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Show Merry yA"4! Beaver-Millard Counly Parish of the Cooperative Christian Ministry. Jim Sloan, Pastor The fullest meaning of the Advent Season, and of the "Christ Event" celebrated in Christian homes cm best be understood if reflected in the experience of the "Cross." The validity of ones understanding of this "Christ Event" is in direct proportion to our willingness to make possibly to the unlovely, the angry, the hateful, the exper-ier.co exper-ier.co of "Agape" Christian love; to the violent, the vengeful, the destructive, the experience of peace and reconciliation re-conciliation ; the needy, the poor, the downtrodden, the experience cf Mope ; the sorrowful, the suffering, the defeated, de-feated, the experience of Joy. We talk about the "Christ Spirit" as if it were an object ob-ject to be held, rather than an attitude and relationship to be lived ! We think of the "Christ Event" in history as a thing of the past, rather tho.n an ever-renewing possibility in the "Now" of our daily lives, and that of our society. The message of the coming of the "Jesus of History" and the Christ of our Faith, is basically the same for both the Christmas Season, and the Holy events of Easter. Both the Cradle and the Cross speak renewal, the "Nowness" of life in all it's relationships. They are the Alpha of ohr experience, the motication for our life, and the Omega for life's continuity of meaning, in our faith and actions. Their message is a Love that is willing to suffer; a Peace that is willing in the midst of confrontation to seek reconciliation; reconcilia-tion; a Hope that is willing to get dirty and tired to help persons find fulfillment and to meet their deepest needs, both in mind and body; a Joy that is enthusiastic in the face of defeat, persistent in the face of obstacles, ar.d triumphant trium-phant in its tenacity. Seventh-day Adventist Church Gorron A. Frase, pastor "But thou Eethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee He come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." Micah 5 :2. How clear it is in this prophecy that Divinity is to come down and -J well with humanity. It was this very prophecy pro-phecy that enabled the chief priests and scribes to inform Herod and the wise men that Christ was to be born in Eethlehem. The Divinity is declared in the words "from ! everlasting to everlasting." Paul declares that God "only has immortality," Tim. 6:16. John says very clearly, "He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not." John 1:10. Isaiah 53 pictures clearly the very compassionate Savior Sav-ior the world was to expect. Daniel 8 and 9 give us the very time when Jesus should come, but yet, oh sad day of Flis arrival. There was no room for Him. He was in the world, but the record must sadly be inscribed, "THE WORLD KNEW HIM NOT." Let us ask the question now'. How many professed christians could truthfully say that they know Him. How easy it is to look back to the people of Jesus' earthly days and say what a stiffnecked people. But the only reason Jesus was killed by them was because He came to earth in ' their da'. Let us not hold any bigoted ideas that if Jesus had come in our day we would do differently. "He was wounded for OUR transgressions, He was bruised fov OUR iniquities." Isa. 53:5. Throw away all your preconcieved opinions, accept no delution of God's word, and diligently study the scriptures scrip-tures to see what Jesus really stands for, and you will come to one of two conclusions. Either you will love Him for the truth's sake, or you will want to kill Him. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord! Joshua 2:15. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Bishop Richard L. Jones, Milford Second Ward "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace and good will toward men." Thus the hosts of Heaven rejoiced re-joiced when the Savior was born, and good tidings of great joy were proclaimed to all people. A new star appeared ap-peared and a new dispensation was ushered in. We are grateful for his life, and gladly remember his Hrthd-v. Also the offering he made and the pain and an-Ti'sh an-Ti'sh he suffered for us. We glory in his resurrection and oi'r Pronr'se of eternal life. Mav we extend to all our sincere wish for God's choicest blessings always. |