Christmas everyday

Guys!  Merry Christmas to you all.  Celebrate the birth of Jesus.  Celebrate His life, His mission, His suffering, His death, His resurrection ... Celebrate Jesus!  A lot of people want to celebrate Jesus and believe that in order to do so they must not do anything related to ....  "Santa" or "Saint Nick".  I know I said it...  the dreaded "S" word.  Guys if you feel convicted that how you celebrate takes away from the focus on Jesus then change it to focus on Jesus.  Saint Nicklaus was a historic Christian leader who stood firm for Jesus and against heretics.  Yes the myth of Santa is not true but you can take the historical person and turn your modern celebration into the Jesus focused endeavor.  Be honest and tell your children the Truth about Santa and Jesus and Christmas.  If part of your fun celebration includes Santa then fine but maybe have Santa tell the True Christmas story, read it from the Bible.  Make it so that the pretend person of Santa talks and does things more like the Historical St, Nick.  

Redeem the season and then remember that we are to celebrate Jesus year round.  As Men you need to lead in this.  Set the tone fro your family, your friends, your community and celebrate Jesus the Savior this Christmas and then continue through out the year!

Preacherman

Christmas Humility

At Christmas we celebrate the coming of Jesus. This Jesus the Christ, the Holy one, the Son of God, the Savior, the Messiah, the Lord of All, God in the flesh; it is He that is to be our example and guide. As you celebrate this Christmas, remember what Jesus really did when He came. He reduced Himself from being on a throne at the right hand of the Father in Heaven, to being a human. Not just a human but a baby, small and physically helpless, born to a young poor couple in a difficult situation. His birth surrounded by dirty livestock in a stable. These were very humble beginnings. Yet they are the beginnings of the earthly mission of our Savior, our Lord, our God.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. - Philippians 2:5-7 (ESV)

So let us surrender our pride, our selfishness, our desires, our rights. Lets look to the example of our Lord and walk in humility. We do not need to display extravagance, we do not need to attract attention to ourselves. We need to point others to Jesus, lets make sure we are not distracting them. I know that many of you have "big" Christmas traditions, a lot of decorations and family events. Often your homes are filled with presents wrapped in fancy paper. I am not suggesting you stop celebrating. I am instead suggesting we all look at what we do and discern if it directs people to Jesus, the reason for the season or does it distract them from Him?

This may sound harsh but please understand that if you say Jesus is my Lord then you need to live like it. Do not use the celebration of His coming for your own selfish desires. If it is just an opportunity for you to show off your new clothes, decorations, songs, events, food, toys, cars, electronics or other presents, then consider repenting and drawing near to God about how He wants you to celebrate. Celebrate? YES! But direct the glory and honor and attention toward Jesus.

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. - James 4:8 (ESV)

So the answer is not to refuse to celebrate.   Nor is it to judge the celebration of others.  But to draw close to God and celebrate and honor Him in the way you are directed to.  You may do similar things but your emphasis might be different, your interactions with others may be significantly different.

Walk with humility this Christmas and point others to Jesus!

Preacherman

Its Christmas so Worship!

Men I just wanted to share a quick reminder with you all.  This season of Christmas that we celebrate is to be a time of worship.  We as men are to lead our families, our friends, our Churches, our communities in worship of God, because He has sent Jesus the Son of God to be our redeemer and our salvation.

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,"  - Luke 1:68-70 ESV

So remind others today about the coming of the Savior, Jesus the true reason for this season.   Celebrate the great and awesome gift of salvation that you have been given by the Grace of God through Faith in Jesus.

Today be the Man you were created to be!

Preacherman

Regen Men

Lately I have been hearing way too often about men that "used to" follow the "New Way" but live now more like their old ways again.  I hear about the reasons like a ministry or men's group that no longer operates.  I hear about Churches that have changed leaders or directions.  I find myself thinking about how Jesus reprimands Peter in John 21 -

²⁰ Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” ²¹ When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” ²² Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”  - John 21:20–22 (ESV)

Like Peter, who Jesus has called us to be is not to be based on what another is to do or has done etc...  Rather we are to follow Him no matter what.  Even if I am the only one, I must follow Him.  This is foundational to being a HIT Man.  Yes we teach about walking together, challenging one another, admonishing and encouraging each other, that is all true.  Yet when everything seems to fall apart or get difficult we must remember that each of us is personally called and directed about who we are supposed to be.  The Truth about who you are to be as a man who follows Jesus is not to be determined by others but by your Lord, Jesus himself has directed and you are to follow.

So I urge you today, begin fresh.  Repent of any self-centered protectionist attitudes you may have.  Repent of the sin in your life including following others instead of Jesus.  Repent of allowing what others do or don't do to influence you to become disobedient.  Repent and turn your heart towards God, He loves you and has given you forgiveness through Jesus.  Then draw close to your Lord and live to honor Him.  Be the man He has directed you to be in the Word.  Be the Husband / Father / Brother / Friend / Worker / Servant / Community member, etc... that you know Jesus wants you to be.  Don't do it in order to "please Him", rather live this way because it is the result of your repentance and drawing close to Him.  

Remember your Faith is not a works based religion.  It is a living relationship so make sure you are existing in that relationship and everything else is to flow from that.

Let us press on and be who we are made to be!

Preacherman