I was listening to a man interview Ozzie Osbourne this week. Ozzie has a new book out called, "I am Ozzie". His I am statement doesn't come close to Jesus' I Am statements. Anyway, the guy asked Ozzie, "Do you consider your life to be blessed or cursed?" Ozzie's reply was quite interesting. He basically said he considered his life to be blessed because he used to get high a lot and never got hurt. He used to drive drunk a lot and never crashed the car. He got to live out his dream of singing and playing before lots of people. Pretty sad. Ozzie thinks he is blessed because he hasn't crashed his car while driving high.
After that interview I wondered how people would define the word "blessed". We hear people say it all the time; especially at awards shows.
I believe Psalm 1 defines for us what it means to be blessed. Here it is in the NAS:

1How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. 4The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away. 5Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.
This Psalm immediately draws us in with the words, "How Blessed". How can we be blessed? I believe the answer is to "delight in the law of the Lord". So, instead of finding his pleasure and satisfaction in the words and ways of the wicked, the blessed person delights in God's words and ways. And notice the benefits: We're fruitful - "yield fruit"; We're durable - "leaf doesn't wither" and we prosper. We should not confuse culture's definition of prosperity with God's. God's prosperity is eternal in scope.
So if someone asks you, "What does it mean to be blessed?" You can point them to Psalm 1. It means my life is planted in God's hands and He is making it fruitful, durable and prosperous. I hope Ozzie reads this.
BLESSED!
Pastor Tim

As I have been studying John 10 the past two weeks, my mind can't help but think of Psalm 23. A familiar Psalm to many people all over the world. A Psalm that is often quoted and reflected upon at the end of one's life. Children know this Psalm. It's easy to relate to young David's life out in the fields, watching over the flocks. No doubt, he reflected on the sheep and what it meant to be a shepherd. As he did, he composed this most magnificent piece of literature.
I believe it's more important to know the Shepherd of this Psalm than it is to know the Psalm. What does Psalm 23 teach us about the Shepherd?
1. That He provides for His flock. "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul."
2. That He directs His flock. "He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name sake." Left to ourselves we are all wanderers. But God guides us so our lives can bring His name glory.
3. That He protects His flock. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." A valley was a place of danger because it afforded robbers and predators opportunities for ambush. Our Shepherd is with us, comforting us, so we don't have to fear any evil. God protects us in through the valley; we can't assume He will take us around the valley.
4. That He exalts His flock. "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." God is a table setting God. He prepares His feast for us in the midst of the most trying circumstances. Instead of enemies pursuing us, we are now pursued by goodness and mercy. And if that's not enough; our Good Shepherd allows us to dwell in His house forever. Two worlds collide at the end of this Psalm. While on earth, God prepares a bountiful table for me, as a gracious host, He anoints my head with oil. My life is chased by goodness and mercy and finally, I get to live with Him forever.
Know the Psalm but more importantly, know the Shepherd. He's Good all the time.

Pastor Tim

With you, I am watching the news with a broken heart because of the devastation in Haiti. I know you are praying for God’s presence and peace on these suffering people. This Sunday, we are going to encourage you to give. As God leads you, bring an extra offering that will go to the relief effort in Haiti. Our staff is investigating the best places to invest these funds. Primarily, we will forward the financial gifts to Samaritan’s Purse. We give to this organization at Christmas time (Operation Christmas Child), and they have had a ministering presence in Haiti for years. So, please bring an extra offering, above your normal gifts, to help with this effort.
As I watch the devastation that an earthquake can bring, I long for the day when they earth won’t quake any more.
In Romans 8:18-21, the Bible says, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.”
Creation is subjected to frustration because of the curse of sin on this earth. Creation has become a sufferer and is endowed with decay and death. The animal world was invaded with fear and violence. The loveliest scenes in nature, while remaining beautiful, are also witness to bloody horrors. Floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, blights, avalanches, all stalk the earth. She is frustrated. This is why God will one day resurrect the earth. Someday earth will be delivered, earth will be liberated – that place will be new earth. Revelation 21:1 states, "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. "
The New Earth will be devoid of any disasters, no diseases, no earthquakes and no need for relief funds because there is no need for relief. This place will be perfect.
When I see the groaning of this old earth, I long for the day when earthquakes will be no more.

Praying for God’s peace and presence for Haiti,
Pastor Tim

To learn more about Samaritan's Purse - http://www.samaritanspurse.org/

I’m not sure how I feel about New Year’s resolutions. Perhaps I need to resolve to be more decisive. I suppose my struggle is with the fact that change should be a regular part of our life, not a once a year part. We should strive to repent and move ahead throughout the year, not just once a year. I read an article by Steve Shaw (I don’t really know who this guy is), that listed his top ten New Year’s resolutions for men. I thought some his resolutions were really comical and many of them were temporal. I won’t comment on his entire list but for some I will offer a more eternal resolution.

#10 – Build a shelf. Huh? My first response was, “Do I have to?” Shaw’s point was that men should tackle a project, do something yourself. Build a shelf? That’s the best thing we can do? What am I supposed to put on the shelf? Men tend to shelf to many things as it is.
Here’s a more eternal resolution – Build a relationship with another godly man. Why not join the 12 men 12 weeks program at EVC?

#9 – Read a big book. I suppose Shaw believes that men only read little books – like a pocket book. His idea was to resolve to read, “War and Peace” or “Moby Dick”. He writes that this would improve our vocabulary.
A more eternal resolution – Read the Bible. It’s a really BIG BOOK and it will improve your life!

#8 – Make an appointment for a checkup. This is pretty solid advice. Why men don’t like to go the doctor is a real mystery.

#7- Go to a career conference. – Shaw points out that this is a great way to network with people and at many of these conferences you get great career advice.
A more eternal resolution – Bring your family to church every Sunday.

#6 – Devote some time to hobbies. I can’t really afford to play golf every day, can you?
A more eternal resolution – Devote some time to God every day. Like talking to Him (prayer), letting Him talk to you (Bible), and obeying what He tells you.

#5 – Do P90X. Yes you read that correctly. I have no idea. Is this code for put new tires on your truck?

#4 – Open a savings account. Maybe he should have wrote, “Get out of debt”. If you need help with money I’ve got two words for you – Dave Ramsey http://www.daveramsey.com/

I found out some shocking news yesterday; Santa’s reindeer are all female. Can you believe that? I’m not sure I can celebrate Christmas now. I read an article that stated male and female reindeer both have antlers. I did not know that. The male reindeer shed their antlers in the winter. I did not know that. The female reindeer keep their antlers in the winter as a way to protect their young. I did not know that. So, most likely the reindeer guiding the sleigh are all female. This explains why Santa’s sleigh never gets lost; he’s being guided by females. I’m still going to celebrate Christmas even though the reindeer are female.
There are plenty of Christmas traditions that are not completely accurate. How about the tradition of celebrating Jesus birth on Dec. 25? Was Jesus born on Dec. 25? No one really knows, but it was most likely not December 25. The Bible says that there were shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night (Luke 2:8) and that would have been highly unlikely in the winter. Lambing (when sheep give birth), occurred in a short period of time between the middle of March to early April. Shepherds would “watch over” their flocks during this critical birthing season. This is most likely the time of Jesus’ birth. The “Lamb of God” was born when lambs are usually born.
It’s not when we celebrate Christ’s birth that’s important, it’s how. We celebrate because Jesus’ birth is the good news that God is providing for us salvation in His Son, Jesus Christ. Let’s break down this good news the angels shared with the shepherds from Luke 2: 10-12.
1. Good news that means no fear – “Do not be afraid”
2. Good news that comes from God’s throne – “I bring you good news” This was unearthly good news.
3. Good news that brings great joy.
4. Good news that is global in scope – “for all people”
5. Good news that is current – “today”
6. Good news that is saving - “a Savior has been born”
7. Good news that is personal – “to you”
8. Good news that is Messianic – “He is Christ” which means the “Anointed One of God”.
9. Good news that is life changing – “the Lord” when we make Christ our Lord our lives are changed forever.
10. Good news that can be discovered – “you will find the baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger”
11. Good news that allows us to worship – “Glory to God in the highest”
12. Good news that is to be shared – “they (shepherds) spread the word” verse 17.
Jesus’ birth is a celebration of Good News from God. We celebrate this all the time for all time. I don’t care if the reindeer are male or female – I’m still celebrating Christmas. It doesn’t matter to me when Jesus was born – what matters is why He was born. He was born to save me from my sin. That is reason to celebrate!

Merry Christmas,
Pastor Tim

A countless number of Christmas hymns have been composed throughout Christian history, but most of them have been lost to popular usage. "Come, your hearts and voices raising" probably doesn't make most top ten lists for Christmas carols, maybe not even a top 50 list. But this is a wonderful hymn of praise written by a little known hymnist named Paul Gerhardt. He was a prolific German hymn writer who gave Lutheranism some of its warmest songs of worship. Paul grew up in a village near Wittenberg, Germany, the son of the town mayor. This part of Germany was devastated during the Thirty Years’ War, and Paul’s childhood was marked by scenes of bloodshed and death. But he had a good mind and heart, and he was able to enroll at the University of Wittenberg at age 21.
After graduation, Paul found a job in Berlin tutoring children. During this time, encouraged by the choirmaster of Berlin’s St. Nicholas’ Church, he began writing hymns. In all, Gerhardt wrote 123 hymns, and his hymnody reflects the shift from the rugged theological hymns of Luther to the more subjective, devotional songs of the German Pietistic revival. Paul Gerhardt must have loved the Christmas season, for he wrote several beautiful nativity hymns. One of his most popular being Come, your hearts and voices raising. It begins: