Pictures from the Christmas Banquet:
There Is No Such Thing as the Worst Christmas Ever:
During our annual Christmas Banquet we usually hear a message from a staff member. This year we were honored to hear Jeremy Crowe share about why there can be no such thing as the worst Christmas ever. May this message encourage your hearts as it did ours:
I Love Christmas but not because of gifts, music, or the joy this season brings. I love it because of the birth of our King. However, in a consumer driven economy, it is often difficult to remember the Christ of Christmas. On Black Friday 22 billion dollars was spent in sales. In the first sixty seconds1.2 million was spent online. On Cyber Monday, $21,000 was spent every second. Wow! The sad part is that as a Christian I feel this extravagance and can see the draw, because I too want a good deal. I even tell myself that my motives are noble! I want to be able to make the most of my resources and, as a father, want to give my boys the best Christmas I can afford. This causes me think about my own childhood memories surrounding Christmas and what it felt like to give and receive gifts. I remember waking up on Christmas morning knowing my parents had hidden our presents throughout the house. It was exciting! But there are less happy memories as well. Once, as a teenage boy I didn’t receive any clothes--I just got toys. This wasn’t helpful for someone trying to look cool! As I have become an adult, giving and receiving gifts can feel like a letdown, often making me think, is that all there is? I have even caught myself ranking my Christmas experience from year to year, and have used the phrase, “The worst Christmas ever.” But on reflection, the phrase “The worst Christmas ever.” doesn’t seem to work. After all, we are talking about the birth of Christ, the greatest gift of all. In Him is the gift of hope, love, joy, grace and peace. What a gift—that God, through Christ, would make his home among men! I have come to realize that each Christmas is the best Christmas, no matter how bad our personal experience is. There is no such thing as the worst Christmas ever, because we have received the best gift possible. A gift we cannot put a price tag on and a gift we certainly didn’t deserve. Every gift we receive on Christmas Day is secondary to the gift of Emmanuel, God with us. |
Rocket to 30 - History Behind Favorite Christmas Carols
In the most recent episode of Rocket to 30, Nathan and Josh discuss the history of their favorite Christmas carols.
Listen to the newest episode: "Crazy Stories Behind Christmas Carols." Rocket to 30 is available in iTunes or Stitcher. You can subscribe using your favorite podcasting program by clicking here. To listen in an internet browser click here. A Psalm from Old Testament Class
Each year in our Old Testament Survey course, students write a personal Psalm to help them reflect on what they are learning. Here is one student's work:
Lord my heart is heavy for the world.
We are all lost, and few of us will find our way to you. Forgive us God, for we know not what we do. Why have you created us knowing full well that many will not choose you? Why have you trusted us with the choice of eternity, when we can barely choose you for the day? We are weak. I'm overwhelmed, and I don't know how to trust you. But you have sent to me a comforter to ease my heart. For you the Lord are full of mercy and grace. You are fiercely loyal and pursue us to the ends of the earth. Your spirit is sweet, and your presence is fragrant. Your love led you to sacrifice your own son. Your heart is not unfeeling. The sorrow you feel for the lost is deeper than I can imagine. If only the world knew of your love. Why are we so blind? Give us your eyes Lord. Alumni Updates:
Josh (faculty) and Laura Chalmers (alumna 2001-2003) gave birth to a daughter, Clara Gray Lynn, weighing 7 pounds, on November 24, 2014 in Saskatoon, SK. A sweet little sister for Elise and Tori.
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