Cameron's Christmas Holiday Movie Special Marathon Extravaganza

So today is Christmas Eve. As I have said many times before this is my favorite time of year. I love getting into the Christmas spirit by going to the Christmas Choir. But even more than that I love to watch Christmas movies with friends and family. They never fail to get me into the Christmas mood, in fact I have been known to watch them during the summer so I can pretend its Christmas.

So I give you, My Top 6 Favorite Christmas Movies. They will definitely get you into the Christmas spirit.

6.

5

4

3

2

1

I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and I hope to see you at our Christmas Eve service tonight at 6 and 7 PM.

The Twelve Days Of Christmas

...On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: 12 drummers drumming, 11 pipers piping, 10 lords a-leaping, 9 ladies dancing, 8 maids a-milking, 7 swans a-swimming, 6 geese a-laying, 5 golden rings, 4 calling birds, 3 French hens, 2 turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree...

We have all heard this Christmas carol many times before. It is in fact one of the most popular and most recorded Christmas songs through out the past century. The song was actually first published in England in 1780, but it's thought to be older and of French origin.

One of my favorite recordings is by a band called Relient K. In the song they add a bridge which goes, "What's a partridge? What's a pear tree? I don't know so please don't ask me, But I can bet those are terrible gifts to get." On the surface, these do seem like terrible gifts to get, I mean, there are no less than 23 birds on this list. 23 birds! I don't think I want 1, let alone 23. But I believe, as do many Christians who have speculated, the gifts have a deeper meaning. The meanings are as follows:

The "partridge in a pear tree" is Jesus Christ

The "2 turtle doves" symbolize the Old and New Testaments

The "3 French hens" stand for the 3 virtues: Faith, Hope, and Love

The "4 calling birds" represent the 4 Gospels.

The "5 golden rings" symbolize the first 5 books of the Old Testament called the Torah

The "6 geese a-laying" are the 6 days of creation.

The "7 swans a-swimming" stand for the gifts of the spirit.

The "8 maids a-milking" represent for the beatitudes.

The "9 ladies dancing" symbolize the fruits of the spirit

The "10 lords a-leaping" are the 10 commandments

The "11 pipers piping" stand for the 11 faithful disciples

and The "12 drummers drumming" represent the 12 points of belief in the Apostles Creed.

Our true love who sent these gifts is God, who unconditionally loves us. Looking at the meaning of this song, the gifts become more real, and not so terrible. I'm glad God gave us all these gifts and even more!

All Jr. High students are welcome to come to our Christmas party and join us as we look deeper into the meaning and symbolism of the Christmas carol, "The Twelve Days Of Christmas". The party is going to be at a special holiday location. Email me, and I can send you the address and directions. Don't forget to bring a "White Rhino" gift for the gift exchange.

God's Story

For the last few weeks, in Crash, we have been looking at God's story recorded in the Bible. This is the story of God and His relationship with His creation. How God continually loves, guides, and seeks a relationship with His creation.

Three weeks ago we opened God's story with His creation, and man's fall. Despite the fact that man turned away from God, He still loved them and sought after them. We saw that even though we've made mistakes, God will forgive us, and still loves us, and still seeks a relationship with us.

Last week we continued God's story looking still in the Old Testament. We focused on the Israelites, and how God tried to get the attention of the Israelites. But alas, they found themselves in a vicious cycle there was no way out of. This constant cycle of being close to God, sinning & being far from God and then getting close to God agian. At the end of the Old Testament we saw the Israelites divided, far from God, and exiled from the land God promised them. This was not what God had intended from His creation. We looked at this cycle in our own lives, and asked ourselves the question, "What if the cycle could be broken? What would that look like?"

Tonight we will see that this is not where God leaves the story. The Old Testament ends with a hint of hope- the promise of a Savior, a Messiah. Tonight we will look at how God broke the cycle, and helped man out of the mess that they found themselves in. Tonight we will see just how God restores and redeems His creation. Tonight we are going to look at the simple truth that is found in John 3:16, "For God so loved the word, that He gave His one and only son. That Whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life."

Jesus is God's son, the Messiah. Jesus is the reason for THIS season. Christmas is all about the birth of Jesus, our Savior. Jesus is the only way out of the cycle, the only way out of the mess we find ourselves in. Jesus is the only hope we have to fulfill our purpose of having a relationship with God.

The Secret of Contentment

Christmas is about celebrating Jesus' birth. God gave us His son. But we have started celebrating the gifts we get instead of Jesus, who is the reason for the season. This sunday we are going to be continuing our series in the Advent Conspiracy, which is a return to the true meaning of Christmas. Last week, we looked as a church at the idea of Worshiping God Fully. This week we will be looking at Spending Less, drawing the conclusion that we need to learn, with God's help, the idea of contentment in Christ.

Paul explains in 1 Timothy 6:6-10, that contentment is what we should strive for. He says really what we need is food and clothes, and we can be content. In Philippians 4:11-13 he calls himself content no matter what. He is satisfied with that he has, and does not want anything more. He attributes the strength he has, to be content, in Christ.

As I was studying for this lesson something struck me. I had an "Ah-Ha" moment. An aspect of being content is being thankful for and appreciating what God has blessed us with. This sounds like another holiday... it's the big one that comes before Christmas- Thanksgiving.

I have a friend who has a young daughter, and every year for her birthday and Christmas my friend and her daughter take one toy that was given, and give it to someone else who is in need. My friend is trying to instill this valuable principle of contentment to her daughter.

I dare you to practice contentment this Christmas season. When you want to give a present to a friend, make it, or have it situate around doing something with that person. If you do this, you will get more out of the holiday season.

What Are You Thankful For?

This Thursday is Thanksgiving. One of my favorite holidays, next to Christmas. I get to spend time with my family. But the real spirit of this wonderful holiday is appreciating what you have. All throughout the Bible it talks about giving thanks and praising God, for all He has done, and provided. David even wrote this praise in 1 Chronicles 16:8-9, "Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done. Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts." David was described as a man after God's own heart, and he was constantly giving praise.

You shouldn't have to wait till the end of November to give thanks, it should be an attitude you have all year. But seeing as how we do have one day specially reserved to give thanks, here is what I am thankful for: Breath in my body and food and water which are provided. My wonderful family who has supported me throughout my life. The best brother and sister anyone could ever ask for. An awesome ministry, with exciting, energetic, students who are a community together and love to learn about God. A fantastic church with people who get the idea that church is in people not in buildings and who freely give of their time to help one another. I am thankful for friends who encourage, uplift, and genuinely care about each other. I am thankful for all God has provided for me. What are you thankful for?

Remember, as it is Thanksgiving this week, there is no Crash this Wednesday, but go spend time with your family, with people you love, and dwell on what you are thankful for. Tell God, and appreciate all that He has provided for you.

The B-I-B-L-E, Yes That's The Book For Me...

"This revelation- Holy, just, and true-

Though oft I read, it seems forever new;

While light from Heaven upon it's pages rest,

I feel it's power, and with it I am blessed.

Hence forth, I take thee as my future guide,

Let naught from thee, my youthful heart divide.

And then, if late or early death be mine,

All will be well, since I, O Lord, am thine!"

-Phoebe Palmer

I first read this poem about a year ago, and it struck a chord with me. I kept reading it over and over. I couldn't get it out of my mind. A woman who lived in the 1800's named Phoebe Palmer inscribed this poem in her Bible when she was 11. I have since even written the poem in my Bible.

This poem, reveals some wonderful truths about God, His word, and His power. God's word, or the Bible, is Holy, just and true. 2 Timothy 3:16 calls Scripture "God breathed..." The Bible is the authoritative word of God.

The author of Hebrews calls God's word, "Living and active...(Hebrews 4:12)." No matter how much you read it, you will always get something different, something good and new and fresh out of it. Even though God never changes, and neither does His word, our understanding of Him, and His divine plan changes.

The Bible is not only God's word, but it is God's story as well. It is the story of God, continually loving, guiding, and seeking a relationship with His creation. I invite all Jr. High students to join Crash tomorrow night as we study God's word, and begin to overview God's story looking first in the Old Testament.

A Packed Weekend

So this last weekend was full, but exhilarating. I had been looking forward to it for the past couple weeks.

On Friday, I got to meet with the elders and the other pastors to pray and plan for the future of Desert Springs Church. It was very encouraging.

Saturday was Octoberblast. It was SO fun! I spent the day helping to set everything up. I was in charge of some of the game booths, which were a big hit. There was around 2,000 people who attended! Thank you again for everyone that helped me out and volunteered! You guys helped to make not only the game booth area a success but Octoberblast a success.

The extra hour we got back because of daylight savings really helped to recharge me for Sunday which was also a big and exciting day. Desert Springs Church launched Desert Springs Refresh, a new, engaging, band-led interactive worship service during the 11 AM hour. Refresh is for everyone who wants to worship God in a fresh, relevant and casual venue. Much hard work, planning and anticipation paid off when more than 50 people worshiped God by singing, and for some of us, jumping up an down praising God.

All that said, this last weekend was awesome! God is good! He is doing a lot here at Desert Springs Church, and I can't wait to find out what he has in store for this church.

It Is My Birthday Today

I am 25, yes, I am a quarter of a century old. It's inevitable that when your birthday comes you begin to think back over the last year, and years before it. You start to notice things about the world and about yourself, and how much everything changes. For instance I use to hate olives, but now I like them and even have a jar of olives sitting in my fridge.

As I was thinking back I have noticed something about God that I have known know in the back of my head, but always forget. God is constant. He is perhaps the only constant thing, he never changes. Now, some people will say that the Bible portrays 2 kinds of the same God, the judgemental, and often vengeful God of the Old Testament, and the loving, accepting God of the New Testament. But how can this be? If God never changes, how can it appear that he does change?

After looking into this, and studying the Old Testament, you begin to see the love and acceptance of the God in the New Testament. From the beginning, God has been trying to have a personal relationship with humanity, and time after time, humanity keeps messing up, turning to our own way. But the love still shines through. God doesn't give up, he continually seeks us out, and saves us in the nick of time.

I encourage you to join us this week in Crash as we are going to be looking at how faith is constant and coming to the conclusion that Real Faith is secure with the promise that God will never leave us. If this isn't a great Birthday reminder, I don't know what is.

Come Crash With Us...

Welcome to the Crash Jr. High school ministry blog.

1 Timothy 4:12 "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity."

It is my goal to come alongside Jr. High students and help them grow in their faith in God, and live God-pleasing lives. I hope to create a space where they can wrestle with what they believe and ask honest questions. I want to encourage them to set the example of following Christ, in authenticity and community.

I'll be updating no less than weekly, and I hope you all will check my posts and make comments! I will be posting information about our ministry including events and studies, as well other thoughts I have about ministry, the lives of Jr. High students, the church, the Bible, and God.

It's going to be awesome! Thanks so much for reading...