New Years Resolutions

(I Don’t Make No) Resolutions
Apologies to Jagger and Richards
By Larry Linville

I don’t make no resolutions
Please don’t give no contributions
‘cause I try, and a try,
And I try to make them
But I only, yes I only,
I only seem to break them.

When I’m watching on TV
And Dr. Phil lectures me
Saying I must make these vows
To cause actions that arouse
He needs to let me be
No no no Hey hey hey

I guess you now can see
I can quit the parody
You can draw your own conclusions
‘cause I ain’t making resolutions
I won’t try, no I won’t try
So let me just say goodbye
Hey hey hey

Happy New Year!

It's true that I don't make resolutions, but I do set goals.
Over the holiday would be a good time to sit down and draw up a list of goals for 2009.
How about a list of goals that will help you grow spiritually?
Will you set a goal as to attendance?
What about Bible study?
What about participation in projects and activities?
How many people do you know who do not attend a church whom you can invite to attend at Paradise?
Have you reviewed you giving of time and money to the church?

Don't forget the fellowship time on Friday evening at 6:30.

Pastor Larry

Sermon for January 4, 2009

We are starting a 4-week series on persons around the life of Jesus.
Pastor Arlin will preach this Sunday on the questions: "Why Do The Wise Choose Jesus?"
It will be helpful if you read Matthew 2:1-12 before you attend.
Look at the different characters in this story
Herod
The Magi
The scholars

This is the perfect question to ask on the first Sunday of the new year.
Since it is the first Sunday, we will celebrate Holy Communion.

Bring a friend and come to draw closer to God.

Year out -- year in.

We will soon be turning the page into 2009. You'll have to remember the new date on checks and other official papers. It doesn't seem possible that we've already zipped through 2008!

Here is one truth: you can't have a perfect attendance at worship for 2009 unless you are in worship this coming Sunday.

That would be a great way to start the new year.
In fact, you can practice by attending our Friday night feast and fun time on Jan. 2nd at 6:30. Looks (so far) like the weather will be OK and it will be good to get out of the house.

Remember -- things will be fine in 2009!

Sermon for Dec. 28, 2008

This coming Sunday pastor Arlin is going to share God's message in a sermon titled: "How Do You See Jesus Today?" Read Luke 2:21-40 and you will have a background to the sermon. This will make you better prepared to receive a message. He will be looking at the response to Jesus by a couple of senior citizens --Simeon and Anna.

(note from pastor Larry: I have seen the sermon and you are going to really be fed!)

Pastor Arlin will lead us from Christmas into the new year. If you recall, the flyer we printed to announce our Christmas events also promoted our sermons for after Christmas. He says:

"(we) have planned our post-Christmas sermons with two things in mind -- to help the non-churched see the importance of becoming faithful worshipers, and to help you who are already faithful grown in your faith and perfect your Christian discipleship."

So now, your pastor's have made preparation and they invite you to join them. Who do you know that needs an invitation to attend services now that Christmas is over? Why not invite them?

Christmas Day

That number 109 has to go!
We came close at the children's pageant.
Christmas Eve was 104.
If we don't make it before Easter, we must make every effort to hit that mark.
Are you ready?

Candle light services were great!
Thanks to Pastor Arlin for taking the lead and doing a lot of hard work behind the scenes.
Thanks to those who provided special music.
Thanks to everyone who attended and to those who brought a guest.

We started out cold, but the warmth of the special night helped thaw us out.

May you all have a very Merry Christmas.
Hopefully, all the preparation we did has made Christmas more meaningful for you this year.

A Child's Christmas Prayer

Pastor Larry wrote this poem for the Christmas Eve service and we share it now with you.

A Child’s Christmas Prayer
By Larry Linville

Dear Jesus,
I’m just a little kid.
I’m not so old you know
but I just keep wonderin’
how your star has such a glow.
You could have stayed in heaven
but you came down to this earth
and made the greatest sacrifice
though I have no special worth.

When you had a birthday party
each and every year
did you know I’d celebrate it
as I sing Christmas songs right here?
Did you get many presents
besides frankincense and gold
and did you have a happy toy
you could just sit and hold?

I wish I could have been there
with shepherds and their sheep
to look upon your sweet face
as you laid there fast asleep.
But since I could not be there
I just ask and pray
that you will be here with me
on this special Christmas Day!
Amen

© Copyright 2008 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Christmas is coming

The extreme cold did not keep us from having a great crowd yesterday.
We had a great time with a beautiful violin duet by John and Anna Wallace.

Now we turn our thoughts to Christmas Eve.
We will have our candlelight service at 7 p.m.
The service will feature much carol singing with the stories behind the carols.
The sanctuary will be beautiful and the crowd will be excited.
We will draw close to Jesus on the evening before his birth, but we expect that Jesus will be born in our heart in a very special way.

We don't know what the weather is going to do, but let's pray that there will be just the right amount of snow on the ground to make it look more like Christmas.

We will end the service with each lighting a candle and singing "Silent Night."
Then we will move to a time of fellowship.

Bring family and friends and let's have a wonderful Candlelight service.

Remembering our Jewish Friends

While we are in the midst of preparing for Christmas, our Jewish brothers and sisters are preparing for Hannukah. I was thinking of a very dear Jewish friend when I wrote the following poem:

Happy Hannukah
By Larry Linville

Happy Hannukah, my friend
my best wishes I send
as this year nears the end
an open hand I extend.
I observe Jesus’ birth
when he was born on this earth
but you, the feast of lights
and those special eight nights.
He likely found so much cheer
with Hannukah each year
and he may have shed a tear
as this story was told with cheer.
Victory of the Maccabees
remembered with the greatest ease
worshipped from his bended knees
as the picture he vividly sees.
You and I, my Jewish friend,
celebrate miracles in the end
and peaceful messages we send
as in love our hearts we blend.

© Copyright 2007 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Service for December 21st

Mary was a very young girl, a nobody, when she received this message that she was going to bear God's son. Can you imagine?! She accepted that challenge. Because of her decision to serve God she has given us several gifts.

On Sunday, Pastor Larry will look at some of these gifts that Mary gave us. We will base this on the scripture from Luke 1:26-38. Take time to read it before Sunday. Be in prayer that you will be able to receive these gifts. These gifts are more valuable than any gift you will receive this Christmas.

As always, this is a perfect time to invite someone to attend with you.

It might be good to pray for decent weather as well.

Service for December 21st

Another Devotional

The Tone Deaf Caroler
By Larry Linville

He loved music
Especially Christmas carols.
When the church went to sing
he exuberantly joined right in
standing next to the door
the elderly heard his loud voice
above all the others in the group.
The leader moved him at the next stop
and had him in the middle of the choir
but his loudness caused the others to move away.
He found himself at the back next time
he could hardly see the door
but this didn’t stop him
and his volume button was turned up
nearly as high as it could go.
Every stop he was moved around
by his disgruntled choir
not only was he singing loud
but as far off tune as possible
yet the smile on his face
glowed like the Christmas star
as his joy of the season
overflowed.
And even though
he never found the tune
he expressed his Joy To The World
better than the trained voices
who were always on perfect pitch
with their faces very flat.

© Copyright 2007 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Mission Opportunity for December

Is your Christmas shopping COMPLETE?
Did you pay with cash or CHEX?
Has your gift giving filled your life with a lot of KIX?
Do you enjoy doing good TRIX?
Get a SMART START
by bringing a box or two of cereal
for our Mission Opportunity table for December.
It should give your heart a TOTAL joy.

WHAT A DAY!

The children did great!
All that talent!
All that innocence!
Thanks to all the leaders.
My Christmas takes on new meaning.
Everyone who was there was surely blessed.

Coming up this week:

9 am Tuesday - Prayer group
6:15 pm Wednesday - WOW and Ukes
6:30 pm Thursday - Church Council

Don't forget the Christmas Eve Candlelight service is at 7 pm on Dec. 24

Pageant will display much talent

OK, Sunday December 14th at 11 am at Paradise is the big Children's pageant.
This is going to be a great combination of hard work, talent and music.
We will have our children singing,
playing violins, ukeleles, piano.
What is more emotionally moving that watching children present a program?
We have so much great talent which makes it even greater.
We should have a big crowd...
the weather should be great
grantparents will want to be there to what their grandchildren
neighbors will want to watch the neighbor children.
Is there someone you forgot to invite? Give them a call.

What a blessing awaits us all!

Devotional Poem

Why Not Happy Holidays?
By Larry Linville

In days when I was being raised
I felt that God was truly praised
even when we said in a voice so gay
“Have a happy holiday!”

But in our day the word police
have tried to smear this phrase with grease.
They want us to feel you’re an atheist
if you don’t use words on their special list.

Christmas is not just the words we say
but the actions we perform each day.
You can say Xmas and be very giving
and say Christmas and be evil living.

Yuletide should not be an exclusive season.
Respecting others is a very good reason
to widen your greetings to those who say
their generosity in another way.

Happy Hanukah said to Jewish friends
brings good feelings that never ends.
Happy Holidays will cover this too
so you are blessed while blessing a Jew

Happy Holidays at this winter time
should not be thought of as a crime.
It includes Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day
and the other greetings you don’t know how to say..

Can I possibly deny my Jesus and Lord
by spreading peace and love in a word?
Those who complain help bring to an end
the peace on earth and good will to men.

So this year let’s please don’t use Jesus to fight
about words we use on Christmas night.
Let our greetings be more by the actions we take
and allow his love to make us fully awake..

© Copyright 2007 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Devotional Poem

The Christmas Fridge
By Larry Linville

Our tree is standing with its lights aglow
while outside are some falling flakes of snow.
Our souls filled with thoughts of a white Christmas
bringing peace to the hectic pace with us.

Stockings are hung by the chimney with care
as the crèche gives the mantle a great flair.
The ribbons and pine cones and mistletoe
give our little house such a special glow.

But there is a special decoration
in a very different location.
The fridge is there to hold all of our food
but now holds pictures and sets a new mood.

Pictures of family and friends hang there
which came in our cards from people who care.
So each time I go to get food to eat
I am greeted with this great Christmas treat.

© Copyright 2007 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Did They Do What They Detested?

Did They Do What They Detested?
By Larry Linville

“Don’t take Christ out of Christmas,” they shout
while they spend their spare time going out
to try to find all the bargains and the sales
and their love of possession prevails.

They’d go to worship if they had time
but they’re counting each nickel and dime.
They should read the story from God’s Word
but wild parties are much more preferred.

They’ve cookies and candy to prepare
but they can’t squeeze in time for their prayer.
They spend hours decorating the house
and the stress makes them yell at their spouse.

They get Santa’s picture with their kids
and they update all their eBay bids.
Wrapping presents well into the night
but they stop to arrange their plane flight.

Does it ever sink into their heads
when they finally rest on their beds
that Christ was not in their Christmas plans?
They crowded Him out with their own hands.

Here Come the Children!

The Children's Christmas Pageant will be this coming Sunday, December 14th. This will be such a GREAT TREAT! They will perform "Double Take." It is the Christmas story told through Matthew and Luke with mystery, humor and awe.

We have the greatest Children in the world! Remember how they did at VBS? They give us a mixture of talent, innocense and just plain cuteness.

Our attendance the last two weeks have been 60 or more and there's not reason to believe that the attendance this Sunday can't far exceed that. Here's how we do that:
Be sure all relatives are invited.
Invite anyone you know who does not attend Church.
Pray that the weather is great.

Both pastors have encouraged you to prepare yourself during Advent so that you Christmas will be a big blessing. The Pageant gives us a giant step in this direction.

The Night that Music Died

The Night that Music Died
Larry Linville

The choir had practiced many weeks
for the program on Christmas Eve.
The congregation all gathered
for a great blessing to receive.
Just before the service started
a mean virus began to spread
to the entire choir membership
and settled in their throat and head.
With headaches and laryngitis
they all wondered how they would sing.
Just then the church bell fell apart
and there was no way it could ring.
When the Church organ was turned on
several sparks began to fly.
Some screechy noises then were made
which caused he director to cry.
The pastor stood and said a prayer
asking God to take the lead.
In a desperate voice he prayed
and soon he had started to plead.
They didn’t know just what it was,
a light shone very, very bright.
None could find words describe it,
it was a mysterious sight.
As the choir began the program
their voices became very clear.
As the choir director listened
She couldn’t hold back a big tear.
Without the organ music
and singers who were hoarse
the music was so beautiful
like it was from another source.
t was like an angel chorus,
a sound which they’d never heard.
It lifted up in harmony
the “Good News” message of God’s word.

© Copyright 2007 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Worship for December 7, 2008

Let's look at the events of this Sunday and then we'll end with a devotional poem.

Sunday is the second Sunday in Advent. We will light the advent candles and celebrate Holy Communion and hear a sermon from Pastor Larry titled: "I Am A Mess." Read Mark 1:1-8 and bring a friend with you to worship. Christmas becomes more meaningful the more we attend the Advent activities.

Now for the Poem:

Priceless Christmas
By Larry Linville

Christmas was coming, our son was two
My schooling I still had to pursue
Church salary allowed us to subsist
Without money for a Christmas list
We opened a Christmas card and then
We saw that it contained a ten.
Our son looked for cheap little things
The kind that good old Santa Claus brings
Secretly, the one gift that he chose
Was purchased right under his nose
It was lovingly wrapped and put away
Until that happy Christmas day
Our poster board crèche in the window stood
Because we couldn’t afford one of wood
The other decorations around
Were from Christmas cards with colors so loud
When the Church Christmas program was done
Some members came to our house on the run
And brought the lovely church Christmas tree
And set it up for my family and me
When Christmas morning came that year
Our lives enjoyed the greatest cheer
Under that Christmas tree one gift was there
All our son could do was sit and stare
Santa had been there through the night
And left his gift and it was just right
It was like the one he saw at the store
So quickly the paper wrapping he tore
And took that gift and started to play
While my wife and I could only pray
And thank God for those who had cared
And gently with us their Christmas shared
As years passed and our family grew
My church salary increased too
Decorations increased in size
As the pile of gifts began to rise
But of all the Christmases we’ve had
Nothing has made us as nearly glad
As that present under that given tree
If you’d been there, I know you’d agree

© Copyright 2007 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Announcement and Devotional

Before we get to the devotional poem today, let's not forget that tonight (Thursday) is the Bazaar at Paradise. Things will kick off at 4 p.m. with lots of nice crafts for you to purchase. We chili dogs to eat. The 5th grade Smithville choir will sing at 6 pm and we'll have plenty of time to talk and laugh. Sounds like Paradise is the place to be.

Now let's look at a poem for your spiritual benefit:

Poster Board Nativity
by Larry Linville

Married just a few months
Christmas drawing near
Student pastor’s salary
Finances were austere
Decorations out of reach
We could cut a cedar tree
But a barren evergreen
Was not a sight to see
A pattern in a hobby book
For a wooden nativity
Gave me a big idea
Of a project nearly free
A piece of poster board
Just plain white will do
We cut out the silhouette
Of Joseph and Mary, too
The manger scene was soon cut out
And scotch taped to the glass
Of our big picture window
For everyone who’d pass
Pull the shade and set a lamp
To outline this event
Mary and husband Joseph
And the baby who was sent
To all the lowly of the earth
To the rich and to the poor
And this handmade project
Became a priceless décor
When school was over
And income finally grew
This homemade simple scene
Was there for all to view
Although we had bright lights
And decorations galore
It was a yearly reminder
Of those precious years before

© Copyright 2007 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Another Devotional

A Homeless Christmas
By Larry Linville

Where do you hang your stocking
in your little cardboard home
which you have insulated
with some discarded foam?

Even if you had a chance
and it was given you for free
where underneath your bridge
would you put your Christmas tree?

How does it feel to hold your
“will work for food” sign
as most people drive by
to go home where they dine?

Do you wonder at the people
and think it is so odd
they ignore your desperation
while arguing about God?

Do you know you’re like Jesus
and he was just like you?
There is no room in the inn
so he was homeless too.

© Copyright 2007 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Another Devotional

Every family was given a little red booklet with poems to use as devotions for Advent. Pastor Larry has gone through other poems he has and will add them from time to time because there are not enough poems for the full Advent season. Here is the first:

Mary’s Challenge from Gabriel
By Larry Linville

Gabriel told Mary she would have a boy
for her and everyone as a source of joy.
Can you imagine how shocked she became
pledged to Joseph but not sharing his name?

Did she have the choice to say “no” to her God?
The angel didn’t ask – which seems very odd.
Instead she accepted it with all of her heart
not knowing what it would take to play her part.

She visited Elizabeth to see
if she was with child as he said she’d be.
Liz was with child like Mary had been told
which strengthened her faith and made her more bold.

With this new faith she followed God each day
and obeyed God’s instructions all the way,
not knowing all the trials she’d endure
but feeling all the time she was secure.

That faith led her through the short days ahead
and stayed with her after her son was dead.
But it also led her through the dark skies
outside that grave from which he did arise.

© Copyright 2007 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

On Sunday we set out on the Advent journey. Pastor Arlin helped us see "the rest of the story" and urged us to prepare. We had a wonderful pot luck dinner and probably all ate more than we should. We decorated the church as the children and youth prepared for the pageant on the 14th. We prepared.

Pastor Arlin told us that to be prepared, it would be helpful to be at all the events we have planned at the church. That means you will want to be at the Bazaar on Thursday and hear the wonderful voices from the fifth grade class from Smithville school.

You will also want to prepare with devotional reading. Pastor Larry hopes you will be helped in this by reading the poems from the booklet he made available. If you weren't there on Sunday or you walked off and forget the booklet, we still have some available this week.

On December 7th, Pastor Larry will lead us to look at God's message and those God chooses to deliver it. The Sermon will be: "I Am A Mess..." Read Mark 1:1-8 in order to prepare yourself to receive the message. As yourself: "what messages are delivered to us today"? Think of the negative and untrue messages. Think of the "commercials". Think also of the positive messages we hear. Where do they come from? What makes the difference between a positive and negative message? How can we tell which messages come from God?

Rememer, now is the best time to invite those friends and family to worship with us. Those who do not attend worship. We have flyers at the church. Please us them to give to those you invite.