A weird kind of Merry Christmas

dolfan · Postby **dolfan** » December 21st, 2009, 7:31 am

Waxing a little philosophical this morning:

I was talking with a courthouse deputy this morning. He was telling me that people in our little rural town are acting much worse inside the courthouse. He said, "I've been around a long time. I never seen anything like it. People are gettin' worse all the time." I had my daughter with me as I had gone to get a document from probate court on the way to my sis-in-law's house to drop her off for the day. He continued, "I don't have any as little as her, but I'm scared."

How did we get on that topic? A newspaper lying on the scanning machine as you come into the courthouse screamed the news: 2 shot to death in Lawrence County. Yesterday morning or late Saturday evening, an elderly couple was gunned down in their home. They never showed up for church, people got worried, and their bodies were discovered when they went to check on the couple. The suspect: one Arthur Charles Moore.

I picked up the paper and asked him, "Mr. Wiley, what do you know about this?" I wasn't aware, but the couple's daughter was standing about 10 feet from me in the courthouse. She was on her cell phone. I don't know exactly why she was up there unless to see the D.A. But, the deputy told me that Mr. Moore had rented a storage unit from the couple and was behind on his rent and they had notified him that they were going to sell his stuff for rent (which is legal if you follow the rules, and even if it wasn't is no reason to kill anyone). So, it seems, he shot them. He's in jail without bond and charged with 2 counts of capital murder. (That part of the story about the storage rental isn't even in the news yet.)

Then, there's the story of the stepfather sticking 30 needles into his toddler stepson to "get back" at his wife.

I hear these things and in my heart and soul I just think, "Come, Lord Jesus." Are you not just sick of all this? No law is going to curb evil. In America it seems law actually creates room for evil (I won't even go into that). We're commanded to overcome evil with good. There's a lot of good that needs to be done, then, because this world is twisted.

Paul, Pastor Gary, Scooter, Shellie, Richie & Dena, Sam & Jennifer, Dr. Ron, FQ & Cats, Tracy, Mr. Danger & Kimmy, Pastor Ron, Paully, dawgs10, onelove, beckrl, ---- and about a five dozen others I know I'm leaving off by not calling you by name, whether in "official" ministry or just doing it because you love God and others ---- thank you. Thank you for being the light of the world. Thanks for making the birth of Jesus matter today. Because, I'm telling you what, if it weren't for your work this world would collapse under the weight of the evil that infects it. Jesus came for a reason, and that reason still rages on even behind the twinkly bells and soft melodies and choral voices singing out. You are living that reason out.

Christmas is not merry everywhere, perhaps hardly anywhere in the big scheme of things. BUT, your lives are indicators of the hope of the day to come when "may your days be merry and bright" will be more than a tagline in a tired old song. So, we can say with faith, Merry Christmas.

pastorables · Postby **pastorables** » December 21st, 2009, 7:36 pm

dolfan wrote:
Paul, Pastor Gary, Scooter, Shellie, Richie & Dena, Sam & Jennifer, Dr. Ron, FQ & Cats, Tracy, Mr. Danger & Kimmy, Pastor Ron, Paully, dawgs10, onelove, beckrl, ---- and about a five dozen others I know I'm leaving off by not calling you by name, whether in "official" ministry or just doing it because you love God and others ---- thank you. Thank you for being the light of the world. Thanks for making the birth of Jesus matter today. Because, I'm telling you what, if it weren't for your work this world would collapse under the weight of the evil that infects it. Jesus came for a reason, and that reason still rages on even behind the twinkly bells and soft melodies and choral voices singing out. You are living that reason out.

Christmas is not merry everywhere, perhaps hardly anywhere in the big scheme of things. BUT, your lives are indicators of the hope of the day to come when "may your days be merry and bright" will be more than a tagline in a tired old song. So, we can say with faith, Merry Christmas.

You're exactly right, Tim. I just heard today that some local parents of an elementary child took suitcases into the principal's office and told her they no longer wanted their child. Are you kidding me? Of course, she had no option but to call DHR.

Thank you for your kind words of encouragement. I, for one, needed to hear them today.

God bless,
Richie

Postby **Pastor Gary** » December 21st, 2009, 7:59 pm

Such words of affirmation can be few and far between, and knowing they are sincerely offered means a lot.

Thank you, Tim.

justsam · Postby **justsam** » December 21st, 2009, 8:50 pm

Tim- in our society today, I sincerely wonder at times how much preaching has become more the ministry of Jeremiah than much else- in other words, calling out judgment on people by proclaiming that what they're going to do no matter what you say, is sin.

The longer I minister, I am touched and blessed when people receive the Gospel for the first time, or truly repent of backsliding, but I am also more and more impressed by the idea that there is just a remnant left of genuine believers in this country, and that our nation's day of judgment is at hand, whether Christ returns soon or not.

God Bless You- Sam Smith

dawgs10 · Postby **dawgs10** » December 22nd, 2009, 10:53 am

i needed that more than you know today. thank you.

Postby **Shellie** » December 22nd, 2009, 12:24 pm

Most kind and encouraging words, dolfan. Thank YOU. Badly needed words................

scooter · Postby **scooter** » December 23rd, 2009, 8:11 pm

Thanks and Merry Christmas!!

Jennifer Smith · Postby **Jennifer Smith** » December 27th, 2009, 3:26 pm

dolfan, thank-you. That thought is very much appreciated. It isn't just those in ministry who shine the light of Jesus, but I appreciate the thank you and it means a lot. Sometimes it feels as though ministry it is becoming a thank-less and dis-honored work.. but I am thankful for God's favor and grace!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year..!

beckrl · Postby **beckrl** » December 27th, 2009, 3:49 pm

dolfan

Thats why I don't read much of the news paper. It's very dishearting to read about this nation and the world's condition of evil. That is ever growing. But we must still run the race, pressing toward the mark and letting our light shine whether by words or deeds. So that those that hear the call of God can response.

Thanks

Jude 2