It was just good to be together with each other and with other churches from the Fresno area to worship, learn and play together as the body of Christ.

Here’s a recap video from the weekend:

Remember, you can check out all of the VIDEOS from the weekend and you can hear all four of the MESSAGES from our speaker JR Coleman by clicking on the links. A lot happened during this past weekend and if you were there, then you know what I mean when I say it’s good for us to just let it marinate.

What did you guys think? How was your experience of the weekend?

If you’re reading this post then that means that you and/or your child have successfully survived the start of another year of school. Here in the Knudson household we now have two children in school. With Jeremiah in 2^nd grade, Samuel in Kindergarten and Alexandra still at home, we recognize the challenges of families that are stretched by conflicting schedules and seem to be moving in different directions at the same time.

Here at Hope Lutheran, our goal is to offer a program of Youth and Family Ministry that is a tool and a resource first for parents and second for youth. Our goal is to serve and support parents as they strive in their roles of providing for the spiritual and emotional health and well-being of their children. We provide youth with classes, retreats, opportunities to serve and chances to grow, but all of these offerings are most effective when incorporated within the life of a Christian family. In addition to these specific events, programs or classes, our youth ministry strives to create and promote an environment and a community where families are able to mutually support and encourage one another. More often than not, the struggles and challenges that we face as families are not unique, but there are others who have walked this road before us and more that are yet to follow. As the body of Christ, we gain much as we live our lives of faith within a community where we can be supported and where our children are supported and accepted.

To this end, Hope Lutheran Church continues to make youth and family ministry a priority. With a Pastor for Youth and Family Ministry, a (full-time) Director of Children’s Ministry and an Assistant for Youth Ministry alongside countless other gifted and talented adults who love and care for kids, our congregation is well positioned to offer quality opportunities for youth and families to grow in faith together.

As we start off the 2011-2012 school year, there is lots of information to be aware of.

• 1. We continue to offer Sunday School on Sunday mornings (9:45-10:45AM) for children 2 years – 6^th grade. Classes are meeting weekly and children can be registered using this FORM. We also have a class for 7^th & 8^th graders, which will follow this SCHEDULE.
• 2. We also offer classes on Wednesday nights for Kindergartners through adult as part of our Primetime Program. Our schedule on Wednesday nights includes dinner at 5:30PM and classes from 6:15-7:45PM.
• 3. We also have a range of special offerings for our youth and families. We program these opportunities according to age groups called “the way” (4^th-6^th grade), “the truth” (7^th-8^th grade) and “the Life” (9^th-12^th grade). You can learn about our special events HERE or by view the CALENDAR on this website.

*** An additional opportunity that we are excited to offer as part of our Primetime schedule is a PARENTING SKILLS SEMINAR which will be led by Jennifer Toler Smith. Jennifer is a long-time member of Hope with a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Fuller Theological Seminary. This class will run from 6:30-7:45PM on September 14, 21 and 28. Topics for the class will include: A Grace-Based Approach to Parenting, Discipline Strategies for Children & Teens, and Relationship Enhancement: Parent, Child and Adult Relationships. We are pleased to offer this great resource for families and we hope you will be able to join us. (Childcare is available every Wednesday evening)

• 4. Our Confirmation program is one component of our Youth and Family ministry program. Youth typically participate in Confirmation beginning in 7^th grade and conclude with Confirmation on Reformation Sunday (the last Sunday in October) of their 9^th grade year. This year, our youth will be Confirmed at the 11:00AM service on Sunday, October 30. If you have a child in Confirmation, you should read THIS and if your child is a 9^th grader who will be confirmed this year, you should read about our MENTOR PROGRAM and plan to attend our “Confirmation ’10 Class Orientation” meeting at 6:15PM on Wednesday, September 7 in the Community Center.
• 5. This year our High School youth have the opportunity to plan, prepare and participate in the National Youth Gathering of the ELCA (the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America). The Gathering will be held in New Orleans, LA in July 2012. Here at Hope we are already working to raise funds and build our team. Any interested youth should contact Pastor Adam ASAP for more information. You can start the process by printing this FORM, completing it and returning it to Pastor Adam.

Whether your (grand)child will be attending Sunday School or Primetime on an occasional basis or actively participating in one of other ministry offerings, we try to have accurate information on hand to make sure we can respond effectively in case of emergency. Make sure to fill out our CONSENT FORM and return it, or you can print it out yourself and return it.  Thanks for your interest and involvement in our youth and family ministry program here at Hope and please feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions. You can call me at the church or email me (adam@hopelutheranfresno.org).

Grateful to serve alongside you in ministry,

Pastor Adam Knudson

This past Sunday night at youth group we talked about this topic. The following are a few of the thoughts I shared and some additional comments.

School is almost over and summer vacation is almost upon us. Prom is done. Grad night trips to Disneyland (or wherever) are underway. Graduations are almost here and soon, we’ll all get to take a little “TIME OFF.”

I remember looking forward to the summer. I just couldn’t wait to do NOTHING. Sure there would be some days when I went on vacation with my family. Maybe I’d go to camp with my youth group or serve as camp counselor for a week or two. But most of my summer was spent laying around the house not doing much of anything. OK, there was the list of chores that Mom left for me at the kitchen table, which I would see when I made it out of my room around 11:30AM. I’d come to the kitchen for Breakfast or Lunch or whatever you call it when you eat four corn dogs at 11:30AM. I would usually get around to doing the chores (to avoid getting yelled at), but as for any “personal goals” for the summer - the thought never really crossed my mind. Maybe that scenario sounds familiar.

What I would like to suggest with this post however, is that there are other options. I want you to hear me say TWO things.

1. I hope that you find opportunities during the summer to rest, relax and refresh your body and mind.

2. You have options regarding how you spend your time and your choices have consequences.

In the church, we talk about the concept of STEWARDSHIP. This word has come to mean a lot of things to a lot of people.  Generally when this word is used in church, the message that people here is “You should give more money to the church.” (as a Pastor, I won’t argue)  But for the purpose of this conversation, what I want to suggest is that Stewardship means, “God cares about how you use the resources you’ve been given.” Now I realize that teenagers often don’t have “jobs” and so they don’t have “a lot of money,” but God still cares about how you spend the money you do have. (but I’m not going to get into that here).

What I want you to think about is HOW YOU SPEND YOUR TIME.  When you have free time (like during the summer), what do you do with it?  Do you work hard and continue to wear yourself out? Do you waste your time watching “nothing” on TV, hanging out on Facebook and staying up late surfing the internet or your DVR library? Or do you make plans for how you want to spend your time and then invest your time in intentional and beneficial ways? Now, I’m not saying that you can’t/shouldn’t have fun. I’m just saying, “think about what you’re doing because it matters.” We know that time is one of the most precious commodities we have.  Once it’s gone, it’s gone and we can never get it back. It’s a valuable resource that we should TREASURE.

Now Jesus Christ, the son of God, when he was on Earth, said something very interesting about treasure, he said “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Now this is a verse that I had heard many times before, but I had never thought much about it. (I owe much of this insight to a recent message I heard from Dr. Mark Allan Powell).

Have you ever thought about Jesus’ words, “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also?”  What do you think it means? For me, I always assumed that it meant you will spend your time and money on the things you care about. It could be preached or used to “guilt” people into service or giving money, by saying “Hey, if you really cared about the poor/the church/the pastor/whatever, then you’d give more money - you’d give more of your time.”  Is that what you thought this meant? I did.

But Dr. Powell changed my mind. The fact is, this isn’t what Jesus said at all. We wouldn’t need the Son of God to tell us that people will invest their treasure in the things that they care about. Jesus teaches us that we will care about the things that we invest our treasure in. Did you catch the difference?  Jesus doesn’t encourage us to wait until we feel like loving our neighbor and then do it. Jesus says, act like you love your neighbor. Live like you love your neighbor and then your heart will follow.  This is pretty profound.

So, back to your “Summer Vacation.” What kind of person do you want to be in August? Where do you want your heart to be? Closer in your relationship with God? Generous? Kind? Loving? Compassionate? Well, Jesus teaches us that if we invest our treasure in these things, then our hearts will follow.  You don’t have to enjoy spending time in prayer or reading the Bible or serving others or being kind to people you don’t know, you just have to DO IT, and then your heart will follow.  I think that’s GOOD NEWS for all of us.

Here at Hope, I’d like to invite you to consider some opportunities to get involved in serving, growing in your faith and loving others. We’ve got some opportunities for youth to be involved. We have an exciting program planned for Sunday School on Sunday mornings and our new “Cool” Summer Nights on Wednesday nights. Click HERE to learn more about these. On Wednesday afternoons we will also be going to the Whispering Woods apartments to play with kids and share God’s love. If you’d like to learn more about this, contact Alison or Pastor Adam or just meet us at Hope @ 2:45pm on Wednesday afternoons, starting June 15. I would also encourage you to consider being a Shepherd in our Sunday School Program for the 2011-2012 school year.  You can fill out an APPLICATION and talk to Pastor Adam or Janet Lane if you have any questions.

Summer is a great chance to take a break from our regular, hectic, busy schedules. It’s also a great chance to grow in our relationship with Christ and to take steps toward becoming more and more like the people God created us to be. May God bless us all as we grow together this summer.

So, what do you think? Leave a comment and let people know

I don’t blog/post on here nearly as often as I would like, but I just wanted to take a moment and share with all of you HOPE YOUTH: I’m tremendously proud of you!

I thought that yesterday’s worships services were a tremendous witness to the love of Christ that you are sharing, growing and nurturing within your own lives of faith and discipleship. The “Words of Witness” shared by all of you were heart-felt and very powerful. Thanks/congratulations to the Sara(h)s for doing a great job speaking their testimony. I have received many comments from members of the congregation about yesterday’s (May 1) worship services and all of the remarks have been overwhelmingly positive.

I’m so proud of all of you! I’m so lucky to get to have such an amazing job! I’m so blessed to get to work/live/grow with so many incredible youth and their families.  Thanks Hope Lutheran Youth - you’re the best!

Also, Alison did a great job on the recap video.  You can check it out on Facebook HERE.

So, what did you think about Breakaway or the worship service yesterday? (feel free to share)

Sincerely, Pastor Adam

Spring Break is a great opportunity for children and youth to take a break from their studies, take some time away from school and “rest up” before the end of the school year, AP tests, final exams, etc. It’s a time when some families go on vacation or some kids just stay at home, sleep all day and play video games all night. The possibilities are virtually endless.  So, what are you going to do with your Spring Break?

For most school districts here in Fresno County, spring break coincides with Holy Weeek. This is the week of the church calendar which begins with Palm Sunday and concludes with Easter Sunday, while including Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. This week is a big deal for Christians because it represents the celebration and remembrance of the Last Supper as well as the suffering, death, crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This is a time when lots of youth groups seize the opportunity afforded by a week off from school to offer and encourage “mission trips.” Sharing the good news about Jesus with people during holy week, just makes sense.

This year, a group of Jr.High and High School youth from Hope will join together with other youth from various churches to participate in BreakAway - Spring Break Mission Outreach. We will stay together (at Peoples Church) and enjoy a “camp-type” experience, while having the opportunity to serve and love our community.  Please pray for our young people that they will have a great week sharing faith together and “extending hope in Jesus” to our neighbors and community. 

So, what do you think? What are you doing for Spring Break?

What was your favorite part? 

Leave a message.  Share with others!  What did God speak to you?  Not just what funny thing happened.

These have been a great couple weeks where I’ve learned a lot about the concepts of ‘worldview,’ postmodernism, the nature of cognitive, moral and faith development in the life-stage know as adolescence, and the questions and passions of the “Emerging Church” movement.  If I didn’t just put you to sleep and you have interests/knowledge in any of these areas – consider this an invitation to talk with me further.  While studying near Boston, I got to experience my first real Noreaster which led to experiencing my first “snow day.”  A “snow day” is when schools in the area are closed because there’s too much snow and it’s better for people to just “stay off the roads.”  When snow falls…I found that many things come to a screeching halt.

When snow falls…I found that my day looks radically different than I had anticipated.  Instead of spending eight hours in the classroom learning and talking with classmates and professors, I had an entire day to sit in my hotel room, read, write and think.  In fact, this entire experience has provided me the space and time to set aside my “work” as Associate Pastor for Youth and Family Ministry at Hope Lutheran Church, and has allowed me to reflect on that ministry in some very helpful ways.  Like most of you, I’m a person who is very busy.  I’m really busy and I really like getting things done.  Since it always seem like I just can’t get everything done, I find myself forced to decide “which things do I need to do now and which can wait until later?”  I’m sure many of you know the feeling.  The problem for me is that there are many things in my life that are urgent (someone thinks they need done right away), but not all of these things are important (things I should give priority to in my schedule).  I feel that when I allow myself to be “bullied” by the urgency of other people or tasks to the exclusion of focusing on things that are actually important (like the goals and purposes behind what I’m doing), I feel frantic, anxious and BUSY.  Perhaps when snow falls we have a chance to pause for reflection and redirect our energies.

In Fresno where I (and many of you) live, we don’t have much snow and I don’t think there’s EVER been a snow day.  We have fog and we remind each other to “drive slow and be careful,” but we rarely (if ever) have a day where the mayor of the city asks people to stay home from work.  This is too bad, because I think snow days can be a good thing.  Are there things in your life – maybe things like reading your Bible, spending time with your kids or with your parents?  Are there things that you know are important, but you just can’t seem to find the time for them?  I would encourage you to make these things a priority, because even though they don’t seem “urgent,” if we ignore them we will still have to live with the consequences.

As I look out of my hotel room door this morning and see snow falling, I wonder “Are the airports going to be open today?  Am I going to be able to return home on schedule?  Is this going to be a major inconvenience?”  I have no idea how my day will unfold (and in reality we never know what is going to happen), but I’m thankful for the snow because it reminds me to: 1) slow down and pay attention to what God might want me to be doing, 2) remember that God is in control (and I’m NOT) and 3) notice the beauty in the world around me.  I pray that whatever the outside temperature is for you today that you might enjoy the blessings that come…when snow falls.

Pastor Adam

My response will take the form of answers to questions that people ask or that I know are concerns/worries for people considering being part of this mission team.

When is the trip?  The trip is during Holy Week (April 16-23, 2011).  We will be back in time for Easter.

Isn’t it really far?  The entire trip is approximately 450 miles.  The length of the trip depends on time stuck in SoCal traffic and time for border crossing, but can be covered easily in one day.

I’ve heard that Mexico is dangerous, weren’t you scarred?  Honestly, I can say that I was not scared.  There has been highly publicized violence in Mexico over the past few years, but Mexicali (though a border community) has not seen a significant increase in problems/violence. 

I stood in front of the “El Camino” congregation and shared with them about my desire to bring a team, but that because of the violence there are some who are afraid to travel to Mexico (or allow their children to travel to Mexico).  I asked for them to pray that God would speak to our hearts and that we would allow God to lead us.  [I'm not saying that we will automatically be safe, because God will protect us and therefore we have nothing to worry about - what I am saying is that I hope God will give us wisdom and not allow us to be directed by fear].  After this, during his sermon, the Pastor spoke directly to me and shared that the churches of Mexicali have been working together, praying together and praying that God will protect their city.  It is his belief that the power of God is active and moving in the hearts and lives of many of the Christians in Mexicali and that it has something to do with the absence of violence.

Did you feel safe while you were in Mexico?  Yes.  Driving around the city, talking to people, visiting in homes, attending church services, there were no instances when I felt like I was in danger.  Many times we are afraid of things we don’t know, things that are new or unfamiliar.  I have traveled to this area of Mexico many times (10 or so) and I did my best to look, listen or discern if there was reason to be worried or afraid and I didn’t notice any.  We all know that anything can happen at any time - people can be killed by a drunk driver, random acts of violence happen in our city every day, accidents happen, diseases can suddenly rob us of loved ones, bad people can do bad things, these are all parts of the realities of life.  We can’t live in fear, but we should take reasonable steps to be safe.  I would not hesitate to travel to Mexico and I will not “fear” the safety of members of our church when we travel in the spring, in fact my wife Andrea and I are discussing the feasibility of taking our whole family.

Why go to Mexico when there is so much need here?  There is definitely need here in our own city and as a church and youth ministry we are actively involved in “extending hope in Jesus” to our neighbors.  Reaching out toward others who are far away, different and in need is also part of the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Helping our family, our friends and our neighbors is something that is normal, something that is expected.  Having the chance to help someone who lives in a different country, speaks a different language and has a different perspective on the world, is a chance to participate in the beautiful diversity available to us in the body of Christ.  When we go far away to new places with new people, new languages and new food, we learn what it means to rely on God.  We learn what it means to be part of a family.  We learn what it means to be Christian, sometimes, in a way that we’ve never experienced before.

What will you do in Mexico?  In the upcoming weeks and months I will continue to be in conversation with Pastor Pedro in El Progresso as he speaks with the leaders at the church and thinks about the priorities and needs of his congregation and community.  From our meeting this past week, I know that he is very interested in us helping with programs (Vacation Bible School) for the youth and children of the community.  There is also a gentleman in the congregation who would like help teaching some of the children to speak English.  There are various construction projects and jobs that need done on the church campus and Pastor Pedro is working to figure out how we can best assist them in their work in that community.

Who should think about going on this trip?  I am convinced that this would be an amazing opportunity for FAMILIES to live, worship, learn and serve together.  I would love to see mothers and fathers with sons and daughters working together - that’s really part of the idea that God has given me for this trip.  This trip would be a great opportunity for High School Youth to put their faith into action and grow in their understanding of God, the world and themselves.  This trip is a chance for men and women to work, building structures and building relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ.

OK, so I might be interested in this trip, what should I do now?  You should pray that God will give you peace or direction regarding the best thing for you and your family.  If you have questions you should talk to me (Pr. Adam) or Alison Quinn.  You should click HERE to get a copy of the application to be part of the team (the purpose of the application is so that people will think about why they are going on the trip), you should fill out the application, turn it in and continue to pray that God will make your heart and mind ready for this amazing experience.

Here are a few pictures from my trip: 

Thank you and may God bless you! (Dios le bendiga)

Editor- David N. Knudson

Prepared as a sermon for services of worship on the first Sunday after Christmas.  Hope Lutheran Church, Fresno, California, December 2010

As you probably all know, the story has been told

about the Grinch who once stole Christmas, from long, long, long ago.

It was penned by Dr. Seuss in 1957.

It’s something that we pass along to each new generation.

The story is a classic, a lasting timeless home tradition,

but there’s more still yet unknown.  So be quiet now and listen.

I know it comes as quite a shock, but it’s high time that you knew,

instead of just one single Grinch, there actually are two.

We’ve known of the old Grinch who took presents from the Who’s,

how he cleaned out all their homes when they all did soundly snooze.

Piles of trimmings and the trappings packed up high upon his sleigh,

mounds of food, gifts and their stockings almost got just thrown away.

But then something stopped him, right there in his tracks.

He turned his sleigh ‘round and brought all their stuff back.

With toys and good cheer, and FOOD – food galore,

the Grinch enjoyed Christmas like never before.

We still celebrate it, each year for this reason,

the Yule tide, the Christ child, the whole Christmas season.

We wrap it all up with some big bows and lights,

wish Happy Christmas to all, and we say our “good nights.”

Now wasn’t that nice.

And as much as I’d like to tell you I’m done,

like I said, there’s two Grinches, but I’ve just mentioned one.

The first Grinch started mean, but learned the truths of Whoville’s joy.

He learned about what Christmas meant to each Who girl and boy.

The new Grinch is a tricky one, you might think his tale’s a lie.

While the first Grinch came to Whoville, the Ville of this new Grinch was Why.

Who is this Grinch from Whyville and why do I share his story?

I tell it as we think about what happens Christmas morning.

What happens when we gather ‘round to look beneath the tree?

What happens when we count and sort the gifts for you and me?

We like to share the Christmas cards of peace for the whole earth,

but is there something missing when we celebrate Christ’s birth?

We know that Christmas morn has passed, but hope in Jesus shouldn’t end.

So listen closely to this tale then, as these thoughts it will attend.

This tricky Whyville Grinch was one who loved to celebrate.

He loved to observe Christmas and he always marked the date.

December 25 was circled big and bright each year.

Like a drug, he couldn’t get enough of all the year-end cheer.

To celebrate and celebrate and celebrate some more

was all, the Grinch decided, that this time of year was for.

What he liked were all the gifts that he would get from all his kin.

What he liked were all the smells and bells, wrapped boxes, thick and thin.

What he liked were all the parties with his friends and each one’s spouse.

He loved inviting all to see his lavishly lit house.

But while the Whyville Grinch was sure that no house shone as bright,

his friends were not as interested and sang “O Holy Night.”

“Star of wonder, star of light, star with royal beauty bright

Wish I may, I wish I might – Jesus born on Christmas night.

The Christchild born, this little baby makes my friends start going crazy,”

Thought the Grinch, “or is it maybe that their church has made them lazy.”

“That darn Jesus,” thought the Grinch, “he keeps taking all the fame.

It’s that Jesus, baby Jesus, they just sing, and sing his name.

It’s so easy to see but just what should I say?”

He thought as he pondered, a new holiday.

Just then his young son Tyler came dashing home from church.

The Whyville children’s Christmas show was hanging in the lurch.

The play, a great tradition of the Sunday School class,

displayed each year with music and the brightly lit stained glass.

This year was Tyler’s turn to play the part of Jesus’ dad.

No longer sheep or shepherd, and he for these things was glad.

But the reason for his dashing was that he’d forgot his task.

Forgot what was his only job and now came home to ask,

“Hey Dad, do we have a doll, or something else that I could use

to be Jesus in the manger, one not battered or too bruised?”

Then the Grinch thought to himself, oh this is such great news.

I have a great — a great idea; I know what should be used.

“Yes, yes we do have something and I’m sure that it will do.

I do not have it now, but do not let that worry you

I’ll have it Christmas eve, for isn’t that when you’ll perform?

I’ll have it, there’s no stopping me, not fog or freeze or storm.”

“Ok Dad, that’s just great!  I’ll let them know we’ve got it covered.”

But the Grinch’s plan was something new that never had been mothered.

“I have a great idea to put Jesus in his place.

We can save his fame for Easter.  We can sing Amazing Grace.

For this,” the Grinch decided, “is a change that all will like.

This year instead of Jesus, we will get a brand new bike.

A BMX there in the manger, next to Joseph and his Mary,”

Thought the Grinch, “will be so awesome — it’s so good it’s almost scary!”

Right away the Grinch began his quest for this brand new bike to find.

For he thought, “that baby Jesus makes me bored out of my mind.

To all the Why’s of Whyville what a glorious gift I’ll give,

A shiny bike is surely better; it’s a better way to live.”

So the Grinch got up and grabbed his coat and got right in his jeep,

not a beauty, but it ran since he was rich but also cheap.

In his beat up Cherokee, he rolled right up to Target’s doors,

He told himself, “such great ideas are definitely yours.

I cannot wait to celebrate this twist in our church manger

and as I wait, anticipate a twist that’s even stranger.

I hope that with this little change come many changes more.”

Thought Grinch, as briskly he stepped through the automatic door.

Through house wares, women’s, kids he walked in search of his objective.

He looked up isles and under shelves and then became reflective.

And as he crossed the giant store from one side to the other

He pondered how the bike would look next to the Holy Mother.

But as you know, the “church-y” stuff was not what he loved most

And so without a thought he skipped past Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Around a corner, one more isle and then he saw a sight

The chrome of racing handle bars – a cyclist’s delight.

BMX’s too were there of course and also mountain bikes,

racers, tandems, there as well and trikes for little tikes.

With bikes of every color, it was so hard to choose.

He fought against temptation: the urge to quit he did refuse.

And then at last he saw it, on a rack high in the air:

a bright new orange BMX, a beauty shining fair.

It gleamed of chrome.  It had a horn.  The seat was made of gold.

It looked like one he’d wanted when he’d been but nine years old.

But that had been a long time past, his Christmas gift that year

had been his brother’s outgrown bike that only had one gear.

He had a stock-boy get this down and set it on the floor.

“Here it is!” he thought, “the perfect bike for people to adore.”

 He bought it, took it home, and put it in the brightest light

so when his young son Tyler came, it looked like quite a sight.

“Wow Dad, that’s really awesome – that new bike looks really great,

but it’s not yet Christmas day and for my gifts I’d rather wait.”

“Oh Tyler, Tyler,” said the Grinch “It is not here to stay.”

“Oh no?” He asked.  “That’s right,” said Dad, “I got it for the play.”

“For my play?  But I just thought that we could use some doll.

Really Dad, I’m not sure. Can a bike be Lord of all?”

“Oh yes my Son,” Grinch chuckled as he quickly cleared his throat,

“there’s really nothing better, but please don’t make me gloat.”

“Alrighty then,” said Tyler as he went up to his room.

But Grinch just sat and stared, because the bike made his heart swoon.

Nothing more was said between this father and his son

and Tyler didn’t hesitate, but replaced the Holy One.

The Christmas service neared and the church was over-crowded.

Tyler placed the bike back stage, his dad he never doubted.

And quickly came the moment when he placed it in the straw

The bike stood in the manger.  People looked with shock and awe.

“It’s just a tale,” some simply said, “a modern new rendition.

A story old as this is not much more than superstition.”

From that day on, for Jesus’ birth, a toy would take his place.

For infant child, so meek and mild, need scarcely show his face.

And with this change, changed Christmas, but not just in one day.

But steadily the people all from church would move away.

No longer focused on their God or savior of the earth,

they now concerned themselves about the tree with the most girth.

Who’s house had the best lights or who’s wife made the best fudge?

Many issues escalated and in place of peace a grudge

was the focus of the season as the Why’s of Whyville thought,

“Where’s happiness and cheer?” They just fought and fought and fought.

Their observance of the season slowly shifted, so they say.

They no longer called on Jesus’ name to take their fears away.

It was no longer worship that would make their hearts feel glad.

Soon shopping took up all the time and energy they had.

At least they shopped for presents they could give to those they knew.

Or was it stuff they’d keep themselves, “three for me and one for you?”

It used to be that Sunday was the day the Why’s felt “right,”

but now with Friday shopping they shopped deep into the night.

Shopping Saturday and Sunday, since “that’s what the weekend’s for.”

They just shopped and shopped and plum forgot ‘bout helping out the poor.

But do not get me wrong, they still gathered Christmas day

to eat some food and celebrate, each in their family’s way.

And when they’d come together they’d give presents to each other.

Adults to kids, kids to adults, each brother to his brother.

The Why’s tried to be so thoughtful, but they all just wanted cash.

Instead of peace on earth they hoped to supplement their stash.

The years and years and years went on and each one was the same,

‘til a Whyville girl thought to herself, “This is seriously lame!

I used to want a horse and I went online to find a stable,

but as I looked, a dusty Bible fell down onto my table.

I opened this strange book and I faintly could remember

How my family always read some words to celebrate December.

Matthew sounded like the place that I should go to start

and quickly I remembered asking God into my heart.”

This Whyville youngster then recalled the time she’d been baptized

She’d prayed for God to help her see the world through brand new eyes.

Not nearly so content to carry on Whyville’s tradition

She called upon her church school friends to make a small revision.

She told them that when they performed the story Christmas Eve

That the baby in the manger was a crucial part to leave.

“Jesus isn’t like a prop that we can give or take

We forgot him many years ago and that was our mistake.

Forgot, but now I tell you that a change we still can make

With Jesus back in Christmas our lives won’t feel so fake.”

So this young Lass from Whyville thus brought back the story whole,

putting Jesus back in Christmas, fixing what our Grinch Two stole.

Stealing Jesus was so subtle that the folks of Whyville say,

“You must guard your hearts and never, never let Christ slip away.”

This is the Christmas season that brought Jesus to our earth

Let us remind each other how much each of us is worth.

And so to you my friends, let’s welcome Christmas as we stand,

joined in praise together, heart to heart and hand in hand.

Amen!

Whether we’re talking about the message of the gospel, spiritual gifts, time, money or anything else - it is important to recognize that everything we have is a GIFT from God and it matters to God what we do with that gift.

What’s important to you?  What really matters?  How are you using the life that God has given you (which is a gift) to make a difference in the world?  Like the mission of our church, how are you “extending hope in Jesus”?

During the next few weeks, there will be some unique opportunities to think about how you’re using your life to give back to God.

“Step into Africa” - Weds. October 6 @ 8pm (following our Weds. night class) High School Youth (and parents) are invited to join us at Campus Bible Church - 4710 N. Maple - for an interactive experience on the scope and impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in our world.

“Movie Night” - Sun. October 10 @ 5pm - High School Youth and their parents are invited to join us at Hope to view the movie “to Save a Life.”  This film will challenge you to MAKE YOUR LIFE COUNT.  Included in the evening will be a time of discussion and conversation following the movie.

So, what do you think?  What will you do with all that God has given you?  We hope you will be encouraged and motivated to be a part of all that God’s doing through the many great people here at Hope Lutheran Church