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What is God's Will For Me?

12/30/2014

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Whether you are a believer or not, either way you are constantly making choices which determine whether or not you will do the perfect will of God. Yes, even if you do not believe in God, He has a plan for you. But it is essential to believe in God, know His voice, and understand His will. This is so important because each minor decision affects the finding of God's will for a lifetime. 

Man must make choices in relationship to God's will. Right from the beginning God showed this when Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden. God's will for Adam and Eve was to name the animals, tend the Garden, have companionship with each other, and reproduce to populate the earth. Most important though, was they were to maintain intimate fellowship with God. Great job if you can get it. But God also warned Adam and Eve about what was not of His will. They were forbidden to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And we all know how that turned out.

The entire Bible is a history of decisions which individuals and nations made in relation to God's will. God has included all of this so that we can learn from both the successes and failures of these men and women. There is an expression, "Those who do not remember their past are doomed to repeat it, and those who do not remember the mistakes of the past are just doomed."

One of the most exciting revelations in the entire Bible is that God has a definite plan for each and every individual. In order to fulfill these plans though you must come to know God's voice. You have to learn how He has communicated in times past and how He speaks today.

Over the next few weeks, we are going to be looking into how God speaks to man and learn how we can find God's will for our lives. I hope also to answer some questions you may have about overcoming wrong decisions, and what to do if you feel you have missed the will of God. Jesus taught us that He does speak to us and guide us throughout our lives:

I am the good shepherd and know my sheep, and am known of mine. . . And other sheep I have which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:14,16,27)
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Born of a Virgin

12/23/2014

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This time of year more than ever we find ourselves thinking about the birth of our Savior. But, when you think about the nativity and consider Mary's virgin birth do you ever ask yourself, "Why a virgin birth?" One answer, of course, is to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14: "Behold the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." This however is circular logic, it happened because it needed to happen.  Yes it does fulfill prophesy, but why did the birth need to be of a virgin in the first place?

God announced very early that His plan for redemption involved the Messiah being born of  the tribe of Judah, and specifically from the line of David. The succession of subsequent kings proved to be, with only a few exceptions, a pretty dismal. As the succeeding kings of Judah went from bad to worse, we eventually encounter Jeconiah (also known as Jehoiachin). This guy was so bad that God pronounces a" blood curse" :"Thus saith the Lord, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah."(Jeremiah 22:30)

This curse creates a rather huge paradox: the Messiah had to come from the royal line, yet now there was a "blood curse" on that very blood line! (I always visualize Satan having a party on that day. But then I imagine God turning to His angels, saying," Watch this one!")

The answer comes from  the differing genealogies of Jesus Christ recorded in the gospels. Matthew, as a Levi, focuses his gospel on the Messiahship of Jesus and presents Him as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Knowing this, we see how Matthew traces the legal line from Abraham (as any Jew would) through David, then through Solomon (the  royal line) to Joseph, the legal father of Jesus.

On the other hand, Luke, as a physician, focuses on the humanity of Jesus and presents Him as the Son of Man. Luke traces the blood line from Adam (the first Man) through to David-- and his genealogy from Abraham through David is identical to Matthew's. But then after David, Luke departs from the path taken by Matthew and traces the family tree through another son of David (the second surviving son of Bathsheba), Nathan, down through Heli, the father of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Now I have to tell you this so this will all make sense. During the time of Christ, your inheritance was passed father to son. Mothers and daughters were excluded from inheritances but, there was an exception to the law which permitted inheritance through the daughter if no sons were available and she married within her tribe.

The daughters of Zelophehad had petitioned Moses for this special exception, which was granted when they entered the land under Joshua.

C.I. Scofield was the first who noted that the claims of Christ rely upon this peculiar exception granted to the family of Zelophehad. Heli, Mary's father, had no sons, and Mary married within the tribe of Judah. Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, of the house and lineage of David and carrying legal title to the line, but without the blood curse of Jeconiah. Every detail of the entire Bible has a direct link to Jesus Christ. "The volume of the book is written of me." (Psalm 40:7)

This was no afterthought, when God is involved there are no such things as luck or coincidence.. It was first announced in the Garden of Eden when God declared war on Satan: "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."(Genesis 3:15)

The "Seed of the Woman" is a prophetic title of the Messiah. This biological contradiction is the first hint from the early chapters of Genesis of the virgin birth.

John also presents a genealogy, of sorts, of the Pre-Existent One in the first three verses of his gospel. Micah also highlights this:"But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."(Micah 5:2)

God does not give us prophecy for no reason. God moves with a purpose. Keep this in mind as you celebrate the birth of our Lord this Christmas. God knows every detail of your life, and has designed you to be the amazing, wonderful, and loved child of  God that you are.

Connie and I would like to send out our prayers and best wishes to you and yours this Christmas season. God bless!
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Top Ten Christian Christmas Songs #2

12/19/2014

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#2 Away in a Manger

The first publication of "Away in a Manger" was in 1885 in a Lutheran Sunday school book by James R. Murray. The fact that the song was included in the book and was subtitled "Luther's Cradle Hymn (Composed by Martin Luther for his children and still sung by German mothers to their little ones)" created the misconception that the lyrics were actually written by Martin Luther himself. However, no proof that Martin Luther had any hand in the creation of "Away in a Manger" exists. The author of the first two verses is unknown, but the third verse was composed by John T. Mc­Far­land. The music was composed by William J. Kirkpatrick in 1895.

The carol has been covered by artists from just about every style of music. From Martina McBride, Dwight Yoakam and Sufjan Stevens to Julie Andrews, Linda Ronstadt and Nat King Cole -- secular as well as Christian artists have done the song justice for years. 
Away in a manger 
No crib for His bed 
The little Lord Jesus 
Laid down His sweet head 
The stars in the bright sky 
Looked down where He lay 
The little Lord Jesus 
Asleep on the hay


The cattle are lowing 
The poor Baby wakes 
But little Lord Jesus 
No crying He makes 
I love Thee, Lord Jesus 
Look down from the sky 
And stay by my side, 
'Til morning is nigh.


Be near me, Lord Jesus 
I ask Thee to stay 
Close by me forever 
And love me I pray 
Bless all the dear children 
In Thy tender care 
And take us to heaven 
To live with Thee there



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Top Ten Christian Christmas Songs #3

12/18/2014

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#3 God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

The traditional religious Christmas carol "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" was sung for centuries before being first published in Britain in 1833. The story goes that the carol was sung to the gentry by town watchmen who earned additional money during the Christmas season.

The carol has been covered by artists from just about every style of music. From Julie Andrews, Perry Como and Neil Diamond to Mariah Carey, Chicago and The Barenaked Ladies -- secular as well as Christian artists have done the song justice for years. 
God rest ye merry, gentlemen, 
Let nothing you dismay, 
For Jesus Christ our Saviour 
Was born upon this day, 
To save us all from Satan's power 
When we were gone astray: 
O tidings of comfort and joy, 
comfort and joy, 
O tidings of comfort and joy.


From God our heavenly Father 
A blessèd angel came, 
And unto certain shepherds 
Brought tidings of the same, 
How that in Bethlehem was born 
The Son of God by name: 
O tidings of comfort and joy.


The shepherds at those tidings 
Rejoicèd much in mind, 
And left their flocks a-feeding 
In tempest, storm and wind, 
And went to Bethlehem straightway, 
This blessèd Babe to find: 
O tidings of comfort and joy.


But when to Bethlehem they came, 
Whereat this Infant lay, 
They found Him in a manger, 
Where oxen feed on hay; 
His mother Mary kneeling, 
Unto the Lord did pray: 
O tidings of comfort and joy.


Now to the Lord sing praises, 
All you within this place, 
And with true love and brotherhood 
Each other now embrace; 
This holy tide of Christmas 
All others doth deface:
O tidings of comfort and joy.

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Top Ten Christian Christmas Songs #1

12/17/2014

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#1 Angels We Have Heard on High

The popular traditional religious Christmas carol "Angels We Have Heard on High" was originally a traditional French carol known as "Les Anges dans nos Campagnes," which translates literally to "The Angels in our Countryside." It was translated from French to English by James Chadwick in Crown of Jesus in 1862. The music, a hymn titled "Gloria," was arranged by Edwin S. Barnes. The combination of the two was first published together in a carol collection dated 1855.

The song, which is about the birth of Christ, is a favorite all over the world.

The carol has been covered by artists from just about every style of music. From Josh Groban, Billy Gilman and Brian Culbertson to Bing Crosby, Joan Baez and Olivia Newton-John.

Angels we have heard on high 
Sweetly singing o’er the plains, 
And the mountains in reply 
Echoing their joyous strains.


(Refrain)
Gloria, in excelsis Deo! 
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!


Shepherds, why this jubilee? 
Why your joyous strains prolong? 
What the gladsome tidings be 
Which inspire your heavenly song?


Repeat refrain

Come to Bethlehem and see 
Christ Whose birth the angels sing; 
Come, adore on bended knee, 
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.


Repeat refrain

See Him in a manger laid, 
Whom the choirs of angels praise; 
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, 
While our hearts in love we raise.


Repeat refrain

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Top Ten Christian Christmas Songs #4

12/17/2014

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#4 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" was written in 1739 by Charles Wesley, the brother of the founder of the Methodist church, John Wesley. Though Welsey did not mind people reprinting and using his song, he did not want any words changed and he went so far as to put that in writing. His friend and co-worker, George Whitfield, ignored that request and changed the wording of the first two lines from "Hark! how all the welkin rings / Glory to the King of Kings" to what we use today.

The original music played with "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" was also different from the current version, being slow and solemn, as that was what Wesley wanted and that was how the song was played for 101 years. In a completely unrelated event, in 1840, composer Felix Mendelssohn wrote a song to commemorate the invention of the printing press. He said that his music could be used for other works, with the exception that it was not to be used for sacred music. Fifteen years later an organist named William H. Cummings ignored that request and adopted the music from the second chorus of Mendelssohn's song for the carol. He also organized the song into the ten-line stanzas that are sung today. The final version was published in 1856.

The carol has been covered by artists from just about every style of music. From Frank Sinatra, Steve Martin and Nat King Cole to Martina McBride, Mariah Carey and Shedaisy -- secular and Christian artists have done the song justice for years. 
Hark! the herald angels sing 
Glory to the newborn King,
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconcile.
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with the angelic host proclaim,
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Hark! the herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King.


Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail, the incarnate deity,
pleased as Man with to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel!
Hark! the herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King.


Hail, the heaven-born Prince of peace!
Hail the Sun of righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that man no more may die,
born to raise the suns of earth,
born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King.
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Top Ten Christian Christmas Songs #5

12/16/2014

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#5 O Come, All Ye Faithful

The popular traditional religious Christmas carol "O Come, All Ye Faithful," originally known as "Adeste Fideles," has been translated many times in many different cultures.

The words for the carol were written by John Francis Wade in 1743. Verses 1-3 and verse 6 were translated from Latin to English by Frederick Oakeley in 1841 while verses 4 and 5 were translated by William Thomas Brooke (1848-1917). The music composition has been attributed variously to John Wade, John Reading, or Simao Portogallo. The earliest existing manuscript shows the words as well as the tune and lists John Wade as both writer and composer.

It was published in the 1760 edition of Evening Offices of the Church. John Francis Wade included it in his own publication of Cantus Diversi in 1761.

The carol has been covered by some of the greatest contemporary artists; from Josh Groban, Clay Aiken and Martina McBride to Nat King Cole, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash.
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels;


(Refrain)

O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.


True God of true God, Light from Light Eternal,
Lo, He shuns not the Virgin’s womb;
Son of the Father, begotten, not created;


Repeat refrain

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation;
O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest;


Repeat refrain

See how the shepherds, summoned to His cradle,

Leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze;
We too will thither bend our joyful footsteps;


Repeat refrain

Lo! star led chieftains, Magi, Christ adoring,
Offer Him incense, gold, and myrrh;
We to the Christ Child bring our hearts’ oblations.


Repeat refrain

Child, for us sinners poor and in the manger,
We would embrace Thee, with love and awe;
Who would not love Thee, loving us so dearly?


Repeat refrain

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;

Jesus, to Thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.


Repeat refrain
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Top Ten Christian Christmas Songs #6

12/15/2014

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#6 O Holy Night

O Holy Night ("Cantique de Noël") was composed by Adolphe C. Adam in 1847 to the French Christmas poem "Minuit, chrétiens" by Placide Cappeau. It was translated into English by Unitarian minister John Sullivan Dwight, editor of Dwight's Journal of Music, in 1855.

On Christmas Eve, 1906, Canadian inventor Reginald Fessenden broadcasted the first AM radio program and played "O Holy Night" on the violin, making the popular carol the first piece of music to be broadcast on radio.

Here are just a few of the artists who have covered this song: Martina McBride, *Nsync, Jewel, Placido Domingo, Johnny Mathis and
Joan Baez.
Oh holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

Till He appear'd and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angels' voices!
Oh night divine, Oh night when Christ was born;
Oh night divine, Oh night, Oh night Divine.

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,

Here come the wise men from Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friend.

He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King, Behold your King.

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;

And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

Let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
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Top Ten Christian Christmas Songs #7

12/14/2014

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#7 O Little Town of Bethlehem

The words to the popular traditional religious Christmas carol "O Little Town of Bethlehem" were written by an Episcopal priest named Phillips Brooks in 1867 after a visit to the town of Bethlehem two years prior. The music, simply titled "St. Louis," was written by Lewis H. Redner the following year in 1868. Redner was Brooks’ organist at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is said that the tune came to him on Christmas Eve, and was first sung the next day.

Almost every style of music has at one point or another covered this song.
From Kenny Chesney, Sarah McLachlan and Alabama to Elvis Presley, Emmylou Harris and Frank Sinatra.
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.


For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars together, proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth!


How silently, how silently, the wondrous Gift is giv’n;
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His Heav’n.
No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.


Where children pure and happy pray to the blessèd Child,
Where misery cries out to Thee, Son of the mother mild;
Where charity stands watching and faith holds wide the door,
The dark night wakes, the glory breaks, and Christmas comes once more.


O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!
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Top Ten Christian Christmas Songs #8

12/13/2014

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#8 Silent Night

The words to "Silent Night" were written in German by the Austrian priest Josef Mohr in 1816. Verses 1 and 3 were translated from German to English by John F. Young in 1863. The translator of verses 2 and 4 remains anonymous to this day. The music was written by Austrian headmaster Franz X. Gruber in 1818. The carol was first performed in the NicolaKirche (Church of St. Nicholas) in Oberndorf, Austria on December 24, 1818.

"Silent Night" has been translated into over 300 languages and dialects. It is the song that was sung simultaneously in English and German by troops fighting in WWI during the Christmas truce of 1914.

The carol has been covered by just about every artist known to man. From Sinead O'Connor, Josh Groban and Kenny Chesney to Dean Martin, Johnny Cash and Emmylou Harris. Secular as well as Christian artists have done the song justice for years. 
Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and Child.
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.


Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!


Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love’s pure light;
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.


Silent night, holy night
Wondrous star, lend thy light;
With the angels let us sing,
Alleluia to our King;
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!
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    Walter Blackwood

    Director of Out of School Care at Sunridge Community Church in West Kelowna BC, Canada

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