Minute Message: Christmas

Publication Date: 12/28/96



        Next week is a very special day. Christmas comes once a year

and this year is seems to have come a little quicker than before.

What an exciting time of the year. The spirit of love, giving and

thoughts of others fill the air.



        There are two things I would like to say, first, I hope you

have a joyous Christmas. I hope your hearts are filled with good cheer

and that the spirit of Christmas will fill your house.



        I would also like to reflect on the person of Jesus Christ. He

is the reason we hafve this day set aside. We may not know when our

Saviour was born, but we do know that somewhere near Bethlehem, nearly

two thousand years ago, in a stable, a child was born, and it was

announced by the host of heaven.



        We tend to see Jesus as a baby in a manger. As long as He

remains in the manger, he is no threat to our way of life. We need to

see Him as He is- God in fleshly form. He came to life spirits, forgive

sins, and preach good news. he is still doing that, not as a baby, but

as a resurrected Savior. Reach out to him. He can change your life.

Merry Christmas, and I'll be looking for you tomorrow.



Norman Russell

2761 Broadway

North Bend, Oregon USA  97459