Pastor’s Pen Pulpit

Christmas 2004

FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOURS’

For unto us is born this day in the City of David, a Savoir Who is

Christ the Lord!

What a wonderful message the angels sang so many years ago – and the song goes on – vibrating down through the ages the matchless redemption story of Christ’s coming to our world in order that one day we will live forever in His – if we put our trust and faith in Him!

Being the Christmas season, this will be a little different kind of pen pulpit - our Christmas card to the church. I want to share a few things that have been going on in our family this year. God has been so good to us. On Christmas, 1999 I couldn’t get out of my chair. The family needed a gait belt to move me. I have it around the house somewhere as a reminder of God’s faithfulness. I haven’t used it in three and one half years. I’m walking approximately one half mile each day - and this is without a walker! I still can’t stand for any length of time. If I happen to fall, I can’t get up by myself. I expect 2005 will take care of that problem. I attribute my improvement to the prayers of God’s people: my immediate family, you, my church family and my Biola friends as well as others who have faithfully held me up in prayer and how grateful I am.

Betty Ann moved home after my stroke and has been a great help to me. She is working at Brethren Schools in Whittier. She is the school librarian and sings in the choir at her church.

Eva is also doing well. She is 13 years cancer free. Praise the Lord! She works very part-time as Secretary to the Board of Trustees at Biola University, something she enjoys very much.

I am delighting in teaching the series in Romans Sunday evenings – my “sugar stick!” In January I will begin a new pen pulpit series. I haven’t decided as yet what it will be. However, I guarantee it will be something informative and practical. At present I am praying about what I should do!

As I grow older I find myself wearing down more quickly, so I like to stay as busy as possible. I heard one man say that older people are priority people as they have SILVER in their hair and GOLD in their teeth, not to mention the lead in their feet! I try to take each day as it comes. Our Lord Jesus said in Matthew 6:34, “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

So from our house to yours’ – may God bless each and every one of you and have a great CHRISTmas Season.

In God’s Grace,