Digging Deeper: The Final Boss

Avatar photo Lee Wilson on January 19, 2026

 

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”

5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.”

8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”

9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you carefully;
11 they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

Luke 4:1-13 (NLT)


THE LAST BOSS

 

My younger son has recently developed a real interest in playing Mario games on the Nintendo Switch, but he isn’t quite good enough to play them by himself. He often plays a little and then has a routine: “Hey Dad, a little help?”

He loves playing the games and enjoys the characters, including Bowser, the villain. As in most simple video games, Bowser is the final level you have to beat in order to complete the game. However, you have little dust-ups in other levels as the game progresses, which reach a crescendo in the final level of the game.

When we read through this week’s passage in Luke and study the temptation of Christ, we see Jesus exhausted and hungry at the end of a 40-day fast. Then He comes face to face with the one true villain—Satan himself.

Theologian R. C. Sproul described the scene in a message he delivered on this passage. He claimed that Satan was attempting to appeal to and corrupt the human nature of Christ. Jesus, being a fully human representation of God, felt these temptations on a human level but responded to them divinely—rebuking Satan and upholding His purity.

In an interesting note, the passage ends by saying that Satan was defeated temporarily, but that he would return “at an opportune time” (Luke 4:13). In other words, this was the dust-up, not the final level, if you will.

We know how the story ends on this side of heaven. Satan did return, and he brought death upon the Son of Man, sending Jesus to an agonizing and torturous death on the cross. Then, in His truest manifestation of divinity, Jesus was resurrected from the dead and denied evil its victory.

The significance of this for us is that we have a high priest who is sympathetic and understands our temptations and trials, yes—but also One who is capable of defeating our enemy.

We face temptations every day. Some are small; some are big. Intuitively, I am betting you can tell the difference. What is key for us is understanding that we serve a God who defeats our enemy and secures the victory.

You don’t have to be strong enough to overcome all that the enemy throws at you, as long as you remember to follow the One who is. I pray you are able to cling to your faith in Jesus amid any temptation you face today.

 

Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.

 

Digging Deeper: Boxing Day

Avatar photo Lee Wilson on December 26, 2025

 

11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” 15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

Luke 2:11-20 (NLT)


BOXING DAY

 

I have a friend at work who is from just outside of London named Robin. Over the years we have worked together, he has taught me a lot about English customs, including how to decipher quality tea, understand the depths of the promotion and relegation system in European soccer, and gain an appreciation for holiday traditions.

In England, a big deal is made out of December 24 through December 26. Many companies are closed for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and then Boxing Day. Robin has explained to me that Boxing Day is an extension of the Christmas celebration and includes some unique traditions.

Its origins stem from wealthy English households and their servant staff. Servants would work on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and then, as a customary treat, would be given the 26th off. Additionally, their masters would often give gifts in boxes on that day, prompting the term “Boxing Day.”

Now, it has become a day centered around watching soccer, spending time with family, and eating leftover Christmas food. Leftover vegetables are cooked in frying pans and called “bubble and squeak” because of the sound they make while cooking. I wish that when we gained independence from England, we had made an effort to keep Boxing Day in the mix.

This harkens back to a time when servanthood was considered a more noble profession than it often is today. The holiday was a form of respite for the staff, a way to honor them and their hard work.

Jesus himself spoke about our calling to serve others, saying, “…whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:43–45).

Horst Schulze, one of the founding members of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, used to inspire his staff by saying, “We are ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen.” This simple phrase adds a measure of dignity to the role of serving others, something for which the company became well known at an exceedingly high level.

Serving others is noble and dignified, and it is the expectation that has been set before us. For what better example of service could we have than Jesus?

Our work here is to serve others, because that is the example he has set for us. Similar to Boxing Day, we will one day have the chance to rest from our work in eternity. So as you begin to set a course for a new year, perhaps challenge yourself to consider how you can better serve those around you.

 

Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.

 

Digging Deeper: Merry Christmas

Avatar photo Lee Wilson on December 25, 2025

 

11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” 15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

Luke 2:11-20 (NLT)


MERRY CHRISTMAS

 

Well, today is the day. You might be watching young children tear through wrapping paper, barely noticing what the gift is before searching for the next one. Or maybe you are celebrating abroad on a fantastical trip, or perhaps you are celebrating at home in a lovely, quiet space.

Wherever this Christmas finds you, I hope it is spectacular and centered around meaningful time with the people you care about most.

For us today, there is a great sense of jubilant energy with young children. Nothing quite compares to the feeling of watching someone you care about open a present and then fill with joy. That is among the heights of the parental experience for me, seeing joy on their faces.

We have traditions, as I am sure you do too, that are unique to our family. For one, Deanna and I write all of the gift tags to one another exclusively using inside jokes. Not a single one is addressed to “Lee” or “Deanna.” We also make a French toast bake that smells as good as it tastes and pairs wonderfully with a warm cup of coffee. I smile just thinking about it.

While Christmas can be a time of great joy, it can also be a time of sorrow. We know what it is like to celebrate Christmas under harder circumstances after a season of loss. Christmas in 2013 took place two months after losing our firstborn daughter, and although we did plenty to celebrate, it was a difficult and painful time.

I will be hosting Christmas dinner today at my house for my immediate family. I will be making beef Wellington, and I appreciate your prayers that it turns out well. Among our guests will be my two brothers, one of whom is not a believer. His lack of belief troubles me every day and is a constant motivation for prayer. My hope is that the Lord will call him back to belief, and I am sure you know someone for whom you share this same hope.

Whether this season is celebrated in joy, in grief, or in uncertainty, I hope you can cling to Jesus as the joy and truth above all circumstances. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

 

Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.

 

Digging Deeper: Christmas Sarajevo 12/24

Avatar photo Lee Wilson on December 24, 2025

 

11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” 15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

Luke 2:11-20 (NLT)


CHRISTMAS SARAJEVO 12/24

 

Serving on the worship team at NorthStar is a true delight for me. I started playing the bass guitar when I was 15, and in spite of what Mike Lindeman says, I do actually know how to play it a little.

Serving alongside great musicians to play worship music is one of the best things I get to do on a Sunday, and this is doubly true during the holiday season. I love playing Christmas songs, and although I cannot sing very well, I love to sing them too.

When I was growing up, I developed an affinity for heavy metal music, and I still enjoy listening to “Christmas Sarajevo 12/24” by Trans-Siberian Orchestra, a song you probably know even if you do not recognize the unusual title. Yet only recently did I learn the origin of the song.

The end of the Cold War caused uncertainty and unrest across parts of Europe. The nation of Yugoslavia, after the death of its unifying leader, broke apart due to complicated and deeply rooted tensions among its regions. What followed was a crisis period involving a multitude of nations, including Bosnia and Herzegovina. A period of civil war ensued, and numerous tragedies occurred.

Among them was the siege of Sarajevo, which lasted nearly four years and cost over 13,000 lives, roughly 5,400 of which were civilians. One morning, in front of a bakery, a mortar attack killed 22 people who were standing in line to buy bread and injured more than 100 others. In the midst of the horror, many wondered what to do.

One local affected by the attack was a man named Vedran Smailović. He was the principal cellist of the Sarajevo Symphony. After the attack, he donned his formal tuxedo, grabbed his cello and a chair, and placed them directly in front of the bakery, at great risk of gunfire, and played Tomaso Albinoni’s Adagio in G Minor in memory of each victim. He did this for 22 days straight to honor each person who was killed, often appearing at different times of day to avoid sniper fire.

Incredible photos and videos emerged from this tragedy, showing a man bringing his bow and cello into piles of rubble and bloodshed, attempting to shine a light in a moment of darkness. The humble “Cellist of Sarajevo,” as he became known, was eventually able to escape the war and now lives in Northern Ireland, where he still performs and composes music.

There is a beautiful parallel tucked away in his performance to the birth of Jesus. To us comes our Savior, shining light in the darkness, giving us hope when hope is lost, and reminding us of the beauty around us even when it is hard to see.

The next time you hear “Christmas in Sarajevo,” I hope you will remember how Vedran and his cello brought hope to a broken people. And this Christmas season, may we be reminded that the arrival of Jesus, our perfect gift, brings us eternal hope.

 

Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.

 

Digging Deeper: Turtle Doves

Avatar photo Lee Wilson on December 23, 2025

 

11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” 15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

Luke 2:11-20 (NLT)


TURTLE DOVES

 

In our house, we do pizza and a movie every Friday night with our kids. We have a local pizza spot called Little Rosa’s, which is awesome if you live near Holly Springs, and we always get the same thing, then race home and watch a movie.

A few weeks ago, we began cycling through Christmas movies. Our family enjoys all of the usual Christmas movies, including the first two Home Alone movies (as far as I am concerned, they only made two). The kids love them, and so do we.

At the end of Home Alone 2, Kevin presents a gift to a lady he befriends in the movie. The gift is a pair of turtle dove ornaments, one of which he keeps and the other he offers to her. He says that as long as they keep them, they will stay friends forever.

I never thought much of this interaction until this week, when I began studying the passage we reviewed this past Sunday. In Luke 2:24, it says Mary and Joseph offered “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons” as a sacrifice pertaining to Mosaic law at that time (Leviticus 1:14).

I then began to study turtle doves and found them interesting. They are called turtle doves in reference to the call they make, which apparently sounds like “tur, tur,” and they are often noted for their monogamous and lifelong relationships. This adds a great deal of context and a sense of sweetness to the Home Alone scene.

At the time of Jesus’ birth, they were considered a worthy substitute for a sacrifice for families who could not afford a lamb. This is what Mary and Joseph could afford, underscoring their truly humble status.

Clearly, there is a significance to the turtle dove that I did not adequately appreciate. As I learned more about them, one of my favorite descriptions said, “Its lifelong pairing reinforces themes of true companionship, while its cooing sound can signify sorrow, making it a complex figure of devotion and gentle melancholy.”

That may seem like a deep description, but I quite liked it, and I love the parallels it draws to the birth of Jesus. He signifies to us lifelong companionship, sorrow, complexity, and devotion. And like the doves offered by Joseph and Mary, he was offered as a sacrifice on our behalf before God.

As Mike said this past Sunday, through Jesus we can find peace with God. I pray this truth settles on your heart this week as we approach Christmas and remember what gift has been given to us.

 

Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.

 

Digging Deeper: That’s What Christmas is All About

Avatar photo Lee Wilson on December 22, 2025

 

11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” 15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

Luke 2:11-20 (NLT)


THAT’S WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT

 

One of the best things about Christmas, to me, is all of the tradition and pageantry that accompany it. The movies, the songs, the food, oh man, the food. All of those things that have become ingrained in our annual celebrations make the season so much more enriching and enjoyable.

One hallmark of the season for Deanna and me is A Charlie Brown Christmas. We may be old school, but the cartoon special and its iconic musical score give it a special place in our Christmas festivities.

I recently pulled it up and read the plot description listed for it, and it was interesting to me. It reads, “Feeling down about the commercialism of Christmas, Charlie Brown becomes the director of the gang’s holiday play. Can he overcome his friends’ preference for dancing over acting, find the ‘perfect’ tree, and discover the true meaning of Christmas?”

The commercialism of Christmas? And this is from 1965. But that last line, regarding the “true meaning of Christmas,” is what sticks out to me. This holiday means many things to many people, but what should it mean to us as followers of Christ?

In somewhat controversial fashion, the 60-year-old cartoon did not mince words about the meaning of Christmas. If you have never seen it, after a myriad of difficulties Charlie Brown is feeling sorry for himself. The play is not going well, leading him to say, “Everything I do turns into disaster. I guess I really don’t know what Christmas is all about. Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?”

Then his friend Linus says, “Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.” He then walks to the center of the stage and reads directly from the Bible, Luke 2:8–14:

“8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Linus picks up his blanket, which never once leaves his arm except for this moment, and says, “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

We have two young boys at home and are in a season of life where Christmas excitement is at a fever pitch. The thrill of it all, especially the gifts, pulses through our house. So let’s enjoy the music, the movies, and the food, but let’s never forget what Christmas is all about.

 

Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.

 

Digging Deeper: Thankful for What’s to Come

Avatar photo Lee Wilson on October 10, 2025

 

“I thank my God in all my remeberance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of you partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ…And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,”

Philippians 1:3-6, 9 (NLT)


THANKFUL FOR WHAT’S TO COME

 

As I began to grow more deeply curious about the things of faith and sought a deeper understanding of Scripture and its meaning in my life, I turned to pastors of note who could help simplify the complex things of God and make them digestible for my mind.

Recently, two of the men I grew to admire deeply have gone home to be with the Lord: John MacArthur and Voddie Baucham. My heart ached each time I read the news of their passing, but I immediately thought of how neither would want lament at such news—for they have gone to the very place we all seek to be!

Baucham even said exactly how he wanted people to respond to the news of his death in a message he once delivered:
“You are going to hear a rumor one day that Voddie Baucham is no more. Don’t you believe it! Don’t you believe it! Don’t you believe it—because though I die, I will rise with Christ. It will not be the end of me, because Christ is raised, and I too will be raised with Christ.”

I am thankful for the ministry and lives of these men. I am also thankful for NorthStar. For while men like Baucham and MacArthur helped guide a curious mind, it has been people like Mike Linch who have walked with me in other ways.

This past Friday, October 3, would’ve been my daughter Roselyn’s 12th birthday. Our firstborn, she was diagnosed late in the pregnancy with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia and lived for 22 days, all under the care of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The night she passed was the hardest day of my life. As Deanna and I left the hospital, my phone rang—it was Mike Linch. We spoke briefly, but the phrase he said that I will never forget was: “You aren’t going to go through this alone.”

Those words proved true. As a grateful member of this congregation, I can say they have helped shape the last 12 years in so many positive ways for us. Today we have two healthy boys, and both are so excited about the future opportunities that await with the changes on our church campus.

So let us give thanks for all the new and exciting opportunities ahead, and pray for our church leaders as they aim to grow our influence in the community. We are thankful for all God has done, and we wait in eager anticipation for all He will do!

 

Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.

 

Digging Deeper: Disappointments Have to Be

Avatar photo Lee Wilson on October 9, 2025

 

“I thank my God in all my remeberance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of you partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ…And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,”

Philippians 1:3-6, 9 (NLT)


DISAPPOINTMENTS HAVE TO BE

 

I have a wide range of musical interests. I originally started playing the bass guitar when I was 15 years old because my buddies and I were going to be rock stars. I still have a penchant for loud and fast music, but over time I developed an array of other interests including folk, country, jazz, funk—you name it.

I love to listen to the music itself, always gauging how I might approach playing the bass to a song, often paying less attention to the lyrics. In the early 2000s, I discovered a band called The Avett Brothers that writes beautiful music—but even better lyrics. Their down-to-earth yet poetic approach forced me to truly hear the words.

They have one song called “Living of Love” where they sing about all aspects of love, and even about the importance of love in the uncertainties of life. One of the verses goes like this:

Say, yes, we live uncertainty, and disappointments have to be
And every day, we might be facing more
And, yes, we live in desperate times, with faded words and shaky rhymes
There’s only one thing worth hoping for
With Lucifer beneath you, and God above, if either one of them asks you what you’re living of,
Say Love. Say, for me, Love.

We all experience disappointments in life, and in those moments it is harder to be grateful for the things we do have. Sometimes we get unpleasant or scary news from a doctor, or we find out our position has been eliminated, or we face any number of trials in a given day. Perhaps in those moments we can shift our thoughts toward love and gratitude, remembering the things we have before us because of God.

We read the beginning of Philippians this past Sunday, where the apostle Paul demonstrates how to be gracious from a prison cell, facing tremendous uncertainty about his earthly future. In chapter 4, Paul famously says:

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:4–7)

The key for the Christian is the persistent discipline of remembering our loving Creator and seeking His guidance above all else. Paul exemplifies courageous faith in the face of danger, writing: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13)

So yes, disappointments have to be. But don’t forget where your help comes from in your times of need.

 

Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.

 

Digging Deeper: Letter 310

Avatar photo Lee Wilson on October 8, 2025

 

“I thank my God in all my remeberance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of you partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ…And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,”

Philippians 1:3-6, 9 (NLT)


LETTER 310

 

Rayner Unwin was an English publisher, serving as the chairman of the publishing company George Allen & Unwin, founded by his father, Sir Stanley Unwin.

In 1936, the company was considering a manuscript written for a youthful audience. The senior Unwin believed in allowing children to read manuscripts before agreeing to publish them, as a way to gauge their potential for success. In this instance, he decided that his 10-year-old son Rayner was the man for the job and asked him to read it.

This manuscript in particular was from an unknown author, but Rayner immediately fell in love with it. In his written review to his father, Rayner highlighted the mythical landscape built by the author—featuring goblins, dragons, and wizards—saying, “With the help of maps, this book needs no illustrations and should appeal to all children aged 5 to 9.”

So, with the encouragement of his son, Stanley published the book, titled The Hobbit, which became a success and brought author J. R. R. Tolkien his first major recognition. Tolkien and the younger Unwin went on to develop a unique friendship, with Rayner eventually becoming a primary source of feedback for Tolkien’s later series, The Lord of the Rings.

Years later, Rayner, now the chairman of the company, had a daughter named Camilla who came home with an interesting school assignment. She ended up writing a letter to her father’s friend, Tolkien, seeking an answer to the question: “What is the purpose of life?”

A weighty question for anyone to answer, Tolkien took his time to respond to young Camilla but ultimately produced a beautifully written letter, known as “Letter 310” in the published Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, which highlights his correspondence with various people over the years. In that response, Tolkien posed deeply rich philosophical ideas around God and expressed his belief that true purpose can only exist through faith in Him.

Tolkien then wrote:
“So it may be said that the chief purpose of life, for any one of us, is to increase, according to our capacity, our knowledge of God by all means we have, and to be moved by it to praise and thanks.”

We discussed thankfulness on different levels this past Sunday, and according to the famed author, our purpose for living is to be in constant praise and worship of our Creator, devoting everything we have to showing praise and thanks. What a beautifully humbling sentiment!

We each have much to be thankful for, so let us show it in praise to the only One worthy of it—making it our chief purpose today.

 

Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.

 

Digging Deeper: Intentional Thanks

Avatar photo Lee Wilson on October 7, 2025

 

“I thank my God in all my remeberance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of you partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ…And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,”

Philippians 1:3-6, 9 (NLT)


INTENTIONAL THANKS

 

You might not know it from the persistent Southern heat, but fall is upon us—college football, pumpkin-spiced everything, chili—all the things that come with it. It also means Thanksgiving is right around the corner.

Thanksgiving is a day in modern times when Americans come together to celebrate the majesty of football and turkey, two things you probably immediately thought of when considering the holiday. It also gives us an opportunity to settle down and intentionally reposition our thoughts to be grateful for the blessings we have, and to reflect on them with thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving has its roots in colonial feasts in Plymouth, and it is mentioned by George Washington, yet it did not become an official U.S. holiday until 1863, in the throes of the Civil War.

In addition to the emotional and political tumult of the war, it robbed our nation of over 620,000 souls. Those lives were lost on battlefields all over our country, including some just down the road from our church at Kennesaw Mountain.

President Abraham Lincoln was known for his oratory prowess and ability to remain thoughtful and humble even amidst the most dire of circumstances. It was Lincoln, at the urging of editor and author Sarah Josepha Hale, who sought to make the day a permanent mainstay for the country. He did so hoping to encourage a measure of unity in a war-torn nation ravaged by battle.

In the middle of a relentlessly bloody war, our 16th president believed that intentional thankfulness could be a unifying force.

This past Sunday, we discussed Philippians and focused on different aspects of thankfulness. The letter was written by the apostle Paul, a man who—like Lincoln—was intimately familiar with pain and suffering. In fact, the letter was written while he was in a Roman jail cell.

The apostle expresses thanks to the people of Philippi amidst his suffering, setting a clear example for us to follow. If our focus is on Jesus Christ and we have a gracious heart, then we can be nothing short of thankful for every breath that fills our lungs.

Paul goes on to say in verses 12–13:
“I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.”

In the midst of great trial, Paul helps us refocus on what matters most—doing all we do for Christ, even when imprisoned. So, whether today you face joyous sunshine or a perilous storm, do so with a grateful heart, remembering that all we do is for Christ!

 

Lee Wilson and his wife, Deanna, have been NorthStar Church members since 2010. They are parents to Everett, Henry and Roselyn. Lee is passionate about sports (Go Braves, Go Dawgs) and has the pleasure to serve on the worship team as a bassist.