We are all up for adoption and we are all ready to be chosen. Image, even though we are sinners, left in our own natural state, not one of us seeks God. Not one of seeks to do what is good. The most wonderful reality is that God will not leave us in that lost state. Before the foundations of the world were laid, he chose us. God's plan fulfilled in the birth, life and death of Jesus Christ.

We begin our lives as slaves, we are all slaves to sin and beholding to our master. We have a choice and an opportunity to change our position. God has provided for each of us an opportunity to be free and be called a child of God. We are all up for adoption.

It is never easy to get along with a large group of people. Perhaps the most diverse group of people are found in the church. Church can be very peopley. Getting along will at times be uncomfortable. We are called to be one body under one God, one Christ, and one Gospel.

We must never lose sight of the brutality of the cross, just as much as we must never lose sight of the joy. Jesus never said we might, or we if we will take up our cross, he said we must. And that will require sacrifice and that will be uncomfortable.

There is an old country song titled "I Never Promised You A Rose Garden" And so it is in with a life that follows Christ. The church is not designed to make you comfortable, it is not there to keep you entertained or amused. It is not a country club. The church has one focus and that focus always is God. And for all those that commit to this there will be times we are uncomfortable.

Fighting the good fight does not mean to fight to win, winning does not matter if we are fighting for the wrong thing. It means to fight for truth, not our truth but God's truth. It means to fight with a charge being love. It means to fight with a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith.

While every church has ministries, we must consider the purpose behind those ministries. Without purpose we are wandering around in the dark. It is purpose that brings life to the church and its people.

In our darkest hours, and in our troubled times the one thing that gives us the hope, joy, and peace that we all seek comes form remembering that on this day a Child was born.

With every sunrise the light signals a new beginning. Over 2000 years ago a light arose that signal a new beginning for all of mankind. A light that shines hope, joy and peace into a dark world. Today more than ever we need to remember that light, and seek a new beginning.

The grass is not always greener on the other side and if it si we must wonder, if it is sitting on the septic tank or if it is artificial. The path we take to get to the greener grass is as important as the destination. There is only one true path an while it is not always the easiest it is always the right one.