Zetland Park Methodist Church Pastoral Letters
20 December 2009
'He came into the world …. But the world received Him not'
I'm not a fan of dancing, so I sat through the alternative and found myself immensely proud of our local victor …… but anxious of all the hype which goes with it, and indeed what the future holds for 'Wor Joe'.
The "X-factor" had for many, 19 million in fact, become one of those shows which were not to be missed whatever the circumstances and the lady of the house had a leaning in that direction!! .
The 'X' in the title I surmise is the "surprise factor" which is bound to emerge after weeks of competition and voting, and the amassing of huge amounts of money through the latter process. But this year, there was too much of the obvious about the eventual result as that talent was very good indeed! .
But what about the 'X' factor in Xmas?There are a considerable amount of people who insist on using the shortened version of 'Christmas', but I would like to suggest that maybe they are creating for themselves the potential of a 'surprise' coming in their lives. It may appear to be somewhat 'tongue in cheek', but is not the coming of God among us the 'ultimate surprise factor' at this season of the year? .
Will it not be 'the real surprise' to many people around that there is a body of people who seek to share HOPE …… LOVE …… CONCERN ….. for the future of this region, and not just to throw our lot in with everyone else and say 'There is no future here ….. we will become a ghost town'. .
Just a quick read of Scripture will remind us all the even God's chosen people took a similar attitude and 'threw the baby out with the bath-water' when they could not see a solution to the darkest of problems for they were seeking their OWN solution and not relying on the God who gave them life. .
But God did not give up on those errant people … in fact He showed courage and a good deal of determination at the method He chose: an unmarried teenager; a stable with unsanitary conditions and a bunch of visitors the locals did not wish to know; especially the ruling monarch. .
For those who took hold of that 'X'-factor, lives were changed and life got the empowering promised to all who trusted in a God who NEVER gives up and ALWAYS keeps His promise, even in the darkest of all days. .
Jesus came to bring LIGHT TO THE WORLD, let us not stand in His way, but reflect that GLORY; that HOPE; that JOY; that PEACE; that LOVE which is Christmas. .