Upward Basketball-- Opportunities to Serve

Check out this video by Caz McCaslin, founder of Upward Sports sharing the mission and vision of Upwards. The 2014 Upward season kicks off next week! There are still opportunities for you to plug in and be a part of making this season a success.

Opportunities:
1. Volunteer to serve as Host Commissioner. Learn more about the role of Host Commissioner here.
2. Volunteer to serve as Prayer Commissioner. Learn more about the role of Prayer Commissioner here.
3. Volunteer to referee. Learn more about the role of Upward Referee here.
4. Volunteer to be a Game Announcer. Game announcers help provide an atmosphere of fun and excitement on game day by announcing each player's name as they run through the tunnel.
5. Set up/Break down Team. Each Friday and Saturday of Upwards will have over 16 hours of games. A large team of volunteers Friday night, Saturday morning at 7 and Saturday night between 7:30 and 9:00 will help Upwards be a success and the church campus made ready to go for Sunday mornings.

The Nativity: Simeon and Anna (Luke 2:22-38) Questions for Reflection and Discussion

Dig Deeper

As required by the law of Moses, forty days following the birth of Jesus, He was taken by Joseph and Mary to Jerusalem, a 5 ½ mile journey, to be presented in the temple. (Luke 2:22; Leviticus 12:18) While among the crowds in the “Court of Wisdom” they encounter an elderly saint by the name of Simeon. Simeon had received a promise from the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he encountered God’s promised one (Luke 2:26). Luke states that Simeon was waiting for the “Consolation (or Comfort) of Israel” (Luke 2:25). What insights are gained from the following Scriptures regarding Jesus as “Consolation” or Comfort of Israel?

Isaiah 49:13--

Isaiah 51:3--

Isaiah 52:9--

Isaiah 66:13--

Following Jesus’ dedication Joseph, Mary and Jesus encounter the eighty-four year old prophetess Anna. (Luke 2:36) Similar to Simeon, Anna immediately begins to praise and thank God upon her seeing Jesus. In her praise Anna refers to “all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38).

Read Isaiah 62. Here in Isaiah 62 the prophet compares the redemption of Jerusalem with the joy of m the joy and promise of marriage. Compare this imagery with Ephesians 5:25-27. How was redemption accomplished?

Application

Read 1 Peter 2:9-10. In what ways are the examples of Simeon and Anna applicable to you? How is the Holy Spirit leading you to find comfort in Jesus? How will you seek to spread the good news of redemption?

Memorize This

Matthew 1:23— Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. KJV

"A Baby's Hug"-- Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"." Luke 11:13 NIV

As a father of two bright-eyed beautiful little girls one of my favorite things about Christmas morning is seeing the expression on their faces when they open their gifts. Three years ago Sherrill and I were able to get the perfect gift, a giant doll house!

I knew it was the perfect gift because for weeks before Christmas I would take the girls to a certain toy store in the mall and watch them play with this doll house. The entire time I watched them play I looked forward to their reaction Christmas morning.

In comparison of giving gifts notice what Jesus says about God the Father in Luke 11:13, “how much more will your Father in heaven give…” Can you imagine what God was filled with when He gave the gift of His Son that very first Christmas?

Today we celebrate the most amazing gift of all time... the gift of Jesus. The following is a short story I read on Dr James Dobson's web page, Family Talk entitled, A Baby's Hug. The author is unknown.

We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, “Hi.” He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment. 

I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard, and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map.

We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled. His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists. “Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy. I see ya’ buster,” the man said to Erik.
My husband and I exchanged looks, “What do we do?”

Erik continued to laugh and answer, “Hi.”

Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby. Our meal came, and the man began shouting from across the room, “Do ya’ patty cake? Do ya’ know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek-a-boo.”

Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk.

My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid-row bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments.

We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the bill and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man sat poised between me and the door. “Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik,” I prayed. As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby’s ‘pick-me-up’ position. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to those of the man.

Suddenly, a very old smelly man and a very young baby shared their love and kinship. Erik, in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man’s ragged shoulder. The man’s eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor cradled my baby’s bottom and stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time.

I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms, and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, “You take care of this baby.”
Somehow I managed, “I will,” from a throat that contained a stone.

He pried Erik from his chest, lovingly and longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, “God bless you, ma’am, you’ve given me my Christmas gift.”
I said nothing more than a muttered, “Thanks.” With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, “My God, my God, forgive me.”

I had just witnessed Christ’s love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment, a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not. I felt it was God asking, “Are you willing to share your son for a moment?” He had shared His only Son for all eternity. How must God have felt when He put his baby in our arms 2,000 years ago?

The ragged old man had unwittingly reminded me, “To enter the Kingdom of God, we must become as little children.”

If this has blessed you, please bless others by sharing it. Sometimes, it takes a child to remind us of what is really important. We must always remember who we are, where we came from and, most importantly, how we feel about others. The clothes on your back, or the car that you drive, or the house that you live in does not define you at all; it is how you treat your fellow man that identifies who you are.

I don't know a parent who would not have the same reaction as Erik's mom and dad. Amid the laughter and celebration of this day, make sure you spend time in awe of God's gift of His Son. "For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ." 1Corinthians 5:21 NLT

The Nativity: Shepherds (Luke 2:8-20) Questions for Reflection and Discussion

Dig Deeper

The Hebrew meaning of Bethlehem (“Bēṯ Leḥem”) is “house of bread.” As an agricultural community shepherds were commoners who were often despised by the religious elite. The very fact that these shepherds were chosen as the first to hear the gospel message by an angle of the Lord declared, “I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” is in itself evidence of the message’s scope “for all the people.” (Luke 2:10)

In addition to demonstrating the universality of the gospel message, the selection of shepherds served to reinforce God’s role as Shepherd to His people (Psalm 23:1) and foreshadowed Jesus as the Good Shepherd (John 10:11). It is also significant that due to their proximity to Jerusalem these Bethlehem shepherds most likely raised sheep for sacrifice alluding to Jesus’ great sacrifice for the sins of the world (1John 2:2).

What do the following Scriptures reveal God's role as Shepherd of His people?

Psalm 23:2--

Amos 3:12--

Ezekiel 34:8, 22-24--

In John 10:11 Jesus proclaimed, ““I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Read John 10:11-18. What insights about Jesus as the Good Shepherd are gained from these verses? What further roles fulfilled by Jesus as Shepherd are revealed in the Hebrews 13:20 and 1 Peter 5:4?

Application

Bible teacher Gene Getz in the Life EssentialsStudy Bible comments on the reaction of those who heard the Shepherd’s report, “and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds were told about this child” (Luke 2:18), “We should never ceases to be awestruck by the redemptive story revealed throughout Scripture.” Read other accounts of those amazed in Luke’s Gospel-- Luke 2:33; 4:22; 8:25; 9:43; 11:14; 11:38; 20:26; 24:12: and 24:40-41. Pastor Getz asks, “How can we keep this amazing story of God’s grace and redemption from becoming merely factual and ritualistic repetition in own worship experiences?

Memorize This

Matthew 1:23— Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. KJV

The Nativity Story

The Nativity Story, Blu-ray/DVD Combo By Word Entertainment Inc The most magnificent portrayal of the nativity ever! Witness the struggles and joys of the Holy Family---and the Savior's birth at the turning point of history. Epic in scope yet intimate in detail, this major motion picture spared nothing to ensure historical accuracy and cinematic power. A film to be cherished for years to come! Starring Keisha Castle-Hughes (Whale Rider) and Oscar Isaac. Rated PG (some violence). Dove approved. Approx. 101 minutes. Special Features: Widescreen and Fullscreen Versions English and Spanish Subtitles Closed Captions Trailers

Christmas Flash Mob

One year ago today, this "Christmas Flash Mob" delighted of local shoppers at the South Bay Galleria in Redondo Beach and millions of views on YouTube last year. Enjoy!

2014 Winter Youth Retreat

NMBC Student Ministry (6-12th grade) will have our annual Winter Retreat on Friday, 2/21-Sunday, 2/23/14 at Camp of the Woods in Speculator, NY. This weekend is designed to challenge teens to grow closer to Jesus, build positive and meaningful relationships, and have more fun then you ever thought was possible! Throughout the weekend students will meet for Bible lessons, break out in small groups, participate in team tournaments (basketball, soccer, volleyball, dodgeball), go snow tubing, ice skating, and so much more! The weekend costs $150/student. For more information please read the permission slip! This is a weekend you child won’t want to miss! Permission slips available Sunday mornings and in the Family Ministry Center. Space is limited so please get your permission slip in ASAP!

The Nativity: Wise Men (Matthew 2:1-12) Questions for Reflection and Discussion

Dig Deeper

Matthew is the only Gospel to mention the Wise Men. (Matthew 2:1-12) That these men brought three gifts is what lead to the theory that there were three men. The ESV Study Bible observes, “The wise men likely traveled with a large number of attendants and guards for the long journey” meaning that when they did not arrive in Bethlehem until sometime after the birth of Christ and the scene was much more crowded that depicted in our Nativity scenes. The names Melchior, Balthasar, and Caspar are also merely legend.

Numbers 24:17 records the prophecy “A star will come from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel.” Jews held in Babylonian captivity understood this verse to point to a messianic deliverer (ESV Study Bible notes).  This is likely how these “wise men from the east” learned of this prophecy.

Most of the images and people present at the Nativity reinforce Jesus’ humble incarnation. (Philippians 2:7) The unexpected arrival of these wise men calls attention to Jesus’ Kingship. On a practical level the gifts they bring provide the funds needed for Joseph to rescue his family by fleeing to Egypt. (Matthew 2:13-15) Some theologians believe that the gifts themselves are prophetic. If so, what might the following Scriptures reveal as to the significance of each of these gifts?

Gold (2 Samuel 8:11; 1 Kings 6:20-21; Ezra 8:28; Haggai 2:8; and Revelation 21:18-21)--

Frankincense oil (Genesis 28:17-19; Exodus 27:20; Psalm 23:5; Jeremiah 31:12; Matthew 26:7-12; Luke 7:46; Hebrews 1:9; and James 5:14)--

Myrrh (Psalm 45:8; Mark 15:22-24; and John 19:38-40)--

Application

Using the following Scriptures, spend some time meditating on the Kingship of Jesus. Isaiah 9:6; John 12:15, 18:37; Acts 2:3; Philippians 2:10-11; 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14, and 19:16. Are there any specific areas of your life where the Holy Spirit is leading to more fully yield to Jesus’ kingship?

Memorize This

Matthew 1:23— Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. KJV

An insightful third grade girl wrote the following observations about grandmothers-- Dr James Dobson quote:

Here's the quote I referenced Sunday from Dr. Dobson's book What Wives Wish Their Husbands Knew about Women--

A grandmother is a lady who has no children of her own. She likes other people’s little girls and boys. A grandfather is a man grandmother. He goes for walks with the boys and they talk about fishing and stuff like that.

Grandmothers don’t have to do anything except to be there. They’re so old they shouldn’t play hard or run. It is enough if they drive us to the market where the pretend horse is, and have a lot of dimes ready. Or if they take us for walks, they should slow down past things like pretty leaves and caterpillars. They should never say “hurry up.”

Usually grandmothers are fat, but not too fat to tie your shoes. They wear glasses and funny underwear. They can take their teeth and gums off.

Grandmothers don’t have to be smart, only answer questions like, “Why isn’t God married?” and “How come dogs chase cats?” Grandmothers don’t talk baby-talk like visitors do, because it is hard to understand. Whey they read to us, they don’t skip or mind if it is the same story over again.

Everybody should try to have a grandmother, especially if you don’t have television, because they are the only grownups who have time.

What Wives Wish Their Husbands Knew About Women By Dr. James Dobson / Tyndale House Dr. James Dobson provides an empathetic look at the barriers to marital harmony, offering insightful and helpful suggestions on issues like low self-esteem, depression, loneliness and boredom in marriage, sexual problems, financial difficulties, hormonal and physiological problems and others. Both men and women will find his discussion interesting, often humorous and immensely practical to everyday living.

More thoughts on Joseph

I noted Sunday that the revelation by the angel of the Lord to Joseph added the information, "He will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). To Mary, the angel's message emphasized the Lord's favor on her and greatness of her Son. (See Luke 1:28-33) To Joseph there was a specific appeal to the importance of the mission.

Perhaps I run the risk of making too much of this phrase, but I believe it is another example of the call God has placed inside the heart of every man... and especially every dad. John Eldredge defines this call in Wild at Heart as a desire for an adventure to live, a battle to fight and a beauty to rescue. For Joseph that meant risking his life to save his wife and her child from an evil ruler hellbent on his adopted son's destruction. 

Here's the CBS News report about the study from the National Academy of Sciences showing differences in neural wiring of men and women. I doubt any of us needed a study to reveal this, but it is interesting nonetheless.

The Nativity: Joseph (Matthew 1:18-25) Questions for Reflection and Discussion

Dig Deeper

In his betrothal to Mary Joseph unknowingly embarked on an unimaginable adventure. The first thing the Scriptures reveal about Joseph is that he is a descendant of King David (Matthew 1:16). The second revelation about this man deals with his character, “Joseph, being a righteous man…” (Matthew 1:18). Joseph is the man God choose to be Jesus’ adopted father and is an example to us of the characteristics of godly father-- consistent when tested, confident in his call and compassionate in relationships. 

Outside of the events leading up to and immediately following the Nativity little is known about Joseph. The last specific mention of Joseph in the Gospels is when Jesus is twelve years old and the family was returning to Nazareth after celebrating the Passover Festival in Jerusalem (Luke 2:41-51). Jesus was known throughout Nazareth as Joseph’s son and it was from Joseph that he learned the skills of a carpenter. (Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3) What insights do you gain about the example of Joseph from the following Scriptures?

Matthew 1:16; Psalm 132:17-18--

Matthew 1:18-25--

Luke 2:15-17--

Matthew 2:13-15--

Matthew 2:19-23; Luke 2:39-52--

Luke 2:21-25; Exodus 13:2; Leviticus 5:11--

Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3--

Application

The Life Application Study Bible lists four lessons from the life of Joseph. 1). God honors integrity, 2). Social position is of little importance when God chooses to use us, 3). Being obedient to the guidance we have from God leads to more guidance from Him and 4). Feelings are not accurate measures of the rightness or wrongness of an action. How is the Holy Spirit leading you to grow in consistent character, confidence and compassion as a result of Joseph’s example?

Memorize This

Matthew 1:23— Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. KJV

iBand at North Point

Very cool!

Support Philippine Relief Work Through Amazon.com

Shopping on Amazon this Christmas?

If you are shopping on Amazon this Christmas use this link to support relief work in the Philippines through Baptist Global Response.  BGR is the international arm of Disaster Relief. 

BGR and their partners in the Philippines are responding to immediate needs and will formulate a longer-term strategy for helping affected people rebuild their lives. BGR expects this effort to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. The task also requires considerable amounts of prayer and hard work. You can learn more about BGR and their relief work in the Philippines here.