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Pastor's Points January 2018

Dear Church Family,

 It is very hard to believe that another year has passed and we are at the beginning of a new year.  This past year has had it shares of ups and downs, but through it all, God proved Himself to be more than faithful!!  He always does! That is just who He is.  As we rest on the sure fact of God’s faithfulness, I am so excited for what God has in store for us in 2018. 

God has laid an emphasis and direction on my heart for our church family.  This coming year we are going to emphasize, and encourage our church family to invest the Bible in their lives like never before.  The more secular our culture becomes, the more urgent it is for us to know, love, and live the Bible.  In fact, that is exactly the phrase that Pastor Nick came to when thinking about this Bible emphasis and I fully agree with it.  We want followers of Jesus to know, love, and live the Bible!!  And we are going to help encourage this to happen in 2018 in two main ways.

First, we are encouraging everyone to pick up the Bible Reading Plan at church and commit to read the Bible in a year.  What a great goal to have for 2018!  Using this plan, you will read the whole Bible in a year.  If this sounds overwhelming to you because maybe you are a new believer, or not a strong reader, you can read the New Testament portions daily and read through the New Testament in a year.

Second, we are providing a general overview of all 66 books of the Bible in 2018 through our Growth Initiatives.  We will get together for three hours on five Saturdays in 2018 to grow in our  understanding of the structure, themes, and truths of God’s Word.  Think of the huge spiritual impact that could be made in your life personally and in the corporate life of our church family if we commit to regularly reading the Bible, and attending these Growth Initiatives to better understand the Bible?

Finally I want to encourage you in 2018 to see Oakhill not as “a” church that you attend, but rather as a family where you belong.  Ask God to help you grow in your love and commitment to your church family.  We desperately need Jesus in our lives, but He has made us to be in relationship with one another as well.  I pray we can BEHOLD God together as we worship weekly.  I pray that we can truly feel like we BELONG as we commit to be a part of one of our Life Groups. I pray that we will BECOME more like Jesus together as we spend time with a small group of our church family to help us grow and be accountable.  And finally, I pray we will go BEYOND together as we look to serve Jesus inside and outside the walls of our church building!

We have a great year ahead of us!  Ask God to use you like never before for His glory!!

I love you and I love being your pastor,
Pastor Alan

Pastor's Points December 2017

Dear Church Family,

This Christmas I must admit I am a little more excited than normal.  Most of you know that Paula and I are expecting our first grandchild any day.  Matt and Morgan are anxiously awaiting the arrival of little Gracelyn Elizabeth.  But some of you may not know that we are also expecting our second grandchild as well!!  That’s right, Nick and Melissa are expecting their first child in June!!  I do not know if I can handle this much excitement and anticipation!!  It truly is amazing how much excitement and   anticipation can build while waiting upon the arrival of a child.  My mind has already imagined very vivid encounters that I am anticipating with my grandkids!!  I cannot wait to hold them and start loving on them!!  I will do my best not to be an obnoxiously proud grandparent, but I cannot make any promises.

But in the midst of my anticipation for my grandchildren, I am reminded especially at this time of year, that there was another baby whose coming was anticipated from long ago.  And that baby was God in flesh who had come to save His people from their sin.  And now we wait in anticipation for His return one day.

Sarah Jennings shared in her article, Advent: Waiting on Jesus these words:  It's that time of year again -- Advent. It's always tempting to skip over Advent and jump right into the euphoria of Christmas Day -- after all, the rest of the United States began gorging itself on Christmas cookies in October. But, I believe something is lost when we rush through the beautiful, reflective season of Advent.

One of my favorite elements of Advent is its dual purpose -- it's not just a liturgical season carved out for reminiscing over the days before Christ, but a time set aside to anticipate Christ's second, glorious coming. Like the   ancient Israelites we wait in anticipation of an event we can only dimly imagine -- an event where all that is right, good, and truthful will come to fruition in His perfect timing.

Gaining Perspective

"And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there will be no end." Luke 1: 30-32

Today, the Christmas story is easily taken for granted, even among Christians. Our ears have become numb as we've heard the story countless times and in varied settings -- the angel's appearance to Mary, Joseph's dream, the road to Bethlehem, the lack of room in the inn, the birth in a lowly stable, the appearance of nearby shepherds. The Nativity has acquired a certain quaintness in American culture -- something to smile at while we bustle about decorated shops trying to check every name off our lists. Yet when we take time to prepare for this moment in salvation history, to reflect on the events leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ, a sense of awe returns. How can we put Christ's first coming into perspective -- and thus better prepare for His second? 

I love you and I love being your pastor,