No Left Overs at newhope...

Around Thanksgiving a few years ago, radio commentator Paul Harvey shared a true story of a woman and her frozen Thanksgiving turkey. The Butterball Turkey Company set up a telephone hot line to answer consumer questions about preparing holiday turkeys. One woman called to inquire about cooking a turkey that had been in the bottom of her freezer for 23 years. That's right-23 years. The Butterball representative told her the turkey would probably be safe to eat if the freezer had been kept below zero for the entire 23 years. But the Butterball representative warned her that even if the turkey was safe to eat, the flavor would probably have deteriorated to such a degree that she would not recommend eating it. The caller replied, "That's what I thought. We'll give the turkey to our church."

That kind of mindset will destroy a faithful and vibrant church. At newhope, we have a Core Value of excellence that asserts, "We are convinced God deserves excellence that honors the Lord Jesus Christ!" I loved how Kevin and Linda Routhe put it last Sunday in the video testimony, "You can look in any corner of this church and nothing communicates that we are here temporary." (Or something like that, Kevin :-)) You can watch that powerful video here.

This Sunday we begin our new series entitled, "Searching for Christmas." You do not want to miss it and I encourage you to invest and invite a friend. In worship, we come before God, in all of our imperfection, but we offer to God the very best we have because God is worthy!

As we gather to celebrate the Christmas season, keep in mind we do so because Almighty God sent and delivered His VERY BEST! As you come to church this Sunday, don't bring any "left-overs." Instead, let's gather offering God our very best - all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength!

May the peace of Christ dwell deep within you this sacred season...