Mosaic

Celebrating the birth of Christ should remind us that we are messed up.  We are broken and messed up people who live in a broken and fractured world that needs help.  To rescue us from ourselves, the Creator of the Universe humbled Himself to become one of us. 

Jesus could have come to earth in any manner He wanted.  He could have appeared out of nowhere, walking towards the crowds in the desert.  Instead, He entered the world as a baby, born of a virgin.  The way He entered time and space was truly miraculous and remarkable.  No less remarkable is the character of the Creator, willing to humble Himself to the point of complete dependence upon frail and fractured humans for his very survival so that He might grow up to die on the cross, rise from the dead, and save us.

How should we live in light of God’s arrival in such humble means?

The Magi, Persian sorcerers who were seemingly far from the God of the Jews, came to worship the baby Jesus whereas the religious leaders who were looking for the Messiah rejected Him.  How can we ensure those of us close to the Truth embrace Him?  How can we help those seemingly far away find Him?

Discussing “Divine Intersections” from the CHRISTMAS SERIES.

Leadership Advance is now open to anyone in the process of joining staff at Mosaic!

Join us Saturday, 1/14 at William Carey University to kick off the new year with Mosaic’s Leadership Advance! This is a great opportunity to come together for training, updates, and vision-casting for 2006. We will look to the future together as we continue to move towards living by faith, being known by love, and being a voice of hope to those around us.

If you are currently on staff with Mosaic, joining staff on 1/14, or plan to connect at Mosaic, click here to register.
Saturday 1/14- 9am-5pm
Lunch provided
Dress casual, tennis shoes preferred
Cost- $10 per person; no childcare provided

When registering, please list at least one of the following ministries in which you are involved: Kids, Pre-School, Jr. High, High School, Tech, Film, Connections, Small Groups, Music, Performing Arts, Womens, Mens, Global Adventures, Marketplace, College, Visual Arts, Other, or In Transition.

People are God’s highest value. God treasures His creation. He gives us the power to change our character. How can we grow in character in order to better represent God? How can we live our life in a way that values others?

Everything God wanted to accomplish in this world was placed on Jesus’ shoulders. Jesus was a gift from God to us, bringing unending peace. So often, we act as if God isn’t here with us. How can we live in such a way to show the world around us God’s presence and peace?

Are there other insights you gleaned from this message of the passage of Scripture used? Are there other ways you plan to apply this message to your life?

You can now register for the next Origins Project conference to be held in Pasadena CA May 22-24, 2006. Register at www.theoriginsproject.org.

Mosaic will be hosting a sneak preview of the film “Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” at the world famous El Capitan Theater in Hollywood!

Invite your family and friends and join us on 12/8 at any of the following shows: 6:45pm soldout, 9:30pm sold out, or 12:00am.

Pre-order your tickets at any of our Sunday gatherings- $13 for adults, $10
for children.”

You can help the victims of the devastating Hurricane Katrina by donating through Mosaic or by going on a Relief Trip.
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Have you ever thought that Joseph was a wimp?

Joseph shrunk back once he heard Mary was pregnant. He thought the righteous response to her pregnancy was to divorce her quietly, leaving her to raise her baby as a single mother. He could have talked to her before making a decision. He could have sought to reach out and love her before condemning her. He could have persevered through this rough time rather than giving up on this relationship.

An angel stepped into history to keep Joseph from giving into his fear saying, “Don’t be afraid to go ahead with your marriage to Mary.� The angel convinced Joseph to do what his heart had already led him to do. How often is it that we know what we should do, but fear keeps us from moving forward? So often, God seems to call us to do that which is most difficult rather than that which is easiest. It is easier to give up. Enduring is miraculous.

Before we judge Joseph, we should consider those moments in our life when we have shrunk back. Hebrews 10:32-39 reminds us that “we are not of those who shrink back.” We can live with confidence! We can bold in speech and in action! I like Joseph because he seems so real. I hope if that happened to me I would end up making the right decision. He didn’t want to embarrass Mary. He just wanted to move on with his life after feeling betrayed, humiliated, and perhaps even heart-broken, but in the end he acted with confidence.

When you have found yourself in a moment of decision, what steps have helped you to step out in confidence? What are ways we can help others grow in confidence? What challenge lies ahead in your life right now that requires supernatural confidence?

May we all crash forward,

Eric Bryant

Navigator, Mosaic
eric@mosaic.org
http://www.xanga.com/ericbryant