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Merry Christmas! It is December 23rd and I am anxiously anticipating the Christmas Eve Celebration that commences at 4:30pm and 6:30pm at Calvary Cross Link tomorrow evening. As far as I can tell, over 7,500 invitations have been extended and I am planning to preach the Gospel with clarity, calling everyone in attendance to Jesus! If you're in the Shenandoah Valley, you don't want to miss this special event.

Well, enough for the commercial! A few days ago, at the urging of my brother-in-law, I downloaded the "You Version" app for my I-Phone. This awesome little app is provided by LifeChurch.tv and their pastor, Craig Groeschel. I expected it to provide me quick references on scriptures and word searches when I needed them. However, when I looked over the features of this App, I noticed that it provides various plans for reading through the Bible. I noticed one, in particular, that gets you through the Bible in 90 days. I have never read the Bible, cover to cover, in that amount of time and, being the competitive natured person that I am, I took that plan as a challenge! So, I'm almost 10% through and I am loving it!!! Granted I've got a long way to go, but I am deeply committed to finishing this plan in 90 days!

This reading plan requires 14-16 chapters per day. I'm currently in Leviticus and getting a detailed look at the sacrificial system of Israel under the leadership of Moses. It doesn't sound like ground breaking stuff, but the more I read about the various sacrifices demanded of the Israelites, the more and more grateful I become for the Ultimate Sacrifice, the Lord Jesus Christ! This has led me to my Christmas Eve sermon, coming from John 1:29, "...John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"" Leviticus led me to John, which led me to Jesus which led me to the cross! That, I pray, is Christ centered preaching!

Once again, Merry Christmas! I pray God's best for you and your family into this new year!

"I'm dreaming (terrified) of a White Christmas"

As I look out my window at a large pile of snow, I am reminded that my car is underneath that pile! Ashley, Gracie and I have been stuck in our apartment for the past 2+ days with no way to go anywhere. This bad weather forced me to cancel services for today and I really didn't want to! However, it had to be done. Okay enough whining, let me make a couple of observations concerning the blizzard (I'm assuming we can call it that) and try to draw some applications...



1.) The verse in Isaiah chapter one comes to mind. "...though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow..." I can't help but think, as I look out my window, that 2 days ago everything I currently see was a different color. The grass was green, the parking lot was gray, the cars were multi-colored, the street light posts were black, the dirt was brown, etc. Well, now everything is completely white! Why? It has been COVERED! As we consider Jesus, it might seem like an oxymoron that someones blood could make something white. But, that is exactly what Jesus's blood has done for our sins; covered them and made them whiter than snow. When we look at the snow, let us pray with the hymn writer..."Now wash me and I will be whiter than snow!"

2.) When I imagined the difficulties I would face when becoming a pastor, I'll be honest and say that the weather wasn't even in the top 50. I have to admit, I am so anxious to get started on so many things, that, I have been less than excited about the "curve balls" the weather keeps throwing at me! Then I am reminded, Psalm 24:1 says "The earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof..." So, it's not the weather that's doing this to me...it's God. And, as is the case with anything else in life, I need to seek the Lord in the midst of my frustration and learn what he desires to teach me. I can say this... I have spent more time with Ashely and Gracie in the past 2+ days than in the entire week that preceded this storm. Ask yourself this question, what could God be teaching you when he forces you to slow down (or even stop)?

Please, be safe and enjoy the snow! I am praying for good weather for our Christmas At Cross-link Celebration this Thursday! I look forward to seeing you there!

Until He comes:

Pastor John