Christmas 2022

It’s Christmas week (already?!). As with tradition I will be posting the story of Jesus but this year with some extra stuff as well.

Luke 2:1-20 New International Version

The Birth of Jesus

2 “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while^[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.

⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”

Linus Tells the Story of Christmas:

Read the Full Story of Christmas:

https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/the-christmas-bible-story-nativity-of-jesus-in-scripture.html

Josh Groban “O Holy Night”

Have a Merry Christmas! See you in 2023!

In Defense of Christmas II: Video Series

Five years ago I wrote a blog entry called, “In Defense of Christmas”. Today I am going to share with you some apologetic videos about Christmas that put to bed the silly “Christmas is Pagan” arguments.

First Inspiring Philosophy

Next three videos from Mike Winger.

Debunking Christmas Myths:

Is Christmas PAGAN? In defense of Christmas:

Stop Twisting Jeremiah 10 Because It’s Not About Christmas Trees:

Last a Christmas Song. Phil Wickman “Angels We Have Heard On High”

He Lost

I once read about a famous rock star who died young. His music and performances were loaded with satanic imagery, it was really unfortunate. 

A person left a comment directed at the writer along the lines of, “Yeah well he’s famous and people still all these years later love his music and no one knows who you are”. 

At first I was angry at the reply but then after I thought about it I realized in both the Christian view and atheist view, the famous rock star tragically lost.

If the atheist is right, well the rock star died so young he isn’t around to enjoy his legacy, his wealth or his fame. He’s just gone.

If the Christian is right, the rock star is in hell for eternity suffering for his sins. 

It’s a modern example of Pascal’s Wager*.

Truly there is nothing in this world that is forever, it all withers away and dies.

What good is to gain the world but lose your soul?

Have a Blessed Week,

Chris

*Learn about Pascal’s Wager: https://www.reasonablefaith.org/question-answer/P40/pascals-wager

Advent and Praise

It’s Advent season which is my favorite time of the year. As I sit here prepared to write my blog of the week I have come to realize I have nothing to say. No topics come to mind at the moment, no stories or lessons to write about.

I just feel peace right now. Which is strange because November has been a really tough month. 

So instead of trying to come up with something I want to offer praise to God.

I want to praise God for the highs, praise Him for the lows.

Praise Him for good health and bad health.

Praise God for the tough things that don’t seem fair, right or just. Things that hurt, make us sad, angry.

Because often those things draw us closer to Him.

How great is our God.

Praise You for everything Lord.

Have a Blessed Week,

Chris 

Thanksgiving 2022

Hello Everyone.

Here in America Thanksgiving is this Thursday. I’d like to share a few things with you. First a story, then a prayer and a Hymn’s playlist I found.

This story is really about an analogy from a sermon my Pastor preached. Last year we were at a multi church Thanksgiving Eve service, during his time to preach he spoke on a division using an analogy about Thanksgiving dinner. I’d like to share that analogy to the best of my recollection as I think it is useful not just in the body of Christ but in the world as well.

The analogy basically goes like this…

“At Thanksgiving when we all gather at the table with many different side dishes, we all pass around the food. Now when the cranberry sauce comes to me I just pass them along to the next person without taking any. What I don’t do is announce, “cranberry sauce is gross. It totally ruins the flavors of the other food. It makes no sense for the plate. Anyone who puts that on their plate is foolish.”

The most important reason not to do this is that they would send me away from the table. I want to stay at the table with my family.”

What a valuable lesson. Let’s not divide on the secondary stuff, stay true to the chore values and love each in our disagreements over the little things.

Now for the rest of what I am a sharing.

A Prayer:
Thanks for Blessings Past and Present

Lord God, we gather around this table to humbly thank You for all that You have given us this past year – not just what is on this table, but who is sitting around this table. Thank you for life and laughter, for health and happiness, for relationships and memories. Thank you, too, for the lessons learned and the tears we’ve cried because of Your ability to grow us through them. Thank You for Your comfort and Your presence, in light of good days and bad. Thank You for what we have now, for what we had yesterday, and for what You will continue to give tomorrow. Let us never take that for granted, but to always be grateful for every good and perfect gift that comes from You. May we have hearts full of thanksgiving not only today but every day of our lives. We pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, Amen. – Cindy McMenamin

Source: https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/7-thanksgiving-prayers-encouraging-and-inspiring.html

Hymns for Thanksgiving: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqk7PmhxKRBd_YoC5DWgrd9jkLkE9OhPk

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

-Chris

Christian YouTube Channels 2022

I have to admit this post will be a little lazy (especially since I did a post like this in 2020 and that one included write ups). But today I will be giving you a list of ten YouTube Channels (in no particular order) I frequently have used for Christian content in the last couple of years.

Here we go…

1. Mike Winger: https://www.youtube.com/c/MikeWinger
2. Logos Bible Software: https://www.youtube.com/c/logosbiblesoftware
3. Ten Minute Bible Hour: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheTenMinuteBibleHour
4. Dr. Jordan B Cooper (Lutheran Perspective): https://www.youtube.com/user/SemperReformanda1517
5. AOC Network: https://www.youtube.com/c/AmbassadorsofChrist
6. THE BEAT by Allen Parr: https://www.youtube.com/user/thebeatagp
7. Dr. Michael Heiser: https://www.youtube.com/c/DrMichaelSHeiser
8. The Remnant Radio: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheRemnantRadio
9. Inspiring Philosophy: https://www.youtube.com/c/InspiringPhilosophy
10. Bible Project: https://www.youtube.com/c/bibleproject

Bonus! Fun YouTube Channels Christians Would Like…
Chronicles of Narnia Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/IntotheWardrobe

Lord of the Rings Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/NerdoftheRings

Hope you all check them out,
Chris

Luke 18:9-14 Bible Study Guide

Hello Everyone,

This Wednesday Night at my church I will be leading a Bible Study on Luke 18:9-14. I wrote a study guide this morning so I would like to share that with you for this week’s entry. Hopefully the questions can help you think about the text in a more in-depth way.

Have a Blessed Week,
Chris

Luke 18:9-14
New International Version
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Questions

-When you read this parable what comes to your mind? What are your first thoughts?

-Let’s compare the two people in this parable. 

-For me there seems to be a common trend of Jesus speaking up against arrogant religious leaders. How can this be a cautionary tale to us as Christians especially in leadership?

-Do you think the pharisee was a bad person or perhaps just misguided?

-Is it possible to become so focused on God’s commandments that we forget God’s grace?

-This may be a tough one. What’s some tips and guides we can all use to stay humble while not sacrificing our integrity?

-Tell me some of your closing thoughts.

-Prayer 

Grace

The grace of God is truly amazing and honestly inconceivable. 

We try to understand it and we try to explain it but God’s grace is incredible.

God’s grace is of utmost importance. Because we are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus.

God saves us with His grace.

Nothing can separate us from the love of God.

Doesn’t matter how far you have fallen, God’s grace is for you. Have faith and you will be saved. 

Repent and believe.

Repent and return.

Nothing can top the grace of God.

Have a Blessed Week,

Chris 

Further reading…

https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/grace-bible-verses/

A Song…

Low Standards, Lower Grace

Last Week I wrote about God having “High Standards but Higher Grace”. How does this compare to a worldly view?

The world right now is promoting love, acceptance and tolerance.

But is this true?

Have you tried lately presenting your Christian beliefs to a worldly person?

How much love, acceptance and tolerance have you received?

I know they’re many Christians who are hard hearted and lack compassion and love as well but I am strictly speaking of what God’s standards are against the world’s.

The truth is the world’s standards are not as loving and accepting as they claim.

Speaking of standards, the world’s standards are so low. So much is considered okay. Lying, adultery, divorce, lust, violence, I could go on and on. As long as their is an excuse behind it like, “It was only a white lie” or “They deserved it”.

The world is telling you to enjoy all of life’s pleasures, just be yourself with sayings like “You do you!” and “Live your best life!”

Sounds great on the surface but in reality that way of life is empty and has no moral compass whatsoever. Another persons pleasure could cause another’s pain. You may say, “It’s fine as long as it’s not hurting anyone else”.

Is it? What if it’s hurting oneself? Do you really think it’s healthy to live a life for pleasure? You will always be unsatisfied looking for the next fix. A new house, car, phone. The dream vacation isn’t good enough when you find out your neighbor did the same vacation but got the luxury suite.

You will be left empty, jealous and wanting more.

Now let’s talk about grace, that is the main focus here.

The world has an extremely low version of grace.

Make one mistake and the world will attempt to destroy you, there is no forgiveness offer, no redemption allowed.

Don’t believe me?

Go and pull up a job application. The vast majority of them require you to inform the business if you have committed a crime in the past. Doesn’t matter if it was 30 years ago it will always be with you. If a similar crime happens in your area, the police will show up and question you first because you will always be that criminal for the rest of your life.

That is the world’s standards and that is just one example.

They will claim God is harsh, cruel and judgmental. But in reality what is God’s grace?

The Bible says God will cast our sins into the bottom of the sea, He will remove our transgressions as far as the east is from the west.

All you need is faith and repentance.

If you have faith you will stand before God not as a criminal, not as a liar, not as an adultery, not as a sinner but has a redeemed child of God.

That is true Grace, that is true love. That is something the world will never offer you.

Have a Blessed Week,
Chris

Further Reading:
https://explorethebible.lifeway.com/blog/adults/10-things-god-does-with-our-sin-session-11-psalm-321-11/#:~:text=When%20God%20forgives%20our%20sins,depths%20of%20the%20sea%20(Mic.

High Standards, Higher Grace

At Men’s Prayer Breakfast on Saturday we planned on discussing Matthew 5-7 but in the end we didn’t even get through Chapter 5 because there is so much to unpack.

One point that was brought up was the difficulty of doing a lot of what Jesus is saying.

During the discussion it came to me, “high standards, higher grace”.

We do have high standards to follow as Christians but the Grace of God far exceeds are failures.

This does not give us a license to sin or ignore God’s commands.

No it should give you hope and more reason to follow God’s commands. Because while God’s standards are high it’s not just His grace that is higher but His love and His mercy.

Have a Blessed Week,
Chris

Matthew Chapter 5:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205&version=NIV