Tami, Ryan, Alyssa and I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas. This is our 11th Christmas in Denton. Ryan was eight and Alyssa was 4 that first Christmas in 1997. They are now 19 and 15 and Denton is the only home they remember. We have been blessed to live in Denton and to be a part of First Baptist Church these 11 plus years. As a young pastor I did not want to move from church to church and come to the end of my ministry and have a list of a dozen churches that I had pastored. I prayed that God would put me somewhere and leave me and give my kids the opportunity to go to one school and be able to call that place home. God has given me and my family that gift and this Christmas I am grateful for that gift.
As I write this afternoon it's the day before the day before Christmas! As I think about what will take place over the next 48 hours I'm excited about it all. Most all of it revolves around tradition at the Williams' house. We will begin our Christmas celebration by going to the Christmas Eve service tomorrow night. It will be a time of Christmas Carols, the Lord's Supper, Candlelight and most importantly sharing the moment with our church family. We will then go home and have a special time as a family. We will read the Christmas story from Luke 2 and we will read the classic Christmas book "The Night Before Christmas." Ryan and Alyssa will open one present that night before bed, they know what's inside! They always get new pajama's on Christmas Eve!
Christmas morning we will get up and open presents. We are so blessed to be able to give gifts to one another, more than any of us really need. Tami loves buying Christmas and she always goes overboard and I always get on to her, but I'm thankful that God gives us the means to do that. After we open our gifts and our stockings we will eat Sausage balls for breakfast (my favorite part!) We started a new tradition a few years ago of staying home on Christmas day and inviting whoever wants to come for Christmas lunch. My parents, my sister and her family and the Cole and Beth Sciba family are joining us this year. We will eat too much "fried turkey" and everything else and just enjoy being together on such a great day.
We won't get to see Tami's parents until after Christmas this year. Tami's Dad is in the hospital being treated for an infection. We pray that he gets well soon and gets to go home soon after Christmas.
My wish for you this Christmas is that you will enjoy family and friends, that you will get what you want and be able to give what you want as well. I hope you will be as blessed as I am by a church family, friends, and most of all your family as you celebrate Christmas this year!
Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Elves Shelves
For several years First Baptist Church Denton has helped numerous families at Christmas time. We would hear about families in need of help and different people in the church would "adopt" these families and provide toys for the kids, food and sometimes clothes. Usually we would help a couple of dozen families every year. Last year our Children's Pastor, Christy Butler, came up with the idea of Elves Shelves to try and help even more families.
The idea behind Elves Shelves is that parents come to the church and "shop" for toys for their children for Christmas. They are allowed to choose a certain number of toys for each child and then they give the toys to the children at Christmas. Last year we used a small classroom in the church and gave out toys over several days. We gave away several thousand toys and helped several hundred families. Then at the beginning of 2008 we began to make plans for this Christmas. About two dozen people became a part of the Elves Shelves planning team led by Christy Butler. They worked the entire year to make plans for this year's event. All year long they collected toys and money and signed up volunteers to work at the shopping days. Those days began last night and I can't tell you what an unbelievable expereince is has been already.
I am so proud of the people of First Baptist Church. They have given thousands of toys and thousands of dollars to buy even more toys. This year our entire gymnasium is full of toys for children of all ages. On Wedensday night the first families came to shop. 52 families who are a part of FBCD came to shop for their kids. Today dozens more have already come. We have over 1000 children registered to recieve toys this Christmas. Dozens of people from First Baptist are there greeting the people as they come in, helping them shop, and just showing them the love of Jesus.
The idea of gift giving began on that first Christmas 2000 years ago. We often credit the wise men for being the ones to create gift giving. But in reality they were the second ones to give. The first giver was God Himself. He gave His son Jesus that first Christmas and it is because of that we give today. I am proud to be a part of what is happening at First Baptist Denton this year. Proud of a church that even in tough economic times is willing to help those in need.
As you celebrate Christmas with your family and friends this year I hope you will find a way to follow the example of Jesus and GIVE to someone in need. With all the things happening in our country today, it won't be hard to find someone in need. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Season this year.
The idea behind Elves Shelves is that parents come to the church and "shop" for toys for their children for Christmas. They are allowed to choose a certain number of toys for each child and then they give the toys to the children at Christmas. Last year we used a small classroom in the church and gave out toys over several days. We gave away several thousand toys and helped several hundred families. Then at the beginning of 2008 we began to make plans for this Christmas. About two dozen people became a part of the Elves Shelves planning team led by Christy Butler. They worked the entire year to make plans for this year's event. All year long they collected toys and money and signed up volunteers to work at the shopping days. Those days began last night and I can't tell you what an unbelievable expereince is has been already.
I am so proud of the people of First Baptist Church. They have given thousands of toys and thousands of dollars to buy even more toys. This year our entire gymnasium is full of toys for children of all ages. On Wedensday night the first families came to shop. 52 families who are a part of FBCD came to shop for their kids. Today dozens more have already come. We have over 1000 children registered to recieve toys this Christmas. Dozens of people from First Baptist are there greeting the people as they come in, helping them shop, and just showing them the love of Jesus.
The idea of gift giving began on that first Christmas 2000 years ago. We often credit the wise men for being the ones to create gift giving. But in reality they were the second ones to give. The first giver was God Himself. He gave His son Jesus that first Christmas and it is because of that we give today. I am proud to be a part of what is happening at First Baptist Denton this year. Proud of a church that even in tough economic times is willing to help those in need.
As you celebrate Christmas with your family and friends this year I hope you will find a way to follow the example of Jesus and GIVE to someone in need. With all the things happening in our country today, it won't be hard to find someone in need. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Season this year.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Vote 2008
Without a doubt the 2008 election will go down as one of the most historic elections ever in the United States. Regardless of who wins we will have a first, either the first African American president in our history or the first female Vice-President in our history. By the time election day rolls around chances are we will know just about everything there is to know about each of the candidates, from how much money has been spent on their clothes to who their friends are and have been for their entire lives. We certainly live in the information age and there is no lack of information about all of the candidates. Depending on what network news you watch you can get the "slant" you want toward which ever candidate you prefer. You can watch the talk shows on television or listen on the radio and hear every conceivable "side" of the issues. With all of this information and all of the polls that will tell you this candidate is winning in one state or that one is ahead in another state we have been bombarded for months now. But what it all comes down to is what you do when you got the the polls on November 4th or during early voting and you get to decide whom you want to elect as the next president of the greatest country in the world. You get to decide whom you will cast your ballot for. I know your vote is only one of millions but it's your vote and nobody can tell you how to cast it. They can give you their opinions and they can try and influence you but you get to decide.
Let me share with you what will help me decide whom I will vote for when I go during early voting. I will vote for the candidate that most closely holds the beliefs that I hold dearly. I cannot get past the issue of LIFE when I vote. I feel so strongly about the sanctity of LIFE, especially of the unborn that I will vote for the candidate that shares my belief in this area. I will vote for the candidate that will work to reduce the influence of government in our lives. I very firmly believe that God created the government and that it should be respected and followed but I don't believe that the governement is the answer to all our problems, I believe we as the people can better solve our problems. I will vote for the candidate that will reduce the tax burden on our citizens. I believe in hard work and earning your own way. I believe that when the Bible says "if a man will not work he will not eat," that means we are to work for what we have and I believe we shouldn't have to give any more of it to the government than is absolutely necessary. I will vote for the candidate that will work to promote family in our country. Family as God defined it, one man and one woman committed to each other for life raising their children to love God and follow His teachings. I am a "beliefs" voter and a "conscience" voter. I will vote for the candidate that I believe most closely shares my beliefs and my conscience as a citizen of the United States and most importantly as a believer in Jesus Christ.
Notice I didn't tell you who I will vote for. Of course I realize that you can probably read between the lines and make a pretty edcuated guess, but the point is I'm going to vote for the person I believe shares my beliefs and convictions and I urge you to do the same. That is our responsibility as citizens of these United States and as believers in Jesus Christ.
Let me share with you what will help me decide whom I will vote for when I go during early voting. I will vote for the candidate that most closely holds the beliefs that I hold dearly. I cannot get past the issue of LIFE when I vote. I feel so strongly about the sanctity of LIFE, especially of the unborn that I will vote for the candidate that shares my belief in this area. I will vote for the candidate that will work to reduce the influence of government in our lives. I very firmly believe that God created the government and that it should be respected and followed but I don't believe that the governement is the answer to all our problems, I believe we as the people can better solve our problems. I will vote for the candidate that will reduce the tax burden on our citizens. I believe in hard work and earning your own way. I believe that when the Bible says "if a man will not work he will not eat," that means we are to work for what we have and I believe we shouldn't have to give any more of it to the government than is absolutely necessary. I will vote for the candidate that will work to promote family in our country. Family as God defined it, one man and one woman committed to each other for life raising their children to love God and follow His teachings. I am a "beliefs" voter and a "conscience" voter. I will vote for the candidate that I believe most closely shares my beliefs and my conscience as a citizen of the United States and most importantly as a believer in Jesus Christ.
Notice I didn't tell you who I will vote for. Of course I realize that you can probably read between the lines and make a pretty edcuated guess, but the point is I'm going to vote for the person I believe shares my beliefs and convictions and I urge you to do the same. That is our responsibility as citizens of these United States and as believers in Jesus Christ.
Monday, October 13, 2008
What A Wild Weekend
It was one of those wild weekends for me and my teams. The weekend began on a sour note as my beloved Ryan Raiders lost to the Lake Dallas Falcons on a last minute touchdown. The Raiders are now 4-2 having lost two games by a combined 7 points! The weekend ended on another sour note as my Dallas Cowboys lost to the Arizona Cardinals 30-24. But the inbetween time was fantastic. When I was a kid I wanted to be a Texas Longhorn. Although my allegiances have changed since then I ALWAYS pull for the Longhorns to beat the Sooners in the Red River Rivalry. Wow! What a game it was on Saturday! In the meantime my number one team, the Baylor Bears were beating Iowa State. Then my new team the Oklahoma State Cowboys (You know the Bible says "where your treasure is there your heart will be also." Alot of my treasure is in Stillwater now!) beat the third ranked team in the nation the Missouri Tigers on national television. It certainly didn't break my heart that Chase Daniel of Southlake Carroll fame, threw the interception that sealed it for OKState. So it was a great weekend and a not so good weekend for me and my favorite teams.
Next Saturday we will be traveling to Stillwater for OSU Homecoming. They say it's the biggest Homecoming in the nation so I'm looking forward to experiencing it all. I'm still insulted that OSU picked Baylor to be their homecoming game and I really hate it that their first loss will come after beating the number three team in the nation! But that's life!
There are so many things more important in life that football! I'll admit I love football and football players and coaches. The game and the people who coach and play it helped to shape my teenage years and hopefully I have been able to help shape some of those teenagers over the past several years as a pastor and chaplain. Some probably think I talk too much about football but I believe it is a game that brings people together and can bring a great deal of joy to people's lives. Just visit any college campus in the Fall or any high school field on a Friday night and you will see what I mean!
Our country certainly faces some very difficult problems right now. With the economy in a downfall and the presidential election just a few weeks away, these are scary days. But here is what I know - God is still in control! In the midst of chaos, football wins and losses, God is still in control. He is the rock that we can stand on even in the most difficult of times. No matter how your football teams did last week, no matter what your financial situation, I hope you will put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ and let Him be your rock through all of life!
Next Saturday we will be traveling to Stillwater for OSU Homecoming. They say it's the biggest Homecoming in the nation so I'm looking forward to experiencing it all. I'm still insulted that OSU picked Baylor to be their homecoming game and I really hate it that their first loss will come after beating the number three team in the nation! But that's life!
There are so many things more important in life that football! I'll admit I love football and football players and coaches. The game and the people who coach and play it helped to shape my teenage years and hopefully I have been able to help shape some of those teenagers over the past several years as a pastor and chaplain. Some probably think I talk too much about football but I believe it is a game that brings people together and can bring a great deal of joy to people's lives. Just visit any college campus in the Fall or any high school field on a Friday night and you will see what I mean!
Our country certainly faces some very difficult problems right now. With the economy in a downfall and the presidential election just a few weeks away, these are scary days. But here is what I know - God is still in control! In the midst of chaos, football wins and losses, God is still in control. He is the rock that we can stand on even in the most difficult of times. No matter how your football teams did last week, no matter what your financial situation, I hope you will put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ and let Him be your rock through all of life!
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