Pastor’s Pen Pulpit Christmas Day

December 25, 2005

FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOUR HOUSE

CHRISTMAS – 2005

Galatians 4:4-7

“But when the fulness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba Father!’ Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God .”

This is the season of the year we are celebrating the “Fulness of the time,” and the shopping centers are making the most of it, too!

Eva and I have had a wonderful year in the Lord. Our situation changed a bit when our youngest son, Philip, and his seven-year-old daughter, Camille, came to live with us. Philip worked for a concrete construction company in Redding for several years. But the heavy lifting got the better of him so he had to begin a search for another line of work. It was hard to begin searching for a new niche in life however he has always wanted to be involved in dentistry. Our daughter Sherry was a registered, licensed dental assistant for some years before beginning her singing career. So Phil came down and enrolled in a dental assistant program. He is now in the process of preparing to get his licensure in that area. Camille is in the second grade and is attending a public school near us. She also is a double handfull and we love her dearly.

Also this year Betty Ann began teaching sixth grade at Brethren schools in Whittier….a new experience for her also but she loves it. In addition she is teaching voice lessons twice a week. This seems to be where her heart is.

We had a nice trip to Washington state this past summer and enjoyed our kids and grandchildren very much.

Our church family has been a tripple blessing to Eva and me this year. We thank you so much for all the support you our church family has so graciously given to us. We thank God for allowing us to minister to you in so many ways. I thought my ministry was finished when I had my stroke but God has shown me just how wrong I was. A verse that has meant much to me this year is Philippians 1:6 “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Here in this one verse we have the tenses of our salvation:

1. Past tense– “He who began a good work in you.” This is the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross in our behalf – and the Holy Spirit applying the benefits of that work in our life.

2. Present tense – “will perfect it until…” The Holy Spirit’s present sanctifying work in our life - cf Phil 2:12, 13.

3. Future tense – “ the day of Christ Jesus.” When we shall be like Him at the redemption of our bodies – cf Phil 3:20, 21.

As you know I began doing my weekly pen pulpit in the Epistle to the Romans in 2005. I thank God for the responses I’m getting – and for the opportunities I’ve had to preach twice on Sunday mornings and several times on Sunday evenings. It gives me an outlet and hopefully provides some spiritual food for the Sunday night folk.

Well, this is our official Christmas letter to the flock at CGBC Long Beach. God bless and hope each of you have a wonderful Christmas and a spiritually prosperous 2006.

Pastor Charles and Eva