Woodlawn

When I was watching the events unfold in Egypt, one of my concerns was about the future of the Coptic Christian Church. Would a change in government be good or bad for their freedom to worship? Sadly, it seems like more harm has come to Christians in Iraq since the downfall of Saddam Hussein. These are areas where Christianity first spread and they obviously have survived for many centuries. It may be strange to our eyes and ears, but God’s people often thrive in persecution – not necessarily an increase in numbers, but a tempering of their faith. I pray for the Christians around the world and in the U.S. as their enemies try stamp out their faith. May God keep them and us faithful and hopeful for the future glory through Christ!

Some info on what the Coptic Church teaches: http://www.coptic.net/EncyclopediaCoptica

John 10:27-30 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

We come to confess our unity of faith

The wind is brisk and cold, and the rain makes it worse. Yet a look out the window and at the temperature on Sunday morning does not keep the family from the trip to church. They still go.

Jack braves the weather because he believes that it is one way to show his faith. His neighbors probably take his family’s church attendance for granted by now. But each time he drives out the driveway, he confesses that Jesus is important–important enough to go to the Lord’s house. Jack feels that since he goes to work in good and bad weather, he should also go to church.

Mary, his wife, feels the same way, and even though she has the extra burden of getting the kids ready, she also wants to let the world know what her priorities are. Jesus and his Word are important, so the whole family goes. And, of course, at times they might want to be somewhere else, but Jesus is more important.

They don’t go to just any church either. They are specific about the church they attend. If you asked the neighbors, they know. Jack and Mary chose their church because it teaches the truth of God’s Word. Coming through the doors is one way for them to say that they believe as this church believes. Other members who come into the Lord’s house give the same confession.

When they sit in the Lord’s house, the reason they’ve come is clear. They rise with others who have come and confess, “I believe in God the Father almighty . . . .I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. . . .I believe in the Holy Spirit. . . .” They come because Jesus has claimed them from sin, death, and hell and made them his children. It is important to say that with others.

On Communion Sundays, they have another way to confess their faith and their unity with the others who come into the Lord’s house. When they receive the Lord’s body and blood with others, they demonstrate a unity–a fellowship with others. The apostle Paul helped the Corinthians understand the unity expressed by receiving the Sacrament. He wrote about the loaf of bread, which in the Sacrament is also the body of Christ: “Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf” (1 Corinthians 10:17).

When we come into the Lord’s house, we confess our faith and let our light shine so others may know what we believe. We are the beacons God has placed in this world.

© 2010 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved. Scripture is taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION.®

1. Fresh, white, sparkly snow
2. Fireplaces
3. No mosquitoes
4. No Tornadoes
5. No sunscreen
6. No yardwork
7. Hot drinks: morning coffee, hot apple cider, steaming cups of tea, hot chocolate…
8. Bucks Basketball
9. Cross Country skiing
10. Ice Carving
11. Leaving groceries in the car while you run other errands and the icre cream staying frozen
12. Fashionistas: think of all the lovely coats, boots, hats, sweaters, and winter accessories you’ll need
13. Building snowmen, snow caves and snow sculptures
14. Sledding
15. Forget the expensive restaurant: it’s romantic to stay in with a roaring fire on Valentine’s Day
16. Frozen Water Falls
17. How good a hot bath feels after a long day in the cold
18. The smell of cold, crisp air on a sunny winter day
19. Winter food. Yummy stews, soups, chilli, and ahem.. hot dish
20. Ice Skating
21. Cross country skiing by moonlight
21. Sunsets over the snow on a clear day when the sky turns red and the snow turns blue
23. Feeling tough that you can survive this much cold
24. Free day at the Zoo
25. A night of playing dominoes with the neighbors