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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1988-12-21, Page 4Page 4 Times -Advocate, December 21, 1988 Times Established 1873 Adsotale Established 1881 Amalgamated 192.1 Qy� BLUE RIBBON AWARD 1985 • Published Each Wednesday Morning at Exeter, Ontario, NOM 1SO. Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386. Phone 519-235-1331 ROSS HAUGH Editor MARIO DEVRIfS • Composition Manager «.. *' Itst 81(Af 11 Publisher & Adsertising Manager DO\ SMJIH Business Manager SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada: $25.00 Per year; U.S.A. $65.00 Good news of great jo By Rev. Duke Vipperman Rector, Trivitt Memorial Anglican Church, Exeter and St. John's by -the -Lake, Grand Bend Somewhere in the annals of interstellar space, there is a story about an interplanetary conference. Representa- tives from every world gatheredto report the -progress of .their civilizations. There seated around an oval table on some great space station, the various delegates await- ed their turn to tell about their achievements:One plan- et shared that they had completely overcome disease and suffering. There was applause. Another talked about nding war and conflict. Again there was applause. Yet an ther boasted of a divorce rate that had been reduced to 've percent. On and on the good news was an - noun ed. There sat earth - taking it all in and feeling more and more uncomfortable with each announcement. During the coffee break, the.Earth delegation asked each other, "What can we tell them? Diseate and suffering are still around. War and conflict especially in families are still a fact of life. What can we say?" . Eventually their turn came. The chairperson called upon Earth to mount the podium. With some hesitation; the delegate confessed to not having the success of other worlds. Then he paused. "There was one thing that hap- pened on earth many years ago. It may seem a small thing, but at a point in time, God visited the Earth." There was a hush. Much to the amazement of Earth, every delegate around the table was spellbound by the news. Someone asked, "How did He come?" Earth answered, "Born in a barn."' "Why was He born in a barn?" "Well, there was no room for him anywhere else," admitted Earth shamefaced, "But He grew up to be a man, a great teach- er, and a great healer." " Then someone else asked, "What did you do with Him?" Earth's delegate glanced unhappily around all the faces who were looking up at him in wonder and awe. "Well, actually...," he shuffled awkwardly on the podium, "Actually, we killed him. But he rose again! God visited the Earth!" (Story attributed to Bill ilockin, "God, for Monday Morning!" Is it any wonder that much of our planet still does not recognize that God came to call? The only news briefs and sound bites God used to announce His arrival were to shepherds = labourers working the night shift - those on the lowest end. of the economic ladder. When God visited the Earth, he announced it to the lonely and the lowly. Maybe that's why so many have missed His visit - and will miss it again .this year. God came for those who needed Him. When the angels announced the birth they did not say, "Unto God is born a boy!" but rather, " to you is born.... a babe," To you, the lonely and the lowly, God has come! The heart of Christmas beats for you in the babe. This child, Jesus, is the Christ, the Messiah, the Savi- our, the Lord, the 'one to give glory to God in the high- est, and the one to give peace to people on whom God's favour rests. The shepherds were the first to celebrate Christmas and -they did so because "all the things which they had seen and heard... were just as they had been told." They rejoiced because this Saviour came' for them, for those who needed Him.. • -•' . - 'We should not be surprised thatany will miss.cele- brating God's visit of our =planet. mmercialism is no better or worse today than it was the People will al- ways find'ways of filling their time with other things, just as the •Bethlehemites 'were to busy. God did not come to enhance our joy with feasts. He came to give joy to those who had none. God came for those who know they don't have it all together, who feel the• need for God's guidance, who want God's help to cope with life: When God came, he came for those who needed Him. May you each find room to welcome. the babe who is Christ the Lord, for God came for you. The angel said to thA Shepherds, "Do not be afraid.! bring you .good news of great joy thar will be for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord..." (Luke 2:10.11). ma. ��_� _ _ `fir-��-� �- - Serving South Huron, North Middlesex & North Lambton Since -1873 Published by 1.W. Eedy Publications Limited MC)ALL At this holy time, we extend the blessings of the season to you and yours. May the peace of Christ abide within every heart. Let's have a Blessed Christmas_ Do most of us really have the Christmas Spirit? The answer to that question Would likely in. most instances be, "No, not really." Sure everyone would- say that they have the Christams Spirit'at this time of the year. But, is that enough. We should take time to realize _ the significance and true meaning of the humble birth of Baby Jesus some 2,000 years ago and as we often sec in the many Sunday - School concerts at arca churches, the youngsters do realize_why we celebrate Christmas: For many of the boys and girls they have been taught that Christ- mas is a time of sharing and giv- ing. Let's us adults catch that same spirit and keep it going for all 365 days in the upcoming year of 1989. _ We should all be like children when it comes to Christmas Just remember, it is more blessed tb give than receive. A look at thc basement of the Exeter United Church early last week would give one the impres- sion that arca residents have tak- en that saying of giving right to heart. The amount of groceries; When it comes to Christmas and realize the true meaning...The Christmas Spirit is well and alive in the hearts and cycs or little 'children. May all of us find love 'and hope and pcacc.in the eyes of children and in the eyes of thine who can he like children. Irrdm the ;editor's disk by B Ross Haugh .toys and clothes gathered for the -luron Christmas Bureau was al- most unbelievable. There arc other ways to give of yousclf not only at Christmas time, but throughout thc entire year. flow about taking some of our senior citizens for a drive, .especially when many areas arc so beautifully decorated at this time of the year. We should all be like children ' Unfortunately it is true. that. • many people come -to the end of - • the year and the wav they gauge their success is in the amount -of - money they made. Wouldn't it be better at the end of the year to cherish and remem- her the good things you did (lur- ing 1988 and then the same atti- tude during the following 12 months will make it the 'best vcar you ever had. - Let's take the Christmas Spirit to the fullest and then We can all sav like "Tiny -Tim. " God Bless lis everyone." May each of our readers have a very Happy. Joyous and most important, a•ve.r�• Blessed Christ-' m.is season. The best gift of all All of this last year I have rushed from deadline to dead- line. Obligations had to be met. Many promises and appoint- ments had to be kept. Now there arc just a few days left before Christmas, and I have decided to make time standstill. i refuse to work. i am going to enjoy the season and the people around mc. The children grow up so fast. They'll be gone in no time. These are thc good old days they'll remeMbcr later. We may as well make today as, memora- ble as we possibly can. Christmas presents? i suppose they arc necessary, too. They're • part of Christmas, but - for me - cctlainly not the most important part. i'ma mushy sentimentalist when it comes to Christmas. 1 think far more important than presents is the time we spend to- gether. . I've experienced quite a fcw Christmases without any pur- chased presents whatsoever, and i remember them well. Thcy wcrc times of great joy, of carols and candles, of solitude and _re- flection. Perhaps we give our children far too many material things. We're under constant pressure. We're being bombarded by ads and displays, by wishes and de- mands. It is difficult and unsatis- fying to resist these prCssures. So we give in. and give and give and give again.. - What we don't give enough is -•••••-••••..... -al 1 .m.u. ourselves. How many times do our children beg us to do things with them: "Will .you play a game with me? Will you read to mc? Can i show you some- thing? Will you help rile with • my homework? Will you sit at my bed for a while?" And typo many times the answer is: "I PETER'S POINT • by Pctcr Hesse! Next year I'll try not to he caught in the vicious cycle again. We work hard to produce mate- rial things. Because we- work so hard. we have no time for our kids. Because we have no time • for -them. we feel -guilty. Be- cause we feel guilty. we com- pensate by giving them material things. i3ecausc material things • cost lots of money, we have to work harder. Better to work less and to he i with the children. Thal goe, lor --L—Faiathers and Iathers. --_ _ We have already set up our Christmas tree. Wc'vc decorated it together. We're going for long -walks -together. We watch vid• - co • movies - together. We're playing board games - together. We Visit the grandparents. - to- .gether. Once, a day we take one child at'a time and (lo things on'a one-to-one -basis. It's ixoiu1 1'r'�- full I wish i could makatime.stand still-. This, quieti time before Christmas. This time of peace andcloseness and love. .. Do you have young children? Be with them. Do you have par- ents or grandparents'' tic with them. Do .you know any lonely and forgotten neighbors or friends? Don't send them a card. Surprise them with. the best gift of all - time. Frani: our house to yours, we all wish you a very happy, peaceful, quiet and harmorfious Christmas. • Pctcr, taizahcth, Alexander, Duncan, Stephanie. don't have time right now. in a minute. Later. Don't bug me. i'm. busy. i have to go. 1 have,. to run. Tomorrow. Remind me again cin the weekend." in 10 years from now, Alex- ander will bealmost 20, Duncan and Stephapic 17.. Then we .might beg. them;. "Will you spend an evening at home with us? Will you cbmc for al visit? Will you tell us about your life?".. And more often than not the response will be: "i'm too busy.. i have a date. 1 have an exam. Maybe next week. Maybe in the summer. Dont bug me. F have to run..." I'm going to enjoy my kids to the fullctt during these ncxt few, • days. And thc mkt precious present I will give\them this Christmas is titre, ,