Chaplain's Corner!

As I write this on Thanksgiving weekend, it should reach you just in time for Christmas. Already I have been caught up into the Christmas story in a visit to Silver Dollar City, Branson, Mo., a couple of weeks ago. Silver Dollar City, a Christian owned theme park, did a good job of impacting our hearts with the story many times, twice with Bible readings, once with a live nativity. They do a wonderful job of expressing the joy of Christmas with millions of lights and decorations to Glorify God. So you might say I am ready.

The Christmas message is an amazing story of God's interaction with the human race. Besides keeping the world turning and being faithful to those who trusted in Him, God had not been heard from for a couple hundred years. Then when the world was deep in sin and in need of a Savior, all things were in position, and the time was right, everything in the world flowed together to welcome in the birth of the Christ child. The participants included the Roman Emperor--Caesar Augustus, the leading angel from Heaven--Gabriel, a great company of heavenly hosts, eastern Magi (rich Wise men), King Herod of Judea, Jewish shepherds, a carpenter named Joseph, his fiance Mary, and even a star. All of these were interacting, knowingly or not, with the Holy Spirit. All of this with the focus point of a baby named Jesus. The world would never be the same because of this one man's birth. It is obvious from this that He was no mere man, but the Son of God, Immanuel (God with us), the Christ, the long waited for (anointed one) from God. What a wonder of world history we celebrate at Christmas. I know Satan and the secular voices sometimes drown out this message, but if you listen closely you can hear it all over the place. Songs of this message shout through the air. O Little Town of Bethlehem, Silent Night, O Holy Night, Hark the Angels Sing, on and on to proclaim it loud and clear.

Life is back to normal back here on the earth today. We live in a country richly blessed of God whether we want to admit it or not. God's desire is still to interact with His creation today. He does it on a personal level and the Holy Spirit still does the miraculous. It is still through the Son of God , Jesus Christ. The finalization of what gave us the greatest gain, of course is the Easter Story. Jesus was crucified for your and my sin, but "Praise the Lord" our salvation was bought through Jesus' mighty resurrection. If you haven't already, you don't have to wait for Easter to personalize this message. By faith, personally trust in Christ's work for you. His blood was shed in your place for forgiveness of your sin. Receive eternal life, a new life empowered by the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit. May you be added to the scrolls of heaven amplifying the Christmas message. So Merry Christmas and to all a good night.

This is a good time to thank Dave Larson, the staff and all workers for their effort in keeping us informed and racing.

Chaplain Ken