, “That’s right!” And with that answer, he spoke for all of us. By calling ourselves Red-Letter Christians, we are alluding to the fact that in several versions of the New Testament, the words of Jesus are printed in red. In adopting this name, we are saying that we are committed to living out the things that He said. Of course, the message in those red-lettered verses is radical, to say the least. If you don’t believe me, read Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).
In those red letters, He calls us away from the consumerist values that dominate contemporary American consciousness. He calls us to be merciful, which has strong implications for how we think about capital punishment. When Jesus tells us to love our enemies, he probably means we shouldn’t kill them. Most important, if we take Jesus seriously, we will realize that meeting the needs of the poor is a primary responsibility for His followers (my emphasis).
Figuring out just how to relate those radical red letters in the Bible to the complex issues in the modern world will be difficult, but that’s what we’ll try to do.
Gandhi once said that everybody in the world knows what Jesus was teaching in those verses - except Christians! We will try to prove him wrong.
Source: Sojo
Tags: Sojo, Red Letter Christians
I stumbled upon several good thoughts on prayer while preparing for Sunday. If any of you struggle with prayer, have given up on prayer or have serious reservations about prayer, let me encourage you to examine the essays posted here.
Here's an excerpt:
To me, the power of prayer depends on the sort of prayer that you are praying. Oftentimes people become disappointed and disillusioned when they pray to God to grant a specific outcome or desire and their "prayer" is not answered. Many people think a miracle has happened when just such a prayer results in God's bringing about the desired outcome.
I once prayed that a close friend who was sick be made well. His subsequent death seemed to me not only a failure on God's part to grant my prayer, but an affront to my sense of right results and even justice. In reflecting on this event over the last several years, I've come to realize that a miracle occurs as we learn to perceive the purpose of prayer as something different, something that changes us and gives meaning to our understanding of the words "thy will be done"; that is, we understand an outcome as part of living fully and the total package of the human experience, both the joyous and the tragic, instead of perceiving it as upsetting our apple cart. This is not to say that tragedy is not tragic, but tragedy is not something caused by God for the purpose of making us suffer or to deny our wish. While we may not want our friends to die young, death happens to us all, and it is not God's failure on our behalf when it does.
Living fully is so hard to do. In order to achieve it, we have to accept many conditions, outcomes and events that we wouldn't have chosen and don't agree with, and even embrace them as a part of life - our lives - because they are a part of life (and death). Learning to pray with that more mature understanding helps me experience God as not so much a parental figure with the power to give me what I want, but as a potent and ever- present source of connectedness and strength that helps me to understand those events life inevitably throws my way.
Source: ExploreFaith
Tags: pray, prayer, power of prayer
This weekend we'll be taking a look at the deadly sin known as Lust. Here are a few tidbits to get you thinking:
The scripture passage:
You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:27-28 NRSV
A definition:
"Uncontrolled or illicit sexual desire." It gives no thought to consequences; it's all about the euphoric thrill of the moment.
A word about Lust:
Frederick Buecher defined lust as "the craving for salt of a [person] who is dying of thirst." (Wishful Thinking, p. 54).
Tags: lust, 7 deadly sins
On Sunday night we took the church youth group to Babe's Chicken. Wow, what a fun night!
In a nutshell, Babe's serves your choice of meat (see their menu) and provides the table with all-you-can-eat family style vegetables and bisquits. If you're a fan of good comfort food, Babe's is the place to go.
Unlike the rest of the group, I chose chicken fried steak & chowed down on multiple servings of cream corn (superb!), green beans, mashed potatos & bisquits and honey.
If you're ever in Texas, Babe's isn't the easiest restaurant to get in (there's often a 25 minute wait despite their huge dining room), but it's well worth the time and effort.
Pictured is where we went-- the Burleson location.
Tags: Babe's Chicken
I read this brief letter at the conclusion of yesterday's worship service:
When I attended seminary in Kansas City, one of my favorite television shows was MASH. In the final episode, Hawkeye was faced with the difficult task of saying good bye to people who were more than work associates-- they had become family.
Today, I find myself in much the same position. Having known most of you for 12-13 years, saying goodbye is no easy task. But that's what I'm here to do today. I hereby submit my resignation as your first pastor to explore other options, and will make Sunday, September 16 my final service with you.
Please be assured of my love and concern for you & you can count on my prayers as you make important decisions in the days that lie ahead. Above all, it my prayer that you'll never lose sight of the plight of the lost, the lonely & the marginalized, and that you'll be ever-faithful in transforming the world, with God's love, one heart at a time.
That would definitely make me proud. And I sense it would put a smile on the face of Jesus as well.
I love you guys. God bless you.
Warmest regards,
Dr. Mark Bushor
Tags: Mark Bushor
This weekend we'll be dealing with the deadly sin known as lust. Here's a good quotation on this topic:
"Lust is the ape that gibbers in our loins. Tame him as we will by day, he rages all the wilder in our dreams by night. Just when we think we're safe from him, he raises up his ugly head and smirks, and there's no river in the world flows cold and strong enough to strike him down. Almighty God, why dost thou deck men out with such a loathsome toy?" Frederick Buechner
Tags: lust, 7 deadly sins
Here's someting I ran across while preparing for a sermon on greed.
Who could forget this classic movie clip that typified a generation known for greed?
Tags: greed, Michael Douglas, Wall Street, decade of greed
If Pride is all about me,
then Envy is all about you-- you have what I want!
There appear to be some common symptoms of envy that might help us identify it's disruptive presence:
Source: The Workbook on the 7 Deadly Sins
Tags: 7 deadly sins, envy
[Click on photo for larger view.]
This photo is amazing. Wow. Wish I could see this place in person.
Well I've gotta run for now. It's H2H food distribution day & the church is packed with needy people needing a helping hand.
Have a refreshing weekend.
pax,
meb
Here's the skinny on a new sermon series:
A FRESH LOOK AT THE 7 DEADLY SINS
A seven-part sermon series (duh)
Have you ever wondered why talk shows like Dr. Phil are so successful?
Why would a middle-aged man with a Texas-direct, blunt-to-the-point-of- cruel approach garner such a faithful audience? One psychotherapist explained it this way: "People are ready to be told the truth about themselves, even when it hurts, because they know that, without getting the truth, they won't get life."
With that in mind, we'll be pulling out all of the stops in our upcoming reexamination of the seven deadly sins. No holds barred. No punches pulled. Why? Because twenty-first century followers of Jesus need to hear the absolute truth about sinning.
Join us this weekend as we examine the mother of all sins: Pride.
Further reading:
Wikipedia article
Sinning like a Christian by William Willimon
The Workbook on the 7 Deadly Sins by Maxie Dunnam & Kimberly Dunnam Reisman
Tags: 7 deadly sins, William Willimon, sermon series
I've decided to provide a note-taking guide for the next few Sundays to see how they go. Here's what everyone will be receiving this weekend:
God’ Sharecroppers
Sunday, July 9, 2007
Prepared by Mark Bushor, Ph.D.
Passage: Matthew 21:34-37 NRSV
Today’s scripture passage reminds us that we are God’s sharecroppers. We tend the earth and its riches on someone else’s behalf. And we’re expected to represent God’s interests, being as generous with each other as God is with us. We're not owners. We were never meant to be.
Sharecropping: Background information
Types of sharecropping arrangements
Inherent problems with the system:
Life application points:
Family study guide:
Suggested reading: The Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore
“They needed to give in order to remember who they were: grateful guests, who took their lives into their hands like wrapped and ribboned gifts and who returned the favor by giving themselves to others.”
If you'd like a copy of the study guide with answers, just leave a comment below.
We were recently awarded a $3200 grant to offer DivorceCare for Kids (DC4K) this fall. It's a support group designed specifically for the children of divorce (ages 5-12). And we'll schedule it to run concurrently with our already successful DivorceCare group.
Here's their official logo:
We're very excited to have the resources to provide this much-needed programming for hurting children.
It's been snowing most of the day.
Yeah, right.
This is the same state that never (well, rarely) gets snow at Christmastime. It would take a fool to bet on snow at Easter.
But here it is & it's colder than all get out. Yikes.
I've spent most of the day hunkered down in my apartment eating pizza and getting ready for Sunday morning.
May the joy of Easter wipe away your tears & allay all of your fears. Have a great weekend everyone.
pax,
meb
The skinny on this weekend:
We live within and perpetuate a grand story. And the best way to communicate the essence of that story is simply to say:
LOVE WINS
This weekend we'll talk about a love that overcame tyranny, wiped away tears and allays all our fears.
Without Easter, Calvary was just another political execution of a failed messiah. But with Easter, we gain our best glimpse of what God's love is like.
On second thought, the best way to communicate this love is to live it.
We hope to see you Sunday.
For as long as I can remember, we've taken youth groups on summer mission trips to inner city locations like Los Angeles, Nashville, Chicago, Washington DC and Houston, but this year we're doing something different. We're simply going on a retreat to recharge and refocus.
The destination we've chosen is Shepherd of the Ozarks in the mountains of Arkansas. As of today, we have 26 college & high school students attending which isn't too shabby for a church that typically averages around 85 in worship. In fact, we'll probably have well over 30 before registration closes.
I share this to make you aware of Shepherd of the Ozarks (SOTO), an amazing retreat facility, and so you might begin praying for us.
Tags: Shepherd of the Ozarks
This weekend we'll be taking a look at the seventh word from the cross:
Father, Into Your Hands I Commend My Spirit
Here's a portion of what Barbara Brown Taylor, noted author and theologian, had to say about this statement:
But by saying what he did, he took himself out of their hands. By commending himself to the God whose enemy they said he was, he redefined what was happening to him. He gave away what they thought they were taking away from him, and the whole scene lost its balance. One moment there was a tug of war going on between the good guys and the bad guy. The next moment Jesus simply opened his hands and those who thought they had him nailed fell right on top of each other.
Thus Jesus introduced us to the shocking power of sacrifice, which can turn something that looks for all the world like loss into something that feels for all the world like gain. According to Frederick Buechner, "To sacrifice something is to make it holy by giving it away for love." Even if someone is trying to pry it out of your hands. Even if those standing around you laugh and shout that you have no choice, you have a choice. You can still decide how you will let go. You can still open your hands at the last moment and give up what others thought they were taking from you. You can even make it holy by doing it for love (read the remainder on-line).
Source: explorefaith
Tags: Barbara Brown Taylor, Lent
I don't know why, but I've always wanted one of these!
With a fishing adventure scheduled (with the teenagers) on Sunday afternoon at the Kirkpatrick's. They have a stock pond full of catfish!
So, I'm really tempted to order one of these. Seriously! :-)
However, when I tried ordering one (later in the day), Ronco said it would take up to 3-4 weeks for delivery, Yikes. So much for getting it before Sunday's adventure.
On second thought, I wonder if they're available at Target or Wal Mart? Hmmmm.
Tags: pocket fisherman, Ronco
In preparation for this weekend's sermon, I thought I'd jot down several preliminary thoughts:
When Jesus said, “It is finished” what did he mean?
Tags: crucifixion, Lent, Easter, Christianity
The youth are enjoying Spring Break this week & are wanting me to take them to one of our favorite dives-- The Soda Gallery in Dallas. If you're familiar with Dallas, it's in the Bishop Arts District.
If you've never savored an "original receipe" Dr. Pepper made with Imperial pure cane sugar (photo) or an "original receipe" Coca Cola (imported from Amsterdam) made with Kola nut, pure cane sugar & Citric acid instead of Phosphoric acid, then you've missed a wonderful treat.
That's why we go--to purchase hard-to-find soft drinks like these. And we make it into a day-long adventure.
As always, I'm looking forward to it! :-)
This week's scripture passage:
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19;25-27 (NIV)
Commentary from Barbara Brown Taylor:
Although they are near enough to hear him, he does not seem to see them at first. There is a lot going on. The soldiers are dividing up his clothes into four piles: robe, prayer shawl, belt, sandals. Passers-by are straining to make out the sign over his head while the chief priests are arguing that Pilate should change what it says.
But finally Jesus does see them, and when he does, he speaks. First he looks at his mother. "Woman," he says--the same thing he called her before, at the wedding--"Woman, here is your son." Then he looks at the disciple standing beside her and says to him, "Here is your mother." Since his hands are not free, he has to do a lot of work with his eyes, indicating which woman and which man. When he is through, the adoption is final. From that hour, John says, the beloved disciple took Jesus' mother into his own home.
It is a gesture of surpassing sweetness, and yet you have to wonder which way it went. Was Jesus looking out for his mother or for his disciple? Who needed whom more?
Source: Explore Faith
Tags: Barbara Brown Taylor
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Lenten Preaching Schedule (2007) Cross-Shaped Words |
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February 18 |
The first word “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” |
Luke 23:32-38 |
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February 25 |
The second word “Today you will be with me in paradise.” |
Luke 23:39-43 |
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March 4 |
The third word “Woman here is your son… [son] here is your mother” |
John 19:26-27 |
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March 11 |
The fourth word ‘My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” |
Matthew 27:45-49 |
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March 18 |
The fifth word “I am thirsty” |
John 19:28-29 |
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March 25 |
The sixth word “It is finished” |
John 19:30 |
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April 1 |
The seventh word “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” |
Luke 23:46-49 |
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April 8 |
Resurrection Sunday (Easter) |
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Cross Shattered Christ by Stanley Hauerwas |
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Tags: Lent, Lenten preaching series
I almost forgot. Here's the skinny on next weekend:
Title: SAVING SAUL
Acts 9:1-22 (NRSV)
What a great story! The conversion of baleful Saul.
Saul--Church Enemy Number One--murderous persecutor of the church, struck down on his way to hunt Christians, blinded by light, name changed. Once an ardent antagonist of Christianity, now a life so new that he's called Paul, great missionary to the gentiles.
So, what does Saul/Paul's life teach us about conversion? Is his conversion the normative example or the extraordinary one? What does his highly personal encounter with God say to us as present-day followers of Jesus? Is there anything new to be gleaned from this well-known tale?
Well, join us this week as we take a look at "Saving Saul."
Tags: Saul, Apostle Paul
I don't know that I've ever published my preaching schedule, so I decided to post it this time. Here are my next two series:
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Spring Preaching Schedule |
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January 21 |
Saving Saul |
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January 28 |
Perplexing questions: “I don’t believe in institutional Christianity. Now what?” |
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February 4 |
Perplexing questions: “I’m uncomfortable with some of the doctrines professed in organized religion. Is believing certain creeds what Christianity is all about?” |
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February 11 |
Perplexing questions: “Can I be on a spiritual journey without being religious?” |
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February 18 |
The first word |
Luke 23:32-38 |
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February 25 |
The second word |
Luke 23:39-43 |
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March 4 |
The third word |
John 19:26-27 |
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March 11 |
The fourth word |
Matthew 27:45-49 |
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March 18 |
The fifth word |
John 19:28-29 |
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March 25 |
The sixth word |
John 19:30 |
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April 1 |
The seventh word |
Luke 23:46-49 |
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April 8 |
Resurrection Sunday (Easter) |
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Tags: sermons, sermon series
[Click on photo for more detail.]
Tuesdays at Crossroads have begun to take on a life of their own. In previous weeks, we've served ummmm 125 or so people a free noontime meal.
We've served everything from deer chili to BBQ chicken with all the fixins.
Now, however, we're consistently serving around 200 hungry neighborhood friends-- people, in many cases, who wouldn't have otherwise eaten that day.
What a wonderful challenge & opportunity it's become.
This weekend at Crossroads:
Topic: STAR GAZING
(In conjuction with Epiphany)
Metaphor: Telescope
Passages: Isaiah 60:1-7; Matthew 2:1-12 (NRSV)
The Christ-child was visited by Magi, not religious people at all, but rather weird, misfit, out of the mainstream astrologers (or magicians), with little to no knowledge of scripture or religious conviction. They just happen to walk across history’s stage at the right moment & find their feet scripted into a journey of light shining in the darkness.
Here's a related article written by Dr. Walter Brueggemann.
Tags: Epiphany, Magi
This morning a groups of us went to The Soda Gallery in Dallas-- a quaint little shop that specializes in regional & hard-to-find bottled carbonated drinks.
A few of the titles that piqued my interest included: Dad's Root Beer, Ting, Boylan's (just about any kind), Ramune (a Japanese cola with a quirky glass stopper), Henry Wienhard's Orange Cream & the original recipe Dutch Coca Cola (without the cocaine).
They tell me that Moxie (pictured) has a taste of black licorice, but I didn't try it.
The guys are already asking when we'll be making a return trip, lol. It was a lot of fun today.
Tags: Dad's Root Beer, Boylan's, Ting, Moxie
In a previous post, I wrote about Crossroads feeding 225 poor/hungry people on the Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving.
I'm just now getting around to posting some photographs at Flickr. Simply click on this photo & go to the photo set labeled "Ben's Thanksgiving Meal." They'll give you a better feel for the setting in which the meal was served.
We're doing our very best to become a "Third Place" in downtown Cleburne.
Technorati Tags : Thanksgiving, poverty, hunger, homelessness
Everyone is invited to surprise parties, even people that may not hang out together all the time, because the more people, the bigger the surprise! Maybe God felt the same way, searching for the perfect gift, planning the exact time to reveal it, and inviting everyone to "sing for joy" together. No one is left out from joining in God's party, and all of us are meant to have the time of our lives, rejoicing. Today, on the eve of the birth of the ultimate gift, let's celebrate!
II Corinthians 8:9 is widely used as a scripture to endorse “The Gospel of Prosperity."
However, taken within context, it’s more about perseverance than prosperity (in the sense that Prosperity people use that word).
Though the novelty & excitement of assisting hurting people in Jerusalem had worn off, Paul was afraid they might abandon their commitment to provide much-needed financial assistance to the Jerusalem church.
So he dug deep to drive home a great theological truth--because Christ became poor (literally & figuratively speaking), we are all the more richer.
Not rich in the sense of Bill Gates.
But rich in the sense of George Bailey (It’s a Wonderful Life).
We're rich by the way we live our lives in relationship to God & others.
Technorati Tags : Flickr, prosperity, Gospel+of+Prosperity
[Click on photo for larger view.]
Earlier today, I received an e-mail from National Geographic Videos asking permission to use one of our youth group mission trip photos, in an upcoming video about a Holocaust survivor.
The photo (right) was taken in Washington, DC by one our youth ministry teams who took free groceries to a Holocaust survivor's apartment.
I remember very vividly how she "loved on us" & lavished appreciation on us--as Americans who had helped liberate her from the horrors of the Holocaust
It was an amazing day & an experience I won't soon forget.
Technorati Tags : Holocaust, National+Geographic
With the Christmas rush in full force & the benefit of beautiful weather, we gave away boxes of free groceries to 80 hungry families today. Though most of us were worn to a frazzle, it was a beautiful day in more ways than one.
Technorati Tags : hunger, poverty, homelessness
It's another cold day here in North Texas-- not cold enough for a stubborn "Yankee" to wear anything warmer than shorts & a jacket--but cold nonetheless.
Harold & Ben are on their way back from the Tarrant Area Food Bank. They're picking up 4887 pounds of groceries--total market value of $7300-- for only $350. And we'll turn right around & give them away--no strings attached--to hungry neighborhood friends this afternoon. In fact, I'll probably show "Pirates on the Caribbean" on the large screen just for fun. Ben tells me that he's purchased a new hot-air popcorn popper, so we'll have fresh popcorn too.
I imagine on a cold day like today that we'll probably have 80-90 families needing groceries. Many will stick around in our warm building for the free movie & popcorn too.
Here's my weekly Flickr offering; very colorful, unusual.
Technorati Tags : Flickr
This weekend, we'll begin a new series entitled Humble Beginnings. The first sermon in this series focuses on Mary. Here's what N.T. Wright has to say about Mary:
Mary is, to that extent, the supreme example of what always happens when God is at work by grace through human beings. God's power from outside, and the indwelling spirit within, together result in things being done which would have been unthinkable any other way.
Source: Luke for Everyone by Tom Wright, p. 11.
Tags: Tom+Wright
Three of the most famous chess matches on record are:
1) Bobby Fisher vs. Borris Spassky (1972)
2) Deep Blue vs. Kasparov (1996/97)
3) Jesus Christ vs. Governor Pilate
This weekend we'll take a look at the match between Governor Pilate, the cynical insider who had consistly knocked off all challengers, and Jesus Christ, the upstart revolutionary who had been raising eyebrows by his rule-bending mercy & unrelenting compassion.
This weekend it's:
"Checkmate"
John 18:33-37
We hope to see you then!
Making a difference in the neighborhood:
A tale of a Thanksgiving feast
On Tuesday at noontime, Chef Ben (with the help of Toni Flanary & Sue Combs) prepared a free Thanksgiving Feast for our neighborhood friends. It included turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, yams, homemade dressing & a wide variety of desserts. There were orange table cloths,
Thanksgiving decorations & matching candles on all of the round tables.
What makes this story so amazing is the number of families who were helped. 225 people were served lunch (all of the food was served by 1:00 p.m.), and 95 families received a box of free groceries as well. If you figure there are at least 3 people in every family (oftentimes many more), then the total number skyrockets to 500.
Tuesday was a day filled with laughter, lively conversation, hugs & two-handed hand shakes. The church was abuzz with excitement from the moment the doors were opened at 9:00 a.m.
I just wish that all of you could have been there.
A special word of thanks is extended to all who helped, all who pray & otherwise support our commitment to the needs of our neighborhood. As far as I can tell, Thanksgiving arrived early this year. And we all had a blast! :-)
Technorati Tags : Crossroads+Church, Thanksgiving
I've decided to go with this theme at Christmastime:
When Presidents, Prime Ministers, and important dignitaries come to town, they're met with all sorts of pomp and circumstance--the higher the office, the greater the power, the bigger the celebration.
People will crowd the streets at the chance of catching a glimpse of their favorite political leaders.
It's almost unimaginable to think that when God, the King of Kings,
"came to town" there wasn't much fanfare to greet him. No crowds, no banners, not even a place to stay. When Mary and Joseph arrived at the inn, they were turned away because there was no room for them.
The Son of God wasn't born in a palace or a castle. Instead baby Jesus drew his first breaths in the filth and stench of a barn.
So that we might know abundance, God knew poverty. So that we might experience the richness of life, God got dirty.
The story of Christmas gives hope to anyone who has ever been in a low place. God has been there before us, and stands with us in our humble places.
This Christmas, we invite you to experience the God of HUMBLE BEGINNINGS .
Source: Midnight Oil Productions (graphics/theme idea)
Technorati Tags : Flickr, Midnight+Oil+Productions, Christmas, Advent
[Click on photo for a better view.]
Today was one of those Pauline "keeping your eyes on the prize" kind of days.
With a church full of hungry people clamoring for attention and special favors (most of whom are "the working poor," mentally challenged, hooked on drugs or homeless), it's easy to forget why you're there. Particularly when you're already tired, understaffed, preoccupied by administrative matters and frustrated that the local "small town" theater didn't receive a copy of The Prestige for opening w
