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J.O.Y. - December 22, 2005
I overheard a conversation in a doctor’s office
between two men. They were saying they hated Christmas because
it was so commercial. It was just spend, spend, spend. People
were charging everything when they did not have the money to pay
the bills.
I was really puzzled by this attitude, so, on
the way home that evening, I decided to see if Christ was in
Christmas in Calhoun County.
I saw several outdoor nativity scenes as I came
across 16 from Big Otter. I saw a big orange ball behind trees
and could not tell if it was the sun going down or the moon
coming up. I decided to go up toward Pleasant Hill to see this
object. Out by the Pleasant Hill Church, I looked over to
the left, and yes, it was the moon - and a very vivid one, too.
Only God can make a scene like this.
Next, I stopped at the outdoor live nativity at
Victory church. Church members were portraying the different
aspects of the birth of Christ. There were angels, shepherds,
wise men, the innkeeper and wife, Joseph, Mary and the baby
Jesus, and even live animals.
I visited a neighbor who has a collection of
nativity sets. One was from a flea market, two were small
ornaments from Yugoslavia, another from Africa, a metal
sculpture from a chain store and a mantel set, which was made by
a friend.
Then, we heard a beautiful Christmas cantata at
church this morning. A young adult class had the ceremony of
lighting the Advent candle for the day. The last candle will be
lit on Christmas Eve. The children heard a poem about Mary’s
Little Lamb. Even in the nursery, the teacher was helping the
small children draw a nativity scene on the chalkboard. The
children’s program will be tonight. This Christmas week will end
with a Service on Christmas Eve.
This is just what I saw in a 24-hour period. I
know that other churches are having special events and community
groups are helping spread Christmas spirit that lasts the whole
year, not just at Christmas time.
Christmas time can be a time of stress. It can
make us bitter or better. Do you notice that when you take the I
out of bitter, it makes it better? Maybe that is what our
attitude should be at Christmas. Let us concentrate on others.
In our church, there
is an acronym J.O.Y. - Jesus first, Others second, Yourself
last!
Merry Christmas to all of our readers! We love
you!
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