The Messenger - December 23, 2009

First Presbyterian Church of San Pedro

December 23, 2009

The Messenger

"One Solitary Life"

As I thought about my "Messenger" article for Christmas Eve, I wondered what I could say amidst the plenitude of great writers and the multitude of great preachers at this time of year. Many of these communicators have written beautiful Christmas articles, but none of them encapsulates the humble mystery of Christ's life better than James Allan Francis. He has no publicist, no page on Wikipedia, and no entry in the Enclyclopedia Britannica. Except for one passage in just one sermon that was published in 1926, he would be totally forgotten. But that passage is so powerful that it will never be forgotten. Many versions of that passage are now in circulation, but this is the original text:

Let us turn now to the story. A child is born in an obscure village. He is brought up in another obscure village. He works in a carpenter shop until he is thirty, and then for three brief years is an itinerant preacher, proclaiming a message and living a life.

He never writes a book. He never holds an office. He never raises an army. He never has a family of his own. He never owns a home. He never goes to college. He never travels two hundred miles from the place where he was born.

He gathers a little group of friends about him and teaches them his way of life. While still a young man the tide of popular feeling turns against him. One denies him; another betrays him. He is turned over to his enemies. He goes through the mockery of a trial; he is nailed to a cross between two thieves, and when dead is laid in a borrowed grave by the kindness of a friend.

Those are the facts of his human life. . . . [Yet] when we try to sum up his influence, all the armies that ever marched, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned are absolutely picayune in their influence on mankind compared with that of this one solitary life...

As we prepare our hearts for this Christmas, may God give us a deeper appreciation for this "solitary life" and a deeper willingness to give ourselves for others--regardless of acclaim--until this life is done.

Check out the latest multimedia from The church website!

Here's the link to the latest photos from The Family Christmas Music Festival also photos and videos from the Gospel Gang Christmas Musical.

Editor's Corner

How to stay safe in the World today!

Where IS the Safest Place?

(Statistics don't lie)                                                                                                     (~Author Unknown)

1. Avoid riding in automobiles because they are responsible for 20% of all fatal accidents.
   
2. Do not stay home because 17% of all accidents occur in the home.
   
3. Avoid walking on streets or sidewalks because 14% of all accidents occur to pedestrians.
   
4. Avoid traveling by air, rail, or water because 16% of all accidents involve these forms of transportation.
   
5. Of the remaining 33%, 32% of all deaths occur in Hospitals. So, above all else, avoid hospitals..

But...

You will be pleased to learn that only .001% of all deaths occur in worship services in church, and these are usually related to previous physical disorders.
Therefore, logic tells us that the safest place for you to be at any given point in time is at church!
And . . . Bible study (small group fellowhsip) is safe too! The percentage of deaths during Bible study is even less. So, Attend church, and read your Bible. IT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE!

          Yesi

---

Related Links:

• The MESSENGER's Archives
• e-CALENDAR

To make comments or be added or deleted from The Messenger mail list click here
=A92009 - First Presbyterian Church of San Pedro