Sunday, December 21, 2008

A Walk Instead of a Sermon



The "video sermon" above is 10 minutes. That's closer to what some Cedar Hills Baptist folks would like to hear on Sunday morning. But since we didn't get to worship together today I went for a walk and recorded some thoughts about the birth of Jesus and what it's all about. Or a tiny bit of what it's about.
Also, the song at the end has great lyrics that you were going to see on the screen in worship today. Instead they're here below. It's a song by RelientK which they wrote about CS Lewis' The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe.
I hope we get to worship together for Christmas Eve (6 PM)!

"In Like A Lion (Always Winter)"

It's always nice to look out the window
And see those very first few flakes of snow
And later on we can go outside
And create the impression of an angel that just fell from the sky

When February rolls around I'll roll my eyes
Turn a cold shoulder to these even colder skies
And by the fire my heart it heaves a sigh
For the green grass waiting on the other side

It's always winter but never Christmas
It seems this curse just can't be lifted
Yet in the midst of all this ice and snow
Our hearts stay warm cause they are filled with hope

It'd be so nice to look out the window
And see the leaves on the trees begin to show
The birds would congregate and sing
A song of birth a song of newer things

The wind would calm and the sun would shine
I'd go outside and I'd squint my eyes
But for now I will simply just withdraw
Sit here and wish for this world to thaw

And everything it changed overnight
This dying world you brought it back to life
And deep inside I felt things
Shifting everything was melting
Away oh away
And you gave us the most beautiful of days

Cause when it's always winter but never Christmas
Sometimes it feels like you're not with us
But deep inside our hearts we know
That you are here and we will not lose hope

4 comments:

  1. Never before have I thought of Christ's birth as a reminder such a wonderful gift. Yes, with his birth comes salvation for all mankind, but a reminder, a rebirth? How perfect and what a gift! I cannot help but reflect on when God called me back to his heart and I heard Him...what Christmas meant to me after that. Now with children, boys who are all about fun, I am reminded today once again that Christ's birth, his life, is a reminder that God loves me so much, that his love never fails, never leaves me, and always...always awaits the day when I will be reborn into the perfection that only our Lord in Heaven can see, that perfect me that is dormant under the surface of my life here on Earth. For me, I take your words as a challenge to work harder to scrape away the layers of ice on my life and let the miracle Christ's birth thaw all those around me. To be in awe of the miracle of Jesus birth in that tiny, old wooden stable. To faithfully await for the perfection that comes from being one with our Savior and Lord in Heaven.

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  2. I had CMT on mute while I was listening to the sermon blog...when I finished and unmuted the TV Faith Hill was singing her new song "A Baby Changes Everything" Another reminder that God is always tuned into us..whether we are or not! Enjoy the lyrics:

    Teenage girl, much too young
    Unprepared for what's to come
    A baby changes everything

    Not a ring on her hand
    All her dreams and all her plans
    A baby changes everything
    A baby changes everything

    The man she loves she's never touched
    How will she keep his trust?
    A baby changes everything
    A baby changes everything

    And she cries, ooh, she cries
    Ooh, oh

    She has to leave, go far away
    Heaven knows she can't stay
    A baby changes everything

    She can feel it's coming soon
    There's no place, there's no room
    A baby changes everything
    A baby changes everything

    And she cries, and she cries
    Oh, she cries

    Shepherds all gather 'round (Shepherds all they gather 'round)
    Up above the star shines down (Star shines down)
    A baby changes everything

    Choir of angels sing
    Glory to the newborn King
    A baby changes everything
    A baby changes everything
    Eveything, everything, everything

    Hallelujah, Hallelujah
    Hallelujah, Hallelujah

    My whole life has turned around
    I was lost, but now I'm found
    A baby changes everything, yeah
    A baby changes everything

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  3. Curtis, Michie and I listened to your Christmas Eve online sermon and it hit the spot on this Christmas evening for us. Thank you for being persistent with your messages on your blog. We follow it from afar...
    Here in Mississippi we have enjoyed family during this celebration of Christmas and all it means. We have remained faithful in remaining focused on what the celebration represents and your sermon helped capture that.
    Hate to tell you this but the temperatures are in the 60's today and will be close to 80 tomorrow! I can get used to this although it is not normal even for the Deep South!
    Thank you Curtis for your commitment to God and your congregation. Know that people from all walks of life are benefitting from your service. Right now it appears I will be back in Oregon in late April for some training in Redmond and will plan to bring Michie with me. We will make it a priority to come by for church.
    The best to you, your family and the rest of the congregation! Brad Bernardy

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Thanks for posting!