Tis The Season
|
Tis The Season
|
|
|
Riverside Bulletin--120907--"'Tis The Season To Be Jolly"'Tis The Season To Be Jolly
What did you ask Santa Claus to bring you this year?
I hope you were not naughty but nice. Do you know
what's wrong with you if you are afraid of Santa? You have
Claustrophobia! Seriously, isn't this a lovely time of the
year? The music in the malls brings back memories of yesteryear. The
aroma of wassail or warm cider is pretty enticing, too. Though the
crowded shopping centers leave something to be desired, the prospect
of family togetherness is exciting indeed. The impeccably decorated
Christmas trees and the growing gift population below the branches build
the anticipation. Adults pretend that Christmas is really only for kids,
but they are deluding themselves. They can't wait to get their
"adult-toys," even though they know there is not a chimney anywhere that
can accommodate the little "fat man in the red suit."
In Africa when one enters a
village, protocol requires that the visitor call on the Chief first to
obtain his goodwill. After the customary greeting and an appropriate
gift for the headman, the outsider may move freely in the area. An
appropriate gift for him would be a flashlight, a 100 lb bag of sugar, a
blanket or a galvanized bucket. Gifts have always had a positive
effect when seeking a favor. When famine conditions in Palestine
drove Jacob to send his sons to Egypt on the second expedition to buy
food supplies, he suggested using gifts to pave the way. He chose "a
little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio
nuts and almonds," Genesis 43:11. Then, too, the Magi who followed the
Eastern star to the "babe of Bethlehem," brought gifts of gold,
frankincense and myrrh," Matthew 2:11.
Since this is the season for gift-giving and since
you folks are reputed to have such beneficent hearts, please take a
moment to consider "a gift for Jesus." "How do you do that you ask?"
Simple. Give a generous contribution to the Riverside congregation's new
building project. Perhaps you will receive a bonus or a 13th cheque. Actually,
you will indirectly be blessing yourself. "How's that?" you ask. The
structure you help construct with your funds will provide you with a
place to worship with numerous future brothers and sisters yet unseen.
When the cold winds of winter sweep across the plains, you won't "chill
out." When the blazing summer sun bakes the parched earth, you won't fry
from the sky. You will be totally untroubled by inclement weather
conditions in your new venue of worship. In fact, attending church will
never be a problem because of unfavorable weather. (By the way, do you
know what you get if you mistakenly deep-fry Santa Claus as he comes
down the chimney instead of baking the turkey? You get crisp Kringle!)
Though church buildings are "not essential to
salvation," our cultural milieu does not take us seriously as a church
until we do have a place of our own. As Jim Wimbish said last Sunday, we
concentrated on "function more than form" for our
place of assembly for corporate worship. Yet those who saw the plans for
the proposed structure were thrilled and delighted with the "form" too.
Very aesthetic. All this generates new enthusiasm and excitement. Won't
it be fun to fill it!! I would like to predict--it won't take too long.
You just wait and see. No. . .rather, just work and see! We can't do it
without you. Also, never forget to express your gratitude to God for his
indescribable gift--Jesus Christ, the Savior, 2 Corinthians 9:15.
'Tis truly the season to be jolly! I can't wait, can
you? No, not just for Christmas, but for that NEW building. Wow. Let
us rise up and build!
Love you all,
Al --"The Horne of Africa"
|
Copyright © 2001 - 2008
Southern Africa Bible
College - All Rights Reserved
|
