Tim Harlow

Happy New Year

I really want to thank all of the people that helped us pull off 7 Christmas Eve services. We had 7545 people attend (463 at Lockport), and I'm already hearing stories about the life change and eternity change that happened because we all worked together. It's impossible to name everyone, and honestly I don't even know the extent of the work that was done in Jesus' name to make this happen. I know the weather was nasty for most of them and yet our people pulled through in the band, worship, Children's, ushers, greeters, and the very tough parking crew. God worked mightily through you.

Don't forget that your offerings need to be into the office or postmarked by December 31 in order to count for tax purposes in 2008.

Thank you Parkview for another great year of ministry. Thank you God for such a great place to do it. As we approach the New Year, we can only ask for more of God's blessing. As we think back on this year with a new campus, new mission fields, new staff, new ministries, and so many new people - we MUST give God the glory and acknowledge that everything is his and everything is from him.

Happy New Year Parkview, I can't wait to see what happens in this one.

Tim

What Do You Want Me To Do For You?

Sometimes Jesus just likes to hear it from you. It’s true of prayer that God already knows what we need, but for some reason he likes to hear it from you. It’s almost amusing to me. In Mark 10, Jesus is in a crowd and this guy named Blind Bart cries out, “Son of David, have mercy on me.” Jesus says "What do you want me to do for you?" (vs 51)

It would be hard not to be sarcastic in my answer, wouldn't it be for you?  “What do you think I want?  I’m blind!”  But BB was very serious about his response.

The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see."

As we celebrate Christmas and think through to the New Year – I’d like for you to consider this question.  What do you want Jesus to do for you?

It may be as obvious as blindness to you, but he still wants to hear it from you.  I think it’s because there is something about saying it that is related to our faith.

Jesus goes on to say "Go, your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

What do you want me to do for you?

What could he do for you?

Think about it this Christmas.  One of my favorite authors at Christmas is Max Lucado. Listen...

It's Christmas night. The house is quiet. Even the crackle is gone from the fireplace. Warm coals issue a lighthouse glow in the darkened den. Stockings hang empty on the mantle. The tree stands naked in the corner. Christmas cards, tinsel, and memories remind Christmas night of Christmas day.

It's Christmas night. What a day it has been! Spiced tea. Santa Claus. Cranberry sauce. "Thank you, so much." "You shouldn't have!" "Grandma is on the phone." Knee-deep wrapping paper. "It just fits." Flashing cameras. It's Christmas night. The girls are in bed. Jenna dreams of her talking Big Bird and clutches her new purse. Andrea sleeps in her new Santa pajamas. It's Christmas night. The tree that only yesterday grew from soil made of gifts, again grows from the Christmas tree stand. Presents are now possessions. Wrapping paper is bagged and in the dumpsite. The dishes are washed and leftover turkey awaits next week's sandwiches.

It's Christmas night. The last of the carolers appeared on the ten o'clock news. The last of the apple pie was eaten by my brother-in-law. And the last of the Christmas albums have been stored away having dutifully performed their annual rendition of chestnuts, white Christmases, and red-nosed reindeer.

It's Christmas night.

The midnight hour has chimed and I should be asleep, but I'm awake. I'm kept awake by one stunning thought. The world was different this week. It was temporarily transformed. The magical dust of Christmas glittered on the cheeks of humanity ever so briefly, reminding us of what is worth having and what we were intended to be. We forgot our compulsion with winning, wooing, and warring. We put away our ladders and ledgers, we hung up our stop watches and weapons. We stepped off our racetracks and roller coasters and looked outward toward the star of Bethlehem.

It's the season to be jolly because, more than at any other time, we think of him. More than in any other season, his name is on our lips. And the result? For a few precious hours our heavenly yearnings intermesh and we become a chorus. A ragtag chorus of longshoremen, Boston lawyers, illegal immigrants, housewives, and a thousand other peculiar persons who are banking that Bethlehem's mystery is in reality, a reality. "Come and behold him" we sing, stirring even the sleepiest of shepherds and pointing them toward the Christ-child.

For a few precious hours, he is beheld. Christ the Lord. Those who pass the year without seeing him, suddenly see him. People who have been accustomed to using his name in vain, pause to use it in praise. Eyes, now free of the blinders of self, marvel at his majesty. All of a sudden he's everywhere. In the grin of the policeman as he drives his paddy wagon full of presents to the orphanage.

In the twinkle in the eyes of the Taiwanese waiter as he tells of his upcoming Christmas trip to see his children. In the emotion of the father who is too thankful to finish the dinner table prayer. He's in the tears of the mother as she welcomes home her son from overseas. He's in the heart of the man who spent Christmas morning on skid row giving away cold baloney sandwiches and warm wishes. And he's in the solemn silence of the crowd of shopping mall shoppers as the elementary school chorus sings "Away in a Manger." Emmanuel. He is with us. God came near.

It's Christmas night. In a few hours the cleanup will begin -- lights will come down, trees will be thrown out. Size 36 will be exchanged for size 40, eggnog will be on sale for half-price. Soon life will be normal again. December's generosity will become January's payments and the magic will begin to fade. But for the moment, the magic is still in the air. Maybe that's why I'm still awake. I want to savor the spirit just a bit more. I want to pray that those who beheld him today will look for him next August. And I can't help but linger on one fanciful thought: if he can do so much with such timid prayers lamely offered in December, how much more could he do if we thought of him every day?  (Max Lucado)

What do you want him to do for you?

Merry Christmas,

Tim

Home for Christmas

It still feels weird that I’m “that guy” that is excited for the holidays, because his kids are all home. Those guys are old. 

But I am excited to have both of my college girls home and have the family together. It’s good to have bedrooms full and the driveway crowded. It’s good to see them having fun together. 

We had a nice reunion dinner last night after Rachel got home and are looking forward to time together both here and down in Missouri for a few days after Christmas.

As we finish up the passage we’ve been studying about the Born Identity this Christmas – we will move on to verses 6-7.

Galatians 4:4-7 4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

Its really important that we understand how God feels about the whole thing at Christmas.  He sent his Son, so you can be a son.  That’s how much he wants to have you home for Christmas.  He feels just like I do when his house is full.

So please be praying for the services, starting tonight and all the way through Wednesday night (skipping Monday for the Bears game – you can pray for them on MondayJ). 

As God’s children come home for Christmas, the Father will be so excited to see them.   Many of them – thousands of them – will be home for the first time in months or years.  Some of them for the first time, period.  Pray that their hearts will be opened to coming home for good!

One woman wrote - When I was five, my biological father committed suicide. It left me feeling as though I'd done something wrong; that if I had been better somehow, maybe he'd have stayed around. My mother remarried shortly thereafter, and this man was my dad until I was nineteen. I called him Dad and used his name all through school. But, when he and my mother divorced, he just walked away. Once again, I wondered what was wrong with me that I couldn't keep a father.  Mother remarried again, and Bob was a wonderful, kind man. I was twenty now and no longer living at home, but I felt a great love and attachment for him. A few years later my mother was diagnosed with cancer and was not given long to live. Shortly before she died, Bob came over to my house alone one day. We talked about a lot of things, and then he told me that he wanted me to know that he'd always be there for me, even after Mother was gone. Then he asked if he could adopt me.  I could hardly believe my ears. Tears streamed down my face. He wanted me - me! This man had no obligation to me, but he was reaching out from his heart, and I accepted. During the adoption proceedings, the judge commented on all the undesirable duties of his profession and then with a tear in his eye, thanked us for brightening his day as he pronounced us father and daughter. I was twenty-five, but I was his little girl.

This is what they need to understand this Christmas.  It’s what all of us need to understand.

Merry Christmas,

Tim

Interesting Christmas Card

I got a very interesting Christmas card from someone this week. I hope he reads my blog. It bascially said, "I've visited a few times and I really like your church... if there was any way I'd consider being a Christian, I'd come to Parkview."

It was a very nice note from someone who genuinely likes our church and likes what we're doing. But he doesn't feel "called to Jesus" at this point.

For one, I'm ecstatic that someone with no reason to even need a church - feels at home here. I hope we have a ton of people like that around here. I want the world to know that Parkview is a place where you can explore. I agree that not everyone is going to decide for Jesus. But I don't think it's because they aren't called. There are many reasons even at Christmas time that people don't decide for Jesus. I don't want to imply any of them on my friend. It just struck me yesterday when I got this note, because in my Bible reading in the morning I was reading the passage where the Rich Young Ruler came to Jesus. And Jesus "knew his heart" and told him that it was his trust in his own riches that was getting in his way (my paraphrase). Then Jesus goes on to say that it's VERY difficult for a rich person to get into heaven. What struck me (besides the fact that I'm rich compared to the rest of the world) is that the passage just before this is where Jesus tells us that if our hand or our eye causes us to sin - we should amputate.

It's a very confusing passage unless you put it all together. The disciples were confused...

The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?"

And then Jesus summed up the whole deal.

Jesus looked at them and said,"With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God. Mark 10:26-27

I just think that even at Christmas time it's easy to forget that the whole deal depends on God. It's a gift - given by a gracious God. The rich guy couldn't deal with it, because he was greedy. The lustful can't deal with it, because they're always going to have eye issues. The thief, the whatever, they (we) can't come to God. But it's not because we aren't called. It's because we are trying to do it our way.

With God - it is possible. Throw up your hands and say, "I GIVE UP."

That's His way.

Merry Christmas to my friend if you are reading this. And to all of you.

Tim

Blago Vs. Jesus

It’s been a bad week to live in Illinois. I know everyone is innocent until proven guilty, but if the recorded conversations with our states Governor are reported correctly… it’s been a bad week to live in Illinois. 

 

As I’m putting the finishing touches on my sermon this morning, I can’t help but see the great contrast between our Governor and the Son of God. Both of them have birthday’s we can celebrate this month, but past that the parallels fade pretty quickly. 

The governor took his high position and used it for himself. Again, if reports are correct - He made deals, he sold favors, and abused his high office for himself without any regard for the people he was supposed to be serving. To the contrary, the Savior took his high position and set it aside, so he could come down and live in Cabrini-Green and give up his rights and privileges to not only serve his constituents – but to pay for all of their crimes against the law. 

Who are you voting for this Christmas?

“But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5)

"Jesus walked down the quiet way of light. Some of his servants were in a group singing and happily working. He smiled. It was a sorrowful smile. The kind you smile when you're filled with both sadness and joy. He could not keep from having joy and yet he was remorseful. He knew it would seem like he had never left as soon as he had returned, but he didn't want to leave his father. So close they were that they did nothing apart from each other. He took one last look, kissed his father good-bye, bid all his servants farewell for a time, and then quietly and purposefully, and with much love vibrating through his heart, he walked into Time, for it was his hour... to be born. By Beth Barnat

Happy Birthday Denise

It's my better half's birthday today, which gives me the opportunity to tell you how wonderful she is. (It's also our illustrious governor's birthday today, and my momma used to tell, me, "If you can't say something nice"...)

So I'll stick to Denise.

My wife has had to navigate the precarious position of being the Pastor's wife and the Worship Programming director here for a long time. We've been married almost 25 years, and 19 of them have been here at this church. Fourteen years ago when the church was small, we asked her to come on staff in a very part time role to head up our worship on the weekends - replacing a staff member who had moved away. Fourteen years later she runs a department with 8 full and part-time staff and oversees a weekend service that ministers to 20 times more people each weekend than it did when she started. In the process she kept loving her wacky husband and raised 3 of the finest daughters the world has ever seen (and I'm not just saying that - I'm an expert).

So on the occasion of her 29th birthday, I would like for you to know that I think Denise is the most wonderful woman in the world; and I'm so lucky to have her in my life. I'm very lucky that when I handed her that rose with a ring inside of it, she accepted my proposal.

Proverbs 31:10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies...25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. 26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. 27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 31 Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Happy Birthday Denise,

I love you,

Tim

Jesus Sighed

Make sure you read my mid-week blog about Christmas giving. It’s the most important thing I’ve written for the season. 

We are starting the “Born Identity” tonight, and I hope you will be there to learn the true identity at that first Christmas. Because it’s easy to miss. Most people did. 

I was reading in Mark 8 and noticed a sad passage. You probably know that the shortest verse in the Bible is “Jesus Wept” (John 11:35). Any of us who grew up getting “points” for memorization know that one. But here is one you may have missed. “Jesus sighed.” 

"The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply and said, "Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign?” Mark 8:11. 

Jesus sighed deeply. Why? They kept looking for signs. They wanted more proof. It must have pained him to realize how many miracles had been done to show people who he was. And they wanted more.

It started that way at his birth and continued all throughout his life. He gave them signs, they just didn’t want to take those signs and do anything with them. They didn’t want to believe. Because believing might mean surrendering their way to his way.

I just wonder how deeply Jesus would sigh today? 

We need to be Wise Men.

"Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." (Matthew 2:2) 

Tim

Good Time To Be A Preacher

I was having breakfast with a friend in one of the economically troubled industries today, and as we were talking about the financial woes he turned to me and said, "But it's a good time to be a preacher."

What he meant was that in the middle of hopelessness and uncertainty, it's a good time to have the only hope and certainty there is. I couldn't agree more. Not that as a church we aren't also concerned with the economy. Not that we don't have our own set of apprehensions about the future and how to do ministry. But we do have the only thing that is certain. We have the only hope. God has been in control way before our nation was strong economically, and he will still be in control when this world and its seeming importance pass away.

And it's a great time to be a preacher, because this is a time when people are going to be looking for THE answer, or coming BACK to the answer.

There is something about this time in our world that should point us back to God. The writer of Proverbs prayed,

Give me neither poverty nor riches,but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, "Who is the LORD?" Proverbs 30:8-9

It's why Paul told Timothy,

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. I Timothy 6:17

And then Paul gave a remedy.

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truy life. I Timothy 6:18-19

There has never been a better time to grab a hold of this concept than right now. I know I've challenged you with your finances. Has God been faithful? Duh. Hey, my stocks are down too. I never think that God's blessing is always financial. But his Blessing is always amazing, and it's always tied to our faith in Him.

So, many have asked if we are doing anything as a church to help those who are hurting in this economy. The first answer is we always are helping those in need. It's a part of our culture. but you need a more tangible way to be involved in this idea. We already gave out 400+ Tree tags for people to buy gifts and clothes for the needy. And now we are going to do more.

We are going to take up a special Christmas offering that will go entirely for benevolence. For those who are hurting this time of year. My friend "seeded" the offering with a substantial sum and I want to see all of us decide two things this Christmas. One that we won't borrow money to pay for Christmas. And two that we will spend even less than we thought we could afford and give more to help those who need us.

This article in The Motley Fool will tell you from a secular standpoint that it's the right thing to do.

Let's work together and become part of the solution this Christmas! Just designate "Christmas Offering" on your envelope or your check.

We have the hope. Let's be the hope!

Merry Christmas,

Tim