{"id":9899,"date":"2015-12-26T17:23:47","date_gmt":"2015-12-26T21:23:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=9899"},"modified":"2016-01-19T11:34:44","modified_gmt":"2016-01-19T15:34:44","slug":"the-polar-express-comes-to-pitman-122015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=9899","title":{"rendered":"The Polar Express Comes to Pitman! (12\/20\/15)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>Each Christmas is a reminder that God beacons us- woos us- to &#8220;Get on Board!&#8221;\u00a0 He constantly offers us a free ticket; to trust fully in Him and to go along on the &#8220;ride&#8221; that He has intended for us to take.\u00a0 But like the kids in the movie Polar Express, we have to choose to leave the comfort of our home and Get Aboard to parts unknown.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>Pastor Jim&#8217;s sermon on December 20 reminded us of the wonder and joy of this challenge.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>Click the below &#8220;Play&#8221; button and scroll down to follow along and get on board&#8230;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-9899-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Sermon-2015-12-20b_The-Polar-Express-Comes-to-Pitman_by-Pastor-Jim-Bolton-6kbs-mono.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Sermon-2015-12-20b_The-Polar-Express-Comes-to-Pitman_by-Pastor-Jim-Bolton-6kbs-mono.mp3\">https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Sermon-2015-12-20b_The-Polar-Express-Comes-to-Pitman_by-Pastor-Jim-Bolton-6kbs-mono.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Our scripture reading was Isaiah 6:1 and John 3:16-7.\u00a0 Familiar verses, but powerful verses&#8230;<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<div class='et-learn-more clearfix'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class='heading-more'>Scripture<span class='et_learnmore_arrow'><span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='learn-more-content'><p><strong><span style=\"color: #993366;\">Isaiah\u00a0 6:1<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #00ff00;\">================<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #993366;\">John 3:16-17<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>16 \u00a0For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.<\/p>\n<p>17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.<\/p>\n<p>NKJV\u00a0<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Secular Traditions or Sacred Bridges?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>How do we connect to God?\u00a0 Certainly God has given us His Word, prayer, and inspired hymns&#8230; but what about the secular traditions of the world? Can we use any of these to connect us with God? Here are but two examples&#8230;<\/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\tSanta Claus\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tReindeer\n\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<\/ul> <!-- .et-tabs-control --> \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\tSome have derisively posed the question&#8221;\u00a0 Who do you follow?\u00a0 JC or SC?&#8221;\u00a0 But can we use &#8220;SC&#8221; to help us follow &#8220;JC&#8221;?<\/p>\n<p>History clearly shows that Santa Claus (Saint Nicholas) is a Christian tradition.\u00a0 Saint Nicholas is one of the most popular saints in the Greek and Latin churches.\u00a0 While there isn&#8217;t historical documentation, it is believed that he was probably the bishop of Myra (in modern Turkey) sometime in the 300s.<\/p>\n<p>Supposedly, Nicholas was born to a wealthy family and had a considerable inheritance.\u00a0 But he didn&#8217;t want to keep any of it.\u00a0 In the most famous story about his life, he threw bags of gold through the windows of three girls about to be forced into prostitution.\u00a0 (<span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\"><em>from an article by<\/em> <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/ch\/news\/2004\/nick.html\" target=\"_blank\">Ted Olsen<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><em>The tradition is about someone who gave up his wealth; wealth that belonged to him- and gave it away.\u00a0 Can we use this story to help point us to Jesus (who laid aside the &#8220;wealth&#8221; of his glory in heaven to become a lowly human like us)?<\/em><\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<p>\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tThere is the story of flying reindeer, including one who sines a light in the darkness clearing a path through the fog so that blessings can flow down from up above in the North.<\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Can we use this to help point us to Jesus (who came to be The Light of the World)???<\/span> <\/em>\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>There are many other traditions which regrettably, many in Christendom have declared &#8220;secular.&#8221;\u00a0 But, could it be that rather than dismiss these traditions out of hand, we can learn more about our faith through these stories and traditions?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Secular Stories or Parables?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Matthew 13:34-35 tells us:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><em><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">This fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet: &#8220;I will speak to you in parables. I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world.&#8221;<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The Hebrews, and we, depend on an oral tradition that points us to the truths about God and leads us into worship.\u00a0 We learn from stories .\u00a0 Here&#8217;s what Psalm 78:1-3 says about this:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><em><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">O my people, listen to my instructions. Open your ears to what I am saying,<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past\u2014<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>We can look at stories such as Santa Clause and Reindeer as parables which can remind us of God and draw us closer to Him.<\/p>\n<p>The movie &#8220;The Polar Express&#8221; could be such a parable.\u00a0 Resist the urge to scoff and totally dismiss this movie as secular entertainment, but instead look for the Biblical truths that it contains.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #993366;\">All Aboard!<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-9905 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Train-HO-engine-_DSC02384-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Train HO engine _DSC02384\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Train-HO-engine-_DSC02384-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Train-HO-engine-_DSC02384.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The train comes unexpectedly (like the Bridegroom in Matthew 25).\u00a0 The ticket is free (like salvation).\u00a0 You&#8217;re constantly being invited to board (&#8220;Come unto me&#8230;&#8221;).<\/p>\n<p>This movie has been applauded by Christian leaders such as James Dobson and Max Lucado. &#8220;The Polar Express&#8221; is far more than an\u00a0 enchanting tale\u00a0 about a train ride to the North Pole. It&#8217;s a story about faith; faith lost, faith reawakened, faith renewed, a faith which continues to draw us to someone outside of our selves&#8230; to Someone bigger than we are.<\/p>\n<p>The film&#8217;s director, Robert Zemeckis, was asked about all the biblical parallels in the movie.\u00a0 The director winked and said:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><em><span style=\"color: #993366;\">&#8220;Nothing in a movie this big ends up in the script by accident.&#8221;<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Journey of Faith Parable<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The Polar Express is a parable about the journey of faith. Here are some of the truths that this movie helps us visualize as we take our &#8220;journey&#8221;&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<div class='tabs-left et_sliderfx_fade et_sliderauto_false et_sliderauto_speed_5000 et_slidertype_left_tabs clearfix'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='et_left_tabs_bg'><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<ul class='et-tabs-control'>\n\t\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tHOW CAN THIS BE?\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tARE YOU COMING?\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tNO BAGGAGE ALLOWED\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tRISK IT ALL!\n\t\t<\/a><\/li>\u00a0 \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tLISTEN!\n\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<\/ul> <!-- .et-tabs-control --> \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\t<em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">The story begins with the main character (&#8220;Hero Boy&#8221;) lying awake in bed on\u00a0 Christmas Eve.\u00a0 Through the voice of Tom Hanks, the boy recounts his experience:\u00a0 &#8220;On Christmas Eve, many years ago, I lay quietly in my bed&#8230; I was listening for a sound I was afraid I&#8217;d never hear. The ringing bells of Santa&#8217;s sleigh.&#8221;<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Just as Hero Boy had a childlike curiosity, we need to search for God with awe and wonder.\u00a0 We need to keep the sense of &#8220;How Can This Be&#8221; (Mary&#8217;s response to the angel).\u00a0 We need to strain to hear the bells unless they become drowned out by the noise of distractions, responsibilities, even the things of self importance.\u00a0 Can we still hear &#8220;Santa&#8217;s Bells&#8221;?\u00a0 Are we in awe of a God who could become a man and die on a cross for us?<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">The boy falls asleep and is awakened by the rumblings of a train in the street.\u00a0 It is the Polar Express.\u00a0 He hears the faraway cry, &#8220;All Aboard!&#8221;\u00a0 Dumbfounded, he slowly approaches the inviting figure.\u00a0 The conductor blurts out, &#8220;Well?\u00a0 Are you coming?&#8221;\u00a0 Drawing close he adds, &#8220;Sounds to me this is your crucial year.\u00a0 If I were you, I would think about climbing onboard.&#8221;\u00a0 When Hero Boy hesitates, the conductor replies, &#8220;Suit yourself,&#8221; and the train begins to roll away.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p>How About You?\u00a0 Is this s crucial year for you in matters of faith?\u00a0 As the Gospel Express of Christ rides through Pitman this morning, will you finally climb on board, or will you risk your eternal soul by letting it ride on without you?\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<span style=\"color: #993366;\"><em>At the last minute the boy decided to climb on board the train.\u00a0 In front of him is a young boy named &#8220;Know It All&#8221; who immediately accosts him&#8230;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #993366;\"><em>&#8220;Hey!\u00a0 Hey, you.\u00a0 Yeah, you!\u00a0 Do you know what kind of train this is?\u00a0 Do you? From across the aisle the girl responds,&#8221;It&#8217;s a magic train.\u00a0 We&#8217;re going to the North Pole.&#8221;\u00a0 <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #993366;\"><em>Know It All retorts, &#8220;Actually it&#8217;s a Baldwin 2-8-4 S3 class steam locomotive built in 1931 at the Baldwin Locomotive Works.&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Don&#8217;t you just love Know It Alls?\u00a0 They say religion is about personal likes, create a god in your own image.\u00a0 You don&#8217;t need God because you can handle every situation in life all by yourself.\u00a0 Regardless of what the Bible says, you know better&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>But there&#8217;s no baggage on this train!\u00a0 We don&#8217;t need to create anything; we make it too complicated.\u00a0 Jesus simplified things when He He boiled it all down to &#8220;Believe in Me&#8221;&#8230;<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Then they asked him, &#8220;What must we do to do the works God requires?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Jesus answered,<\/span> &#8220;The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">John 6:28-29<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>We can&#8217;t bring anything of our own creation on to the train.\u00a0 We don&#8217;t have to say the right thing or know the right thing.\u00a0 Nothing we can do will make God love us any more or any less.\u00a0 We can&#8217;t buy our own ticket.\u00a0 It&#8217;s already paid for.\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">The train stops again to pick up a sad little boy (&#8220;Lonely Boy&#8221;) standing in front of a run down house.\u00a0 Initially he refuses to get onboard.\u00a0 As the train speeds away, he begins to run after the train.\u00a0 Seeing that there is no possible way he will catch up, Hero Boy hits the emergency break.\u00a0 Lonely Boy enters, but sits alone in the last car of the train.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p>As God&#8217;s Gospel Train rides through every country, city, town and hamlet around the globe, there are people searching and trying to get on board.\u00a0 But they need assistance.<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes that involves risk. Hero Boy could have been thrown off the train for pulling the emergency break.<\/p>\n<p>Jesus gave His All to get us on the &#8220;Gospel Train.&#8221; And he&#8217;s instructed and empowered His people to do the same thing; help people get on the train, even if it means taking risks.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,\u00a0 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.&#8221;<\/span> <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">Matt 28:19-20<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">They make it to the North Pole and eventually their car detaches from the train and begins to slide down a hill.\u00a0 The children find themselves in a train depot deep within the town.\u00a0 Hero Girl is able to guide them out of the depths of the town by following the sound of a sleigh bell.\u00a0 At first, she is the only one who can hear the sound.\u00a0 Eventually,\u00a0 Lonely Boy begins to hear it.\u00a0 Hero Boy remains frustrated, &#8220;I\u00a0 don&#8217;t hear anything.&#8221;<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Eventually they do arrive to the center of town, and everyone is there, surrounded in the lights.\u00a0 But Hero Boy still can&#8217;t hear the bells.\u00a0 He&#8217;s at a loss.\u00a0 It&#8217;s much like the non-believing world who cannot &#8220;hear&#8221; or &#8220;see&#8221; the movement of God in the world.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In Mark 9:7-9 God speaks from Heaven and true believers heard God&#8217;s voice, but others thought it was only thunder.<\/li>\n<li>In Revelation 2:7, 11, and many other places, Jesus says &#8220;He who has an ear, let him hear&#8230;&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The flying reindeer arrive and Hero Girl exclaims, &#8220;Aren&#8217;t those bells the most beautiful sound?&#8221;\u00a0 But Hero Boy can&#8217;t hear them.\u00a0 Sounds a lot like what happened 2000 years ago when God through the angels were ringing the bells that all of heaven heard.\u00a0 But, on earth, only Mary, Joseph, and a few believing shepherds heard the sound.\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> <!-- .tabs-left -->\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The characters and places and things throughout this movie also symbolize elements of our faith journey&#8230;.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<div class='tabs-left et_sliderfx_fade et_sliderauto_false et_sliderauto_speed_5000 et_slidertype_left_tabs clearfix'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='et_left_tabs_bg'><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<ul class='et-tabs-control'>\n\t\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tCONDUCTOR\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tTRACKS\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tGHOST HOBO\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tNORTH POLE\n\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<\/ul> <!-- .et-tabs-control --> \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\tThe conductor represents pastors and parishioners alike who invite others to &#8220;get on board!&#8221;\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tThe tracks are the scriptures, and God given teachings of the Old and New Testaments which keep us in line and allow us to stay &#8220;on track&#8221; by remaining in God&#8217;s will.\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tThe ghost hobo on the top of the train represents the doubts that haunt and tempt each of us on this journey.\u00a0 The temptations to sin,\u00a0 to walk away from the faith, to compromise the faith, to trust self rather than God.\n\t\t<\/div>\n<p>\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tThe North Pole is the Celestial City spoken of in Revelation 21-22. Heaven is that wonderful place where every child of God will joyously be with God and His Messiah&#8230; represented by Santa.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> <!-- .tabs-left -->\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Faith Lessons from the Polar Express<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The symbols and similarities between elements of this movie and our faith journey are unmistakable.\u00a0 There are three lessons that we can draw from this film&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000080;\">1:\u00a0 Seeing is Believing and Believing is Seeing&#8230;<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Hero Boy is torn between two truths:\u00a0 &#8220;Seeing is Believing&#8221;\u00a0 and &#8220;Believing is Seeing.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Both are true.\u00a0 The reality of the train, the invitation of the conductor, and the shared experiences of the children all witness to the reality of Santa.\u00a0 However, this evidence is not enough to convince Hero Boy.\u00a0 Though it is true that seeing is believing- and Hero Boy is able to see some things that encourage him- it is also true that Believing is Seeing.\u00a0 In order for Hero Boy to fully share in the journey he must have faith.\u00a0 All the evidence in the world is not enough without this.<\/p>\n<p>According to the Bible, God wants the Gospel Train to be filled as much as possible!<\/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\t2 Peter 3:9\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\t1 Timothy 2:3-4\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tRevelation 2:20-21\n\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<\/ul> <!-- .et-tabs-control --> \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\tThe Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, <span style=\"background-color: #00ff00;\">not wanting anyone to perish<\/span>, but everyone to come to repentance.\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t&#8230;This is good, and pleases God our Savior,\u00a0<span style=\"background-color: #00ff00;\"> who wants all men to be saved<\/span> and to come to a knowledge of the truth.\u00a0\n\t\t<\/div>\n<p>\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tNevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. <span style=\"background-color: #00ff00;\">I have given her time to repent<\/span> of her immorality, but she is unwilling.\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>The Christian church is not in existence for itself.\u00a0 Jesus did not come into the world for Christians.\u00a0 In fact, Jesus said (in Luke 19:10) that He came &#8220;to seek and save those who are lost.&#8221;\u00a0 Christmas is about God coming to earth to share the Good News that a Savior has been born.\u00a0 That God loves us.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #993366;\">Invite &#8217;em,\u00a0 don&#8217;t fight &#8217;em!<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>God calls us to &#8220;Stand in the Gap&#8221; between Himself and those who don&#8217;t know Him.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><em><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">&#8220;I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land.<br \/>\nI searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn&#8217;t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.&#8221;<\/span> <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">Ezekiel 22:30<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>We should be a community of travelers who invites others to share our journey, even if (at present) they don&#8217;t share our faith.\u00a0 We invite people to belong before they believe.\u00a0 Seeing is believing.\u00a0 We invite others to join us; to come along, to taste and see, to experience mystery and beauty with the hope that faith may awaken.\u00a0 We invite them to &#8220;see in order to believe&#8221; that they might &#8220;believe in order to see.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000080;\">2: The Persuasive Power of Wonder<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>The Polar Express challenges us all- both young and old- to never lose our sense of awe, wonder and fascination.\u00a0 For children, these things come naturally.\u00a0 However, these wonderful gifts are lost unless we nurture and develop them.<\/p>\n<p>Children are not born secularists, nihilists, or atheists.\u00a0 These perspectives are hammered in through the loss of innocence, the influences of others throughout the culture in which they live, and the circumstances of life.\u00a0 In spite of these things, we don not have to lose our faith.\u00a0 We can recapture and renew our sense of wonder and awe.<\/p>\n<p>Jesus said (Mark 10:15)&#8230;\u00a0\u00a0 <strong><em><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.&#8221;<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In our world it&#8217;s easy to become cynical, jaded, hopeless, and despairing.\u00a0\u00a0 The loss of awe and wonder is tragic. One important function of liturgy, praise and worship- the rituals of celebration which are at the heart of our corporate expression of faith- is to continually remind and renew our sense of our mysterious, transcendent, ever present, wonder-filled\u00a0 God.<\/p>\n<p>How many times in scripture do we read that people were filled with &#8220;wonder&#8221; or &#8220;awe&#8221; or were &#8220;amazed&#8221;?<\/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\tMary\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tJoseph\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tShepherds\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tWise Men\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tAngels\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tSimeon\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tAnna\n\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<\/ul> <!-- .et-tabs-control --> \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<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tIn the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,\u00a0 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin&#8217;s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, &#8220;<em><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.<\/span><\/em>&#8221;\u00a0 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and <span style=\"background-color: #00ff00;\">wondered<\/span> what kind of greeting this might be.\u00a0 (Luke 1:26-29)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Then he (<em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Jesus<\/span><\/em>) went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother <span style=\"background-color: #00ff00;\">treasured all these things in her heart<\/span>.\u00a0 (Luke 2:51)\n\t\t<\/div><\/p>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tBut after he had considered this (<em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">divorcing Mary<\/span><\/em>), an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, &#8220;Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.&#8221;\u00a0 (Matt 1:20-21)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Where did this man get these things?&#8221; they asked. &#8220;What&#8217;s this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles!\u00a0 Isn&#8217;t this the carpenter? Isn&#8217;t this Mary&#8217;s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren&#8217;t his sisters here with us?&#8221; And they took offense at him.\u00a0 (Mark 6:2-3)\n\t\t<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tSuddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">&#8220;<em><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.<\/span><\/em>&#8220;<\/p>\n<p>When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, &#8220;<em><span style=\"color: #800080;\"><span style=\"background-color: #00ff00;\">Let&#8217;s go to Bethlehem and see<\/span> this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.<\/span><\/em>&#8221;\u00a0 (Luke 2:13-15)\n\t\t<\/div><\/p>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<span style=\"color: #000000;\">After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem\u00a0 and asked, &#8220;Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and <span style=\"background-color: #00ff00;\">have come to worship<\/span> him.<\/span>&#8221;\u00a0 (Matthew 2:1-2)\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tAn angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, &#8220;Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.\u00a0 (Luke 2:9-10)<\/p>\n<p>Suddenly <span style=\"background-color: #00ff00;\">a great company of the heavenly host appeared<\/span> with the angel, praising God and saying,\u00a0 &#8220;Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.&#8221;\u00a0 (Luke 2:13-14)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.\u00a0 (Matt 13:16)\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\tNow there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was <span style=\"background-color: #00ff00;\">waiting<\/span> for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.\u00a0 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord&#8217;s Christ.\u00a0 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;<em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. <\/span><\/em>\n<em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">For my eyes have seen your salvation,\u00a0 which you have prepared in the sight of all people, <\/span><\/em>\n<em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.<\/span><\/em>&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The child&#8217;s father and mother <span style=\"background-color: #00ff00;\">marveled<\/span> at what was said about him. (Luke 2:25-33)\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<span style=\"color: #000000;\">There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,\u00a0 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"background-color: #00ff00;\">She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying<\/span>.\u00a0 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.<\/span> (Luke 2:36-38)\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>The music is real.\u00a0\u00a0 The beautiful sound of the sleighbell is always ringing for those with ears to hear.\u00a0 Growing old does not have to result in losing faith.\u00a0 Instead, like Hero Boy, may we be able to say, &#8220;<strong><em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Though I&#8217;ve grown old, the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe.<\/span><\/em><\/strong>&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000080;\">3: The Overwhelming Joy which Comes from the Inside<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>The announcement of the angels which began as one solitary angel erupted into an explosion of singing, with strobe lights filling the countryside!\u00a0 The announcement was, in a very real sense, a request to &#8220;Strike up the Band!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Strike Up the Band!\u00a0 What gets you excited about Christmas?\u00a0 Many of us think of the things under the tree.\u00a0 But &#8220;Things&#8221; break down.\u00a0\u00a0 &#8220;Things&#8221; quickly loose their appeal.\u00a0 Can you even remember all of the &#8220;Things&#8221; that were under your tree last year?<\/p>\n<p>Can you celebrate the true meaning of Christmas?\u00a0 Have\u00a0 you given Christ your whole heart?\u00a0 Do you know the deep, intimate, peace of God?\u00a0 Can you sing and praise and glorify His name? These joys come from the <strong><em>inside<\/em><\/strong>&#8230; when our &#8220;insides&#8221; are trained through the constant search, wonder, and praise for God which takes place throughout the dates that aren&#8217;t December 25.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><em><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u00a0&#8220;Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.\u00a0 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.\u00a0 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.<\/span><\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 (Matt 6:19-21)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-9936 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Christmas-Eve15-Candle-Closeup-_IMG_2882-300x192.jpg\" alt=\"Christmas Eve15 Candle Closeup _IMG_2882\" width=\"169\" height=\"108\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Christmas-Eve15-Candle-Closeup-_IMG_2882-300x192.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/Christmas-Eve15-Candle-Closeup-_IMG_2882.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 169px) 100vw, 169px\" \/>The Christmas story tells us that there&#8217;s no other place to &#8220;put your treasures.&#8221;\u00a0 Salvation is in no one else: &#8220;<strong><em><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">For there is no Name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.<\/span><\/em><\/strong>&#8221; (Acts 4:12).<\/p>\n<p>When this treasure drives the joy that&#8217;s in your heart, you&#8217;ll be able to join with the multitudes in heaven as they sing &#8220;<strong><em><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Gloria in excelsis Deo.<\/span><\/em><\/strong>&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Just Get on Board!<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Tom Hanks&#8217; character in the movie makes a statement which begs a response:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><em><span style=\"color: #993366;\">One thing about trains; it doesn&#8217;t matter where they are going. <\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><em><span style=\"color: #993366;\">What matters is deciding to get on.&#8221;<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Will you get on board the Gospel Express this Christmas?\u00a0 God calls us to Him and invites us to follow Him.\u00a0 We all have a natural inclination to ask where and why.\u00a0 In many respects, we don&#8217;t want to give up the control of our lives.\u00a0 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-6634\" src=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/sunflower-402249__180.jpg\" alt=\"sunflower-402249__180\" width=\"185\" height=\"123\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/sunflower-402249__180.jpg 270w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/sunflower-402249__180-207x136.jpg 207w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/sunflower-402249__180-140x94.jpg 140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 185px) 100vw, 185px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Yet, we need to remember&#8230; we are not following some arbitrary unfeeling deity.\u00a0 We are following the One who loves us.\u00a0 We are responding to the One who promises to lead us through our entire lives all the way through the door of eternity in relationship with Him.<\/p>\n<p>All we have to do is to reach out to Him and He will always welcome us.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Have YOU given Jesus your whole heart?<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #800000;\">\u00a0Quiz 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: 'Can we use SC to help us follow JC?',\nans: 'Yes- secular symbols such as Santa Claus can help us find Jesus Christ',\nansSel: [ 'Yes- Strict Confidentiality leads to a Just Cause',  'No- Saint Christopher despised Justin Cleaver' ] },\n{ ques: 'The film&#8217;s director was quoted as saying, &#8220;Nothing in a movie this big ends up in the script by accident.&#8221;\u00a0 Who directed the Polar Express?',\nans: 'Robert Zemeckis',\nansSel: [ 'Steven Spielberg',  'Ron Howard' ] },\n{ ques: 'The most important thing about Hero Boy that we should imitate is that he __',\nans: 'Strained to hear the bell and searched with wonder.',\nansSel: [ 'Reached out and pulled the emergency brake.',  'He put up with Know It All.' ] },\n{ ques: 'What did the Ghost Hobo represent?',\nans: 'Doubts that tempt us to trust self rather than God.',\nansSel: [ 'Strength that comes when we step outside of the train.',  'Freeloaders who ride without a ticket.' ] },\n{ ques: 'What is meant by the quote &#8220;Seeing is Believing, and Believing is Seeing&#8221;?',\nans: 'Seeing strengthens faith, but you need faith to fully understand.',\nansSel: [ 'You cannot have faith unless you see for yourself.',  'Once you see something, you will trust in it forever.' ] },\n{ ques: 'Ezekiel called us to ___',\nans: 'Stand in the Gap between God and people.',\nansSel: [ 'Bridge the Divide between old and young.',  'Tell the bald guy to make his sermons shorter.' ] },\n{ ques: 'If we are to have a Joy that comes from within, where should we store up our treasures?',\nans: 'In heaven',\nansSel: [ 'Under the Christmas Tree',  'In the train&#8217;s overhead luggage bin' ] },\n{ ques: 'At the end of the movie, Tom Hanks states: &#8220;One thing about trains; it doesn&#8217;t matter where they are going.\u00a0 What matters is: ___.&#8221;',\nans: 'deciding to get on',\nansSel: [ 'where they start',  'how fast they go' ] }]\n};\nvar options = {\ntitle: 'The Polar Express Comes to Pitman',\nhelp: 'Select the correct answer and click Check.',\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; font-size: 14pt;\"><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>Click this button to view other sermons:\u00a0\u00a0 <a href='https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?cat=50' class='icon-button download-icon'><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Sermon Archive<\/span><span class='et-icon'><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Each Christmas is a reminder that God beacons us- woos us- to &#8220;Get on Board!&#8221;\u00a0 He constantly offers us a free ticket; to trust fully in Him and to go along on the &#8220;ride&#8221; that He has intended for us to take.\u00a0 But like the kids in the movie Polar Express, we have to choose [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9904,"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":[112,73],"class_list":["post-9899","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sermons","tag-faith","tag-witness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9899","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=9899"}],"version-history":[{"count":42,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9899\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9958,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9899\/revisions\/9958"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9904"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9899"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9899"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9899"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}