My favorite service of the year...

I love church. I'm not sure you could do what I do and not love church. I love to hear a sanctuary full of people raise their voices in worship. I love to see friends encouraging each other and praying for each other. But I think my favorite service of the year is the Christmas Eve service. Other than some lights on the platform for the choir and speakers to see by, the service takes place by candlelight. We sing some carols together, listen to some music by the choir and orchestra, read a prayer together, and join in the Advent reading. The service ends in candlelight with the song Silent Night.

There is something very special about this service, not just because it is done by candlelight. I think it's because of the anticipation Christmas Eve brings. Even though we've heard the story our whole lives, we cannot help but anticipate what we know will come in the morning--the birth of our Savior. And that anticipation strikes a chord not only because we are looking back at what happened more than 2000 years ago, but because we believe that God will again step into the pages of human history to finish rescuing his people. And so we wait...

Bible Reading Program

I'm very excited about our journey through God's Word this year and I want to encourage everyone to join us. Here's what we're asking: 1) choose a translation 2) choose a Bible reading program 3) sign up so we can encourage you and so you can share your experiences along the way. This post is designed to help you choose a translation and a Bible reading program that's right for you.

Choosing a translation is not difficult. It's really about personal preference (aside from a few colorful, ideologically driven translations). Here are five prominent ones that you might enjoy.

1. The NASB, or the New American Standard Bible, is the perfect Bible for you if you like your translation VERY literal. It preserves the original form of words as well as the original word order, including the times when the original word order is not English word order. For example, Matthew 28:18-20 reads, "And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
2. The NIV, or the New International Version, is a good translation if you like a fairly straight forward English translation that prizes idiomatic English more than original literal translation and word order. For example, Matthew 28:18-20 reads, "Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
3. The ESV, or English Standard Version, is a good translation if you like something more literal than the NIV, less literal than the NASB, and also want a translation that preserves much of the literary beauty of the text. For example, Matthew 28:18-20 reads, "And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority iin heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them oto observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
4. The MESSAGE translation, or more accurately, paraphrase, is a good version to read if you want to read a paraphrase. The Message attempts to stay faithful to the ideas of the text, but in no way attempts to translate the original words as does the NIV, NASB, ESV, or the NLT. For example, Matthew 28:18-20 reads, "Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”
5. The NLT, or the New Living Translation, is a good translation to read if you like very idiomatic English, but want a translation of the text instead of a paraphrase. The NLT is gaining popularity as an alternative landing somewhere between the NASB/NIV on the one side, and the Message on the other side. For example, Matthew 28:18-20 reads, "Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Choosing a Bible reading program is not difficult. Here are three popular options.

1. The chronological Bible reading program allows you to read through the Bible as any other, but it takes you through the Bible chronologically rather than in the order the books appear in the Bible (and there is a difference).
2. The one year Bible reading program allows you to read through the Bible by date. You simply open the Bible to the current date and it has the reading portions broken down for you. Every day you read a portion of the Old Testament, the Psalms, the New Testament, and a couple verses from Proverbs.
3. The God's Word for Today Bible reading program is available in the church foyer. It gives you a list of chapters to read each day and provides a devotional thought to go with them. The reading guide makes it easy for you to use whatever translation you prefer without buying a new Bible (such as the one year Bible mentioned above).

Finally, if you need to purchase a new Bible there are two main options. You can purchase them online or in a store. If you want to look online, try a site like www.christianbook.com. If you want to look in a store, you can try everything from Walmart to Cokesbury to Family Christian Stores.

I cannot think of any better way for us to grow in our love for God than to consistently read his word. Please prayerfully consider joining us in reading through the Bible this year.

A Cheeseburger For Christmas?

Yesterday I had an interesting conversation with my kids about Christmas that reminded me of my relationship with God. Jake turns 4 on December 14th and he received a coupon from someone for a free cheeseburger from McDonald's. He relished getting a card addressed to "Jacob Stoner" in the mail, and when he saw the cheeseburger coupon, well that just sweetened the deal. But after a few moments he got quiet and said, "dad, do you like cheeseburgers?" I had no idea where he was going so I just took the question at face value and said, "yes, they're great." Then he gave held up his card and said, "you can have my cheeseburger coupon."

I melted inside, thanked him profusely and then told him that I thought he should keep it and enjoy it himself. He insisted I take the card and happily turned it over to me. I didn't want to refuse him so I took it and thanked him again. Later that night as I drove Katie and Jake home from their Christmas party (thanks, Pastor Tina:) Katie listened to Jake explain what he had done. Katie wasn't buying.

"Jake, dad has enough money to buy his own cheeseburger," she protested. He simply responded, "I want to give it to him because kids can give their stuff too so that moms and dads can have a nice Christmas." Katie was exactly right. I have enough to buy a cheeseburger at McDonald's. And yet Jake was so right, too. The fact that I had enough to buy one didn't lessen his joy in giving it or my joy in receiving it. And then I thought about my relationship with God and what I can give him this Christmas. My best gift is nothing more than a cheeseburger coupon to God, and yet the joy I think he finds in it is far beyond its actual value. It's my heart of love that makes the gift so precious, that makes him savor the memory of receiving it. This Christmas I want to give God a gift that will let him know how much I love him, even if it's something he can afford buy a million times over.

Date Night

Tonight was special...it was a family date night. Keri took Jacob to meet a friend and her little man so they could shop for their sisters. That left me free to spend the evening with Katie, and it was great. She wanted Chinese food, so we went to the Chesterfield Mall for some rice and veggies, did some Christmas shopping for mom (she reads this so I can't share any more), and went by Walmart for some browsing. Then we came home, hid the presents and finished the evening with a little Tom and Jerry. She's growing up so fast and I want to enjoy every minute I can with her. She's a beautiful person and I can't wait to see what she becomes.

Thanksgiving Part 3

Last one (not the last thing I'm thankful for, but the last one I'm writing about). I'm thankful for the church I have the privilege of serving. Case in point-on Sunday I did a baby dedication for Penelope who was distractingly cute, and then moments later listened to the Walker's talk about their memories of Christmas growing up in the Depression. Mr. Walker talked about never having a Christmas present or a Christmas tree and that if the snow was too deep to make it to church in the Model T (South Dakota) then they would hitch the sled to the horses and ride the five miles to service. I love that I get to be a part of the lives of a broad range of interesting people.