Sermon Challenge
The Christmas Story
Matthew 1, 2; Luke 2

I love the Christmas season. There is something to be said for this time of the year. I love Christmas trees, I love Christmas lights, I love peanut butter fudge. I love Christmas music, giving gifts and yes, the cold rain brings it all together nicely.

Sometimes in the midst of all of this we forget the real purpose, the real meaning behind Christmas. I want to give you an action required Challenge this week. I want to challenge everyone to spend some time this week in the Christmas story. Read it aloud to your spouse, to your children or grand children. Soak in the story, remind yourself, all of these things about Christmas are fun, but the real meaning about Christmas revolves around a little baby.

(future students?)
Our Visit to Boise

We just got back from a trip to Boise to spend time with family. On our trip, we went to Boise Bible College to see some friends and to check out the new buildings. It was awesome! The new class rooms are state of the art and it was great to see Seth and Ash, they seem to be doing very very good.

Our trip was great, you can see and read more about our trip at www.earlywinefamily.blogspot.com

See you Sunday.

Aaron

This Week's Challenge

The Prodigal Son
Luke 15

Luke 15 gives us an incredible indication of how much God loves those who have not accepted him. He gives us an awesome picture of how far he goes to get his message heard. Ultimately, we are the tools that God uses to bring people to Him. All of us at one point in time or another were prodigal sons and daughters of God. We had to make a conscious decision to follow and accept our Savior Jesus. He waited on us, the same as he waits on others.

It really struck me while I was preaching this Sunday about how closely the last two weeks connect. I even thought about how much better these sermons would have fit flip flopped. Last week we discussed the sermon about the banquet and this week we talked about the prodigal son, who's father throws him a banquet upon his return. In each case, we see that coming to Jesus and seeing other's come to him is reason for CELEBRATION. God is all about a party.

This week, let us not forget the absolute joy that God brings when one returns to Him. With this in mind, we should be sharing this incredible news to those around us, in a natural joyous way. Ask God to help you live a life naturally expressing your love for God and others. Let it not be a forced expression, but a natural expression based upon what God is doing for you.



On another Note:
Please be praying for my family as we travel to Idaho to visit friends and family. It is always nerve racking to travel the roads this time of year.


Book From Yesterday's exert:
What's so Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancey