It’s that time of year again. For me, it’s when George Strait’s Christmas CD gets put on repeat and the smell of burning dust fills the house because the heater hasn’t been turned on all year. All the leaves are pretty much on the ground. Consequentially, these leaves hide the roots that cross-stitch the trails and provide a lair from which the roots are able to grab my ankles and send me sprawling to the ground.
And then there is this holiday known as “Thanksgiving.” It comes right at the beginning of the busiest season of the year. Perhaps this was the rationale of those Plymouth Puritans: let’s remind ourselves of what we are thankful for before we get so busy that we forget. Actually, they were approaching the most boring part of the year when they would be locked up in their houses to escape the freezing Massachusetts winter. In spite of this, let’s just pretend they foresaw the pending season of the retail frenzy that was to bring about phenomena of the likes of Black Friday and the inevitable “Visit of the In-laws.” So, in honor of the Puritans and in view of God’s command to do so, there are a few items for which I would like to give thanks.
My Oasis Church family. In an age when people simply go to a church, these people have taught me what it means to belong to a church. Each one of us is so different from the rest, but God has taken this motley crew and flexed, plied, molded, and blended us into a body that is developing into microcosm of the bride of Christ. They have loved Lindsi and me and poured so much into us. Men and women have invested their time, wisdom, finances, business, and reputation into us. What means the most is that they show no indication of future change. Their faithfulness pushes me forward.
Fifth Quarter. Oasis held a party after Amherst High’s last home football game. Our intention was to attract as many kids as possible in order to share the gospel with them. One young man was saved, making the entire event worthwhile. Dozens of our people handed out pizza, operated games, operated sound equipment, passed out flyers, and partied with the kids. Without them, there is no way we would have handled the 450+ people that walked through those gym doors. The entire event was a success and I am so thankful for what God will do through the contacts that the event has made possible.
Life Group. God sent Bradshaw, Gabby, John, Ping, Sarah, and Mrs. Susan to join us on Wednesday nights. While the student:adult ratio is miniscule, our capacity for receiving students is huge. We are blessed simply by their presence in our basement gathering.
The Richardson and Slabach families. Weddings are a big deal. What they represent is the bigger deal. Their support of us and help with all the planning has been invaluable.
Work. Godly roommate. Health. Food…. The list goes on. It is a healthy reminder of God’s immanence as the holiday season lies immanent on the horizon. I’ll keep twanging along with my country Christmas carols and brave the cold in my trusty running shoes, but the thought of what God has done puts a content smile on my face. At least I’ll be wearing a pleasant facial expression if I freeze to death.
