Biblical Leadership



Pastors are like everyone else who confess Jesus as Lord. The men who have been called to lead a body of believers are just that, men with the same temperament, faults, fears, and strengths. Granted, a man who feels the calling to pastor people must meet all the requirements listed in First Timothy chapter 3. Since it is God who calls a man to pastor His people, He is the One who makes a man worthy to be a pastor. As a natural man, a pastor has nothing to offer God. It is because of God’s gift in the person Christ Jesus, we are made worthy.

As a man who has the calling to lead a body of believers, I know that my calling is to copy Christ. To do what He showed in the New Testament. Not to direct my agenda, but to follow the agenda God gives me.

Reading through “Summer Church Pre-Launch” training material by Dr. John Worcester, I came across the below list on how a pastor should lead his people.

1. Lead like a shepherd not like a cowboy

2. Build a trust based relationship not FEAR BASED relationship

3. Persuade them do not THREATEN THEM

4. Go before and set the example rather than STAY BEHIND and crack the whip

5. Care for and love them. Don’t USE AND ABUSE THEM

6. Lead them don’t DRIVE THEM.

7. Develop followers through delegation and doing ministry together

8. Delegate to those with the right attitudes and develop skills on the job

9. Look for leader types who will also follow

10. Negotiate everything up front and make authority boundaries clear

11. Keep all your promises

Being a pastor in an established church or church planter, the man of God must be a servant first. People will be willing to follow a person they feel cares for them.

I'm Happy!



I just got a call from the computer shop that has had my laptop for a week now. It’s nice and clean of all spy ware and ready for pick up. Teresa will go by and pick it up today. I can’t believe how happy that makes me. For almost 3 weeks, we haven’t had a computer at the house after having one for 10 years. The family computer stopped allowing us access to the internet 3 weeks ago so we knew something was up. It’s older (4 years old; ancient for computers) so after the shop told us the amount of money it would cost to remove all the spy ware and viruses, we decided to buy Teresa her own laptop. My laptop is only 1 year old so we had the shop clean it up.

Teresa is more technical than I so she has used the library computer to research how to prevent this from happening. We have a new WiFi server we are hoping will help. My laptop was hijacked because (we think) we’ve been using our neighbor’s WiFi and didn’t have a filter. We now know better.

It will be nice to have all my stuff back (pictures, videos, and other saved stuff). It has been weird not having what I need at my figure tips. Weird but this has made my day.

Slow But Learning

I’ve been in the ministry since I was 16 years old (age I was called to full-time ministry). I’ve worked as stuff member and as a lay-leader at 4 churches during these years. Over these years I would have to say God has taught me a lot (through His Word and through action). I remember when I was in my early 20’s I read a lot on birth order and personality make-up (both through secular and Christian authors). I remember one book told you your personality make-up and the Bible person that was the same as you. I remember reading that Simon Peter and I have the same personality. When you’re twenty-something that’s cool, but as you grow older it tends to bite you in the rear. Always removing my foot from my mouth got old. I’ve learned to be slow to speak and long in the thinking before opening my mouth. Teresa (my wife) has been a great help.

The last 3 years, we have been working at Common Ground Community Church and been planning to start a new church but God has redirected us the last few months. Now, we are looking at taking a smaller church and grow it. I’ve talked with a couple of churches here in VA and no doors have opened. It’s all good because I know we are on God’s timetable and he will open the door in His time.

Earlier this month, I had a church call me from MO. It was weird to have a church call me. This is a small country church that wants a bi-vocational pastor. I don’t mind doing bi-vocational (done it most of my ministry career). There is on big problem; I’m not a country preacher. I grew up in the suburbs. I sent them my resume and Teresa and I prayed. They asked to hear me preach and I gave them the web address of Common Ground website (there is a recorded sermon I preach in December). I never thought they would call me back but one of the search committee members called yesterday. They want to hear another sermon and asked if I can mail one to them; small church couldn’t afford airfare to fly us out. I told them OK but I had a weird feeling. I know I didn’t want to go and I could tell Teresa isn’t interested in moving. I told myself that if I send it and if it’s God’s will the door will open and then we will go and if not nothing will come of it. It sounded all nice and spiritual. At 3 am this morning, I woke up. I couldn’t get back to sleep. I knew what I had to do so after talking with Teresa, I e-mailed the point of contact and said thank you but no thank you (put nicer than that).

I had come to my senses. I want to pastor a church. I want to equip a body of Chris-followers to grow and reach out to their community. I was willing to try and kick in a door where I know that we (Teresa and I) would not fit. Teresa and I had this conversation last week when we were driving around where Teresa spoke to my heart. God used Teresa to say just the right think to me about looking for a church. Her words still ring in my ears; “God will open the right door at the right time. We just need to wait for Him to open it.” Now that will preach. I can be slow but I do learn. We are waiting on God. We are at the best place we can be.

Facebook

Last week, Teresa and I had to put out computer and my laptop in the shop. We have some virus issues. We are using the local library to check e-mail and other things (I’m use it’s computer for this posting). This morning I was able to talk with my cousin in HI via Facebook and a friend here locally. It’s cool to be able to get connected with people that live so far away and also keep in touch with people near you.
My time is so busy with work and ministry so when I can connect face to face I do that. I love meeting friends over coffee at Java Café (better coffee than Starbucks). But with my schedule, I can’t meet everyone. Facebook has been a great tool to help me keep connected with friends who attend other churches. Facebook has been great staying in touch with my family who live in almost every state in the union.
If you are on Facebook, send me an invite and I’ll make you my friend. I can always use more friends.

Power of the Resurrection

“He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. (Matthew 28:6)”

I never get used to reading about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. I cry every time I read the gospels. I pray I never get over it. The passage I put above just jumped out at me today. “for He is risen, just as He said” made me rejoice in the Lord.

The crucifixion was the fulfillment of the agreement God made with Israel. It was a conclusion of the Law. Jesus didn’t just die in our place as a payment for our sin, He set us free from sin itself. Because Jesus was raised from the grave, we have the victory. The power of the resurrection is that we can overcome the sin that once held us down. Because of what Christ did, we can be more than conquers over sin and death. Jesus took the keys of death and hell from Satan when He was raised from the grave.

When you feel that you just can’t win or be delivered from any sin, remember that Jesus is seating on the right hand of God the Father and being our attorney and pleading your case. If you do know Jesus Christ as Savior, you are a new person. The Bible says that all things are new. God only sees two colors; white and red. Red is our sin and white is what purity looks like. When Jesus saves us, He seals us forever in His blood so when God the Father sees us He sees us through His Son’s blood which makes us appear white. That’s the power of the resurrection.

Feedback

The man I see as being my first and main mentor (the main person God used in my early ministry life) sent me his feedback regarding the list of questions I will ask when a church asks to talk with me about being their pastor. His feedback was:

“If you intend to turn an older church around you will want to look and listen for some humility among the leadership and people. If they are proud God will resist them and let them die. You don’t want to do palliative care for a dying congregation.”

I see this as very sound advice. I do not want to waste God’s time in pastoring a church not willing to change in order to reach the lost. I feel there is a time God sets up a church to exist to reach the people He wants the body to reach, and there is a time that God is finished using a particular body and allows it to die off. I do not want to wastes God’s time so I see the list of questions as a great tool. Of course, God can always move and change the hearts of a body to want to go from being self-centered to community/lost centered or being inward focused to being outward focused.. After all, it is really about honoring and serving God and not any tradition a church has had for any amount of time.

That’s why I intend to walk slowing with my Father and follow His lead so when He opens the door to lead His bride, I will know it’s Him leading me and not me.

Questions



I’ve been thinking and praying more these days on what God truly wants from me. In what way does He want to use me? In the last 3 years, God has taken me on a journey that I could not have imagined just a year before it started. I have a desire (I feel it’s a God given desire) to pastor a church. I want to lead a body of believers to grow beyond their limitations and start seeing the world as God sees it. I want to equip them to “get over themselves” and reach out to their community; to show love to the loveless as Christ did.

I know that with any calling, God equips the person to accomplish the task He has called them. With that said, I feel the journey I have been on the last 3 years has been one of learning and being stretched. The different people God has put in my path and the different tests of my faith have changed the man I was just 3 years ago. The start of this journey was something only God could have orchestrated. I can see His fingerprints throughout. The next step (I feel) will be an open door to lead a church. I know that as I’ve talked with several churches I need to develop questions to ask them to see if the door is opening for Teresa and me. Through reading the books “The Interventionist” and “Comeback Churches: How 300 Churches Turned Around and Yours Can, Too” I see the importance of creating a list of questions in order to see if God is opening a door. Below is a list of questions I intend to ask any church who has asked Teresa and me to visit with them. I’m sure as I pray and read more and talk with fellow church leaders, this list will grow.

1.In the church’s history, how many pastors have you had and what is the average tenure of a pastor?
2.What do you think the duty (based on scripture) of the pastor is?
3.What functions do you want me to lead, and what areas do you think I should be hands-off?
4.What do you think the duty (based on scripture) of the deacons is?
5.What do you think the function (based on scripture) of the church is?
6.What do you think the responsibility of the church member is to the function of the church?
7.What are you willing to change (i.e. style of worship, décor, etc) to reach the lost?
8.What aren’t you willing to change?

Godly View of Trials

There are some people that God has put in my path that I feel it's an honor for me to work with or have worked with. Ron is one of these people. I got to know Ron pretty well while I worked in the Point Harbor Community Church's men's ministry. Since Teresa and I felt Point Harbor Community Church to work with Common Ground, I've seen Ron twice but we send e-mails all the time. Below is an e-mail from Ron that leaves me thinking that Ron knows the One who is in control of our lives. I my opinion, this is the correct way to view trials and tribulations.

I hope your family is well. Zee and I are still on the battle field for our Lord. I had rotator cup surgery on Dec. 22nd., my sister went home to be with the Lord Jan. 11th., her father is in the last stages of cancer as well as a cousin.

We have been studying the book/letter to the Phiippians. Just reading about Paul's many circumstances gives you a new prospective on your own. One thing that jumps out at you in the pages is the love, concern for the people of God that Paul had inspite of all other things going on in his life that made him personaly uncomfortable.

"These are the times that try men's souls". Isn't that so true? These are the times that a God who is in control of it all has allowed to be. I see why our Lord put such a low value on complaining and being unthankful. I see why it's not good to think one is entitled to only the best in life. I see how we can become so consumer minded, even in the church, to have the audacity to pick who we want to minister to. Even in the toughest times God continues to call us to the side of others in need. He continues to supply our needs according to His riches in Christ.

Isn't it blessed and wonderful that He does not put more on us than we can handle. We can do that to ourselves quit well. It's true that we should pray and wait for an answer so that we could be in the center of His will..but we don't always because we are mere humans, YET HE REMAINS FAITHFUL!! Pray for us on Saturday.17th. The funeral will be held at 10 a.m.

In Him

Ron

My Testimony

I was looking through my Microsoft Word documents and came across the below. I wanted to share this with you. If interested, read on.

On a Sunday morning in 1977, I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior at the age of 7 years old. In 1984, my family joined Fellowship Baptist Church (now Point Harbor Community Church) in Chesapeake, Virginia. In that same year, I surrendered my life to God to do with as He wanted. I made myself available every time the church needed help. Every summer, I spent time at the church building helping with cleaning, maintenance, visitation, and washing the buses. No task was too small, because I was ministering. I carried a New Testament in my back packet everywhere I went so I would be ready to witness.

In 1986, I sensed God’s call on my life for full time ministry. With a new sense of purpose, I began to share the love of God with my classmates. I carried a Bible on top of my schoolbooks so that people would ask why. This gave me witnessing opportunities. I helped the Youth Pastor with anything and everything with the intent to learn and a sincere desire to minister with him and to the youth of our church.

In 1989, upon graduating from high school, I enter Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri to pursue a degree in Missions/Bible. After 3 years of study, I left college and return to Virginia to reassess and seek specific direction concerning God’s calling in my life.

From that time on, God has taught me much about waiting on His timing and trusting in His guidance. I have utilized this time in my life to deepen my faith-walk and actively serve in various ministries at three dynamic churches, both vocationally and as a lay leader. Currently, God has sent me Common Ground Community Church (a Southern Baptist Church Plant), where I’m partnering with the pastoral staff in the areas of Small Groups and Discipleship.

Doubt

I’m reading through the book of Matthew in my personal study and I came across the passage of Matthew 14 where Peter walked with Jesus on the water. After Peter became afraid because of the storm and began to sink, Jesus asked why he doubted. I heard a theory about this passage in that Jesus was asking Peter why he was doubting himself and not doubting Jesus’ power. This makes sense to me because Peter had enough faith to believe he could walk to Jesus on the water. The problem was when reality set in (seeing the wind and waves around him) he started to doubt his own abilities.

When Jesus calls out a person for a special task; be it to preach His word, move to a foreign country, or to just walk across the street to your neighbor He equips us for this task. I think when people freak out about the task God gives them to do it’s more about doubting ourselves and not God. But when you doubt our own abilities, you doubt God’s power. After all, God is the One who made us who we are (good, bad, or indifferent). Our S.H.A.P.E. (Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experience) was created and developed by God to being glory to Himself.

I think in order to be fully committed to what God has laid on our heart to do for Him, we have to forget about all the fears we may have and keep our eyes solely on the One who called us to the task. According to Ephesians, God has already completed the tasks He has called us to do for Him. God knows all things and created all things. He knows what is in our path and will protect us and/or carry us through it. As long as we keep our eyes on God and do His work, we should not doubt ourselves. God has made sure we were ready before He called us to the task He is doing through us.

Read Matthew 14 and see.

Changing Our World



I just received a newsletter from a friend who is starting a new church in Westpoint, VA (just north of Williamsburg). He had some sound words for this this new year and I wanted to share it with you.

"As we turn the page into the new year we wonder, “What does the world hold for us in 2009?” We can look forward to many blessings in the next year. But also in our world there is much trouble and many challenges. We may see it in the news or experience it in our personal lives...War. Poverty. Disease. Political unrest. Moral decline. Ever wonder, “Is there anything I can do?” You might be feeling powerless to change the world, but you and I possess the power to change the world one heart at a time. Acts 1:8 tells us, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Want to do something that matters for eternity in 2009? Be a witness of the Gospel. Share your faith with individuals who are searching in darkness for the Light. As we stand at the beginning of a new year, my prayer is that I will reach out to more and more people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and be a part of the solution to the problems facing our world."

Think about it.

Mind over Matter

I’m sure most of you if not all of you know the phrase “Mind Over Matter.” It’s basically pushing through difficulties to achieve a goal. I remember as a teenager seeing the Clint Eastwood move “Heartbreak Ridge” the phrase being used in a way that I think of every time I use the term. In the movie Clint Eastwood plays a Marine gunnery sergeant trying getting a motley crew of Marines (Forest Recon) back into sharp. In a scene where a big muscle bound guy comes up to him and tells him that the group no longer has to mind or obey his orders because he no longer matters. It’s a great scene.

I had a “mind over matter” moment today at the gym. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I do 25 minutes on a stationary bike and 20 to 30 minutes swimming laps in the pool. Today, after 5 minutes my body was telling me to just swim 15 minutes because I over worked my shoulders and back yesterday doing free weights. I told myself to just get to 15 minutes and then we will see. After pushing through 15 minutes in the pool, I pushed on and did a full 30 minutes of laps. I pushed through the pain and achieved my goal of swimming 30 minutes. I have to say that I’m tired right now but this too will soon pass.

Technology



I’ve been thinking how great technology is over the weekend. I just finished reading a series of novels based in a medieval period and how long it took the characters to communicate long distances. They would travel for weeks to move just 50 to 100 miles. I think we take the technology we have now for granted. I had my truck serviced and the state inspection done on Saturday and while waiting I pulled out my Palm cell phone and surfed the web and answered e-mails. It wasn’t until I was done waiting that it hit me how great we have these days.

I normally don’t think about how easy we have it with our cell phones today. Two weeks back, Teresa and I were getting the house ready for the family (for Christmas) and we came across our first cell phones; bought them in 1999. They were heavy compared to what we have now and they were just phones. They didn’t have a camera, camcorder, web-access, or anything else we take as being normal on our cell phones today. I drive at least 38 miles round trip to work everyday (which is roughly 50 minutes in the truck) and just a hundred years ago this trip would have taken most of the day. In Biblical times most people only traveled maybe 15 to 20 miles from the home; most people lived most of their lives only traveling 10 to 15 miles from their home. Our technology is growing fast; yesterday Teresa saw the cell phones we have for only $50 and I think we paid $150 just 6 months ago. The same can be said about computers.

The reason why this struck me as interesting is that the people in ministry have great tools at our figure tips. We can be in contact with the office without needing to be in the office. With cell phones and laptops, we can stay out in the “field” and still stay in touch. God called us to be about our Father’s work but most are locked up in their offices doing administration stuff. I love being bi-vocational so I can be out and about shining God’s light on the field I have been entrusted with. When God opens the door for me to be a Senior Pastor of my own church (actual it is God’s church) I would be not in the office as much as some pastors. I will be in the coffeehouses and other place getting to know the community. Technology has given us the tools to do so much more than our forefathers. We should use it to the max to reach our world for Christ.

Awesome!

Last week, we played host to my parents, my sister (Wendi), her husband (Scott), and my nephew (Justin) for Christmas. We had a great time with them all but I would have to say that the highlight was my 8 year old nephew Justin. Everything was “Awesome!” for him; his Christmas gifts, our trip to Jamestown Settlement on Friday, and me. It got to the point that he would make me laugh every time he said, “Awesome!” I told Wendi that his “Awesome!” was “Awesome.”

Teresa and I really didn’t know what to expect with Justin this time around. It has been almost 2 years since we saw him last. I would have to say that Wendi and Scott are doing an awesome (I had to say it) job raising this little man. The last time they visited, he was 6 and he and I watched cartoons together in the morning because we were the only ones up and I didn’t mind him watching them. This time around, we watched a little bit of cartoons but we got to spend time together having more fun.

I really enjoy running so after we opened our Christmas gift, I suited up for a 6 mile run (we had 55 degree weather in VA on Christmas day). Justin saw we put my running shoes on and wanted to come with me. Wendi told him no because she knew I was going for 6 miles. He frowned but didn’t make a scene. I was coming back around my running route and saw Teresa and my mom doing Teresa’s normal 3.5 mile walk. I saw that little man (AKA Justin) was with them. I met up with them about a mile from the house. Teresa told me that Justin wanted to run with me so I slowed my pace and he ran with me. He kept up with me. When we got back to the house that’s all he talked about; the he ran with Uncle Tom. I would have to say it was “Awesome.”

I told Justin that on Saturday, I was planning to do a shorter run of 3 miles if he wanted to come with me. That’s all he talked about on Friday night. He told me before going upstairs for bed that he was going to sleep so he’ll be ready to run with me in the morning. I slept in a little on Saturday; woke up at 7:30am. Justin was waiting downstairs with his clothes on ready to go. I told him that we will run around 9am to allow the temperature to rise a little. At around 9am, we headed out for our 3 mile run. I told Wendi later that the run was all about Justin. I didn’t care about our pace. Justin did a good job. He ran 2.5 mile before I had to carry him on my back. I carried him about quarter of a mile and he was ready to go. He ran the last quarter and fell out on our loveseat. It was funny. Wendi took him upstairs for a bath. After the bath, he was ready to go again.

Justin shared with Teresa and me on Sunday morning that he didn’t sleep well Saturday. He said he didn’t want to leave. Justin is an awesome kid who I can’t wait to see how God will use him. He’s very sharp. I’m hoping we can get together in July. All in all, the week was “Awesome!”

Memories

The last month, more of my family members have become my Facebook friends. This has given the cousins a chance to get reconnected as adults. I have to admit that I haven’t been putting a lot of focus on the extended family. It’s been at least 5 years since Teresa and I have gone to a July 4th family party in Paducah, KY. My dad is number 6 of 12 children so the Thomasson clan has grown to about 70 plus people. It has been nice writing the cousins and hearing how they are doing about their children.

I have put photos for 2004 Christmas Teresa and I spent with my parents and one of my sisters and it has caused us to write about the memories we had of the Thomasson Christmas gatherings. When Maw (that’s what we called our grandmother) was alive, everyone would come to “Maw’s House” on Christmas day. Dad would load us up and we would drive to KY every year. It was a fun trip because we got to stay in a motel (little things excite children). Maw had a finished basement so everyone was down there eating and talking. There was a fireplace so some us kids would through the paper cups in the fire to watch them burn between playing games. Everyone got a gift and the children who were under 12 years old were given a coloring book and crayons. Wendi, Wanda, and I always loved getting the coloring book and crayons. In fact we were the only ones Maw continued for a few extra years for getting a set because she knew we loved coloring; something I’m still fond of today. I’m trying to keep this tradition alive by giving Wendi’s son a set every year he’s with us on Christmas.

I have so many good memories at Maw’s house during Christmas. She always made a big breakfast with eggs, bacon, homemade biscuits, and milk gravy (oh man she made awesome gravy). She always had a kind word to give and hug and kiss whenever she saw me. My favorite memories have to do with sitting and listening to my crazy aunts and uncles talking about my grandfather and their adventures as children. The stories would make a great novel and movie.

The best part about my memories of Maw and our time together is knowing she is in a better place now. She was a good Christian lady who raised 2 preachers. To my knowledge, most of the family members are church going Christians. Now that’s a testimony.

What a Weekend

Today is one of those Mondays I don’t mind. I’m at work and I feel that now I can relax. This was a crazy busy weekend and next weekend will be as crazy. I’m feeling my body giving way to fatigue which is a sign for me to slow down a notch (which means for me going from 10 to 9).

The weekend started when I left work at lunch to drive 45 miles to Windsor to help decorate for my friends’ wedding. Teresa was already there with the bride, bride’s family and friends, and the groom. We decorated for 4 hours straight and then the rehearsal. The rehearsal was a three ring circus without the clowns and fun. There was a wedding coordinator who was nice and knew her stuff but we has the maid of honor (the pastor called her a Nazi behind her back) trying to taking control. Roger (the pastor) finally had to have people claim down and ask the bride what she wanted. It was interesting. Teresa and I got home by 9 pm and were asleep by 9:30 pm (very tiring day).

Saturday we had the morning to ourselves. It was nice as long as it lasted. We left the house at 1:30 pm so we could get to the church for the photos. The wedding started at 5:30 pm. The bride was beautiful and the broom had stars in his eyes. It was awesome because Teresa and I both love Gil and Jen and they were made for one another. I sang “I Will Be Here” for them and I did alright (I didn’t screw up). I had people tell me they loved the song and the maid of honor (A.K.A. The Nazi) told me she thought it was a CD playing until she noticed I had a microphone in my hand. Apparently she wasn’t paying attention during rehearsal. I give all the honor and glory to God when people told me they liked my singing because He is the One who gave me the voice. It took almost an hour from the finish of the wedding and photos until Gil and Jen came back to the fellowship hall. It was a nice wedding but Teresa and I were tired when we got home at 9 pm.

Sunday morning was a great time with the men of the small group I lead. We had a good discussion on our topic and the men went away filled. The worship service went well. Teresa and I went over to Hampton to return the tux and I had originally planned to start on my sermon (I’m preaching next church); however, I was informed by Teresa we needed to finish our Christmas shopping. We got back to the house by 5 pm. I was too tired to think straight so I just helped with cleaning and clearing space for a Christmas tree. I think I stopped around 8 pm.

I enjoy relaxing when I can and I need to try to do so this week (sometime) so my body won’t have to make me stop. Once a year, I get sick and I have to stop and relax. I’ve been lucky so far because of my regular exercise program. I’ll take it a little slower this week so I will be in good health for this weekend and for Christmas. I have my folks and sister with her family coming for Christmas; it will be a good time.

The Origin of the Christmas Tree



Below is some possible origins on how we have our current day Christmas Trees.

One of the earliest stories relating back to Germany is about Saint Boniface. In 722, he encountered some pagans who were about to sacrifice a child at the base of a huge oak tree. He cut down the tree to prevent the sacrifice and a Fir tree grew up at the base of the oak. He then told everyone that this lovely evergreen, with its branches pointing to heaven, was a holy tree - the tree of the Christ child, and a symbol of His promise of eternal life.

Another story from Germany is about Queen Victoria. She often visited relatives in Germany and while she was there, she fell in love with Prince Albert. After they were married, they moved back to England to raise their family. Prince Albert decorated a tree and ever since that time, the English, because of their love for their Queen, copied her Christmas customs including the Christmas tree and ornaments. This story took place in the 19th century, around 1830.

Another story about the origin of the Christmas tree says that late in the Middle Ages, Germans and Scandinavians placed evergreen trees inside their homes or just outside their doors to show their hope that spring would soon come.

Another legend that has not been proved is that Martin Luther is responsible for the origin of the Christmas tree. This story says that one Christmas Eve, about the year 1500, he was walking through the snow-covered woods and was struck by the beauty of the snow glistened trees. Their branches, dusted with snow, shimmered in the moon light. When he got home, he set up a small fir tree and shared the story with his children. He decorated the Christmas tree with small candles, which he lighted in honor of Christ's birth.

Research into customs of various cultures shows that greenery was often brought into homes at the time of the winter solstice. It symbolized life in the midst of death in many cultures. The Romans were known to deck their homes with evergreens during of Kalends of January 15. Living trees were also brought into homes during the old Germany feast of Yule, which originally was a two month feast beginning in November. The Yule tree was planted in a tub and brought into the home. But there is no evidence that the Christmas tree is a direct descendent of the Yule tree. Evidence does point to the Paradise tree however. This story goes back to the 11th century religious plays. One of the most popular was the Paradise Play. The play depicted the story of the creation of Adam and Eve, their sin, and their banishment from Paradise. The only prop on the stage was the Paradise tree, a fir tree adorned with apples. The play would end with the promise of the coming Savior and His Incarnation. The people had grown so accustomed to the Paradise tree, that they began putting their own Paradise tree up in their homes on December 24.

Sermon Notes



I'm preaching on December 21st so I'm wanting to doing something regarding Christmas. I'm in the beginning of doing my research (love doing research) on the origin of Christmas. I've come across a website that has seom good stuff. I'll put parts of the information in the coming days. The first portion is regarding Christmas' Origin and how if it relates to Christ.

The True Origin of Christmas

BY DAVID C. PACK

Nearly all aspects of Christmas observance have their roots in Roman custom and religion. Consider the following admission from a large American newspaper (The Buffalo News, Nov. 22, 1984): “The earliest reference to Christmas being marked on Dec. 25 comes from the second century after Jesus’ birth. It is considered likely the first Christmas celebrations were in reaction to the Roman Saturnalia, a harvest festival that marked the winter solstice—the return of the sun—and honored Saturn, the god of sowing. Saturnalia was a rowdy time, much opposed by the more austere leaders among the still-minority Christian sect. Christmas developed, one scholar says, as a means of replacing worship of the sun with worship of the Son. By 529 A.D., after Christianity had become the official state religion of the Roman Empire, Emperor Justinian made Christmas a civic holiday. The celebration of Christmas reached its peak—some would say its worst moments—in the medieval period when it became a time for conspicuous consumption and unequaled revelry.”

Consider these quotes from the Catholic Encyclopedia, 1911 edition, under “Christmas”: “Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church…the first evidence of the feast is from Egypt.” Further, “Pagan customs centering around the January calends gravitated to Christmas.” Under “Natal Day,” Origen, an early Catholic writer, admitted, “…In the Scriptures, no one is recorded to have kept a feast or held a great banquet on his birthday. It is only sinners (like Pharaoh and Herod) who make great rejoicings over the day in which they were born into this world” (emphasis mine).

The Encyclopedia Americana, 1956 edition, adds, “Christmas…was not observed in the first centuries of the Christian church, since the Christian usage in general was to celebrate the death of remarkable persons rather than their birth…a feast was established in memory of this event [Christ’s birth] in the fourth century. In the fifth century the Western Church ordered the feast to be celebrated forever on the day of the Mithraic rites of the birth of the sun and at the close of the Saturnalia, as no certain knowledge of the day of Christ’s birth existed.”

There is no mistaking the origin of the modern Christmas celebration. Many additional sources could be cited and we will return to this later. Let’s begin to tie some other facts together.

It was 300 years after Christ before the Roman church kept Christmas, and not until the fifth century that it was mandated to be kept throughout the empire as an official festival honoring “Christ.”

Tom’s Psalm



God has been so good to Teresa and me. He is always faithful. Yesterday, Teresa received her pay stub (has direct deposit) and it showed where QVC paid for her unused vacation time. Teresa had 225 hours (28 days and 12.5 hours) of unused time so they cut her a check for it. I thought my eyes were going to pop out of my head. This morning while driving to work, I started thinking about all the things God has done for us over the 12 years of marriage and over my 38 years of being on this world. My God is an awesome God.

I’ve been reading through the Book of Psalms, and I thought about how I would word a psalm of praise to my God. Here it is:

Oh my Father; you are great and awesome!
There is no other God but you.
Before You called me to Yourself, I was lost and clueless.
You have made me an heir to Your throne of my God!
I am not worthy to be called your son, but in your awesomeness You have made me worthy.
Thank you can not describe how I feel.

You take care of me even when I can’t see you in the storm.
You design storms to mold me into who I need to be in order to be used by You.

Who am I that You take notice of me?
I know it’s not anything I have done or who I am,
But it is because of what You have done and who You are that I am blessed beyond measure.

Thank you my God, my Father, my Lord, my Savior, my Friend.

Question

I love being bi-vocational because I feel that God is using me here at Dollar Tree. A co-worker sent me a cool question about sometime about a Futurama episode and the theme of it. Below is the theme from the website “Wikipedia” and it’s write up regarding “Hell Is Other Roberts” and my answer.

Wikipedia:

“This episode is one of very few that focuses on the religious aspects of the Futurama universe. In most episodes, it is indicated that the Planet Express crew, along with most beings in the year 3000, are "remarkably unreligious". It introduces two of the three religious figures of Futurama, The Robot Devil and Reverend Lionel Preacherbot, both of whom make appearances in future episodes. Preacherbot, who speaks in a manner typical of inner-city African-American pastor stereotypes, converts Bender to the religion Robotology. This leads to a series of events that are similar in many ways to the experiences of real world religious converts. Mark Pinsky states that the episode has a "double-edged portrayal of religion" as it portrays both an improvement in Bender's character but also some of the "less pleasant characteristics of the newly pious". The Robot Devil is introduced after Bender's fall back into sin. While explaining to Bender his claim on his soul, he uses logic similar to that used by many Southern Baptists. By the end of the episode Bender has returned to his old ways and states that he will no longer try to be either too good or too bad, a parody and contradiction of the Book of Revelation statement that one should not be lukewarm in their faith.”

My reply to my co-worker:

Wow, my first thought is that Rich has too much time on his hands and he thinks to hard ; - ). Just kidding. I will try to explain (in a nutshell) what I think the Robot Devil tells Bender. I’ll have Bible passages accompanying my answer because I don’t want you to think I’m giving the SBC bylines, but I’m giving you what scripture says. First of all, I can’t remember what he told Bender in the episode (I just remember him when Fry got new hands to play an instrument to win Leela’s heart) but by reading the “Theme” section, below is my answer.

“While explaining to Bender his claim on his soul, he uses logic similar to that used by many Southern Baptists.” – According to Romans 5:12 (“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned (NASV)”) when Adam sinned against God, mankind stopped being the children of God and became “children of wraith.” Because of this sin, God kicked Adam and Eve out of the garden and because of this sin a great separation occurred.

Even though we (mankind) no longer are God’s children, He made a way for us to reconnect with Him. This way is (as you) Jesus Christ. John 3:16 ("For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.(NASV)”) shows us if a person accepts Jesus to be Lord of his life he has eternal salvation. I know you know that Futurama is a cartoon and robots don’t have souls but the whole idea of Bender finding “Religion” and then going back to how he was before and the Devil still has ownership of his soul alludes to the idea that salvation isn’t forever and that you can loss it. I can give you a ton of scripture passages that affirm that salvation is forever and that you can not loss it; John 3:16 is just one.

Christianity is a relationship with Jesus Christ and not a “religion.” The key word for religion is “DO”; what must I “DO” to earn salvation, enlightenment, and/or heaven. The key word for Christianity is “DONE”; what Jesus has “DONE” on the cross satisfies the payment for eternal life and there is nothing we can do to earn it other than accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

I can go on and one but I hope I answered your question. I’m always available if you and/or Rich want to talk further. I love doing coffee and talking if you want to after work sometime soon; Rich, you, and me.