The Pastor's Perspective

    The Christmas season is marked by universally recognized images: twinkling lights, festive music, and perhaps the most iconic of all—the Nativity scene. These symbols are so commonplace that it is easy to fall into what we might call The Christmas Assumption : the belief that because people celebrate the holiday, they must understand the actual story of Jesus Christ.      Several years ago, a Baptist Press story highlighted the danger of this assumption. A missionary traveling through a staunchly Buddhist area of Southeast Asia noticed something unusual in an open-air market: several beautifully crafted Nativity sets.      The missionary was curious and tracked down the family making them. To his surprise, they knew nothing about the pieces they were selling. A French tourist had simply suggested they make the sets to sell alongside their other handmade items. The family had absolutely no idea what the Nativity figures represented.  ...

     The Christmas story is the greatest event in human history. So great in fact that history has been divided by that very event.       Everything prior to the birth of Christ was labeled as B.C. which means "Before Christ". Meaning that all of recorded human history that happened before the birth of Christ has that label. For example Alexander the Great died either  June 10 or 11, 323 BC. Another words Alexander the Great died 323 years before Jesus Christ was Born, B.C.       Accordingly everything that happened after the birth of Christ is labeled with A.D. This stands for the Latin phrase "Anno Domini" which means "in the year of our Lord" So this year is 2025 A.D. which means 2025 years after the birth of Christ.     The birth of Jesus did more than help us categorize historical events. It was t he moment when God fulfilled centuries of prophecy by stepping into our world. The God of the Universe who spoke the ...

          The Christmas season draws our gaze back to the manger—to the silent, holy night where God first visited humanity (at least its supposed to). But the story of Christmas doesn't end in Bethlehem; it begins a life of service that challenges us to look for Christ in the most unexpected places.      What if we were waiting for the Lord in glory while He was already standing at our door in disguise?      One of the most beautiful Christmas poems ever told, was by an American poet Edwin Markham. The poem is called "How the Great Guest Came in"  His story centers on a cobbler, a godly man who made shoes.       This cobbler had a dream that the next day Jesus was coming to visit his shop. The dream seemed so real that he rose early, gathering green boughs to decorate his shop, preparing for the arrival of so great a Guest. The cobbler did not want to be unprepared if Jesus was indeed coming to pay hi...

          The Christmas season can often feel a bit too stressful. It can become a period of intense planning and busyness. We create detailed strategies for baking, decorating, gift-buying, and attending events. Then there are the school events, and plays that we have to attend. Make time to go down and see the city lights. Make time to watch all those Christmas movies you have watched a 1,000 times before. We pour time and energy into ensuring everything goes according to our vision.      But what happens when our plans fall apart? Maybe a tradition has to change, or a loved one is missing due to sickness or death. The stress of finding the right gift or the pressure of finances can lead to frustration and sadness. While Christmas is a joyous occasion for many, for others, it can be down right depressing.      It’s easy in these moments—when our perfect vision is interrupted—to feel frustrated, saddened, or even feel like we ...

    I once read a story about a young professional who, rushing between appointments, barely had time to eat. She quickly microwaved a frozen meal and was out the door. Sliding into her car, she went to start the ignition only to realize her keys were missing. Frantically, she searched her bag, coat, and pockets. Minutes turned into an anxious blur until a flash of memory brought her to a strange place: the freezer. Low and behold, there they were, nestled right between the ice cream and the frozen vegetables.      We can all relate to that moment—that sudden, chilling realization that we have completely misplaced something vital. Whether it’s car keys, important documents, or a wedding ring, we’ve all been guilty of letting our minds wander and misplacing what is valuable.      But, let me ask you; can you imagine losing the Messiah ?      The Bible tells the account of Mary and Joseph losing Jesus on the journey home from J...

The first Thanksgiving The year is 1621in America . The air is cold and the land is still unfamiliar. For the colonists , their first year in the new world had been marked by incredible hardships. They were survivors who had endured the trials and struggles of establishing a settlement. Yet, with the autumn harvest complete, they had achieved their first success—a successful corn harvest.      This was a victory that called for a celebration. So, to express their thanks and honor their Native American allies who helped them in this new land, they planned a great feast. They invited the Native Americans to celebrate with them. The joyous, three-day event was filled with games, signs of affection, and abundant feasting on venison, fowl, and corn.      It was an act of sharing—a profoundly generous gesture that Governor William Bradford noted in his journal. For him, the abundant harvest was a gift from a loving God who had not only protected them from the d...

      I don't know about you but I love to travel. I love seeing new sights and going to new places. Me and my family have been to quite a few places. From mountains of Tn to Virginia Beach even to Seattle Washington .      The means in which we have used to go to these various destinations have varied widely. We have traveled by car, plane and train. My least favorite has been train but never the less it is a way to do some traveling.      In each of these modes of transportation there is one essential in order for us to do these travels. Yes we need to get tickets and yes they need wheels and an engine of some sort. However there is one thing that is needed most. Without that one thing, it does not matter if we have a ticket or if the train, plane or car is in fine working condition. Without this one thing we are not going anywhere.       That one thing is fuel. No matter how great the machine is no matter how muc...

       Have you ever thought about how everything in life is in a constant state of decay?  Think about it: A burning fire will naturally die down unless you constantly feed it with wood . Boiling water will eventually cool the moment it’s taken off the heat . Even the sharpest knife will lose its cutting power if you don't take time to sharpen it . Cars don't stay show room ready just laying around in a garage. N eglect your health, and you suffer the consequences; fail to change the oil in your car, and you’ll soon be walking .  It takes work, maintenance, and intentional effort to keep things in top premium condition     Everything in this world is in a constant state of decay. Nothing and I mean nothing stays the same. This is especially true when you think about your spiritual walk with the Lord . The truth is that there is no such thing as costing along in your Christian walk, well not really. Think of it like you are in a boat in a river. Y...

     Admiral Yamamoto      In the annals of history, few phrases carry the weight and consequence of a single, fateful day like that of Admiral Yamamoto. The year was 1941 , and our nation was largely reluctant to engage in a global conflict. We had just came out of a major war just a few decades prior, and we were recovering from the great depression. The idea of joining in a war that had little to nothing to do with us seemed for many to be largely irresponsible.  However all of that changed in 1941 after the attack on Peal Harbor .  Admiral Yamamoto, the Japanese naval strategist, is famously believed to have said in the wake of the attack, "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve." The sleeping giant of America was awakened, not by a call to arms, but by the devastating reality of an enemy at its doorstep. We realized that war for the first time that we were not getting in a war, but rather wa...