Christmas Light Part 1

This week I have been working on the garland and Christmas lights that wrap the front porch columns at our home.  Last night we turned on the lights for the first time.  I was amazed at just how much better the house looks with lights.

As I drove home from our church service Sunday night, my eyes were drawn to all the Christmas lights in businesses and homes.  I looked at places and homes that I had never bothered to see before.  Now wrapped in light, our town and community takes on a warmer feel.

Some Christmas light displays are attention grabbing.  Others are subtle.  The complicated light displays show that great amount of time and effort that went into them.  Some look like somebody threw some lights up into a tree and flipped a switch. Either way the lights do two amazing things to our homes this time of year.

1) The cold edges of "sameness" are softened by the glow of change.  Something special has come. Light and color has broken into the bland.

2) The warm light welcomes others to see more of our homes and lives.  The lights in the window communicate softly that hope lives here.  The tree glowing in the window says there is a family inside that will be gathering to give gifts and blessings.  The lighted blowup Santa riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle in front yard says...well there is someone here who is still a child at heart.

The darkness of world was invaded by Jesus Christ, the true light. Come hear more about God's Christmas lights this month at Pleasant View Baptist Church in Carrollton, GA.

This week: The Light of Rescue

Picture from our old home in Mandeville, LA

Top Ten Things I am Thankful For at Church This Year

No particular order.

1) Opportunities to meet so many new people around our church this year.

2) Our newest staff member: Chris Stamps who is serving as our children's ministry director.

3) My parents, Bobby and Elizabeth Brown who joined our church and moved to Carrollton this year!

4) Our newly revamped preschool/nursery ministry headed up by Owen and Heather Henderson.

5) The multi-media enhancement to our sanctuary. It is a blessing to us all. And Tommy Brown who led the way in pulling this all together.

6) The remodeling project in the adult Sunday School area. Big thanks to Tony Cole who has led the team making this a reality.

7) A flag pole that was recently dedicated to all the current and past veterans of Pleasant View Baptist Church. A great team of guys who had the vision for this.

8) Two amazing groups that went on mission this year to New Orleans and Jamaica.

9) Special church wide events this year that were led by a great group of leaders: VBS, Fall Festival, Run for Jamaica 5k and Market Day, and Memorial Sunday.

10) A great leadership team in staff, administrative assistant, and deacon group. An amazing group making good things happen for God's glory.

An amazing year it has been. These and multiple other highlights remind of just how blessed by God we have been this year.

Flag Pole Dedication

On Sunday, November 11, 2012 Pleasant View Baptist Church dedicated a flag pole in honor of all veterans from our church and community.  There are 96 veterans buried in our cemetery. This pole will honor their service as it holds the flag of our country. Many thanks are in order in making this flag pole possible.  Many gave to the project financially.  Several men contributed to effort including the help from Carroll EMC.  Whenever you pass this way, come check it out.  And take time to remember what it stands for.

A Tone of Trust and Respect. Trust God and Respect our Leaders

In response to what has been an overwhelming display of disrespect and despair by many in the public square (Facebook in particular) I hope to share some thoughts that may help us move forward and together.  My reflections speak particularly to the followers of Jesus Christ who are to live as members of the Kingdom of God.   

As followers of Christ, where there is no conflict with God's law, obey the laws of the state. Consider Paul's words to the church in Rome living under a pagan emperor.

Romans 13:1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4 For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.  5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing.  7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

So long as no one in leadership is requiring that we abandon the mission of making disciples of Jesus, let us pray for our leaders and willingly submit to their authority.

Show respect. Give honor.

When we disrespect our leaders, we model for our children and others a pattern of rebellion that will not be blessed by God. This is true of how we show respect not only for our President, but our bosses, teachers, and local officials. 

In Mitt Romney's concession speech last night he said this, "We look to our pastors, priests and rabbis and counselors of all kinds to testify of the enduring principles upon which our society is built: honest, charity, integrity, and family. We look to parents, for in the final analysis everything depends on the success of our homes."

Moving forward, we pray for and show respect to our leaders. Love God most and love your neighbor. May God grant that our leaders have a heart to serve. Until it is time to vote again, let's get back to work. Let's get back to faith, hope, and love.  And the greatest of these is love.