St. Augustine on Christmas

Dr. Albert Mohler posted this quote from one of St. Augustine's Christmas sermons. It encouraged me, so I thought I would share it with you! Merry Christmas!

He, through whom time was made, was made in time; and He, older by eternity than the world itself, was younger in age than many of His servants in the world; He, who made man, was made man; He was given existence by a mother whom He brought into existence; He was carried in hands which He formed; He nursed at breasts which He filled; He cried like a babe in the manger in speechless infancy -- this Word without which human eloquence is speechless!

Understanding Bible Translation

A few people have asked questions about why some Bible traslations are better than others. Here is a short and easy to read article on understanding Bible translations -- Moving through the Maze: Understanding Bible Translation. Let me know what you think.

Andrew loves his little brother!

Some of you have asked for more pictures!
You can check out The McGinnis Message for more!

Christmas Weekend News

I wanted to remind you that we are having two worship services this weekend to celebrate the birth of our Savior. I hope you can join us at both of these services!

On Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m. we are having a joint Christmas Eve service with St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. We will be meeting in their sanctuary at 4980 Hancock Rd. (Click here if you need a map.)

On Sunday morning we will worship in our sanctuary at 2303 Double Churches Road. (Map is here.) We will begin our worship service at 10:30 a.m.

Christmas Thoughts

Today in the comic strip B.C., Johnny Hart defines "Yuletide" as "the tsunami of the Christ." In many ways he is right. As we celebrate Christmas, may these passages encourage us to allow Christ to flood our hearts with His glory and grace:

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. -- Isaiah 40:11

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." -- Matthew 1:21

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. -- John 1:14

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. -- John 3:16-17

I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. -- John 12:46

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. -- I John 4:9

Merry Christmas!
All Scripture on this site is from the English Standard Version of the Bible.

Luke's First Pic

Wednesday, December 14th

6:50 pm

8 lbs. 6 oz.

20-3/4 inches

Making Sense of Narnia

Polly Toynbee, in the UK Guardian, reviews "The Chronicles of Narnia." See her complete review here. Ms. Toynbee thinks the movie is OK, but thinks that "unbelievers should keep a sickbag handy" because the Christianity of C.S. Lewis represented therein will make one sick.

Here are two quotes from Ms. Toynbee regarding Christianity:

Of all the elements of Christianity, the most repugnant is the notion of the Christ who took our sins upon himself and sacrificed his body in agony to save our souls. Did we ask him to?

Without an Aslan, there is no one here but ourselves to suffer for our sins, no one to redeem us but ourselves: we are obliged to settle our own disputes and do what we can. We need no holy guide books, only a very human moral compass. Everyone needs ghosts, spirits, marvels and poetic imaginings, but we can do well without an Aslan.

(If you are not familiar with the world of Narnia -- Aslan, a lion who represents Christ, lays down his life so that sins might be forgiven and then miraculously rises from the dead to defeat the White Witch, representing Satan. )

Ms. Toynbee cannot image a world where she might NEED a savior. I do know a world where I need a savior -- and so does Ms. Toynbee and everyone who has walked on this earth, other than Christ. Ms. Toynbee is offended that Christ did not ask her permission to die for her sins. One of the beauties of the Gospel is that Christ did not wait for our permission, but "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

In the second quote above, Ms. Toynbee is right that without Aslan ("Christ") "there is no one here but ourselves to suffer for our sins, no one to redeem us but ourselves." That is a burden that we cannot carry -- thankfully, Christ has paid the price for our sins as we are told in Romans 8:1-4:

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (ESV)

Ms. Toynbee, none of us have any hope without "Aslan." Christ is the only hope for sinners who need a Savior. My prayer is that we all might see our own sinfulness and our need of a Savior! May God open our eyes so that we hunger and thirst for His mercy and love and might treasure Christ above all things.

I Was Wrong

Sunday, during my sermon, I mentioned that Mary is to be "adored" by us, yet not worshipped by us. I got the first half of that one wrong. To adore is to worship -- those two things are the same. I think it is appropriate that we respect and admire Mary and see her as a role model because of her faith. Remember, though, that when we look to the actions and life of Mary we should be moved to worship and adore God, who chose her and gave her the faith to trust Him in the most unusual of circumstances.

Wanting to Help A Soldier?

Looking to send support to a soldier in harm's way but not sure of what to send, who to send it to, or how to send it? Check out this website.

Praying In A Time Of War

As I was thinking about the worship service yesterday, I decided that I should seek advice on how to pray for the military more effectively, especially in a time of war. John Piper offers the following thoughts:

Paul teaches us to pray for peace among nations for the sake of the gospel...It is not our business to decide the sovereign purpose of God in ordaining that some wars happen. Our business is to pray that justice, peace, and the proclamation of the gospel prevail.

As we pray for the military I think it is also appropriate that we pray for the safety of the soldiers, the stability of their families and that God would use world events and even wars for the advancement of the gospel and His own glory throughout all the world.

I know that many of you are in the military, have served, or have family that serve or did serve. I would love to hear your thoughts on how we should offer Gospel-saturated, God-honoring prayers to God for the military in times such as these.

Are we countercultural?

On Tim Keller's new blog he is reflecting on Jeremiah Chapter 32. He quotes Phil Ryken:

“Do you have the faith to act on God’s promises, even if some of them will not be fulfilled until the end of history? Jeremiah…made a major life decision based on what God promised to do seven decades later….Some Christians move into the city. On purpose. Some Christians feed the homeless or tutor…Some Christians reach across ethnic and economic barriers to form friendships….Some Christians give away 10 percent of their income—or more….All these behaviors seem strange to the pagan mind. The strongest countercultural movement in twenty-first century America will be the church of Jesus Christ.” (Courage to Stand, p.159-160)

I hope and trust that God will give us the faith and courage to be countercultural!
Tim Keller is the pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC.