Good morning on this last Saturday of 2008. During the last few days I have been in the full-time grandfather business. All of my children and grandchildren have been at our house for Christmas and I have enjoyed some quality time with the little ones including taking them all to a children's movie, a trip to the candy store, taking them all out to eat, and playing together. I cherish our time together and enjoy talking with them on a variety of subjects and seeing how their little minds process things. Art Linkletter was right when he observed, "Kids say the darnedest things." Most people who commit their lives to Christ do so as children and this ideal window of opportunity begins closing when they are teenagers. No wonder Christ commanded that we permit the little children to come unto Him and forbid them not because of such is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:14), and further added that unless we become converted and become as little children, we shall not enter the kingdom (Matthew 18:3). Every church and each family should make a priority of reaching children for Christ because that is the ideal time to reach them when they have most of their lives before them to serve the Lord. As we plan for the new year at Edgewood, we are redoubling our commitment to leave no child behind in our efforts to reach out with the gospel of Christ. I hope you will make it a priority in your home, neighborhood and community.
Tomorrow's sermon is about the defining moments in the life of Joshua. I hope to see you in church on this last Sunday of 2008.
Pastor Brown

Good morning on this the last Saturday before Christmas. I remember when I was a boy how much I longed for Christmas to get here and anticipated all of the activities associated with its celebration in our home only to be let down after it was over with the awareness of how long it would be before Christmas would come again. The food, fun, gifts, decorations, fellowship, and family traditions made for a great Christmas, but it all seemed to be over so soon. I loved going with my dad to choose a Christmas tree (it always had to be a near perfect tree and we looked until we found just the right one each year), then decorating it together. On Christmas eve we always went to my dad's family Christmas celebration at his folks house and on Christmas day we always went to my mom's family Christmas celebration. So we had two big celebrations, two big dinners, two big family get togethers with the aunts, uncles and cousins, and two openings of presents. The anticipation would build as we waited for my dad to get home from work early on Christmas eve and we would begin pestering him about the time to take off for grandma's house. We couldn't wait to get started and the 30 minute drive to grandmas seemed like an eternity. Now all of our family comes to our house for Christmas eve and most for all of Christmas day and WE are the grandmas and grandpas who host the celebration. Hopefully this process will continue from generation to generation for many years to come if Christ delays His coming. I am grateful that our family loves each other, cares about each other and enjoys being together. Now when the celebration ends, I find great joy in the thought that someday in Heaven, we'll all be together again with all the generations united never to part again. Now that will be some kind of a celebration! I'll look forward to introducing my grandchildren to my parents and grandparents whom they never had the pleasure of knowing. All of that is made possible because God sent His only begotten son, Jesus Christ, on that first Christmas two thousand years ago. That puts Christmas in a fresh perspective and makes the celebration of Christ's birth all the more special.
Tomorrow is our annual Christmas program which this year is entitled, A Christmas Offering. I'll look forward to seeing you there and don't miss our Christmas eve candlelight communion service at 6:00 pm on Wednesday evening.
Pastor Brown

Good morning on this Saturday, the 13th day of December. Tomorrow's message is entitled, Defining Moments and is taken from the Book of Esther. When going the process of preparing a message, I thought you might enjoy how a message is "birthed." It is important to begin by seeking God's leadership in providing the subject and Scripture for a certain theme, topic, or principle. Once that happens, the relevant Scripture verses need to be reviewed and studied. Frequently, I search every verse in the Bible on a given topic or concept using a concordance and topical index. This provides a thorough Biblical grasp of the subject matter. Then I like to analyze the select verses by studying the word meanings and grammar in their original languages to provide understanding and accuracy in the meaning of the texts. Next I read numerous commentaries to see what various Biblical scholars have to say about the verses (usually I use a dozen or so). I also read other preacher's sermons on the text or topic to see what they have to say (for instance, I read 10 full-length sermons in preparation for tomorrow's sermon). I frequently research current material in books or on the Internet regarding the various subjects and facts in the sermon. After correlating and reviewing all of the material gleaned for these preparations, I select the things I am going to use and develop the outline and content of the sermon, type it up, and send it to the tech team for preparation of the PowerPoint to be used on the screens. Then comes the search for illustrations to use in the sermon (especially an impact illustration which drives home the main emphasis and leaves a lasting impression and application of the sermon). Finally I consider if I will use any illustrative slides or videos in the presentation. When all of these steps are taken to prepare the mind, the final step is the spiritual preparation through prayer for the power, anointing, and blessing of God upon the message and me as I deliver it. I want God to be a vital part of the process from beginning to end and want to personally grow by building on my knowledge and wisdom with new knowledge, insight, understanding and application of truth. After the sermon is delivered is a time for personal reflection on its effectiveness and feedback from others about the impact of the message. God told Peter to feed the lambs and the sheep and no pastor should ever take that responsibility lightly. I hope to see you in church tomorrow to experience what God wants to say through the sermon to you.
Mel Brown

Good morning on this, the first Saturday of December. The Christmas frenzy has begun and is now in full force. We have finished Black Friday (the Friday after Thanksgiving so named because it is the day that many merchants reach their profit point and begin their profitable Christmas run) and Cyber Monday (the following Monday during which people return to work and order through their computers online those items they missed). Next will come the endless promotions, sales events, and advertisements to coax people to buy more. Also in the mix will be Christmas parties, gift exchanges, office celebrations and family get-togethers. For many folks it is the most hectic of seasons, yet is cherished for its warmth, fun, fellowship, and excitement. Although it is usually my most busy season, I confess it is certainly one of my most festive and enjoyable. I look forward to selecting the perfect gifts for members of my family, the coming together of all my children and grandchildren for several wonderful days, the Christmas eve candle-light communion service, Barb's buffet on Christmas eve and the delicious spread on Christmas day, opening our gifts together, and most of all celebrating the birth of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ. I hope that you will make your Christmas a Christ-filled, Christ-honoring Christmas. Here are some suggestions to help you do so. First, constantly keep before you that we are celebrating His birthday and treat the holiday season as a spiritual event with Christ present in its every aspect; second, make the Christmas eve service at church a vital part of your Christmas and bring every family member with you to help put Christ at the center of your Christmas; third, include a Christmas prayer before you begin opening your gifts to thank God for all of His blessings and especially thank Him for His greatest gift, the giving of His son, Jesus Christ for us; Fourth, remember those who are less fortunate and give generously to help those in need to provide food, clothing and help to those who have not. There will always be many who could use the helping hand. It is more blessed to give than to receive. To give to others in the name of Christ is literally giving to Christ Himself according to Scripture; Fifth, since we are celebrating Christ's birth, meditate on all we have, are and will be because Christ came as a man two thousand years ago and cultivate a genuine attitude of gratitude which will carry over throughout the year to come. He is the reason for the season, let's faithfully show it is so in our attitudes, words, and actions.
Tomorrow's sermon is Our Perception of the Future Shapes Our Present. Lord willing, I'll have the joy of seeing you there.
Pastor Brown