Don’t Miss Christmas
By Pastor Garrick Pang
You might be thinking, how can I miss Christmas? After all, its the biggest holiday of the year. Once upon a time, retailers started advertising for Christmas after Thanksgiving. Then it was a few weeks before Thanksgiving so we could get a jump on the shopping. Now it seems that we start seeing ads and displays in stores starting in July!
So, you ask, can we miss Christmas? While it may be tough to miss the day itself, it is very possible that we miss out on the meaning and significance of Christmas. After all, what is Christmas? Is it just yet another “holiday” where we get a day off work? Is it a time when we get to give and receive gifts? Is it a time where we O.D. on Christmas carols and songs on the radio, elevators and grocery stores? Is it a time when we go to parties & celebrations so that every week of the month is jam packed with activities? Is it the time where we wait in line for hours to have our children all upset when it comes time to sit on Santa’s lap for a photo? While it may be all these things, Christmas (the true Christmas) can get lost in the midst of all the hustle and bustle of the “activities” of Christmas so that we miss what Christmas is really all about.
So am I suggesting that we do away with all these other activities? I don’t think we need to do that, but perhaps we need to spend some time re-focusing our Christmas this year. When Jesus said, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33), He was encouraging us not to get caught up chasing after the things that will not last. What you eat, what you drink, what you wear. And yet ironically, this seems to be most of our focus during Christmastime!
But Jesus is NOT a party pooper (remember his first miracle – it was a wedding feast where he turned water into wine!) – on the contrary, Jesus loves a great party – but He doesn’t want the party to be focused on the wrong things. Seek first His kingdom, and the rest of the “stuff” gains perspective. We don’t have to flush away all the rest of the celebrations of the season (although there are some things that we perhaps should consider doing without – I’ll let you decided what those things are), we need simply to get perspective.
Perhaps the best message from our culture on what Christmas is really all about can be found on the children’s cartoon, Charlie Brown Christmas (which will be aired on ABC at 8:00 PM (7 Central) on Tuesday, December 8th and 15th), where Linus quotes from Luke 2:8-14 in response to Charlie Brown’s exclamation, “ISN’T THERE ANYONE WHO KNOWS WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT!!??”
My hope and prayer for you and your family is that you will not miss Christmas this year and that you will find its true meaning in the person of Jesus Christ.
Peace,
Garrick
Garrick is the Interim Senior Pastor of Delta Community Baptist Church in Everett, Washington
Friday, December 4, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
God Does Answer Prayer!
God Answers Prayer!
Thank you so very much for praying for me, my family and the Union Gospel Mission selection committee. I went through the day today feeling a wonderful and perfect peace. It was very clear to me that I personally as well as the process were being undergirded by much prayer.
The UGM president selection committee met earlier today and came up with their list of three final candidates. The person leading the search (headhunter) sent me an email midday saying that I’d get a call later in the day with “an update”.
Early this evening (Tuesday) I got the call. He indicated that much thought and prayer had gone into their decision on the three finalists. One member of the committee even watched the interview DVD’s multiple times just to be sure he had a good feel for the candidates. The decision had been made and I was informed that I was not one of the three. While I was very disappointed, I was overwhelmed by that feeling I mentioned earlier, “perfect peace”.
A decade or so ago, I think a similar feeling might have been felt, but that would have been more what I would consider emotional detachment. But today it was different. Today, I felt sad – I grieved that I would not be given the opportunity to lead this wonderful organization and amazing people, that I would not have the chance to share my vision and dreams for the future of region wide ministry, partnerships and collaboration. I was grieved that, while I could still engage with this work at some level, it would not ultimately be in the way or to the depth that I built up hopes to one day participate. Today, I was sad. But today, I was also glad. I was so grateful that so many people prayed and lifted this decision and this ministry before the throne of the Most High and that the committee had also prayed and came to a decision which led to this direct answer to prayer.
The answer may not have come as I might have hoped, but ultimately the answer was most certainly in my favor. There are things unseen and things unknown to me that only our Lord knows – reasons that I may never fully know or understand as to why things happen (or don’t happen) the way they do. I trust in the sovereignty of our Lord.
Because this process, and especially the day today< was covered and bathed in so much prayer, I feel 100% confident that no matter how disappointed I may feel, God’s will was done today.
So friends, please rejoice with me today. Rejoice in the faithfulness of our Lord. Rejoice in His answers to prayer (“no” is as much of an answer as “yes”, just a bit harder to swallow sometimes). Rejoice that the incredible ministry of the Seattle Union Gospel Mission is one step closer to finding their new leader. And rejoice with me that God is still God and He knows my future and He has a plan for my life (Jeremiah 29:11-12).
Rejoice with me that my emotions are intact, my sadness is appropriate, my joy is real, and my peace is perfect and beyond understanding (Philippians 4:6-7). This is the REAL stuff that brings the Word of God alive for me. It’s not theory or theology, it’s LIFE!
Thank you for being an integral and important part of the process with the Union Gospel Mission. When they announce their new president in the not too distant future, you can smile and say, “Thank you, Lord for allowing me to be a part of that decision process.”
Thank you for journeying with me which in turn allowed me the privilege of articulating these reflections here that have in turn blessed me so very much.
Your fellow sojourner,
Garrick
Thank you so very much for praying for me, my family and the Union Gospel Mission selection committee. I went through the day today feeling a wonderful and perfect peace. It was very clear to me that I personally as well as the process were being undergirded by much prayer.
The UGM president selection committee met earlier today and came up with their list of three final candidates. The person leading the search (headhunter) sent me an email midday saying that I’d get a call later in the day with “an update”.
Early this evening (Tuesday) I got the call. He indicated that much thought and prayer had gone into their decision on the three finalists. One member of the committee even watched the interview DVD’s multiple times just to be sure he had a good feel for the candidates. The decision had been made and I was informed that I was not one of the three. While I was very disappointed, I was overwhelmed by that feeling I mentioned earlier, “perfect peace”.
A decade or so ago, I think a similar feeling might have been felt, but that would have been more what I would consider emotional detachment. But today it was different. Today, I felt sad – I grieved that I would not be given the opportunity to lead this wonderful organization and amazing people, that I would not have the chance to share my vision and dreams for the future of region wide ministry, partnerships and collaboration. I was grieved that, while I could still engage with this work at some level, it would not ultimately be in the way or to the depth that I built up hopes to one day participate. Today, I was sad. But today, I was also glad. I was so grateful that so many people prayed and lifted this decision and this ministry before the throne of the Most High and that the committee had also prayed and came to a decision which led to this direct answer to prayer.
The answer may not have come as I might have hoped, but ultimately the answer was most certainly in my favor. There are things unseen and things unknown to me that only our Lord knows – reasons that I may never fully know or understand as to why things happen (or don’t happen) the way they do. I trust in the sovereignty of our Lord.
Because this process, and especially the day today< was covered and bathed in so much prayer, I feel 100% confident that no matter how disappointed I may feel, God’s will was done today.
So friends, please rejoice with me today. Rejoice in the faithfulness of our Lord. Rejoice in His answers to prayer (“no” is as much of an answer as “yes”, just a bit harder to swallow sometimes). Rejoice that the incredible ministry of the Seattle Union Gospel Mission is one step closer to finding their new leader. And rejoice with me that God is still God and He knows my future and He has a plan for my life (Jeremiah 29:11-12).
Rejoice with me that my emotions are intact, my sadness is appropriate, my joy is real, and my peace is perfect and beyond understanding (Philippians 4:6-7). This is the REAL stuff that brings the Word of God alive for me. It’s not theory or theology, it’s LIFE!
Thank you for being an integral and important part of the process with the Union Gospel Mission. When they announce their new president in the not too distant future, you can smile and say, “Thank you, Lord for allowing me to be a part of that decision process.”
Thank you for journeying with me which in turn allowed me the privilege of articulating these reflections here that have in turn blessed me so very much.
Your fellow sojourner,
Garrick
Special Prayer Request - Tuesday, June 2
Greetings Friend,
Here's a big prayer request that I would humbly ask that you might lift up before the throne of Grace and possibly share with your prayer network.
I am down to final 7 candidates for the job of president at Seattle's Union Gospel Mission. I believe that God has had his hand in bringing me into this group of 7 “semi-final” pool. I, along with the 6 others from across the country, had recorded interviews a few weeks ago and today, June 2nd, they will narrow the field down to 3 or 4 candidates for in person interviews.
As one of the search committee members put it, "God has already chosen the candidate, it's just up to us to find out who that is!"
I am at peace about whatever the final outcome may be and am doing my best to completely trust the Lord, yet at the same time feel that there is a major battle going on in the Heavenly realms over this position. This is a HUGE and key strategic ministry that has unwaveringly preached the Gospel over its 70+ year history and is well respected in both the Christian and broader communities.
I believe that God has me still in this process for a reason. I will not say that I am God's chosen one for this job, yet I feel very strongly in my spirit about this position and ministry.
Will you please join me in praying for this selection committee as they meet today (sorry, I don’t know the time of day for the meeting). Please pray for God's will in this. Specifically, my personal hope and prayer is that I would get a face-to-face interview so I can clearly articulate what God has placed on my heart for this ministry.
I hope this all makes sense.
Thank you!
Garrick
PS – in case you did not hear, my dad died very suddenly from a massive heart attack about a month ago on May 3. He is with the Lord now, but I sure miss him. Thanks for your prayers as our family navigates these rough & uncharted waters - especially pray for my mom who was almost never apart from my dad. Her name is Shirley, she is really struggling right now.
Here's a big prayer request that I would humbly ask that you might lift up before the throne of Grace and possibly share with your prayer network.
I am down to final 7 candidates for the job of president at Seattle's Union Gospel Mission. I believe that God has had his hand in bringing me into this group of 7 “semi-final” pool. I, along with the 6 others from across the country, had recorded interviews a few weeks ago and today, June 2nd, they will narrow the field down to 3 or 4 candidates for in person interviews.
As one of the search committee members put it, "God has already chosen the candidate, it's just up to us to find out who that is!"
I am at peace about whatever the final outcome may be and am doing my best to completely trust the Lord, yet at the same time feel that there is a major battle going on in the Heavenly realms over this position. This is a HUGE and key strategic ministry that has unwaveringly preached the Gospel over its 70+ year history and is well respected in both the Christian and broader communities.
I believe that God has me still in this process for a reason. I will not say that I am God's chosen one for this job, yet I feel very strongly in my spirit about this position and ministry.
Will you please join me in praying for this selection committee as they meet today (sorry, I don’t know the time of day for the meeting). Please pray for God's will in this. Specifically, my personal hope and prayer is that I would get a face-to-face interview so I can clearly articulate what God has placed on my heart for this ministry.
I hope this all makes sense.
Thank you!
Garrick
PS – in case you did not hear, my dad died very suddenly from a massive heart attack about a month ago on May 3. He is with the Lord now, but I sure miss him. Thanks for your prayers as our family navigates these rough & uncharted waters - especially pray for my mom who was almost never apart from my dad. Her name is Shirley, she is really struggling right now.
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