Last Sunday of the Church Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR...Not many people know, but the new year for the church usually starts around the beginning of December. This Sunday is the Last Sunday of the Church Year. The following Sunday is the 1st Sunday of Advent. We begin the "New Year" of the church by remembering the story of the promised Messiah. Many call it the story of Christmas. The church callS it the season of Advent. It is the advent of the coming of our Lord.
Either way, it is something new, something exciting. Exciting, for it is this time of advent, this celebration of Jesus' birth that tells my story. The story of my salvation through the babe lying in a manger. Maybe this week I will start my New Year Resolution a little early as a response to the Story of the Messiah who came for me! What a New Year celebration!
Have a blessed Advent Season!

Go Kats!

45-42 Enough Said...well almost.
The Cats came out on top against the much despised Texas Longhorns. It was the 1st game of the Wildcats that I was able to watch in Ohio. We do not have cable and boy am I glad that ABC aired the game over here in Ohio State land.
I sounded like a little school girl every time the Cats scored and I covered my eyes every time Texas threatened. It was a good game and a good time. If you missed it...too bad. This was almost as good as a win against Nebraska.
The other amazing thing about the game was that I had the chance to see my cousin Richard Hageman escort coach Ron Prince off the field. Rich is a highway patrolman who must of had this assignment. I can't imagine how Rich felt when he had to make sure Ron Prince was protected by the stampeding crowd. Wow!

Blessings in Christ

PALS

Today my family and I get to travel to the southern part of Ohio to attend a PALS meeting. PALS stands for Post-Seminary Applied Learning and Support. I am required for 3 years to attend these meetings. The purpose of these meetings are to make sure pastors and their families get off to a right start in their ministries. The bottom line is so that the church does not lose new pastors due to problems in the pastor's new congregation. Many seminary guys are sent out to unhealthy congregations that devour a pastor and his family and the result is that the new pastor quits and the church at large suffers. So there has been an attempt to rectify this problem. The solution is to work with the new pastors. So, the family and I travel about 3 hours and talk about church stuff like how there are sinners in the church and how mean they are to the pastor and his family. We also talk a little about some of the good things about ministry. If it wasn't for a free night in a motel and a reason to get away, we would stay home. I'm sure everyone asks the question, "Why do I do this?" I have no answer at this time. "A waste of time?" I'll let you answer.
Blessings

Change

Change...A scary word for many. For others, it is the only word that brings comfort. I am somewhere in between.
A book would never be finished if the page didn't get turned, a sentence never written...so on and so forth. Change is necessary to move forward and change is going to happen even if you sit around and do nothing. I'd be an engineer (or still in college) if I didn't change my mind about which profession to pursue. I'd still be praying to God for a girlfriend if I didn't walk across the room and act like a fool in front of my wife. We all change; look in the mirror.
This day I thank God for change. The change from being single to being married. The change from being childless to having children. The change from being a lost and condemned person to being a child of God.
The Holy Bible says that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever...Wow, and I have this guy as my Savior who promised yesterday that He is with me always...who promised me today that I am forgiven...who says forever you are mine.
Thank God I've been changed and brought into the unchanging presence of Christ.
Blessings

All Saints

All Saints' Day was celebrated recently. Saints are those who have gone before us and those among us "set apart" to be holy. By the mercy of God all who are Christ followers are saints. This day a celebration of triumphant resurrection glory is mingled with grief. Many forget this holiday which occurs the day after Halloween (Eve before All Saints' Day).
The only reason I remembered was because a certain church in our area was celebrating the day. As I was standing in the back of the church listening to the service a homeless man came up with a high screeeeeeching voice. He wanted some change. I had none. He begged and pleaded for about 3 minutes and I became more repulsed by his begging. I just wanted to stand in the back in peace and quiet and listen to the beautiful choir sing.
He left.
I didn't feel bad about the situation at the time, but I do now. It has nothing to do with giving money, but it has to do with my tone and attitude toward the man. Incompassionate and selfish; it seems to spill over in other aspects of life. Here I was with about 350 other people who were there for us, not for others...
I praise God that he has redeemed me a lost and condemned person. All though I do not deserve his redemption He gives it. I pray that the man I rejected will be lifted high by another "saint" who has his/her head on straight.
We praise God for He will lead all believers to the springs of living water and he will wipe away every tear from their eyes" (Revelation 7:17).