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The Colors of Christmas 2020

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I love Christmas. It’s my favorite holiday. I love being able to pastor through the season of Advent. Each year, we take a break from the regular, digging into the Bible verse by verse work we do each week to think about what Jesus’ coming to earth means.

This year, we are using the colors of Christmas to inspire our imaginations.

We’ve already began with Red Christmas, showing that Jesus was born to die. Gold Christmas will point to our King being born. Blue Christmas will show how Jesus enters our despair. Finally, white Christmas will focus on Jesus taking away sins. It’s a simple way to worship Christ our newborn King.

Join us.

What A Thanksgiving Week!

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It’s been quite the 10 day stretch for me. On Saturday, November 21, I can look back now and see that I wasn’t feeling 100%, but went to bed fully anticipating waking up, and serving at Crestview, wrapping up a series of sermons on Acts 1-12, prepping our body for celebration of Advent.

I was awakened by pain in my right lower back and flank. This led to me being naseous, weak, and having to tap out early Sunday morning. Fortunately, there are many people who covered my absence that morning of November 22. I ended up in the ER getting a CT scan and some other tests, which confirmed that I had a kidney stone lodged in my ureter.

I was sent home with pain pills and meds that would help me pass the stone. This led to lots of questions and I ended up following up with my primary doctor on Tuesday, November 24. After some more tests, it was confirmed that my stone hadn’t budged and I would need surgery. I was able to get into a urologist and into surgery late Tuesday afternoon, waking up in recovery around 6 PM.

I felt good Wednesday but realized that due to anesthesia and I would need pain meds. I had a stent between my kidney and bladder, which led to lots of discomforts during normal functions of life. On Friday, I ended up tapping out again for Sunday (this time giving everyone a little more time to cover for me). On Monday, November 30 (yes, yesterday), the stent was removed and, after some initial discomfort, I was able to rest.

It’s now roughly 10 days out. I still can’t believe all that happened. It’s like a blur. Lots of time in the hospital, medical tests, and recovery. Lots of time home unable to do much. Meg was the usual strong support. And, as I mentioned, many covered my church work. I’m back in the office today, but can already tell I don’t have my legs back.

I don’t want to stiffen my jaw to paint a picture that isn’t true, like that I ascended this mountain of pain and suffering and conquered it. I did fight feelings of pity, despair, wondering, “Why me?” still not understanding, and even feeling depressed. The pain hurt. And, with all of that, I have my faith. Advent reminds me to wait expectantly for a God who will surely come through. He has. The darkness has lifted. While I’m still not 100%, I can see family, friends, and God helping me through this season. Which, coming full circle to Thanksgiving, is certainly a reason for gratitude through all of this.

Now, I get to step out and live.

Gratitude Guide – 2020

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Over on Crestview’s website, we’ve posted a Gratitude Guide for 2020.

The gist is that in this season, we are called away from ourselves to gratitude. We’ve tried to capture this so that we can spend some days being thankful to God. Here are graphics that show what we’re thinking:

Weekend Recap – Moved In The Mission

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We had a great weekend at Crestview on Sunday, 11/15. Luke preached a sermon on Acts 10-11 entitled Moved In the Mission. This was also our last weekend singing non-holiday music until 2021. My small group met and we enjoyed Thanksgiving food together. Crestview launched a Gratitude Guide 2020. Annual Report and Budget Recommendation were released and God has been so gracious to us financially. So, it was an exciting day. I hope you’re encouraged in this season.

Weekend Recap – The Gospel Advances

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My 11/1/2020 sermon at Crestview Bible Church, The Gospel Advances (Acts 8), is now online. Acts 8 is often known (rightly so) for Philip sidling up to the Ethiopian eunuch to share the Gospel with him. But, there are other ways the Gospel progresses in this section, which comes on the heels of the first martyr, Stephen’s, death. I hope this sermon encourages you with the truth of the Gospel advancing.

Weekend Recap – Jesus Sees and Cares

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My 10/25/20 AM sermon at Crestview, Jesus Sees and Cares (Acts 6-7) is now online. The sermon dug into the story of Stephen, the first Christian martyr and an early church leader in Jerusalem. A simple refrain emerged in these two chapters: Jesus sees and cares for His people. He sees and cares for the needs in the community, the suffering of His people, as well as their courageous witness. I hope the sermon is encouraging to you.

Weekend Recap – God is Unstoppable

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My 10/18/20 sermon at Crestview was about Our Unstoppable God from Acts 5. This particular passage was filled with God striking down people, great fear, a church being built, dramatic rescue, courageous witnesses, and even unbelievers helping to bail out believers. So, there were many details that could easily distract us from the main point. But, God was the one on the move. And, He was unstoppable, not letting either sin or attempts to silence the good news get in the way of His plans.

I hope the sermon encourages you.

Weekend Recap – Responses and Resistance

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As you know, God has called His people to be witnesses to Him (Acts 1:8). This means that our lives should be about the good of our community (which I unpacked in my sermon on Acts 3). My 10/11/20 AM sermon at Crestview, Responses and Resistance (Acts 4), is now online. It dug into how the community may respond to our doing good among them. I hope it encourages you to persevere in doing good for others.

Weekend Recap – Community Impact and Update from Vivek

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My 10/4/20 sermon was from Acts 3 and dug into the story of Peter and John healing a lame man. The sermon was entitled The Lame Leap. The sermon helped unpack what it looks like for us to love our community. I really hope that it encourages you.

Equally encouraging was hearing a report from our international partner and friend, Vivek Jones. His October 2020 Update included some big changes for their family and their work to love their community. Listen to his update and be encouraged.

May you have an encouraging week.