Momentum

Global Warming??

You've probably heard this at least once in the last few days: "What's this about global warming??? This is the coldest Christmas in years!!"  I agree - being outside even for a minute is enough to bring tears to your eyes. And if you didn't get the ice chipped off your driveway right away on Friday, you won't see bare cement again for a while.  Even the internet seems frozen sometimes.  However, if you're inside your cozy house, you have to admit that it's been absolutely beautiful to look at.  When the sun shines on ice-covered trees, it looks like a calendar picture.  And most of us are happy about having a white Christmas. 

But for true warmth, we have to look inside our hearts to the warmth that only Jesus can give.  His presence in your heart is better than any other gift you could receive this Christmas.  And better than any gift you've bought for anyone on your list.  It's not too late to give - or receive - the gift of Jesus Christ.  It doesn't require battling crowds at the mall.  It won't show up on your January credit card bill.  But it will change your life. 

May Jesus warm your heart this Christmas!

A "Treasure"land Christmas

The children's ministry of Faith Church is called Treasureland.  This past weekend Treasureland joined the adult worship services to celebrate Jesus together.  What an amazing worship.  The children sang, acted and read scripture beautifully.  We had record crowds at all three campuses (Dyer, Cedar Lake and Valparaiso). 

Jesus is the real Treasure in this land!

Christmas Giving

Christmas gifts should be worth alot, long-lasting, fun, beautiful, playful, and so much more.  Sitting next to me in this picture is a Christmas gift I've had for 24 years.  Laurie, my beautiful wife, is the gift that keeps on giving to me!  Merry Christmas Laurie!

Love, Bob

Staff Infection

That's the fun name we have for our weekly staff meetings on Wednesday morning.  The play on words is that the staff takes time to "infect" each other with information and details of scheduling.  It's also the time to "infect" each other with vision, accountability and our walk with God.

Yesterday we had our annual staff Christmas party and this year we did something different.  Instead of gifts for each other, we brought a gift that was special to us when we were children.  The gifts will go to the children in the orphanage we support in Honduras.  We also brought a picture of ourselves when we were a child.  We had a lot of laughs as we guessed who was who.

   

Shhhhh.....

This weekend I challenged the Church and myself to “Behold the Wonder”  through Silence.  The story in Luke 1:5-25 tells the account of Zechariah and Elizabeth and how both of them where in Silence. Zechariah’s was a forced silence and Elizabeth’s was a chosen seclusion.  I invited the congregation to a minimum of 10-15 minutes of silence within the following 48 hours.  When I finish this entry I am going into silence.  The keys insights I have gain over the course of my study last week are:

1. Silence is asked of God.
2. Silence can be a gift.
3. Even if it seems like nothing happened God may have still worked.
4. Various things may happen in silence.
5. Silence can be a battleground.
6. Silence can be a place of healing.
7. God still speaks in silence.
8. Silence can be forced on us or chosen.

I am sure there are many more insights about silence.  Have any you can share?   Have you practiced intentional silence yet?   Any reactions?

11 Questions

From time to time I’m going to do a blog where I ask special people random questions so you can get to know them better.  My first attempt will be my amazing wife Laurie, my son Grant and youngest daughter Carley.  Enjoy.

What’s your favorite song on or artist on your iPod?

·         Laurie: Tommy Walker

·         Grant: Angels and Airways

·         Carley: Taylor Swift

If you were able to eat dinner with someone very special, who would it be? (Jesus is a given)

·         Laurie: John Calvin or Oliver North

·         Grant: Michael Jordan or Jack Johnson

·         Carley: Esther (Bible character) or Robin Jones Gunn

Who inspires you the most?

·         Laurie: Bob (me? Wow – cool!)

·         Grant: my parents

·         Carley: my parents

Your pet peeve?

·         Laurie: when people call me on my cell while I’m shopping

·         Grant: when people don’t answer their cell phone

·         People who blow their nose weird

Happier moments in life?

·         Laurie: hanging with the kids, playing games with them

·         Grant: being with friends, playing H-F soccer

·         Carley: my friends and being at school

What drives you nuts about Bob/dad?

·         Laurie: the way he claps

·         Grant: he asks too many questions, and his humming

·         Carley: he doesn’t teach driving very well

What do you need to work on?

·         Laurie: simplicity

·         Grant: grades

·         Carley: cleaning my room

Recent movies seen?

·         Laurie: Fireproof, Four Christmases

·         Grant: Fireproof, Four Christmases

·         Carley: Twilight, Four Christmases

TV show you can’t miss?

·         Laurie: Grey’s Anatomy

·         Grant: SportsCenter

·         Carley: One Tree Hill

Favorite snack food?

·         Laurie: too many too count…Swedish Fish, I guess

·         Grant: Rice Krispie treats

·         Carley: chicken patties

People would be surprised to know…

·         Laurie: I’m a fast driver

·         Grant: I ‘m not on Facebook

·         Carley: I actually love Civics class (government)

Hope you enjoyed getting to know part of my family better!

Christmas Servers

   

All the preparations are underway for this amazing season.  You are all probably doing something in preparation: shopping, decorating, baking, etc.  At church, we are preparing too.  The one picture is of the fantastic set design team preparing the Dyer worship center and Cedar Lake for our Christmas series, "Behold the Wonder."  The other picture is of the 1,500+ gifts being sorted for the families of prisoners we support via Angels of Hope.  What is not pictured is all the people out serving Wednesday night through our Service in the Streets: wrapping gifts at Children's Hunger Fund; helping the staff at Bibich Elementary School; carolers at the Dyer nursing home; baking cookies; and prayer and intersession for those out serving.  I'm doing my part as well by preparing the first message of the season. 

All of this preparation is for one goal: to celebrate and behold the wonder of the birth of our Savior, the Savior of the world.  Prepare for Jesus!

Winter's Here

   

The calendar has turned to December.  Christmas trees are up.  Snow's falling.  The stores are crowded.  Fifty degree days are history.  Winter's here, but I like it. 

Top Ten Reasons I Like Winter

10.        No mosquitoes

9.         Cubs aren’t losing

8.         Sox aren’t winning

7.         “Christmas Vacation” movie

6.         WLIT 24/7 holiday music

5.         Watching children play in the snow

4.         Houses decorated for Christmas

3.         Christmas cookies comin’

2.         The disconnected considering attending Christmas Eve services

1.         Our Savior’s Birth

Any you would add?