A Social Network Christmas

th'airth'll be full o'the nollij o'the Lord

This is where I will be this evening! 

Grace is hosting this event for the Tipton Civic Society. 

Council Estate Christianity

Duncan Forbes from Oak Hill College on Vimeo.

HT Neil Robbie

Dad's Default?

What are fathers called to? Fathers give. Fathers protect. Fathers bestow. Fathers yearn and long for the good of their children. Fathers delight. Fathers sacrifice. Fathers are jovial and open-handed. Fathers create abundance, and if lean times come they take the leanest portion themselves and create a sense of gratitude and abundance for the rest. Fathers love birthdays and Christmas because it provides them with yet another excuse to give some more to the kids. When fathers say no, as good fathers do from time to time, it is only because they are giving a more subtle gift, one that is a bit more complicated than a cookie. They must include among their gifts things like self-control and discipline and a work ethic, but they are giving these things, not taking something else away just for the sake of taking. Fathers are not looking for excuses to say no. Their default mode is not no. 

Doug Wilson here

Thorns in the Straw

God speaks!

Keep the Manger!

Away instead with Western notions of a 'commercial' inn, a stable, a late-night arrival by Mary & Joseph followed by an immediate birth and a need or desire for privacy! 


Instead, let's allow the Bible to tell us what actually happened! 


Luke 2:4-7: 

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,  and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Kenneth Bailey has written an article that is really helpful. It is here and the heart of it is here:

Joseph and Mary arrive in Bethlehem. They find shelter with a family whose separate guest room is full, and are accommodated among the family in acceptable village style. The birth takes place there on the raised terrace of the family home, and the baby is laid in a manger.

get in there!

Some encouragement from across the pond!

Ask Doug: Caroling, Evangelism, and Cultural Relavancy in the UK 

from Canon Wired on Vimeo.

Black Country Carol Service

The Sandwell Chronicle's take on the Tipton Civic Society's 

Black Country Carol Service (14th Dec):

For more see: bostinnews

Jesus Saves! Jesus Saves!

FROM: King of Christmas (To the tune of "Jingle Bells")

1. The world belongs to God
He spoke and there it was 
Though it was very good
It all went bad because
The man that God had made 
And the woman there with him 
Turned their back on God to get 
A deadly taste of sin (But)


CHORUS
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Jesus is the Way
Jesus is the Saviour
You can come to Him today - Hey! Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
People from their sin
You will find forgiveness
When you put your trust in Him

2. Well if you look around 

You’ll see how sin has spread 

Turning light to dark
And living things to dead 

But God still rules the world 

He always had a plan
To send his Son to save us
In the likeness of a man

CHORUS

Well if you come to God
(You still have time you know) 

He’ll wash your sinful heart
And make it white as snow 

Come taste eternal life 

And death will have no sting
All who trust in Jesus are
The children of the King

 ___________________________________________________

Colin Buchanan
© 2005 Universal Music 

  

can't wait!

toying (ha) with using this in the service tomorrow morning.

the oss is off!

www.bostinnews.com 

Bethlehemian Rhapsody

Thanks to JP on Facebook for putting me onto this! 

bostin news is LIVE!

bostinnews.com IS NOW LIVE!

The pdf of the booklet (we are expecting to arrive tomorrow) can be found here.