Later On We'll Conspire

Later On, We’ll Conspire

James Taylor’s at Christmas CD has quickly become one of my favorite Christmas Albums of all time. This past week the following lyrics of the classic Bernard & Smith song Winter Wonderland (Track One) caught my attention.

Later on, we'll conspire,

As we dream by the fire

Because New Hope has partnered with the Advent Conspiracy movement, the word CONSPIRE in this classic Christmas song has taken on a profound new meaning to me personally.

Question: What does it mean to CONSPIRE during this Advent Season?
Answer: Putting Christ back in Christmas.

A movement of coconspirators have become convinced that somewhere in the bustle of wrapping paper, packed malls and endless lists, we have forgotten the true story and origins of Christmas.

Question: What’s the true story of Christmas?
Answer: The story of a Savior who came to Earth wrapped in nothing more than a human skin who would one day redeem the world …one person at a time.

Question: How can we (re)enter the story?
Answer: Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, Love All.

[WORSHIP FULLY] The Advent Conspiracy starts with Jesus and ends with Jesus. Entering the story of advent means… entering this season with anticipation and an overwhelming passion to worship Jesus to the fullest.

[SPEND LESS] Consider spending less this Christmas (maybe buying one less gift). Sounds insignificant, yet many who have taken this small challenge have experienced something nothing less than a miracle: They have been more available to celebrate Christ during the advent season.

[GIVE MORE] God’s gift to us was a relationship built on love. Time is the real gift Christmas offers us, and no matter how hard we look, it can’t be found at the mall. GIVE MORE TIME to… make a gift that turns into the next family heirloom …write mom a letter …take the kids sledding …bake really good cookies and sing really bad Christmas carols.

[LOVE ALL] When Jesus loved, He loved in ways never imagined before. Though rich, he became poor to love the poor, the forgotten, the overlooked and the sick. By spending less at Christmas we have the opportunity to join Him in loving all by giving resources to those who need help the most.

Later on, we'll conspire,

As we dream by the fire

To face unafraid,

The plans that we've made,

Walking in a winter wonderland.

Question: How can we face unafraid, the plans that we’ve made to CONSPIRE?
Answer: Invest & Invite.

INVEST: This Christmas consider making a ‘Kingdom Investment’ by giving through your Time, Talents, & Treasure. Many of you have purchased Angel Tree gift ornaments and will invest your TIME by delivering gifts to children of incarcerated men and women, others will lend your TALENTS by joining New Hope’s Habitat For Humanity Faith Build this Saturday, while even more of you will choose to INVEST your TREASURE by giving ‘over and above’ to this year’s Christ Birthday Offering. Through New Hope’s Christ Birthday Offering you have the opportunity to give to the poor and needy here in Portland, and in Kenya, Africa.

INVITE: Consider ‘Inviting’ your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors to New Hope’s Christmas Candlelight Service. As followers of Christ we have been called to ‘fish’ for people who have not yet personally experienced the hope that Christmas brings. Did you know that there is a 75-80% chance that if invited, your friend will say yes?!

Current weather forecast for this Sunday is a high of 32 degrees with a very strong chance of snow showers. Maybe we will be walking in a winter wonderland after all?! Let’s conspire together, the plans that we’ve made, to make this Christmas for Jesus, and about Jesus!

See You Sunday,
Brent