Christmas Lights

Christmas Lights
Originally uploaded by jonathanpenney11

Last Friday I hung Christmas lights on the front of my house. It's a nice tradition that takes about 3 hours. I always do this the day after Thanksgiving. For a long time, Christmas has been one of my favorite times of the year. I don't care for the hectic schedule. But I don't see any other way around it. I am steeped in preparations for our church's Christmas musical/drama. But, you know, I've been preparing church choirs and orchestras for Christmas programs for 26 years. So I know the pace. Anyway, I hope we all get a chance to slow down a little this season, downplay the hustle and bustle of the shopping malls, and have a chance to think about, perhaps even meditate on, the deep Truth of Christmas: Emmanual - God with us.

A Gospel Presention for our Time Part 2

Here is the 2nd part to the video I posted the other day. It completes the story. So check it out.

A Gospel Presentation for our Time Part 1

I was looking through Christianity Today's RSS Feed and found an article about James Chuong to be interesting. He's come up with a gospel presentation that he writes out on napkins. The hook was set, so I checked out his website. I intend to buy his book called True Story: A Christianity Worth Believing In. Anyway, check out his website, the book, and the cool video above, and let me know what you think. A book reviewer from LA, known as Icarus on Amazon.com, had this to say about the book:

Choung starts out with a simple goal - to describe a new way to communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ. What makes his book so good is that he recognizes the complex questions people have about the gospel. He retains the central truths that we are separated by sin from the God we were created to be in perfect fellowship with and that the finished work of Christ is the only way to restore that fellowship. He adds on to those truths some others that were previously seen as "Christian history" (what was God like before Creation was created? how did sin enter the world?) and some others that were seen as "Christian Living" (if I'm saved by grace, why should I go to the trouble of doing good? what should I/the church do about Sudan, the environment, or human trafficking?). He sees that individual sin leads to corrupted relationships and communities, and he communicates a gospel of salvation for individuals and healing for relationships and communities. Other writers in this genre (McLaren and Claiborne come to mind) go too far promoting the corporate aspects of sin and salvation to the detriment of the individual responsibility for sin and need for salvation. As I read Choung's book, I didn't feel like the gospel I love was being changed, diminished, or diluted - I felt like it was being strengthened by showing the big picture of why the gospel is truly good news for individual humans and the whole world.

Christmas at FBC Wimberley

Christmas is a wonderful time here at FBC Wimberley. Make plans to attend our Christmas musical events happening the first two weekends of December.

STOMP and Joyful Noise to Perform
1st Sunday in December

Our Children's Choir, STOMP, has been working diligently on their Christmas musical, The Mystery of the Manger. This is a delightful celebration of Christmas, featuring great music, solos, and drama. Invite your friends to come and see this heartwarming Christmas event to open the season.

Sunday, Dec. 7th 6:00 p.m.

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Sanctuary Choir, Orchestra, and Drama Troupe
to perform 2nd Weekend of December

This year's Christmas music and drama presentation, presented by the music and drama ministries of our church, is called The Word is Alive. It features a 44 voice choir, 18 piece orchestra, drama troupe, solos, and narration. The music is a great blending of contemporary and traditional Christmas songs. Be sure to make this event part of your Christmas traditions this year.

Saturday, December 13, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 14, 6:00 p.m.

*Childcare is available.

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Christmas Caroling on 3rd Sunday
of the Month

On December 21st, our church family is invited to go Christmas Caroling to some of our homebound church members. They always enjoy it when they hear us singing Christmas carols at their doorstep. Following this event, we will be having refreshments in the fellowship hall.