Christmas Eve devotional

Hey CCC family-

Oh, the weather outside is frightful.... OK, not really frightful, but a bit blustery.

As I write this at noon on Christmas Eve, we are still planning to have our Christmas eve services at 4 and 6 PM. The 8 PM services are cancelled. It looks like the roads will be driveable for most people through the early evening. We will look forward to keeping Jesus front and center as we worship him this Christmas Eve! He is the reason we celebrate. So we will gather to honor him.

We do value your safety. And we know that people in our congregation have different 'weather threshholds' dependent on any number of factors: what type of car you have, life stage, and whether you grew up in Arizona or Minnesota. For some it may not be wise to venture out.

If you are unable to come, let me encourage you to gather around your Bible and have a worship service of your own. No, I am not asking the tone-deaf to sing solos, but I would recommend that you grab a Bible and a cup of hot chocolate and celebrate the birth of Jesus with loved ones.

I have written a devotional guide for those who cannot make services tonight. Feel free to use it to stimulate discussion about Jesus. And if I don't see you in person, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Our savior is born!

An Alternative Christmas Eve Devotion

Step 1 Make Hot Chocolate and gather your family around the fireplace, kitchen table, or another favorite spot in the house.

Step 2 Discuss this question - What is the best sunrise you have ever seen? Describe the emotion that takes place when a person sees a great sunrise.

Step 3 Have someone read Isaiah 9:2-7 (Page 489 in your CCC Bible....ha! :) This is a prophecy of Isaiah from 600 BC regarding the coming of the Messiah.

Step 4 Discuss the passage. Have one person read these questions and everybody answer. (May need to be modified for age-appropriateness.)

What is the metaphor used in verse 2? How does this relate to your experience with sunrises?

In verses 3-5 there are many ways the joy-factor of the new dawn is discussed. Name each of them and why they might be good news.

In verses 6-7, the reason for rejoicing is explained. "A Child is Born." What are the characteristics of this child? Each person mention just one as you go around the room.

Step 5 As a family, discuss one characteristic (v. 6-7) about this child that that makes you rejoice (v3-5) as you look back on 2009.

Step 6 Have someone read Luke 2:1-20 for the entire family.

Step 7 Lead the family in prayer - thanking God for the amazing gift of Jesus and that the light of Christ will be strong in your home in 2010.

David -----> Jesus

David was a type, or foreshadowing of Jesus. The King of Israel as a two dimensional shadow of the three dimensional King of Kings. Like the guy in "Fu man chu's China Buffet" offering Princess Chicken on a toothpick as a sample of the entree to come, so David is offered as a sampling of the King to come. Check out the parallels:

David came from humble origins. He was just a shepherd boy born in a nowhereville town called Bethlehem.
Jesus came from humble origins. He was just a carpenter boy born in a nowhereville town called Bethlehem.

David was a shepherd, tending his sheep and keeping them safe from predators.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd, laying down His life for His sheep.

David mystified his family by his anointing, effectiveness and power.
Jesus mystified his family by his remarkable teaching, claims, and resurrection.

David stared death in the face, in the form of a giant Philistine,
Jesus stared death in the face, in the form of a roman execution,
wearing nothing but shepherds clothes,
wearing nothing but a loin cloth,
carrying only a stick and stones.
carrying only two sticks in the form of a cross.

David spoke and led with authority, amazing people as a warrior, writer and musician.
Jesus spoke and led with authority, amazing people as a teacher, healer, and miracle worker.

David spent 10 years in the wilderness.
Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness.
He was running from Saul,
He was tempted by Satan,
protected by God,
protected by God
and writing God’s word.
and quoting God’s word.

David ruled a mighty political kingdom, expanding Israel’s territory during his 40 year reign.
Jesus rules a mighty spiritual kingdom expanding God’s territory during his eternal reign.

David had his 30 followers, mighty men of strength who fought for him.
Jesus had his 12 disciples, common men used by God to change the world.

David was the anointed one, chosen to be the King of Israel.
Jesus was the anointed one, chosen to be the King of…everything.

David was called the King of the Jews a title that he owned with pride
Jesus was called the King of the Jews, a title that hung over His head on the cross.

David was the savior of Israel, keeping the country free from foreign threats.
Jesus is the savior of the world, giving all men freedom from sin.

The prophet Nathan told David his name would be great, and many knees would bow to him.
At the name of Jesus, every knee will bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth.

David was promised that one of his descendants would rule on his throne forever!
Jesus is the descendant who rules on his throne forever!

David cried out to the Father from the caves, asking “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”
Jesus cried out to the Father from the cross, asking “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”

David predicted “You will not let your holy one see decay.”
Jesus fulfilled that prediction by dying, and not decaying.

David, while being only human was used mightily by God to change Israel.
Jesus, while divine, became a human and was used mightily by God to change…everything.

Zebulun Prophecy

In Isaiah 9 (written 600B.C.), there is that famous prophecy about the coming messiah. It is so famous that Handel quoted it in his masterpiece "Messiah". It is that funky tune that keeps on rolling through your head throughout the Christmas season "And his name shall be called: Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty God, the everlasting Father, the prince of peace."

But have you ever read the rest of Isaiah 9? The prophecies are amazing throughout the text. Consider the little known verse 1.

"Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress in the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea along the Jordan ~ The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned..."

So, where in the world are the territories of Zebulun and Naphtali? They are Northern Israel, along the shores of the sea of Galilee and a bit to the West.

Where was Jesus, the 'great light', from? Northern Israel, along the shores of the sea of Galilee and a bit to the West. Nazareth, Jesus' hometown was in the land of Zebulun. Capernaum, Jesus' ministry headquarters was in the area of Naphtali. The sea of Galilee is where Peter was fishing when he caught the miraculous catch. The shores of Galilee was where the Sermon on the Mount was preached. The Sea of Galilee is the water Jesus walked on.

Once again, I stand in awe of the magnificence of Scripture. There is no way Isaiah could have known this 600 years before Jesus. God was using Isaiah to weave together his master plan for hundreds of years before the time of Christ. Wow.

Pray for Senator Nelson

I want to encourage you to pray for Nebraska's Senator Ben Nelson. Senator Nelson, who's office is just 25 blocks from the Old Mill Campus and has been open to meeting with me in the past, is in a major pressure cooker. If you have been watching the news lately, you know that his vote is the swing vote in the health care reform debate. He has already made a courageous and commendable move by trying to take federal funding for abortion out of the health care package. Now, his vote(s) can be the difference in the future for hundreds of millions of people, including us, our kids and grandkids.

The issue is not whether you are Democrat or Republican, whether or not you like Senator Nelson or how you feel about health care reform. I want to call on all CCC members who believe in the power of God, His sovereignty over human affairs and His love for all people to have His way with Senator Nelson. Pray that he will have wisdom to understand the implications of this 2000 page bill. Pray that he will have the backbone to stand for what is right.

The Bible exhorts us to pray for those in authority. There is no time like the present.

Get out a kleenex

This post was written by a single Mom from last week on the day of the big snowfall. The writing of it is superb. The theology profound, and the content stirs the soul. Check it out. (copied with permission.)


Dear Mark,

As I write this and reflect, the falling snow has hushed our busyness. Even the roads are quiet. The captivating white displays the expected Christmas attire associated with this holiday season. Yet as lovely and nostalgic as the winter wonderland is, it has little relevance to my Christmas contemplation. For on Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent - and the birthday of my middle son - Christmas came.

Just as Love became flesh and dwelt among us, so Love was amazingly demonstrated through the unconditional generosity of those who responded to your alternate "message" at the 9a Access this past Sunday. As one of the overwhelmed single moms who participated as a recipient, it seemed that the world's adaptation of Christmas - malls, obligatory lists, Santa, and anxiety - became remote and obscure as worshippers came forward to give: giving warm embraces, encouraging words, and money, expecting only that we receive their love. Teenagers came up simply to hug me; a woman walked directly to me and told me I was so beautiful, as if she knew I had struggled significantly this past year to recapture my true beauty in Christ. The year also shared financial strain, and as each person pressed money into my hand, God again was telling me to trust Him as the intimate Husband, Lover, Friend and Counselor He had become to me. Indeed, Sunday - in part - represented a culmination of my year's spiritual journey, affirmed in love by the body of CCC. For me, Sunday was a mysterious miracle, much like the first Christmas. Angels and dreams and a pregnant virgin. Gentile wise men kneeling before a Jewish child. An elderly couple having a baby, and lowly shepherds exalted before a King. And love being poured upon a handful of single mothers in Access. My awe and gratitude as I stood in tears in front of the service is easily likened to the wonderment I experience as I ponder the birth of Jesus.

When we arrived home, I called my sons into my bedroom, and re retold the story of what had occurred. As I dumped the money out on my bed, their eyes became moon pies of astonishment. It then struck me that the intended theme of your message - leaving a legacy - had been more powerfully conveyed to my family than perhaps your original script would have accomplished. Sunday provided my sons with a new legacy: I told them that today we celebrate Christmas, that today we would memorialize what happened at CCC - Love came down to us. I explained that we would retell this story on the first Sunday of Advent every year, and that they would tell their children the story of how a very real and present God demonstrated His love through His children, in whom resides the true meaning of Christmas.

The snow outside continues sketching a Christmas card illustration. But the memory of the 12/6/09 Access has painted an authentic and life-changing portrayal of what Christmas truly is. And I whisper in quiet gratitude with Mary:

"And my soul exalts the Lord. And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has had regard for the humble state of his bondslave. For behold, from this time on, the generations of my sons will see His blessing (the legacy!). For the might one has done great things for me. Holy is His name...He has filled the hungry with good things. He has given help to His servant".

Gratefully,

Lisa Curry

Single Mom's Appreciation

Dear Mark,

First I want to apologize for not writing and sending this sooner. But to be honest, I have been thinking a lot about what you did for the single mothers at church last Sunday and I just couldn't figure out the right words to tell you how much I appreciate and admire what you did. I was one of the single moms who went up to the front. The things that you said to us were so thoughtful and true. We all have a story and while our stories are different, they are also similar. But one thing is for sure, our focus is and always will be our children. I heard one of the single moms who was standing by me say that she had just prayed the night before about how she was going to be able to provide gifts for her children at Christmas. What you did was amazing and a "Thank you" isn't enough and that is why I have been struggling with the words to show you what an impression you made on everyone in church that day.

My boys and I are new to Christ Community. We started coming to CCC in May 2009. On our very first visit, it felt like "home". It was awesome how quick I knew that we were in the right place. I completed the PreMembership class and met several people from CCC who I continue to be good friends with. I was then invited to participate in the Point of Hope group for single moms. That has been such a wonderful experience. I can't say enough about the family I feel apart of at CCC. I am excited about how much I have grown spiritually in the last 7 months.

While I would like to give you a lot of credit for last Sunday, I cannot close this without mentioning the members of the audience that morning. The generosity that they showed is overwhelming. I made it a point to hug each and every person that came to support me. I hugged them and told them "Thank You" and I hope they know how much they changed my life.

I wanted to send you a picture of my boys so that you had a face to put with your message that day.

Please feel free to post this email and/or the pictures where ever you would like. And again, Thank you!

Kelly Randels

Listening to God

Sometimes God speaks to you well in advance, with long-range plans and careful articulation of dreams. Sometimes God interrupts those long-range plans and careful dreams. God does it easily both ways. The key question is 'are we listening?'. How do you hear God?

Well, answering that is alot like asking "How do you hear and understand your wife?" There is no formula, some trial and error...even failure. But in time, you will discover some principles that hold true.

Here are some principles that I have found to be true:
1) God is best heard by those adopeted as his children. This adoption happens when you place your faith in Jesus.
2) I try to keep my life as free from sin as possible. Sin blocks your ability to hear from God. When sin does creep in, confession is the best solution to keep clean before God.
3) Make time to listen. God is often speaking in a still small voice if we listen. Ask God to speak.
4) When you hear something, Obey. Immediately.
5) God's commands don't always make sense immediately. Often, you'll find out there is amazing wisdom after taking the risk. But it does not always fit the facts before you act.
6) If you have a strong emotive reaction (especially tears of joy) pay close attention. The world of emotion and the soul are deeply connected.
7) Kids often hear from God when adults are not listening. If they say they have, listen closely...they may be telling the truth.

When you align yourself with God and his purposes, your life impact is dramatically multiplied. Better to do one action prompted by God than a thousand nice things done in your own strength.

Painting with craze

I love to take time on days off to paint with the Craze (my 13 year old daughter). Or with Josiah (10) or with Haiven (6). Here are some of our works from this fall.

Note: all of these look much darker on the blog than they are in real life...

My Recent Creation (and new favorite!)










Haiven's Sunset (sideways!)














Josiah's Halloween Barn














Caysie's Winter Sunset














My matching Winter Sunset














Cayies Halloween Work:















My Similar Work

One single Mom

Here is a note from one of the Moms that was blessed on Sunday. She gave permission to share it with you all!

Hi Mark – my name is Heidi and I am one of the single Moms from the 9:00AM Access service this morning. First of all, I came to church this morning needing something and boy did I get it! What I needed was confirmation from God that I am doing a good job keeping it all together…for my 8 year old son, Nicholas; for my 5 year old triplet nieces (who I am fostering while my brother and his wife get their acts together); and for me… What I got today was unconditional love, support, encouragement and money from complete strangers. I have never felt so moved in my life – well maybe when my son was born. :-) I wish I knew the name of every person who came forward this morning so I could thank them and hug them one more time.

Something happened this morning with the chain of events. There was a reason that I came to church praying for peace, strength and guidance in my life; a reason your message changed; a reason that the Sunday school teacher brought Nick down to Access to me saying he wasn’t feeling well so he could witness the kindness of complete strangers; a reason that I had the courage to acknowledge to the entire congregation that I am a single Mom and walk to the front of the group this morning. What you did this morning touched me more than you will ever know and I wanted to let you know that – I will never forget today.

Why I like Snow Days

With our third snow day out of three approaching, I am loving snow days. I love them more than most holidays. Here's why.

1) The whole family stays home all day.
2) Painting, Wii bowling, wrestling with the kids.
3) Unlike Christmas, there's always snow.
4) Snow means sledding.
5) My neighbor with the snowblower often does my driveway.
6) Hot meals taste even better. No pressure to do gourmet.
7) A book by the fireplace is awesome.
8) No self-consciousness about gift giving or recieving.
9) No time on the road traveling to celebrate.
10) No sugar-buzz hangover.
11) Doesn't cost a dime.
12) Snow makes everything look, well...white.

This is Church!

This was a cool Sunday. People went out caroling to Seniors at retirement villages. The choir is preparing for a great outreach. The Lee Strobel event was announced. People asked tough questions at gathering. The connections service brought in massive amounts of gifts for Compass. The Access services saw lots of single moms have their financial prayers answered. This is the church. This is what we should be doing.

If you weren't in Access, God prompted me to suspend the message...and invite single moms to come to the front. We prayed for them and then I invited people to come forward to just give them money...cash...no organization, just give some dough to whomever God leads you to. And a few checks came as well. The women faced the crowd and tears welled up in their eyes. You could tell that they needed it and felt a touch from God through the body of Christ.

The givers were blessed too. Lots of tears throughout the gym. God was at work!

Here are some of the cool stories:
* A thirteen year old girl had recieved $100 from grandparents to spend on Christmas presents. At 10:45 she decided to pull it out and give it all to a single mom.
* A mom came up to me after the services with her three daughters. One of the daughters spouted out "one guy gave my mom a check for $1000!
* One single mom was facing legal challenges and immigration issues as well as normal single mom issues. God had provided for her a car and housing already this week and she was praying for $ for legal fees. God took care of her Sunday morning!

Do you have any other stories of praise to share? Feel free to post them anonymously (like the ones I wrote above) in response to this blog!

Lee Strobel Bio, in case you didn't know

Here is the bio of Lee Strobel for those who may not be as familiar with him...copied from his website www.leestrobel.com. One point below is not quite true, though. Just a few weeks ago, Lee and Leslie moved from So. California to a suburb of Colorado Springs.

Atheist-turned-Christian Lee Strobel, the former award-winning legal editor of The Chicago Tribune, is a New York Times best-selling author of nearly twenty books and has been interviewed on numerous national television programs, including ABC’s 20/20, Fox News, and CNN.

Described by the Washington Post as “one of the evangelical community’s most popular apologists,” Lee shared the prestigious Charles “Kip” Jordon Christian Book of the Year award in 2005 for a curriculum he co-authored about the movie The Passion of the Christ. He also has won awards for his books The Case for Christ, The Case for Faith, The Case for a Creator, and Inside the Mind of Unchurched Harry and Mary.

Lee was educated at the University of Missouri (Bachelor of Journalism degree, 1974) and Yale Law School (Master of Studies in Law degree, 1979). He was a professional journalist for 14 years at The Chicago Tribune and other newspapers, winning Illinois’ top honors for investigative reporting (which he shared with a team he led) and public service journalism from United Press International.

After a nearly two-year investigation of the evidence for Jesus, Lee received Christ as his forgiver and leader in 1981. He joined the staff of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, IL, in 1987, and later became a teaching pastor there. He joined Saddleback Valley Community Church in Lake Forest, CA, as a teaching pastor in 2000. He left Saddleback’s staff in mid-2002 to focus on writing. He is also a contributing editor and columnist for Outreach magazine.

Lee’s other books include God’s Outrageous Claims, The Case for Christmas, The Case for Easter, What Jesus Would Say, Exploring the Da Vinci Code (co-authored with Garry Poole) and Surviving a Spiritual Mismatch in Marriage, which he wrote with his wife, Leslie. For two seasons, Lee was executive producer and host of the weekly national network television program Faith Under Fire.

Lee is also co-author of the Becoming a Contagious Christian training curriculum, which is used around the world, and his articles have been published in a variety of magazines, including Discipleship Journal, Marriage Partnership, The Christian Research Journal, Guideposts, and Decision. He has appeared on such national radio programs as The Bible Answer Man and Focus on the Family. In addition, he has taught First Amendment law at Roosevelt University.

Lee and Leslie have been married for 33 years and live in Southern California. Their daughter, Alison, is novelist whose second book will be published in 2006 by WaterBrook Press, a division of Random House. Their son, Kyle, is currently earning his third master’s degree at the Talbot School of Theology; his first book is forthcoming from Baker Books.
liar with him...

Bring it Lee!

I always looked forward to hearing Lee. During my seven years at Willow, there was a great lineup of outstanding speakers from around the nation, but I always looked forward to hearing the home-grown, hilarious, intelligent insider - Lee Strobel.

Since his time in the early 80's as an atheist, a skeptic, and the Legal Affairs editor for the Chicago Tribune, Lee has come a long way. First, a communications staff at Willow Creek. Then a teaching pastor. Now a world-renown author, researcher, and teacher. He is among the most sought-after speakers on the planet....and he is coming to Christ Community Church.

I want to plan to be here at Old Mill for a special service on Saturday, December 12, at 6pm or Sunday December 13 at 9 and 10:45. (Sarpy will be on the SAME Sunday schedule as Old Mill that week.)

But when you come, don't come alone. Come with a skeptical/seeking friend.

The bonus of this event is that Lee will be available for Q and A after second service at our 'Gathering' venue - 12:30 in the CCC student center. Bring your tough questions! Nothing out of bounds!

The other day, I was in the locker room at our fitness club and struck up a conversation with a guy I did not know and a guy from CCC. When conversation turned to spiritual things, we invited him to hear Lee Strobel. He said "I know that name...did he write a book?...did he write this book?" and he pulled out a copy of "The Case for Christ" from his gym bag. I don't totally know where he is spiritually, but I know he's coming to hear Lee Strobel on the 13th!

This is an opportunity that does not come around often. Lee's reputation makes invites easy. You can count on the message being excellent. Make the invitation! Lee will be speaking about Jesus in a message entitled "The Case for Christmas." You can pick up invitation cards at the church, or send an evite from our website.