GOD Father
Christmas or Jesus? ??Father
Christmas lives at the North Pole... JESUS is everywhere. ??Father
Christmas rides in a sleigh... JESUS rides on the wind
and walks on the water. ??Father
Christmas comes but once a year.... JESUS is an ever
present help. ??Father
Christmas fills your stockings with goodies... JESUS
supplies all your needs. ??Father
Christmas comes down your chimney uninvited... JESUS
stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your
heart. ??You
have to wait in line to see Father Christmas... JESUS is
as close as the mention of his name. ??Father
Christmas lets you sit on his lap... JESUS lets you rest
in his arms. ??Father
Christmas doesn't know your name, all he can say is
"Hi little boy or girl, what's your name?"...
JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know
our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history
and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our
heads. ??Father
Christmas has a belly like a bowl full of jelly... JESUS
has a heart full of love. ??All
Father Christmas can offer is HO HO HO... JESUS offers
health, help and hope. ??Father
Christmas says "You better not cry"... JESUS
says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you." ??Father
Christmas's little helpers make toys... JESUS makes new
life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and
builds mansions. ??Father
Christmas may make you chuckle but.... JESUS gives you
joy that is your strength. ??While
Father Christmas puts gifts under your tree... JESUS
became our gift and died on the tree. It's
obvious there is really no comparison. We need to
remember WHO Christmas is all about. We need to put
Christ back in Christmas, Jesus is still the reason for
the season. Yes, Jesus is better, He is even better than
Father Christmas. SERMON
NOTEBOOK: “Founding Fathers of Our Faith” -
Samuel: 1
Samuel 3: 1-21 Few
leaders in Hannah’s
Prayer Hannah,
although barren, gave birth to Samuel as a result of
fervent prayer. After dedicating him to the Lord, she
left Samuel in the care of Eli the priest. However, Eli’s
inability to hear God reflected a nation that had drifted
from God, meaning that ‘the word of God was rare’
(1). How
can we hear God’s word for our own society? Eli’s
Discernment God
called to Samuel three times. Despite Eli’s
spiritual insensitivity, he told the boy how to respond: ‘Speak,
Lord, for your servant is listening’ (9). While
God doesn’t usually speak audibly to us today, we
can still hear his voice when we read his Word, or are
open to the word of the Holy Spirit either directly to
ourselves or through others. In what ways has God spoken
in our experience? Samuel’s
Message Samuel
was reticent to share the message of judgement that God
gave him for the Eli. However, Eli willingly received it
as he recognised that God was speaking: ‘He is
the Lord; Let him do what is good in his eyes’ (18).
The church urgently needs to speak prophetically in our
nation, declaring God’s mercy and judgement, however
unpopular the message might be. What
message does God want us to share today? ‘Praying
Samuels come from praying Hannahs, and praying leaders
come from praying homes’ (E.M. Bounds). Wisdom
for single parents this Christmas ...love
covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4.8 If
you and your children are facing your first Christmas
‘alone’ this year, you’ll need some ‘ground
-rules’ to help you all get through it. These
principles may come in handy…. First,
teach them to accept change. When we get stuck in the
past, it’s always at the expense of the future. After
the initial shock is over and the anger has dissipated,
step over your depression and start making plans. Go
ahead! Announce to your heart that you’re going to
live again. (Psalm 118.17) Don’t get stuck in a
stage that was just meant to be part of a process. This
too shall pass. Let it! Second,
teach them that past failure doesn’t prevent future
success. We’re fuelled by the past, but fuel only
works when it’s combusted into another form. Allow
the pain of your past to fuel your future with wisdom and
compassion. Some of the most successful people in the
world have experienced failure. This year’s winner
was last year’s runner up. Learn from your mistakes.
Seize the new day! Once you do that, your dances cards
are open, and anything is possible. Third,
teach them to love imperfect people. Love is a risk, but
it’s worth it. Hearing you say that will help your
child not to become cynical. Explain to them that when we
love people, we must love what’s excellent and
accept what’s still ‘under construction’.
It will also save them from heartache if you teach them
that all of us will disappoint each other and that God’s
remedy for this is - “...love covers over a
multitude of sins.” So,
thank God for your Christmas together, and look forward
with confidence to 2005! From
UCB daily notes, The Word for Today God's
Embroidery As
another year draws to a close, are you unhappy with many
things in your life? One writer remembers a valuable
sewing lesson… When
I was little, my mother used to sew a great deal. One day
as I played at her feet, I looked up from the floor and
asked what exactly she was doing. She informed me that
she was embroidering. As
from the underside I watched her work within the
boundaries of the little round hoop that she held in her
hand, I complained to her that it sure looked messy from
where I sat. She
was using some dark threads along with the bright ones,
and they seemed so jumbled from my view. She
smiled at me, and said, "You just go on playing for
a while, and when I am finished with my embroidering, I
will put you on my knee and let you see it from my side." Some
time later my mother called me to her, and lifted me up
on her knee. "My dear, from underneath it did look
messy and jumbled, but you did not realise that there was
a plan on the top. It was the design. I was only
following it. Now look at it from my side and you will
see what I was doing." This
I did, only to be surprised and thrilled to see several
beautiful flowers. I could not believe it, because from
underneath it had looked so messy. Many times through the
years I have looked up to heaven and said, “Father,
what are You doing?" He
has answered, "I am embroidering your life." I
say, "But it looks like a mess to me. It seems so
jumbled. The threads seem so dark. Why can't they all be
bright?" The
Father seems to tell me, "'My child, you go about
your business of doing My business, and one day I will
bring you to Heaven and put you on my knee and you will
see the plan from my side." Blessed
are the peacemakers Matthew
5.9 In
this season of peace and good-will, do your relationships
seem more of a battleground? This may help… The
blessing of God is on peace-makers, not just peace-
lovers. There’s a difference: peace- makers pay the
price, peace-lovers enjoy the benefits. Look at Jesus; He
confronted evil and stood up for those who’d been
enslaved by it. Finally, He paid the ultimate price so
that you could have peace with God. (Col.1.20) Sometimes
you’ve got to ‘make waves’ before you can
make peace. Jesus said if you’ve got a problem with
somebody, go to them privately. If that doesn’t
work, take someone with you who can help. If that fails,
take the matter to the church leadership. If the offender
still refuses to respond, then you must love them and
leave them in the hands of God. (Matt 18.17) Those
are the steps Jesus gave us for handling conflict. Paul
too said, “If it is possible, as far as it depends
on you, live in peace with everyone.” (Romans 12.18) But
sometimes it’s not possible! After all, you can’t
love flowers and tolerate the weeds that kill them. Paul
was willing to give up eating certain things that
offended others. (1Corinthians 8.13) But He wouldn’t
tolerate troublemakers for one minute. (Romans 16.17) If
you want to be a real peacemaker, talk to God about it.
His name is Jehovah-Shalom, which means ‘The Lord is
Peace’ (Judges 6.24). Note, the word ‘shalom’
doesn’t mean the absence of trouble, it means –
the peace of God in spite of it. Be a part of the
solution, not part of the problem. From
UCB daily notes, The Word for Today, free from 01782
642000. In
a word – ALMIGHTY I
was in the church hall office one day when I heard an
almighty crash. I rushed in and found that a pile of
stacking chairs had overbalanced. No, sorry. Not an
‘almighty’ crash. Very great, yes. Almighty, no. ‘Almighty’,
all- mighty, means all powerful. It means “able to
do anything and everything.” To alter a famous song
of long ago, “Anything you can do, God can do
better; He can do anything better than you.” He
alone is truly all- mighty. Except.
. . There are a few things that God cannot do, and we
should not expect him to do them. The Bible itself says
there is one thing in particular that God cannot do. God
cannot lie. What God has said to mankind through the
prophets of old, and through his Son Jesus Christ in
particular, is true. It can be totally relied upon. Like
a plumb line which tells an architect or bricklayer
whether a wall is ‘out of true’ or absolutely
vertical, so God’s word really is true. God cannot
lie. This
is one example of the fact that God cannot act contrary
to his own character. As members of the W.I. can tell
which member made which God
is just and fair; He cannot act unfairly. He does not
favour one above another but is merciful to all. The
Father did not spare his only begotten Son, but gave him
up to death on the cross for the salvation of all who
repent and put their trust in him, so why should any of
us expect better treatment? Nor
is God like a man changing his mind from time to time,
saying one thing today and the opposite tomorrow. The
best of us may let others down, even our loved ones
occasionally, but not our God. What God said to man 2000
or 4000 years ago still applies today. To suggest
otherwise is to say He is not reliable; that his word
comes to us on a take it or leave it basis. That would
mean that we were all adrift, each alone on a vast ocean
of total uncertainty. Many
may feel that way, but they need not. There is firm
ground beneath the feet of anyone who will put their
trust in God the Father – almighty. Glory
to God – in Your Street – and Mine! A
Christmas Meditation by the Revd Dr Herbert McGonigle,
former Principal of It
was 1974. I was Minister of the It
was late afternoon and getting dark. All the lights were
coming on in But
there was something more than just sparkling decorations
in Schofield’s windows. There was a Bible text
displayed! Yes, right along all five of the windows were
the words from Luke 2:14, ‘GLORY TO GOD IN THE
HIGHEST.’ Each letter was at least three feet high
and they were hung inside, across the five windows, to
spell out the words of the angel on that first Christmas
night in The
text in Schofield’s store, however, actually read a
little differently. What I saw was startling. One of the
letters, the ‘E’ from the word ‘HIGHEST,’
must have lost its support for it had dropped down. Now
the words read, ‘GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGH ST.’ What
a text! God’s glory in the High Street! – in
the Headrow in God
came into our world! The Saviour of the world was not
born in a grand palace, or a five-star hotel, but in a
cattle shed in a street in Bethlehem. The Lord of the
universe came into the world He had made by the back door. That
evening experience in the Headrow in Leeds twenty-nine
years ago was very special to me. Glory to God in the
High St! And why not? That’s exactly what Christmas
means. God came into our world on that first Christmas
night and ‘glory shone around.’ But,
and this is the truly wonderful news, His glory was not
confined to Bethlehem. It was meant for all the world. It
was meant for Leeds and for Lahore; for Birmingham and
for Budapest; for Manchester and for Marrakech; for the
whole wide world. The Bible text in Schofield’s
windows lost nothing by dropping the letter ‘E.’
It preached a great truth that never changes. Glory to
God in the High St! and in the side street, and in the
back street – and in your street, and in mine! How
to forget the real meaning of Christmas “Don’t
become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into
it without even thinking.” Romans 12.2TM Addressing
a worldwide convention of demons, Satan told them: “Christmas
is approaching. It’s our job to distract people,
even Christian, from thinking about Jesus. So here’s
how you demons out there in the field can make the most
of Advent…” 1.
Keep people busy with non-essentials – you know that
frazzled ‘build up to Christmas’ routine.
Whisper that they should even try to increase the pace
this year! 2.
Tempt them to overspend and get into debt. This will have
the added benefit of making them worried for months to
come. 3.
Make them work long hours to maintain empty lifestyles.
Persuade them into going into countless Christmas drinks
parties this year – if they make fools of
themselves, it could well do some damage to their work
and/or marriage. 4.
Discourage them from spending any family time do simple,
fun things. Try to get family members arguing, not
enjoying themselves together. 5.
Over-stimulate their minds with TV and computers so that
they can’t hear God speaking to them. If only we’d
had personal stereos on that first Christmas night, the
shepherds might well have missed the heavenly host! 6.
Fill their coffee tables and nightstands with magazines
that talk about perfect Christmas presents and
decorations - so they’ve no time for Bible reading
– to remind them of the real Christmas Present! 7.
Flood their mailboxes with promotions and tempting
luxuries – keep them chasing material things they
don’t need and can’t afford. 8.
Put glamorous models on TV and on magazine covers so that
they’ll become dissatisfied with their mates. 9.
Emphasise Father Christmas and the reindeer. That way you’ll
divert them from the manger in 10.
Run them ragged throughout December, so that by Christmas
Eve they are broke, utterly exhausted, and exasperated
with all their family and relations. Don’t worry
that you may have to give them a day of rest on Christmas
– because the sales start on Boxing Day, and they’ll
be up and out of the house before even you can say ‘Spend!’ Jesus
– the only one to follow? Question:
How can I be confident that Jesus is the ultimate figure,
in all history, for us to follow? The
human race is haunted by Jesus Christ. Films, books and
articles proliferate. Often they present a very distorted
view. But it is about him, rather than other religious
leaders that the debate continues. And ‘deities’
that were huge in their time have all in turn been
obliterated by this one great Name. Even
figures of history only fleetingly associated with Christ
have become universally famous. We would never have heard
of Pontius Pilate – but for the single meeting with
Jesus that made Pilate’s the second best known name
in all history. “He was crucified under Pontius
Pilate” is declared worldwide in churches every
Sunday. Children
everywhere have been named after Christ’s disciples.
“In years to come,” wrote Andrew Knowles,
“people would call their dogs ‘Caesar’ and
their sons ‘Matthew’; just one of the changes
Jesus makes!” (The Way Out, Collins).
But take it further still. Here are some pointers: 1.
Christ’s unique character Few
will say that Jesus was anything other than supremely
good. His goodness was endorsed by his friends (1
Peter 2:22) who had every opportunity to see him at close
range; also by his enemies who could not make a single
charge against him stick. Most remarkably of all, He
himself made the claim of sinlessness (John 2.
Christ’s unprecedented conduct Let
me list only a few. Christ forgave people their sins
– even the sins that they had committed against
individuals whom Jesus had never met. This provoked the
charge of blasphemy, for ‘Who can forgive sins but
God alone?’ (Mark 2:5-7). Further, Jesus accepted
the worship of people (John 3.
Christ’s unparalleled claims Jesus
made numerous claims, including that He was the Son of
God in a unique sense (John Further,
Jesus claimed to be Universal Judge (Matthew Either
Jesus was what He claimed to be, or He was not. No
claimant who was wrong – on such massive issues
– could possibly be ‘mistaken’; He would
have to be mad. But madness has never been attributed to
Jesus. By
the Rev Richard Bewes Were
the Magi astrologers? QUESTION:
This Christmas I’ve heard the wise men, who came to
see the infant Jesus, described as astrologers. But I’ve
always understood astrology and divination by the stars
to be occult in origin. Can you help? You
are perceptive to have been thinking along these lines.
The Scriptures are indeed consistent in their hostility
to all occult activity. (Isaiah 8:19) However,
we may – in fact we must – investigate those
things that God has chosen to reveal, and not least in
prophecy. The
birth of Jesus – and the star which heralded his
birth – was the activity of God himself. This was
nothing to do with horoscopes. At significant stages of
Jesus’ life, certain phenomena featured – the
dove at his baptism, the light at his transfiguration,
the darkness and earthquake at his death, the cloud at
his ascension. These
occurrences attested Jesus to those who had minds to
understand. Similarly then, at his birth, there was a
star. The
significance of the wise men – the ‘Magi’
as they have been termed – is that they were
Gentiles, probably from In
fact he was from their own area, Pethor, by the river The
star stood for regal power and splendour; the second
couplet here is a firm indication of kingship. Further
lines point to the widespread rule of this coming
individual. Consequently, when a special start came to
the attention of the Magi, they decided to investigate
further. 1.
T heir sensitivity to revelation Traditionally
it seems that the Magi (who were a kind of priestly tribe)
were to the Persians what the Levites were to 2.
Their persistence in the search On
reaching 3.
Their reverence for the infant Worship
– not power – was their aim. Simon Magus (Acts
8:9-11) was in a lower order altogether, through his
exploits he wanted to be ‘great’ – and
that is the approach of occultism. Not so, the Magi of
Matthew 2. They
were wise with the wisdom that seeks God, and were
obedient to him. You
are cordially invited to …A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!!! Guest
of Honour: Jesus Christ Date:
Traditionally, December 25 but
He's always around, so the date is flexible.... Time:
Whenever you're ready. (Please
don't be late, though, or you'll miss out on all the fun!) Dress
Code: Come as you are, because Jesus will give you fresh,
new garments of his righteousness and purity to wear. Place:
In your heart.... He'll meet you there. (You'll
hear Him knock.) Story
Time: a step to eternity Sacraments
turn story into drama, they are re-presentations of the
stories of faith. Some actors may play particular roles,
but the drama contains parts for everyone to take. Baptism
and the Eucharist are two such dramas. In baptism we
become a part of the never-ending story of Jesus the
Christ of God. We become a part of what is, was, and is
to be. The
baptism of Jesus in the river So
too baptism starts our own spiritual journey, with water
symbolising death to the old life and arising into the
new. As we enter into the life of Christ the themes of
Good Friday and Easter Day are already with us. We
too are told that we are beloved, that sin is washed away
and love overthrows sin. We too are part of the story
that God writes for us in Jesus. Baptism
means we are no longer an audience or spectators; we take
our first steps beyond time and into eternity. We pray
for the Holy Spirit at baptism, and it is by this spirit
that we can see the everyday world, its people and its
institutions transfigured. We can see ourselves as part
of the story that was being written long before we were
born and will continue after our death and into eternity. Meanwhile,
we experience the adventures of life, good and bad, and
come through them with faith. And with another story, the
Eucharist. Christmas
- Good News! Canon
David Winter, former head of Religious Broadcasting for
the BBC, considers Christmas. We
could all do with some good news, I imagine. Certainly
the ‘official’ news on television and radio and
in the papers is almost uniformly black. If it’s not
wars and terrorism it’s murder and mayhem, and if it’s
not murder and mayhem then it’s the latest health or
dietary scare. It’s a wonder we dare venture out of
our houses sometimes. Christmas,
however, is absolutely meant to celebrate good news. I
suppose the birth of most babies is just that for
parents, families and friends. A midwife told me that
there was no moment in her working life to equal the joy
on the face of two young parents when they first hold
their new-born son or daughter. Perhaps because we have
to wait nine months for the arrival, perhaps because a
birth is still a slightly risky and certainly painful
experience, the actual moment of the infant’s
arrival is always special. Jesus made the point that even
the pain of labour is forgotten by the mother in the joy
of the birth of her child (John If
all births are moments of celebration, then the one we
mark at Christmas is doubly so. After all, it was an
angel of the Lord who described the event as ‘good
news’, and not just for the parents and family. This
would be good news for everybody - ‘all the people’
(Luke The
reason for this was also given by the same angelic
messenger - the baby to be born would be the long
promised ‘Messiah’, God’s chosen one, and,
best of all, a ‘Saviour’. Of course, only
people in some kind of need or peril require a rescuer, a
‘saviour’. But when they are, the saviour is
very welcome! A
friend of mine fell off her horse and broke her leg in
two places. She was lying by a gate in a field, half a
mile from any road. A fellow-horse rider phoned for help,
and within minutes the helicopter was landing beside her
and the paramedics were strapping her leg and giving her
a pain-killer before whisking her off to hospital. She
certainly understood the significance of a saviour in a
new way! At
Christmas, so can we. The world we live in and its
residents need a saviour, someone to offer not endless
questions and problems and challenges but some answers.
At Bethlehem God’s ‘answer’ was born.
‘You are to call him “Jesus”,’ the
angel told Joseph, ‘for he will save his people from
their sins’ (Matthew 1:21). Through
this baby, and what he would bring about through his
life, death and resurrection, the dire consequences of
human sin would be reversed. That is the ‘good news’
of Christmas, which makes it truly an occasion to
celebrate - whatever kind of news the world around is
thrusting at us. David
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