聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 You have probably heard of the drunk who stumbles upon a baptism by a river. The minister turns to him and says, "Mister, are you ready to find Jesus?"
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 "Yes sir," he says.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The minister dunks him under the water and pulls him right back up.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 "Have you found Jesus?"
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 "Nooo!"
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 After the third time he goes down for 30 seconds. "Have you found Jesus yet?"
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The drunk wipes his eyes and says, "Are you sure this is where he fell in?"
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 I am reminded of Stephen Leacock鈥檚 discussion on humour where he says primitive men laughed at someone falling through a hole in the ice. The best part of the joke was if he didn鈥檛 come back up. How far have we evolved since then?
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Surely the crown jewel of our civilization is the birth of Christ and the discovery of Jesus鈥� teachings. We hold so much more love and empathy in our hearts.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 There is a Cloverton Christmas version of Leonard Cohen鈥檚 Hallelujah which includes these words:
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚've heard about this baby boy
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲ho's come to earth to bring us joy
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淎nd I just want to sing this song to you鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲ith every breath I'm singing Hallelujah鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淎 couple came to Bethlehem
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淓xpecting child, they searched the inn鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淪o in a manger filled with hay
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淕od's only Son was born, oh Hallelujah鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he shepherds left their flocks by night
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭o see this baby wrapped in light
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淎 host of angels led them all to You
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t was just as the angels said
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淵ou'll find Him in a manger bed
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚mmanuel and Saviour, Hallelujah
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淗allelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah鈥︹��
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 And the song goes on. And the most wonderful part of Christmas is holding the baby in our arms and in our hearts.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 As a grandfather I remember holding my first grandchild for more than an hour, sitting in peace and quiet, and contemplating the wonder of this little miracle that would grow and do wondrous things.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 And I remember holding my firstborn in my hands and 小蓝视频 filled with awe. A miracle made up of his parents and God鈥檚 marvellous mix of gifts and talents.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 And now we can sit in wonder and awe and hold the Christmas baby in our hearts and in our arms and contemplate the real presence of Jesus. We can enjoy the peace and quiet and think of the wonderful ways we will share this with the world in the new year.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 We can make this a reality. When we share with the poor, the sick, the refugees, and those we meet on the way, then Jesus is present. When we donate to a cancer fund or visit the sick or the aged, we are 小蓝视频 Christ. We help those who we find along the way.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Life in 2017 has got to be exciting. Once we have found the Lord, life as a Christian has got to be the greatest opportunity to serve.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Our job is to 鈥渂ring the good news to the afflicted,鈥� to 鈥渂ind up the broken hearted鈥� (Isaiah 61:1). The world is looking to us and asking us if this is the Saviour. We can show them when we come to serve and not to judge.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 We are the public relations officers of the Church of Christ. So it does not matter whether we come from the Seventh Day Adventist, Anglican, Catholic, Orthodox, Pentecostal, United鈥� we are God鈥檚 Church, serving others.
