The Perfect Gift

The day before Christmas.  One last day of shopping frenzy looking for that perfect gift.  Tomorrow as you gather with your family and friends to unwrap gifts, what would be the perfect gift for you?  Jewelry; earrings, necklace, bracelet, a ring; diamonds, pearls or just gold?  For some, the perfect gift is just having the family together.

We always celebrated Christmas with my mom's side of the family.  She had one sister and from as early as I can remember, we always went to her house.  As a child, Santa also left something there for me.  But through the years we have lost family members.  First, my uncle, than my grandma, then my mom, than one of my cousins.  We have not been "home" for Christmas for a few years now.  My aunt was put in a nursing home due to alhemizer's and about a month ago one of my cousins broke his leg and is in the same nursing home.  So as you can see, having your family together for Christmas is something to cherish.  Think of all the people in the armed services that aren't home for Christmas.

Enough rambling.  I want to share with you what the perfect gift really is.  Jesus Christ.  Most people have heard John 3:16 or at least heard of it.  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..."  But there are other Scriptures that tell us about God being a gift-giver. Today, all Scriptures are from the New King James Version.

2 Corinthians 9:15 says "Thanks be to God for His indescrible gift!"  James 1:17 states that "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."  You may like your gifts you get tomorrow and hopefully you do.  People spent time and effort getting those gifts for you.   Then in Matthew 7:11 tells us how much will our Father in Heaven give good things to those who ask.  A word of caution here, when asking it has to be with the right motives (the book of James tells us that).

So God gave us the perfect gift in Jesus Christ.  Jesus also wants to give us gifts.  At this time of year you hear the phrase "peace on earth and goodwill towards men".  That was the phrase the angels told the shepherds that night of Jesus' birth.  But Jesus also came to give peace.  John 14:27 Jesus tells His disciples "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica "Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way.  The Lord be with you all." (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

Not only did Jesus come to give peace, but He also came to give eternal life.  Romans 6:23 reads "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Jesus' words are recorded by John in chapter ten, verse twenty-eight:  "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand."

How do we receive this eternal life?  Peter tells us that in the Book of Acts.  "Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'"  When we are baptized (immersed) into the water in the name of Jesus Christ, we receive the remission (forgiveness) of sin and receive the Holy Spirit.

What more perfect gifts could you ask for?  The gift of Jesus Christ who came to give us the gift of peace, eternal life, the forgiveness of sin and the Holy Spirit.

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So Indecisive...

I could hardly wait until this week got here.  I had in mind all last week what I wanted to post.  Then last night I changed my mind.

I wanted to post something about Christmas...of course.  So I had this idea in mind all last week.  Then last night, I thought I would post my message from our Christmas program yesterday.  But then I thought, half of my followers would have already heard it.  So now I don't know which one to post.

Check back in.  Hopefully I will make my mind up soon.  Maybe, you will get two for the price of one this week...a Christmas "blue-light" special. lol

Day by Day

Do you remember the 70's song "Day by Day"?  Some of you probably weren't even born then.  Well, for blogger addicts this will be bad news.  I will not be posting daily.  I will strive to post weekly (possibly Sunday afternoons after church or Monday).  I apologize to you blogger addicts but with other responsibilities and interest (Facebook/Farmville), I don't want this to become something that I feel I have to do.  You know the feeling we get when you have to do something???  This is something I want to do and I want that desire/feeling to continue. 

For a few years now I have wanted to be a paid writer.  I have tried to get scripts published but was not successful.  I did write a children's book.  It is still laying here.  I have not made any attempt to get it published.

So be looking for a new blog in the early part of next week.  I already have the title in mind.  Of course it will be a Christmas-themed blog.

In Christ,
Jeff

It's All About Me

If you are going to read what I write, then I think I owe it to you to tell you about myself. 


I was born and raised in Ohio.  I am an only child (which has it positives and negatives).  My parents seperated the summer after my fifth grade year and granted the divorce when I was in Junior High.  Also while in Junior High (my eighth grade year), my father committed suicide.  So basically I was raised by a single mom.  She did the best she could (back then I didn't realize it and appreciate it).  People say that only children (that I am) spoiled.  Well if having a mother who was able to own a house and a car, work 40 hour weeks and take care of a teenage son...I guess I was spoiled.

It was also during my Junior High years that I started attending a church walking distance from my home.  The summer of 1976 I attended a church camp and was immersed for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).  I attended this camp through my high school years and as an adult became the secretary for the board, a representative for the church I preached at, a dean, implemented a new camp for second graders (Day Camp) and was on the board of directors.

During my high school years, a man (Kevin Yeager) that I appreciate very much came into my life.  He encouraged me to preach and gave me the opportunities.  He helped me fill out the paperwork to attend a Bible college (He was also involved with my ordination and our wedding ceremony). So after graduating High School I attended Kentucky Christian College (now called Kentucky Christian University due to the diverse programs of study it offers).  I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree with a double major (Bible and Youth Ministry).

After graduating college and being ordained as a minister, I moved to Virginai to work in a Christian school (Mountain Mission School).  As soon as I arrived there (May 1985) I met this lady who I worked with in the kitchen (we were both lunch cooks).  Different ones encouraged me to ask her "out"---we were married August 1986. 

We moved back to Ohio to find a Youth Ministry close to where my mom lived...but couldn't find one.  After three years I was asked to preach at a little county church (Coal Run Church of Christ).  It took me a few months to accept due to wanting a Youth Ministry.  But with this congregation was able to preach and work with the youth.  And, it was only a half-hour from my mom's house.  We were with this congregation six and one-half years.  We were asked to come to another small country church (Chesterhill Church of Christ) again preaching and working with the youth.

Now to fast-forward to today.  In 2003 I moved to Pennsylvania to be closer to my wife's family.  We have been here ever since.  I currently teach and substitute preach at the church we attend (Wills Mountian Church of Christ).

Why do I tell you all this? So you can see that what I write about, I know something about.  The purpose of this blog will be to encourage and educate.

"All Scripture is God=breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,..." 2 Timothy 3:16 (New International Version; 1978 by the New York International Bible Society) (bold print added by me; these are the two elements I want this blog to focus on)

I hope your faith is strengthened from reading these blog entries.  If you like what you read, let others know.  If you don't like what you read, delete me.

In Christ,
Jeff