I’m finally doing it…

Yes folks, I’m blogging again. I know you’ve probably spent hours just looking at this blog waiting for an update. Staring blankly at your screen, hoping for anything to pop up. Well, your long wait is over!  (OK, enough with the opening, get to the juicy stuff.) 

Election –

Well, we have a new president, and his name is Barak Obama. Well, may God bless him. He will need it. With all due respect to President-elect Obama – and he isn’t “due” very much, but he is going to be the President of the United States, and that itself demands our honor – he might be the most unprepared President ever. Of course, that is just speculation, but I think the campaign helped to make that point. With that being said, I don’t think he will stop the next terrorist attack from happening. I have great faith in our military and law enforcement people, but they can only due what the Commander in Chief will let them do. And I think we are headed for some very bad decisions from the White House which will lead us to serious vulnerability and possible attack.

I think it is wise for us to be prepared and cautious about what comes next. That is the best way to care for our families. For instance, are we prepared to go without power for several months straight? Are we overly invested in the Stock Market and therefore vulnerable to a collapse? (Actually, a good investment right now would be the Federal Government. Looks like they might own everything in about 5 years. But they will probably force us to invest in their “monopoly” by raising our taxes.)  Do we have food to eat if our Refrigerator does not function for a while due to lack of electricity? How would we contact our loved ones if the phones and/or cell phone towers were down? We need to think through these problems and be prepared for any event.

That being said, as Christians we should not be afraid. God has not given us a spirit of fear. Our Father still rules the kingdoms of men, no matter who is the “president” or “king” or “prime-minister.” Our God Reigneth!!!  I do not fear the future, or anything else, when God is my ally.

Thanksgiving –

I love Thanksgiving. It gets overlooked so easily. I dislike playing any Christmas music before Thanksgiving is over because I want to give TG its due. Let TG have a day in the sun! Poor little guy. Always overshadowed by his older brother. All he’s heard his whole life is “Why can’t you be more like Christmas?” Well he’s not Christmas! He’s THANKSGIVING!!! And he should be allowed to be his own holiday, with out having to measure up to “Mr. Perfect”, Christmas. TG is a wonderful time of year, and I love to say “thank you” to my wonderful Creator for all the good things he has done, and the things he IS, to me.

Christmas –

Christmas is probably my favorite time of year. (No offense, TG.) Most everyone seems extra cheerful and friendly. And I absolutely love to say “Merry Christmas” to strangers. It almost always catches them by surprise, and just about every time it brings a smile to their faces. Somehow it seems that I am spreading the love of Christ when I speak that kindness into someone’s life. It’s as if, deep down, everyone knows why this time of year is so special, even if they don’t realize it. Or maybe they forget it with all the pressure and stress of the “to-do list”. But as a reminder, here are some sermon notes from a sermon I preached last Sunday at my old church, Covenant Baptist.    Yeah…..I love Christmas!

Why Christmas?

Jarod Hinton, November 30^th, 2008

• Why do we celebrate Christmas?

  • Because the Savior is born.

  • Luke 2:10-14 – “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

• Why was the Savior born?

  • To redeem mankind from sin

    • From the Penalty

    • From the Power

  • Colossians 1:14 – “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”

  • Luke 2:30-32 – “For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.”

• Why did we need redemption?

  • Because sin brings death.

    • Sin keeps us from God.

  • Rom 5:12 – “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”

  • Heb 12:14 – “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”

    • We could not get rid of the sin ourselves.

• Why did God choose to deal with sin?

  • Because he wanted a relationship with us.

    • Reason for Christmas? Relationship

  • Relationship is impossible without peace.

  • Col 1:20-21 – “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled…”

  • Rom 5:1 – “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

• Why does he want a relationship with us?

  • Because he loves us.

  • Rom 5:8 – “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

  • 1 John 4:9 – “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.”

• Why does he love us?

  • Because he is a good Father.

  • 1 John 4:8 – “…God is love.”

This is reason for celebration!

Ezekiel –

My son is turning one year old next Tuesday!!! Wow! That’s all I can really say….Wow! Time has flown! Here is a recent picture of him for you to enjoy:

Well, I should probably go to other things. For all my faithful readers (and you’d have to be faithful to still be checking this blog) I thank you for your support. And I apologize again for any advertisements. I’m already annoyed at the advertisements on my homepage.  

I am serious. I’m going to try and blog more often. We’ll see.