OnFire Encouragement Letter
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Hi Folks and Merry Christmas.
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What a wonderful Sunday we had in our newly remodelled sanctuary. People seemed very pleased with the changes. The new chairs are comfortable and look good. The new paint really freshened things up, and the new pa system sounds great. In addition, a former pastor, Alan Demond, was home visiting and spoke for our celebration service. In the evening we had a musical service featuring the choir, readings, and soloists. All in all it was a great day in worship.
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We have our tree up. We went out with some people from the church and cut our own on Saturday. Now it sits decorated in our living room. The outdoor lights are on. Jan is making chocolates in the kitchen. We had a fresh coat of snow overnight. Its beginning to look like Christmas.
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This week’s OnFire has been inspired by something Alan Demond said on Sunday. I wish the idea was mine, but it is a good one, and I want to pass it along to you.
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Merry Christmas,
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Troy
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~~~~~
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The jacana is a small shore bird found in tropical areas all over the world. It eats insects and things like worms that it finds as it wades along the edge of the water or in shallow lakes and ponds.
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The most notable part of the bird is its big feet and long claws. Using them, the bird is able to walk on top of floating vegetation. This gives it the appearance of walking on water, and for this reason it is also called the “Jesus Bird.” Check my website for a picture
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Just as it is possible for the jacana to walk on the water and not get wet, it is possible for us to go through Christmas and not be affected. We can be immersed in the Christmas story, and not get wet, so to speak.
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The Christmas story is so familiar that we can hear it over and over and not take in the words. How many of us could almost recite the account from Luke’s gospel, “In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census be taken...” We’ll sit through a number of concerts and services, and we’ll hear the same passages read as they have been in other years. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I find my thoughts drifting off to other things because I know how the story ends. Yes, it is possible to hear the words and not be affected by them.
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We need to be affected by them, however. We need to read the words and hear the account because there are words for us if we are willing to hear.
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For instance, I’m watching the news as I’m thinking about OnFire. The Bank of Canada is warning that Canada is in a recession. Bombardier is laying off a thousand people, Sony 8000. The government is stalled. Car sales are down. It would be easy to wonder and perhaps worry about the future because there is so much uncertainty.
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But hear these words again. “In those days...” Jesus’ age was like ours in so many ways. There were troubles and trials, and, of course, many uncertainties. These are simple words which remind us that Jesus understands our world with all of its ups and downs because he came to be part of it.
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And there is something else in these words. Someday they will write the same about our time and age. “In those days...” God is faithful and will see us through. Our job is to be faithful and to trust Him.
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There is so much in these accounts for us. May we not be unchanged this Christmas season.
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I hope this helps. Be on fire.
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Troy
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OnFire is a weekly letter on faith and character written by Troy Dennis. Troy is the Pastor of Family Ministries at Highfield Baptist Church, Moncton NB Canada. This letter published Dec 9, 2008. To subscribe or reply, email him at onfireletter@gmail.com. Archives are located at www.onfireletter.com.
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