I will miss seeing all of you this Sunday. After 13 years, I will be returning to preach at Mountain View UMC, a church I planted back in 1983. In addition to preaching at the morning services, Becky and I will attend their annual Bethlehem Walk, a recreation of the Nativity story which has reached tens of thousands over the years. It will be a little strange preaching in a place I have been away from for so long, but I am looking forward to the opportunity. As much as it will mean to return to a former church, I hate having to miss worship with my Sugarloaf family.
In my absence, I have arranged for our District Superintendent, Rev. Jim Cantrell, to be our preacher for the morning. Sugarloaf is part of the Atlanta-Emory District of the UMC. Jim oversees the 50 plus churches in the district, including ours. He is a great pastor, leader and preacher. I was so glad when he agreed to preach for us. I'm sure you will be blessed by his message.
One more thing. I had the pleasure of experiencing this week's "Meet Us At the Manger" with Becky, our son and daughter-in-law Tucker and Kim and grandson Landon. We had a blast! Great job Lori Cotter and your whole Sugarloaf Kids Team! We love you all!
Till next time...
Stuart
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Christmas Truth...
In his book "Radical", David Platt shares the following story.
"I remember sitting outside a Buddhist temple in Indonesia. Men and women filled the elaborate, colorful temple grounds, where they daily performed their religious rituals. Meanwhile, I was engaged in a conversation with a Buddhist leader and a Muslim leader in this particular community. They were discussing how all religions are fundamentally the same and only superficially different. 'We may have different views about small issues,' one of them said, 'but when it comes down to essential issues, each of our religions is the same.'
I listened for a while, and then they asked me what I thought. I said, 'It sounds as though you both picture God (or whatever you call god) at the top of a mountain. It seems as if you believe that we are all at the bottom of the mountain, and I may take one route up the mountain, you may take another, and in the end we will all end up in the same place.'
They smiled as I spoke. Happily they replied, 'Exactly! You understand!'
Then I leaned in and said, 'Now let me ask you a question. What would you think if I told you that the God at the top of the mountain actually came down to where we are? What would you think if I told you that God doesn't wait for people to find their way to him, but instead he comes to us?'
They thought for a moment and then responded, 'That would be great.'
I replied, 'Let me introduce you to Jesus!'
I love it! Don't be mislead by all those who try to minimize, commercialize, neutralize, or sanitize the meaning of Christmas. It is the story of God coming to us in and through the person of Jesus Christ! It is the greatest and most important news the world has ever received! We gather every Sunday at Sugarloaf Church to enjoy his company. We'd love to have you join us!
Stuart
"I remember sitting outside a Buddhist temple in Indonesia. Men and women filled the elaborate, colorful temple grounds, where they daily performed their religious rituals. Meanwhile, I was engaged in a conversation with a Buddhist leader and a Muslim leader in this particular community. They were discussing how all religions are fundamentally the same and only superficially different. 'We may have different views about small issues,' one of them said, 'but when it comes down to essential issues, each of our religions is the same.'
I listened for a while, and then they asked me what I thought. I said, 'It sounds as though you both picture God (or whatever you call god) at the top of a mountain. It seems as if you believe that we are all at the bottom of the mountain, and I may take one route up the mountain, you may take another, and in the end we will all end up in the same place.'
They smiled as I spoke. Happily they replied, 'Exactly! You understand!'
Then I leaned in and said, 'Now let me ask you a question. What would you think if I told you that the God at the top of the mountain actually came down to where we are? What would you think if I told you that God doesn't wait for people to find their way to him, but instead he comes to us?'
They thought for a moment and then responded, 'That would be great.'
I replied, 'Let me introduce you to Jesus!'
I love it! Don't be mislead by all those who try to minimize, commercialize, neutralize, or sanitize the meaning of Christmas. It is the story of God coming to us in and through the person of Jesus Christ! It is the greatest and most important news the world has ever received! We gather every Sunday at Sugarloaf Church to enjoy his company. We'd love to have you join us!
Stuart
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)