Tuesday, December 29, 2009

The End of the World as We Know It...And I Feel Fine!

It is no secret that while many in our culture increasingly describe themselves as "non-religious", there is simultaneously a rise in self-professed "spirituality". What most people seem to mean by this is that they are suspicious of what they consider to be "organized religion", while remaining "tolerant" and "open" to a spiritual smorgasbord of ancient beliefs and practices.

I find it interesting that nearly any form of spirituality - except that of the Biblical Jesus - is fair game for consideration in our culture. Among a host of other examples, one recent phenomenon has to do with the current fascination with so-called prophecies surrounding the Mayan Calendar and 2012 as a year predicted to hold much prophetic significance.

So many people seem fascinated with conjecture and opinion related to 2012 - in similar fashion to the frenzy surrounding Y2K just a decade ago. Yet ironically, the Bible, which seems to be the only consistently rejected source of information about the end of the world - is the only resource to have proven itself consistently accurate concerning future predictions.

Beginning January 3 at Valley, we will begin an 7-week Series called "The End of the World as We Know it...and I Feel Fine." In the series we will be looking carefully at a series of major passages from the prophetic voices of Daniel, Jesus, Paul and John. Although there are differing opinions among Bible-believing Christians about the details surrounding Christ's Second Coming, all committed Christians believe He will return in power and glory.

As we begin a new decade, I invite you to join us Sundays at 9am and 11am (5063 Maple Road in Vacaville). Come investigate for yourself the claims of Scripture - and see if some of your questions find answers in the pages of the ancient texts. You might be surprised at how relevant these ancient predictions really are! For more info about the ministries of Valley Church, you can contact us at 707-448-7222. I hope to see you this week! :)

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Come Home This Christmas...

Do you remember your favorite Christmas tradition as a kid? Maybe you were allowed to open one present on Christmas Eve. Perhaps you left cookies and milk out for Santa. I remember reading "The Night Before Christmas" with my dad - listening to him intentionally mess up the story with alternate words and rhymes. My favorite part of Christmas was when we would finish opening our presents, then jump in the Oldsmobile and drive to my Grandparents' house for round two!

Then later in life - when God blessed us with our own kids - our joy began to come from watching them go through similar emotions as they patiently wait for the big day. And another thing happens when you get older. You begin to understand that not every child in the world - or even the majority of children - are as fortunate as those in most homes across America.

Our church partners with ministry efforts in various parts of the world, including Mexico, Turkey, Rwanda and elsewhere. Recently some of our partners in the Congo notified us of an extreme rise in violence - including murderous attacks against Christian leaders by various witch doctors from animistic tribes. Children have been raped and abused - displaced from their families and from what little security they had grown accustomed to in this genocidal region of the world.

My heart is ravaged as I read the reports, trying to process the reality of conditions that I cannot wrap my mind around. As my children sleep in the warmth of a well-furnished home, I cannot begin to imagine the pain of a parent whose children have been ripped away from them by force in the middle of the night. And while I cannot allow existential guilt to consume me based merely on the fact that I was fortunate enough to be born on American soil - neither can I allow my heart to become indifferent to the 3.5 billion people in the world who live on less than $2 per day.

We may not frequently meet people who have been ripped away from their families under such extreme conditions as I just described. But each of us know someone who has been displaced - a person who for whatever reason feels like an outcast. Who is that person within your reach this Christmas? Could God be offering you the opportunity to bring the life and light of Jesus into that life? An invitation to Christmas dinner? A Christmas card hand-delivered to their door? An invite to join with your family at a Christmas Eve Church service? Who among the displaced is God calling you to invite home this year?

Jesus came because we were displaced. We had become estranged from God through our sin - and Christmas morning launched the mission of a Messiah who would bring us back home. Maybe YOU are the one who has been displaced. Would you consider joining us at Valley Church for any one of our three Christmas Eve Services - 2pm; 3:30pm; or 5pm on December 24? I hope you will - and that God will whisper to you this week about how much He wants you to come home. Wherever you are at spiritually, emotionally or physically right now - Jesus proves that God is head over heals in love with you. May you open your heart to that love this year. If you want to talk more about connecting to this Savior, please email me at jwhite@valleychurch.com. Blessings to you from the Jesus followers at Valley Church.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Celebrate Good Times, Come On...

Have you ever noticed how often we cheapen the meaning of words? During a great message taught recently by one of the board members of our church, he made note of our overuse of the word "awesome." If we're honest, we must admit that it is a bit weird to describe both the Grand Canyon and pizza with the same adjective.

I was also thinking about this in terms of the word "celebrate". Christmas is a season of celebration. As a follower of Christ I celebrate love, family, generosity and most importantly - the birth of Jesus. But the other day while driving on the freeway I noticed a billboard for a grocery store chain that said: "COME CELEBRATE...reduced prices on thousands of items storewide!" After a quick double-take, I said to myself, "Really?"

Is THAT what we've reduced ourselves to as a culture? Using the word "celebrate" in reference to saving a nickel on a can of peas? Now don't get me wrong - I love scoring a good deal! My wife and I definitely feel good when we find a bargain. But "celebrate"? Really?

The word "celebrate" is defined as "festive actions taken in response to good news." Celebration is wonderful. The Bible repeatedly instructs and encourages God's people to be joyous. The life lived with God is affirmed repeatedly in Scripture as a life to be filled with celebration. The Hebrew calendar was chock full of festivals. Angels are described as throwing a party whenever people place their trust in Jesus. Jesus' first public miracle was at a wedding. God created the capacity to celebrate and He loves it when we do!

I don't know about you, but I want to allow this Christmas season to re-orient me to the true meaning of celebration. When the angel announced Christ's birth to some random shepherds, the heavenly being said "I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today...a Savior has been born to you." (Luke 2:10-11).

Did you catch that? It's not just that Christ was born. Or that He was born to Mary and Joseph. But He was born "to you...for all the people" of the world. What an incredible invitation...and a legitimate reason to celebrate. I hope you DO save a few cents on your Christmas ham - but don't reduce your celebration to having received a bargain on your shopping list. Celebrate everything Jesus offers to a world in pain and turmoil. That's my perspective...what's yours?