CHRISTMAS MOVIES part 5

"THE GRINCH"
December 28, 2008
with Matt Johnson


ROMANS 5:12-21
"Jesus brings a perfect gift to an imperfect world"

Christmas time brings chaos each year,
Too much stress to feel the cheer.
Planning and searching for just the right gift,
The perfect thing for our loved ones hearts to lift.
We hustle and bustle to make it all just right,
Decorating and wrapping right up until that final night.
Stockings and gifts, all placed with care,
The scent of baking cookies filling the air.
We fall to sleep, exhausted from the day,
Up tomorrow to clean the house for family to stay.

Christmas morning comes early and you’re out of bed,
Still so much to do, the list goes on and on in your head.
The kids are up waaaay too early, unable to rest,
They bug you and bug you to open their gifts – who would have guessed?
They tear into the gifts with so much passion,
Opening box after box – toys and games, clothes of the newest fashion.
And don’t for get the staples from grandma - socks and underwear.
Its over before you know it, and they’re off to play without a care.
But not for you, there’s ham and turkey to make,
Cookies and brownies, and other sweets to bake.
The meal still to come, we have to eat after all,
Starting with appetizers like crackers and cheese ball.
Then on to the good stuff, like turkey and mashed potatoes,
And who could forget great-grandma’s stewed tomatoes.
But as the meal ends there’s always the dreaded dishes,
The dirty pile looms, quickly ending any napping wishes.

Like every other year, Christmas came so fast,
So much build up, the holiday now past.
The food’s all gone, cookies and sweets too!
The games all played, their fun completely through.
The presents unwrapped, the tree now bare,
Life back to normal, does anyone care?
Sure, there’s a few new toys, maybe a gift card or two,
But in the end, does it really matter much to you?

Maybe the Grinch was right after all!
Those crazy Who’s minds seemed so small.
To think that Christmas was perfect no matter the way,
That maybe it had nothing to do with the day,
But actually was about something lasting and true,
A day to be celebrate and give credit where credit is due.
I mean seriously, are people like that real?
Someone happy in life no matter their deal?
They seem so fake, such a naïve approach to life.
How can it be that they celebrate even in strife?
No, the Grinch knew what life was really about,
It’s painful and unfair, there’s no doubt.

But is that really where God wants to leave creation,
Stuck in the grasp of despair and frustration?
Perhaps there’s another side to the story,
A chance that our outlook on life might be restored to its former glory?
Wouldn’t you know, in the wildest of turns in history,
Comes a virgin birth, a total scientific mystery,
A baby named Jesus is born in a nasty barn stall,
Could this be the life that changes it all?
A perfect gift from God above to the world below,
Forgiveness, grace, and freedom to bestow.
In Jesus, righteousness suddenly was in reach,
A life given in sacrifice to stop the breach.
The huge gap between God and man caused by sin,
Destroyed, torn down like the Great Wall of Berlin.

In Adam and Eve, man found sin,
The tempting urge to satisfy the skin.
Things could not go back to normal, Eden was through,
But God in his mercy, a new plan he did construe.
Out of the garden and from His presence, they were cast out,
Given a second chance, but life would be harder no doubt.
Farming was now a full time job, and suddenly birth hurt,
But there was a glimpse of grace, even in the desert.

Adam and Eve gave birth to sin, and some children as well.
Cain followed in his parents footsteps, and continued to rebel.
The world followed suite, generation after generation,
Ignoring God, giving in to constant temptation.
At the core, Adam’s choice of the apple brought death.
Disobedience that he knew would bring and end to his breath.
God’s laws were just, His commands were fair,
It was Adam, not God, who’s choice sent the world to despair.
Even today, we still make the choice to feed the flesh,
Knowing full well that God and sin don’t mesh.
Sin took it’s place, and the gap between God and man grew,
But God in His love, continued to pursue.
He gave Israel the Law in hopes they’d figure it out,
But in the end, no lasting fix was brought about.
The Law was distorted, as mankind tends to do.
Self righteousness and pride sent the Law askew.

The Law was clear - A sacrifice must be made to make things right,
Lives must be purified, sin removed, souls made white.
How depressing a thought that sheep after sheep must die,
Knowing that no long term fix it would supply.
But even in the sacrifices and offerings, God found no delight,
What He really wanted was changed lives, hearts broken and contrite.
What great lengths God went to, to try and bring restoration,
Even trying a flood to save creation.
But water didn’t do the job - only a sacrifice could work completely.
And so God made his plans, although not very discreetly.
Prophet after prophet spoke of the One,
The Savior to come that could end what Adam had begun.
Yet the world seemed amazed at such a humble birth,
Could it really be that it was God come to Earth?
The Maker intervening to make a way?
Coming to save His beloved world, found in disarray?
The plan was perfect, with only one goal in mind,
The cross directly in front of Jesus, the only way to save mankind.
The perfect sacrifice of a life with no sin,
Was the only way to bring this to an end.
What compassion, what grace, what love,
That the creator of the universe would leave his throne above,
And come to sinful earth to die,
The souls of mankind so willingly to buy.
In a single death, the curtain was torn,
In Jesus last breath, we were reborn.

The story of salvation really is simple at it’s core.
God was willing to go to great lengths to put things back to how it was before.
A gift given so freely to the world He made,
The ransom of blood completely paid.
Sure, we’re not in Eden anymore,
But we can be in His presence once more.
What better gift than the chance to know God,
And step out of the mundane life which we plod.

This gift if for you, you know.
And it comes at a time so apropos.
For while you were still a sinner, lost in wrongdoing,
Christ died on the cross, your soul pursuing.
His goal was to this world to once again perfect.
Sure, life can be rough, but what a perspective to now reflect!
That we are intimately loved by a God who cares,
Enough to listen even before we offer our prayers.
That we’ve been forgiven of all our sins,
And in Jesus new life begins.
A chance to be perfect in God’s sight,
A Life of perfection, what a delight!

You know, maybe the Grinch didn’t have it right on second thought.
Maybe his frustration with the Who’s was all for naught.
The Grinch seemed annoyed at the perfection of Whoville,
But isn’t perfection the goal still?

So here’s the question…
Isn’t anything short of perfection regression?
If Jesus really came to make everything right,
Then why does the cynic in us continue to fight?
If only we could take hold of the joy and peace that’s ours to possess,
Then maybe we could begin to understand this life that Jesus came to bless.
Wouldn’t Christmas have more meaning?
To actually celebrate the gift of our soul cleaning,
And not just some shallow gift giving?
Man, that would be living!

I don’t know about you,
But maybe it’s not so bad to be a Who.

CHRISTMAS MOVIES part 4

"WHITE CHRISTMAS"

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

with Adam Waters

Introduction

· OPEN: Have you ever tried to get the blood out of something?
· I have had a love affair with playing backyard football for a long time, but it comes with a price (broken nose, broken lip).
· But what has become clear is that as soon as I sustained those injuries, my shirts were done.
· As we continue our re-education of Christmas, we come to the central idea of a Savior…

D-THOUGHT: Jesus brings restoration to a broken world.
· When Jesus came to earth, he came with a mission to restore all things in Creation as the Father intended… the Jews never understood this. They thought the Savior was coming to restore only Israel… We can’t make a similar mistake. The Savior came not only to restore our personal relationship, came not only to restore the church, but everything… families, male and female, slaves and free men, all peoples/tribes/nations… Jesus came to restore all people to intimate relationship with the Father.
· Our question this Christmas is this: How do we partner with Jesus’ restoration project?
· FOR A WHITE CHRISTMAS SPEND TIME IN GOD’S PRESENCE: There is something that has always been interesting to me: Whenever someone spends a lot of time in the presence of God, either they turn white or they glow… sometimes both. 1)every picture of angels that we’re given, 2)Moses, 3)martyrs for the faith Rev6, 4)angels, elders, praising multitudes of heaven, 5)Jesus transfigured with Moses/Elijah
· FOR A WHITE CHRISTMAS SPEND TIME LISTENING TO GOD: Isaiah 1:16 Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. 17 Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows. 18 “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. 19 If you will only obey me, you will have plenty to eat. 20 But if you turn away and refuse to listen, you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
· FOR A WHITE CHRISTMAS SPEND TIME APPEALING TO GOD FOR PERSONAL CHANGE: Psalm(MSG) 51:1-3 Generous in love—God, give grace! Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record. Scrub away my guilt, soak out my sins in your laundry. I know how bad I've been; my sins are staring me down. 4-6 You're the One I've violated, and you've seen it all, seen the full extent of my evil. You have all the facts before you; whatever you decide about me is fair. I've been out of step with you for a long time, in the wrong since before I was born. What you're after is truth from the inside out. Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life. 7-15 Soak me in your laundry and I'll come out clean, scrub me and I'll have a snow-white life. Tune me in to foot-tapping songs, set these once-broken bones to dancing. Don't look too close for blemishes, give me a clean bill of health. God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. Don't throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me. Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails! Give me a job teaching rebels your ways so the lost can find their way home. Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God, and I'll sing anthems to your life-giving ways. Unbutton my lips, dear God; I'll let loose with your praise. 16-17 Going through the motions doesn't please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you. I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don't for a moment escape God's notice. 18-19 Make Zion the place you delight in, repair Jerusalem's broken-down walls. Then you'll get real worship from us, acts of worship small and large, including all the bulls they can heave onto your altar!
· FOR A WHITE CHRISTMAS We are going to spend some time as a church family focusing on the blood of Christ: Introduce Communion. Once we accept Jesus as Savior, it’s impossible to get the blood out and that blood makes us white (Revelation 7:14) not red.

CHRISTMAS MOVIES part 3

"It's A Wonderful Life"

December 21, 2008

with Adam Waters

INTRODUCTION

· COLD OPEN: Have you ever been brought back from the dead. Told a story of my trip to the hospital in 1997 and my near-death experience.
· What is the state of your life?
· Is it? (dead)– inanimate, without life, without physical sensation, insensitive, corpse-like, no activity or interest, no longer current, broken down, not burning, non-resonant, exhausted, doomed, producing no yield, out of play, boring, dull, uninteresting, flat, numb, stiff, frozen, empty, silent, blank, and for fun: landing close to a golf hole?
· Or is it full, animated, interesting, aware, breathing, busy, active, vibrant, bustling, buzzing, successful, flourishing… ALIVE?
· Today, as we look at our relationship with Jesus, we need to recognize Christ’s power over both death and life.

D-THOUGHT: Jesus brings life to a dying world.
· Jesus alone can shock you out of your current state.
· He reshapes our expectations of life ~ John 5:1-15 Take a look at how after 38 years he can reshape not only the man’s physical life, but his spiritual life as well.
· He reshapes our expectations of death ~ John 5:16-30 Take a look at how Jesus reshapes the judgment process to something so simple.
· He reshapes our expectations of the Word ~ John 5:31-47 Take a look at how Jesus reshapes how we read scripture and how we interact with it.

Re-Evaluate your Jesus fixation…
The first week we discussed Jesus’ ability to bring faith to a cynical world. How a real relationship with the Savior brings that “Jesus! I know him!” kind of reaction.
Next, we discussed His ability to bring light to a dying world: How a relationship with Him changes our job descriptions

As we Reevaluate our Jesus fixation this week, we need to look at
Ephesians 2:1-10 1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

· JOHN 5:25 “All who listen will live.”
· JOHN 5:41-42 “Approval of those outside the faith does NOT matter!”
· JOHN 5:36 “The greatest witness is YOUR life!”
· Make the George Bailey choice of “I want to live again.”
· I leave you simply with the words of William Wallace: “Every man dies. Not every man really lives.”

CHRISTMAS MOVIES part 2

CHRISTMAS VACATION

DECEMBER 14, 2008

with Adam Waters

OPENING

· I love sunshine.
· False light v. sunlight.
· Today, we want to discuss relationships. Do you have a relationship with darkness? Or a relationship with light?
· A darkness relationship means a relationship with sin, with self, with the stuff of this world and not the next, living a life that carries no meaning to the world.
· A light relationship mean a friendship with purity, with loving others, with eternity, with a life steeped in purpose and meaning for today. A friendship w/light is a friendship w/Jesus.

D-THOUGHT: Jesus brings light to a dark world.
· When Jesus brings light to a dark world, it brings about a dynamic change in you and me. He radically alters our job descriptions…
· Dynamic Sprinters ~ John 3:16-21 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” COME TO THE LIGHT.
· Dynamic Maids ~ Ephesians 5:10-14 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” CLEAN OUT YOUR COBWEBS.
· Dynamic Electricians ~ Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” CHRIST EMPOWERES US TO BE HIS EMISSARIES. John calls Jesus the light of the world in John1, but Jesus turns the tables and expects us to reflect him!

Re-Evaluate your Jesus fixation…
Last week we discussed Jesus’ ability to bring faith to a cynical world. How a real relationship with the Savior brings that “Jesus! I know him!” kind of reaction.

As we Reevaluate our Jesus fixation this week, we need to look at how a fixation with Jesus is a fixation with light: 1)warmth, 2)sight, 3)exposure, 4)life, 5)clarity.

My favorite aspect of "Christmas Vacation" is that Clark is always trying to make Christmas perfect for his family. Making Christmas perfect can only be wrapped up in our Jesus fixation.
Knowing Jesus and believing in him causes us to walk transparent, to clean out the dusty corners and to shine… “make them wonder what you got, make them wish that they were not on the outside looking board.”

CHRISTMAS MOVIES part 1

"ELF"

December 7, 2008

with Adam Waters

OPEN

· Why don’t you believe in Santa Clause anymore?
· If we did, how would Christmas be different? Magical element, wait up all night just to catch a glimpse of him, explorers to the North Pole searching and searching for his home, we’d try to behave better (nice list/naughty list)… how would XMAS be different?

THOUGHT: Jesus brings belief to a cynical world.
· Most of us have gotten cynical about Xmas… keeping up with the Jones family… we have to get a present for everyone… stress… depression… lost family times… travel… anxiety… will they like what I give them…. XMAS whether it be the secular OR the spiritual meaning as it is intended is lost!
· When the Christ Child was to come into the world, the same thing had happened… it’s been too long since the Messiah was promised… so he was unrecognizable to most of those who encountered him… unless their faith was childlike!
· TODAY if he showed up on our doorstep, how would we react? “Yeah sure… you’re Jesus. Take off the fake beard. Put away the costume and leave me alone.”
· When Jesus (and John the Baptist) encountered a cynical culture and had to shake the dust off of their faith! They called the “religious” of their day: snakes, white-washed tombs, hypocrites, blind guides, and more! I hope they wouldn’t have to do the same to us…

Luke 13:18-21 “The Mustard Seed and the Yeast.”
If suddenly we began to believe Santa was real, how great would the belief have to be before the neighbors thought you were NUTS!
Jesus speaks to that. Your faith doesn’t have to be this great thing. We’re not all going to be Will Ferrell. Most of us are his dad (J.Caan).
YEAST: the store elf girl getting other’s singing

John 20:24-31 “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”
Children everywhere walk with wide-eyed-wonder towards Christmas because they have faith that an old fat guy in a red suit will bring them something special on Xmas.
Blessed are we when we walk with wide-eyed-wonder towards Christmas because we have faith that a Jewish carpenter was born of a virgin, lived fully man and fully God, died on a tree, and rose from the grave… that’s crazy talk! Give me the fat guy, at least I get presents once a year!

You need to Re-Evaluate your Jesus fixation…
Quote from THE SANTA CLAUSE – “Most people think that seeing is believing, but the truth is that believing is seeing!”
I don’t want this series to be just another “remember what Xmas is all about” set of talks. It needs to be “remember what Christianity is all about” series!
Christianity is about the smallest amount of belief (centurion: help my unbelief!) being ENOUGH to get the sleigh off the ground! If you have seen Jesus, they W. Ferrell kind of enthusiasm is definitely warranted. If you believe just a little… “singing loud for all to hear is the best way to spread Christmas cheer.”
Use what faith you have… let it grow as the mustard seed does into something amazing and beautiful… Get fixated on Jesus again (SANTA! I know him... JESUS! I know him!), it will not disappoint you.

Don't Forget! We launch with "ELF" this weekend!

FAITHFUL part 5

CHARACTER: Family
November 30, 2008

Yesterday, we celebrated the dedication of Natalie Faith Hunley and Mona Spencer's baptism. We also worshipped and took communion together as a family. Here is a page from our handbook on baptism...


BAPTISM
The wedding of salvation.

As with all of the values of worship within the ORCHARD, we look to the Bible for our answers in this matter. The Scriptures teach that God created man for the purpose of relationship. We, also, know that sin separates us from that relationship. We feel that baptism plays a pivotal role in the restoration of that relationship to our Heavenly Father. In Luke 15, we see the parable of the lost sheep. We see the happiness and joy of even the angles when one of God’s sheep comes home. This parable gives us insight into how God sees the importance of our restored relationship with Him. Baptism is the step of obedience that cleanses us and brings us new life in Him. After we believe what He’s done to show His love for us, repent of how we’ve wronged our love, and openly confess that He is our bridegroom, our relationship with God is restored. It is restored at our wedding with Christ (baptism) that results in our forgiveness (see Ephesians 5:25-27 for wedding illustration).

PURPOSE OF BAPTISM
• The forgiveness of sin – Acts 2:38
• Washing away of sin – Acts 22:16
• New birth/new life – John 3:5, Romans 6:3-6, Colossians 2:12
• Clothed with Christ – Galatians 2:26-27
• Saved (salvation) –Acts 2:40-41, 1Peter 3:21
• Appeal to God – 1Peter 3:21

METHOD OF BAPTISM
• The Biblical method was to submerge or immerse completely in water (Jesus’ own example – Matthew 3:13-16, Ethiopian – Acts 8, Death, burial and resurrection – Romans 6).
• The Greek word means to dip, immerse, wash, plunge, sink, drench and overwhelm (Greek-English Lexicon by Bauer, Arndt & Gingrich).
• The early church leaders immersed after a confession of faith. This was the teaching of Justin Martyr (AD 110-165), Tertullian (AD 145-220), Cyril of Jerusalem (AD 315-386), and Gregory of Dyssa (AD 334-394).
• Jesus tells us “not to forbid the little children to come to him.” Christening is accepted as a dedication of children to God and the church (see Samuel), but is not associated with the forgiveness of sin. Christening is an intention of the parents. Water baptism is a way of completing or fulfilling the intention of the parents. In Matthew 19, Jesus placed His hands on them and blessed them.
• Actual infant baptism is not seen in the Bible, but was brought into church tradition years later. We feel that an individual must understand how they have broken their relationship in order to submit to baptism.
• Baptism was the command of Christ (Matthew 28:19-20).
• Must be done in His name and no other (Acts 19).