Good morning on this last Saturday of 2007, December 29th. As we look forward to the start of a new year, I am reminded of the spiritual activities which were part of a new year's celebration in the Old Testament.
(1) It was a time of self-examination during which people carefully inspected their relationship with God and consequently confessed and removed sins from their lives which hindered their relations with the Lord and their spiritual progress.
(2) It was a time of careful examination of their relationship with others which led to their seeking out those whom they had wronged or offended to make things right.
(3) It was a time of celebration of/for the blessings of God in their lives and the lives of their families, especially with regard to their salvation and its benefits.
So introspection, confession, repentance, restoration, reconciliations, praise and thanksgiving were all vital aspects of their new year's celebration and should be part of ours as well. Such a process will surely get 2008 off to a good start in our lives.
Tomorrow's sermon is entitled, Let Us Go On from Hebrews chapter six. I hope I'll see you in church.
Happy New Year,
Mel Brown

Good morning, it is Saturday morning, December 23rd. With only three days until Christmas, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Since this is my pre-Christmas blog, I thought I would take the opportunity to update you on the Brown household. Our daughter, Lori, continues to teach at Filmore school in Davenport where she has taught for more than a dozen years. She and her husband, Kevin, are preparing to adopt their second child to add to their brood with daughter, Kaitlynn, who is five. Daughter, Cheryl, who lives in Lake in the Hills, IL. recently sold her medical practices in Northbrook and Evanston and opened a practice with her husband, Greg, about five minutes from home in Crystal Lake. She was spending many hours every day driving to her offices, hospitals all over Chicago, or surgical centers in the area. Now she spends far less time on the road and has much more time with her three children, Maelynn 9, Ryan 6, and Brendan 5. They are waiting to adopt their fourth child, a little boy with correctable foot problems whom they expect to receive in February. Cheryl, being a foot surgeon, will fix his problems so as to give him a normal life. We can't wait to hold him in our arms as part of our family. Our son, Timothy, recently resigned from the States Attorney's office in Whiteside county and opened his own law practice in Crystal Lake. He is sharing a new office with sister, Cheryl, and her husband. I am looking forward to having all of the members of my family home for the holidays. Lord willing, Timothy is to arrive today and Cheryl and her family late Sunday. We look forward to being together and opening our presents on Christmas eve after we enjoy the Christmas eve services at church and eat the marvelous buffet food Barb cooks each year. Christmas day is filled with fellowship, games, food and celebration at our house. What a wonderful time of the year Christmas is for every one of us. I have SO much for which to be thankful.
Tomorrow's sermon is entitled, Why Jesus Had to Come. I hope to see you there and at the Christmas eve candlelight communion service.
Pastor Brown.

Good morning on this 15th of December snowy Saturday. Usually we think of the wonderful aspects of Christmas as we approach the holiday: gatherings with family and friends, decorations and beautifully lighted trees, lots of great food and fellowship, gifts and giving, and most importantly, the commemoration of Christ's birth. These are all truly wonderful things which make Christmas the favorite time of the year for most people. What is often overlooked is that Christmas can also be a very stressful time for so many people. Pressures associated with preparing, busier schedules, shopping, and hosting can add much fatigue and time pressure to our lives. It can also force us to diminish our time spent with the Lord - a surprising paradox since all of this is supposed to be about Him in the first place. Here are some practical suggestions to help us enjoy the Christmas festivities fully without excess stress.
(1) Don't let the extra demands rob you of spending quality time with Christ each day. You will get more done with God's blessings than without them. Time spent in fellowship with Him will add much joy to each day and make the season more meaningful and joyous.
(2) Diligently organize your schedule and practice planning to get maximum effect of your time and energy. Making a few well planned trips to the store will save considerable time and energy compared to frequent unplanned runs. Make lists of things to do, organize them in order of priority, and follow through with their completion.
(3) Don't over commit. Sometimes we just can't do everything we would like. Budget your time and energy as you would budget your money.
(4) Don't overspend. A huge part of the stress associated with Christmas involves spending too much, then struggling to make ends meet as the bills come due.
(5) Ask for help when you need it. Family members and friends will share the joys and some of the responsibilities when needed if we only ask. So often we have not because we ask not, not only from God but also from others.
(6) Put Christ in the center of your Christmas. Attend the Christmas services at church and spend some time on Christmas day counting your blessings and giving thanks.
(7) Have realistic expectations. If everything goes perfectly, that is the exception rather than the rule. Too often we feel let down because of unmet expectations which may have been too high or unrealistic. People are not perfect and neither is every circumstance. Concentrate on what you have not on what you don't and on the good not the bad. Every situation is not good, but God is always good and we can rejoice in Him always.
Speaking of Christmas services, tomorrow is our Christmas musical drama, I hope to see you there.
Pastor Brown

Good morning on this Saturday, December the 8th. During the Christmas season we frequently hear words like merry, as in merry Christmas; joy, as in the joy of the season; jolly, as in tis the season to be jolly; and happy, as in happy holidays. Although with all the festivities and celebrations which are part of the Christmas season, many are going through rough times thinking they have little reason to celebrate this season. Losses of loved ones, jobs or health, and other things, may have dampened their hearts. Christmas should be a time of helping those who need it by showing them the love and caring of Christ. Christmas baskets, visits, sharing and expressions of love should always be a part of our Christmas celebration. So often a kind word, a card with a note of encouragement, a phone call and an offer of assistance can make the difference between someone experiencing Christmas joy or not. Think of someone who needs it and then let God use you as His instrument to make a difference in their life this Christmas. Spread the joy of the Lord in their life and help them to "rejoice in the Lord" this Christmas.
Tomorrow's message is entitled, The Right Life and will focus on the five things Paul gives as necessities for right and joyous living.
Our annual Christmas musical drama will be a week from tomorrow on the 16th of December. Thank you for inviting friends and family members to this special service - they will be blessed by being there and so will you for bringing them.
Mel Brown

Good morning on this icy December 1st Saturday morning. I am looking out my home office window and watching cars slip and slide on the hillside street in front of my house. Regardless of what the calendar shows, it looks like nasty winter weather is here; yet shoppers seem willing to brave the icy roads to do their Christmas shopping in spite of the conditions. Such commitment to this task in service of the sale is commendable and I only hope that Christians will have an equal commitment in service of the Lord. Sunday, December 16th, is the date of our Christmas musical drama and it promises to be an outstanding day. I hope nothing will keep you from attending nor prevent you from bringing family and friends to share this occasion. Keeping Christ in Christmas should be a major goal of every Christian family and our annual Christmas programs, services and projects at Edgewood should help with this important effort. Our traditional Christmas eve communion service will fall on Monday evening this year. We are again providing Christmas baskets for those with special needs and providing food for hungry people at home and abroad. Helping make others' Christmas better will surely make ours better also. Thank you for your caring for those in need; it shows Christ- like compassion and is Christianity in action.
Tomorrow's message is entitled, God's Formula for Stress Relief, and will focus on how God prescribes thanksgiving as a vital ingredient of the three-fold process. I hope to see you there.
Pastor Brown