{"id":5005,"date":"2014-12-12T22:21:25","date_gmt":"2014-12-13T02:21:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=5005"},"modified":"2017-01-24T15:43:27","modified_gmt":"2017-01-24T19:43:27","slug":"a-red-christmas-12714","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=5005","title":{"rendered":"A Red Christmas (12\/7\/14)"},"content":{"rendered":"<address><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Pastor Jim continued his Advent sermon series on the &#8220;Colours of Christmas&#8221; by looking at things that are red.\u00a0 How can red objects remind us of Christ and help us prepare for Christmas?\u00a0 Click the following &#8220;Play&#8221; button, then scroll down and follow along&#8230;<br \/>\n <\/span><\/address>\n<address>\u00a0<\/address>\n<address>\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-5005-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/Sermon-2014-12-07b-A-Red-Christmass-by-Pastor-Jim-Bolton-6kbs-stereo_BAK.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/Sermon-2014-12-07b-A-Red-Christmass-by-Pastor-Jim-Bolton-6kbs-stereo_BAK.mp3\">https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/Sermon-2014-12-07b-A-Red-Christmass-by-Pastor-Jim-Bolton-6kbs-stereo_BAK.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<\/address>\n<address>\u00a0<\/address>\n<address><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">The scripture reading was from Luke 1:26-38.\u00a0 Pastor Jim read from the &#8220;Life Application Bible&#8221; (which uses the Living Bible translation\/paraphrase).\u00a0 Open the drop down box to follow the scripture.<\/span><\/address>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class='et-learn-more clearfix'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class='heading-more'>Luke 1:26-38 <span class='et_learnmore_arrow'><span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='learn-more-content'><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">26\u00a0The following month God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">27\u00a0to a virgin, Mary, engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">28\u00a0Gabriel appeared to her and said, \u201cCongratulations, favored lady! The Lord is with you!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">29\u00a0Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">30\u00a0\u201cDon\u2019t be frightened, Mary,\u201d the angel told her, \u201cfor God has decided to wonderfully bless you! <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">31\u00a0Very soon now, you will become pregnant and have a baby boy, and you are to name him \u2018Jesus.\u2019 <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">32\u00a0He shall be very great and shall be called the Son of God. And the Lord God shall give him the throne of his ancestor David. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">33\u00a0And he shall reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom shall never end!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">34\u00a0Mary asked the angel, \u201cBut how can I have a baby? I am a virgin.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">35\u00a0The angel replied, \u201cThe Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of God shall overshadow you; so the baby born to you will be utterly holy\u2014the Son of God. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">36\u00a0Furthermore, six months ago your Aunt[b] Elizabeth\u2014\u2018the barren one,\u2019 they called her\u2014became pregnant in her old age! <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">37\u00a0For every promise from God shall surely come true.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">38\u00a0Mary said, \u201cI am the Lord\u2019s servant, and I am willing to do whatever he wants. May everything you said come true.\u201d And then the angel disappeared.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The Living Bible (from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=+Luke+1%3A26-38+&amp;version=TLB\" target=\"_blank\">BibleGateway.com<\/a>)<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Seeing Red<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>What are some red objects that remind you of Christ during Christmas?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Holly Berries<\/span><\/strong>&#8211; remind us of the drops of blood that Christ shed.<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Apples<\/span><\/strong>&#8211;\u00a0 Apples used to be hung in Christmas Trees to remind us of our sinful state and need for forgiveness,<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Poinsettias<\/span><\/strong>&#8211; The red flower reminds us of Christ&#8217;s\u00a0 blood, the White flowers remind us of His purity, and the shape of the flowers is like a star.\u00a0 That reminds us of the visit of the Maji.\u00a0 Poinsettias have been called the &#8220;Flowers of the Holy Night.&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>But what about Elmo?!?\u00a0 Yes- Elmo (the character in Sesame Street)!\u00a0 There&#8217;s a movie called &#8220;Elmo Saves Christmas,&#8221; and in that film is a song where Elmo sings &#8220;Keep Christmas with you, all through the year.&#8221;\u00a0 Don&#8217;t put Jesus away with the Christmas ornaments! Even after the Christmas season- with all of its traditions and colors that remind us of Christ- we must continue to look\u00a0 for reminders; to keep Christ always first in our hearts.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Sesame Street - &quot;Keep Christmas With You&quot;\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uiPI5c1KPx4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>OK.\u00a0 This might be a corny example&#8230; but the message is true!\u00a0 God came to the earth as a baby, lived among us, and then died an awful death so that we could be forgiven.\u00a0 That&#8217;s something worth keeping with you all through the year.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">1:\u00a0 Anger<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/anger-477044__180.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-5002\" src=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/anger-477044__180.png\" alt=\"anger-477044__180\" width=\"147\" height=\"132\" \/><\/a>The color red can remind us of Temper.\u00a0 We can fly off the handle, red hot with anger.\u00a0 And during this Christmas rush of shopping, there\u00a0 are a lot of things that can get us angry.<\/p>\n<p>When the wise men (Magi) came to King Herod in <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=matthew+2&amp;version=NKJV\" target=\"_blank\">Matthew 2:1-3<\/a><\/span> and asked where the King of Israel was to be born, the Bible says that Herod was &#8220;troubled&#8221;.\u00a0 The Greek word used here is &#8220;tarasso.&#8221;\u00a0 One definition of this word is &#8220;stir or agitate to a furious state.&#8221;\u00a0 In other words, Herod was red with anger.\u00a0 His pride, his position was threatened.\u00a0 He missed out on the gift- the promised Messiah was here, but he was more concerned with keeping his power and earthly throne.<\/p>\n<p>But Herod&#8217;s not the only one.\u00a0 Anyone been to the mall recently?\u00a0 Have you tried to get a parking spot?\u00a0 Temper and anger can prevent us from experiencing God&#8217;s gift of peace and joy.\u00a0 If we get so caught up in in our own concerns and pride or struggles, we won&#8217;t see God (&#8220;blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God&#8230;.&#8221;).\u00a0 Check out the following verses&#8230;\n\t\t\t<div class='et-tabs-container et_sliderfx_fade et_sliderauto_false et_sliderauto_speed_5000 et_slidertype_top_tabs'>\n\t\t\t\t<ul class='et-tabs-control'>\n\t\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\t1 Kings 18:17-18\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tActs 4:2\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tActs 16:20-21\n\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<\/ul> <!-- .et-tabs-control --><\/p>\n\n\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content'>\n\t\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content-main-wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content-wrapper'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tWhen he saw Elijah, he said to him, &#8220;Is that you, you troubler of Israel?&#8221; \u00a0 &#8220;I have not made trouble for Israel,&#8221; Elijah replied. &#8220;But you and your father&#8217;s family have. You have abandoned the Lord&#8217;s commands and have followed the Baals.\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tThe priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. \u00a0 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tThey brought them before the magistrates and said, &#8220;These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar\u00a0 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.&#8221;\u00a0\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> <!-- .et-tabs-container --><\/p>\n<p>The work of God surrounds you and can be totally obvious; if your heart is pure and free from things like anger. The people in these verses &#8220;missed&#8221; the gift and didn&#8217;t see God.\u00a0 They were unable and unwilling to prepare and open their eyes to God.<\/p>\n<p>But opening your eyes and preparing to meet Jesus is pretty important!\u00a0 Look at what the Bible says about Him:<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<div class='et-tabs-container et_sliderfx_fade et_sliderauto_false et_sliderauto_speed_5000 et_slidertype_top_tabs'>\n\t\t\t\t<ul class='et-tabs-control'>\n\t\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tRev 9:16\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\t1 Tim 6:15\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tRev 17:14\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tPhil 2:9-11\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tDan 2:47\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \u00a0\n\t\t<\/ul> <!-- .et-tabs-control --><\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content'>\n\t\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content-main-wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content-wrapper'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tOn his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:<\/p>\n<p><strong>KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.\u00a0<\/strong>\n\t\t<\/div><\/p>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\twhich God will bring about in his own time \u2014 God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.\u00a0\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tThey will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings \u2014 and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.&#8221;\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tTherefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,\u00a0 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,\u00a0 to the glory of God the Father.\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tThe king said to Daniel, &#8220;Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.&#8221;\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> <!-- .et-tabs-container -->\n<p>We need to keep looking for ways to see Jesus in our day to day lives and to honor Him as &#8220;King of Kings and Lord of Lords.&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800080;\"><em><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">What if Jesus had responded with anger during the false trial?\u00a0 What if He had some choice words for the soldiers who drove nails into His hands?\u00a0 If He lost His temper and allowed human weakness to overtake Him, He wouldn&#8217;t have been the perfect Lamb.\u00a0 He wouldn&#8217;t have been able to reconcile us to God.\u00a0<\/span> <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>None of the\u00a0 following gifts of reconciliation would be true:<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<div class='et-tabs-container et_sliderfx_fade et_sliderauto_false et_sliderauto_speed_5000 et_slidertype_top_tabs'>\n\t\t\t\t<ul class='et-tabs-control'>\n\t\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tRom 5:11\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\t2 Cor 5:18-19\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tIsa 61:10\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tjn 1:12\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tHab 3:17-18\n\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<\/ul> <!-- .et-tabs-control --><\/p>\n\n\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content'>\n\t\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content-main-wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content-wrapper'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tNot only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. \u00a0\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tAll this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: \u00a0 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men&#8217;s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. \u00a0\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tI delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. \u00a0\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tYet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God\u2014 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband&#8217;s will, but born of God.\u00a0\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tThough the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, \u00a0 yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.\u00a0\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> <!-- .et-tabs-container -->\n<p>May red- and our anger- remind us that Jesus didn&#8217;t loose His temper.\u00a0 May red- and our own focus on ourselves- remind us that we need to focus on Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">2: Embarrassment<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/emoticon-41960__180.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-5003\" src=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/emoticon-41960__180.png\" alt=\"emoticon-41960__180\" width=\"150\" height=\"111\" \/><\/a>Mary was in a pretty difficult situation.\u00a0 It was downright embarrassing&#8230; even life threatening.\u00a0 A\u00a0 woman &#8220;with child&#8221; who was engaged to another man was liable to be stoned.\u00a0 When the news from the angle came, the Bible says she was &#8220;disturbed&#8221; or &#8220;perplexed.&#8221;\u00a0 Embarrassment would also fit.\u00a0 Imagine the name calling, gossip, or shame.<\/p>\n<p>But this idea that God would enter the world through a woman (even a virgin) is consistent throughout scripture. Mary was prepared.\u00a0 She was ready to submit to God and to trust Him fully.\u00a0 Mary Got it.\u00a0 Check out the following verses about the coming of the Messiah:<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<div class='et-tabs-container et_sliderfx_fade et_sliderauto_false et_sliderauto_speed_5000 et_slidertype_top_tabs'>\n\t\t\t\t<ul class='et-tabs-control'>\n\t\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tGen 3:15\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tJn 1:1-1-2\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tRom 9:5\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tJer 31:22\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\t1 Tim 3:16\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tMatt 1:23\n\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<\/ul> <!-- .et-tabs-control --><\/p>\n\n\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content'>\n\t\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content-main-wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content-wrapper'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tAnd I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head,\n and you will strike his heel.&#8221;\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tIn the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.\u00a0 He was with God in the beginning.\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tTheirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tHow long will you wander,\u00a0 O unfaithful daughter?\u00a0\u00a0 The Lord will create a new thing on earth \u2014\n a woman will surround a man.&#8221;\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tBeyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great:\u00a0 He appeared in a body,\u00a0 was vindicated by the Spirit,\n was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t&#8220;The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel&#8221;\u2014which means, &#8220;God with us.&#8221;\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> <!-- .et-tabs-container -->\n<p>Despite all of the embarrassment, Mary &#8220;got It.&#8221;\u00a0 She stood there and told\u00a0 the angel, &#8220;Be it unto me according to Your Word.&#8221;\u00a0 She knew it was going to be hard.\u00a0 She didn&#8217;t buy into a &#8220;prosperity theology.&#8221;\u00a0 Do we have that kind of faith?\u00a0 Can we give it all up to God; count the cost and allow Him\u00a0 to put us in any circumstance because we trust Him?\u00a0 God\u00a0 is trustworthy!<\/p>\n<p>Struggling times will come.\u00a0 And, they are opportunities to express our faith and deepen our trust.\u00a0 Mary responded with faith and didn&#8217;t let embarrassment hold her back.\u00a0 The Bible gives other examples:<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<div class='et-tabs-container et_sliderfx_fade et_sliderauto_false et_sliderauto_speed_5000 et_slidertype_top_tabs'>\n\t\t\t\t<ul class='et-tabs-control'>\n\t\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tPsalm 116:16\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\t2 Sam 7:25-29\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tRom 6:13\n\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<\/ul> <!-- .et-tabs-control --><\/p>\n\n\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content'>\n\t\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content-main-wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content-wrapper'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tLord, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant; you have freed me from my chains.\u00a0\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tAnd now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, \u00a0 so that your name will be great forever. Then men will say, &#8216;The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!&#8217; And the house of your servant David will be established before you. \u00a0 &#8220;O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, &#8216;I will build a house for you.&#8217; So your servant has found courage to offer you this prayer. \u00a0 O Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. \u00a0 Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, O Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever.&#8221;\u00a0\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tDo not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. \u00a0\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> <!-- .et-tabs-container -->\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class='et-box et-bio'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='et-box-content'><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you are offering to send workers who will only come if the work is easy, I can&#8217;t use them. Tell them to stay home<\/span>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">&#8211; David Livingston<\/div><\/div>\n<p>God doesn&#8217;t need &#8220;tickle me Elmo&#8221; disciples.\u00a0 He needs us to be in it for the long haul.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800080;\"><em><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">What if, 33 years later, as Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, praying while sweating drops of blood&#8230;\u00a0 What if He said Father &#8220;let this cup pass from me.&#8221;\u00a0 What if He put a period there and didn&#8217;t say &#8220;but Thy will be done.&#8221;\u00a0 Jesus said, no- I&#8217;ll take the hard road.\u00a0 What the Father has is much better.<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">3:\u00a0 Love<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Mary was able to wear the red of embarrassment because she also saw the red of love.\u00a0 It was her foundation point.\u00a0 She <a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/smiley-25526__180.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-5004 \" src=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/smiley-25526__180.png\" alt=\"smiley-25526__180\" width=\"141\" height=\"128\" \/><\/a>loved God and trusted Him to the fullest.\u00a0 Love.\u00a0 She had no idea of where the journey would go, but she loved God so much (&#8220;pondered these things in her heart &#8220;) that she was willing to joyfully go wherever God led and to love this child that You&#8217;re allowing me to come.<\/p>\n<p>Go down a few <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=luke+1%3A46-56&amp;version=NKJV\" target=\"_blank\">verses<\/a><\/span> and see her prayer.\u00a0 &#8220;My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my savior.&#8221;\u00a0 These are not the words of someone held captive by embarrassment.<\/p>\n<p>Mary was living the truth that John would later write in <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=1+john+4%3A1-19&amp;version=NKJV\" target=\"_blank\">1 John 4:18<\/a> <\/span>says there is no fear in love.\u00a0 Perfect love casts out fear (and does a pretty good job at casting out anger and embarrassment too). The one who fears, has not been made perfect (complete) in love.<\/p>\n<p>Love is the single most powerful thing in the world.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt; color: #000080;\">And so, during this Advent season, when we see red, we shouldn&#8217;t be angry or embarrassed.\u00a0 Instead we should be reminded of Jesus&#8217; gift of love for the Father and for us; how He refused anger and instead shed the red of His blood to buy our forgiveness. Red should remind us of the love of Mary; of how she shunned embarrassment and instead put her faith in God.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt; color: #000080;\">Red should help us to &#8220;Keep Christmas with you, all through the year&#8221; (even in the mall parking lot).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt; color: #000080;\">What do you see when you See Red???<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Quiz Time!<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #000080;\">As you reflect on what you&#8217;ve just heard\/read, give this quiz a try.\u00a0 If you don&#8217;t understand an answer (or if you disagree with the &#8220;correct&#8221; answer, post a comment&#8230;<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<div id='quizArea'>\n<script type='text\/javascript'>\njQuery(document).ready(function($) {\n$( function($){\nvar quiz = {\nmultiList:\n[{ ques: 'Why is Elmo in this sermon?',\nans: 'Reminder to keep Jesus with us at all times.',\nansSel: [ 'Because Big Bird is yellow.',  'Because he has big eyes.' ] },\n{ ques: 'What if Jesus got really ticked off and said some nasty things to the soldiers who drove nails into His hands?',\nans: 'He would not have been the perfect Lamb that takes away our sins.',\nansSel: [ 'People would have respected Him more.',  'The soldiers would have stopped.' ] }],\ntf:\n[{ ques: 'David Livingston had such a big need for workers that he paid to have the roads fixed.',\nans: false },\n{ ques: 'Mary could have been stoned.',\nans: true },\n{ ques: 'Mary believed that if she trusted God everything would be prosperous and go easily.',\nans: false }]\n};\nvar options = {\ntitle: 'A Red Christmas',\nhelp: 'Enter or select the answer, then click &#8220;Check&#8221;.\u00a0 Once you&#8217;ve seen the right answer, click &#8220;Next&#8221; to try the next question.\u00a0 When you&#8217;re done, click &#8220;Review&#8221; to see the questions and answers again.',\nshowAns: false,\nshowAnsInfo: false,\nallRandom: false,\nshowFeedback: false,\nrandom: false\n};\nvar lang = {\nquiz : { tfEqual:'' }\n};\n$( '#quizArea' ).jQuizMe( quiz, options, lang );\n$( \".q-innerArea\" ).css( {\"backgroundColor\": \"#EECCAA\", \"color\": \"#222222\"} );\n$( \".quiz-el\" ).css( {\"backgroundColor\": \"#776655\", \"color\": \"#222222\"} );\n$( \".q-ques\" ).css( {\"backgroundColor\": \"#EEEEEE\", \"color\": \"#222222\"} );\n$( \".q-ansSel\" ).css( {\"backgroundColor\": \"#EEEEEE\", \"color\": \"#222222\"} );\n$( \".q-result\" ).css( {\"backgroundColor\": \"#EEEEEE\", \"color\": \"#222222\"} );\n});\n}(jQuery))\n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #003300;\"><strong>+\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 +\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 +\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 +\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 +\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 +\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 +<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?cat=50\">Click Here<\/a><\/strong><\/span> to view other sermons.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pastor Jim continued his Advent sermon series on the &#8220;Colours of Christmas&#8221; by looking at things that are red.\u00a0 How can red objects remind us of Christ and help us prepare for Christmas?\u00a0 Click the following &#8220;Play&#8221; button, then scroll down and follow along&#8230; \u00a0 \u00a0 The scripture reading was from Luke 1:26-38.\u00a0 Pastor Jim [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5001,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[143,123,112,91],"class_list":["post-5005","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sermons","tag-anger","tag-christmas","tag-faith","tag-love"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5005","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5005"}],"version-history":[{"count":50,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5005\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13458,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5005\/revisions\/13458"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5001"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5005"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5005"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5005"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}