Trees and Eggs
Dec/110
I was in Kroger this week and I did a double take. I couldn't believe what I seeing, but there it was. The store was selling Reeses peanut butter eggs right next to their peanut butter Christmas trees. They were also selling Cadbury cream eggs. No joke.
I stopped in my tracks to make sure that I was actually seeing what I thought I was seeing. But there it was. Easter sitting right next to Christmas.
My first thought was, "Are you kidding me? Why not go ahead and display peanut butter pumpkins, too? After all, Halloween is only 10 months away."
But then I had a second, more important, thought. "Christmas and Easter do belong together." To clarify, I'm not talking about trees and eggs. I'm talking about the actual reason behind these seasons.
Christmas obviously celebrates the birth of Christ. Easter celebrates His resurrection from the dead.
Many people in our culture celebrate Christmas. A significantly lesser amount celebrates Easter. But Christmas without Easter is completely pointless.
Jesus had to be born. Obviously. And the miraculous way He was born immediately signified to all that He was the Son of God. The virgin birth. The angelic appearances. These were all signs that Emmanuel…God With Us…had come.
But if that was the end of the story, it wouldn't be a story worth telling. If Christmas represented the entirety of the Jesus story, it would be a very poor story because it would be a story of a failed mission. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). His birth did NOT accomplish that. His death and resurrection DID.
That's why Christmas without Easter is nothing more than seasonal sentimentality.
Christmas and Easter belong together. In fact, they are inseparable. We either accept the entire Jesus story or we accept none of it.
I doubt that this was the message that Kroger intended to preach…but it's the message that I heard. And it's the message that I hope you hear throughout this season…and every other day of the year.
Christmas Week at ACC
Dec/111
How can Christmas already be here? Seems like we took our kids trick-or-treating just yesterday!
Here's a final reminder about Christmas Week 2011 at ACC.
We are having two Christmas Eve services at 10:30 am & 9:00 pm. The services will be identical. Our children's ministry will be offering programming at both services, nursery-5th grade.
You do not want to be late for these services. Seriously…the opening of these services will be EPIC (and I really mean that, even though that is quickly becoming one of the most overused words in the English language). Doors open 30 minutes prior to the service. Children's check-in starts 20 minutes prior to the service. Allow yourself plenty of time to get them checked in and get to your seat. You simply can't be late. You've been warned.
I cannot believe how many Christmas Eve tickets were taken over the last three weeks. It's really important for our planning that we have a gauge on the numbers for each service, so, please come to your ticketed service. However, if you didn't get tickets, please come anyway. We're not collecting them at the door. We used the tickets for planning and preparation, but the bottom line is we want you there! There is still some room in both services, although both are going to be bumping!
Also, remember that there will be no services on Sunday, December 25. We are pouring every ounce of our energy into crafting Christmas Eve services where we will reach the most people for Jesus. We will be back at our normal time of 10:30 am on Sunday, January 1.
I cannot wait for Christmas Eve! Please pray for our staff this week. While many people are winding things down at work, we are ramping up. This is a huge week for us. Please pray for health, wisdom, and energy for our staff as we get ready for this weekend.
It's going to be amazing!
Opinions
Dec/110
When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. (Proverbs 10:19)
Over the last week, I have had multiple opportunities to jump into an array of different discussions. I am a pretty opinionated person, and several of these discussions involved areas where I have very definite opinions.
But for the most part, I chose to remain silent.
That's not easy for me to do. Especially if I have a strong opinion about the subject. But just because I want to speak up doesn't mean that I should. Just because I have an opinion…even a strong opinion…doesn't mean that it must be voiced.
I still have a long way to go in this area. But I can also see that this is an area where I am maturing. Years ago, my opinions rarely, if ever, remained silent. I was always willing to tell people what I thought…whether they asked or not. I would opine and pontificate on any and every subject. I just assumed that people wanted to know my opinion, when in reality, they probably did not. I also assumed that this made me appear wise, when it actually had the opposite effect.
It's still not easy to hold my tongue, but it's an area where I'm growing. There's an old saying in carpentry that says "measure twice, cut once." When it comes to giving voice to our opinions, we need to "think twice, speak once."
Do you really need to post that Facebook comment?
Is that tweet really necessary?
Do you really need to interject in this conversation?
Did this person seek your opinion, or are you butting in?
Is this even going to matter next week? If not, is it worth getting involved in the first place?
Is speaking up going to make you appear wise or appear to be a know-it-all?
Are you more concerned with helping someone or inflating your own ego?
Is this going to spiral down into a pointless argument?
Is there a chance that you're wrong about this? Have you actually done your homework on this subject?
Everyone has opinions. And in the digital age, we can spread them with lightning speed. But just because we can do something doesn't mean we should.
The Bible tells us to be "quick to listen and slow to speak" (James 1:19). Before you you decide to sound off, think it through. Maybe you just need to turn the sound off instead.
Sunday Night Reflections
Dec/110
A few thoughts on the day…
- It's quite possible that someone is tired of hearing this, but I'm not tired of saying it. Today was an amazing day at ACC! Lots of raw emotions. Lots of tears. Lots of people finding hope.
- The new stage backdrop is fantastic! Thanks to everyone who worked their tails off to make it happen. Love it!
- ACC's generosity is awe-inspiring. Each year we collect gifts for children in need in our community. You all tore it up! I loved seeing the gifts roll in today. Every gift represents a family that we will bless this Christmas.
- The "hope tree" was unbelievable this morning. It was born in the creative mind of Brian Morrissey. Loved it!
- Our students did a fantastic job today as they served our church by watching some children so moms and dads could get some shopping/wrapping done. And if moms and dads took the opportunity to do other things…that's cool, too! :)
- Huge thanks to all our student ministry volunteers. They pretty much stayed at church the entire day, from 10:30 am to 7:00 pm! You guys killed it today!
- Does anyone do Christmas music better than our band? I think not!
- Christmas Eve tickets are going fast. I am so excited about the number of tickets that have been taken for each service. If you still don't have your tickets, pick them up next Sunday. You don't want to miss Christmas Eve at ACC. Trust me!
- God is God. God is good. God is with us. God is victorious. Live with hope!
The Yellow Pages & Christmas
Dec/112
Yesterday I watched a guy doing his job, and I felt sorry for him. He was walking around in the cold delivering the latest edition of the Yellow Pages. I felt bad for him because his job is to deliver something that is completely obsolete. Seriously, when is the last time that you actually used the Yellow Pages? In the digital age, a thick, bulky, heavy phone book is just not necessary anymore. Yet there he was, faithfully delivering them from house to house. When the copy was delivered to our house, I didn't even open the bag. It went straight to the trash can.
The Yellow Pages are an outdated, obsolete tradition. At one time, it was a very useful and effective tool. But those days are over.
Now, let's talk about Christmas for a minute. (How's that for an abrupt segue?) This time of year is filled to the brim with traditions. Do you ever listen to the music of Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Andy Williams, or The Carpenters? Probably not…unless it's Christmastime. When it's December, all of a sudden those older, traditional artists get a lot of airtime on mainstream radio. Is it tradition? Of course. But it's a tradition that still works. The songs from those artists still evoke feelings of joy and peace in a whole lot of people. It still works.
Contrary to what a lot of people probably think, I'm not anti-tradition. I am anti-ineffective tradition.
The Yellow Pages would seem to fall into the category of ineffective tradition. The books are bulky, awkward, and completely unnecessary. Did they work at one time? Sure. Nothing becomes a tradition if it never worked. Traditions become traditions because they worked so well at one time. The trick is to constantly evaluate their current effectiveness.
Old traditional Christmas songs are traditions that still work for a lot of people. If they didn't, radio stations wouldn't continue to play them because people would stop listening. If people stop listening, companies stop advertising. If companies stop advertising, radio stations go out of business.
There is an easy lesson for the church here. Most of us are traditional by nature. Even the most contemporary (I hate that word, but I'll use it here anyway.) churches can easily become traditional if a tradition is defined as doing something over and over again. For example, many contemporary churches have the same order for their worship service every week. Their music might be rocked up…the pastor might wear jeans…but they are traditional just the same. The people of the church always know what's coming. It never changes.
Other churches that are usually referred to as "traditional churches" still sing the songs that they sang 50, 75, 100+ years ago. Nothing has changed.
The point is that style is not the only barometer of tradition. Churches can be traditional in a myriad of ways. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. The key is to always evaluate the tradition. It worked in the past. We know that. But is it working today?
If it is, keep going. Just because something is a tradition does not mean that it's bad. If something is working well and people are coming to Jesus, keep going.
But if the effectiveness of the tradition has ceased, it's time to make a change. The old axiom is true…if the horse is dead, dismount. The church should not be delivering the Yellow Pages in the digital age.
Remember
Dec/110
Seventy years ago today, Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japanese fighters. 2,402 Americans were killed and 1,282 wounded. President Franklin D. Roosevelt rightly called December 7, 1941 "a date which will live in infamy."
Unfortunately, as time moved on and future generations came to be, the memory of that date faded. For most Americans, December 7 simply means that there are 17 shopping days left until Christmas.
I believe the same will hold true for September 11. Right now, that date still stings as we remember the worst attack ever on U.S. soil. But as time passes, that memory will fade as well. We claim that "we will never forget," but inevitably, we do.
The sad reality is that people are forgetful. We forget the sacrifices of those who have gone before us. We forget the price that was paid for our freedom.
That same truth applies in the spiritual realm, as well. In the Old Testament, God was always telling His people to build altars to commemorate a special place or event. Altars were tools for future generations to remember what God had done.
In the church today, we remember the sacrifice of Jesus through the Lord's Supper (aka, Communion). It is a tool of remembrance. It reminds us of the price that was paid for us (1 Corinthians 11:24-26).
We can't afford to be forgetful. Forgetful people become ungrateful people. They become selfish people. They become unfaithful people.
"I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago." (Psalm 77:11)
In A Good Leader…
Dec/110
In a good leader…
character trumps talent.
passion trumps knowledge.
loyalty trumps ability.
vision trumps activity.
humility trumps arrogance.
authenticity trumps pretense.
humor trumps stuffiness.
love of the process trumps love of the finished product.
what you can't measure trumps what you can.
It's Monday. Be Careful, Pastor.
Dec/110
I shared this post with a friend earlier today. Thought it would be good to share with all my other pastor/leader friends, as well.
If you're in ministry, this post should be required reading.
Christmas 2011
Dec/110
Christmas is my favorite time of year at ACC. We love Christmas…and it shows! This rather long post is your guide for all things Christmas at ACC this year.
1. Our Christmas series kicks off this Sunday, December 4. The series is called Searching and is based on the prophecy of Jesus' birth in Isaiah 9:6. We are all searching for things in our lives, and that search intensifies at Christmastime. But no season is the answer to our search for direction, hope, acceptance, and peace. The search for those things must lead us always and only to Jesus!
2. God's people are generous people, which means generosity is highly valued at ACC. One of our best opportunities for generosity all year is our effort to purchase toys for needy children in our community. Time is running out, but you still have a chance to participate. Stop by the board in the foyer and pick up a tag to purchase a Christmas gift for a child in need. Gifts need to be wrapped and returned by December 11. No child should be without a gift on Christmas. And we're doing our part to make sure that doesn't happen.
3. Our children's ministry is also emphasizing generosity this Christmas. ACC's KidZone is collecting gently used toys to donate to nearby charities as part of their "Gratitude and Attitude" series. All toys should be brought to church by December 11. So, just to recap…you can purchase one new item and your kids can donate one gently used item this year. I can't think of a better way to emphasize giving and generosity in your family this Christmas!
4. Christmas Eve 2011 is going to be the biggest in our church's history. We are offering two identical services at 10:30 am and 9:00 pm. You can come to a Christmas Eve service before your family gatherings begin or after they conclude.
We are asking families to pick up free tickets to our Christmas Eve services beginning this Sunday. We've never done that before, so here's the lowdown on the tickets. We will not be collecting tickets at the door on Christmas Eve. No one will be turned away if they don't have a ticket. So why are we doing tickets in the first place? These tickets are our only way to gauge how many are coming to each service. That is VERY important for us as we plan and prepare. Please pick up your tickets this Sunday!
5. One more difference in our Christmas schedule this year is, because we are offering two full services on Christmas Eve, there will be no services on Sunday, December 25. I realize that raises some questions, so let me try to answer some of them. (Some of them are also answered in the video below, so this is a tad redundant. But if we're going to err, we're going to err on the side of overcommunication.)
No, we are not going to stop meeting on Sundays. Ever. This is a one time thing. And no, we are not compromising. We will still offer the Lord's Supper that weekend. We will also worship through music, through giving, and through the preaching of the Word. All of that will take place in our Christmas Eve services.
We are doing this because we absolutely believe it positions us to reach the most people possible for the gospel. Realistically, many people will not come on Christmas morning. But, as we have seen year after year, they will come on Christmas Eve. The way the calendar falls this year meant we had to make a decision. The decision we made was to put all our effort into reaching lost people for Jesus.
In case you're wondering, no. This decision was not made so our staff could have Christmas Day off. It would have been a lot easier and a lot less work to hold a short service on Sunday. The decision we made actually requires a ton more work from our staff, as well as our volunteers. This wasn't the easy road. It was the much more difficult one.
To be clear, this post is not a response to a wave of criticism about this decision. Honestly, there has been none. I so appreciate our church's trust in our vision and our heart to reach lost people. This post is just meant to answer questions that someone might have.
I'm sure we will be criticized for this move by people outside our church. The unfortunate thing is that most of the critics won't take the time to hear "the why behind the what." The only thing they'll hear is, "You're canceling Christmas!" We absolutely are not. We are not canceling anything. We are moving our gatherings one day earlier in order to reach as many as possible for Christ.
The reason Christmas exists in the first place is because God came to rescue lost people (see Luke 19:10). There is no better Christmas gift than the gift of the gospel. And we're going to present that gift to as many people as we possibly can this Christmas!
Here's the video where the full vision for our Christmas season is laid out. This is going to be an amazing Christmas at ACC!
The Bible Knows Nothing Of…
Nov/111
The Bible knows nothing of…
a selfish Christian.
an absent parent.
an undisciplined child.
an unforgiving believer.
a fearful church leader.
a prayerless disciple.
a neglectful husband.
a critical wife.
a church for insiders.
a faith without sacrifice.
a Christ-less gospel.
a sexless marriage.
a churchless Christian.
