Wow Christmas is just around the corner, I hope you are ready.  It feels like Christmas to me.  The air is cold, there is Christmas music playing on my radio all day long, the lights are up on the houses and trees all over the neighbor hoods.  I actually saw a string of lights in Wall Mart this week that said ” for indoor or outdoor use only”?????  Where else are you going to put them?  Do they think I am going to line the bottom of the swimming pool with them?  In spite of the the glitter and nonsense the World puts on this holiday I see that people are diffrent during this time of year.  People are smiling and talking to each other, People are coming to church, Families are coming together and it is not just  the exchange of gifts that make this holiday diffrent. There is something diffrent in the air.  As hard as the World is trying to take Christ out of this holiday, it is not working.  His children will not let that happen.  We will not let them steal this celebration from us.  We are here to celebrate the birth of our saviour and we will not be shut up.  We will shout it from the roof tops, we will let his love show in our lives, we will make the World change it’s idea about Christmas.  Is this wishful thinking on my part?  I believe we can make this the best Christmas ever if we will celebrate by letting our lives mean something.  We have a chance to show what Christmas is all about by the way we live our lives.  Are we a loving, forgiving, compassionate group of people?  Are we doing the things that Christ did when he was living amongst us?  If not then we need to change and not just for the few weeks leading up to Christmas but it should be our way of life!  I am very proud to be called a child of God and a member of Bartimaeus Baptist Temple.  I hope you are too!

Last week  Pastor Livingston Emaew brought a message of encouragement to us.  I hope if you were not able to be there you will listen to his message on our webpage where it is recorded.  This week is our annual Christmas party. Heights Church has very genoursly supplied gifts for all of us and we should be very grateful they care so much.  They have “adopted” us each year to make sure we all have a gift.  Have you “adopted” anyone this year?  Maybe a prisoner or homeless person.  Maybe a missionary overseas or maybe a child in your neighborhood.  If you are looking for someone to help this year there is a lady at my work who has a 7 month old grandbaby that has nothing for Christmas this year.  If you would like to join me in helping this family please call me. Whoever God puts on your heart I pray that you too will make this Christmas a time to remember. A time we remember how much we have been given and take the opportunity to give back.  I am looking forward to seeing you on Sunday to celebrate this Christmas season.  Chuck Cagle and his group will be there to sing Christmas carols and then we will have our Christmas party afterwards.  Church will still start at 2:30 and if you bring a guest remember to bring a small gift for them so no one will be left out.

I know you know this but I need to say it anyway.  I love each and every one of you and love sharing Christmas with my church family.  I hope you feel the same way and we can celebrate together on Sunday.   Do something good for somebody this season and show the World what Christmas is really all about.

Pastor David & Pris