Here's why.

-Many people will end up drinking and getting drunk at so-called "Christmas parties". They will use Christ's birthday as an excuse to get together to drink and party.
-Most people look forward to what they will get for Christmas themselves without even thinking about giving Jesus anything.
-Many churches will cancel some services because of Christmas.
-Many people who normally go to church will put something else in its place.
-Many people will sing more about, talk more about, read more about, and see more about a big imaginary man in a red suit than about Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world.

After thinking about these and other things, I really wondered if Jesus looked forward to this time, or if He would be glad for this season to pass. I determined in my life, in my family, and in our church, that Jesus would look forward to Christmas.

Why don't you decide that in your life, you will do the same?

Because it will be a new year and a new millennium, it would be a great time to make some important decisions about their life. There isn’t one person reading this, including me, that doesn’t need to change something about our life to be more like Christ. I am always sad to see people that are satisfied with their life. We should be content with what we have, but not satisfied with our Christian life. Everyone should take a long time to meditate on their life and ask God what they should make a decision to change.

How is your Bible reading, your prayer life, and your Christian witness? Are you serving the Lord like He would want you to? How is your walk with God? Are you as faithful to church as God would want you to be?

Many people have tried new year’s resolutions before, and say there is no use in making any, because no one ever keeps them anyway. That isn’t true, but I would rather try and fail, than to never try at all. Don’t be satisfied; do more for God!

I am so pleased to be called the pastor of the Lighthouse Baptist Church. There are lots of burdens to carry, and lots of work to do, but I count it a privilege to serve the God and the people of our church. Being a pastor, I have been around other pastors that talk about their members and tear them down. I never feel that way. I thank God for the privilege to pastor such a great group of people.

There is something else, though, that He did with His blood almost 2,000 years ago. In Acts 20:28, the Bible says that Jesus purchased the church with His own blood. The blood that He shed was not just for our salvation, but for us to be able to assemble and have church. If it took Jesus’ blood for us to have church, why would we want to neglect church any Sunday, much less this Sunday?

No, the church cannot save anyone. You’re right, the church cannot get someone to Heaven. I know, someone won’t go to Hell if they miss church; but if Jesus shed His blood for the church, it sounds like the church is extremely important to Him, and should be to us. I hope to see you Sunday in church.

When out of the east there rose such a clatter, I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, tore open the shutters and lifted the sash! When what to my wondering eyes should appear, but angels proclaiming that Jesus was here! The light of His face made me cover my head--It was Jesus returning, just as He said. And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth, I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself. In the Book of Life which He held in His hand was written the name of every saved man. He spoke not a word as He searched for my name; when He said, "It's not here" my head hung in shame.

The people whose names had been written with love, he gathered to take to His Father above. With those who were ready He rose without a sound, while all the rest were left standing around.

I fell to my knees, but it was too late; I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate. I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight; oh, if only I'd known that this was the night.

In the words of this poem the meaning is clear; the coming of Jesus is now drawing near. There's only one life and when comes the last call, we'll find that the Bible was true after all.

Instead of just helping a couple families have a good Christmas, every year at our church we have one Sunday that we call, "Happy Birthday, Jesus Sunday." On that Sunday, we teach the story of Jesus and His birth and explain to everyone the true meaning of Christmas and the reason that we give. We try to get the children to think about that day being the day we honor Jesus. Then in the spirit of giving, we give every boy and girl a gift from our church. This Sunday, December 23rd, is "Happy Birthday, Jesus Sunday."

If any adult or child needs a ride, just call the church. The Sunday school starts at 9:30 a.m. If you have any questions, please feel free to call.