Well said Fr J!!!!! May Gods Blessing rest on you and your family now and in the future. Fr Justus+ Fr Justus "Buck" Humphreys+ Director Advocacy Center for Justice APA Chancellor Diocese of the West 3660 Harlow Rd Eugene, Oregon 97401 541-485-8816 --- cranmer@... wrote: > Dear all > > At this time of Christmas I cannot help but think of > the many less fortunate > people in the world who, for whatever reason, find > Christmas to be a lonely, > difficult experience rather than a joyful blessing. > Being a selfish sinner > myself, I tend to get so wrapped up in myself, > focusing my eyes on my > troubles, my sorrows and my misfortunes, but as I > ponder on the meaning of > that first Christmas I can no longer remain inward. > > Jesus came for one purpose and one purpose only...to > die for the sins of the > whole world and to reconcile to God those who were > estranged from Him. And > so my thoughts turn to that Christian Palestinian > mother whose baby was born > dead due to Israeli oppression...that Chinese pastor > who languishes in > prison because he was bold enough to speak the > truth...that African farmer > and his family who were robbed of their land and > their home...those > displaced people all over the world who were forced > to leave their countries > of birth and seek a home elsewhere...the unborn, the > elderly and the infirm > in lands which no longer recognize the sanctity of > life...those who are far > from home and the ones they love because they have > chosen to defend > them...our men and women in arms...the heathen who > have been blinded by the > god of their religion...parents who have lost their > children and children > who have lost their parents...and as I think on > these people, I lose sight > of my petty selfishness and begin to see a little of > what our Father saw > when He sent His only begotten Son into the world > for the world. > > That first Christmas, He gave Himself so that He > might receive us And He > has received us so that He might give us for the > life of the world. > Beloved, if we say we know Him, let us walk just as > He walked and give > ourselves to save sinners. > > May you all experience the true blessing of > Christmas this year and the > next. > > Fr. J.+ > > The Rev. Fr. Johann W. Vanderbijl III, Rector > Christ Covenant Church, Reformed Episcopal > Greenville, SC > > > -- > To unsubscribe, send ANY message to > <faithandlife-unsubscribe@...> > __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com