1. Christmas 2010 Open The Presence

3. Extreme Makeovers Extreme Makeovers

4. Christmas Story: Angel to young woman: "Child!" Angel to young woman: "Child!" Joseph- "Say what?!?" Joseph- "Say what?!?" Bethlehem, born in a cave Bethlehem, born in a cave

5. Christmas Story: Herod- "Kill the children!" Herod- "Kill the children!" Egypt, then back to Nazareth Egypt, then back to Nazareth

6. So What?

7.  Christ's Mission: Peace Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord…

8. Christ's Mission: Peace This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests"- Lk 2:10-14

9. Christ's Mission: Peace "Peace on earth, goodwill towards men" ?

10. Christ's Mission: Peace "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace... I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother…'" - Matthew 10:34-35

11. Christ's Mission: Peace What does that mean?

12. Christ's Mission: Peace Christ has not promised: Peace of circumstances Peace of circumstances But…Peace of heart and mind But…Peace of heart and mind

13. Christ's Mission: Peace If my peace is circumstance-based, I've set myself up as a slave to my surroundings If my peace is Christ-based, I've anchored my hope to something that never changes

14. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid…I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world”- John 14:27, 16:33

15. Christ's Mission: Peace …righteousness and peace kiss each other- Psalm 85:10

16. Christ's Mission: Peace Christ is my righteousness Christ is my righteousness Peace is a function of walking in Christ Peace is a function of walking in Christ

17. Christ's Mission: Peace Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests Who is it available to? Who experiences it?

18. Christ's Mission: Peace Anger and the Flu

19. Christ's Mission: Peace Peace: The right meds The right meds Comfort food Comfort food Music Music Movies, Books, Media, Sports Movies, Books, Media, Sports Relationships Relationships

20. Christ's Mission: Peace The right meds The right meds Comfort food Comfort food Music Music Movies, Books, Media, Sports Movies, Books, Media, Sports Relationships Relationships None of these deal with the inner struggle

21. Christ's Mission: Peace Peace: The right meds The right meds Comfort food Comfort food Music Music Movies, Books, Media, Sports Movies, Books, Media, Sports Relationships Relationships Jesus Jesus

22. Christ's Mission: Peace Peace: "…on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests"

23. Christ's Mission: Peace Peace= birthright Do I have it?

24.  Christ's Arrival: Authority The angel answered (to Mary), "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God- Luke 1:35

25. Christ's Arrival: Authority A virgin will become pregnant? "…the power of the Most High will overshadow you"

26. Christ's Arrival: Authority Problem: 700 year-old prophecy says the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem Micah 5:2 80 miles away

27. Christ's Arrival: Authority In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world-Luke 2:1 What a coincidence!

28. Christ's Arrival: Authority Prophecy: Messiah had to be of the line of David Bethlehem= City of David Bethlehem= City of David

29. Christ's Arrival: Authority Prophecy: Called out of Egypt- Hosea 11:1 Herod's persecution Herod's persecution

30. Christ's Arrival: Authority "Dear eight pound, six ounce, newborn baby Jesus…"

31. Christ's Arrival: Authority "Dear eight pound, six ounce, newborn baby Jesus…" God is absolute control at all times: Nothing escapes his grasp Nothing escapes his grasp Nothing takes him by surprise Nothing takes him by surprise

32. Christ's Arrival: Authority So what?

33. Christ's Arrival: Authority For nothing is impossible with God- Luke 1:37 …with God all things are possible- Matt 19:26

34. Christ's Arrival: Authority In Christ: Addicts are set free Addicts are set free Wife abusers become real men Wife abusers become real men Racism is challenged and overcome Racism is challenged and overcome Religion is finally killed Religion is finally killed Haters become lovers of people Haters become lovers of people

35. Christ's Arrival: Authority If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation- 2 Cor. 5:17 If Jesus stays in the manger, you and I stay unchanged and unable

36. Christ's Arrival: Authority "Is he safe?" "Of course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King"

37. Which Jesus do I want? The meek and mild baby who evokes feelings of sentiment The meek and mild baby who evokes feelings of sentiment Or the God-come-to-earth who orchestrates all events perfectly in keeping with his awesome Power Or the God-come-to-earth who orchestrates all events perfectly in keeping with his awesome Power Note: Only 1 changes lives

38. Christ's Arrival: Authority Don't leave Christ in the manger

39.  Christ's Gift: Presence The Whole Message of Christmas: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"-- which means, "God with us"- Matthew 1:23

40. Christ's Gift: Presence I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you- John 16:7

41. Christ's Gift: Presence It is for your good that I am going away… ?

42. Christ's Gift: Presence "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you…" Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him- John 14:18, 23

43. Christ's Gift: Presence Because of Christmas, we get the fullness of God living in us The very presence of the Holy One, the Creator, our King

44. Christ's Gift: Presence So what?

45. Christ's Gift: Presence I don't have to wait for church to worship, pray, have peace and God's power working through me

46. Christ's Gift: Presence I don't have to wait for church to worship, pray, have peace and God's power working through me I don't have to play hypocrite with the errors of sacred space and sacred time

47. Christ's Gift: Presence I have blood family I can be closer to than biological family I even have blood family I've never met- yet have immediate kinship with

48. Christ's Gift: Presence I have blood family I can be closer to than biological family I even have blood family I've never met- yet have immediate kinship with

49. The Kiss