Renewal

Very likely, by the time you read this, it will be a new year; 2012. So, let me start off by conforming to centuries of tradition and wish you a happy, prosperous, and healthy New Year.

Every year, people make New Year’s resolutions… to stop smoking, get more education, lose weight… as many, and as varied resolutions as there are people (times a WHOLE bunch). Often, the resolutions are the reiteration of resolutions from past years that usually didn’t last more than a couple of weeks. Perhaps we need to look at resolutions differently.

Let’s change our vocabulary. Change ‘resolution’ to ‘renewal’.

Resolutions depend on our resolve… which is notoriously weak, completely dependent on our will, and often weakened by stressful circumstances. How many times have we resolved to start a new habit (or stop an old one), only to completely abandon the resolution’s good intentions at the slightest bump in the road?

Renewal is a different story altogether. Think about all the successful renewals in your life. You might renew a magazine subscription, auto insurance, a commitment to charitable giving, or health insurance. In each case, you renew a commitment and someone else renews their commitment to you… on an on-going, continuous, and mutually beneficial basis.

As I was thinking and writing about this, I received a Jews for Jesus newsletter that completed my musings in a far better way than I had originally planned. I have renewed my support of the Jews for Jesus ministry year after year and they bless me through their newsletter with their ministry news, their zeal, their evangelical fire, and their incredible faith in God and Jesus Christ as our sovereign Lord. In Remember to Renew, the cover article of the Jews for Jesus January 2012 newsletter, Executive Director David Brickner seemed to finish my thoughts about renewal (quite wonderfully, in fact). He also makes a profound comment about struggles and disappointments that I found to be just what I needed.

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Renewal is not only a matter of the mind, but also of the heart. We remember the past because it builds our faith to recall what God has done. We need that faith in order to be transformed and renewed. Renewal is not to occur only once a year with a New Year’s resolution or two. It is a daily response to God as He calls us to present ourselves as living sacrifices as in Romans 12.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”  – Romans 12: 1-2

The problem with living sacrifices is that they tend to wriggle off the altar! We need to bind ourselves to that altar with cords of love and trust in the One who sacrificed Himself for us. We need God’s renewal in our lives to stir up fresh dedication, new commitment, and the kind of faith that enables us to see a future that is brighter than our past. I want that renewal. I want to remain on that altar for Jesus. That is my commitment before the Lord…

Maybe this past year has held struggles and disappointments. Perhaps there are physical problems for which there is no relief in sight. Do not lose heart, but remember that even though we are perishing outwardly, inside we are being renewed day by day. And our light momentary affliction is working a far heavier weight of glory that will last forever and ever (see Corinthians 4:16-17).

As we enter 2012, I invite you, dear friends, to remember and renew your relationship with the Lord Jesus.

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To David Brickner’s words, I say: “AMEN!” And if you don’t yet have a relationship with Jesus, I invite you to accept the gift of salvation, joy, and peace that Jesus freely offers to every person. That’s EVERY person. That includes you… even if you don’t believe. See me on our campus on Sunday, or contact me if you need to know more.

And, once again: Happy New Year!  It’s my prayer that 2012 be the year you begin a lifelong renewal in the Lord!

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

FYI: Jews for Jesus exists to make the Messiahship of Jesus an unavoidable issue to Jewish people worldwide.

You can find out more about their ministry online at: jewsforjesus.org

Alive in Your Loss – Untitled Hymn

Christmas is near.

Of course, search engines have little respect for time, place, or situations… focusing, as they do, merely on the keywords you have supplied them. Loss (read: death) is no respecter of time, place, or situation. And sometimes, a shared holiday tradition will hit us with a sharp reminder of a loss… be it recent, or something you thought was dealt with long ago.

As Christians, we should never trivialize loss. It’s very real. It hurts, and I am sorry for the loss that has brought you here today.

Chris Rice sings a moving song called:

Untitled Hymn (Come to Jesus)

It will touch your heart, and might give you some peace. I’ve attached a beautiful video (with lyrics) of the song that Chris Rice first released in 2003.

The song’s lyrics invite us to go to Jesus in a variety of ways. I find that I have come to Jesus singing… I have fallen on Jesus… I have cried to Jesus… I have danced to Jesus…  and at the end of MY days, I pray that I will fly to Jesus… and live!

How have you come to Jesus? Be mindful that each way YOU come to Jesus is reflected out to a lost and hurting world. The world is seeking answers, reassurance, and salvation… that can only happen when they come to Jesus… and live!

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

2011 Christmas Card

Christmas Eve is fast upon us!

This year, we have 4 Christmas Eve worship services scheduled (3:30, 5:00, 8:00, and 9:30 pm). Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year, so we will have just one worship service (with Communion) at 10:00 am on Sunday.  If you are in our neighborhood, consider yourself invited. You don’t need to be a member, you don’t need to bring anything, you don’t need anything at all… just come and join us as we give thanks to God for the greatest Christmas gift of all!

I’ve started handing out my Christmas cards to everybody that I can connect with. This year I’m allowing for more time for this, as I’m hobbled a bit by a torn tendon in my left ankle. I usually hand out 500 cards each Christmas, so please be patient with me as I offer you a card… for the fifth or sixth time. I don’t keep a list. As a matter of fact, I will extend my Christmas message to everyone I see during this season… at the market, pumping gas, at work, at the post office… everywhere. This blog allows me to connect with a few other people, too. If you are one of them, here is this year’s Christmas card from me:

Front:

Sweet Christmastime…

Inside:

O Come, O Come…
Sweet Christmastime to Me

By David Alan Hoag – December 1, 2011
(sung to O Come, O Come Emmanuel)

O come, o come… sweet Christmastime to me
I want to see my grandkids trim the tree
I want to walk through bright streets of light
And like a child renew my lost delight.
O come…
O come…
Sweet Christmastime to me
And change my heart to what it ought to be.

O come, o come… sweet Christ child unto Earth
Again renew the promise of your birth
You come to us in meekness, not might
That we might move from darkness to light.
O come…
O come…
Sweet Christ child unto Earth
In me renew the promise of your birth.

According to that most accurate of sources, the Internet, the words to the favorite O Come, O Come Emmanuel carol were originally written in Latin in the 12th Century. The author of the words and composer to the music of O Come, O Come Emmanuel is unknown. It is, however believed that the melody was of French origin and added to the text a hundred years later. The Latin was translated into English by John Mason Neale in 1851. It seems a rather long gestation period for any song, but I suppose they wanted to get it just right! And now, in 2011, I add 2 verses of my own. Enjoy.

Blessings to you and your family, as you celebrate God’s love at Christmas time.

My prayer is that the peace, love, and joy that come from the salvation through Jesus Christ… be yours at Christmas, and all through the year.

Your brother in Christ,

Dave Hoag

Where’s the Line to See Jesus?

Becky Kelly has recorded a beautiful song that every Christian should hear and reflect upon. Listen to her perform, watch the video, and then read Becky’s story about the song.

About the song (from Becky’s site):

While at the mall a couple of years ago, my then four year old nephew, Spencer, saw kids lined up to see Santa Claus. Having been taught as a toddler that Christmas is the holiday that Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, he asked his mom, "where's the line to see Jesus?"

My sister mentioned this to my dad, who immediately became inspired and jotted words down to a song in just a few minutes. After putting music to the words, and doing a quick recording at home, he received a great response from friends. He sent the song off to Nashville without much response, except for a Christian song writer who suggested adding a bridge at the end of the first chorus. My dad then asked if I wanted to record the song to see what we could do with it. I listened to the song, made a few changes to the words to make it flow better, and we headed to Shock City Studios.

It was at the studio where Chris, owner and producer, rewrote the 2nd verse and part of the chorus... with goose bumps and emotions high, we were all hopeful and felt like we had something special. The demo was recorded in just under 2 hours and sent off again to Nashville... still no response.

Then 2 weeks before Christmas last year, my cousins Greg and Robbie decided to do a video to see what we could accomplish on YouTube. The first day we had 3000 hits and it soared from there. We received e-mails, phone calls, Facebook messages from people all over asking for the music, CD's, iTunes, anything... we had nothing'. After a couple of meetings with Chris following the amazing response, we got serious. We headed back into the studio this past spring... this time with guitars, drums, bass, pianos, choirs... the real deal.... and here we are today.

Getting iTunes set up, a website put together, and loving that thousands upon thousands of Christians have come together... remembering the true meaning of Christmas. Out of the mouths of babes come profound truths that many adults cannot understand. Hopefully Spencer's observation will cause people all over to reflect on the love of Jesus, and that one day we will all stand in line to see Him. We are most thankful to our Heavenly Father to have this chance to share our music with you. Merry Christmas everyone!

Jesus IS the reason we celebrate Christmas. Blessings to you this Christmas.

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

P.S.: Want to support Christian songwriting and Christian artists? Then buy a couple of copies of Becky Kelly’s CD to give as gifts… and maybe one to enjoy for yourself. Her official site is at:

http://wheresthelinetoseejesus.com/

One final credit: Where's the Line to See Jesus?
Song and Lyrics by Steve Haupt & Chris Loesch.