Author: Chris Luzio

What did you do last Sunday morning; other than stay in your jammies and look out the window at the ice covered roads? I listened to two Christmas sermons by a couple of our Timothies.

I found the first one by googling “Life Point Church”, but had to add “Quincy” because there are a lot of Life Points. Google took me to lifepointqcy.org and I was able to actually see and hear Brett preach a great sermon on the scandalous nature of Christ’s lineage, and how His coming addresses the scandals in our life.

When I couldn’t remember what the “Point” was at Jared’s church, Marilyn told me it was Bridge Point. Typing in “Bridge Point Providence” got me to bridgepointechristian.com and I was able to listen to another great Christmas sermon. Jared’s message was “Thrilled or Threatened” and contrasted the reaction of the Three Kings and King Herod to the coming of Christ. He pointed out that in some respects Herod’s reaction showed a better understanding of the life-changing implications of Christ’s coming.

I would highly recommend that you check out the websites of our Timothies. And of course you can always go to our website at chathamchristian.org to hear a sermon you missed, or to find out what’s happening if your church paper gets lost in the mail. In fact, if you want to read what I was going to say last week, “For a Merry Christmas”, you can find the transcript on our website. Or you can pick up a copy this Sunday. I’ve been planning on Philippians 2:3-4 being my Christmas text for months now, and so it shall be. Unless of course the forecast once again changes, and heavy snow comes rolling in.

And of course I hope weather doesn’t interfere with our Christmas Eve Service scheduled for 7:00. Since we didn’t get to go Christmas caroling last Sunday we’re planning to include congregational carols in the service, along with two solos, two duets, and our traditional candle-light communion service.

Lord willing, we’ll celebrate Christmas together this Saturday and Sunday.

God Bless, Rick

Last Monday, Mark asked if we had sung “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” on Sunday. I really couldn’t remember, and asked why he had asked. He informed me that I had been whistling it since I had come into the office.

Isn’t it wonderful the way Christmas music sticks in our heads this time of year? Even unexpected music.

I awoke this morning with visions of three highly painted Egyptian maidens singing to Mary, “We could tell, my dear, yo’ not from here: Ev’ry word you say gives you away. Shut my mouth, yo’ not from the South! Why, of course, yo’ from the North!” Fortunately that catchy little ditty was soon replaced in my head by the “Hallelujah Chorus.”

If you weren’t at the community Christmas celebration at the high school Sunday afternoon, you missed an amazing presentation of the “Hallelujah Chorus” being sung by what appeared to be nearly 200 Jr. High students. It was absolutely beautiful, and especially meaningful since it was being sung in a public school. Gina Swickard is to be applauded for introducing her students to not only one of the most beautiful choruses ever written, but for having the courage to present it in our high school auditorium.

And if there are Christmas carols trying to burst out from the recesses of your mind, you can “let it go” this Sunday evening. At 5:30 we will load into the van and cars to take Christmas carols into the homes of our seniors. I have to admit that sounds funny coming from a “senior” pastor, but “senior” seems to be determined on a sliding scale. If we don’t come to your home this Sunday, apparently you haven’t made it to “senior” yet.

And one more opportunity to share the music of Christmas. I’ve heard from several that they will be sharing their talents with us on Christmas Eve, but there is still room for more. Please let me know ASAP what you are willing to do, and the title of what you will be presenting, so we can put a bulletin together for the evening.

God Bless, Rick

If you grew up in a Christian Church, you are no doubt aware that there are very few passages of Scripture that make direct reference to the Lord’s Supper. In fact there are only five that I could find this morning: three in the Gospels and two in I Corinthians.

While growing up I regularly heard one of those passages read by an elder in his communion meditation. There is obviously nothing wrong with reading one of those passages for a communion meditation, but I love the fact that we hear so much more around the Table of our Lord at CCC.

I was recently reminded of the variety we enjoy by a request from David Zimmerman. Dave was talking with some leaders of the church he’s a part of in Branson about the way we do communion, and they were having a hard time understanding the scope of our meditations. He asked that I send him copies of some that had been published in our weekly newsletter.

As you are aware, I occasionally include copies of a meditation we heard on Sunday for further reflection mid-week. I realize I risk offending some by not printing every meditation, but I’m confident everyone understands that while all do merit publication, I can’t print them all.

In looking through last year’s papers for Dave I was taken again by the variety of thoughts that lead us to focus on the cross each Lord’s Day. Last year an expectant father led us to think about adequate preparation for a big event, we learned about the nature of light as we focused on the Light of the World, we noted how the excited expression “nailed it” during a game could be used as a teachable moment, and we were led to think about what makes a man righteous by reflecting on a righteous democracy. Last Sunday Bill explored the meaning of “substitute” and led us to understand substitution is what Christ did for us on the cross.

I’m very thankful for the men who give considerable thought to Christ’s presence in our life and worship, and direct us so effectively to His sacrifice on our behalf each Sunday.

God Bless, Rick

When I blew out the candle on the muffin at Bible study a couple of week’s ago, I said I was turning 69. Jonathan corrected my calculation by noting that I was actually finishing my 69th year, and beginning my 70th. Hadn’t thought of it that way, and not sure how I feel about it. But it has made me realize that I will be celebrating my 70th Christmas this year. I guess that’s why it got here so quickly.

When you are young, your lifespan is divided by very few Christmases, so they seem to be few and far between. By the time you’re pushing three score and ten, next Christmas gets here while the fruitcake is still in the fridge.

Christmas decorations usually go up after Thanksgiving, but Mark and I put up the new lighted nativity that leads into the Chatham “Light Up the Park” holiday display before I left for Tennessee and Matt’s traditional trash-can turkey. I do hope you will drive through the display which will be lighted Fridays and Saturdays from 6:00-9:00 until Christmas. Several churches in Chatham contributed for the purchase of the nativity so those driving through the holiday display will be reminded of the reason for the season.

Obviously, we need not be reminded of the reason for the season. Even if we use the shorthand “Xmas” when jotting notes about Christmas plans and presents, we see Christ in Christmas. In fact, the X that is used is actually the Greek letter C that’s been used as a symbol for Christ for nearly two thousand years.

By the time you read this, December will be here, and the Christmas season will be fully upon us. We have numerous Christmas celebrations and activities planned, but the one I’m most concerned about at the moment is Christmas Eve. I need to hear from anyone who is willing to present a musical special, be part of an ensemble, do a reading, or share anything that will help us celebrate the coming of Christ before we light our candles and partake of the Lord’s Supper. Please let me know what you can do ASAP. My 43rd Christmas Eve with you will be here before we know it.

God Bless, Rick

Several months ago, when it became obvious that my first and second choices for president wouldn’t make it to the final ballot, Matt said that if Trump made it to the presidency he just hoped he would prove to be a Cyrus. That thought has played in the back of my mind since then.

In case you don’t know who I’m talking about, Cyrus the Great was the man who conquered the Babylonians, and founded the Persian Empire. His accomplishments are epic, but what’s most interesting is that Isaiah prophesied his actions as they would relate to God’s people some 150 years before the fact.

During a very dark period of Israel’s history, the prophet declared in Isaiah 41, “Let the peoples gain new strength; let them come forward, then let them speak; let us come together for judgment. Who has aroused one from the east whom He calls in righteousness to His feet?” And then in chapters 44 & 45 the prophecy gets much more specific. “It is I who says of Cyrus, He is My shepherd! And he will perform all My desire.” “I have also called you by your name; I have given you a title of honor though you have not known Me.”

The Book of Ezra then opens with these words: “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, ‘Thus says Cyrus the king of Persia, “The Lord, God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all His people, may the Lord his God be with him, and let him go up!”’”

Josephus tells us that it was when Cyrus was informed about the prophecies that he was stirred to allow the Jews to return to Judah. It’s even possible that is was Daniel who told him of the prophecies.

I find it encouraging that even though Cyrus’s religious beliefs weren’t the same as Israel’s, the counsel he received from godly men helped him understand how he could be used by God to accomplish His purposes. I hope the same will be true of our next president.

God Bless, Rick