Jesus - the One who lives up to His Name

He was to be called Jesus, because He would save His people from their sins. The name and the explanation trip of the tongue in a way that can sometimes bypass our hearts and minds.

This Christmas I was thinking, "How can I at least make people think about the Name and its meaning?" Here's what I came up with:

"Jesus, the One who lives up to His Name".

We are used to people living up to their name in a negative way - "Bernard Madoff - he made off with other people's money", for example.

Jesus is the one who really does live up to His Name. He saves people from the eternal consequences of their sins - judgment and hell. And He saves them from the present consequnces of their sins - guilt and shame. He really is the one who lives up to His Name.

May you know the reality and power of the Name of Jesus during this Christmas season.

Light, Life, Love - in the bunker

Kurt Reuber was a doctor in the German army at Stalingrad. He was also a protestant minister. In December 1942 on the back of a Russian map, he sketched a picture of the baby Jesus being held by his mother. On the left of the picture the German translates as "1942 - Christmas in the cauldron". In smaller letters at the bottom "Festung Stalingrad" - "Fortress Stalingrad". And on the right, "Light, life and love".

At the time the German army was surrounded and faced annihilation.

Reuber hung the sketch in his bunker. He commented that when his unit came to his bunker for a Christmas celebration everyone was spellbound by the drawing.

You can read more about this amazing work on Wiki

"Thirst knows no season"

Christmas is one of those times preachers have to work a little bit harder to make sure that their sermons retain some bite, even though most people are familiar with the passages from which they preach. You're always on the look out for a good story that will illustrate in a fresh way the great truths of the Chritstmas story. And you're also on the hunt for evangelistic hooks.

One that I came across recently might help some of you preachers preparing for Christmas Eve carol services.

According to the Coca-Cola archives, our current image of Santa Claus is largely shaped by the Coca-Cola Santa (well they would say that, wouldn't they?), who first appeared in the 1930s. The image was part of an advertising campaign that began in 1922. Coca-Cola executives were concerned that Coke was seen as a seasonal beverage - something that you drank in the summer.

To counter this they came up with the slogan "Thirst knows no season." How true that is. Hearts are perhaps more aware of their spiritual thirst at Christmas than at any other time of the year.

You can read the official version here

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without...well...it's obvious isn't it?

You might well have heard this before, but it's one that's worth playing over and over again. You can check out a longer version on YouTube

A big, happy, Jesus-filled Christmas to all my readers!

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without...Dickens

A Christmas Carol just has to get a mention if we're talking Christmas essentials. Nothing - apart from the Bible - like A Christmas Carol to make you think about your life.

In this version, in which Alistair Sim plays Scrooge, the old miser has the superb line "I haven't taken leave of my senses; I've come to my senses!" Brilliant. Repentance in a nutshell!

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without...Irving Berlin

In it's own way it's a song of hope mixed with a yearning for the old certainties. They say Berlin wrote the background music to Western civilization. He certainly tapped in to some of the deep emotions of our culture. And yet, when you listen and enjoy, you feel that hopes and dreams need a firmer foundation. Anyway, thanks Irving for giving us an enduring Christmas song. (Chose this version because I thought you might like the gentle crackle of the 78 under the stylus)

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without...people you'd least expect falling under its spell

It's not my favourite version of In the Bleak Mid-Winter. I'd rather have a choir singing it to the other tune. I've posted this version because it highlights once again how Christmas is a time when people will think about what's really important and the really important One. Let's face it, most of us don't associate ABBA with Christmas carols.

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without...a movie with a moral

What would the world be like if you had never been born? George Bailey (played by James Stewart) gets the chance to have a look at what a world without him would have been like.

Touching tale and a little thought provoking to boot.

Those carol services again!

It must be important if I am willing to put myself through the stress of making a video!

Support your local carol service!

Christmas is a great time to tell people about Jesus. Don't miss the fantastic opportunities that carol services give us for inviting friends to hear the gospel.

Catching Up

Missed blogging last week. I had wanted to post today's video last Monday, but for some reason couldn't upload it. Must have been the devil trying to prevent such wise advice hitting my blog!

It was a busy week. I had two days in Ireland -Tuesday and Wednesday -and got back to Crawley 7.30 a.m. Thursday. I try to spend a couple of days with my parents every four months or so. EasyJet makes that a bit more straightforward for me.

We're pressing ahead with our plans for Christmas and I'll post a video later in the week to remind everyone about our Community Carol Service. Christmas is a fantastic opportunity to invite friends to events and a great opportunity to preach the gospel.

I've mentioned Street Pastors on this blog before. We're making lots of progress with that one. Sarah Davis is now our co-ordinator and she's doing a fine job. Sarah did a short presentation at the inter church meeting at Crawley Baptist Church last night and we prayed for those training to be street pastors.

We had the privilege of a visit from David Campbell, our regional leader, yesterday morning. Good to hear David and spend time with him and his wife Mandy afterwards.