1. Friending Jesus Isaiah 9:6 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. (English Standard Version) Friending Jesus Isaiah 9:6 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. (English Standard Version)

2. Facebook friends? Are you on Facebook? Any trouble signing on? Good thing your name isn’t Becky Super or Bess Pancake or Tim Six All three signed up for Facebook All three were rejected Washington Post, March 5, 2009 Facebook friends? Are you on Facebook? Any trouble signing on? Good thing your name isn’t Becky Super or Bess Pancake or Tim Six All three signed up for Facebook All three were rejected Washington Post, March 5, 2009

3. Facebook friends? Facebook clearly isn’t in touch with the unusual names some people have And it has to take it seriously that people will feel hurt for being rejected for simply being themselves Fortunately most of these folks have eventually made it onto the social network by going through a lengthy appeals process Though there is a new group on Facebook “Facebook Hates My Name” Facebook friends? Facebook clearly isn’t in touch with the unusual names some people have And it has to take it seriously that people will feel hurt for being rejected for simply being themselves Fortunately most of these folks have eventually made it onto the social network by going through a lengthy appeals process Though there is a new group on Facebook “Facebook Hates My Name”

4. Are “Wonderful Counselor” “Mighty God” “Everlasting Father” “Prince of Peace” Facebook Names? More to the point, are WE accepting these names? Are we Friending Him? The great challenge of Christmas is to establish a strong connection with the baby born in Bethlehem Are “Wonderful Counselor” “Mighty God” “Everlasting Father” “Prince of Peace” Facebook Names? More to the point, are WE accepting these names? Are we Friending Him? The great challenge of Christmas is to establish a strong connection with the baby born in Bethlehem

5. “Wonderful Counselor” At the beginning of his ministry Jesus meets a woman at the Samaritan well. (John 4) Jesus Friends her She Accepts him. Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor- The one who knows us most fully and loves us most deeply Jesus tells us the truth about ourselves and invites us into his family “Wonderful Counselor” At the beginning of his ministry Jesus meets a woman at the Samaritan well. (John 4) Jesus Friends her She Accepts him. Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor- The one who knows us most fully and loves us most deeply Jesus tells us the truth about ourselves and invites us into his family

6. “Mighty God” When Jesus’ friend Lazarus died, Lazarus’ sister tells Jesus, “Lord if you had been here, he would not have died.” (John 11) Jesus answered, “Those who believe in me, even though they die… they will live again.” Lazarus was given new life And so are we If we believe in a Mighty God Christmas is all about moving from death to life through the power of a Mighty God! “Mighty God” When Jesus’ friend Lazarus died, Lazarus’ sister tells Jesus, “Lord if you had been here, he would not have died.” (John 11) Jesus answered, “Those who believe in me, even though they die… they will live again.” Lazarus was given new life And so are we If we believe in a Mighty God Christmas is all about moving from death to life through the power of a Mighty God!

7. “Everlasting Father” When Jesus is eating with his disciples, Philip says to him, “Lord, show us the Father and we will be satisfied” Jesus replied,”Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” The appearance of the Word of God in human form shows us that Jesus and the Everlasting Father are one “Everlasting Father” When Jesus is eating with his disciples, Philip says to him, “Lord, show us the Father and we will be satisfied” Jesus replied,”Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” The appearance of the Word of God in human form shows us that Jesus and the Everlasting Father are one

8. “Prince of Peace” When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, people were looking for a military messiah to drive the Romans out of Judea Jesus came to be the Prince of Peace, based on truth, justice, and righteousness Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you” John 14 Our mission is to make peace with others following the example of the One who came to reconcile us to God We are to Friend others, just as Jesus came to make us Friends with God “Prince of Peace” When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, people were looking for a military messiah to drive the Romans out of Judea Jesus came to be the Prince of Peace, based on truth, justice, and righteousness Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you” John 14 Our mission is to make peace with others following the example of the One who came to reconcile us to God We are to Friend others, just as Jesus came to make us Friends with God

9. Jesus is our “Wonderful Counselor” “Wonderful Counselor” Our “Mighty God” Our “Everlasting Father” Our “Prince of Peace” Let’s not be put off by these unusual names Instead let’s receive him, accept him, and strengthen our connection to him What a Friend we have… in Jesus! Jesus is our “Wonderful Counselor” “Wonderful Counselor” Our “Mighty God” Our “Everlasting Father” Our “Prince of Peace” Let’s not be put off by these unusual names Instead let’s receive him, accept him, and strengthen our connection to him What a Friend we have… in Jesus!