Christmas Season

Dear Crosswalkers,

Well, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! This Sunday the worship center is decorated, we are featuring an outreach event we’re calling the Christmas Boutique, we will receive nine new members, and we’ll conclude the sermon series “Three Powerful Blessings” by looking at the power of the gift! It will be a great weekend at Crosswalk!

Of course, I am writing from our mission station in the heart of South America, Paraguay, and so I will be preaching at Quatro Mojones. Later this week, I will join our missionary Angel Hernandez and teach at the prison. This will be my first time in the Big House preaching, and will appreciate you remembering our ministry in prayer. Last week, Angel was at the prison ministering when there was an “incident” and several prisoners were beaten with billy clubs in front of him!

This trip is reminding me of the precious importance of family, and also of the great need in the world for the message of Christmas. Can we agree together to leverage the Christmas season for the Kingdom of God? By this I mean that Christmas is a wonderful time to intentionally share our faith and focus on our spiritual values. Perhaps you’ve heard the story of a meeting in hell where three demons bring to Satan a plan for deceiving the human race. The devil carefully pondered the suggestions. The first demon said, “Let’s convince the humans there is no heaven.” But Satan said, “No, God has written eternity in every human heart, they will never believe it.” The second demon came up with a brilliant plan, “Let’s convince the humans there is no hell.” The devil, thinking carefully, said, “No, there is so much pain and suffering on earth, that some people are already expereincing the pangs of hell.” And the second suggestion was therefore rejected. The third demon said, “Let’s convince the humans there is no hurry.” A wry smile came over the devil’s face. “Ahh yes, that will work! That is the strategy we will use.”

The Bible says, “Now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 10:2). Now is always the best time to share good news with family and friends. Why not invite someone to come to church with you this Sunday?

May the Lord richly bless all your endeavors to shine with the light of Jesus!

Affectionately in Christ,

Pastor John