Community Compass

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 Glory in the Highest

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them,”Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.   Luke 2:1-20  (NKJV)

MAY GOD GIVE YOU AND YOURS A BLESSED CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!

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Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel 2 Timothy 1:8-10 (New King James Version)

No, the title is not wrong. Have YOU ever heard of the popular book called YOU On a Diet? I thought by emphasizing what God has done for YOU today, YOU would understand that everything He has accomplished, it was for YOU. So YOU should take it personally if YOU know him… even if YOU don’t know Him (see the end of this post).

If YOU know Christ

He saved YOU – from the power of sin, from the penalty of sin, some day from the presence of sin

He called YOU

1. With a holy Calling - YOU are separated by God to be his forever.

2. Not according to YOUR works (Ephesians 2:8-9) – YOU are unworthy of Salvation. God saw no worthy thing in YOU when he saved YOU.

3. According to His own purpose – YOU don’t exist for your own purposes. For God’s own reason, He chose YOU. YOU must do everything you can to live for Him and not YOUR own purposes.

4 According to His own Grace – Something YOU didn’t deserve. YOU can never be arrogant about YOUR position in Christ. By grace YOU have been saved. This was planned for YOU in Christ before time began

5.. The appearing of Our Lord Jesus Christ has brought YOU life and immortality. YOU no longer need to fear death as the ultimate terminator! The great One has brought the light of hope to YOU forever.

6. Through the Gospel – He came, He died, He rose & He is coming back again — for YOU That’s the greatest news anyone could ever hear.

If YOU have not trusted Christ as YOUR Savior, YOU can!

Admit to him that YOU are a sinner and and that YOU want Him to forgive YOU.

Believe that YOU cannot save yourself from eternal punishment by YOUR good works and YOUR religious efforts (see verse 9 above)

Call upon Him to save YOU. Ask Him to be the Savior of YOUR soul. He will do it! And YOU will have the promise of eternal life.

Another one for the “outrageous judge” column!

Read Article- Click Here

Temporary tax increase
Plastic glasses
Terribly pleased
Political science
Definite maybe
Pretty ugly
Twelve-ounce pound cake
Diet ice cream
Working vacation
Exact estimate
Microsoft Works

So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,  2 Timothy 1:8

The unbelieving world is hostile to true Christianity.  It does not want to be told that it is at variance with God and his principles.  It does not want to be told that it needs a true conversion to Jesus in order to be saved.

The Apostle Paul was writing this epistle from a Roman jail.   It would not be long before he would die for Jesus.  Now Timothy would have to take a stand. Paul urged him not to be ashamed of the Gospel.  He told him not to be ashamed of Paul, God’s messenger.  True Christianity is not popular, it is offensive because Christ is offensive to them  (1 Peter 2:4-10).  The servant of the Lord, must embrace harsh consequences that coming along with being a believer.   Paul was not asking Timothy to “suffer evil together with” him.

Maybe you are in a situation in your life which brings harsh reactions to you because you trust Christ.  Maybe you are the only believer in your family or at work.  You may feel alone, but you are not.  Just remember that God is with you.  He has promised never to leave you nor forsake you.   Remember also that there are other believers who know what you’re facing.   You don’t have to do this by yourself.   Just think. You could be a blessing to another believer who is facing the same obstacles that you face.   If you rely on the Lord and get the victory, you can encourage others and they can see Christ in you.

How can we be faithful?   The Power of God.  Nothing else will do.   God gives us the ability through His Spirit and His Word, to make the right choices and to endure.  One of the fruits of the Spirit is longsuffering!  Longsuffering is the ability to “stick with the stuff”  and do right (Read Galatians 5:22-25).

God has given us everything we need to persevere when things get tough.  His power is the driving force in a godly life .

So of course it’s difficult to learn the English language…….and
learning to spell can be pure guess work…….

* Those who jump off a bridge in Paris are in Seine.
* A backward poet writes inverse.
* A man’s home is his castle, in a manor of speaking.
* Dijon vu – the same mustard as before.

* Does the name Pavlov ring a bell?
* When two egotists meet, it’s an I for an I.
* A bicycle can’t stand on its own because it is two tired.
* What’s the definition of a will? (It’s a dead giveaway.)
* Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
* In democracy your vote counts. In feudalism your count votes.  

-  copied (Really, I didn’t make these up)

I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:5-7

It seems, through reading about Timothy, that he may have been a timid soul. If this is true, he was not the lion that Paul was. Yet the purpose of 2 Timothy was to prepare Paul’s younger friend for the time when Paul would be gone. How could this young pastor survive in a world that was hostile to Christianity? What place could Timothy have in the early church if he was constantly afraid of meeting the adversity and challenge?

In 2007 and coming in 2008, we have been, and will, face mounting challenges to our faith. How can we withstand and be bold?

1. Remember your Examples (5) We know that the word of God is true in of it’s principles. When faithfully believed and applied, those who sincerely trust it and live it are the greatest examples of faith in action. For Timothy, this faith was demonstrated in the lives of his mother and grandmother. Who are the “heroes” to whom you look? No, they may not be perfect, but they have demonstrated the reality of the Gospel by the way they live. Maybe someone is looking to you to be that person…. don’t let them down. Live a life surrendered to Christ.

2. Get into action (6) – Paul was encouraging Timothy to put to continually refresh and use what God had given him. Timothy was a Pastor. Paul’s laying on of his hands, was not some mystical conferring of spiritual energy but, it was his recognition of the gift God had given Timothy. Now Paul is saying, “Continually refresh your gift, go to work, let God use you.” The picture here is someone fanning a flame. If we don’t continually stir up our the gift God has given us, we can become infected with fear as well as other undesirable attitudes. Too often, fear keeps us from doing what we know we should do. What fear do you have that keeps you from doing what you know God wants you to do? Do you rekindle what God has given you? Do you “stay fresh” in your spiritual life?

3. Realize the source of your abilities (and fear) – 7  Remember that God would never give us a timid attitude that would keep us from doing His will. The source of fear is ourselves (probably helped along by the devil). Choosing to trust God, in spite of our fear, will lead us to godly action. What does God give us? 1. Ability – which will enable us to accomplish what God wants us to do 2. Love – which will give us the right mindset to reach out to others instead of pulling in and retreating from others 3. Self-discipline – which is a mindset that is clear and that will enable us to see clearly and exercise the self-control necessary to do what God wants.

Are you getting weary in your Christian life? Is your Christian life stale to you? Are you tempted to slack off? Don’t give up! You still have the glowing embers that God has put in your heart (if you know Him). FAN THE FLAME! Get into the Word. Pray. Get busy! Don’t retreat! Press on!

One of the astounding facts about Christmas is that the promise of a Savior started long before Bethlehem. Way back from the beginning of time, God gave us hope. As soon as God confronted Adam and Eve when they sinned, He promised forgiveness through a Savior (Genesis 3:15). In about 1800 B.C. God promised Abraham that all the world would be blessed. Around 1400 B.C. Moses was promised that a “God will raise up Prophet Like me” (Deuteronomy 18:15-20). Even one of Moses adversaries, Balaam, prophecied that “a Star will come out of Jacob, a Scepter shall rise out of Israel” (Numbers 24:17). Around 700 B.C. both Isaiah (Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6) and Micah (Micah 5:2) foretold of the Messiah who would come. Malachi, a prophet ministering sometime around 425, B.C. mentioned that Christ’s messenger would come and prepare the way for the Messiah (Malachi 3:1). There are other Old Testament prophecies concerning Christ’s coming as well.

The Baby laying in that manger was the One Whom prophets diligently desired to see. Angels adored Him and stood in awe and wonder at the Babe of Bethlehem.

What is your reaction? Do you stand in awe? Do you adore Him? Is Christmas nothing more than a break from work or a chance to get together with relatives? Think about the fact that God had planned to send a Savior — even before the world began (Revelation 13:8).

Do you know Him? You can:

1. Admit to God that you are a sinner.

2. Believe (trust) that Jesus died and rose again for your sin. Don’t trust religion or being a good person. Don’t rely on anything other than Christ.

3. Call on Him to be your Savior by confessing to Him that you are a sinner and want Him to forgive you and make you His child

Christmas is much more than just a celebration. It’s a mile marker of hope and expectation.

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne. – Charles Wesley

To Read about the author of this hymn and to hear the tune go to this link)

Although the doctrine of some “Christian” groups mentioned in the article here don’t represent Biblical Christianity, we know there are true believers that are facing the same trouble for Christ.  Please spend a moment in prayer for the Christians (and others) in the Holy Land.

(Link here)