 Happy Thanksgiving SPV family! As I said a couple of weeks ago, there are two kinds of people in the world: those who get excited for Christmas prior to Thanksgiving and those who refuse to even acknowledge Christmas until Thanksgiving is over. I’m not here to choose sides, although I will admit to listening to “All I Want For Christmas Is You” in the car the other day. But for me it doesn’t matter whether you are an obnoxious Christmas junkie like Buddy the Elf or borderline Scrooge material leading up to Thanksgiving. The important thing is that you approach Christmas and Advent in particular with a sense of anticipation and excitement. So if you need to wait a couple more days, feel free to do so, just make sure that you allow yourself to genuinely take in the meaning and wonder of it all. And if you’re already “all in” on the decorations, music, tree, and ugly sweaters, just make sure you pull it back to let the story speak to you and capture your heart all over again. I hope you’ll join us for our Advent series “Inbreaking” throughout the month of December and even invite some friends to get caught up in the wonder of it all as well. Much love, Happy Thanksgiving (& Merry Christmas to those of you who have already started), Chris  Hey there, SPV Family! I used to be the anti-Halloween guy (think Scrooge making an appearance in late October). I think the two main reasons for that 20 years ago were 1) an overly heightened view of spirituality and thinking that demons existed in every corner and 2) I was just too dang serious. And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.“ Matthew 18.3 I love that Jesus gives us a healthy reminder to “check ourselves” and to make sure our heart and attitude are consistent with the kingdom and what is it that brings us in line with the kingdom? Child-likeness. If we start to become so stinking spiritual that we can’t have a little bit of fun or celebrate creativity in costumes, or can’t relax long enough to indulge in a piece of candy, or are so skeptical and cynical we lack the ability to believe in mystery and miracles, then I think meditating on these words of Jesus would be a good idea. Want some help in becoming like a child and getting closer to the kingdom? Write on your connect card this Sunday (or hit “reply” to this email right now and volunteer to serve in Kid City or the nursery once a month. Laugh a little (or a lot). Don’t be so easily offended. Share/be generous. Make friends easily (show up to church early and get to know someone).... And while I’m at it, I want to give a huge thank you to Stacy Henderlong (& Brian) and all the volunteers who helped us as a church get a little taste of the kingdom via the block party last night, and I believe showed our neighbors a taste of it as well. Well done peeps, well done. Much love to you all, Chris |
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