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| FEBRUARY 2005 | ||||
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| Real Problems Real Heroes | The Best Christmas Ever | Presidents Desk | ||
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The BEST CHRISTMAS EVER |
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 I cannot help
but think how unfortunate for the unsaved to live in the good old USA where
dependence on material things often substitutes for an interpersonal
relationship with our risen Savior. It is that very dependence which locks
many Americans out of the saving grace of our Lord. Even the saved Christian
struggles with this problem here at home. Before our group went to Colombia
in December, many people expressed shock that we would spend Christmas in a
third world country. Some of our church friends felt that we were making
some big sacrifice, somehow giving up the things which mean so much at
Christmastime in America. As for my own family, we had agreed to forgo any
gift exchange this year in hopes of more fully understanding the
significance of the birth of Jesus and join with His ministry of reaching
out to the sick, lost, poor, downtrodden, forgotten, mentally ill, lonely,
displaced, and even the rich citizens of Colombia. |
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| I was struck by how open and interested the people in Colombia appear to be regarding the Gospel of Jesus. There seems to be a hunger in this land that exceeds anything I have seen in the States. I think it has to do with the basic needs of the people in general. God watches out for the needy. In Colombia the Gospel is really working. Individuals would go out of their way to let us know that they have been a Christian for 2, 3 or 4 years. | ||
| What we did in Colombia was really not very notable (in spite of the fact that it was fun and very fulfilling) but what God is doing there is beyond the realm of anything which we can dream about. My love for the people of God in Colombia has been stretched to the point where I have been challenged to make some lifestyle changes which actually might affect my family in the area of finances. What I find interesting is that our family is ready to adjust. | ||
| My two daughters attended a New Year's Eve Party with many of their Christian friends after we got home. They said that some of their friends were complaining about what they got for Christmas (color was wrong or the brand was wrong or it was too big or too small, etc.). My daughters told their friends that they had just had the best Christmas ever. I don't think they had a friend there who would not have wanted to trade places with them. | ||
| If you are reading this and have teenage children, maybe you would consider a trip like this as an alternative to your traditional Christmas. If you are interested in seeing changes in your family, I would challenge you to consider such. I am not surprised to find that the greatest blessings from this trip appear to be brought back with us to the States—our hearts are changed. I think I can speak on behalf of all twenty-three of us who went down there in saying that we feel like we have received much more than we gave. Really that is a no brainer. | ||
By Byron Fox |
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