It Is Getting Close!

Hi My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The adrenaline is flowing.  I am excited because this is the time of preparation for the celebration of Christmas.  Woohooo!  Gift shopping, baking and freezing cookies, getting decorations ready, organizing church programs, playing Christmas music(been doing that for 3 months), and watching Hallmark Christmas movies.  I know, I know, it isn't even Thanksgiving yet. It us just that I consider Thanksgiving as part of Christmas.  There is snow in the forecast for this coming weekend too.  Sooo excited!  I should be this excited about church and usually I am, but I must confess that there are times when doing church is more like work than it is ministry.  We are a busy church and always looking for more to do in order to make disciples for Christ and to save the lost.  This means that I have a lot of irons in the fire, aka, I am very busy juggling my schedule.  Also,  it may come as a shock, but people don't always get along nor do people always agree with everything I say or do which makes things seem more like work.  Don't get me wrong, I do not want everyone to always agree with me.  How boring that would be.  Sometimes I can get so caught up with all of the preparations for church that I forget what it is truly all about and that is worshiping the LORD our God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Church is first and foremost the Bride of Christ, adorned for her King Jesus and then we are ambassadors of Christ who are to preach reconciliation to God through Jesus Christ to a hurting world.  

Now, having said that, I do find myself daydreaming about God our Father.  The older I get the more I realize that I am not always being honest with myself.  For example I pray for a successful ministry or a booming church.  I know that that sounds good but the truth of the matter is that I want those things so that I will look good to everyone else.  "What a wonderful pastor" or "he is so good at what he does" and "isn't he amazing?"  are the things my pride wants to hear.  Proverbs says that pride goes before a fall.  I love a pat on the back but I am afraid of a pat on the back so I try to deflect compliments. 

"Oh, look!  A squirrel."

Yes, I am all over the place today.  Sorry.  I am going to do some Christmas shopping now and then, maybe, I will go home and wrap presents.  I will not forget and I am asking you to not forget that "Jesus is the reason for the season".  Did I tell you about my midlife crisis and .....

God loves you and so do I,

Pastor Bruce