Posts Tagged: "christmas"

when you think you're being a blessing post

Those Times When You Think You’re Being The Blessing And Then You Realize It’s The Other Way Around

- - Life With God, Uncategorized

God has entrusted the Church to keep the soul of childhood alive, to safeguard our candor and freshness… Joy is the gift of the Church, whatever joy is possible for this sad world to share… What would it profit you even to create life itself, when you have lost all sense of what life really is? —Georges Bernanos, The Diary of a Country Priest

Sunday is NWLife’s annual Toy Give. Over 500 presents will be wrapped, labeled, and stacked. Hundreds of kids in our community will receive a gift at the party… and there will be prizes, a dancing panda, food, pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a few surprises too. It’s one of those events that makes your face hurt because you smile so much.

snow at toy give for post

The Toy Give is a lot of work and we put out the call for “all hands on deck.”

We give and serve in various capacities—and at the end of the night we are all janitors… stacking chairs, vacuuming floors, taking out the trash, cleaning bathrooms, etc.

It’s one of those times when you think you’re being the blessing and then you realize… Read More

your name written on his heart

Advent Day 22 (Conclusion): Your Name Is Written On His Heart

- - Uncategorized

*photo above: Nolan Jones enjoying some time on stage after church one Sunday during Advent

For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. —Titus 2.11

I believe Christ came for all.

Think about those who came to see the newborn child. Shepherds: these guys were the night-shift, minimum wage earners… they smelled like sheep, they hadn’t bathed in a while.

Then later you have the Magi. I mean… these guys are different. Certainly outsiders. Mystics. Star-gazers. Not exactly your typical church-goers.

Throughout the ministry of Jesus, you see this same attraction… the outsiders were drawn to him. The misfits and weirdos. The outcasts. The sinners.

Yes, Jesus came for us all. I believe Christ went to the cross and took on himself the sins of the world.

And this is the Good News: we have been included.

And the angel said to them: Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. —Luke 2.10-11

Good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

For unto you is born… a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

We dream of a world where there is something for everyone.

A job. Healthcare. Food. Love. Family. Peace everywhere.

It seems like an impossible dream. Like, not in this world… but maybe in some other place, in a galaxy far, far away.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have healthcare for all. Wouldn’t it be nice to have housing for all. Wouldn’t it be nice to have peace for all. Wouldn’t it be nice to have food for all. Wouldn’t it be nice to have family for all.

Wouldn’t it.

But we easily dismiss these concepts as unrealistic. Beyond our reach. Fantasy. Something our world will never provide.

So when we start talking about God’s love for all, God’s gift of salvation for all, Christ’s arrival for all, and a table that welcomes all…

Well, it’s easy to once again dismiss the notion as… Read More

scott the painter with us

With Us by Scott the Painter

- - Life With God, Uncategorized

Scott Erickson is a graphic artist from Portland, Oregon. He’s the guy who designed the image on my favorite T-shirt (one I wear at least once a week – it says Love Thy Haters). You can get prints of his work on shirts or hoodies or posters and other things at Society6. Be sure to check out his website too. He has just posted a series of three “With Us” images for Christmas on Instagram (images shown at the top of this post).

Here is the text that Scott wrote from the most recent image… Read More

flight simulator church

The Flight Simulator Church

- - Life With God, Uncategorized

I remember hearing Paul Scanlon use the analogy of a flight simulator to describe what church is often like…

“The church I grew up in was great. I loved the people. We all knew each other and loved each other—and we loved God. But we were turned inward. We liked things as they were and we weren’t looking to be changed.

paul scalnon speaking

God began to speak to my heart. I couldn’t explain it but I felt this overwhelming sadness and I knew I needed to change. So I left that church, and it was painful. The people I knew all my life were upset with me for leaving. It was like I’d left an Amish community and I was being shunned or something… Read More

friday fun and free stuff pens header

Giggles & Giveaways

- - Fun / Humor, Uncategorized

It’s Friday and I want you to giggle or at least smile a little bit – and maybe even win something from today’s giveaway. Let’s get started with the stuff you could possibly win…

 

1. FREE—STAEDTLER TRIPLUS BLACKBOX.

From the company that makes my favorite pens – includes: 1 textsurfer highlighter with fluorescent yellow ink, 1 fineliner pen with blue ink, 1 fineliner pen with black ink, 1 rollerball pen with black ink, 1 triplus ballpoint pen with black ink, 1 mechanical pencil – line width 0.5 mm. Comment below and you will be automatically entered to win… Read More