Christmas Day

Today has been a great Christmas!! This month at Eden Church the messages have been all about having the best Christmas ever. Well, today certainly makes the list of best Christmases. Christina and I left her house at 8 a.m. this morning and arrived at my home at 9:30. We opened gifts at around 10:30. It seems as though we had fewer packages this year, but in reality, I think that we had more gifts but they were in smaller boxes. Some great gifts:

• My brother Aaron received: toilet cleaner (he is a bachelor who lives like one), gift cards, a fire exting., and a few other things.
• Dad got a a few DVDs and I gave him a gift card to Borders because I forgot the books he wanted.
• Mom got a new angel for the top of the tree from Christina and I; a biography on Condelizza Rice from me; A candle from Christina; a DVD from dad; a calendar from Aaron; and some other stuff.
• Christina received: A computer game from me; a book from me; some clothes from Mom; a stereo from Dad; I got her several other nice things. This year we started our Christmas Village. Mom got Christina and I several new accessories for our village.
• Here's the run down of what I got: From Chrissy-- The Purpose of Christmas by Rick Warren, The Complete Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, a blanket she crocheted for me ( I LOVE IT!), a DVD, and a bunch of other things; from Mom-- a Hallmark ornament, a few books, some clothes, including a new dress shirt which I desperately needed, and a few other things one would expect from their mother. Dad got me a gift card to JC Penney's and Aaron got me a gift card to Olive Garden and a new wireless Internet router. Yea! Now I can surf from the comfort of by couch or bed. Gee... Could I get any more lazy?!

We had a great home-made meal today at 2 PM. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, dinner rolls, home-made 12 grain bread, corn-cornbread casserole, and a green bean casserole. An older couple who are very dear family friends (the lady was my baby sitter and is like another grandmother) came down and gave us a wonderful home made red velvet cake. Awesome.

As I write this, surrounded by the lights and loved ones watching Christmas movies, I can not help but feel very blessed. At the same time, keep thinking about others. My mind keeps going back to the first family we took a food basket to a few weeks ago. My heart just keeps breaking for them. I had no idea that they would be gone the next day. The youngest girl of those three (who couldn't be more than 4 yrs old) told us, "Thanks for all the presents!" The oldest, who was probably 8 said, "Look, mom! There's more!"

I'm not rich. If I didn't still live at home, I'd be way below the poverty level. But, I am so blessed. God has given me so much. I am so very grateful for His Son Jesus, my Forgiver and Leader. That is the greatest gift of all. But on a more earthly level, I am so blessed. These people who go without. I don't mean going without getting the latest I POD or going without a new PlayStation 3 or what ever. There are people going with out food and shelter and love and peace, and people who are going to hell without Christ Jesus. We are called to be the Church, the body of Christ, but how often are we reaching out to others with the Love of God?

I am really praying that God will richly bless that family. I want to see them accept Christ and get back on their feet.

Merry Christmas to All!

Christmas Caroling

Last night, Eden UB Church went Christmas Caroling. This was our either our third or fourth year going. Well, this year was by far the best!

This fall, when we had our Fall Festival, we took all donations from that, plus other gifts from people in the church, and decided to give away food baskets. In the last two months, we've had people bring other things to church with them. In addition to food, we collected soap, shampoo, paper towels, toilet paper, toothpaste and toothbrushes, deodorant, detergent, and other stuff. We also supplemented each food basket (which is designed for Christmas dinner complete with a frozen pie, bag of potatoes, and a ham) with fresh fruit. But we didn't stop with just the 9 food baskets. We also made up about 10 fruit baskets to give to everyone who was nominated for a food basket.

Ten of us showed up for caroling, and IT WAS A BLAST! We were out for nearly two hours but it zoomed by fast. In addition to the baskets, each home got a Christmas Gospel of John and an invitation card to Eden. But we didn't go out looking for people to come to church. We went out to BE THE CHURCH. I got to pray with almost every family. We just wanted to show people the love of God. That is what Christmas is all about: Jesus came to earth and became flesh and dwelt among us. He left heaven for us! So last night, we left the warm confines of our building to go and share the light and love of Jesus Christ with those who are in so much physical and Spiritual need.

The first family was really poor and, as I understand it, about to be evicted from their rental, about 1/4 mile from Eden. The mother was already in tears when we crossed the street singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." That family consists of parents, three little girls under 10, and occasionally the grandparents. All living in a 4-5 room house.

Another stop was to a family where the grandmother's trailer had burned so she was living with her daughter and grand kids. There were 4 boys there. They were really surprised.

A fruit basket went to a family of 4 brothers, middle aged, who have severe mental disabilities. One of the brothers is crippled. It seems like their legal guardians take advantage of them, but I'm not sure about that. They have so little.... I drive by their house every time I go to Eden Church. I wonder how many people just drive by, with out ever trying to help; without ever being the Light of the World. Folks, these people need help! All of these people need Jesus Christ in some way or another, like the rest of us.

Its time for the church to be the Church Jesus wants us to be!

It is times like this that I go home and sleep, knowing that I was being a little more like Jesus. That is my prayer for today: that I become more like Christ Jesus in every area of my life and that I give my life completely over to Him.

"Let it snow..."

Yesterday was the first significant snowfall of the season. Disclaimer: I should say compared to the flurries we've had thus far. We were supposed to get a dusting. Well, the dusting came and the snow was still falling. All in all we've probably had close to an inch. I love the snow. Winter is ugly without a nice dusting of the white fluff.

So whats so bad about a little snow? I mean we SE Ohioans can handle blizzards and floods and bad windstorms and the occasional ice storm. Well, it was dry snow, so it would not compact on the roads, making driving very hazardous. Plus, most people were unaware that a snow clipper had set it. One of my best female friends was in a bad accident. She was on her way to a wedding (one which I was also to attend, but soon opted out due to the conclusion of this short tale), and her truck flipped multiple times. We were on the phone just about three minutes previously. I called her and asked how the roads were.
"Hey Tiffany, how are the roads?"
"Adam."
"huh?"
"Adam."
"yeah, what?"
"The roads are bad. I just flipped my truck."

Thank God she is okay, just a few stitches.

So, we made the choice to cancel church services. I hate doing that! Eden is located on a state route and is normally okay on the main road. But our parking lot, if you can call it that, is right off the road, so any plowed snow greets people as they pull in. Also, many of our older core group lives on the main roads, but most of our new people and young families have to drive on slick county or township roads.

A pastoral confession: I hate to disturb my Christmas sermon series that I've been working on and praying about for 4 months. In two weeks, we are having our Christmas Program (which everyone should come to if you can!), but today was going to be our first real practice. Well, that's kinda been put off. I wonder, can you conduct dress rehearsals via telephone?

We serve a great God. And to be honest, (this is another thing pastors always think but never tell) I am kinda glad I didn't have to preach today. Even with all my planning and praying, I felt unprepared, mentally. This week has been a rough one for several reasons.

But this snow reminds me that God is always in control. He kept my friend safe, He kept the Eden congregation safe but not letting them try to venture out today. And that wedding? I'm sure it went off great.

So, God, let it snow. 'Cause I reminded of His purity and how He has made me clean by the washing away that comes through the blood of Jesus, the Lamb. And as a good friend told me, "That'll preach, brother!"

God Bless!