Sitting in my office on a Friday afternoon with the rain falling outside is a far cry from where this next month's celebrations will take us in remembering the birth of Jesus. As the heater keeps us warm, the night of His birth would have not been so comfy.

The trappings of the season, as much as I love them, would also be at least a tad different from what a young couple was experiencing throughout their Season's journey. Almost to the end of her pregnancy, riding a donkey for endless miles would have made one understandably cranky and wanting for some sense of reassurance that this really was all God's idea.

However, later on that night and within the coming months and years, God's plan would unfold before their very eyes. At times, I am sure it was to their delight, but realistically, it had to have also at times likely been to their consternation ("Jesus! Where were you and why didn't you come along when we left? What do you mean you were doing your Father's will by staying behind in the synagogue?!?!").

Now, here we are celebrating that fate-filled night with weeks of celebrations anticipating the arrival of a day filled with gifts to and from loved ones, food we will not be able to finish and hearts warmed (I hope!) by the time with family and friends we might not see regularly enough. Is this all what God had in mind?

My answer to that question is, for the most part, a resounding "YES"! I will be one of the first to point out that God never commanded us to celebrate His Son's birthday, but DID command us to remember His death. At the same time, without a doubt, there was tension and triumph to the story of His birth recorded for us in the annals of history for MORE THAN history's sake.

I believe with all my heart that the fact that angels rejoiced and shepherds came from near and far to see this Child gives us more than enough scriptural standing to wholeheartedly celebrate the coming of the Promised One Who would save all mankind. If we would only believe.

You can't be around NewHeart very long without figuring out my love for this Season. At the same time, I realize that this is a painful season for some among us whose memories and experiences are far from the warmth and fun I recall above. For many, these are days of gloomy despair due to the loss of a loved one or healing still longed for from the ghosts of Christmases past.

My hope and paryer for each and every one of us is that the God of all Glory would so invade these Holy-days that we celebrate this month that something literally NEW would be birthed for us all in this Season. It's a wonder-filled time to bring and include the people in your life who are still searching for the answer to REAL and LASTING life. Why not take the opportunity to invite them to church with you this month as we lift up the REAL Reason for the Season?

Last month, I began to unveil the process we are in with the City as a church to relocate our bathrooms and enclose our "wind tunnel", both of which would greatly modify our entryway. The project will also upgrade our electrical service, as well as replace carpet in the Sanctuary, and provide new heating and A/C units and new roofing on the north buildings.

In mid-November, we received notice from the Planning Department of our first issues to address on our plans. Having been through this process before with those notes being long and tough to address, I can tell you GLADLY that our list is not nearly what it was. It should be fairly simple to work through and answer to their satisfaction. I hope to write you next month with more good news as we move forward together!