Ready4Life 2010

Two years ago Straight Ahead ran a Ready4Life program at the Middleton House of Correction, about twenty miles north of Boston. Over 30 rival gang members came together for the three day event in order to consider thinking errors, life change, and new life in Christ. It was a powerful weekend and culminated with the rivals offering apologies and extending forgiveness. Since then, the prison has wanted Straight Ahead to conduct another Ready4Life program with a new batch of inmates. This time, a reporter from Lynn’s The Daily Item, tagged along. Click the link below to read his article.

http://www.thedailyitemoflynn.com/articles/2010/12/19/news/news03.txt

Lord at Thy Birth

Christmas is a time of year to rejoice. In addition to spending lengthened time with family and friends and eating our favorite desserts, Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. This past week I re-read the birth accounts in Matthew and Luke and took note of how many people and angels bowed down to worship that little boy. Even before He did a single thing He was worshipped as God and honored as King of the Jews.

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us” (John 1:14). God incarnated Himself as a man to save men from their sins. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (John 3:16-18). This is the message we are sharing in over sixty lock-up facilities in Massachusetts and Connecticut. It is an honor to bring such a wonderful message to such needy youth.

At Christmastime many local churches buy gifts and donate them to Straight Ahead for distribution in lock-up facilities. One of our volunteers writes of his Christmas party last night…

“Last night was our sixth annual Bible study  Christmas party at the
Westfield Youth Detention Center. I’ve sent a picture of a
gift bag that I handed out. Included in the bag is a copy of “Dear SAM” [Straight Ahead's newest publication]. In total, forty gift bags were handed out. Although the contents of the bag may not mean much to people like us, it means an enormous amount to these
young men in lock-up. Many of do not have family nor do they
comprehend the true meaning of Christmas. Straight Ahead is such a blessing to this ministry.

Thank you & God Bless.

Good tidings

“Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,”  Luke 2:10.

From heaven above to earth I come,

To bear good news to every home,
Glad tidings of great joy I bring,
Whereof I now will gladly sing.

To you this night is born a Child
Of Mary, chosen mother mild;
This little Child, of lowly birth,
Shall be the joy of all the earth.

Glory to God in highest heaven,
Who unto us His Son hath given!
While angels sing with pious mirth,
A glad New Year to all the earth.

– Martin Luther
This past Sunday our music director encouraged the congregation to use Christmas carols to enhance our time with God during the Christmas season.  It gave me the idea to do that in my devotionals as well.  The song I chose this week is one I am not familiar with but the words really spoke to my heart.  We can become very busy with activities during this season but I know taking time to really listen to the words of the Christmas carols we hear everywhere can lift our spirits and encourage us.  In thinking about Luke 2 I am reminded of the quote from Linus in Charlie Brown Christmas.  He said; “Lights please.” then proceeded to read Luke chapter 2.   After he finished, he said: “So there you have it, Charlie Brown. That’s the true meaning of Christmas.

I pray that we will all keep our focus on the one who came to give us life and to be the joy of all the earth.

Deb Erickson, Prayer Coordinator