As we step into the Christmas season, we’ve got a cool opportunity to keep our perspective on the holiday. This time of year is more hectic than any other. There is always another dinner to cook, another family gathering to visit, another gift to buy, another office party to attend. It’s never ending.

Somewhere in the midst of all this insanity is a baby in a manger. Somewhere in the craziness is the Christ child. But he sure can be hard to find at times.

That’s why we are publishing the first-ever ACC Christmas blog. Starting November 30, there will be one post everyday through Christmas Eve. These posts all contain a Scripture link and some reflections on that Scripture written by yours truly. It’s one small thing we can do to help you keep your perspective this Christmas season.

You can check out the blog on our website. Or if you prefer, you can subscribe to the RSS feed.

ACC Christmas Blog

You can read more about it in the initial post that is now online. Christmas posts start November 30!

The lack of gratitude and the sense of entitlement in this country are off the chart. It never ceases to amaze me when I see how much we take for granted. How much we think we deserve because we’re Americans. It’s sickening.

As God’s people, it’s up to us to turn the tide. Everything we have is a blessing from God. We’re not entitled to anything. We’re blessed, and we should be thankful to Him who gives those blessings to us.

Check it out.

Head to our website for all the details. Please do it quickly! We’ve only got until Thursday!

Help With a Project in England

I baptized Mike Cothran. Then Mike baptized his two daughters, Becca and Kiara.

As a dad, it can’t get any better than that!

J.W.’s comments about our church were unbelievable. I was deeply moved by what he shared. In fact, I didn’t see anyone who wasn’t touched.

J.W. and Becky were quite emotional. And that was awesome. It was awesome because it showed just how difficult it is for this family to leave ACC. They know that they have to go, but it’s tearing them up inside.

I want people to be so in love with our church that the thought of leaving is enough to bring them to tears. That shows just how special our church family really is.

J.W., Becky, and Ally…we’ll miss you all very much. We love you. And we know we’ll see you again, here or in eternity.

ACC, we really do have something special going on. Keep it up!

This week, I wrote the bulk of my sermon wearing my headphones, listening to some very choice…rock. It’s quite a departure from the soothing sounds of classical piano that I normally listen to. But the piano stuff wasn’t cutting it this week.

I was way too jacked-up about this series to listen to solo piano music. I needed music to match the adrenaline that I’m feeling about this series!

Sunday’s coming…I’m ready to rock!

What do you need to do? Stop procrastinating. Take action. Today.

Like I said on Sunday, the reason I love preaching about money is simple. I love it because every single time I teach God’s truth about money, I see Him set people free!

This past weekend, we had some seriously straight talk about debt. I want to thank Josh and Marie Young for agreeing to be part of the message. Their journey to freedom from debt has inspired a lot of people to get down to business and get out of debt.

No matter what lies our culture tries to sell us, remember how God views debt. He said, “The borrower is the slave of the lender.” (Proverbs 22:7, ESV) A lot of us can’t truly experience freedom in Christ because we’re a slave to Visa.

We have to learn to live on less. Our kids will have to learn to live on less. We have to have a heart of self-denial and self-control. Avoid impulse buys. Spend less so you can pay down your debt and get out of slavery.

Now, on to this Sunday…we’re going to experience God’s truth about giving. That’s right, I’ll be preaching the Word about GIVING. No apologies. No tiptoeing around the issue. No fear.

The Bible is very clear. God expects his people to give generously to the work of the church. If you want to go to a church that doesn’t ask you to give, then go find one that doesn’t preach the whole Bible. Let me know how that blesses your life.

But if you’re ready to experience a God-directed, Spirit-driven Word about money, do not miss this Sunday at ACC!

Man, I am FIRED UP! Tell the hostess to seat me in the smoking section!

But then last night, I saw a church sign that ranks as one of the best I’ve ever seen. It wasn’t an attempt to be cute. It didn’t rhyme. It wasn’t goofy. It simply expressed a biblical truth.

The sign said, “We invite defeat when we remember what we should forget.”

That truth stopped me cold, because I’ve done that in my own life. I’ve remembered what I should have forgotten, and it took me down. If you’re honest, you have done (or are currently doing) this in your life, too.

It happens when we allow the guilt of our past to constantly hang over our heads. The sins of your past have the power to come back to haunt you, if you allow it. The guilt of a lifetime of sinful choices, or maybe just one especially horrible choice, can strangle you spiritually.

By remembering your sinful past, you can convince yourself that God cannot use you. You can begin believing that you’ll never amount to anything, spiritually speaking. You can force yourself to feel like a scumbag…all the time.

It’s possible that I just described how you feel right now in perfect detail. If so, then let this Word from God invade your heart.

“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34b, NIV)

If you are in Christ, God has not only forgiven your sins…he has forgotten them. How does an all-knowing God forget? I don’t know, but he said in the Bible that he forgets our sins.

Why do we think that it makes us “super spiritual” if we constantly remember our past sins, never allowing the guilt of those sins to leave us? That’s not spiritual. That’s stupid. We are remembering something that the Lord himself has forgotten.

I’m not suggesting that we don’t remember the lessons we learned from our sinful past. Remembering the impact of immature decisions helps us grow toward spiritual maturity. But guilt is a very different animal. Guilt doesn’t attempt to make you better. Guilt doesn’t lift you up. It drags you back down.

Today can be the day that the shackles of guilt are broken in your life. God has forgiven, and forgotten, your sins. Ask him for the power to help you do the same.

I want to thank my grandpa, even though he is no longer with us. He served in the U.S. Army in World War II. Our world would look vastly different today were it not for the service of so many from his generation. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude. I want to personally thank my Pappaw for his service.

I want to thank my uncle, for serving in the U.S. Air Force. Some of your friends didn’t serve their full hitch, but you did. Thank you, Uncle Richard.

I want to thank my brother, Jeff, who served in the U.S. Marines. You chose the most intense, grueling branch of our military. You have said that you are better for it. I hope you know that our country is better for it as well.

I want to thank my dad. Dad served in a special ops unit of the Marine Corps during the height of the Vietnam War. Due to the unpopularity of the war, many soldiers came back to their homeland and were greeted with boos instead of cheers. I pray our country never returns to those dark days. Whatever your opinion of a current war, let’s honor and respect the ones who had the courage to answer their country’s call. Dad, you served our country with courage and honor. I honor you today.

A special thanks to all the Edmisten veterans…and to anyone else who has served or is currently serving our country. I pray God’s blessing and favor on you and your families.