| Author | Message | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 2424 Registered: 3-2005 |
On this Christmas Eve, I would like to share a beautiful letter from a pastor at John Piper's church in Minnesota: "Sam Crabtree wrote a letter to our congregation for Christmas this year. I read it to myself on the evening of December 23. Then I turned to Noel and tried to read it to her but could not finish it for tears. I called Sam and said, ìSam, this is a very powerful piece. I could not finish reading it without tears. May I share it with the folks who come to Desiring God?î He agreed. Why was I so moved? I am not entirely sure. I think it was a mingled effect of four things: 1) the length of the list, 2) the surprise elements in it, 3) the combination of global and intimate, 4) and reference to the Mayans no longer sacrificing their children. I believe you will want to read this list to your families on Christmas day and perhaps to your churches, with some tweaks to make it personal to your situation (for example, in my case, I am sure I would not exist if Jesus had not been born because he was at the center of my parentsí love affair.) O that the world would awaken to the greatness of Jesus Christ! May God grant us the passion and the ability to make him look like what he really is, till he comes or until he calls. Glory to God in the highest through Jesus Christ! Pastor John Piper Here is Samís letter: Dear Bethlehem Family, I believe I speak for all the staff and elders when I pray that during this Christmas season and at all times God would enable you to treasure his incarnate and risen son above all else. Have you ever asked yourself what would be different if Jesus had never been born? If Jesus had not come in the fullness of time and been born of a woman and fulfilled the law, there would be no Bethlehem and this staff photo would not be possible. If Jesus had not been born: This would not be the year of our Lord 2006. We would never hear a single Christmas carol or Handelís Hallelujah Chorus. No city would be named St. Paul or St. Petersburg or Corpus Christi. We would have never heard of William Tyndale, John Wycliffe, John Knox, Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley, John Hus, Billy Graham, Elizabeth Elliot, Amy Carmichael, Corrie Ten Boom, Fanny Crosby, Alexander Solzenitzen, C.S. Lewis, Chuck Swindoll, C.J. Mahaney, John Piper, orÖ make a list of your own. There would be no organizations such as Wycliffe Bible Translators, Campus Crusade for Christ, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Navigators, Bethel University, KTIS, The Red Cross, Methodist Hospital, The Salvation Army, Christian Book Sellers Association, National Association of Evangelicals, Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Purdue, and countless others. We would have no such books as Tale of Two Cities, Dickensís Christmas Carol, or even The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. We have no movies such as Ben Hur, The Cross and the Switchblade, Chariots of Fire, Narnia, and scores of others. We would never ever had heard such songs as ìA Mighty Fortress Is Our God,î ìAll Hail the Power of Jesusí Name,î ìFairest Lord Jesus,î ìJoy to the World.î Idioms would never have been brought into our language such as the Good Samaritan, the prodigal son, lost sheep, or any of Jesusí other parables. We would not have teachings that have entered our every day speech such as turn the other cheek, go the second mile, do unto others as you would have them do unto you, and love your enemies. Itís unlikely that this continent would have seen the arrival of the Pilgrims, and if they had come by some other name, years later President Washington could have been King George instead. It could be easily argued that the United States Founding documents would not be what they are. There would be no Desiring God ministries and no Bethlehem bookstore. The Wuaorani Indians of Ecuador would still kill white men instead of baptizing their children. The Arawakan Indians of the Caribbean would still be cannibals. Descendents of the Mayans in Chiapas, Mexico, would still sacrifice their children instead of teaching them to praise the true Creator. Prophecies would remain unfulfilled, the serpent would not be crushed, we would not be delivered, and God would be a liar. Death would not be conquered. The New Testament would never have been written. There would be no mediator between God and man, for the man Christ Jesus would not have been born. We would remain dead in our trespasses and sins, the veil not yet rent. But he was born! May the realization of the sweeping impact of his birth, life, death, and resurrection join with the heartfelt greetings of the staff to bring you a very Merry Christmas! Pastor Sam ------------------------------------------------- Maybe you would like to add more to the list above. A blessed Christmas to all, Stan | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 2425 Registered: 3-2005 |
Here is a great quote from Charles Spurgeon about the paradoxes of Christmas: "Infinite, and an infant. Eternal, and yet born of a woman. Almighty, and yet hanging on a woman's breast. Supporting a universe, and yet needing to be carried in a mother's arms. King of angels, and yet the reputed son of Joseph. Heir of all things, and yet the carpenter's despised son." -Charles Spurgeon | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 273 Registered: 9-2006  |
Merry Christmas Stan and forum, From a fellow that would not be here to write to you had it not been. This reminds me of an old song done by one of my favorite gospel groups of all time ìThe Happy Goodman Familyî. It went something like this. Had it not been for a man called Jesus. Had it not been for an old rugged cross. Had it not been for a place called Calvary. Then forever my soul would be lost. They sang another song ìThe Light houseî it went something like this ìMy mind goes back to that stormy night, when just in time I saw the lightî This Christmas morning my mind does go back to the night when God reached down for an undeserving Sinner. Vestal Goodman was in training for Opera when she met John Goodman and married him; she laid it all down to sing for Christ and they spent the rest of their years singing southern gospel type spirit filled music. Now they both have obtained the promise by faith and gone on to be with the Lord forever more. Had it not been for Jesus this old drunk would have never come to love those precious songs of faith and grace. For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: Isaiah 9:6. Grace on Grace, the greatest gift of all time. Had it not been? Thanks for the memories Stan and may the Lord shower upon you and yours his deepest richest blessings this day and this goes for all. River | ||
| Randyg Registered user Username: Randyg Post Number: 326 Registered: 12-2004 |
River, Merry Chrismas to you. You bring back some wonderful memories from my youth with those two songs. "The Lighthouse" on a hillside that overlooks life's sea..... has always been a favorite of mine and as I was growing up in the 70s when the Oak Ridge Boys were Gospel, they did a masterful job of that piece. The other more contempory sound from back then was the wonderful Imperials Quartet. Thank goodness for re-issues as I get to relive some of the songs of my youth in my middle+ age. I guess we can thank Bill Gaither for keeping some of these memories alive. He has milked it, but it has been a blessing for so many. There are many Adventists who love that music and the Homecoming videos....my mother included...and they note that these are real authentic Christians with a story to share, and with no facades on.(now if they only had the Sabbath) I have heard the comment more than once, why do they seem to be the such real Christians, joyous and happy, and we the Remnant seem so sad all the time? It does make some of them think. Stan, as always thank-you for bringing the above reading to our attention. I recently read a wonderful sermon by John Piper from 1982 entitled "Jesus is Precious Because through Him We Become Authentic" from his www.desiringgod.org website. This is the battle that rages in many of us...being authentic...and being real....it is only through Christ that we will ever have the courage to be real and authentic. It is very difficult to lay aside the masks and facades we wear everyday, and it IS only through Christ that we can allow ourselves the freedom and trust to believe that all things will work together for good for those that love God. Sometimes it is a great leap of faith to be authentic, when we cannot see landing spot on the other side. Stan, to you and Marti...a very Merry Christmas. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 5131 Registered: 12-2003  |
Stan, thank you for sharing the letter from Pastor Sam to John Piper above. What a wonderful list! It's amazing, isn't it, to think that if Jesus hadn't come, the world would be a dark place with fading hope and no Christmas! Remember that great metaphor in Narniaóunder the rule of the White Witch, it was always winter and never Christmas? That's exactly what the world would be without Jesus. Thank you, Jesus, for taking the form of a bond-servant and being made in the image of menófor humbling yourself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Colleen | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 2427 Registered: 3-2005 |
I am thinking of items to add to that list above. I will add one item--If Jesus had not been born, I would be dead in my sins. But, since he has come and has died for my sins, and has been resurrected from the dead, I know for absolute certain that I am justified by His grace and redeemed forever more! This is the joy of Christmas! Soli Deo Gloria, Stan | ||
| Jackob Registered user Username: Jackob Post Number: 407 Registered: 7-2005 |
Amen, Stan. Redeemed forever more, by Jesu Christ's death and resurrection. Soli Deo Gloria Jackob | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 276 Registered: 9-2006 |
Sold de whut? | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 3188 Registered: 3-2004  |
Amen to what all of you have posted. Without Jesus, I would be nothing. Diana | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 2449 Registered: 3-2005 |
If Jesus had not been born, then we would not have beautiful prayers and poems by the Puritans such as this song: "Heavenly Father, Beautiful Son" Father, You loved me Sent Your Son to redeem Jesus, You washed me By Your blood I am clean Spirit, Youíve opened these blinded eyes And brought me to Christ Heavenly Father, beautiful Son Spirit of light and truth Thank You for bringing sinners to come to You Father, You gave me To Jesus to keep And Jesus, You love me As a shepherd, his sheep Spirit, You've given me faith in the Son And made our hearts one Father, You're waiting To hear my requests Jesus, Your loving Open hand is outstretched Spirit, You're in me, You intercede And help in my need" ------------------------------------------------- Stan |
