Professional Documents
Culture Documents
GOD
Vol 48, #12 December, 2008
ON THE WAY with Dr. David D. Swanson
Dear FPCO Family and Friends,
“Now He has promised, ‘Once more I will shake not only the what took place in a manger 2000 years ago is the unshakable
earth but also the heavens.’ The words ‘once more’ indicate the and eternal Savior of the world.
removing of what can be shaken – that is, created things – so
You can be a part of that, too. More than any other time in
that what cannot be shaken may remain.” Hebrews 12:26-27
recent memory, people are receptive to nurture and care. Pay
Christmas is going to be different this year. For the past attention to those around you. Take note of those who seem
two months, this is the refrain that I have heard over and particularly down or anxious and invite them to be a part of
over again from a variety of sources. The retail industry has our Advent season. Remember, too, that we will spend January
been proclaiming it. Sales are going to be lower than last year through March digging deeper into these very issues as we
and perhaps lower than they have been in quite some time. embark on a church-wide sermon series and Bible study called
Businesses have been proclaiming it, telling their employees The Economy of God. Make that a priority. Call the office and
not to expect the same year-end bonuses as in years past. Some commit to being in a small group for those ten weeks. I believe
have even said “no” to the traditional office party. It appears the Lord will use this study to nurture and teach us where we
that the primary guest this holiday season is our old friend, Mr. most need it and where we are often most vulnerable.
Scrooge.
I truly believe that Christmas WILL be different this year
Without question, this Christmas will be different, but my as we open ourselves to the sufficiency of His love and grace in
prayer is that it will be different for reasons other than what all things. May the joy of the infant Christ fill your hearts this
we’re being told. Yes, we are living in an economic season Advent, and I remain
that has created anxiety, lost jobs, lost wages, lost tempers,
Under His Mercy,
and a lot of people who have lost their way. Even for the most
faithful person, it IS stressful. It’s hard. However, I believe
that God will use it to bring us back to those things in life that
truly matter – the things in life that make a difference – the
things in life that last.
David
That’s what the author of Hebrews is getting at in the text
printed above. God will often take the shakable things of this
world and shake them so that only the unshakable remains.
For many of us, that’s how we feel. Shaken. Rattled by our
circumstances. Even so, it is the very thing that God uses to
focus us on what matters, and perhaps this Christmas, more
people will wander into church and actually listen instead of
considering it a perfunctory, once-a-year performance. Perhaps
this year, Christmas will be different in that people will be truly
seeking answers to the uncertainty they feel. Perhaps this year,
Christmas will be different because people will finally grasp that
2 | www.fpco.org
Enjoy a night of dancing, live music and entertainment!
Benefit for the homeless
Downtown Orlando churches unite to support men, women and children without
a home. Church leaders will train with professional dancers and compete to
win “Best Moves.” Dance to the music of Michael Andrew and Swingerhead. All
a t e
proceeds benefit the Orlando homeless community.
www.fpco.org | 3
Stephen Ministry
By Tammas Smith; Director of Pastoral Care
Every day you see people who are hurting: those who
have lost a job, lost a loved one, gone through a divorce, or
are battling a terminal illness. Stephen Ministers are God’s
representatives who bring His love to those who are hurting.
God is waiting to make a difference in their lives through
you!
STEPHEN MINISTERS
When was the last time someone really listened to you?
#!2% &/2 0%/0,%
We’re talking about that undistracted, full attention kind of
listening. That’s one of the ways Stephen Ministers care for
WHO ARE:
others. They bring distinctively Christian care to those in
s '2)%6).'
s ). ! #2)3)3
need. They use both words and deeds to express Christ’s care
s ). .%%$ /&