A Christmas Prayer

December 22, 2009 by Arron

Let me share a prayer that’s on my heart today.

Lord,

Help us to see you clearly in the midst of the flurry of activity associated with the remembrance of your son’s birth.  Help us to make you seen in all we do and say during this season.

Use us–this Christmas–as instruments of love, joy, and peace.

Speaking of peace….Lord, please protect the men and women who are putting themselves in harm’s way to provide peace all around the world.  May they know–this Christmas–that they are loved, valued, supported, appreciated, and remembered.  May their families at home be blessed with fond memories of years gone by and dreams of blessed years to come once their loved ones return home.

And speaking of home…Lord, please bless our homes this Christmas season with countless joys, peaceful rest, and love upon love.

We thank you for our families.  Our kids, our spouses, our parents, our grand parents, our aunts, our uncles, our nieces and nephews and the opportunity we have during this time invest in each other.  May we not take a single moment for granted.  May each moment with our loved ones be but an earlier Heaven.

Thank you for the gift of great friends.  Doing life with people of like minds, hearts, and souls is a blessing beyond words.

Lord, this Christmas, may we be grateful for each gift received and always remember that every gift pales in comparison to the gift of eternal life found only in Christ our Lord.

Thank you for the wonderful food we will enjoy over the next week.  Thanks also for giving us taste buds so we can enjoy eating even more!

We are grateful for the freedom we have in the United States to gather for worship.  I pray a blessing over every service that will happen this season.  Give us–the men and women who will be leading these services–an extra measure of your wisdom, strength, and grace as we try to clearly communicate the indescribable blessings of the incarnation.

Humbly we ask you to use us to deliver the following gifts this season:

Heal the hurting.

Befriend the lonely.

Mend the broken.

Comfort the grieving.

Feed the hungry.

Clothe the naked.

Good news to the poor.

Release the captive.

Sight for the blind

Proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

Lord, we pray for peace on earth and good will between all humans.  We pray for your will to be done in our lives, in our homes, in our government, and in this world.  Lord, we pray that you will go before us into the next year and that we will not fall too far behind you or take off too far beyond your will.

Lord, thank you for coming to this world and for providing a way for us to go with you to that land where there will be no more tears, divorce, cancer, taxes, AIDS, single moms, ulcers, debt, bankruptcy, foreclosures, heart-attacks, IRS, arthritis, lies, abuse, cats, tele-marketing, email spam, canned spam, migraines, flat tires, bald spots, sin, unsweet tea, MS, home-owners’ associations, anger, Snuggie commercials, stimulus packages, illness, calories, cholesterol, government bureaucracies, security systems, red lights, fear, rape, hopelessness, Alzheimer’s, night, death, and faith.

Yes Lord, we thank you for coming the first time and we long for you to come again.

Maranatha!

In Jesus’ name,

Amen, Amen, and Amen.

———–

Merry Christmas to you and yours and may you have a blessed new year!

Arron

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Love is a Great Motivator

December 21, 2009 by Arron

Love is a great motivator.

Think about how hard you worked and how many stores you visited over the past few months, weeks, or days (for most of the men I know) searching for the perfect gift—the one that would most effectively communicate your love for the recipient.

Love motivated my parents.  They worked so hard to make Christmas special.  I remember waking up on Christmas morning and looking through the darkness at the gifts.  Each assembled—and non-assembled–gift represented a labor of love.

Love motivated your parents, too.

Love motivated you.

Love is a great motivator.

Love motivated Mary through 9 months of the gossip and the accusations directed at a virgin carrying a baby divinely conceived.  Love motivated Mary through a painful delivery (without the benefit of an epidural) in the discomfort of a stable.

Love motivated Joseph to stand next to his betrothed during her difficult pregnancy.  Love motivated Joseph on the long trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem with a very pregnant wife.  Love motivated Joseph to stick by his wife every step of the way.

Love motivated God to send Jesus to this earth as a baby.  The birth of Christ was an amazing expression of God’s love.  In John 3:16 we read, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

For God so loved the world.

For God so loved Colorado.

For God so loved Greeley.

For God so loved your community.

For God so loved you.

Yes, God sent Jesus to this earth to live a sinless life and to die for our sins, so that you and I could have the chance to live forever with him in eternity.

It was an amazing thing he did for us.

It was a labor of love, but he did it because he loves us and . . . as you know . . . love is a great motivator.

I pray that during this season—as we think about how much God loves us—that we’ll also think about how much we love God.

Because . . . as you know . . . love is a great motivator.

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An early Christmas present for you: The Ballad of Matthew’s Begats

December 16, 2009 by Arron

Because of Andrew’s song my kids can recite the genealogy of Jesus as detailed in the gospel of Matthew.

This song is from Andrew’s true tall tale of the coming of Christ,  Behold the Lamb of God.

Andrew also wrote a children’s book based on this song called, The Ballad of Matthew’s Begats.

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It’s Not All About The Presents

December 16, 2009 by Arron

I came across this quote today from coach John Wooden and it seems really appropriate for this time of year when we’re busy purchasing and exchanging so many material possessions.

“Webster indicates that success is the accumulation of material possessions.  I don’t think so.
I think Success is a peace of mind which can only be attained through self-satisfaction…
knowing that you’ve made the effort to do the best of which you’re capable.
We have no control over an opponent, but we should have control over ourselves.
All we can do is live up to our potential.  It takes hard work, enthusiasm.
You need to be conditioned and know what you’re doing.  You need good skills.
You must have consideration for others and lastly, You need a competitive spirit.
You can’t be afraid of a tough situation.   You must enjoy it.
And realize that the most difficult tasks bring the most satisfaction.”

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4 Questions Tiger Woods Should Have Asked

December 14, 2009 by Arron

All-time winningest NCAA basketball coach Don Meyer hands a card out to his team with four questions they should ask themselves when faced with temptation.  Tiger would have done well to ask himself these 4 questions.  I also think these are good questions for Christian leaders to ask as well when faced with temptation.

Stop and Think:

  1. Is this a risk I can afford to take?
  2. How will this affect my future?
  3. How will this affect my family?
  4. How will this affect my teammates and coaches?

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A Song That Reflects My Heart

December 11, 2009 by Arron

I have no plans of dying anytime soon, but when I do there are a few songs that I expect to be a part of the celebration.

I want Carol Lenderman to sing “Runner.”

I want Andrew Peterson to sing “Lay me down.”

I want the congregation to sing “When the roll is called up yonder.”

I want someone to sing “Hammer Holds” and “Give me Jesus.”

And I want Avalon to come and sing “Orphans of God.” :)

This song reflects my heart for people more than any song I’ve ever heard.  I listened to it–many times–while writing Eats With Sinners.  This song is actually one of the reasons I wrote my book.

We are all sinners and I want all sinners to know that Jesus loves us dearly.

I don’t preach to send people to Hell; I preach to help people find their way to Heaven.

My passion…my heart is that every single person in the world will know that they have hope, that they are loved, and that Jesus died so that they would know that.

With my dying breath, I will make it my purpose to make sure that everyone knows that there are no strangers, there are no outcasts, and there are no orphans in the Kingdom of God.

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Christmas IQ Test…with answers highlighted

December 10, 2009 by Arron

**Please note, this morning (12/11/09) I made some corrections to this quiz.  I have three Christmas quizes of this nature in my files and have found that some are more correct than others.  This one has a few wrong answers that I’ve now corrected (#3, #7–Bible doesn’t say, #8–he was placed in a manger, but we don’t know where he was delivered).  This is but another reminder that we must all be careful to back up everything we teach with Scripture and that I’m not as smart as I think I am.  :)   Thanks to my readers who pointed out some of the errors to me.  I will always correct any untruths on this blog.

If you find any other errors, please let me know.

A Christmas Quiz:

1. As long as Christmas has been celebrated, it has been on December 25th. (True or False)

2. Joseph was from:

A. Bethlehem

B. Jerusalem

C. Nazareth

D. Egypt

E. Minnesota

F. None of the above.

3. How did Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem?

A. Camel

B. Donkey

C. Walked

D. Volkswagen

E. Joseph walked, Mary rode a donkey

F. Who knows?

4. Mary and Joseph were married when Mary become pregnant. (True or False)

5. Mary and Joseph were married when Jesus was born. (True or False)

6. Mary was a virgin when she delivered Jesus. (True or False)

7. What did the innkeeper tell Mary and Joseph?

A. “There is no room in the inn”

B. “I have a stable you can use.”

C. “Come back after the Christmas rush and I should have some vacancies.”

D. Both A and B

E. None of the above

8. Jesus was delivered in a:

A. Stable;

B. A manger

C. Cave

D. Barn

E.  Unknown

9. A “manger” is a:

A. Stable for domestic animals.

B. Wooden hay storage bin.

C. Feeding trough.

D. Barn.

10. Which animals does the Bible say were present at Jesus’ birth?

A. Cows, sheep, goats.

B. Cows, donkeys, sheep.

C. Sheep and goats only.

D. Miscellaneous barnyard animals.

E. Lions, tigers, elephants.

F. None of the above.

11. Who saw the “star in the east”?

A. Shepherds

B. Mary and Joseph

C. Three Kings

D. Both A and C

E. None of the above.

12. How many angels spoke to the shepherds?

A. One

B. Three

C. A “Multitude”

D. None of the above.

13. What “sign” did the angels tell the shepherds to look for?

A. “This way to baby Jesus”

B. A star over Bethlehem.

C. A baby that doesn’t cry.

D. A house with a Christmas tree.

E. A baby in a stable.

F. None of the above.

14. What did the angels sing?   This really should be “say.”  The Bible never says they sang.

A. “Joy to the World, the Lord is Come”

B. “Alleluia”.

C. “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given”

D. “Glory to God in the highest, etc.”

E. “Glory to the Newborn King”

F. “My Sweet Lord”

15. What is a “Heavenly Host”?

A. The angel at the gate of Heaven.

B. The angel who invites people to Heaven.

C. The angel who serves drinks in Heaven.

D. An angel choir.

E. An angel army.

F. None of the above

16. There was snow that first Christmas:

A. Only in Bethlehem.

B.  All over Israel.

C. Nowhere in Israel.

D. Somewhere in Israel.

E. Mary and Joseph only “dreamed” of a white Christmas.

17. The baby Jesus cried:

A. When the doctor slapped him on his behind.

B. When the little drummer boy started banging on his drum.

C. Just like other babies cry.

D. He never cried.

18. What is “frankincense”?

A. A precious metal.

B. A precious fabric.

C. A precious perfume-

D. An eastern monster story.

E. None of the above.

19. What is “myrrh”?

A. An easily shaped metal.

B. A spice used for burying people.

C. A drink.

D. After-shave lotion.

E. None of the above.

20. How many wise men came to see Jesus? (Write in the correct number.)

unknown

21. What does “wise men” refer to?

A. Men of the educated class.

B. They were eastern Kings.

C. They were astrologers.

D. They were smart enough to follow the star.

E. They were “sages.”

22. The wise men found Jesus in a:

A. Manger

B. Stable

C. House

D. Holiday Inn

E. Good Mood

23. The wise men stopped in Jerusalem:

A. To inform Herod about Jesus.

B. To find out where Jesus was.

C. To ask about the star that they saw.

D. For gas. .

E. To buy presents for Jesus.

24. Where do we find the Christmas story in order to check up on all these ridiculous questions?

A. Matthew

B. Mark

C. Luke

D. John

E. All of the above.

F. Only A and B

G. Only A and C

H. Only A, B and C,

25. When Joseph and Mary found out that Mary was pregnant with Jesus, what happened?

A. They got married.

B. Joseph wanted to break the engagement.

C. Mary left town for three months.

D. An angel told them to go to Bethlehem.

E. Both A and D

F. Both B and C

26. Who told Mary and Joseph to go to Bethlehem?

A. The angel.

B. Mary’s mother.

C. Herod.

D. Caesar Augustus.

E. Alexander the Great.

F. No one told them to.

27. Joseph took the baby Jesus to Egypt:

A. To show him the pyramids.

B. To teach him the wisdom of the pharaohs.

C. To put him in a basket in the reeds by the river.

D. Because he dreamed about it.

E. To be taxed.

F. Joseph did not take Jesus to Egypt.

G. None of the above.

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Christmas IQ Test

December 8, 2009 by Arron

I found this while searching some of my old files.  It’s a Christmas IQ test.

I’ll post the questions today and the answers on Thursday.  It’s a fun way to start a Sunday school lesson or a small group during this Christmas season.  It’s also a great way to reveal some of the myths associated with Christmas.

So, take the test and then check back on Thursday to see how you did.

A Christmas Quiz:

1. As long as Christmas has been celebrated, it has been on December 25th. (True or False)

2. Joseph was from:

A. Bethlehem

B. Jerusalem

C. Nazareth

D. Egypt

E. Minnesota

F. None of the above.

3. How did Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem?

A. Camel

B. Donkey

C. Walked

D. Volkswagen

E. Joseph walked, Mary rode a donkey

F. Who knows?

4. Mary and Joseph were married when Mary become pregnant. (True or False)

5. Mary and Joseph were married when Jesus was born. (True or False)

6. Mary was a virgin when she delivered Jesus. (True or False)

7. What did the innkeeper tell Mary and Joseph?

A. “There is no room in the inn”

B. “I have a stable you can use.”

C. “Come back after the Christmas rush and I should have some vacancies.”

D. Both A and B

E. None of the above

8. Jesus was delivered in a:

A. Stable;

B. A manger

C. Cave

D. Barn

E.  Unknown

9. A “manger” is a:

A. Stable for domestic animals.

B. Wooden hay storage bin.

C. Feeding trough.

D. Barn.

10. Which animals does the Bible say were present at Jesus’ birth?

A. Cows, sheep, goats.

B. Cows, donkeys, sheep.

C. Sheep and goats only.

D. Miscellaneous barnyard animals.

E. Lions, tigers, elephants.

F. None of the above.

11. Who saw the “star in the east”?

A. Shepherds

B. Mary and Joseph

C. Three Kings

D. Both A and C

E. None of the above.

12. How many angels spoke to the shepherds?

A. One

B. Three

C. A “Multitude”

D. None of the above.

13. What “sign” did the angels tell the shepherds to look for?

A. “This way to baby Jesus”

B. A star over Bethlehem.

C. A baby that doesn’t cry.

D. A house with a Christmas tree.

E. A baby in a stable.

F. None of the above.

14. What did the angels sing?

A. “Joy to the World, the Lord is Come”

B. “Alleluia”.

C. “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given”

D. “Glory to God in the highest, etc.”

E. “Glory to the Newborn King”

F. “My Sweet Lord”

15. What is a “Heavenly Host”?

A. The angel at the gate of Heaven.

B. The angel who invites people to Heaven.

C. The angel who serves drinks in Heaven.

D. An angel choir.

E. An angel army.

F. None of the above

16. There was snow that first Christmas:

A. Only in Bethlehem.

B.  All over Israel.

C. Nowhere in Israel.

D. Somewhere in Israel.

E. Mary and Joseph only “dreamed” of a white Christmas.

17. The baby Jesus cried:

A. When the doctor slapped him on his behind.

B. When the little drummer boy started banging on his drum.

C. Just like other babies cry.

D. He never cried.

18. What is “frankincense”?

A. A precious metal.

B. A precious fabric.

C. A precious perfume-

D. An eastern monster story.

E. None of the above.

19. What is “myrrh”?

A. An easily shaped metal.

B. A spice used for burying people.

C. A drink.

D. After-shave lotion.

E. None of the above.

20. How many wise men came to see Jesus? (Write in the correct number.)

21. What does “wise men” refer to?

A. Men of the educated class.

B. They were eastern Kings.

C. They were astrologers.

D. They were smart enough to follow the star.

E. They were “sages.”

22. The wise men found Jesus in a:

A. Manger

B. Stable

C. House

D. Holiday Inn

E. Good Mood

23. The wise men stopped in Jerusalem:

A. To inform Herod about Jesus.

B. To find out where Jesus was.

C. To ask about the star that they saw.

D. For gas. .

E. To buy presents for Jesus.

24. Where do we find the Christmas story in order to check up on all these ridiculous questions?

A. Matthew

B. Mark

C. Luke

D. John

E. All of the above.

F. Only A and B

G. Only A and C

H. Only A, B and C,

25. When Joseph and Mary found out that Mary was pregnant with Jesus, what happened?

A. They got married.

B. Joseph wanted to break the engagement.

C. Mary left town for three months.

D. An angel told them to go to Bethlehem.

E. Both A and D

F. Both B and C

26. Who told Mary and Joseph to go to Bethlehem?

A. The angel.

B. Mary’s mother.

C. Herod.

D. Caesar Augustus.

E. Alexander the Great.

F. No one told them to.

27. Joseph took the baby Jesus to Egypt:

A. To show him the pyramids.

B. To teach him the wisdom of the pharaohs.

C. To put him in a basket in the reeds by the river.

D. Because he dreamed about it.

E. To be taxed.

F. Joseph did not take Jesus to Egypt.

G. None of the above.

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Book-signing at Borders

December 3, 2009 by Arron

For those of you who live in Northern Colorado, I wanted to let you know that I’m going to be doing a book-signing for Eats With Sinners this Sunday (12/6) from 1:30-3:30 pm at the Borders on 35th Ave in Greeley.

This is the only book-signing I have scheduled for Colorado, so–if you’d like to get a signed copy of my book–please come by and pick one up.  Please come by even if you don’t plan on buying a book, because I’d love the chance to meet you.

Blessings!

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Paul Williams: A man who eats with sinners.

December 2, 2009 by Arron

I just finished reading Paul Williams’ latest article Just a Couple of Steps in Front and it gives an example of the evangelistic approach I highlight in my book Eats With Sinners.

Here’s an excerpt:

For years I played wallyball every Wednesday morning. Wallyball is volleyball played on a racquetball court. I remember the day Bill joined our team.

Bill was an actor in New York. Full of intelligence and bravado, he played with abandon. Bill also lived with abandon.

After showering in the locker room, Bill walked over and sat down across from me. “Do you mind if I ask a personal question?” he said. Well, the locker room is not where I want to be asked personal questions, but I told him to go ahead. Bill said, “Are you a recovering alcoholic?” I told him I was not, but the way I had it figured, just about all of us are recovering from one kind of addiction or another. The conversation ended and I headed back to my office.

Bill was back the next week. “I am recovering,” he said, “I am having a hard time figuring out the God part of recovery.”

I said, “You’re right. It is hard figuring out the God part.” Again, the conversation ended and I returned to my office. As is readily apparent, I am not, in fact, a natural evangelist!

Before we headed onto the racquetball court the next week, Bill said, “You’re in front of me on the God thing.”

“How are you so sure?” I asked.

“Because you don’t cheat when we play. If you’re in the net, you say you’re in the net. If the ball hits the back wall, you admit it hit the back wall.”

“All right, let’s talk,” I answered.

After several conversations I put Bill in touch with one of our Orchard Group ministers near his home in Nassau County.

It wasn’t long before Bill was baptized into Christ. He began working with the youth program and later moved to Florida, where he is still very involved in the life of the church.

In my book I define evangelism as an intentional relationship through which someone is introduced to Jesus Christ.

Paul didn’t have to debate Bill to reach him for Christ.  He just had to care about him.


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