Vol 3 No 1 - Participation = Preparation

There is a GREAT video on YouTube that is a clip of a press conference NBA star Allen Iverson had a couple of years ago in Philadelphia. The subject of the press conference was a rift between Iverson and his coach, Larry Brown, after Iverson missed practice. Many of you may remember it, for Iverson says the word 'practice' about 20 times in 2.5 minutes. Watching this clip again (and, I must admit, it is one of my favorite YouTube videos), the very last thing that Iverson says in this clip (which is not the total interview) is, "How the [heck] can I make my teammates better by practicing?" Good question. GREAT question. One I think that we all should have to answer - how can I make others on my team important by practicing?

Going into the Advent season, I have had several people mention to me that it seems there is a lot on the church calendar for December and wondering how it is all going to come off. There's also been some mention of people not being able to make it to EVERYTHING on the calendar due to other important matters. My hope and prayer is that you will make an effort to be a part of as many activities as you are willing to make time for, since it is when we are the body of Christ come together that we are strengthened and encouraged in our quest to fulfill the Master's will in all things. Through things like the Hanging of the Green service, the Advent lunches, Bible studies, Sunday School, Salsa sales, and food drives, we catch a glimpse of the kingdom of God that we miss when we limit our participation in the activities of the body of Christ to simply showing up on Sunday morning for an hour.

Advent is a season of preparation. Four weeks where we focus our strength and energy on nothing other (in theory) than preparing to observe and celebrate once again the arrival of our Savior. Further, this season is not just about preparing ourselves as individuals to participate in the joyous celebration of Christmas, but to walk with one another in this time. As Paul reminds us in several places, we are the body of Christ, and when we miss the opportunity to be together, we are not being all that we can be, nor all that we should be.

To answer Allen Iverson's question, "How the [heck] can I make my teammates better by practicing?", let me conclude by saying that when you, each of you, are present in the activities of the community of faith, you bring to the rest of us another glimpse of God's saving work through the very life you present for His service. By doing that, you make all of us, your teammates, better. After all, what is participation in the body of Christ but, to quote Fanny Crosby, a 'foretaste of glory divine'?

See you Sunday!
Lamar

Vol 2 No 50 - Thanks-GIVING

Thanksgiving - one of those secular holidays that speaks to the Christian community far more than we probably realize. As you all make your preparations for Thursday's festivities (or, if you are reading this when you get back, reflect upon Thursday's festivities), take a moment or two to think about the word 'Thanksgiving'. It's around this time of year I get a number of 'forwards' from people with the usual pablum about the meaning of Thanksgiving or the history of Thanksgiving or the ACLU threatening to blow Thanksgiving off the face of the earth - and as I read (if I haven't already seen it every year since 1995) these my mind starts to wander towards what it is that makes us so thankful. Is it the traditions? Is it the family? What is it that makes us so wrapped up in Thanksgiving?

I also think about what it is that is the number one response that people give during 'man on the street' interviews about what they are thankful for: their families. Shortly behind this answer is something to do with our nation and freedom, along with having food on the table, roof overhead, etc. This is where I think we as a church (small c) miss a great opportunity to get the message of our faith to others.

As we sit down with our friends, families, loved ones, or others this Thanksgiving, let us be sure to not miss the number one thing that we as Christians, by definition since we identify ourselves as Christians, are thankful for: a God who loves us so much that he sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, so that all who believe in him may not perish but have eternal life, AND that he came not to condemn the world but that all might be saved through him. Without this reality, none of the rest of the stuff we profess thanks for wouldn't be possible, much less happen.

See you Sunday!
Lamar

Vol 2 No 49 - Pastoral Hopes & Prayers

I don't know about you, but it is amazing how the holiday season seems to sneak up on us each year. Yesterday afternoon I spent getting our Advent calendar pretty much finalized, and, even though it is a little stressful to think of the craziness that is going on this year, I couldn't help but start to get excited. To think that in a couple of weeks, our sanctuary will be decorated with all the trappings of Advent is giving me all sorts of emotions - excitement, joy, anticipation, and even a little anxiety. Friday of this week, Melanie will be mailing to you our Advent calendar. As you read this calendar, and add the events of the church to your calendar, I invite you to seriously pray about where your focus is this holiday season. What is it that you are looking forward to the most during this time - gifts, family, time off, traditions, or even 'dear God, my hope for this holiday season is to just get through it'?

My hope and prayer for each of you as you begin to enter the holiday season is that what you anticipate the most, and what you look forward to the most, cannot be found on the shelves of a store, at an online website, or in a catalog. My hope and prayer for each of you as you begin to enter the holiday season is that what you anticipate the most, and what you look forward to the most, is not the people of your lives or the parties & dinners that you will attend with them.

My hope and prayer for each of you as you begin to enter the holiday season is that what you anticipate the most, and what you look forward to the most, is found in the beauty, richness, and depth of the anticipation of the arrival of our Savior, Christ the Lord. For anything else to be the focus of the holiday season would be nothing less than a tragedy.

See you Sunday!
Lamar