​I remember each time my wife and I went through choosing names for our four children.  This was not a process that we just kind of randomly went through.  We were very intentional in the names that we chose.  The names that they now bear are connected to either people who played pivotal roles in our lives or they were from memorable books that were read in our youth.  Either way, these names bring about certain memories.  As God’s image-bearers we may not all be named after His Son, Jesus, but we do bear the name or title of Christian.  As Christians we go out every day bearing the name of our Savior.  As we spend time over the next number of days remembering the birth of the promised Son may we do so in a way that honors the name of one we bear.  Sometimes that may mean that we are tasked with the opportunity to change one’s view or understanding of Christ and His Christians.  Maybe because of difficult experiences someone has had in the past.  What a blessed opportunity it would be to do such a thing.  Another thing we get to do as Christians is to help lead others to discover ways to express joy and gratitude and appreciation for all that He has done for us.  No matter, may we spend this Christmas season celebrating the birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension of the Savior who will come again to claim His own!  So what’s in a name?  In the name of Christ we find… Life.  Hope.  Joy.  Peace.  Comforting.  Now that is a gift worth receiving and giving.
Think about it.  Pray about it.  God bless.

​The Bible in 50 Words
 
I wanted to share with you something that I read a few years back.  It goes like this. 
THE BIBLE IN 50 WORDS: God made.  Adam bit.  Noah arked.  Abraham split.  Jacob fooled.  Joseph ruled.  Bush talked.  Moses balked.  Pharaoh plagued.  People walked.  Sea divided.  Tablets guided.  Promise landed.  Saul freaked.  David peeked.  Prophets warned.  Jesus born.  God walked.  Love talked.  Anger crucified.  Hope died.  Love rose.  Spirit flamed.  Word spread.  God remained.
This is one way to simplify the Bible in 50 words and my challenge to you is to find the words that best describe His work in your life so that you can have the confidence and passion to share your testimony to others so that they too can partner in God’s mission.
Think about it.  Pray about it.  God bless.

​While the conversion of the Pharisee of Pharisee’s, Saul of Tarsus, is not the only conversion that takes place in the book of Acts; it is the pivotal conversion given to us by Luke.  The story of a man of who once was likely considered to be the textbook image of zeal and piety for the Torah now experiences about as drastic of an about face as one man could undergo when his zeal for the Torah ended up becoming zeal for his mission from God.  Everything that takes place after Acts 9 and Acts 10 is impacted by the 180 done in life of the man that history now knows as Paul.  This monumental moment in this history of Christianity shows us that we are never too far from God that we cannot experience pivotal change in our life so that we can make pivotal change in the kingdom today.  I am reminded of the story of a young man who got into a few fights when he was in school, made some bad personal choices and then found himself hitting rock bottom.  I am reminded of this young man because he was once at a place in his life where it seemed like his dream to be a minister, missionary or coach had gone by the wayside.  I am reminded of this young and his dreams, because that young man was none other then me.  I was not one who went around persecuting Christians, but make no mistake, I had turned away from God.  Then, some close friends in my life helped me make a 180.  I’m no Paul, but that’s ok, because I would rather look more like Jesus.