(sola)s hattiesburg

Maybe it’s a little late for a post like this, you’ve probably already dealt with the hubbub and braved the crowds at Wal-Mart and Turtle Creek Mall.  But this video is an awesome reminder and a challenge to incarnate the love of Christ this Christmas, just as He took on flesh and dwelt among us.  The story of the birth of Christ is a story of sacrifice – Christ did not consider equality with God a thing to be held onto.  He gave up heaven to put on flesh…so that he could die on behalf of unworthy sinners (you and me)!!  I wish our college ministry would have taken part in what this video offers.  Next year I hope we do join on, or at least something like this, to help us pro-actively fight against the consumerism and worldliness that so easily entangles us around Christmas.  I want my life to be about giving, about sacrifice.  I know it’s hard for college students to give when most of you don’t have much money, but I challenge to dig deep and consider how blessed you are with life and breath and the joy of knowing Christ, and to give generously this Christmas towards missions.  There are several ways to give through Temple.  God is glorified when his people treasure his named being exalted more than they treasure getting gifts.

This past Saturday some of us from the college ministry met together and wrote the widows in our church letters.  We simply wanted to tell them that we love them and care for them and that we would love to spend time with them.  Sounds simple enough, huh? It may even sound trivial, but this simple gesture is what James calls “pure and undefiled religion.”  In fact, in the book of Acts we see that the office of deacon was established because the hellenistic widows were being ignored.  There are really only two church offices established in the NT (elders and deacons), and one of those offices was initiated to care for widows.  God cares for the lowly!!  And the hearts of true believers will care for them too.  I want our college ministry to be marked by a deep conviction and concern for loving others, especially the poor and lowly – orphans and widows.