Blame it on the Bosa Nova

It’s a standard out. No matter what, I just blame it on the Bosa Nova. I spent too much on Black Friday — it’s the Bosa Nova’s fault. I waited too long before I started my Christmas shopping — it’s the fault of that crazy Bosa Nova.

Hey, I’m not sure what it means either, but it’s no more of a flimsy excuse than some of the others I hear for making the Christmas season so commercialized. “Well, the kids expect it,” or “we didn’t intend to spend that much money this year, it just happened.”

“Well, we need to help boost our economy because it’s really been bad.” The Swine Flu is bad, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to try to catch it so someone else will feel better about having it.

I know. “This blog sounds like so many others who are talking about Jesus being the reason for the season, and how we shouldn’t get so caught up in the commercialization of it,” but you don’t understand, my kids have been wanting this ever since they first saw it on television.

I’ve been wanting that new car with all the latest features on it too, but I’m going to have to pass. Can’t compare a new car with the price of the latest laptop or the sale of the technologically-advanced toy? Well, let’s compare payments with payments.

It doesn’t make a difference whether it’s a new car or a new laptop, if we’re charging money we can’t afford, there is enough similarity to give it a second thought.

After all, there are some fine prints that everyone must be aware of. That no payment down, no interest until 2011, usually has some little writing that comes with it. For instance, be late on a payment, or miss one, and the no interest/no payment contract goes out the window and interest begins accruing on the sale from the date of purchase. I know, because as much as I dread admitting this, I figured up that I once paid over $3,000 for a $1,000 laptop, after back interest and penalties were assessed. Then, add on the “low, affordable payment plan, which was mostly high interest and very little principal, and voila’, my sweet, original deal wasn’t so sweet after all.

When it comes down to it, we can get caught up in the commercialization of Christmas and all of its enticements, and we can pay for it for the next 24, or 36 months, or however long we agree to take to pay for it. We can blame even blame it on others, or on the Bosa Nova, and fail to take responsibility for overspending, or, we could remember the real reason for Christmas, keep the pressure off of our wallets, and create one of the greatest opportunities to teach our children the value of a dollar, the importance and good feelings that come along with doing something for someone less fortunate, and just what Christmas is all about.

Now that sounds like a real cost-saving bargain.

Funny has been replaced by crude

Comedians are a dime a dozen anymore and in all honesty, I wouldn’t give you a dime for any dozen of them all lumped together. I’m not sure when, or where, or how, but funny has been replaced with crude, which isn’t even funny anymore. I guess it started with people like George Carlin and Richard Pryor, who, for some reason, thought your had to talk dirty in order to be funny. Humor was replaced with shock value and was funny only in bars and nightclubs after everyone had one too many drinks in them.

I’m not playing the prude, by any means, and I’m not trying to be self-righteous. A lot of Christians may pretend as if sex isn’t a part of their vocabulary, but the fact that they have children tell me otherwise. I don’t think that even Christians can avoid certain subjects, but when the subjects become crude and rude, they should should not be entertained.

I still find myself laughing at the infomercials showing skits by comedians, such as Carol Burnette, Tim Conway, Harvey Korman, Lucille Ball and even the early days of Steve Martin. But today’s comics aren’t even funny. Laughter isn’t part of the plot anymore, unless one has that, one too many drinks.

Laughter is important in a person’s life. The Bible speaks about it, saying that “laughter does good like a medicine.” We need more laughter in our lives. There is far too much stress in today’s society to not have laughter. So where are all the good comedians? There are some good – no, great – Christian comedians out there. Mark Lowry is a man whom I admire for his comedy, yet his depth in Christian living.

CCC is planning a men’s conference for next spring, and one of the featured speakers will be Larry Delawder from Branson, Mo. His Don Knotts routine is hilarious, but his message is clear and concise. We need laughter, even in the church. Too many churches play too much politics – and I think we need to replace it with laughter (as well as spirituality, of course).

Laughter brings people together. It makes us feel as if we have something in common. It makes us feel good. So why not find ways to make someone smile? Lift someone’s day. Give them a boost up. Create some laughter. And it can be done without being crude in the process.

Mama, I shared my lunch today

Come and dine, the master calls....Come and dine.

Can you imagine the excitement of the little boy who carried a packed lunch to a mountainside church service one day. Five loaves and two fish seems to be a good sized lunch for a small lad, so he must have gone with the intentions of being there awhile. In comparison, five loaves and two fish would be miniscule if he were to attempt to share such a small meal with those around him. Over 5,000, plus women and children attended the sermon that day and it appears that this small lad was the only one who had enough sense about him to bring along something to eat.

I’m not sure what the lad thought would happen when he gave his lunch to Jesus. Maybe he intended simply to feed the Master — the teacher. Whatever the case, he was willing to give up his meal for whatever use Jesus could make out of his little packed lunch.

I would loved to have been there and seen the look on the disciples faces as Jesus began to break the bread and share the fish with the multitude. Even better yet, I’d loved to have been there and seen the look on the little boy’s face as he watched Jesus make a feast out of a meager meal. I can almost imagine the little lad talking to himself in his mind — “Oh mama, I wish you could be here to see this.”

By the time it was all over, all 5,000-plus had been fed and the disciples were commanded to gather up the leftovers. Leftovers? You’ve got to be kidding. How do you take five loaves and two fish, feed 5,000-plus people and have leftovers? Wow! Talk about an illustrated sermon. It’s one thing to proclaim, “I am the Bread of Life,” but to literally make it happen, to show how he can touch every life, feed every hungry man, woman and child, that’s putting your money where your mouth is.

I have no doubt Jesus made sure that little lad received some of the leftovers. Can you imagine the little boy’s mother as he came home carrying a basket of loaves and fishes when she had sent him out the door with just a small meal for the day?

“Mama, I shared my lunch today,” he probably said, as he went running into the house.

“Did you share with a little boy you met there?” Mama may have asked.

“No, mama,” he said.

“Did you share with an old man or woman?” she would ask.

“No, mama.” he said.

“Then who did you share it with,” his mama asked.

“I shared it with everybody who was there, mama,” he says. “All 5,000-plus people. And look, mama. Look what I brought home. A whole basket full of leftovers.”

What excitement. What a story. What a testimony. To have a part in such a miracle stirred the little boy’s heart, leaving him with an experience he would never forget. Only five loaves and two fish. That’s not really the story. The story was about his willingness to give what little he had. The story was about what Jesus could do when he has a willing vessel to work with. The story was about how Jesus can take a little, and make it count for much.

Ever share your lunch? Ever been that willing to give? Ever been that excited about seeing Jesus work? Ever seen the results of watching Jesus work in ways you never imagined?

All it takes is a willing vessel. All it takes is someone to get so excited about Jesus that he or she gives without even thinking. It’s just spontaneous. I’m sure that little boy never expected to carry a basket full of fish and loaves of bread home. He just gave with no thought of getting. Yet, his giving allowed Jesus to work a miracle.

“Mama, I shared my lunch today.” What a testimony. What an opportunity for Jesus to take what little you have to offer, and make great things happen. All it takes is a willing vessel.

There are some secrets heaven never reveals

The why’s of this earth are so numerous that if one could answer them all, he or she would be wealthy. Why do bad things happen to good people; why am I sick; or why did my love one have to die? As a young pastor I always tried to find an answer to those who asked me such questions. I felt I owed it to them. I felt they expected it of me. In truth, I was doing them a big disservice by even attempting to answer such infinite questions within my own finite abilities.

I was fresh out of Bible and pastoring a moderate sized church in a rural area of West Virginia. It was my first pastorate and I was as green as the summer grass. I received a call one day, telling me that I needed to go to the home of a parishioner because her son had just been involved in a murder/suicide. I stepped up onto the front porch just as the state police walked out the door. As I stepped inside and found my dear parishioner sitting on the sofa, I sat down beside her and took her by the hand.

Her first question was obvious – “Why, pastor?” “Why did God let this happen?”

I searched my mind for everything I had been taught in my Bible School years, classes I had taken, sermons I had preached, scriptures I had read and studied and my mind was coming up with nothing to say. I didn’t know the answer, and I felt unworthy and unable to answer for God, so my response was as honest as I knew to be – “I don’t know, sister, I don’t know.”

Every single one of us have been where this woman was at that point. Maybe for a different reason, different circumstances, different times, but wondering where God is when we need Him the most. Why would he let this happen? Why didn’t he stop it? Why doesn’t he heal me?

I don’t know. I know there are some secrets heaven never reveals, but one day we’ll understand. I told you in a recent blog about a man who had stopped by our Pray-and-Go Event recently. Of how he had ridden up and down Route 50 many nights with tears, telling God that if He really cared, He would have someone out there so he could talk to and pray with.

Who knew that one Sunday afternoon, God would speak to a young man in our church to set up a 24-pray and go right there along Rt. 50 in the man’s path…and be there at 1:05 a.m. when that man would be driving by? Who could have known that on that particular Sunday afternoon, God was answering that traveler’s prayer?

So many things come into play. Not just by God, but by us, as His people. What if that young man in our church wouldn’t have been obedient and brought the idea to me, as his pastor? What if I would have said “no, it’s a stupid idea to sit out along the road all night long waiting for someone to come by who needs prayer.” What if others wouldn’t have gotten on board and a team responded to make it happen? What if others wouldn’t have worked behind the scenes to make it come about?

You may think God is not hearing your prayers, but I assure you he is. You may think he doesn’t care, but I assure you he does. He may not show you his plan, but he will show you his faithfulness. In his time, he works.

You may be in a place where your doubts are challenging your faith, but, hang in there and your faith will give you the victory over your doubts.

The seven words that you can now apparently say on television

It was 1972 when commedian George Carlin talked about the 7 words you can’t say on television. Now, nearly 40 years later, most of those words have received the green light and become commonplace on prime time.

The “f” word may be the only one still silenced on most major networks, but even that has become a frequent word thrown around publically on many cable television shows.

But writers and actors have found ways around the “f” word by substituting other words its place. Prime time has become Crime time and the language has risen, or in this case, fallen, to meet the standard of television.

Writers have tried so hard to make a show realistic that many have forgotten that all of us don’t live in that realistic world. As Christians we do our best to watch our language and to buffer our ears from those around us who spit out profanities the way they spit out watermelon seeds.

The problem is that, eventually our inhabitions are broken down and we hear words that used to make us flinch, but no longer do because they have become commonplace.

The “b” word is thrown out on a consistent basis on prime time television. Calling someone a “b” is not offensive any longer. We hear it, we skip over it and we move on. Eventually, it becomes so common that we don’t even hear it – it’s just there as part of the lingo.

Well, God help us if we accept the lingo as a part of everyday shop talk or Prime Time entertainment.

Cell phones — eliminating excuses for just about anything!

Remember when a blackberry was something you picked during a walk along some dusty trail?

Ask a young person today what a blackberry is and they’ll most likely tell you it’s a lifeline to anything and everything that is important in life.

Whether it’s a blackberry, an Iphone, a netbook or some other type of communications device, I’m not quite sure how our society has survived for as long as it has without one.

How did we ever find our way around without a built in GPS system at our fingertips?

And remember the phrase, “don’t leave home without it?” Apparently that now applies to the Internet, as well as your American Express card.

All it takes is the touch of a finger and all the world opens up.

Want to know where the cheapest gas prices are? There’s an “Ap” for that. How about a specific restaurant? There, of course, is an “Ap” for that, also.

Cell phones have alarms to wake you and music to lull you to sleep, you can talk verbally, or just get a message if a verbal conversation isn’t convenient — such as in church.

We actually put a sign over both of our entrance doors into the sanctuary asking people to silence all phones and pagers. Still there are times when I can notice someone sending or receiving a text, checking their e-mail or surfing the Internet during a church service.

What did we do before cell phones? How did people ever survive not being able to get hold of us at the drop of a hat?

The world will never be the same since cell phones have made their mark on our daily lives.

Having a blackberry is sort of like having a traveling office, minus the desk and chair.

The calendar keeps our appointments, the calculator helps us figure out the tip when we eat out, the phone book lists our contacts, the camera records the moment, the voicemail takes our messages, the notepad serves as a reminder to pick up milk on the way home, the alarm wakes us up, the speed dial quickly makes our calls, the GPS finds our destination and the Internet — well, it does everything from find the latest and greatest bargains to even find a date (if you’re single, of course).

That one single gadget we call the cell phone has done one additional thing — it has eliminated any excuse for getting lost, for being late, or for ever failing in life.

Wow, isn’t technology amazing?

Cross and “I Believe” not allowed on S.C. license plate

A federal judge in South Carolina has reportedly said NO to a license plate, which would contain a a picture of a stained-glass window, a cross and the words “I Believe” at the top. According to news reports, the judge ruled Tuesday, Nov. 10, that the license plate is unconstitutional because it is made by the Legislature, which would mean that the state was endorsing one religion by printing the license plate.

It appears that a group of Christians will have to get a private group to have the plates printed, which will apparently involve getting a minimum of 400 pre-orders or paying a $4,000 deposit with the DMV.

I wonder what would have happened if someone wanted an inappropriate license plate printed.

This is one reason our young adult group wanted to hold the 24-hour Pray~N~Go — simply because we could. We need, as Christians, to take advantage of the freedoms we have while we still have them.

I received a call this morning from a guy commending our group for the pray and go event. He called our group “Committed” because they stood along the road in the rain and cold and held the 24-hour-event like they said they were going to do. He was surprised it wasn’t cancelled due to bad weather.

We’re losing our rights folks, and people who don’t go to church now while they have the freedom to do so will be the first ones to complain when their rights are taken away.

I can’t help but wonder what this judge would have done had someone asked for a license plate with Allah on it. In that case, he probably would have strongly considered it so as to not offend the Muslims.

Pray~N~Go a huge success

Okay, so maybe as many cars as we were expecting and hoping for didn’t stop, but that doesn’t make our first Pray~N~Go a failure by any means. In fact, it was amazing, for a number of different reasons. One, because of the number of people who did stop. Giving us prayer requests and sharing their hearts. Some came into the tent and talked for some time, while others simply sat in their cars and we prayed for them right there.

One man stopped by the tent around 1:35 a.m. and wanted prayer. He shared about how he has been struggling with the Lord, doing wrong while wanting all the time to do right. “I’ve ridden up and down this road many times, coming home with tears rolling down my cheeks and telling God I wish I had someone to talk to who could just pray with me.”

And here was a bunch of crazy people out along the road in the middle of November, huddled together in an old tent with a propane heater trying to keep warm, while at the same time wondering if God really did have a reason for having them there. What a neat experience to be able to share with this man the love of Christ. As a pastor, I found myself sitting back and letting the prayer team do their thing, share their stories, open their hearts and pray for this complete stranger. It was almost as if I was sitting back, watching at movie of the whole event, feeling proud to be their pastor.

Any pastor is blessed to have parishioners who have a vision, and who have the know-how to carry that vision out and make it come to fruition. I could give you testimony after testimony of how God brought the entire event together and how he blessed it. To those who made it happen, GREAT JOB! To those who stopped by for prayer, WE’RE STILL PRAYING FOR YOU and To God be the glory

Rev. Andy Shanholtz to speak at Christ Community Church
Sunday, Nov. 29, 11 a.m.

Rev. Andy Shanholtz, ThD; originally from High View, West Virginia moved to Sheboygan, WI in1980 after attending UW-Oshkosh. He married the former Jean Oskey in July, 1981 and has a daughter Courtney who graduated from Lutheran High School and currently attends Lakeland College majoring in Business.

Andy was called into the ministry in 1976, after graduating from Hampshire High School, Romney, WV; but was not released by God to function in the Office of Pastor-Teacher full time until April 2003. While preparing for ministry he worked full time in Sales and Project Management. He served on staff at Word of Grace Community Church for seven years as Director of Discipleship Training in which he authored most of the curriculum. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Eagles Nest Church in Menomonee Falls, WI and ACT XII Counseling Ministries, Sheboygan, WI; to provide Biblical Counseling and Life Changing seminars to the Body of Christ. Andy earned his Bachelor of Theology Degree from Christian Life School of Theology in Columbus, GA; his Masters of Theology and recently earned his Doctorate of Theology from Grace Christian College and Theological Seminary.

Andy currently serves Praise Fellowship Church as the Senior Associate Pastor; overseeing Small Groups, Discipleship, Evangelism and Family counseling. Andy has authored nine study manuals used to conduct teaching seminars on Life Management, Faith for Living, Relationship building from the Song of Solomon, Biblical Foundations for Growth, currently being used by other churches as a tool for discipleship, and his most recent manual called, Answering Life’s Toughest Questions, a study from Ecclesiastes.

His Life mission statement is: “To motivate and educate believers to maximizing their full potential and gifting in Christ.”

It’s here, and it’s not too late to be a part

This Tuesday, Nov. 10 and this Wednesday, Nov. 11, is our 24-hour Pray-n-Go event. We’ll have people manning the tent for a complete 24-hours, praying with those who stop by. We’ll be serving free coffee for the event, and would love to have others come and join us. What a great time to cross denominational lines and have all of us come together for one purpose – to minister to those who have a need and need to know that there are people who care.

If you would like to volunteer to help with the Pray-n-Go event, you can pray at home during that period, come to the church and pray during the 24 hours, or sign up for a time period to help man the prayer tent. Just Call me at 304-822-0442. We’d love to see the family of God come together and pray “one for another.”