Kidstuff Christmas Program

On Sunday, our children will be leading us in the Kidstuff Christmas Program.  They’ve practiced for weeks and are very excited about the time that we’ll share together.  Come and join us at 10:10am on Sunday, December 21st.  Here are a couple of photos from a recent rehearsal.

A Word from Eugene

Here’s something that struck me during a recent “devotional” reading:

My feelings are important for many things. They are essential and valuable. They keep me aware of much that is true and real. But they tell me next to nothing about God or my relation to God. My security comes from who God is, not from how I feel. Discipleship is a decision to live by what I know about God, not by what I feel about him or myself or my neighbors. “As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people (Psalm 125:2 RSV).” The image that announces the dependable, unchanging, safe, secure existence of God’s people comes from geology, not psychology.

God’s Message For Each Day by Eugene H. Peterson

So what do you think?  Is this overstated?  Understated?  On target?  What’s the right or proper place for feelings as they relate to God and our understanding of Him?

Sweet Tunes

Last week I joined a group of our students for an event known as Winter Wonder Slam. The evening included the music of Relient K, Family Force 5, and Toby Mac. It was one of those occasions where I realized that I’m getting old(er). The music was too loud, the artists too energetic, and the stage was too far away for me to see. Here are some photos from the night.

I think this was Toby Mac.  It may have been Elvis Costello.  They both wear funny hats.

The stage appears to be on fire.  They didn’t evacuate the building – so it must have been planned.

Here is the Aurora Borealis as seen from the Sommet Center.

Christmas Cheer

I recently exchanged a series of text messages with a friend that shall remain nameless.

 

Ben Goolsby: Dude – Your house looks terrible. Get some spirit.

 

 

Me: One word – Recession.

 

Ben Goolsby: I bet your neighbors aren’t worried about this recession.

 

 

Me:  Apparently not.  Though I think they’re running extension cords from our outdoor outlets.

 

Ben Goolsby:  Are you being serious?

 

Me:  I was just kidding.  No Hatfield-McCoy situation on Center Avenue.

 

So here’s my response to the critique.  If you look real closely – you’ll find little candles in the windows downstairs.  There is also a wreath on the front door.  Ben, thanks for the inspiration.

 

A Sea of Shoeboxes

On Friday,  I (along with Rhonda and my parents) had the opportunity to serve at one of Operation Christmas Child’s Processing Centers.  Each of the donated shoebox gifts are inspected before their shipment abroad.  Roughly 700,000 gifts will be inspected at the Atlanta Processing Center over the next several weeks.  It was a great experience.  Many, many children will hear about Christ because of these simple gifts.