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God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)

Here are some reasons it is okay to celebrate Christmas: 1. The day itself is not really the day Christ was born. Nobody actually has the exact day down, but most believe it was not during this time of year at all. Probably it took place in the spring, not on a “cold winter's night that was so deep.” 2. Diversity over the years has taken away much of the “Romish” flavor to the holiday. Our Catholic friends do as they wish on the night before and the day of Christmas, that is granted. But we do not have a state church. There are so many other ways Christmas is celebrated that no one really thinks about it the way the Puritans did so many years ago. The problem is not so acute because of so many years of varied expressions. At least this is true in our part of the world. 3. God can be honored in gift-giving and generosity as well as in singing carols and telling the story. They’re both important if done in the right spirit. We don't have to make something spiritual out of giving gifts. You may make a birthday cake to Jesus if you wish, but you don't have to. We do need to be Christian, however, about everything we do. Emphasizing the giving part of the day can heal lots of wounds, open calcified hearts, stir up gratefulness, and just be plain fun. God's not against fun is He? 4. There may be better things to be different about. In other words, we might show our radical difference better in the way we treat other shoppers, the kindness we show to retail clerks, the warmth of our hearts, the largeness of our generosity, the thankfulness we express and really feel. 5. There are admittedly some great opportunities to make Christ known during Christmas. With all that is bad about it, we can still make our point. And we will have some sympathy for our message. For years I've led Christmas Eve services, short ones of only 45 minutes, but packed with meaning. The building will be full and all kinds of our friends and family will hear the truth as clearly as we are willing to express it.
Jim Elliff

Sadly, the influence has been in the wrong direction, as we see evidence that our culture has begun to permeate our churches. The church is seduced by the social agenda of wealth and pleasure, and has condoned sinful compromises. There is moral decay within the church, with highly publicized scandals involving ministers, and divorce statistics which are not much better than those outside the church. Think of all that we and our churches would have to repent of if a spirit of holiness began to captivate us. How can America be influenced by an inconsistent and hypocritical church?
Erwin Lutzer

Bible – FREE Online Maori. Psalms Chapter 60:1-12.

Main Index: Maori

 

Psalms 60

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60:1 ¶ Ki te tino kaiwhakatangi. Huhana Erutu. He Mikitama, na Rawiri, hei whakaako. No tana whawhaitanga ki a Aramanaharaima raua ko Aramatopa. Na hoki ana a Ioapa, a patua ana e ia a Eroma ki te Raorao Tote, kotahi tekau ma rua mano. E te Atua, kua pa nga matou e koe, kua oti matou te whakamarara e koe, kua riri koe; tahuri mai ano ki a matou.

60:2 Wiri ana te whenua i a koe: kua ngatata i a koe: whakakapia ona wahi pakaru; e ru ana hoki.

60:3 He mea pakeke kua whakakitea e koe ki tau iwi, kua oti matou te whakainu e koe ki te waina e wiri ai.

60:4 Kua homai e koe he kara ki te hunga e wehi ana i a koe: kia whakakitea hei mea mo te pono. (Hera.

60:5 Hei mea e mawhiti ai au e aroha ai: ma tou matau e whakaora, whakahokia mai hoki he kupu ki ahau.

60:6 ¶ Kua korero te Atua i runga i tona tapu; ka hari ahau, ka kotikoti i Hekeme, ka roherohe hoki i te raorao o Hukota.

60:7 Noku Kireara, noku ano a Manahi, ko Eparaima ano hoki te kaha o toku matenga; ko Hura taku kaiwhakatakoto ture;

60:8 Ko Moapa taku oko horoi; ka maka e ahau toku hu ki runga ki Eroma: e Pirihitia, ko ahau hei whakamanamana mau.

60:9 Ma wai ahau e kawe ki te pa kaha? Na wai ahau i arahi ki Eroma?

60:10 He teka ranei, e te Atua, kua panga matou e koe? kahore hoki koe, e te Atua, e haere tahi me a matou taua.

60:11 Homai he awhina mo matou ki o matou hoariri: he teka noa hoki te awhina a te tangata.

60:12 Ma te Atua tatou ka toa ai: mana hoki e takahi ki raro o tatou hoa whawhai.

 



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