The Gifts of Christmas - Week 1

Let me start with this anecdote from a real life story:

Two fellows opened a butcher shop and prospered. Then an evangelist came to town and one of the butchers was saved. He tried to persuade his partner to accept salvation also, but to no avail. “Why won’t you Charlie?” asked the born-again fellow. “Listen Lester,” the other butcher said, “if I get religion, too, whose going to weigh the meat?”

That may seem like an unusual story to begin my weekly e-mail, which is meant to highlight the first Sunday of Advent. Advent is a time of anticipation of the coming of Christ. Christmas is a great time to deepen your relationship with the Lord as you appreciate the fact that God came to us through his Son. But the way that Advent begins throughout church history is more challenging than you might expect. The first statements of Advent come from John the Baptist when he says, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” In other words, ready your heart for an encounter with the Living God. Or another idea, if you aren’t ready to change, you’re probably not ready to receive what Christ has to offer this Christmas season.

In preparation for Sunday, ask yourself this question, “What’s most important to me at Christmastime?” Let that be a fill in the blank for you. I don’t want you to give an answer that you think is right, but rather one that you truly believe. What is most important to you at Christmas? Contemplate that question as you prepare yourself for our Sunday gathering and the sharing of the Lord’s Table. And if you are so inclined, read Luke 1:5-25, which will be the passage we will study together as a church. See you soon

P.S. Our Christmas program is scheduled for December 8^th, 14^th & 15^th at 7 pm. You won’t want to miss it. It is a great event to bring family and friends to as well. And, it’s free, of course.

World Changer

An interesting exercise is putting in a title utilizing the Google search engine to see what comes up. I put the title “world changers” to see what I would get and the first several entries had to do with missionary work, which is encouraging. But the first world changer that had more of a secular twist was Oskar Schindler from World War II. We know of Oskar Schindler from the movie “Schindler’s List.” He was listed as a world changer. Sometimes various things claim to be world changers. I was reading a list that included the Fender bass guitar, the Model T Ford, and banana pie. We might not know why these are listed as world-changing innovations, but I have been thinking about that as I prepare for a message on a man named Saul who would soon be called Paul. I want to suggest that his world changed so much so that he became a world changer.

A message on Paul is a great way to wrap up our series for the fall on the Book of Acts. There are two great events that stand over all other events in the Book of Acts and the first is the coming of the Holy Spirit and the second is the conversion of Paul. That’s our study this week.

The story I read goes like this: “A man sitting beside me in a Pentecostal service at a storefront on Brook Avenue (in New York) once said to me, ‘You’re not from the neighborhood.’ When I said, ‘No,’ he shook my hand and said I should feel welcome. ‘If you’re looking to get you some church you came to the right place.’ ‘I’ll never forget that phrase, “get you some church,” because it sounded like good food that you were being offered and could count on it if you really wanted to be filled.” I really believe the Lord uses New Harvest church to give you some good church. It’s Friday but Sunday is coming and we have the privilege of worshipping our God, hearing his Word and being together. Don’t miss it. The Bible says it’s worth the effort.

Because of Jesus,

Barry

Satan's Attack

That title should piqued your interest. This Sunday I am speaking on a controversial subject because around half of the populace doesn't believe that there is a real devil. The percentage will obviously be lower in our church but it still presses the question is there a real devil and does he affect our lives?

John Eldredge is a popular author and he wrote this in his book, "Wild at Heart" - Satan will throw a thought or a temptation at us in hopes that we will swallow it. He knows your story, knows what works with you and so the line is tailor-made to your situation. Just this morning in my prayer time it was pride, then worry, then adultery, then greed, then gluttony. If I thought this was all me, I'd be very discouraged. Knowing that my heart is good allowed me to block it, right then and there. When Satan probes, make no agreements. If we make an agreement, if something in our hearts says, "Yeah you're right," then he pours it on. For example, if you're a man and you see a beautiful woman and something within you says, "You want her." That's the Evil One appealing to the traitor within. If the traitor says, "Yes I do," then lust really begins to take hold. It can formed into what the Bible calls a "stronghold." This can make a good man feel awful because he thinks he's a lustful man when he's not, it's an attack through and through.

With Halloween a few days away and the sense of darkness both in nature and in the spiritual realm increasing, I am thinking about the devil's schemes and how I can overcome them. My encouragement is found in 1 Peter 5:6-9. Take a look for yourself.

Standing Firm,
Barry

How to understand the filling of the Spirit?!

Hey Friends,

I appreciate the encouragement for those who recognize my new adventure in blogging. In fact, Sunday it will be in the bulletin. I am not sure what I am getting myself into but here goes nothing, as the saying goes.

As I begin my study of Acts, the ministry of the Holy Spirit intrigues me in a new and fresh way. I especially have been contemplating the idea of being filled with the Holy Spirit. It is mentioned several times in Acts and is repeated in Peter's life 3 or 4 times. So, what does that mean? I invite you to shape my thinking on this with your input. Are you filled with the Holy Spirit? Why or why not? How does that happen and what does speaking in tongues have to do with it?

Because blogging is interactive, give me a comment or two.

Yours, Barry

Anticipation of Acts

Dear Friends,

I am being inspired by God as I read and study the Book of Acts. In 20 years of teaching and preaching, I can't remember doing a series on Acts. I am being ignited by the beginning life of the church. There is a very simple but significant part that highlights this beginning. It isn't an IT, but rather a WHO! I am refering to the Holy Spirit. The launch of the church and the motivation of the believer is summed up by the work of the Holy Spirit. What do you think of that? Even more important, when is the last time your reminded yourself that you can't do anything of eternal value without Christ's Spirit? Anyway, I hope you are open to the inspiration of God's Spirit.

Barry

My first post!

Hey friends,

Vin Thomas, our worship director, has taught me how to do this. I plan to regularly communicate with you on the blog. So this is it for now!

Barry