Dear Friend In Christ,

As we approach Holy Week, did you ever wonder how many people who came to Jerusalem to observe the Feast of the Passover were actually affected by Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection?  Did you ever wonder how many of the people were even aware of what happened?  

Afterall, people came from all parts of the land and foreign countries to observe this joyous holiday.  They came in bands, singing pilgrim psalms, bringing with them offerings.  Josephus, the Jewish historian, estimates that over 275,000 lambs were slaughtered for the Passover meal.  

As the Passover lambs were slaughtered in preparation for the Passover meal, The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world was being crucified on a cross outside the city.  How many holiday revelers failed to take notice to Jesus because they were too busy enjoying the holiday? 

I wonder how many were annoyed that such a gruesome event was taking place at that time and was ruining their holiday?  Couldn’t the officials have waited a few days?  Christ’s death was such a distraction, it cast a shadow over their eight day celebration, it was such a disappointment. 

Did you ever wonder how many people will miss the events of Holy Week, miss the significance of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection this year because they were too busy enjoying Spring Break or the Easter holiday?

May the Holy Spirit draw us away from the ways of the secular world to observe the most significant week in the history of the world.  May He move in us to take the time to read the scriptures, worship and reflect on what Christ’s death and resurrection means to us today and throughout eternity.

Prayerfully,

Pastor Chaya

Dear Co-Laborer In Christ,

Rome is Burning

There is a story that the Emperor Nero set fire to Rome, and then played his lyre and sang as he watched the flames. Afterwards he denied this and blamed the Christians for the destruction. 

Fiddling

Fiddling while Rome burns is an idiom that means to occupy one’s time doing something unimportant while a disastrous situation is happening.

Our Nation is Burning, and Many are Fiddling Around.

I do not need to elaborate, you know it’s true.  And you know that there is much fiddling around while our nation is burning.

Windsor Baptist Church and Schools Are Not Fiddling Around

Praise God!

Dozens of people are actively involved in the Gospel ministry, serving in the church, the schools, and in the community, rescuing souls from the flames.

Thank God!

Many are working behind the scenes: the staff, the boards, the committees, the schools and the humble servants to advance the Gospel.

Thank God!

Many are investing their time, talents and treasures in kingdom work.  Many are contributing to the operating budget and to the building fund.

Thank God! 

The nursery workers, youth leaders, Sunday school teachers, small group leaders, mercy ministry servants, and volunteers faithfully fulfill their duties.  Snow removal, safety and security, hospitality, facilities management, administration, and the many who send cards, make phone calls, care for the infirmed, and support those who are grieving or who are not feeling well are appreciated.   No fiddling around here.

Thank God!    

The music ministry, music committee, the choir, the musicians, the young people have added so much to our worship services with their musical abilities.  There is some fiddling around here, but for a good reason.

Thank God! 

The building committee continues to make significant progress in building a community of faith and a new building that will facilitate growth.

Thank God!

 The most important work in dousing the flames is prayer.  God has raised up a group of faithful prayer warriors to petition the Lord regularly. God is answering many of those prayers. 

An Invitation to Everyone

If you haven’t been involved in a ministry, I invite you to speak with one of the pastors, elders or deacons to learn how you can join the effort to glorify Jesus Christ through service and dampen the flames that are consuming our society.  Please join us in praying for God to send a revival and to save many souls.

Prayerfully,

Pastor Chaya,  Senior Pastor

THANK YOU LORD—THANK YOU WINDSOR

A big thank you to the Lord and to the many members and friends of Windsor Baptist Church and schools for your generous and sacrificial response to the second appeal letter regarding our expansion program.   Not only have you supported the building program, but you have maintained your giving to the church’s operating and mission’s budgets.  Thank you.

Your support is a great encouragement because, as you well know, our nation is heading in the wrong direction very quickly.  The question Jesus asked in Luke 18:8  “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?” is real especially in light of the immorality, the disdain for biblical truth and the hostility towards Christians. 

The church of Jesus Christ is the instrument God has ordained to shine His Gospel light into the dark world and to advance His kingdom.  The Gospel of the Kingdom is the only hope to save sinners.  By your giving, praying, worshiping and serving, you are part of the solution that God has ordained to transform souls.  Thank you for your investment in God’s work.

Your commitment to our expansion program confirms that the church and schools are going in the right direction in building a community of faith for all generations along with building of a classroom building.  Thank you.

With the radical moral revolution currently taking place in our nation, the only hope for the next generation is for Christians to proclaim the Gospel in word and deed. Let us continue to obey the Lord’s Great Commission and go and make disciples, teaching them to observe all that Christ has commanded during these difficult times. 

On Sunday evening, Feb. 3^rd, during our concert of prayer, we will be thanking God for how He is moving in Windsor to glorify His name.  Through giving, worshiping, praying, serving, evangelizing and making disciples God will build a community of faith as He promised.  I encourage you to pray with us that evening for God to awaken and strengthen all believers to be faithful witnesses so that when Christ returns, He will find faith on earth.  May God grant us grace to be faithful.

Prayerfully,

Pastor

Dear Co-Laborers in Christ,    

Happy New Year!

When I was growing up, my grandfather always kept his Christmas tree up for weeks, even months after everyone took their Christmas trees down and packed away their decorations. He loved Christmas and wanted to prolong the holiday so he kept his tree and all the decorations up.

I remember one year, Easter came early, at the end of March.  His Christmas tree was still up at Easter.  He would keep the house cool, put aspirin and other things in the water to keep it alive.  That year, the tree actually grew an inch, new growth was on every branch. Every time we walked into his living room, there was the pine fragrance, the tree lit up, the trains and cotton snowed covered village beneath it.  For my grandfather, Christmas was more than a day, more than a week, more than a month.  Although I was not born again at that time, it struck me on that Easter Sunday when I saw my grandfather’s Christmas tree that Christ’s birth and His death and resurrection were connected in some way. 

Since Christ has graciously enlightened my mind and soul to the truth about salvation and about Jesus Christ being my Savior, I now realize that there is a clear connection between Christmas and Easter with regards to my salvation. Luke 2:11-12  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. The great truth I learned is that God is with me every day, not just on Christmas or on Easter.  Immanuel is not seasonal.  We don’t need to try to prolong the Christmas season with trees, nativity scenes and decorations. For believers, we have Immanuel dwelling within us all the time.  The Christmas Spirit is with us all year long, every year.

It is because of the presence of Christ with us that we can have a happy new year every day of 2019.  Joy to the World, the Lord Is Come!  And He does not leave when the season is over.  Amen!

Blessings,

Pastor Chaya        

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;  and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6

In 1963 Andy Williams recorded a Christmas song, It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, which has remained popular ever since.  The song speaks of kids jingle belling, people being of good cheer, friends coming to call, much mistletoeing, telling tales of glories of Christmases long ago.  There’ll be parties for hosting, marshmallows for toasting, and caroling out in the snow.  It’s the happiest season of all.  It is the most wonderful time of the year.

For Christians what makes Advent and Christmas the most wonderful time of the year is celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, whose name is Wonderful, Wonderful Counselor. Not merely is Jesus wonderful but He is Himself a Wonder through and through.  The Messiah is not merely some one who is extraordinary, but as One who in His very person and being is a Wonder:  He is that which surpasses human thought and power; He is God Himself.  This Child who is born for us is Wonder.

Jesus Christ is a Wonder because He did what nobody else could do.  He left heaven, was born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life and died in order to pay the penalty for our wickedness and to make it possible for us to have blessed fellowship with our Creator.   

Jesus Christ is called Wonderful Counselor.  To sit upon the throne of David as Messianic King requires wisdom such as no mere human being can possess.  The Counselor Himself must for that reason be a Wonder in order that He may establish and administer His kingdom.  This Wonderful Counselor is properly equipped to redeem and to rule over His people.

The Advent and Christmas season is the most wonderful time of the year because Christians celebrate the birth of the Wonderful Counselor, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Redeemer of humankind.  It is the most wonderful time of the year because we acknowledge the fact that the Wonderful Counselor, God Himself, has left His throne in glory and came to be with us.  Immanuel, God with us. It is the most wonderful time of the year because Jesus Christ, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace has come to save His people and to dwell among His people. 

Have a wonderful season of Advent and a Wonderful time at Christmas, celebrating the birth of the Wonderful Counselor.  Joy to the World. The Lord has Come.  Let earth receive her King.

Let every heart prepare Him room.  And heaven and nature sing.

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year,

Pastor and Jean Chaya