Our lives are a story.

Tom Stoppard, British Academy Award winner and screenwriter, said, “If Beethoven had been killed in a plane crash at the age of 22, it would have changed the history of music… and of aviation.”

Whether you like Beethoven or not, it’s hard to argue that Beethoven’s life, Beethoven’s story, had little or no influence on the history of music.

Our lives are a story. When we cross paths with one another, our stories intersect. And it’s in that intersection that something special happens.

Relationships are built.
Lives are touched.
There is love.
There is hurt.
There is pain.
There is growth.
There is community.

As we close out the year 2007, we will spend this Sunday gathered together around tables, and through the different voices in our community we will hear, the greatest story ever told.

You’re in it. I’m in it. And God is writing it.

Our kids will be singing some special songs. You won’t want to miss it!

If you feel so inclined, share a moment in your story that brings you great joy.

See you Sunday……

This morning, we revealed the full plan for how we, as a church community, can be a blessing to our broader community. We have taken 20% of our offerings for the last month and this morning we gave it all away - back to you. It was hilarious listening to the gasps and chuckles as people realized that their church was giving them money! Everyone (including infants) got to participate by coming up to the front of the church and taking an envelope which had a random amount of money inserted into it. You can listen to the announcement HERE.

There are two rules:
1) You cannot use the money for yourself.
2) You have to give God the credit for the way in which you bless someone with your money.

We really want to hear your stories. Tell us how God led you to bless someone and encourage the Pathways community as we are able to visually see the numerous ways God has used this project to His glory.

Now it’s your turn…

YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS WEEKEND! For the past four weeks, we have been setting aside an additional 20% of our offerings (on top of the 10% that is regularly set aside) for our Christmas Generosity Project. We long to be a community that displays a passion and compassion that bubble over the rim of the cup. This weekend, you will be able to participate in a project that could change people’s perspective on God and build relationships in a way that could lead them to Jesus. I’m so excited about this weekend and would hate for you to miss it.

Having listened to the voices of the prophets and last week heard from Matthew, we now travel to Luke to hear his take on the Christmas story. You’ll notice that we passed right over the book of Mark as it doesn’t even mention the birth story of Christ.

Linus and the Peanuts gang brought Luke chapter two into the cultural spotlight and serves to provide a frame of reference for people who are not overly familiar with the Bible. We know about stars, angels, shepherds…the basics of the story. Have you ever really thought about what a non-Jewish believer in Jesus (Luke) was trying to communicate to a non-Jewish audience? That is going to be our goal this coming Sunday.

Here is the Hoops of Hope video, in case you missed it.

Our 1st edition of Family Movie Night begins TONIGHT at 7:00pm! Join us at the Spotted Cow in the Thomas Lake Shopping Center as we gather for some yummy hot chocolate, good conversation, and a couple of Christmas classics to get us in the holiday spirit.

Hope to see you there!

Last week we walked through the Old Testament, listening specifically to the voices who spoke of the coming of the Messiah. We felt the longing of a people who, in their rebellion from God’s ways, felt abandoned and longed for redemption. God’s promise to provide that redemption through the lineage of David never waivered. This week, we will take a look at the culmination of that anticipation as Matthew brings us the details of the coming of Christ, the Messiah. What he has to say may forever change the way that you see Jesus.

Has there been a moment in your life that has changed the way that you see Christmas? An awakening? It could be a fun one (the year you discovered Santa wasn’t real), serious (when you discovered the truth of Jesus) or painful (the loss of a loved one). Share your story with us…

Just this week, at our Home Group, someone asked me about my most memorable Christmas. Picking one is tough, and I seem to gain more to pick from each year, but the one that stands out the most was the year that I was sick for Christmas. If memory serves me correctly, and I’m quite confident it does (I don’t have THAT many Christmas memories to sort through), it was the year my family got the Atari 2600. COME ON! How cool was that? And I had my head buried in a… nevermind, you don’t want that description.

We all have Christmas memories. Some good, some bad. What I am interested in each of us exploring this Christmas season is what our voice speaks of this season. When did it become real to you? How has that reality impacted your story, your life, your voice?

Voices have been ringing throughout the pages of history about this “coming” - this “child”. Have you ever stopped to listen to what the voices say? What did the writers of ancient Scripture say about this event that would reveal God’s heart? Why was it so evident to some that Jesus’ arrival was significant, while others heard no voice at all? These are ideas we’ll explore during this Christmas season as we examine the voices of the ancients, as well as the voices of Matthew, Luke and John. Amidst all of this we must ask, “What will my voice be heard to say in the cacophony our modern culture?”

Just to have a little fun, drop us a line here on the blog and tell us about a favorite Christmas memory from your past… Let your voice be heard!

Many of our teens and older elementary students will be on hand at Little Cedars Elementary School this Saturday morning to shoot “Hoops of Hope”. Each of them has raised money for the baskets that they shoot in order to raise money, with students across the country, for an AIDS clinic in Zambia, Africa. These students are catching a vision for the ability that God has given each one of us to make a difference in the world. Come and cheer them on and be a part of their learning process - in fact, make it a part of your learning process!

This weekend, we’re talking about thanksgiving. Seems kind of redundant, doesn’t it? After all, we did just dedicate a whole day to the task of being thankful. By Sunday, most of us will have started focusing on Christmas as we put up decorations and review wish lists.

The paragraph above is meant to be a bit tongue in cheek, but I also fear it is a bit reflective of some of the thoughts that do dwell deep within me. And I think I’m probably not alone in that.

While it is a beautiful thing to set aside a day to focus on gratitude, there are few phrases that can hold as much meaning as a genuine “Thank you!” More importantly, to live with the words “thank you” resonating in our heart is an ongoing affirmation of a good and gracious God.

So go ahead and put away the pumpkins, the cornucopias, and orange and brown streamers. But let’s hold on to those “thank you’s”. They are worth having around.

With no home groups happening this week, let’s put some emphasis to sharing with each other here on the blog. As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, what are some things that you find you are grateful for?