Author: Chris Luzio

The headline read “Bethlehem Cancels Christmas.” But try as they may, no one can cancel Christmas. Herod tried to do so by killing all the boys in Bethlehem under two years of age, but even that couldn’t stop the good news of Christ’s birth from spreading throughout the world.

Death that recently came at the hands of terrorists, and continues to come from the resulting war, have brought weeping and great mourning in Ramah, much like that which Jeremiah foretold. And I understand the hesitancy to celebrate in the midst of war. But if there is anything to celebrate, it’s the birth of the only one who can bring life out of death.

Christians now comprise only 10 percent of Bethlehem’s population, but it is still the birthplace of Jesus. To cancel all Christmas celebrations and replace them with protest activities, as the mayor has announced, is to simply let the darkness of sin and death hide the light and joy of Christmas.

When we were in Bethlehem it was easy to see it was a divided city. There are walls and barbed wire that keep Jews out, and Palestinian Christians in. Muslims make up the majority in Bethlehem today, but even
they recognize, and profit from, the sacred sites in the city.

When we placed our hands on the star marking where Jesus was born it was a heart-warming experience. How I wish all who are in Bethlehem and throughout all of Israel could place their hands together on that sacred spot and find the peace that Jesus came to bring.

God Bless, Rick

Giving thanks is obviously not a seasonal thing, but Thanksgiving only comes once a year. And in light of this Thanksgiving, I want to offer thanks for a couple of things for which I am especially thankful.

First of all, I am very thankful for the trip to the holy land you gave me and Marilyn for fifty years of ministry at CCC. As I’ve said before, it was an absolutely amazing trip. I don’t know how it could have been any better, and I trust I’ll be sharing our experiences and the insights we gained for years to come. But as thankful as I am for the opportunity to go there, I am even more thankful that we got home when we did. Jesus said we shouldn’t be frightened when hearing of wars and rumors of wars, but I am certainly grateful we weren’t there when the current war broke out.

The next thing for which I am especially thankful is your giving that has made it possible for us to send special gifts to the missions we support. It has long been our desire to send 25% of the tithes and offerings we receive to missions, and we plan our financial projections accordingly. Your giving, however, has exceeded our expectations for the past several years.

In 2020 we were able to send an additional $10,000 to Haiti to help build a septic system for the school. In 2021 we sent $5,000 to Ati for water treatment systems after learning she was continuing the work of Asian Christian Mission, and an extra $5,000 to Haiti for earthquake relief. Last year we sent Ati $8,000 so she could send fifty students for extensive training to evangelize in their home villages. And just last month we sent Ati $10,000 for more water treatment systems, to provide for more evangelists in Jerwang villages, and to secure teaching material needed for Sunday Schools and youth programs. And we sent $5,000 to Casas por Cristo to help build a facility that will enable them to more efficiently build homes for poor Christians in Guatemala.

As I said, I am very thankful. I am thankful for you, and I am thankful for the privilege of serving in such a loving and giving congregation.

God Bless, Rick

As most are probably aware, Marilyn and I have recently returned from a trip to the holy land the church gave us in recognition of our 50 years of ministry at CCC. We cannot thank you enough for giving us this unexpected opportunity. To walk where Jesus walked, and sail where Paul went on his journeys, was certainly the most amazing thing we’ve ever done.

But, as I mentioned in the first sermon after our return, it was not for us a life changing event. That event took place not when we walked where Jesus walked, but when we invited Him to walk with us through life. Still, many have asked about our favorite, most meaningful parts of the trip, and we certainly did have those.

Both of us felt the time spent in Galilee was the highlight of our trip. Jesus spent more time there than anywhere else while on earth, and we could really visualize Him being there. The area around the Sea of Galilee is less cluttered by development than the cities, and to actually be on the Sea of Galilee, in a wooden boat, is something we’ll never forget.

The most emotional moment for me, however, did take place in a city. But not in a place I had expected. We were in the Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu, which means where the cock crowed. It was built over the high priest’s courtyard where Jesus was taken after His arrest. In the middle of the church was a hole that led down to caves that were used as cisterns and holding cells for prisoners. Standing alone in a cell that Jesus may have been cast into was without a doubt the most emotional moment of the trip for me.

Thank you Jesus, and God Bless.

Rick

By the time you read this Marilyn and I will be making final preparations to head for the Holy Land, or already be there.

As you may have picked up in last month’s newsletter, gong to the Holy Land had not been a big item on my bucket list. I had reservations about the sites that have been identified, and had become convinced that no one really knew where biblical events actually took place. My skepticism has now been blown away!

Whether it was an algorithm or divine intervention I’m not sure, but I am sure the Lord had a hand in it. However He did it, I was led to Joel Kramer and Expedition Bible on YouTube, and I’m so glad I was. I’ve watched all his videos and read his book on biblical archeology, and am now ready to see it all myself. I couldn’t be more excited. On second thought, maybe I could be.

I really love sharing life’s adventures with you; yours and mine. When Marilyn and I went to Europe we took lots of pictures, and shared them with all who were willing to endure a very long presentation. I can’t believe I was asked if I was going to do it again after this trip.

Rather than have one marathon picture night, I’ve decided to incorporate our pictures into a series of Sunday night studies on the archeological evidences for the sacred sites as presented by Joel in his book and videos. That’s why the “change of plans” for Sunday nights.

I’m still looking forward to sharing with you Tim Challies’ “Epic: An around-the- world journey through Christian history.” I had said we’d start that in September, but at that time our trip to the Holy Land was not on our radar. Now that it’s happening, we’ll begin Tim’s study after we finish our epic around the Holy Land journey with you.

Hope to see you at the kick-off on the 10th, and looking forward to sharing our trip with you Sunday nights, beginning with a lot of pictures on September 17th.

God bless, Rick

I don’t know how many times I’ve said, “I’m waiting for the New Jerusalem.” That was my response when asked why I’d never been to the Holy Land. But now, unless it comes to earth before the end of August, I’ll have to respond differently.

In case you haven’t heard, the elders gave Marilyn and me a pop-up card of the Holy Land at the celebration of 50 years of ministry at CCC, and told me to start planning a trip. I guess I wanted to go more than I thought, because I booked a trip that included more than I had ever dreamed of seeing, on-line, before the tour company was even open on Monday morning! Lord willing, we’ll be flying to Israel on August 25th.

The first day of touring will begin with a trip along the Mediterranean coast to Caesarea, and then to Mount Carmel, Megiddo, Nazareth, and Cana of Galilee. We’ll begin the next day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, and then visit Magdala, the Mount of Beatitudes, Caesarea Philippi, Capernaum, and the place where Jesus fed the 5,000. The next day we’ll watch people being baptized in the Jordan and float in the Dead Sea. The following day we’ll visit Masada, Ein Gedi, and Qumran, before heading to the Mount of Olives and Jerusalem. After spending two more days seeing the sights in Jerusalem and going to Bethlehem, we’ll fly to Athens.

In Athens we’ll board a ship that will take us to Ephesus, Patmos, Rhodes, and Crete. Upon returning to Athens we’ll head to Corinth before going back to Athens for a couple of days to see all the sights there. We’ll get home on September 10th, hopefully in time for the kick-off on Sunday night.

The next time someone asks me if I’ve ever been to the Holy Land, they’ll hear about a wonderful church that made possible an amazing trip that I never even dreamed of taking.

However, I must admit that I will still be looking forward to the New Jerusalem!

God Bless, Rick