Ok, maybe I’m easily entertained. But I do get a great chuckle out of those “White Elephant” Christmas gift exchange thingys. Remember those? You snag something (hopefully, a fairly silly something, like your Aunt Petunia’s hair curlers) lying around your house, wrap it up, and bring it to a Christmas party. Or, perhaps you go out to the store and buy (usually an agreed upon $$ maximum, like, say, five bucks) some exotic item, like an ignitable Santa Claus (who bursts into flame wherever anyone shouts “ho, ho, ho”).

You are! You’re writing it now. “Writing what, Jim?” You’re writing your eulogy, of course. “Don’t pastors write those?” No, not really. You write them. You write them with every choice you make… with every attitude you take… every time you choose to love and forgive rather than hate and resent, plunge in rather than avoid, go the extra mile, rather than just sit this one out… every time you choose to trust and follow Jesus no matter what, every time you Believe Him and take risks for His Kingdom and glory… no, you’re writing that eulogy.

I’m still buzzing with excitement over what God did last week in Children’s Worship as the group celebrated Salvation Sunday! What did He do? Saved people, of course! Sixteen of them, to be exact!

Yes! You heard that right! After a diligent several month interim pastor search, your (extremely hard working and ever-faithful) Transition Team was led to an outstanding candidate to recommend to Session! Session gave their hearty approval, and so the Rev. Dr. Munn Hinds, Jr., will be joining us for his first Sunday on November 28 – yes, just in time to begin Advent! So he is an early Christmas present from the Lord!

The man was going to be late to the revival meeting. His pickup truck was already brimming over with kids eager to find out what the excitement was all about at the local church. As they passed the next corner, one little boy standing on the sidewalk waved at the pickup as they sped by. Moved by impulse, the man thought to himself, “what’s one more? I’m sure he can fit in somewhere.” So he gently backed up, and motioned for the little lad to clamber aboard the tailgate.

Who are we? What is the purpose of our lives? Those three words sum it up so well: We are a people called to be Christ-centered, Spirit-filled, and Bible-based.

I missed you all last Sunday! (I always do whenever I’m not here; you fill such a deep place in my heart!) I was with, well, an old friend of mine – and yours. Last Sunday was indeed the installation service for John Hamilton, the new Senior Pastor of Bethany Presbyterian Church in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania. Yes, it still sounds strange to me, too…

Where can we go when we’ve made a mess of our lives? How can we discover forgiveness, cleansing and a fresh new hope – a new beginning -- in God’s amazing grace? As I mentioned in Sunday’s sermon, Psalm 51 is where I go! And I meet Jesus there in a mighty, healing way! Come with me as we go there!

I can still remember that cry echoing out of my black and white TV set way back in the 60's, as yet another set of courageous astronauts blasted off into space! And I could almost hear it this Sunday, as another team of equally courageous folks helped with the successful launch of an amazing new ministry in our midst: Children's Worship! Streaming up from downstairs after the first service were a host of vibrant, enthusiastic faces! And here I mean both the adult leaders as well as the kids! One child loved it so much at 9:00 a.m. that he pleaded to be able to "do it again" at 11:00 a.m.!

It was some six years ago that Robert came into our lives like a firebolt. Here was a man who (as the phrase goes) was radically saved. Robert was never shy about sharing the story of his life, including his years battling drugs, alcohol – and other people! For these battles he served time in prison. But God was not finished with Robert – He was just beginning! Robert came into a desperate, powerful personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The feistiness that was Robert turned from a life of anger and hostility to lively witnessing for his Savior, Lord, and best friend Jesus Christ. So many of you were such an encouragement to Robert and his wife Nancy: I know you’ve built up their lives in Christ in ways they have appreciated SO much. They, in turn, in their years in Rochelle blessed us so richly with their open passion for Jesus and their total commitment to His amazing Lordship.

Ah, how four letters contain such power! “Abba”! No, I’m not thinking of the famous foursome Swedish folk/rock group, either! I’m thinking of Someone far more famous: our Abba in heaven… “Abba” being a Hebrew child’s word for “father” – think “Daddy”! When Jesus called on His Father, he cried out “Abba”. Such is the intimate bond that we are invited to enter with Jesus!

And yes, you are, dear friends! I have proof! Proof from the last two Sundays: and it’s proof of how gifted you are because I was only minimally involved myself – so all the great things that happened the last two weeks are your fault!

Most people feel either intimidated, bored, confused -- or all three -- when they think about actually blowing the dust off their Bible and checking it out! So if that’s you, don’t come down with a case of the “shames”, go “turtle”, and keep on letting the dust pile up! Jesus isn’t going to “zap” you if you can’t recite the whole book of Leviticus backward: in Hebrew! He doesn’t want to bore you or make you “perform” for Him! He wants to love you, feed you, and build you up in His affection through your encounter with His Word!

My excitement grows as we are getting ready to enter into the MAPS (Mission Analysis Profile) mission study process later this month! You are a fantastic, loving, growing church, and we will be greatly enriched even further this season! We have great questions to pray over, search scripture about, and share in together: What is a church supposed to be about, anyway? What are God’s dreams for us? What is our vision? Where are we going from here? What is our mission, our destiny?

The Holy Spirit is leading our way into the future! Here's some sightings!

Ah, the Full Court Press! Now, I’m certainly no basketball expert. But I tried out for the team in Junior High. In eighth grade, I was my current height: 6’2 ½": about a whole foot taller than the next biggest guy. When I strode onto the court, I struck terror in their hearts!

I am so glad for the keen focus & investment so many of you have expressed about our future as a congregation! I share your eagerness to build on our momentum and soar into all God has ahead for us! It is a joy to fill you in on what the Lord is doing in our midst!

One of John Hamilton’s final newsletter articles proclaimed “God Remains”. And even after our favorite Pennsylvanian has departed to the state of his ancestral stomping grounds, it remains true! God does remain! He is here! And He is on the move! I’ve seen His tracks!

I actually saw it happen once: the Olympic torch being passed for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles! A guy from the youth group I led, Tommy Forletta, won the privilege of running with the Olympic torch for about a mile in the high desert north of L.A. This last Sunday I saw it again! What a phenomenal sermon John gave: possibly even saving the “best for last”!

You see the outside view. The view of my fine young wife popping up on Sunday morning, writing newsletter articles, vigorously encouraging us to learn to listen to the living voice of God in our lives… challenging us to join in on the Listening to God seminar in April…

One of the great highlights of my year is the annual Session retreat, which took place this past weekend. And yes, I really mean it! The people and the focus are what make it wonderful: the people are, well, some of you! Whom I love and enjoy just being with together. The focus is not “business”, but getting closer to Jesus and one another. Praying, laughing, and enjoying. Can’t beat that!

On Sunday I promised you I would give you a brief outline of the “4 keys” to hearing God’s voice that I preached on. These are built from scripture; many of you have asked for the name of the book I was drawing upon for this teaching. The book is Dialogue With God, by Mark and Patti Virkler (Bridge-Logos Press), and it is beyond outstanding in its Biblically based teaching on this vital issue. Certainly these 4 keys are only one approach!