My yearly-2017-why we celebrate Christmas message: Joy and God with us.

              

Christmas: why we celebrate it and why it is important.

   The word Joy is a part of Christmas decorations: Joy, Peace, Hope and Love. And there is a reason for that. Jesus, later in his life on the Earth, promised us Joy unspeakable. Joy is a large and good emotion. It is to happiness as an old fashion search light is to a 100 watt bulb. And we are promised it because of what Jesus did after being born here. 

    Some want to argue about what time of the year He was born, but the important thing is that He was. For He was not born to make another religion, but to make a way so we can have a relationship with God. On other words to show us how to be forgiven, and have right standing with the Creator. Joy comes from that relationship-in actually knowing God the Creator. No matter the circumstances we are in, no matter what was done to us, Joy is from God and knowing Him. That brings healing and hope and forgiveness. Joy is a bright light and it comes from God. It is something He wants to give to us individually. Yes, God wants to give you Joy. No matter what you have done, how many times you have done it or what was done to you. God Loves You and wants Joy in your life.

    Another reason we celebrate Christmas is that it shows us that God is with us. He was suppose to be called Emmanuel or God with us. Later in His life on the earth said, “Lo, I am with you even to the uttermost parts of the earth,” or whatever we are going through, or have gone through. God the Creator was born as a wholly God and wholly Man to make a way, as I said, to have right standing with Him, so we can have an eternal relationship with Him. That starts now, which means He is with us every day, all the time. He has your back, as the saying goes. 

So we celebrate Christmas because He is with us, because it is a sign for His Great love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, because He gives us Joy unspeakable. So good we cannot describe it. 

It doesn’t take much to start a relationship with God. Believing and saying to Him what we want. Believing is just accepting what He said, it is simple. You are closer to it than you may think. In this case that we would be forgiven, that He would be with us and that He would give us Joy-among other things. 

So yes Christmas is a good thing and it is a good thing to celebrate-however we do. 

Merry Christmas

A four part series taught at my Church on "Science, The Stars and The son of God"

This is a four part series of podcasts recorded at my church- Valley Christian Center by one of our pastors, a Rene M. Charest
They were designed to help christians have the confidence to share Jesus in this modern world.
“To equip Christians with confidence to regain their voice in presenting the Good News to a lost world”

“To show the connection of man’s increasing knowledge of the natural world with the Word of God to reveal the unmistakable conclusion that everything from the Magnificently Large to the Infinitesimally Small points toward a God of Purpose and a Plan of redemption”

Pastor Rene uses humor, transparency, logic and facts to get his points across.

The first message subtitled "How Science Points Toward God" started with a mini video. The video showed various pics of scientific discoveries-including a launch of a shuttle-intermixed with a young man building a violin from scratch. Among other things a voice over explained how knowing how God created everything did not distract from Him doing it. The violin maker was a great illustration of that. You can study how each part worked and the process it took to make each part but yet still be amazed at watching a master craftsman put one together and than listening to how the various parts worked together.


The second message has a unique and light hearted yet serious method of explaining the difference of Astrology and Astronomy.

The third message was good 
as was the personal tale he begins number four with isn’t just humorous but it has an important point.

Number one

Number two 

Number three 

Number four

They are all worth listening to and the last one can give you ideas of how to tell others the Good News of Jesus or if you don't know Jesus, it gives you ideas of why you should get to know Jesus and to be saved. Good Stuff in either case

For a break, a short, interesting mind picture

I was just discussing the Creation with someone about the need for light and heat before the sun etc. were made. 

An interesting mind picture formed as I finished my comments:

 God stood there, he wore a short white beard, large mustache that dropped over his upper lip. A half smile on his mouth. A railroad cap sat on his head and a delightful intense look in his eyes. He wore coveralls, like wood curves or mechanics wear sometimes. One hand was stretched out with the solar system, at least ours but maybe more, in the cup of that hand. Planets spun, and I could make out tiny blue and red planets and one covered with clouds. The planets spun around their sun(s). Blackness surrounded Him, but His spot could be clearly seen. 
  Spotlights shot out from his eyes lighting up the planets. His hand under the planets glowed with warmth. In his other hand he held a pair of tweezers much like those used by model ship makers. He inserted the point of the tweezers into the system to make last minute adjustments. His smile grew. 

More than likely that wasn't even close to what happened during creation except in the basic idea but still fun to think of. 

That's it for this post-said it was short. :) 

Easter- Good Friday. What is it?

A little late here with this here on my blog but the basic ideas here are still good.

I want to say that as Good Friday this is a very special day for Christians. Christmas is a most celebration of God's love and God being with us, sending Jesus as a gift for everyone individually but what we observe today is what Christmas is all about. Jesus came not only to do good things, to teach good things but to die after living a perfect life. This death is God's sign of His love for us all-individually. For while we were yet sinners, separated from Him, God showed His great love by sending His son to die for us. The perfect for the unperfect so we would have a way to God. Jesus is that bridge from sin-all have fallen short of the Glory of God-there is none righteous-For our righteousness is as filthy rags-to the perfect, holy, God. Now our sins are cast as far away from the East is from the West. Not just covered but done away with. We can have right standing with God and become an adopt child of God. It matters not what we have done, not done or what was done to us, because of Jesus' death. He knowingly went through hell on earth, death and real Hell to buy us back. Therefore He is our Redeemer. 

All that so we can have right standing with the God who Loves Us. He promised us Joy unspeakable, peace that goes beyond understanding, and Hope when there is none. He is God, He raised Jesus from the dead He is Hope. For a changed life, for forgiveness, for healing of issues and habits and hurts. And more.

All that is what Good Friday means to Christians.

here are a couple of songs that help to show this.
One sing here to help show this. 



A last bit here on what Good Friday means
No rituals can save us or wipe away our sin or give us right standing with God.  His Mercy and Grace alone does that. We just have to believe and receive it. It's easy for us, Jesus already did the hard part. Because He had to, we can't do it on our own. All have sinned and come short of the glory God. And I repeat-our righteousness is as filthy rags compared to God. 

Another song to help show it 

And God's Love For us Because of who He is