12/4/11 – The Christmas Classics “A Christmas Conversion”
The Charles Dickens classic entitled A Christmas Carol was published in 1843 and since its first publication, it has be adapted for theater, film, television, radio, and opera. I believe a fresh look at this all-time classic will remind us that it’s far more than just a feel-good, festive tale, featuring a miserly old man with one of the oldest catchphrases in the world, known as “Bah Humbug”. Scrooge parallels many Biblical characters who demonstrate the spirit of Anti-Christ. He also demonstrates the spirit of everyone yet today who tries to remove the spirit of Christmas and, more importantly, the spirit of Christ from all of us and all around us. They are the ones who want no evidence of Jesus anywhere in the public eye. May we be aware of the Scrooges in our lives that try to rob the true meaning and purpose out of our lives. Let us learn from Ebenezer Scrooge’s mistakes and regrets and strive to not fall into the same trap that he did.
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11/27/11 – Our Great Hope
Hope brings power to people’s lives. Hope is what comforts us in times of pain and confusion. Hope is what allows us to not dwell on things as they are but as they will be. As Hebrews 11:1 states, “Being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” The New Testament Greek word for hope is Elipis, which means to have an eagerness or expectation of something. The understanding of Biblical hope gives to us an confidence that the good expected and the promises given in the Bible will happen and come to pass. It is this hope that offers to us a genuine confidence that will impact our daily living. It will be seen in the character of our lives. This hope gives to the believer an unexplainable peace and joy when the world around us is spinning out of control. The closer we walk with Christ, the deeper and stronger our hope will become. True hope is built and centered upon the work and person of Jesus Christ. He is our source of support and genuine hope.
Feel free to call the church office at (320)243-3513 or send us a message
