I just read a heart touching article about the need to remember persecuted Christians during the Christmas season. We here in America are so caught-up in ourselves that we are blind to what is going on elsewhere. Thousands of Christians are murdered every year in places like India, China, and North Korea. The Christmas season is especially dangerous for believers in those areas. Many have to worship alone in their homes or flee to a secluded place where they can worship with others.

How many people do you know who would literally risk their lives for the sake of worshipping God? Yet that’s the norm for some people. Here in America we feel we’ve made a big sacrifice if we just show up for a worship service on Christmas Eve or Christmas day. Here it is all about us and what we think makes us happy. Doesn’t it seem stange that we feel we can’t be happy by doing what God wants us to do? O how deceived we are!

We should indeed pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ, but we also need to do some praying regarding the poor deluded Chriatians in America. It’s time for us to stop pretending that all is well when it isn’t. Christianity in America is in a pitiful state. If we ever needed a revival it is now. We can sing “Jesus is all the world to me” until we are blue in the face, but it is nothing but noise in the ears of God until we prove it is true.

This Christmas would be a good time for each of us to examine ourselves and give Christ the place He rightfully deserves. We have the wonderful privilege of being able to worship God without the fear of persecution. We are free to gather with fellow believers, let us not waste that opportunity, nor complain about our petty problems. It could be a lot worse and would be if we got what we deserved. THINK ABOUT IT!

Gift certificates are now a big part of the American economy. Along with electronic gift cards, gift certificates represent a growing segment of the consumer market — and for good reason. Who wouldn’t welcome and appreciate a gift certificate to a favorite store or service provider?

As The Washington Times reports:

As you know, dealing with questions from children can sometimes be difficult. They aren’t afraid to ask the tough questions–questions that adults won’t ask. Maybe we should listen to them more often.

I received the following e-mail from Bro. Warren Vanhetloo and thought it might be helpful to someone:

     A local pastor wrote in our paper about a niece asking him, “Why can’t I see God?”  He talked with her about it briefly, but didn’t try to answer her question.  He knew if he gave the obvious answer, “Because He’s invisible,” her response would be, “Why is He invisible?”  In the article, he never did reveal how he might someday try to answer her.  Would any of our pat answers satisfy her?  How do you find some likeness to use when in all creation there is nothing else “like” God? One of the names God uses concerning Himself might be as good as anything we might come up with.  God has made Himself known as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  The word for spirit is often used of the wind or of a breath.  A child can comprehend that a breath is real although it cannot be seen.  We can blow on something and see the result of the invisible breath at work.  We can hear and feel the wind.  Strong winds can do great damage.  We do not see the wind, though we may spot things the wind is carrying along.  We behold the effects of movement of the wind, but we do not see the wind itself.  That’s the nature of it.  That’s what it is and how it works. When a child gets a little older, comparison to radio and TV waves in the air can help to comprehend that something can be real and not be visible.  We are quite accustomed to tuning a radio or selecting a TV station.  The “tool” for talking with God is prayer.  He tells us that He always hears and that He always wants to help.  We won’t actually see Him work or hear Him when He answers, but we will see the way in which He works.  Then it’s important that we thank Him for hearing us and helping us. Sometimes size impresses children.  God is too big for this universe.  He is everywhere present throughout the universe, including all the stars, and yet His greatest presence is outside this universe, in the place He calls “heaven.”  Angels there can see Him, for they are sinless spirit beings and they can see God truly, for He is Spirit.  God promises us that some day we shall see Him.  If we trust Him to forgive our sins, He will take us to be with Himself through all eternity, and we will then be able to see Him.  Now, sin hinders our spiritual sight.  When we are fully cleansed of all sin, we shall behold Him who is perfect and glorious. One special truth needs to be emphasized for children (and for all of us), that, although God is everywhere and is invisible, He chooses, when we accept Jesus as personal Savior, to dwell within each believer.  That indwelling is realized as He is able to guide our desires, our choices, our actions.  He that is the Light of the world makes each one of us tiny shining candles to benefit others we live with and meet throughout life.

Mendelsson it is said, once visited the cathedral at Fridbourg, and having

heard the great organ, went into the organ loft and asked to be allowed to

play it. The old organist, in jealousy for his instrument, at first refused,

but was afterward prevailed on to allow the great German composer to try the

colossal “thunder” of the cathedral. And after standing by in an ecstasy of

delight and amazement for a few moments, he suddenly laid his hands on the

shoulders of the inspired musician and exclaimed: “Who are you? What is your

name?” “Mendelsson,” replied the player. “And can it be! that I had so

nearly refused to let Mendelsson touch this organ!” How little the Lord’s

people know what they are doing when they refuse to let Christ have full

possession of their entire life and evoke the full melody and harmony of which

it is capable!  (copied)

I just read that the New York Yankees signed pitcher CC Sabathia for 161 millon dollars to a seven year contract. That’s 23 million a year to play a child’s game! How crazy is that?  While our economy collapses, teachers are under-paid, and our veterans struggle to get decent health care, entertainers and athletes are paid exorbitant sums of money to do things that don’t really matter. That ought to tell you why our country is in such a mess. People are able to pay those huge amounts because there is a market for their “services”. That reveals where our values are.

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