Sundry Dinner, Christmas Eve Edition

by Tom Goodman

Behind Guaraldi's Timeless Holiday Soundtrack behind A Charlie Brown Christmas.


You'll like this Houston Chronicle story about a homeless man, Tony Romo, and God.


11 Essential Gifts for the Self-Driving Car Passenger of the Future.


Don't miss the rare full moon on Christmas. How rare is a full moon on Christmas? It hasn't happened since 1977 and the next one won't occur again until 2034.


"Sometimes, this act of falling is a response to tragedy or cruelty. But sometimes, it is awe. These are the knees of “O Holy Night”: wonderstruck, joyous, and yes, a little wobbly. Fall on your knees, the song commands. Jesus has been born, and even the angels are singing. A thrill of hope; the weary soul rejoices. For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. This is no normal night. It’s a time to brace, to get close to the ground. Oh, night divine. It’s this physicality that makes “O Holy Night” so fascinating." Emma Green for The Atlantic


"I wish more TV shows considered [baptism] with as much care as The Americans. Paige, the daughter of two Soviet KGB spies posing as an American couple in 1980s Virginia, revolts against the secretive environment her parents created and runs into the arms of a nearby church. Her baptism wasn’t just about a fresh start—it was about becoming a part of something new, something foreign, something strange. 'Paige, this is your most defiant act of protest yet,' Paige’s pastor tells her. And although the rhetoric is a bit dramatic, he’s not wrong. Baptism is a protest against every other way of living that would lay claim to a person’s life—against materialism, individualism; against fear; against the notion that we will ever be enough on our own, apart from God." Laura Turner for Slate writes about the mysterious power of baptism and how TV shows get it wrong--and, in the case of The Americans--right.


There are two heresies about Jesus to avoid this Christmas. You probably aren't at risk for operating out of the Arian heresy, but examine yourself for the Nestorian heresy.

This week's newsletter from Karen

Have you ever taken a look at your nativity set and thought about its parts? My main set has Mary, Joseph, inn keeper, shepherd, three kings bearing gifts, three camels, a donkey, a cow, a sheep, a small child (probably a stable boy), an angel, and baby Jesus.

I was looking at the scene and thought about Philippians 2:9-11 which reads, “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

The nativity seems to be foreshadowing Jesus’ return as Paul describes in Philippians. All age groups are represented. Different nationalities are in the display. Distinct socio-economic groups are shown. Heaven (angel) and nature (animals) are represented. Those who had rejected Jesus (inn keeper) are there. Those who would be in authority over him on earth (Mary, Joseph, kings) are present. Those who had been trying to find Jesus for a long time (kings) and those who had just heard about him (shepherd) were there. All the pieces are looking at Jesus with their heads lowered (some are in a full bow/kneeling position).

As you celebrate the birth of Jesus this Christmas season, look to your nativity scene and contemplate with joy and excitement the day He’ll come again and “every knee” and “every tongue” will worship Him “to the glory of God the Father.”

This week's newsletter from Michael

LOOKING AHEAD…

CHOIR INFO:

Gene needs all who are available on the 27th and 3rd to sing in choir.
January 3rd, Choir will sing “Untitled Hymn”

No Choir Rehearsal until January 10th

PRAISE TEAM:

Christmas Eve rehearsal 5 p.m.
Rehearsal for the 27th & 3rd are 8:45 a.m. Sundays. No Wednesdays!

ORCHESTRA/BAND INFO:

Rehearsal for the 27th & 3rd are 8:45 a.m. Sundays. No Wednesdays!

HANDBELL INFO:

REHEARSAL RESUMES JANUARY 13TH

TECH INFO:

Rehearsal for the 27th & 3rd are 8:45 a.m. Sundays. No Wednesdays!

I really hope I didn't forget anything! If you have questions just email me, michael@hillcrest.church.


MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

This week's newsletter from Gene

This has been a very eventful year at our house. The first 6 months were “normal” the past 6, anything but normal. Lynn was diagnosed with leukemia August 11th. People started praying and we have seen the Lord answer so many prayers and open so many doors since then. It started by getting her into MD Anderson for a special trial treatment, literally overnight. Between 9:30 PM on Thursday until about 9:30 AM Friday, the Lord opened that door. Many people spend weeks trying to get admitted, but she was admitted by about 3:00 Friday afternoon.

That treatment brought her to CR-1, or complete remission, 1st treatment. She has since been in a maintenance program until a stem cell transplant can be done. We found out last week that one of her brothers is a perfect match for the transplant, so we are meeting with the transplant doctor in San Antonio this week to determine a schedule.

We are so grateful to Hillcrest for the extensive support you have given us during this time. Hopefully in another few months she will be cured. We are also very grateful for the insurance the church provides. Our provider has now paid out about $600,000.00 with more to come. Thank you Hillcrest!! Merry Christmas!!

Reminder: if you are mailing end-of-the-year giving, please make sure it is postmarked by Dec. 31st so we can properly apply it to 2015. Also, you can now donate from an IRA to a charity. You will not be taxed on the distribution and it will count toward your Required Minimum Distribution.

O Leave, Let Us Adore Him!

by Tom Goodman

We tend to separate worship from daily life. In the thinking of many, on Sunday mornings we leave home and go to worship.

But in the Christmas story, after the shepherds found Christ they returned home to worship.

That’s what Luke wrote: “The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen” (2:20).  Did you catch it? Yes, they knelt before the Christ child in the manger, but then worship continued as they returned back to daily life.

In light of this little verse, maybe some of our Christmas carols need updating:

O leave, all ye faithful!

Joyful and triumphant!

O leave ye, O leave ye from Bethlehem.

O leave, let us adore him

O leave, let us adore him

O leave, let us adore him

Christ the Lord!

There’s a serious point here. While you should come to worship you should leave worshipping, too.

This is hard, I know.

In a worship service we sing all these glorious statements about God’s power and care. But then maybe we leave the service and return home to not-so-glorious living. It’s not easy to return home worshipping when your marriage is strained, or your kids disappoint you, or there’s tension in your workplace, or you’re fighting cancer, or there’s financial anxiety.

But what you experience from worship music and from Bible study should re-arrange your priorities, attitudes, and choices in daily life. Declaring gospel truth in a worship service is scrimmage; living out the implications of gospel truth throughout the week is where the real game is won.

This Thursday at 6:00 p.m., we’ll hold our annual Christmas Eve worship service. We’ll sing carols, observe the Lord’s Supper, look into the Word, and close with “Silent Night” by candlelight. Come, let us adore him. But follow the example of the shepherds. At the end of our service, leave adoring him, too.

Merry Christmas!

Holiday Schedule: The Christmas Eve service is a 45-minute family-friendly service that begins at 6:00 p.m. Then on Sunday, December 27, we will gather for worship at 10 a.m. There will be no meeting for Common Ground or Sunday School that day.

Sundry Dinner, New New Hope Edition

by Tom Goodman

Forrest Wickman for Slate:"Star Wars is a Western. Star Wars is a samurai movie. Star Wars is a space opera. Star Wars is a war film. Star Wars is a fairy tale. A Jedi craves not such narrow interpretations. In fact, Star Wars­­­—the original 1977 film that started it all—is all these things. It’s a pastiche, as mashed-up and hyper-referential as any movie from Quentin Tarantino. It takes the blasters of Flash Gordon and puts them in the low-slung holsters of John Ford’s gunslingers. It takes Kurosawa’s samurai masters and sends them to Rick’s Café Américain from Casablanca. It takes the plot of The Hidden Fortress, pours it into Joseph Campbell’s mythological mold, and tops it all off with the climax from The Dam Busters. Blending the high with the low, all while wearing its influences on its sleeve, Star Wars is pretty much the epitome of a postmodernist film."


The Star Wars Guide to Bowl Season. As the college-football postseason awakens, the WSJ assigns this year’s games their equivalent scene or character from the blockbuster franchise


Michael J. Svigel:

Two books lie on display on a tiny table in my office. The first, The Force of Star Wars (1977), allegorizes the original film and suggests it mirrors specific events of biblical end-time prophecies. The author calls readers to faith in Christ and promotes a clear Christian redemption narrative. The second, Religion of the Force (1983), exposes the allegedly heavy-handed New Age religious propaganda of Lucas’s universe. It suggests Star Wars promotes a false religion, that the “Force” is pantheism, and that Christians should flee from all things Star Wars before they damage their souls. So which is it? Was Lucas a reluctant prophet of God’s story who spoke better than he knew? Or was he a sinister antichrist who continues to lure dupes into the pit of hell? Is Star Wars an allegory conveying the gospel of Jesus, or a drama promoting doctrines of demons? Clearly, the two books represent antithetical approaches to engaging popular culture. And in my view, both veer too far in their perspectives. Let me suggest a middle-of-the-road alternative—one that appreciates the underlying “truths” of the Star Wars narrative without confusing metaphorical fiction with spiritual fact. Read the rest.

This Is the Smartest Netflix Trick We’ve Ever Seen. Build a different profile for every mood.


Fast Company discovered that Donald Trump can post hate speech to Facebook but you can't. Related: I don't think the Atlantic had Facebook's restrictions on free speech in mind when they posted this piece on Christopher Hitchens, but it fits. "The right of others to free expression is part of my own....I have never met nor heard of anybody I would trust with the job of deciding in advance what it might be permissible for me or anyone else to say or read. That freedom of expression consists of being able to tell people what they may not wish to hear, and that it must extend, above all, to those who think differently is, to me, self-evident.


Aiding the Christians Targeted by ISIS for Extermination. ‘We know Washington is aware of the realities,’ says John Eibner, asking why the West is so slow to help. (To get the full article, you may need to type the article title into Google.)

This week's newsletter from Karen

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.  (Philippians 4:11-13; NIV)

Try this at home: Have each family member act out (without talking) a commercial they have seen on TV and see if others can tell what product they are trying to sell.

Advertisements for products on television, the radio, and social media are all geared toward convincing us that our lives are not good enough with what we have. These messages try to convince us we need more of what the advertiser is trying to sell in order to be happy.

What makes you happy?
What makes you unhappy?
According the verses above, what was Paul’s secret to being content?

My prayer this week is that we will all be content with what God has provided for us and not feel the need to make the Christmas season about getting, but, instead, make it about being grateful to a loving God who made himself human to come into our world in order to save us from our sure demise.

This week's newsletter from Steve

Well, these will be my last written words to you, our church family, in this newsletter. We want to thank you for allowing us to serve each of you, and for entrusting us with the privilege of teaching, leading, and discipling the teenagers and college students that attend Hillcrest. Our prayer is that God has used our time at Hillcrest to strengthen the spiritual foundations of those that God has brought our way, as well as expanding their world view through missions, giving sacrificially, and continual prayer for the nations. May God use people from right here in Austin as a catalyst to make His name known among all the people of the world!

So many of you have become our dear friends and ministry partners. Thank you to those of you who have invested in our daughters, as well. You have helped with ministry projects, led small groups on Wednesday nights, gone on trips as sponsors, helped financially with mission trips, and prayed continually for us and those under our care. Thank you does not seem like enough. Nonetheless, we thank you.

Ministry and the making of disciples started long ago with the example and words of Jesus, Himself. Following His leadership will continue long after we are all gone from this earth. My prayer for each of you is that you will continue on in the faith throughout your life. Our desire is that you take these words of Paul to heart, and be Jesus to the world. We pray this scripture over you!

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” – Colossians 3:12-17

This week's newsletter from Michael

Thank you, Hillcrest church family for allowing me the privilege of leading this great music ministry! Our Worship Choir & Orchestra, Bells of Joy, and Tech Team did an awesome job Sunday and it would not have been possible without these guys. We have great talent in this church and I thank God for each of them. Church family, I hope you enjoyed the service, too. Feel free to share it with your family and friends. You can find a link to yesterday’s video on the Hillcrest Facebook page.

I also want to thank those who invited a friend to church! Many visitors showed up and I met many of your friends. Don’t stop inviting!

Yesterday in my common ground group a lady mentioned as a prayer request, “that we would all be transparent during this holiday season.” Let’s not keep CHRISTmas to ourselves! I’m reminded of a great song…GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN! That’s right, go tell that wonderful story of our Lord and Savior and show them God’s wonderful love!

Lastly, I wanted to write a note saying how thankful I am for Steve Cloud. This will be his last Sunday here with us. Steve has been a wonderful friend to me and my family. I appreciate all he has done in helping me figure out all of our tech stuff here at the church. Please continue to pray for the Cloud family and show them some love Sunday morning! Gonna miss you, Steve!

TO THE CHOIR: WE ARE REHEARSING NEXT SUNDAY @ 4:15!

There’s Something About Joseph

by Tom Goodman

In most manger scenes Joseph is just a guy in the background behind Mary and the shepherds and wise men. But we men need to pay attention to that guy in the background of our manger scenes. In Matthew 1:18-25, we find three qualities from Joseph's life that should be imitated.

First: Be a righteous man. Though Joseph didn’t have the whole story when he first discovered Mary was pregnant, he knew he wasn’t the father. The only conclusion he could draw at this point was that his fiancé had been unfaithful to him. So he decided to break off the engagement. It’s notable that the Bible doesn’t say, “Joseph, being a jealous man, decided to divorce her” or “Joseph, being a humiliated man, decided to divorce her” but “Joseph, being a righteous man, decided to divorce her.” (Engagement was a serious matter in New Testament times, so breaking the engagement was tantamount to divorce.) Joseph did not shrug his shoulders at what at first appeared to be ungodly choices in Mary’s life. His walk with God mattered to him—and her walk with God mattered to him, too. Like Joseph, we men need to develop our own spiritual self-discipline in all areas, and then let those around us feel the weight of our influence.

Second: Be a merciful man. Matthew 1:19 says, “Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.”  His plan to break the engagement was evidence of his righteousness; his plan to break the engagement privately was evidence of his mercy. It’s a rare thing to see both character and compassion in the same life today. On the one hand, we have Christians who uphold righteousness but in doing so act very unmercifully. On the other hand, we have Christians who think they are being merciful because they water down God’s commands to be righteous. Joseph was both righteous and merciful, and it’s a characteristic for Christian men to imitate.

Third: Be an obedient man. The angel commanded Joseph to proceed with his planned marriage to Mary. And “Joseph did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him” (Matthew 1:24). It’s notable that the angel said, “Don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife.” He knew that obeying God on this matter would deeply complicate his life, but he said yes. It’s still true that God calls on us men to do hard things. It’s in those times we have to decide what God’s leadership really means to us.

If you’re looking for something to say when your family gathers this Christmas, read Matthew 1:18-25 to the group, then read this little post from me, and then pray that the men of your clan rise up to the honorable example of Joseph. Merry Christmas!

Sundry Dinner

by Tom Goodman

Mockery Isn't Fixing This. Related: God Responds to the New York Daily News


"One brother..., moved by what he saw as his patriotic duty, he enlisted in the Navy and received two medals recognizing his contributions to 'the global war on terror.' The other was deeply religious and became increasingly intolerant, ultimately nursing a growing hatred that led him, along with his wife, to open fire on a San Bernardino holiday party last week. Reuters


A Crash Course on the Muslim Worldview and Islamic Theology


Loving Our Pro-Choice Neighbors in Word and Deed


Crybullies Aren’t Just for College: On Corporations and LGBTQ Political Correctness


What to Do in an Active Shooter Situation


This App Promises To Provide The Care For Depression Patients That Their Doctors Don't

This week's newsletter from Karen

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:23-24

Try this with your family at home: Hold hands and form a circle. Have each family member put their right hand in toward the center of the circle. Then, one by one, have each person take their left hand and grab the right hand of another family member. Now try to “untie the knot” without letting go to get back to your original circle.

Just like the hand “knot,” many times our relationships with others can become twisted and tangled. Before we offer gifts to God, He wants us to reconcile those twisted and tangled relationships with our friends and family members. To reconcile means “to make friendly again.” Is there a relationship you have with someone this holiday season that could be described as “not friendly” that you know needs to be reconciled? What can you do to make that relationship better before Christmas?

My prayer is that we all are given opportunities to be reconciled to those we are “unfriendly” with.

This week's newsletter from Steve

For the past few years, Amy and I have been involved with a ministry called “MKR,” or Missionary Kids Retreat. We, along with a team from Texas, New Mexico, and California host a week of camp for the teenage (13 – 18) children of our International Mission Board missionaries. Our team of volunteers (we raise our own support each year) teach Bible study three times a day, lead worship, organize and lead recreation (indoors, as it’s usually REALLY cold outside), take the students on outings in the city, lead small group discussion and prayer, and much more. It is an amazing time for these students, who come from all over Europe, northern Asia, and Australia. For many of these students, this is the only interaction they get with other Americans during the year. So many of them tell us just how amazing it is to be able to worship and hear Bible studies in English. It is a wonderful time of refreshment, encouragement, and just plain fun for these kids! This will be our fourth time to host an MKR in Prague. We have also done them in Thailand and Hungary.

Amy and I will be helping to lead the team this year. Katie Cline, Brandy Williams, and our daughter Meaghan will also be going. We will leave the day after Christmas, and camp starts the next day. We covet your prayers as we travel, and while we work with these teenagers. Please pray for the students and adults we will be working with. Pray for their spirits to be open to the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Pray that those who struggle with living in another country will be encouraged, and will receive a fresh vision from the Lord. We also ask you to pray for safe travel for the team, no lost luggage, and security while in Prague. Obviously, we have been monitoring the security issues closely with our IMB and State Dept. officials, but God is our ultimate protector!

Lastly, please pray that this week will also be an encouragement to the families of these teenagers. We hear from many of these families throughout the year. Their struggles are real, and any amount of encouragement is welcome. Obviously, they love their calling, but we all know our calling can also be difficult at times. Thank you so much for your prayers!

This week's newsletter from Gene

It’s hard to believe, but we’ve almost used up another year!! Many of you will be evaluating your giving for this past year in the next couple weeks. One of the things you might consider is donating stock. This allows you to give a stock that has increased in value, giving you the tax benefit for the value of the contribution as of the day it leaves your account, although your cost may be less because of the appreciation of the stock. The church then liquidates the stock  on the open market.

If you would like more information how to do this transfer, please contact either Betty or Karen in the office for instructions to give your broker. It’s a very easy process. However, if you are going to donate stock, even if you have before, please send me a note at gene@hillcrest.church, so we can make sure the donation is credited correctly. Sometimes our broker just notifies us that we have received stock, and we have to search to see who the donor was.

Don’t forget the unique opportunity you have to invite a guest to come with you to hear the choir Christmas musical presentation this coming Sunday morning at 10:00 AM. Christmas is the time of year when many people are open to attending church, and special events make it even easier for you to get them to come. We have two special Christmas events. This Sunday will be the Christmas musical, and next is our Christmas Eve candlelight service. Don’t miss these opportunities—it’s a full year before they come around again!!

Sundry Dinner

by Tom Goodman

Jacob Brogan's Slate piece: "The Shame of Finding Your Younger Self Online." Whether your politics have changed or you’ve simply become more cynical, confronting your digital past can be cringeworthy.


"The Ethics of Killing Baby Hitler." Fascinating Atlantic piece on whether time-traveling back to kill baby Hitler would be a moral--and even an historical--good.


"Some have questioned why Christianity, which would have formed a central part of the lives of the aristocracy in the early 20th century, is largely absent from [Downton Abbey]. Now the man tasked with ensuring the historical accuracy of the series has revealed why Downton does not do God. Alastair Bruce, who serves as the show’s historical advisor, said that executives in charge of the series had ordered producers to 'leave religion out of it', for fear of alienating an increasingly atheistic public." The Telegraph


Ghosts, or at least belief in them, have been around for centuries but they have now found a particularly strong following in highly secular modern countries like Norway, places that are otherwise in the vanguard of what was once seen as Europe’s inexorable, science-led march away from superstition and religion....Arild Romarheim, a Lutheran priest and recently retired theology lecturer, described the conviction of well-educated atheists and agnostics that ghosts exist as “the paradox of modernity” — a revival of old beliefs to slake an innate human thirst for a spiritual life left unsatisfied by the decline of the church." (NYT)


This is an excellent post on weighing the words we use when engaging pro-choice people in conversation. 

Japanese Church Thanksgiving Fellowship

Our church hosts the Japanese Church of Austin, led by Byoung Lee and his wife, Grace.

Last Thursday, they gathered at Hillcrest to introduce the Thanksgiving holiday to Asian friends. Here is Byoung's report and photos.


Hi. Pastor Tom, Thank you for your kindness and support. 

God sent people more than we expected and about fifty people came! New comers are followings. Japanese: 14 people. Taiwanese: 2 people. Koreans : 6 people. Among new comers all 14 Japanese and three Koreans are non-believers. It was amazing that they came to church. 

I preached the gospel and most of them, especially Japanese, heard the Gospel for the first time!! Free Thanksgiving Lunch was a great opportunity to present God’s free gift, Jesus Christ. Please keep praying for their salvation. Usually, the center of Japanese community is Buddhism and Shinto, not Christianity. When I met several Japanese students who came from Japan just several months ago, they even did not know about church! One of them asked me, “What is church? What is pastor doing?” 

I pray that may God keep using this Free Thanksgiving Lunch sharing event to spread the love of Jesus to Japanese community so that they can feel church closer and know Jesus Christ as their Savior. I am really thank God that we work together for His Kingdom. Thanks again for your faithful support and prayer. 

Blessing, 
Byoung 
Japanese Church of Austin

This week's newsletter from Karen

A devotional I read this morning in Rush Fishel’s Peace in Our Hearts, Peace in the World. My prayer is that you will turn your fears over to the pioneer and perfecter of faith, Jesus Christ.

***

I have been through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened. – Mark Twain

Fear is a healthy instinct that can save our lives, but most of the time fear originates in our minds in the form of something that hasn’t occurred. These imagined fears cause us stress and unnecessary suffering. They usually stem from the thought of losing something we already have or not getting something we want. Fear can keep us up at night, ruin our appetites, block our memories, and cause life-threatening physical and mental illness. Fear comes only when we live in the future and not in the present moment.

 
Faith is the other side of fear. Turning our fears over to a power greater than ourselves is the perfect key to inner peace. In fact, turning everything over to God, living with faith that God is in charge, can bring us peace and joy beyond our wildest imagination.

This week's newsletter from Steve

We are the body, or the family of members, of Christ. Last night, I got to see the body of Christ in action, and it was a beautiful thing. 
 

A couple of our college students were on their way back to school after the Thanksgiving break, and were involved in an auto accident near Abilene. Thankfully, when we were notified by one of their parents, we were told their injuries were not severe, but they were being taken to a hospital in Abilene to be checked out. Abilene is not that far from Austin, but when one of your kids is in trouble, 3 hours is a LONG way away! 

After a few messages and calls, one of our deacon’s daughters and one of Amy’s and my former students from New Mexico (who both live in Abilene) were on their way to the hospital to check on those involved in the accident. Even though our former student did not know these from Austin, her love for the Lord and for others moved her to action. I am so thankful these two ladies were able to stay with them until parents arrived at the hospital. So thankful those involved in the accident are okay. God was watching over them! 

Friends, we are not an organization with walls… we literally are the body of Christ. So glad to see Christ lived out, as in this verse: 

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” – Galatians 2:20

This week's newsletter from Michael

From Michael Slaughter
Associate Music Minister

It’s finally here: the month of December! I think it's one of the craziest times of year for most people. We tend to find ourselves running left, right, up, and down; well, at least I do. But I sure do love this month. We get to see family and friends we may have not seen all year, and also give gifts because that’s what it’s all about, ha! On a serious note, we get to celebrate “The ONE true gift: Jesus!” I hope you get to share this awesome gift with someone you know this Christmas season.

We have several opportunities for you to do just that! December 13th (not December 6th) our music ministry will present “Joy, Unspeakable Joy” during the 10:00am service. Invite a friend to come hear some great music and a wonderful message about our Savior’s birth.

Also, we will have a Christmas Eve Service at 6:00pm. Bring your family and friends as we gather to sing and observe the Lord’s supper. We have some great music lined up for this evening.

I hope you don’t find yourself too busy and miss out on the great things happening at Hillcrest! Until then I look forward to seeing you in worship this Sunday. Have a great week!

Sundry Dinner, Thanksgiving Edition

by Tom Goodman

6 Things Everyone Believes About Thanksgiving That Are Absolutely Untrue


This Desktop Edible Insect Hive Grows Your Daily Protein At Home. If you can stomach the whole mealworm-eating part, it's a lot easier than raising chickens.


Impregnated by a Speeding Bullet, and Other Tall Tales. How science’s craziest stories get passed from one generation to the next


I love this photographer's messages she posts on abandoned marquees around the country


To many Christians, denominationalism seems pretty old-fashioned. Not “vintage” old-fashioned, like vinyl records and safety razors, but “outdated” old-fashioned, like phone books and VHS tapes. Have denominations gone the way of the buffalo? Does denominational identity matter anymore? Nathan Finn explains why identifying with a denomination still matters.

This week's newsletter from Karen

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:3-6

I’m thankful for…

Cheryl Alvis – Rebecca Barnes – Ann Blaha – Cheryl Booth – Judy Barber - Julie Chambers – Mark Chambers – Pilar Corral – Paige Dahl – Jennifer Dorsey – Mark Dorsey – Tommie Ford – Sandy Harpin – Amy Koch – Patrick Koch – Natasha Littlestar – Lisa Livingston – Mike Miller – Debra Morgan – Susan Porter – Paul Rusch – Andre Shomba – Henriette Shomba – Emily Slaughter – Pat Stivers – Tracy Urban – Gloria White – Brittany Whitley – Laine Whitley – Kathy Wiederkehr – Mike Wiederkehr – Brandy Williams – Rhonda Williams – Tracy Williams

…the men and women who serve the children of Hillcrest Baptist Church each and every week.

This week's newsletter from Steve

“Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy in his dwelling place. Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength, ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name. Bring an offering and come before him; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!" Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them! Then the trees of the forest will sing, they will sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” – 1 Chronicles 16:23-34

I pray you have an amazing Thanksgiving week with family and friends! May you remember to be thankful for the One who gave His life so we may have eternal life! I am so thankful for Jesus, and the family He has blessed me with! Happy Thanksgiving!

This week's newsletter from Gene

Thanksgiving week. When we think about that, it is easy to focus on what may be major issues in our lives, rather than the total. I don’t know of any person that doesn’t have circumstances in their lives, or friend’s or family’s lives, they wished were different. If those circumstances are our focus, we will have a difficult time being very thankful. If we look at the whole of our lives and then look at where the Lord is working in those circumstances we are having difficulty with, we can be thankful.

Do you have, or have you had little children, or maybe grandchildren now? How easily they get upset at the adults in their world because something doesn’t go like they want or many times, “when” they want. One of my least favorite phrases my mom used to say to me when I was very young, was “after a while.” There were things that prevented me getting what I wanted, when I wanted it, even though mom had told me I would get it. We lived in the country, so I enjoyed going to town. When mom had said we were going to town a particular day, I was ready right then. I would bug her about “when.” Many times her answer was “after a while.” And “after a while,” we would go.

Are there areas in your life where the Lord is saying “after a while?” Sarah and Abraham knew what it was like to “wait upon the Lord” for the fulfillment of His promise to them, “being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what he had promised.” Romans 4:21

Is God’s answer to you, “after a while?” Be thankful.

Sundry Dinner

by Tom Goodman

English is not normal


The actual woman behind Charlie Brown's little red-haired girl


Updated "Ironic" Song:




Slate explores "the confusing, complicated desire of parents with no religion to raise their kids with faith."


Resettling Syrian Refugees: An Alternative. Reihan Salam says economic opportunity closer to home is better than a struggle to integrate abroad.


Denny Burk's "Some Provisional Reflections on the Refugee Situation"


"I had only just earned the PhD and was on the job market when my department’s graduate chairman took me aside, and in the kindliest terms, said, 'I wish I didn’t have to say this, but you should know that the slightest hint of religion on your résumé is the kiss of death.' In the years since I was given that advice, the shadows have only grown longer in the academic world. What we believe is now no longer merely odd, but discriminatory, and therefore fair game to be discriminated against....[This] is the death of ostracism, the death of contempt, the death of unemployability and poverty and incessant self-accusation for being so silly." (The Illusion of Respectability)

This week's newsletter from Karen

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Luke 10:2, NIV

My Bible reading included this verse within the passage of Luke 10 where Jesus was sending out 72 ambassadors to heal the sick and let the people know that the kingdom of God was near.

With the events over the last few days, do you ever wonder if the kingdom of God gets nearer and nearer all the time? Do you think the harvest is plentiful today? Do you think there are many that do not know the love, redemption, and grace God has to offer? Do you think there are enough workers to reach those that need to hear about God’s love, redemption, and grace? What are we to do?

I’m reminded of an old Steve Green song where one verse with chorus reads…

We are called to take His light
To a world where wrong seems right.
What could be too great a cost
For sharing Life with one who's lost?

People need the Lord, people need the Lord
At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door
People need the Lord, people need the Lord
When will we realize people need the Lord?

My prayer is that believers awaken to the realization that it’s time to get involved in the harvest in the way God has equipped them. Does that mean you? Probably.

Pray today that God will open your eyes to the place He has created for you to serve, whether it be in children’s ministry, student ministry, small group leadership, community outreach, or some other possibility.

Right now, the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.

This week's newsletter from Steve

I just want to thank our church family for supporting the Operation Christmas Child ministry by donating 268 boxes this year! This is such a personal way for us to connect to people around the world. I only wish we could show you a picture of the faces of these kids when your gifts arrive. This is where the church becomes much larger than Hillcrest, and much larger than Texas. This ministry helps keep our world view wide. People in China, Mexico, Ukraine, the Philippines, Uganda, Haiti, and so many more places get to hear the message of Jesus because of what you packed in that shoe box. May God bless Operation Christmas Child, and may there be a large number of people who come to know Christ because of this ministry!

Also, it is not too early to begin praying for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. This is the annual offering Southern Baptists give each December, in which 100% of the money goes directly into missions overseas. It costs just over $85,000 per year to fully fund a missionary. When you multiply that by over 4000 missionaries, you understand the need is great! That amount does not even include ministry expenses, just base pay, insurance, housing, etc. Maybe we could fund a missionary for a year? Why not two? I pray the Lord will lead us in this!

This week's newsletter from Gene

In addition to what you see Michael doing leading music on Sunday mornings, he is also responsible for our media and is doing an equally fine job with it. What does that entail? Basically everything that allows you to see and hear what is being presented on the platform comes under that umbrella. Our Sunday morning experience has become very technical that includes lighting, auditorium sound, stage monitoring, video screens, a different sound mix for the recordings upstairs, cameras and the mixing equipment that allows us to make our service available on the internet. Thank you Michael for for your diligence in making all this work and for training our volunteers to carry our their many responsibilities!!

One of the new benefits that has recently become available is seeing our Sunday morning service live through the internet. This has already become a very neat ministry to several of our people who are unable to attend, my wife, Lynn, being one of them. It allows them to “attend” and continue to be a part of Hillcrest. Now, I must confess, the administrator hat I wear is a little concerned about our people finding out how good of a job our guys are doing in producing this on-line service, that some may choose to stay at home and watch rather than coming. I’m thinking that is OK, as long as they double their tithe if they are just being lazy... Kind of like a “convenience fee.” What do you think?

Lynn and I will be in San Antonio the end of this week exploring the possibility of a stem cell transplant. Your prayers for wisdom are appreciated. If you would like to get regular updates as to her status, go to www.caringbridge.org and search for Lynn Chappell. You can select to receive email notification when an update is made so you don’t have to remember to check the site.

How to Pray for Your Pastor

by Tom Goodman

 “Join with me in fervent prayers to God on my behalf,” Paul wrote in Romans 15:30. The apostle said you can partner with a pastor by your prayers, and he often asked for that help.

In that fine tradition, how can you pray for me? Here are a few suggestions from a list Pastor Ligon Duncan shared in a blog post. Duncan said to pray...

That I would know, embrace, and ever more deeply understand the Gospel and be shaped by it in life and ministry.

That I would be useful servant of the Lord; that I would know and love God's word, God's people, and God's kingdom; that I would be used to build it up and so that it prevails even against Hell's gates.

That I would study, practice, and teach the Word of the Lord, by the grace of the Holy Spirit.

That I would love to pray, would love to commune with God.

That I would be ever dependent upon and filled with the Spirit; and that I would possess true Spiritual wisdom.

That I would be holy unto the Lord; that my tongue and heart would be wholly God's.

That God would give me guidance as to where to focus my efforts in ministry.

That He would protect me from myself, from the enemy of my soul, and from all earthly enemies.

That many would be converted and many built up under my ministry, to God's glory alone.

That the Lord would bless my wife with holiness and happiness, Gospel assurance and Gospel rest.

That God would make me a decent husband and father.

It's a comfort to know you're praying for me as I pray for you!

Sign Up for the Next PrayerWalk. Speaking of prayer, have you signed up for our next PrayerWalk? It’s 8-10am on Saturday November 21. Go online to Hillcrest.Church/PrayerWalk to learn more and to register. Childcare is provided for those who RSVP.

Sign Up for the Next Missions Munch. On November 22 we will kick off our annual Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions by welcoming David and Janet Hooten, our missionaries serving in Mozambique. David will preach in the worship service. After the small-group hour, David and Janet will talk about their service during a BBQ lunch. Tickets to the lunch are required and can be purchased after this Sunday’s service or online.

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