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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 19, 2012)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, December 19,2012 - THREE .. .from your area churches The mystery and the gift The weeks of Advent are almost over. These have been weeks of hustle and bustle. They have been weeks of shopping, getting decorations for the big day, and prepara tions for family and friends to come home. On a spiritual level, churches have also been guiding us to prepare. This has been a very different preparation. This has been recalling the preparation o f more than 2000 years ago for the coming of the Savior, Jesus Christ. The Bible tells how John the Baptist prepared people for that Savior. He told people to reform their lives, to repent of sinfulness, a message that is as important today as it was then. The coming of the Savior is a mystery and a gift. He is a mystery. We will never understand his infinite love, which caused him to take upon himself a human nature, to live and to die for us. Yet that is what he did. In so doing, he became the source of hope, encouragement and inspira tion. For all who struggle with the hardships of life, he is there for them, “Come to me, “he said, “all you who labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you.” When the difficulties are overwhelming, he is there on the Cross, crying out “I thirst.” When we have fallen back into sinfulness, he can say: ’’Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And when we have been faithful to him, he can say: “This day you will be with me in paradise.” He is a gift. What a savior we have in Jesus. But for now, we celebrate his birth. We don’t need to go to the ends of the earth to find our God. We don’t need to find our way through profound theology. He is with us. How easy it is for us to open our hearts to him. We can promise to live his principles. And we can love him, the gift of the Heavenly Father. When the Christmas shopping is finished, and the col ored lights have gone dark. He, the “Light of the world,” will still shine brightly. And when the emotion of The Birthday has worn away, he will still be there to comfort and to console, to encourage and to inspire. Those who mentally and emotionally relived the Manger Scene can go forth into the future with joy in their hearts and peace in their souls. Such is the Christmas I wish for each person. Fr. Gerry Condon St. Patrick s and St. William s Catholic churches FBLA to hold Christmas candy bake sale The H ep p n er High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) will be having a Christmas candy bake sale this Thurs day, Dec. 20, beginning at 10 a.m. in front of Heppner Family Foods. The kids will be selling homemade Almond Roca, chocolate-covered pea nut butter balls, chocolate- covered Oreo balls, peanut brittle, rocky road, fudge with or without walnuts, hand-dipped pretzels, and more. The FBLA kids are rais ing money for their regional competition in La Grande on Feb. 7. If the kids place in the top 10 in regionals, they qualify to compete at the state competition in Portland in April. ISH LISTS! ¡¡A/e have a gift re g is try Com e fill out yours or ask to ^ see who we have on file! Try our sugar cookies! We have Poinsettias & Centerpieces] Visit or call our floral department 54l-676-9426j^ LOTS o r STOCKING STITTERS!. FREE G in WRAPPING!!l _ We will be open Sundays in’December? Dec. 23rd 10am - 4pm Dec. 24th- Closing at 5pm Dec. 25- CLOSED Merry Chri§mas] Dec. 26- Open at 8:00 am Li , WeâAina Tabh Spencer Alan Palmer & Krystal Marie Wigfner D ec em b er 2 8 , 2 0 1 2 ^ y'i Djuij. rn U 217 North Main St., Heppner • Phone 676-9158 • Floral 676-9426 Serving Morrow, Wheeler & Gilliam counties Since 1959 Don’t ‘miss’ Christmas The ugliness of Christmas This Christmas I would like to relate a couple of sto “Godproved His love on the cross. When Christ hung, ries. The first is about a young man 1 will call “Johnny.” and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, 7 love It had always been Johnny’^ dream to see a circus. you. ’ ” -Billy Graham Finally, the circus was going to be in a neighboring town. Our society attempts to hide a hideous truth o f Johnny had just enough money in his piggy bank for a Christmas, which, if left hidden, diminishes the beauty ticket to the circus. He took his money and set off for the of what we celebrate. How often do we stop to ask the neighboring town. Johnny returned home that afternoon sobering question, “Why did God come to earth as a but he still had all o f his money. man?” Can we truly understand the beauty o f Christmas Johnny’s Dad asked Johnny, “I thought you were if we neglect to understand its ugliness? Could the “why” going to the circus; didn’t you go?” be its ugliness? Johnny told his Dad that he had been to the circus. He I used to believe that, so long as 1 believed in God and said, “Dad you will never believe it; I was on the comer was a good person, I would make it to heaven. Then 1 met and the whole circus came right past me and, Dad, no one the God of the Bible and realized my definition of good even asked me for my money.” was not God’s definition of good. For Jesus said, “No one Dad explained to Johnny, “Son you didn’t see the is good but One, that is, God” (Matt. 19:17). This God was circus, you saw the parade. Son, you missed the main good, loving, merciful, and patient, yet He was also just. I event.” began contemplating how He could allow me into heaven The other story is about a young couple and their if He was truly just. Justice demands payment for wrong daughter. It was the baby’s first Christmas. Like all doing, and I had done many “wrongdoings.” God called parents. Mom and Dad wanted it to be special. They my “wrongdoings” sin, for, “sin is lawlessness” (1 Jn bought several gifts for the baby, but the biggest was a 3:4). I had broken God’s Law (The Ten Commandments, baby doll. Exodus 20). Therefore, I had become an object of God’s On Christmas morning Mom, Dad and baby gath wrath, not His mercy (Eph. 2:3). I had sinned against a ered at the Christmas tree. The parents gave the baby the holy God, and justice demanded God’s wrath upon my package with the doll, sure that this would be the “Gift sin. I had fallen fatally short of God’s perfect standard. of the Year.” I was not a good person, and, “It is a fearful thing to fall The baby opened the package and took the doll out into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31). of the box. A couple hours later, the parents noticed the I then read how, “It is appointed for men to die once, doll lying over near the wall off to the side. The baby but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27). Thus, there was was excitedly playing with the wrapping paper and box no second chance. My decisions in this life would dictate the gift came in. I suspect every parent has experienced my eternity. I claimed to be a “Christian,” yet I found I something similar to this story. was living a life in complete opposition to God. God, .. I share these two stories as examples of real-life situ commands all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). I ations and people because, all too often, people “miss” realized 1 had not truly repented. I claimed Jesus as Savior Christmas. I am not talking about missing the day; that (called myself a Christian), yet denied Him as Lord (did would be virtually impossible with all the hype. I am talk not do what He commanded). What did all this mean? If ing about missing the true celebration of Christmas. I died that day and had to stand before the Judge of the All too often, we are like this baby; we get excited universe, 1 was guilty and deserving of hell. Like Charles about Christmas but we spend our time playing with the Spurgeon said so pointedly, “If you do not have death unto wrappings, and the Baby gets left off to the side and is sin, you shall have sin unto death.” As harsh as all that ignored. sounded, I realized it was about His glory, not mine (Isaiah The other danger is that we become like little Johnny; 42:8). I had no authority to create a god that fit my lifestyle we are distracted or satisfied with the parade but we miss (which God calls idolatry—second commandment)— it the main event. We tend to put huge emphasis on the was either accept the God of the Bible or perish, repent shopping and the decorating and all the trappings but we or remain dead in my sins (Luke 13:3). tend to leave the Baby off to the side. This is all crucial to understand if we are to understand Recently, I went on our annual quest for just the right the true beauty of Christmas. You see, sin is like cancer, gift for the family. As I walked the aisles past gadgets, in that it steals life from its victims, and is a disease in electronics, clothes and animated toys, one thought kept which all of humanity has been diagnosed (Rom. 3:23). coming to my mind: The gifts we long for, the ones we Sin separates us from a Holy God. If God does not unleash ask for, save for, shop for and wrap up in shiny paper with His wrath on our sin, He would be unjust...He would be bows will disappoint eventually. They will age, wear, a “bad Judge.” Do you see the dilemma? God loves us scratch, stain, fade or break. They may even get lost or and wants to forgive us, yet His holiness and just nature stolen. Not long after the shiny newness wears off, the demand punishment for our sin. Our sin and God’s justice realization sets in that these objects don’t provide the prevented God forgiving us. lasting happiness we’d hoped they would. And so begins the Christmas story! “Christ Jesus Am I a Christmas Scrooge? Not at all! Beneath the came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15). That tree are several lovely gifts I look forward to giving my is the, “reason for the season.” If there was no sin, there family. I’m hoping one will appear there for me before would be no need for Christmas. “Why” did Jesus come? Christmas Eve. But this thought, this realistic view of the Sin! Ifcancerdidnot exist, no cure would be needed. But contents of those packages, helps me keep the material how much more beautiful is the cure when we know the aspects of this holiday in eternal perspective. ugliness of the disease. And so it is with Christmas; until It’s so easy to get caught up in the commercial aspects we truly understand our own sinfulness (the way God of Christmas. It’s easy to think we must show our love sees it), we will never understand the true beauty of the through gifts we buy, but often a warm hug and some Christmas message. Sin is the cause of all the hurt, suf hospitality, time spent together, or a letter detailing your fering, disease and injustice in the world. It is responsible appreciation would mean so much more than another for every divorce, crime, pain, abuse and death. But above coffee mug or gift basket. all, it separates us from God. Like a flower on the surface If I could give you one gift today, I’d cause us both to of the sun is our sin in the presence of a Holy God. travel back in time some 33 years after the birth of Christ. The answer to the question posed at the beginning We’d sit together on the hillside and listen to Jesus teach of this article (why did God come to earth as a man?) is the Sermon on the Mount. We would hear our Savior this, “ .. .to demonstrate His righteousness (just nature)...” say, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, (Rom. 3:25). The genius of the cross is that it can solve the where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in seemingly impossible dilemma. Christ’s work on the cross and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, allows God to forgive a sinful mankind while maintain where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do ing His holy and just nature. The wrath we deserve was not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there poured out onto His Son, thus allowing Him the ability your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19 NIV). to legally dismiss our case and declare us, “Not Guilty.” Perhaps hearing it from the Savior’s lips would help The cross was that one place in history where love, mercy, us believe that it’s important what we treasure. It’s impor forgiveness, wrath and justice collided. It was pure genius. tant where our heart is. And to remember that the objects Because of this remarkable event, God extends forgive we ask for, give, and receive are temporary, just like the ness and eternal life on a conditional basis. If any man pleasure they bring. repents (turns away from sin and towards God) and puts God, however, gives gifts that are eternal. They never His trust in Jesus Christ (makes Jesus his boss and obeys age, fade, deteriorate or fail to delight. He gave the gift Him, John 15:14), God will forgive Him and grant him of love with a baby in a manger. He gave the gift o f truth eternal life in heaven (free of sin). This is why Jesus came. through the teaching of Jesus. He gave the gift of eternal He came to suffer, be persecuted, be tortured and die for life in the form of the crucified and risen Christ. God our sins.. .to save us from hell. The Christmas message is gives the best gifts. about justice being displayed, beauty being exalted, love In the days of the Bible, times of great joy were fre conquering sin and God being glorified. quently accompanied by the giving of gifts. This ancient Let this be a time for us all to be mindful o f the custom was practiced in all nations throughout history; reason why the Child in the manger had to be bom. Let it finds its greatest expression today at Christmas. As we us understand the “why,” thus allowing us to celebrate participate in gift-giving this year, let’s follow God’s lead Christmas with the proper reverence it deserves. Let us and look for ways to also share love. My prayer is that take time to understand why Christmas truly is the most none of you would “miss” Christmas this year. beautiful of all the seasons! Kevin L. Hodges Eric Schonbachler Lexington Community Bible Church Heppner First Christian Church Christmas worship schedules St. P atrick ’s C atholic Church: Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 8:30 p.m.: Christmas carols 9:00 p.m.: Candlelight procession, blessing of the nativity scene and vigil Mass Christmas Day, Dec. 25: Morrow County Clerk’s Office will be closed December 24-26 BL p 11 a.m.: Christmas car ols and Christmas Mass St. W illiam ’s C atholic Church Christmas Day, Dec. 25 8: 45 a.m.: Blessing of the nativity scene, Christ mas Mass and Christmas carols Shared Ministry (Hope Lutheran/AII Saints Epis copal) Sunday, Dec. 23, 10 a.m. at All Saints: H oly E ucharist for the Fourth Sunday of Advent Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 7 p.m. at Hope: A ser vice with carols, commu nion and candlelight Sunday, Dec. 30, 10 a.m. at All Saints: Morning Prayer with les sons and carols First Christian Church Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 6 p.m.: Christmas Eve service United Methodist Church Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 7 p.m.: Christmas Eve service
