Sunday, December 03, 2006

The Christmas Season


What a wonderful day this has been! It is so good to be back at home in my church. We had Bro. David Mitchell, the Bartholomew Baptist Association Director, preaching today. Both messages were a very good start to the Christmas season and reminders of why Jesus came into the world. He preached tonight on Five Days in the Life of Jesus: from the cradle to the cross, to the resurrection, to the ascension, to the second coming. His purpose was redemption, for which I am grateful. This year I am making a special effort to focus on the real reason that we are celebrating.
Also, Billy and Mary Collins, missionaries to Honduras shared a little of their work with us tonight. In this land of plenty it is hard to realize that there are still places in the world which do not even have pure drinking water and that children are dying from drinking contaminated water. They were excited to report that they will soon be receiving about 200 goats. Makes my Christmas wish list seem petty in comparison.
Then we worshipped during the Hanging of the Green service as we lit the sanctuary with lights, greenery and poinsettias in honor of Jesus and His birth. It was a beautiful setting to kick off the holidays. Christmas is a time of love, giving, and good cheer for me as I remember all the blessings of the year and look forward to a new year. Thanks to Bro. David and all the people at Immanuel Baptist Church who made this day special.

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