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Articles from this month's issue of the Berean News |
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Behold the Beauty of Heaven and Earth Heaven and earth and all creation At nature's wonders all around Behold the astounding beauty of skies and seas Majestic mountains with peaks that reach the sky Behold the beauty of a sunset as evening tides Behold the beauty of clouds gently floating by Did you ever gaze upon a shining star? But if we look beyond it, what do we see? Then morning rays of light piercing from the skies How happy it makes me feel to see the sun shine
bright Behold the beauty of gardens well-tended with care Flowers of all sorts for me and you Behold the gentle winds whispering in the breeze Behold the raindrops that replenish the earth and
trees Behold the magnificent whiteness of a winter storm Such exquisite lacework on every single flake The wonders of seeing nature's beauty unfold The beauty of heaven and earth is so very grand So now we lift our hearts in praise For through His handiwork that we can see --Alice Gmiterek |
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Perspective This is the December issue of the Berean News, so I should be writing about Christmas or the New Year, but I'd like to share a story with you instead. Actually, this story does have Christmas and New Year relevance, but first the story. It was told many years ago by theologian Myron Augsburger. A man was diligently working at his desk in his sixth-floor office when he realized that he was struggling to see what he was doing. He looked up and, sure enough, the seven-foot fluorescent light bulb above his desk was not producing any light. Calling maintenance produced no help, so he scrambled up on his desk and took a closer look. The tube was clearly burned out. He very carefully unscrewed it and took it down. He then measured its length and walked down to the hardware store a couple blocks away. The store had what he thought he needed - so he bought it, took it back to his office, climbed back up on his desk, screwed the new bulb in, and his office was immediately flooded with light. The man had a good feeling of accomplishment and worked productively the rest of the day. At five o-clock he was getting ready to leave. Just before walking out the door, he noticed the burned-out fluorescent bulb standing forlornly in the corner where he had leaned it. He didn't think it was a good idea to leave it there, so he impulsively took it with him. He thought he remembered a construction site near his house with a large dumpster in front of it where he could deposit the burned-out bulb. So the man carried the seven -foot tube down the street, into the subway station, and onto the train. But he realized he would have trouble sitting down with the long tube in his hand. He therefore remained standing holding the tube upright. As the train went further, it began to get crowded. All the seats were taken and people were forced to stand. At the next stop a large number of additional people got on and four of them grabbed hold of the tube the man was holding. Now what? Pretty soon it occurred to him that all he needed to do was get off at his stop and leave the "pole." And that's exactly what he did. I don't know about you, but I really have to smile as I think of the last person left holding onto that wobbly "pole." When a number of people all have grabbed hold of something, it often looks as if it really can hold us up. But don't count on it. And the last person left holding on often looks and feels foolish. In our lives, there is only one who can really hold us up. He is the one whose birth we celebrate at Christmas. We need to learn not to cling to anything else. He is the only one who can bring real stability and meaning to our lives. And even when we stumble, make bad errors of judgment, or outright sin, he has provided the only means of forgiveness. Too often we hold on to things of this world that appear to burn brightly. But eventually they burn out and we are left with insufficient light. We find ourselves foolishly clinging to little more than a burned-out light bulb. We need to let go of all but Christ. He is the only one who can faithfully hold us up throughout our lives. He is the true light of the world and of our individual lives. This Christmas take the time to think deeply about what you are holding on to in your life. Appreciate and thank God for the gift He gave us in and through His son. And resolve for the new year to accept the gift of Jesus Christ more fully. Cling to him only and watch him light up your life, and your eternal future. No more burned-out light bulbs. -Larry Urbaniak |
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A Daughter's Heart This December, each sermon from one of our elders will be on the topic of one of the women from the New Testament. The four women that will be covered are Salome, Mary Magdalene, Elizabeth, and Mary, mother of Jesus. I look forward to learning more about their inspiring lives. However, the New Testament woman who is the most inspiring to me is Dorcas. Do you remember the story? It's in Acts 9:36-42: "In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!" Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord." There are many things about this account that inspire me, but perhaps those who know me will be able to guess what draws me to this woman: she was a seamstress. I grew up watching my mother do amazing things with fabric, scissors, and a sewing machine. Though I didn't begin sewing until I had children, I found I already knew a lot about it, and it was a fulfilling and useful occupation. I enjoyed making things for my family and myself, and especially gifts for loved ones. Some years later, I made my first quilt. I have made countless quilts since then, and I currently teach beginning quilting classes at a local quilt shop. Maybe now you can understand why I am impressed with this story. The widows of Joppa loved Dorcas so much because she had helped them by making them clothes to wear and doing good. They were so distraught at her death that the believers sent for Peter, who was in a nearby town. Can you imagine the rejoicing on their part after she was raised? What a witness to God's love she was, and continued to be, I'm sure! No wonder many were converted. Luke called her a disciple. It seems to me it wasn't because of her great intellect, or intricate knowledge of the Scriptures, or high position in the church, or ability to lead or preach, or great wealth, though she may have had any or all of these attributes. I think she was recognized as a disciple because she devoted her life to following the example of Christ by spreading God's love to those around her. She used her abilities and opportunities to bless others. For the past few years, my major goal has been to become a better disciple of Jesus Christ. The Lord has been gracious to me, and through several accountability groups, he has added some valuable spiritual disciplines to my daily life. I pray they are having the desired effect. As I look back, I can see how far the Lord has brought me, even though I know I still have a long way to go. If, by the end of my course, someone can honestly call me a disciple, and my life can be the same witness to God's love that Dorcas' life was, what better praise could I want? --Lynnette Larson |
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Roy's Reflections I recently read about an event that occurred some years ago on a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the lake behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore. His mother was in the house looking out the window and she saw the two as they swam closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him. From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to be driving by, hearing her screams, he raced from his truck with rifle in hand, took aim and shot the alligator. Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his mother's fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved so dearly. The newspaper reporter, who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, "But look at my arms I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my mom wouldn't let go." You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, or anything quite so dramatic. But, the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, Brethren, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you. Scripture teaches that God proved His abundant love for us by sending His one and only Son into the world to be an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1st John 4: 9-10). If you have God's gift of Christ in your life, you have become a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril, and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That's when the tug-o-war begins, and if you have the scars of His love on your arms be very, very grateful. He did not - and will not - let you go. Life is a very precious gift of God; so precious that it's only given to us moment by moment. So use your gift very wisely. Happy Birthday Jesus. --Roy R. Boswell |
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Q: What is your favorite family tradition for Christmas? |
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Sarah My Aunt [Charmaine] makes Bohemian dumplings which was a recipe from her grandma. They're just the best, and I always look forward to them. |
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Joe During the Christmas season, Jackie and I go to the Walnut Room for breakfast, then look at all the decorations downtown. |
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Karyn My mom will run around the house on Christmas morning saying "This is the day that the Lord hath made" in a bellowing voice. |
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