20th Year Begins Tomorrow

Here are a few pics through the years:

Happy New Year

I wanted to write a second weekly email this week just to say congratulations to everyone who took up and fulfilled the challenge of reading through the Bible in 2008!  You made it!  Great job.  I pray it was as rewarding for you as it was for me.  I know that on many days of trial, God spoke to me just the perfect Word I needed to hear.

If you did not successfully make it through, take heart.  It took me several years before I was able to successfully accomplish it.  Ask yourself, what you learned and where you strayed and came up short.   What can you do differently this year not to fail?  As I shared yesterday, "evaluated experience is the best teacher."

I pray you will consider joining me again in this challenge.  Maybe you want to try another reading plan this year.  There are hundreds of reading plans online.  Last year we used the One Year Bible Reading Plan found at www.oneyearbibleonline.com .    Just do a google search on "Bible Reading Plan" and it will turn up hundreds of results.

In all of this, it's not so much about reading through the Bible, but about engaging in the Bible in a daily consistent basis.  Just as it is important to set aside time each day to eat and nourish yourself physically, you need to set time aside to nourish yourself spiritually.  If you don't eat, you will find yourself physically weak.  If you don't find time in the Word, you will find yourself spiritually weak and malnourished.  As Jesus says, "Man does not live by bread alone."  I think I read that somewhere if you know what I mean =).

If you are interested in my Bible reading endeavor for this new year check out my blog at: http://pastorpr.blogspot.com/2008/12/bible-for-2009.html

20 Years of Lord of Life

Lord of Life's first worship was held on January 15, 1989 at Wasco School. We will be celebrating the 20th Anniversary of that worship on Saturday, January 17 with a dinner and program. To R.S.V.P for the dinner visit www.lolchurch.net. The culmination of the anniversary celebration will take place during worship services on January 18 and 25.

An anniversary is a time to look back and also a time to look forward. But no matter which direction we look, let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith.

We look back, we see many changes that have taken place. We no longer use a horse trailer to set up for worship on Sunday morning. We have moved from Wasco School to the facility at the corner of LaFox Rd and Rt 38 to an even bigger facility at the corner of LaFox Rd and Rt 38. We have seen pastors, staff, and church members come and go.

When we look ahead, we can count on change as well. I can only imagine what it will be like for the 40th anniversary of the church.

But one thing does not change. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. And this is his church, a church that is committed to the great commandment (to love him with all our heart) and the great commission (to make disciples of all nations).

As we move forever forward we are committed to connecting people with Jesus and with each other. Because we know that his promises are certain and do not change. In him we find our hope and salvation – and that is what it is all about.

Happy Birthday Lord of Life!

Bible for 2009

Every year I make the commitment to read through the Bible. 2009 will be no different. Yet, this year I am going to do something a little different. I am going to start at the beginning and read it cover to cover. This is a little ambitious. In previous years, I have used a set of three daily readings one from the Old Testament, one from the New Testament, and one from the Psalms and Proverbs.

I am also going to use a new study Bible I received called the Archaeological Study Bible. I received it as a Christmas Present. During the summer of 1997 I studied in Isreal at Jerusalem University College. I have always been fascinated with Biblical history and look foward to diving into some of the articles that are contained in this Bible.

Psalm 119 says that God's Word is a lamp unto our feet and light unto our path. I pray that you are making sure to connect with the Word in the coming year.

A Look Back

Another year comes to a close. As we look back at this past year at Lord of Life, we recognize it was a year of tremendous transition and change. We said good-bye to Pastor Barry and Nancy at the beginning of this year. We implemented the Strategic Advancement Team during the summer that continues to work behind the scenes. We have touched thousands of people with the gospel of Jesus Christ through direct efforts and through the support of our many mission partners. We witnessed the downturn of our American economy, and yet God has remained faithful in providing everything we need to do his work.

The end of this year is a time to reflect. And as we look back we also evaluate. A mentor of mine recently shared that "experience is not the best teacher, evaluated experience is the best teacher. And the truth is, we often learn more from pain than the pleasure."

I for one know that I have learned many lessons in this past year. And I pray that I am a better husband, father, and pastor as a result of all these lessons learned. I pray that all the experiences of this past year as difficult as they sometimes have been will help me do more for the kingdom of God now and in the future.

I want to encourage you to take some quiet time in the next couple of days and just ask yourself a few questions:

1) What was your best day of 2008? Why?
2) What was your worst day of 2008? What can you learn from it?
3) How has God sharpened and refined me as his child?
4) If I had 2008 to do over, what would I do differently? What can I do differently in 2009?
5) If I had one prayer to pray for this coming year - what would that prayer be? What role can I play to help that prayer become a reality?

The last question may be the most telling. The last question is about priority? It is about commitment. What are the priorities that you set this year? One thing I know about priorities - if we don't let God set our priorities - someone else will. If we don't determine what is important, the world will determine it for us.

I pray you have a wonderful New Year Celebration and look forward to serving together in 2009.

Just a reminder - Carl Kerby from Answers in Genesis will be at Lord of Life on January 11. It is a great opportunity to invite a friend to church.

Also, the 20th Anniversary of Lord of Life will be celebrated on January 17 an 18th. If you are planning on coming to the dinner on the 17 you will need to RSVP at www.lolchurch.net.

Breakfast with Baby Jesus

Today was Breakfast with Baby Jesus at Lord of Life. Unfortunately, I stayed home with Abby who was sick with a tummy ache. But here is a pic. Thanks to Jenny Gonnerman for supplying the photo.

A Prayer for the Season

Lord, this is a busy time of the year. Many of us find ourselves tired, worn, out and burned out. More than looking forward to the celebration of the birth of our Savior, we are looking forward to when it will all be over. A quieter day, without parties to attend, presents to buy, meals to prepare, travel plans to arrange, relatives to accommodate, children to corral, weather to contend with, crowds to fight . . .

Lord right now we hear your Word . . . be still . . . be still . . . be still . . . and know that I am God. We know that when Jesus faced the crowds, the hustle and bustle of his ministry . . . he would retreat. He would go to a quiet place and spend time with you in intimacy.

Right now Lord, we silence our hearts, we silence our mind, we silence the distractions, the worries, the anxieties, the to do lists, the cell phone, right now let it be between you and us. Help each of us to quiet ourselves so that we can hear you speak that ever still small voice. Help us to quiet our souls that your voice would be so loud that we cannot ignore it or avoid it . . . Lord, speak right now what we need to hear in the quiet . . .

Invitation for Christmas

On Sunday, we had a number of people mark on their connection card that they were going to invite another person to Christmas Worship Services. Here is an email I sent to them earlier today. Maybe God is putting it upon your heart to invite another person to Christmas this holiday season:

You are receiving this email because you marked on the connection card last Sunday that you were going to make the commitment to invite another person to Christmas Eve Worship. I want to write you to encourage you in this.

Just this morning I handed another person one the Christmas Eve postcards and invited them to come to worship. Their response, "I just might do that." On Tuesday we handed out hundreds of the postcard invitations at the train station. Of all the invites I have extended this Christmas season I have received just one "Bah humbug."

One out of four close personal invitations you give will be received and accepted. Your friend, family, co-worker, or neighbor may not say yes this time. But I am sure they will be glad to know that you care enough to extend the invitation. And it just might open the door that they will say "yes" the next time you ask them.

I want to pray for you right now and the mission God has given you:

"Father, thank you for every person receiving this email. Thank you for their heart to share with another person an invitation to come and to celebrate the most wonderful gift of Jesus Christ." I pray for boldness and courage to ask a friend or even a perfect stranger to come and to hear the good news. I pray for open hearts and open minds to receive the invitation. I pray that many will come this Christmas holiday and that many will receive the salvation that is found in Jesus Christ. I pray for your kingdom to grow here in our community and that you will use Lord of Life Church to make that happen. In Jesus precious name we pray! Amen!"

Finally, if you did not receive one of the invitation postcards there will be more available on Sunday morning, or you can come by the Lord of Life office to pick one up.

Thank you for your servants heart!

A King is Coming to Town Musical

Sunday evening Lord of Life hosted "A King is Coming to Town" musical. Here are a few pics from that event. For more pics visit: www.lolchurch.smugmug.com

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas. I love to say that. It puts a smile on peoples faces.

This past weekend over 100 volunteers from Lord of Life brought over 500 dozen cookies into the Illinois Youth Center as part of our annual Christmas visit. The problem was that our congregation had responded so generously with baking 800 dozen cookies that we had 300 dozen cookies left over. What were we going to do with the extra cookies?

We solved it! This morning about a dozen volunteers took the remainder of the cookies to the train stations in LaFox and Elburn and gave them away to the people who were getting on the trains. It was a lot of fun to watch the people walk up the steps to the train barely awake and then to hear someone say Merry Christmas and hand them a bag of cookies. It put a smile on their face. Most would respond back with a hearty Merry Christmas. One man asked, "What is this all about?" expecting there to be some catch that nothing is free. We just said that we wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas from our church and invite people to come to worship on Christmas Eve.

It is hard to believe that it is just over a week to Christmas. Not much time left for those of you who are procrastinators. My encouragement for you this week in the midst of all the hustle and the bustle of the holiday is to stop and take some time to be generous and to do the unexpected. It might be taking a plate of cookies to the neighbors house with an invitation to come to worship on Christmas. It might be taking part in the Christmas Brunch at Lord of Life this weekend to help some of our Lord of Life families during the holiday season. It might be something as simple as holding a door for another person and wish them a Merry Christmas while everyone is rushing to get in and out of the store to get their shopping done. It is the small things and the simple things that are often big things. And it brings such joy to put a smile on someone's face.

Christmas Eve Worship this year at Lord of Life is at 5, 7, and 11pm. Christmas Day worship is at 10am. The best gift we can give this year is the gift of Jesus. Consider taking a chance and inviting another person to come to church with you this Christmas. If you would like and invitation postcard we have plenty available at Lord of Life and will be handing more out on Sunday for you to give away.

We also want to welcome our many guests who will come this Christmas and so it is important that we have people to serve. The Christmas Choir will be rehearsing Wednesday night at 7pm and again on Sunday evening at 6pm. We are not a professional choir and anyone is welcome to come and lift up their voice in praise to God. If singing is not really your thing, we can still use help for greeters, nursery workers, ushers, and more. Feel free to contact if you would like to help out in bringing Christmas joy to many people.

So Merry Christmas! Glory to God in the highest!

Readings for next week:

21	Zechariah 1:1-21 Revelation 12:1-17 Psalm 140:1-13 Proverbs 30:17		22	Zechariah 2:1-3:10 Revelation 13:1-18 Psalm 141:1-10 Proverbs 30:18-20
23	Zechariah 4:1-5:11 Revelation 14:1-20 Psalm 142:1-7 Proverbs 30:21-23		24	Zechariah 6:1-7:14 Revelation 15:1-8 Psalm 143:1-12 Proverbs 30:24-28
25	Zechariah 8:1-23 Revelation 16:1-21 Psalm 144:1-15 Proverbs 30:29-31		26	Zechariah 9:1-17 Revelation 17:1-18 Psalm 145:1-21 Proverbs 30:32
27	Zechariah 10:1-11:17 Revelation 18:1-24 Psalm 146:1-10 Proverbs 30:33

Just some good stuff

This is a report from LOL's Missions Team:

Operation Christmas Child: So many families brought filled shoe boxes for children around the world through Samaritan's Purse, around 170 boxes.

 

Coats for HELPS:  The big green box has been filled to overflowing 8 times, with more coats still coming in. 

 

Cookies for IYC:  LOL women baked almost 800 dozen cookies for the boys and staff at IYC and the women and staff at Warrenville.  A crew of 15 women, two children and one man (van driver), packed one dozen assorted cookies into 800 plastic bags and into large boxes to transport to IYC--all done in two hours!! 

 

Giving Tree for HELPS:  All the tags have been taken from the tree and wrapped Christmas packages are being returned.

 

Basket of Blessings:  The basket has been filled again and again with baby and mom supplies for the Fox Valley Pregnancy Center.

 

Haiti:  Checks have been given for 3 bunk beds, praise the Lord!!  Seven more to go.

 

The Advent of Our God

We began a new church year and a new season of Advent this last Sunday. It is a time of the year that is filled with anticipation. We look forward to what is ahead. Jesus is coming and we are getting ready.

We look forward to a better day. But it seems like a long time coming. We look forward to that day that just will not arrive. We look forward to that day when we will put our problems behind. We look forward to that day when God's priorities in our life will be more than good intentions, but reality. We look forward to that perfect day.

Yet, we live in the not yet there. I know I've yet to experience that perfect day. But I am looking forward to it.

But it seems like a long journey. There are lots of obstacles in the way. Sometimes it seems like there are so many obstacles and they are so large that I feel like just giving up. The effort is too much that I settle for the current reality of my situation and convince myself that this is the best it is ever going to be.

But listen to the words of Isaiah the prophet. "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins." (Isaiah 40:1-2)

I find this an incredible message, because Isaiah lived in that not yet time. We think the problems our country faces are severe. But the things we face are really nothing to what Isaiah and the people of Jerusalem faced (if you are interested you can check it out in Isaiah 36-39). Yet, in spite of all of this Isaiah speaks of God's deliverance not in the future tense, but the past tense. He says, 'the hard service is complete, the sins have been paid for, and we have received from the Lord double the grace for the judgment we deserved.'

How can Isaiah speak of future deliverance in the past? Because his faith was so sure and confident in God's promises! You might feel like there is a long road ahead. You might feel like there is no end. You might feel like there is no answer.

God says, "in the desert (this barren time of life, when hope runs dry) prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley (those areas of guilt where you feel unforgivable) shall be raised up, every mountain and hill (those areas of pride where you push God out) made low; the rough ground (places where you are not sure where you should step) shall become level, the rugged places (fill with danger and uncertainty) a plain." (Isaiah 4:3-4)

And it is through all of this, these difficult moments that "THE GLORY OF THE LORD WILL BE REVEALED, AND ALL MANKIND TOGETHER WILL SEE IT."

Believe! There is a better day ahead. God will ultimately prevail! In the fullness of time, he sent Jesus. It was the right time. It was the perfect time. And God's deliverance for you will come at the right and perfect time. I know it is true because it is true, and was true, and will be true for he is the One who Is, the One who Was, and the One who Is to Come.

Readings for next week:

07	Hosea 6:1-9:17 3 John 1:1-15 Psalm 126:1-6 Proverbs 29:12-14		08	Hosea 10:1-14:9 Jude 1:1-25 Psalm 127:1-5 Proverbs 29:15-17
09	Joel 1:1-3:21 Revelation 1:1-20 Psalm 128:1-6 Proverbs 29:18		10	Amos 1:1-3:15 Revelation 2:1-17 Psalm 129:1-8 Proverbs 29:19-20
11	Amos 4:1-6:14 Revelation 2:18-3:6 Psalm 130:1-8 Proverbs 29:21-22		12	Amos 7:1-9:15 Revelation 3:7-22 Psalm 131:1-3 Proverbs 29:23
13	Obadiah 1:1-21 Revelation 4:1-11 Psalm 132:1-18 Proverbs 29:24-25

Prepare Our Hearts for Christmas

Tonight was the Prepare Your Hearts for Christmas at Lord of Life. Here are some pics from the event. You can enjoy more here.