'Twas the Night Before Imagine Christmas...

and all through the Lord's house, not a computer is whirling with a wireless mouse.   The lights are all hung from the cieling with care, in hopes that 3000 people would soon be there!  

I can't believe it is the night before IMAGINE CHRISTMAS!  This month has flown by.  All the rehearsals are done.  All the videos are finished.  All the lights are programmed.  All the decorations have been set.  All the lines have been memorized.  All the music has been rehearsed.  Now all we need is YOU!

Let me rewind for you to the summer.  It seems like just a moment ago that we were all sitting in Robert and Angie's house, listening to music and watching DVD's of production elements...IMAGINATIONS running wild!  The excitement was high.  Thoughts were that this might be the biggest and best Christmas program that First Euless has ever done.  We were working hard to dream big and make sure that every part of the Worship Ministry would be involved to bring to you IMAGINE CHRISTMAS.

Fast forward to December 12th... All the work has been accomplished.  Now it is just time to show you.  To help you see Christmas in a whole new way.  And I don't mean the color scheme or set on the stage.  I don't mean rearranging this original Bible story.  Think about this for just a minute. To us, the believer, Christmas isn't the pretty lights, trees with wrapped presents  and Christmas carols.  It is the appointed time that God sent us Emmanuel and fulfilled his name 

"God With Us."  The world was waiting for their Messiah.  And after his time to come was completed and the price was paid that satisfied His Father, we were given the Holy Spirit, who lives in us.  For me...Christmas is always living in me.  Now we await his coming again.  But until then, we have to share Christmas with the rest of the world.  Not in gifts and toys...but in name.  He is the One True Gift - perfect, meeting all needs.  So, that is what we are doing tomorrow night and Sunday.  We're celebrating the time when Christmas was given once for all. Join us tomorrow night.  Bring your IMAGINATION, open wild like a child's.  And join with us as we re-visit this timeless story of the First Christmas.  This is way better than "visions of sugar plums dancing in your heads..."  See you tomorrow.

Meet Cynthia Kilgore - A Dancing Angel

I have often let my IMAGINATION wrap itself around what it must have been like to see a "host of angels" sharing the good news...the birth of the Christ Child.  Shut your eyes for a moment and try to IMAGINE this sight in the sky.... something to behold.  Well, we won't be having any angelic beings at our IMAGINE CHRISTMAS performance, but I'd like you to meet this young lady, because she is quite an angel herself.  Cindy's time on stage will just be about 2 minutes...but the sight will be something to behold.  

When we conducted our auditions this year for a ballerina, this young lady took my breath away.  I sat beside her mom as she performed for us...and her mom was crying.  Why?  The beauty that was before us.  But there was more...this young lady loves Jesus and this is her form of worship...her gift back to Christ.  Her spirit is precious and her love for Christ radiates from every part of her.  And I can tell you that o

ur Heavenly Father has given her an amazing talent...her dancing.  She will bless you as she helps us paint a picture of how all of Heaven rejoiced as "A Child Was Born" and given "Unto Us."

There are only                                IMAGINE CHRISTMAS!

A Star Will Point The Way

Well, we've officially reached the end of 3 days left for IMAGINE CHRISTMAS.  I know, I just can't believe it.  And folks, I have to tell you that I've been excited from the beginning.  I mean, I'm a producer and even talking through the plan for this program thrilled me.  But now that all the elements are coming together, I can't even explain to you the level that my excitement has reached!  You'll just have to see it to believe it!  This is a show where no IMAGINATION of what could be accomplished was spared.  And it comes out in every element.  You should see Uprising dancing in the opening number!  You should see how precious all the kids are!  You should hear how GLORIOUS the choir sounds!  Wait, there's a theme here... YOU'VE GOT TO SEE THIS SHOW!  It is a collaboration of so many people who dared to dream BIG!  And I have to tell you that I believe that they have all delivered!  And better than that, God has blessed all of their effort and hard work all along the way.  This is something so special, you've just got to share it with someone!  How easy it is to invite a friend, neighbor, co-worker, family member.  And here is one element that will show you just how big our IMAGINATIONS took us...THE STAR!

OH, it is amazing!  And I'm sure the Bethlehem Star that pointed the way for all those who had been looking for generations for "The Long-Awaited One".  It guided those Wisemen from a far.  It shed light in that dark, cold cave when Mary gave birth to God's Son, Jesus.  This light got the attention of those Shepherds who came to adore this Holy Infant.  But truth be told, the rest of Bethlehem just missed it.  It was just an ordinary night and that was just a bright and pretty star.  And in the midst of the ordinary, came the extraordinary!  Emmanuel, God With Us!  The beginning of the road of redemption of God's final creation - MAN!  What about you?  Take a look at your Bethlehem.  There are so many, busy people.  And they are missing it.  The One who can bring them peace.  The One who gave His life so that they can know life eternal.  The One who bring comfort and guidance to every moment of every day.  Wake up your Bethlehem.  Don't let the ordinary miss the extraordinary!  The message is timeless and speaks for itself.  Let's just fill that room with folks who need to be touched by the EXTRAORDINARY Himself.  Jesus!  

 

We're Excited!

IMAGINE CHRISTMAS!

A Beehive Of Activity

The week is finally here!  I just can't believe it...but it has arrived.  And today was a beehive of activity.  Lights were delivered and hung.  The stage was struck and the orchestra pit was formed.  The snake (one that doesn't bite) was moved.  The curtain was hung.  The star was pullied.  The ballerina was videoed.  See...a beehive of activity.  Each day this week we'll be working on one more element of the day before, layering them together like a scrumptious cake that will just be waiting on you when you arrive.  But as busy as we were today, the moments to stop and be thankful for God's providence were there.  I went into this day trying to remind myself to not be so busy as to miss God at work all around me.  There was another woman over 2000 years ago who was mindful of how God must be working out the all important details on her behalf.

IMAGINE THIS with me for just a minute....  Mary was only 5 days away from the time appointed that she would give birth to the Christ-child.  She had been on a long journey with her new husband.  She was very pregnant and not with HIS child.  There were tons of other people who were also having to travel to Bethlehem.  All returning to the city of their ancestors birth.  We don't really know what weather must have been like for them.  We don't really know if people traveling that similar journey were helpful to them.  We don't really know if their donkey was traveling at a decent pace or decided to stop and be stubborn from his weariness from carrying this young and very pregnant girl.  So, IMAGINE all of the uncertainty, all of the activity...  This is a favorite part of scripture for me.  The Bible says that "Mary pondered or hid all of this in her heart."  She held all of this journey, as crazy as it was near and dear to her heart.  God's child lived inside her body.  Surely, the journey for her was a different than for others.  Her point of view watching God deliver His plan of redemption to earth was the closest possible.  Surely her soul was very sensitive to how God was working around her...after all He was IN her too.  So this week as we work hard to be prepared for your arrival at IMAGINE CHRISTMAS, my prayer is that my soul and spirit is ever sensitive to all that God is doing to prepare the message.  I hope you'll join me in praying for the souls who need to hear the message of REDEMPTION made flesh.  Pray their hearts will be ripe and ready to just receive THE GREATEST CHRISTMAS GIFT EVER GIVEN.  His name is Jesus.  He is Emmanuel, God With Us.

A Sneak Peak into IMAGINE CHRISTMAS

Look at Angie...wife of our Worship Pastor, mother to three cute red heads (Jack, Audrey & Foster), Creator and Director of The Little Levites at First Euless, Volunteer Children's Choir Coordinator, Legacy Music Teacher, Vocal Coach and BULLFIGHTER!  Really?  Well, you can decide or come to IMAGINE CHRISTMAS next Saturday at 6 pm or Sunday at 3 pm and see exactly what this is she's wearing and what part it plays in the production.  Trust me...there is so much to see and experience.  We're praying that you're finding folks to invite that need to hear the message of Christ's birth.  Over and over again this week I saw instances and reminders that the world is looking this time of year...it's Christmas and the story of the birth of Christ is not offensive to them...for some reason, the world remains open to Christmas carols and the Christmas story.  So, as believers, we've got to take this open door and remarkable opportunity that we find so easy, especially at this time of year, and INVITE them to our program.  I've invited my friends and acquaintances outside of my "Christian Bubble".  Have you?  IMAGINE CHRISTMAS is the perfect place to bring them.  One week left!!!  

I can't believe it's only

IMAGINE CHRISTMAS!

Big Band Concert & The Parade of Lights

First Euless has something else going this Christmas besides IMAGINE CHRISTMAS.   If you love Jazz, Christmas, parades and lights, then you can't miss the Euless Parade of Lights this Saturday night.  The First Euless Big Band will be performing at the end of the parade route near the Rec Center.  That is always an awesome show!  The big band will be playing jazz standards that are sure to make your Christmas season feel more complete.  And David Gentiles will be there to sing some Christmas Jazz to.  For those of you who remember the last several years, Robert and David recorded a Christmas CD.  I'm sure they'll be singing a selection from that at the big band concert.  And then there is the parade.  The Kids Choirs are walking in the parade.  They will singing some of their worship songs from KidStuf and making their way to the end.  I hope you'll take time out of all the Christmas busyness to join us at the Euless Parade of Lights this Saturday night.  It's a perfect way to head into our IMAGINE CHRISTMAS week.  The anticipation is growing....  

IMAGINE CHRISTMAS!

196 Voices Strong!

We've talked about a lot of things and aspects of IMAGINE CHRISTMAS...but one thing we haven't really touched on yet is THE CHOIR!  You heard me 196 voices strong!  And folks, they are glorious!  We've been rehearsing since August, getting ready for these amazing songs that have been chosen for the choir to sing.  And each time I get to sit and  listen to them sing, I'm just in awe.  There's a line in one of our drama scenes that says, "We need a choir filled with voices as big as the sea!"  And we've got it!  There were so many in the loft tonight, that I'm nervous that they won't actually all fit!  HA!  What an amazing problem to have.  And we've got so many kids dancing on stage, that they almost don't fit up there all together.  So...just know that there are many exciting things to look forward to in this production.  When was the last time you heard a 196 voiced choir sing praise to Emmanuel, God With Us?  Don't miss it on Saturday, December 13 & Sunday, December 14.  

The Highway Banner Speaks to Commuters

Ok...this title sounds a little strange, I know...but follow me for a moment.  I know you've seen our big highway banner that is up on the church sign on highway 183.  Well, I've personally been praying that as folks pass by day after day that it wouldn't just become a part of their every day scenery, but it would jump out and grab their attention, and that they would make plans to attend one of the IMAGINE CHRISTMAS shows.  Are you still with me?  So yesterday, in the middle of a crazy Monday, Ms. Vicki answered the phone to begin talking to a 183 commuter who decided to make that phone call to get information about our program.  YES!!!!  It's working!  Our 183 friend and his family love to attend Christmas shows each year.  He's been looking for the one they would attend this year and decided to give our program a try.  Oh, but this story gets better.  He told Ms. Vicki that he THINKS that his children have heard the Nativity story before....  Ponder that for a moment.  Now, I don't know who all is reading this blog day in and day out (and hope there are bunches), but if you are like me, you probably feel like you've always known THE NATIVITY STORY.  Is that how the world thinks of this story?  A frozen Nativity scene?  You know, you have them on the front of your Christmas card.  You sit them on your coffee table.  You see them in people's yards all lit up at night.  Maybe you have one in a snow globe on your desk at work.  Common place this time of year, right?  But The Nativity Story is so much more to me, as I hope it is to you.  It is the story of God's Son leaving his home coming down to earth to be one of us - Jesus, Emmanuel, God With Us.  A promise fulfilled in the flesh.  And not just to be a cute baby on a Christmas card, or to give song writers a precious topic for writing hit songs.  He left that manger and grew up to walk this earth as a man - a Perfect One.  And there was only one reason...to build a bridge through His sacrifice on a terrible cross so that you and I could be reconciled back to God.  How can we help the world understand that part of the message?  Well, one way is getting them to come see IMAGINE CHRISTMAS...our version of The Nativity Story.  There is huge world that doesn't know the reason we celebrate Christmas.  There are children who might have heard it before, but most likely have not.  And guess what folks....they are driving down 183 and 157, all over town, looking for a place to see a Christmas show.  Please join me in several things.  1) Pray that our Highway Banner will be a beacon on that road for those searching...for more than a good show this season; and 2) invite someone.  Statistics show that over 80% of non-believers would attend a church service if they were extended a personal invitation by a friend, neighbor or co-worker.  Who is it in your life?  They are waiting on you.  We can't let that highway sign do all the work for us this Christmas.  

Meet Harold & Alvin

I was driving home from the Ladies Dinner tonight at our church.  It is one of my favorite events of the year.  It also happens to mark the beginning of the Christmas Season at our church.  Angie and the Ladies Praise Team sang "Jesus, What A Wonderful Child".  Kristi Brown debuted my favorite song from IMAGINE CHRISTMAS called "I Believe".  I cried as the ladies stood all over the room in honor of the One we'd come to celebrate.  And now I was in my cold car, the heat was on, and Bing Crosby was singing "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" on the radio.  It is here!  December 1st, Christmastime and only 12 days until IMAGINE CHRISTMAS!

Then I started to IMAGINE what it must have been like 12 days before the Blessed Event over 2000 years ago.  Mary's belly had grown very round and tight as the God child grew inside her.  She and Joseph were on the road to Bethlehem, very far away from home.  And what must Heaven have been like.  Can you IMAGINE having the bird's eye view from Heaven watching this story unfold before you on the canvas of earth?  All of Heaven was preparing, watching, waiting...but did they understand the why?  Jesus had left to go down to "The Planet of the People" almost 9 months before to go and take residence in the womb of a young girl.  But why?  For the "earthlings"?  Wasn't this a lot of fuss over the people who seemed to do nothing but keep messing up?  I mean, they started that from the very beginning when Eve handed Adam that apple in the garden.  Well this is where Harold and Alvin enter on our IMAGINE CHRISTMAS journey.  We'll watch as they ask these questions and make a journey to the planet to see the plan unfold in person.  And what they find on their journey, is the same thing that is still changing lives over 2000 years later.  Their journey might just be a part of a church program, but the message is absolutely true!  If only the world as we know it today could really discover the reason why Jesus would leave His perfect home, be God wrapped in flesh and leave that manger to take up a cross for the likes of you and me.  IMAGINE what a different place "The Planet With The People" would be....  

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

IMAGINE CHRISTMAS