The Most Precious Gift
As a child, Christmas was a time of tradition. In the weeks prior to Christmas, my family attended the Christmas Cantata at church, visited the giant Christmas tree and lights on 5th St. and went shopping at the El Camino Real mall. At the Christmas Eve service, we would listen to Pastor Joe read the story of Jesus’ birth and then head home to open our Christmas pajamas. After dinner we gathered around the TV to watch the Nutcracker and eat decorated cookies for dessert. We were excited to go to bed so that Santa would come!
Christmas morning started early with opening gifts from my parents, and stock-ings from Santa. The toe of the stocking was always filled with a giant naval or-ange. We then rushed off to Grandma’s house close by for breakfast and more gifts with the cousins. The kids opened their presents first and then my cousin Christie and I played “Santa” for the adults, delivering them their gifts. Christmas evening, we were back at my house with my dad’s side of the family. In many ways it was like a Norman Rock- well Christmas; or at least that’s how I remember it.
As an adult, and a Navy wife, the idea of Christmas traditions has taken on a new meaning. I remember moving into our sixth house, just days before Christmas and thinking, “where in the world will we put a tree... but at least my husband will be home.” His birthday is Christmas Eve so after going to church, we always watch his favorite Christmas movie, It’s a Wonderful Life.
One year in North Carolina we spent Christmas Eve with an electrician who stayed until midnight, ensuring that we would have an oven on Christmas Day. Another year, while my husband was in Iraq, I packed up the kids and spent Christmas in California with my recently widowed mom. We maintained traditions like going to Candy Cane Lane and drinking hot chocolate while putting lights on the house, but truly the sweetest part is just getting to be together, whether in person or via Skype. What an amazing thing that now we can see and talk with each other from across the world!
I’ve come to realize that my childhood Christmas experience was probably not the norm. A Norman Rockwell Christmas is nice but there is something precious about experiencing hard things that cause you to focus on what really matters.
Jesus came, born in a stable amidst animals and hay. While this may have not been Mary’s ideal place to give birth, I have a feeling that her surroundings faded when she saw her newborn baby. My prayer today is that God will open our eyes to the beauty of what he has in store. It may not be what we expect, but if we are open, it will be the most precious gift.
Lynette Fuson
Women’s Ministries Director
From Stone to Spirit
God put the first and most important part of his law, the Ten Commandments, on stone and then gave them to Moses to carry down a mountain to present to the people. It was only ten laws, but apparently that was too much information for one stone tablet, so it was split into two. Now, that would have been an interesting thing to see. Did tablets just appear out of thin air? Or did God cause a huge piece of granite to break off the mountain before he shaped it into a tablet? That would have been fun. Then, how were they written on? Did God use a chisel or lasers? Why not lasers? And what does God’s handwriting look like anyway? These are all questions that I will one day ask, however, that isn’t the point. The point is that God’s Law, which was the basis of His covenant with humanity was written on two stones.
Now, the benefit of stone as a medium for the written word is clearly its longevity. If those stones were still around, we could probably still read the writing on them. However, stone tablets have a few big weaknesses. First, they can be broken... and sure enough, that was the fate of the first set as soon as Moses’ anger burned hot (Exodus 32:19 ESV). But secondly, and more importantly, stone might be one of the least efficient methods of communication ever designed. They are large, heavy and quite difficult to duplicate. Stone tablets can’t go viral. It would take a significant amount of effort to spread them around. Instead, a stone tablet is something that is most likely designed to stay in one place.
But God’s message to humanity was not ever supposed to stay in one place. It was supposed to spread. It was supposed to go viral. But they didn’t understand that God’s message was not just the words on the stone. It was the heart of the Person who engraved them... it was the Spirit of the stones. Yes, even those first ten rules were meant to show Yahweh’s love for humanity. That love is a concept that can spread. That love is what can go viral. But not if the focus remained on the stones. God looked forward to a day when his message would find a better medium. He says of that day, I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. (Ezekiel 31:33)
That day occurred through Jesus, and now we proclaim that there is something superior to stone. We have the Spirit of Jesus himself available to each of us. The movement of God throughout history has been a movement from stone to Spirit. So, on this Christmas Eve, will you join me in inviting the Spirit of the living God to chisel Jesus’ law of love on our hearts? Then let’s Invite Jesus to lead us to love those around us, with the hope that God’s grand message of love will go viral and transform hearts of stone to hearts filled with his Spirit.
Merry Christmas!
Josh Rose
Pastor of Adult Ministries
Out of Alignment
I remember the first time I stepped into a chiropractor's office. It was small, only one doctor, no private rooms, and the sound of popping could be heard clear out in the waiting area. The friend I was with was out of alignment. His back resembled an “S” more than a straight-line. He hurt his back by lifting something too heavy and needed an adjustment to get things to line up so he could walk and work like normal again.
Have you ever been out of alignment spiritually? Maybe your quiet time is a little off, maybe scripture is hard to enjoy when you read it, maybe the words don’t come out right when you pray. Maybe law and grace seem to be in a battle and are causing tension in your life.
The Apostle Paul felt tension and I think he saw it in the lives of the people he ministered to as well. In Romans chapter 7, you can see him talking through sin, law, truth, grace and how they can change our alignment. When they are all present, tension rises in us and puts us out of alignment with the Holy Spirit. Romans 7:14 tells us the law is spiritual and yet we are unspiritual. The Law is good and points out our need for Christ, but sometimes we fall into the tension trap that is sin and shame and the result is misalignment. Paul also knew the solution is Jesus, and he gives Jesus the credit in verses 24-25.
We all desperately need Jesus. He is full of grace and truth (John 1:14) and it is His grace and truth that aligns our hearts and minds. His fullness pours out onto us which allows us to live in alignment with the Father through him (John 1:15). When we are aligned with him, we have everything we need for life.
That’s what Paul was communicating, circumstances can be heavy or messy and cause us to try to do everything on our own.
Then when we can’t; our alignment is in desperate need of an adjustment. The beauty of the Gospel during this season is Jesus in the fullness of grace and truth wants to give us the spiritual adjustment we need. We need to accept what He provides out of His fullness. Will you accept what He wants to give you today?
Jesus, I need you to adjust my attitude, heart, mind, body, soul, etc. Thank you for being there for me, even when I am wrong and out of alignment. Take the blinders off me so I can see your grace and truth today and every day.
Jeremy Johnson
Pastor of Men’s Ministries
Matter Matters
There were two foods I didn’t try until college. My mom spoke badly about both and their names made me assume they were gross. Cheesecake and blue cheese salad dressing were off my list, not interested, no thanks! Then, a friend made a cheesecake from scratch and insisted I try it. I refused. Cheese in a cake? That doesn’t belong there. My friend explained, “Its cream cheese. It’s actually sweet. Please, just take a bite.” That day cheesecake became a favorite dessert. Later I tried blue cheese salad dressing and learned I like it, too.
People can be wrong about things.
Many people have the wrong idea about our flesh, our humanity. God made people and said, they were good. But the fall - sin, brought the knowledge of good and evil, and with that, death and the consequences of God’s curse on earth. Bad became part of the good, and today many of us identify with the bad more than the good.
A few years ago, I was asked by a Biblical counselor, “Are you a good person?” Bear in mind, I had been a pastor serving the Lord for over 15 years at this point and a follower of Jesus for many more. My answer, “No, I’m a sinner.” He challenged me, “Wait, didn’t you say you were a Jesus follower?” Our conversation probably took another 20 minutes with him reminding me of truths from scripture and with me trying to acquiesce, “Well, I’m a sinner saved by grace.” “So, does that make you a good person?” Struggling to say yes, I admitted, “When God looks at me,
because of Jesus’ blood, he sees a saint and not a sinner.” Well, is God looking at you now? Does God ever stop looking at you?
I was safe or comfortable owning the sinner part, the fallen part, the broken part of my flesh. But it was hard for me to believe the truth that God had already redeemed my flesh. Not only was it created good, but it has been restored through Jesus.
Why do believers camp out in being totally depraved but not totally restored? We own our sinfulness as if that equals what humanity is supposed to be. The truth is, sin robs humans of their humanity.
Jesus came in the flesh and his life validates the flesh, validates being human. For centuries, people have been equating the flesh with evil, but Jesus came in the flesh. Speaking about various viewpoints, ideas, or the “truth” vs. “falsehood” in 1 John 4, the apostle writes the verse listed above which lead into:
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world... ...This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. (John 1:4, 6b)
Recognize that Jesus came in the flesh, and we are redeemed. Let’s live out that truth.
John Riley
Jr. High Pastor
Full Humanity
If you spend much time around church, you will probably hear a good amount of talk about the divinity of Jesus. To that we say, “Yes and amen.” Jesus is fully God. He always has been fully God. When he walked on this earth, he was fully God. As he shouted from the cross, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me, he was fully God. This truth just tends to be one of the givens in church. It is what Christian worship is all about. However, one of the clear teachings of scripture that is equally true and equally important, but just doesn’t get quite as much airtime is the full humanity of Jesus.
We don’t tend to think too much about or sing songs about the truth that Jesus got tired and hungry and got blisters and needed to take a nap and that he may have felt lonely at times or even self-conscious about the way he looked. The fact that Jesus experienced common human feeling such as these is the reason that we need to talk more about the full humanity of Jesus. Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Jesus was able to empathize with our weaknesses. He didn’t have superpowers, and the fact that Jesus is also God, doesn’t mean that he cheated at this humanity thing. Being God doesn’t mean that he was less human. He was fully and completely human in every way that you and I are, only more so. In fact, the verse goes on to say that Jesus was also “tempted in every way, just as we are,” but then adds the all-important clincher, yet he did not sin. That last phrase is the reason that we need to remember Jesus humanity more! This means that Jesus is not only our best image of what God looks like (see Col. 1:15), but he is also our best image of what a successful and thriving human looks like.
So, of course, if you want to know more about who God is, then you need to study the life of Jesus. But, if you want to know how you can be a truly successful and thriving human, then you also need to study the life of Jesus. Yes, Jesus is God, our Savior. But at the same time, Jesus is Human Being, our Example. Worshipping Jesus as savior, will save your soul in eternity, but following Jesus as example, will save your life in the present.
Think about some ways that you can follow Jesus’ example of living as a full human today.
Josh Rose
Pastor of Adult Ministries
Simply Come
One of my favorite parts of Christmas is setting up our nativity scene. It was given to us as a gift 23 years ago, days before our first children were born. A year later, I showed my almost one-year old twins how to carefully lay baby Jesus in the manger. Each of the other figures, Joseph, Mary, the wisemen, animals and shepherds are also positioned in the stable, yet somehow, the coveted task is to have the privilege of placing baby Jesus. Over the years, this tradition has been passed on to the youngest sibling.
What is it about the baby Jesus? So meek, so mild, so innocent. He came to this earth as an infant and was wrapped in swaddling clothes; not with the appearance of a powerful King wearing fine robes as so many had expected. Would we have been drawn to a dynamic King in the same way that we are drawn to an innocent baby? There is something about the simplicity of a child that creates peace, wonder, hope and awe.
Philippians 2:6-7 says, ... who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. Jesus came as a humble servant, incarnate, fully God and fully man. He had all the power to come riding in on chariot, robed in splendor; and yet he didn’t. He came, looking like you and me; experiencing the same joys, sorrows, and temptations as we do. Jesus simply came.
So, could it be that he is calling us to simply come to him? In Matthew 11:28 Jesus says, come... and I will give you rest. John 6:37 says, ...whoever comes to me I will never cast out. He isn’t asking for fanfare; and you certainly don’t have to come all put together. He is reaching out his hand offering us a relationship, just as we are, in our broken humanness. It is then out of that relationship that our praise and worship will flow.
When was the last time that you simply came to Jesus, sat in his presence with no agenda, and just relished in his unconditional love? Christmas can be a busy season; full of excitement, anxiety and stress. Try setting aside just a few minutes each day to be in God’s presence. Oh, what peace could we experience, knowing that regardless of all that is swirling through our lives, Jesus is our hope!
Lynette Fuson
Women’s Ministry Director
Schmoopy and the Manger
In high school I was a huge fan of the TV show Seinfeld. There is a classic episode where Jerry and his girlfriend refer to each other in baby voices as “Schmoopy.” Each time the couple lisps this term of endearment to each other, the viewers cringe (and chuckle). The show pokes fun at how annoying it is when adults speak in baby-talk. However, there are times when baby-talk can be helpful. Maybe not of the high-pitched, made-up-word variety; but the lowering of intellectual prowess to connect with another certainly comes in handy when trying to connect with kids.
One could argue that the incarnation is divine baby-talk. It’s the creator God of the universe lowering himself to connect with and ultimately redeem his creation. It’s the very thing good teachers do. They strive to make content true, understandable, and relatable. And this is exactly what Jesus does! The Word gets down on all fours lisping and speaking baby talk so that we little children can all understand. Jesus lowered himself and became human so that humans could relate to God. Pause for a moment and think about what a profound truth that is: God wants you to know that he knows what it’s like to be you.
It’s because of the incarnation that we can trust God knows what it’s like to be human – and because he can relate, we’re safe when we run to him. The author of Hebrews highlights this by writing, For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16). Trusting that Jesus can relate is a healing balm for our weary souls. He knows, cares and calls us to himself.
The God in the manger lisps “Schmoopy” to all humanity. It’s a declaration of unwavering love that calls us forward and beckons us to respond. Today, the best way you can respond to the incarnation might be in trusting that he knows the feelings of brokenness, pain, and need that you’re walking through. Spend a few minutes today and cast your cares on Jesus; picture him holding them and you while he whispers in your ear, “I understand, and I love you.”
Ryan Paulson
Lead Pastor
Seeing His Glory
John tells us that Jesus, the Word, dwelt among us. The Greek word for dwelt means literally “tented” or “tabernacle,” referencing the Old Testament demonstration of his presence as he dwelt with his people in the Tabernacle (see Exodus 33:7-11) through a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. In those days, the people would stand at the door of their tents when Moses would go to meet with God. They were undoubtedly in awe of this display of God’s glory, though only a glimpse of it! On this occasion, Moses boldly requested of the Lord, Please, show me your glory. (Exodus 33:18) God responds to Moses by telling him that he will first have to hide Moses in the cleft of a rock, and then, I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name The LORD. (Exodus 33:19)
When Moses returns to the people, his face shone with the reflected glory of God. The brilliance of it was such that the people of Israel could not even look at Moses’ face unless he wore a veil. (Exodus 34:33)
While Moses’ encounter with the Lord that day was remarkable, the promise of the believer today is far greater. For those who have trusted in Christ, Paul says ...
But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord -- who is the Spirit -- makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. (2 Corinthians 3:16-18, NLT)
Take some time today to sit with God and ponder how you have been given eyes to “see” his glory. What are some ways that you are reflecting his goodness as he continues to “make you more and more like him as you are changed into his glorious image?”
Nicole Jiles
Children’s Director
Intimacy With the Father
The result of Jesus' presence on earth is the possibility of an intimate relationship between believers and the Father. A closeness people experience living life as children of God.
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:12-14)
But how does a child connect with an invisible father? A story is
told of a little girl who loved to have her older brother read
children's books to her. It didn't matter which story it was, and
she would often ask him to read the same story over again. One
day, the brother came up with a clever idea and he recorded
himself reading the story and showed his sister how to push play
so she could listen to him read the story any time. After a few
days he noticed that it wasn't working, and she didn't like to listen
to him read on tape. When he asked why, she replied, "because it
doesn't have a lap."
We have the same struggle connecting with God since he is not
usually experienced through our regular means, our five senses.
People glean an understanding of some attributes of God through
his creation, but the primary method of getting to know God is
getting to know Jesus. People get to know Jesus and the life he
lived on earth through the whole message of Scripture. Humans
experience God through his revealed truth. A person connects to
God by focusing on, believing in, and trusting in the truth that he
has revealed.
Relational intimacy is about knowing. Jesus came to be with
people on earth and his closeness with humanity is what makes
our closeness with God possible.
The Word became flesh and lived with us. Today, Jesus dwells with the Father but the Holy Spirit dwells inside all who believe: “God with us.” God knows each person perfectly and closely. A person's ability to feel close to God rests in intentional regular referencing, remembering, and relying upon the truth proclaimed about God, about the world, and about one's place in it through the Word.
Charles Spurgeon wrote ...’God with us’ is the source of exquisite delight. God with us all that “God” means, the Deity, the infinite Jehovah with us, this, this is worthy of the burst of midnight song, when angels startled the shepherds with their carols, singing “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Amen
John Riley
Jr. High Pastor
Why Wouldn't You Want This???
I was lost in Cozumel. No directions, my Spanish was horrible, and this was the pre cellphone days. I had no idea where to go and really couldn’t ask for help. This man came up and waved me over to come to him. As I approached him, he had this big, friendly smile. I had been lost before and the people who waved me over meant harm for me. Could I trust this man? Would he really be willing to help me? Why would he help? For a moment going to him felt like the right thing to do and as I took a step, fear and doubt took over.
Just as I was cautious of this man’s help, there have been times in
my life when I am afraid of God’s help, have you ever felt that way?
When that happens, we don’t want to receive what He has for us.
Jesus reaches out to us to give us life, love, and family, but
circumstances we face cause us to remain in sin, fear, doubt and we
don’t receive His help.
Think of Nathaniel’s words when Philip told him about Jesus, “What
good can come from Nazareth?” (John 1:46). Sometimes we are
stuck in our own little world and we just don’t see Jesus in our
everyday life.
Maybe you can relate to the story of Cain and Abel (Gen. 4:1-12). In
the story Cain did not receive what he wanted from God and his
anger gave him a hard heart and led him to horrific sin. It is hard to
hear the Shepherd’s voice when our heart has hardened towards
God.
Sometimes we don’t want what God has because of plain old pride.
Think of the parable Jesus told of the pharisee and the tax collector
in Luke 18:9-14. There have been those days where I think, I am
pretty good, I’m not as bad as those people God. When pride
creeps in then we really want our own work/effort for blessing and
not Jesus grace.
Yet our Savior waits patiently for us (1 Tim 1:16), laid down His life
so even though pride creeps in, our hearts are hard, or we are
stuck in negative thoughts, His love prevails (Rom. 5:8). Jesus
loves you and is waiting for you to receive what He has; will you
take a moment and think about what Jesus is doing for you? Will
you thank Him for what He has done for you?
Jesus thank you for being with me always, being patient with me,
help me see you and know you. Amen.
Jeremy Johnson
Pastor of Men’s Ministries