Never forget!

Hey all,
Last night while taking some time to "veg-out" Shelly and I watched the Billy Graham Christmas Special. For most of you reading this you may be able to remember a time when the BG Christmas Special was at the forefront of Christmas viewing. In recent years it had all but disappeared. I began to think to myself, isn't it interesting then in these times of economic upheaval, here is this hallmark of American television, back again (this time hosted by his Billy Graham's son, Franklin)
The show was very Christ-centered, with prominent Christian music artists performing much to my astonishment especially in our "tolerance drivien society". It is apparent to me that even in the most desperate times, we cling to that which we know to be true. And for Christians that is the hope of our Blessed Savior Jesus Christ. That is the hope that defies all description. The hope that makes you cry, not in terms of sadness, but the joy that God puts inside you. Don't let the economics of this world affect your celebration of Jesus Christ's birth. That is, what Christmas is. A celebration of the birth that changed the world. I challenged our teens this week to celebrate December 25th as just that, a huge birthday party for Jesus Christ. We as a youth ministry will be doing that on Thursday December 18th. Our teens will have a huge birthday party for Jesus!
I believe that it is in that mentality that we won't get caught up in all the shopping for "the right gift", in all the busyness that this time of year can bring. Don't forget what we are celebrating.
However small and insignificant showing Christmases from years past might have been during that show last night, I think it reminds us that it is not the gifts we will remember as much as the times with family and loved ones that we will spend together. And in that togetherness we can face the hard time. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us! Philippians 4:13.

May God bless and renew you this week!
Pastor Jason