Pastor’s Blog

Weekend Round-up December 21, 2008
This weekend at Daystar is hard to describe. In a word it was…soothing. From the beginning of the Saturday 6:00 service to the end of the Sunday night service, I could just sense the sweet presence of God there. Maybe it was the beautiful music (harp solo, four-part A cappella Silent Night). Maybe it was the fact that families were not divided this weekend and all sat together. Maybe it was the taking of Christmas Communion or maybe just the power of the word as we talked about Isaiah’s vision of the coming Christ child. Whatever it was (or whatever combination of elements) anyone who was in attendance would agree that we all felt the awesome presence of Immanuel there.
By the end of the weekend, 37 people had stood publicly to accept Jesus inside the building, and countless others surrendered to Christ in the lobby, corridors and parking lots during the Master’s Hands “Christmas for Kids”. As I reflect on the weekend, I think of Jesus’ prophetic words: “As I am lifted up from the earth, I will attract everyone to me” (John 12:32). One thing that was definitely going on at Daystar this weekend was the uplifting of the Savior of the world. And He was clearly attracting people into His presence. I can’t wait for next weekend to see what Daddy is going to do! Will you be there?

This Christmas season has not been the most lucrative time economically, to say the least. Many national news sources are reporting that Americans are spending much less this year on Christmas gifts. Actually, I think this is largely a good thing. Our “market” is in the middle of a much needed “correction.” We need to correct our spending habits, our borrowing habits, and correct the way we view money, in general.
However, there are many this year who are spending less on Christmas, not because they are saving, but because they simply do not have the money to spend. Many sons and daughters will do without many (or any) gifts this Christmas. Even with all of the confused consumerism of Christmas in America, there is still a beautiful symbolism when a child wakes up, tears into his/her gifts and has the best time of his life … all on the day we celebrate the birth of Christ. So we don’t get the spirit of Christmas just right at the malls; so we do have increasing numbers of people trying to be politically correct and omitting Christ’s name from their holiday greetings; so many kids don’t really know the true meaning of Christmas. Isn’t still good that they all know that Christmas is a time of joy, happiness, and peace in their homes? Maybe I have a bit of a different take on the matter. See, I believe that Jesus Christ is sovereignly in control of our destiny. And even though a child may not have the full understanding of what Christmas is all about, one day he will. One day God will “Hem him in” and bring him to full knowledge.
I’m just glad that Daystar Church is a part of bringing children and families to the true joy and happiness of Christmas. Yesterday, at Daystar Church’s “Christmas for Kids” children received Christmas gifts and a couple of hearty boxes of food. But more than that, they received warm smiles as they entered the Daystar worship facility. They received genuine handshakes and hugs. They were told, verbally and non-verbally, that they matter to God and they matter to us. This is what Christmas is all about. Thank You, God for sending your Son. And thank You, again, for allowing us to share in the joy of giving!

This weekend we had our much anticipated Children’s Christmas Musical called, “It all Happened in the Country.” The stage was filled with about 200 children singing, dancing, acting and just entertaining the audience. The experience began in the lobby with a country bluegrass trio playing mood music, complete with overalls and bubba teeth (although I think the teeth were not part of the costume). As you entered the main auditorium you notice that our seventy-two foot wide stage has been transformed into a Christmas production second to none. The music was great but the message was even better. The kids performed admirably and their passion for the true Christmas story shined through. In the end the two packed out services totaling 1,985 in attendance responded with great laughter and applause. But the most important component was the number of hands that shot up in the air when asked if they would like to receive Christ into their lives for the very first time. It amazes to see that no matter how many times you tell the story and no matter how many ways you tell it, there is ALWAYS someone who wants to buy in and cross the line of faith with you, if you’ll just ask.

This past weekend at Daystar Church was really great. Ben’s worship music was its usual dynamic stuff. This weekend included Joey Lee singing, “Christmas is all in the heart.” I thought Joey sounded like Vince Gill and so I cautioned him not to move to Nashville too soon. He replied that he probably would never leave Good Hope!

We concluded the iPray series this weekend. You can listen to any of the sermons via podcast and download the notes. This weekend we focused on the powerful act of coming to the “Mercy Seat” (place of covering up) and casting all of our anxieties and cares on the Lord. Many burdens were lifted as the alter area was full in each service and people were touching God.

The Sunday night “believers’ service” was one of the most powerful that I can remember. The worship time both before and after my talk was amazing. Everyone could truly feel God in the house. God led us to realize and celebrate the incredible unity that Daystar Church has enjoyed these past 7 years since our “re-launch”. But with that realization we were challenged to bring that same unity to our prayer. We are to pray in UNITY as never before. Our prayer? “We just want You, Jesus.”

The two guys you see in the above picture are not on the church leadership council; they are not “high-impact givers” at Daystar Church; and I’ll venture to say that they are not currently being wooed by several churches to join their membership. Truthfully, I don’t even know their names. No, these guys are just two of the thousands who depend on Daystar Church for food, clothing and other assistance every month. But I think these are the kind of folks Jesus loved to be around.

17Jesus, overhearing, shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting the sin-sick, not the spiritually-fit.” (Mark 2:17)

To be honest, the above passage haunts me. Every time I read it I wonder, “Who does Jerry spend his energies on? The healthy or the sick?” Honestly, now that we have worship services on Saturday as well as Sunday, I don’t spend as much time at Master’s Hands (the Daystar benevolent outreach). But in this Christmas season, I’m going to make it a point to be there. My family and I are buying gifts for the “Christmas 4 Kids” drive at Daystar and we are going to be there to help give them out to the kids this December 20th. We’re going to make it a special point to help with the food distribution on that day. I’m going to make sure my two beautiful girls get a chance to bless someone less fortunate than themselves this Christmas.

And I’m going to try to look up these two guys and get to know them a little better. After all, aren’t these the kind of guys Jesus would be hanging out with?

 

 

Leslie and the girls and I put up the Christmas tree last week. I think we have the prettiest tree. Here’s how it goes, I drag it out of the attic (in two giant Christmas tree bags), then I put it together, plug it up and I’m done. Then Leslie and the girls “fluff up” the branches. Thankfully our tree is a ten foot pre-lit tree so we don’t have to deal with strands of lights. Next, Leslie puts on a sick amount of decorations. When she’s done it’s really beautiful.

Many people wonder where the various traditions of the American Christmas holiday came from. The Christmas celebration as we know it today is the product of a long & extended process that took place hundreds of years ago. Christmas was not celebrated in the 1^st & 2^nd Centuries following Christ’s life on earth because the Pharaoh’s birthdays were celebrated & the church did not want Christ to be lowered to the level of a human ruler. Although it is commonly believed that Christ was born in the Spring (“as shepherds keep watch over their flocks by night”), Pope Julius formally named December 25^thas the day for Christmas in AD 349. One might wonder just why this leader of the Early Church would do that. In the Roman world, followers of the sun god, Mithras, celebrated his birthday on December 25^th every year. Also, they decorated their houses with greenery, exchanged gifts, and had big family meals together. Does this all sound familiar?

            For years historians have questioned the motives of the Early Church and Pope Julius in celebrating the birth of Christ like this. Well, this is my blog, so here’s my take. I think that the Pope selected this day to introduce to these Pagans the REAL God of heaven. It was a stroke of genius. Just consider this question: What is the best way to prove a fake is fake? By standing it up next what is REAL. So, instead of fighting against the false gods of this age, the Early Church simply displayed the One true living God next to the false and let everyone judge for themselves. Now if you’re not sure that’s a good evangelistic practice, just answer this question, “How often do you hear the name Mithras mentioned on December 25^th today?”

            Looks like the Pope knew what he was doing! What do you think?