Both of my sons were lifeguards. One of the things that always amazed me was that how in their training they were taught to be explosive –almost violent- in order to rescue someone. Have you ever been rescued…when you really needed it? What did it feel like? How strong and explosive did your rescuer need to be? Today, we focus on those life and blood things from which Jesus rescues us. He is strong, explosive –almost violent – and powerful for you! Good News!

I remember seeing a movie where, in a very difficult and dicey situation, as “all hell is breaking loose,” a man named Faramir says to himself, “this is an opportunity for Faramir to show his character.” What do you do –how do you show your character – when “all hell breaks loose” in your life? Come and see what Jesus did. Turning Point! He is our example, our template, our Savior, our King!

Have you ever heard of the West Coast Offense? If you are a football fan, you have. Before the San Francisco 49’ers with Bill Walsh popularized it, the mindset of almost all of the coaches of the NFL was that an offense had to be built around running the football –and only then could you pass effectively. Bill Walsh with the West Coast Offense turned this thinking around. Mindset. It is the way we see something or someone. It is very hard to change. It takes someone strong and influential in our lives to change our mindset. Enter Jesus….for both Peter and for us!

Do you remember the last time a hurricane hit the Florida coast? Do remember seeing film during the Newscast of people boarding up their windows and generally “battening down the hatches” in preparation for the storm? That’s what wise people do; they prepare for the storms in life. How? Come and see what Jesus did. Turning Point! He is our example, our template, our Savior, our King!

When I was growing up, we spent hours shooting hoops on the basket that my dad had put up on the garage. Every once in a while my dad would get home from work, and seeing us playing, would walk over and say, “one shot!” We would, of course, joyfully pass him the ball...and if he made it, great. If not, he often would say, “One more,” “one more,” “one more,”….until he finally made one. Where do you need “just one more?” Where do you need to “start over?” As we will see with John the Baptist, this is what Jesus is all about!

“I think I saw a “puddy cat.” Do you remember the cartoon? The main characters were a parakeet and Sylvester, the cat. Often, Sylvester is pictured with a Good Angel speaking in one ear and an evil angel speaking in the other ear…And when Sylvester listens to the wrong one, he always -and hilariously- suffers for it. But in the Turning Points in our lives, amidst the cacophony of voices, is there one that we can trust and listen to? Come and see what Jesus did. Turning Point! He is our example, our template, our Savior, our King!

Failure. I remember losing a championship game 3 yards from the winning touchdown. Devastating. Failure. I remember embarrassing my father because of something wrong I did. Devastating. Failure. I remember failure after failure before God. How about you? It’s not hard. My life is full of them. Devastating. Failure. It always feels like I lost. But no matter how I feel, Jesus is greater…and he won for me….and for you! From ashes….to victory!

Some would say that we live in a scary time. Terrorism. Lawlessness among nations. Economic chaos and upheaval. Ecological concerns. Does it frighten you? Do you ever wonder, as many have who have lived before us, how it will all end? Christmas is about God entering our world. He is Immanuel – God with us! But it is also about a plan – God’s plan; “In the fullness of time God sent forth His Son, born of a woman…” Gal. 3. How will it all end? And what does it mean for us in our lives right now? This is God’s Christmas gift for us, today!

In the book of 2 Chronicles, there is a verse where the writer says, “this enemy is too great for us!” And in the book of Psalms there is another verse where the writer says, “our hands hang limp,” again because they are overwhelmed by the power of the enemies which are against them. When is the last time you came up against an enemy that is too great for you? Where is this happening right now? When is the last time your strength failed you?...when you needed “a little help?” What if Christmas was about someone coming who had the power to help, no matter what? What if Christmas was about so empowering you that you also could be one who could help?

“So, what are you going to be when you grow up?” “Where do you want to go to college?” “What do you want to major in?” “What kind of job do you want to get?” These are tough questions!...especially for a 16 year old –or even an 18 year old! Yet, we ask them…often! We try to guide them, at least the thought process. We hire counselors on the High School level to give them direction and help them to think it through. And many of us tell stories about how we struggled with these questions mightily (and still might be!). Why? We all seem to agree that it is important to have a purpose and direction in our life. In fact, we all seem to know intuitively that we were meant to have a purpose and a meaning –a reason for our existence and why we do what we do. Jesus knew what He was about and He knew why. In Him, we can also. This gift too is tied to Christmas.