Counting The Cost of Faith - Dec 23

Christmas is just two days away, an appropiate time to reflect on the Christian faith. Some may ask, "Is Jesus still relevant?". My friend, He is more relevant than ever! My pastor gave an unusual sermon last Sunday about the cost of that first Christmas:

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,
In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. (Mt 2:16-18)

You see my friend, it cost many families dearly that first Christmas when a demon-filled King Herod lead a slaughter of children two and under. However, think about this for a second: What if Jesus never came in the first place? Which would be costlier? There is no question that the coming of the Messiah (even if it wasn't on Dec. 25) was the correct choice. This despite those grief filled families who had their children ripped away from them. Allright, so what does this have to do with Jesus' Second Advent? Those seven years prior to His Second Coming is going to be some of the bloodiest and cruellest years humanity is ever going to face. I tell you, I wouldn't wish those seven years on anybody. So why must this all come to pass? I think the answer is simple: If Jesus doesn't come the price would be far, far worse. Jesus confirmed this when He said of the tribulation hour:

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. (Mt 24:21-22)

There is a tremendous amount at stake here. If there is to be any kind of true peace, Jesus must come and be genuinely welcomed with open arms by His people the Jews and other Gentile believers here on Earth. That time has not yet arrived. The true story of the Bible has always been one of redemption and hope, not doom and gloom! Please keep that in mind as you celebrate Christmas' true meaning.

The prayer list just seems to be getting longer by the day I tell ya. Number one has to be those brave Christian souls still living in a Muslim-dominated Middle East. Despite what our 'leaders' tell us, the Iraqi war has been an unqualified disaster for Christians in the region. In Bethlehem, the city of David which was the birthplace of Christ has seen Christianity slowly being strangled out of existence.

In other Christendom news, a Christian couple in Lancashire, England has been vindicated by the courts as British police harass them over their views on homosexuality. Please also remember those Christians living in China who are constantly being harrassed by gov't authorities as they try to practice their faith.

There's always time and space for our troops on my prayer list. Kudos to the Chief of Defense Staff, General Rick Hillier who has chosen to be with Canadian troops in Afghanistan on Dec. 25 rather than the comforts of home and family here. God bless the Queen too (seriously!) as she tips her hat to British troops who, like Gen. Hillier, will spend their Christmases in a foreign land.

As CottShop of Sacred Scoop reminds us, Christmas is a time when us Gentiles get in touch with the Jewishness of our faith. It's also a time of general wackiness out there as some people lose all sense of proportion. One step forward, one step back!

More end of the year stuff from Yahoo News Year in Review and an article from Licia Corbella of the Calgary Sun on what Stephen Harper has done with his minority gov't since January.

I've got three more links to share in international news then we're done.

It should come as no surprise that Jimmy Carter's allegiance has been bought with a great deal of Arab money. As you may or may not know, Mr. Carter was given the dubious distinction of being the American recipient of Jihad Watch's Dhimmi of the Year for 2006. This article from the Washington Post explains why.

The UN has finally gotten up the nerve to give Iran the much needed bitch-slap it so rightfully deserves. The question remains what actions will the Iranians take as they likely won't take this lying down. For reference, see Ezekiel 38 and 39.

Things are deteriorating rapidly in the Horn of Africa as Ethiopian troops and Somali Islamists clash near Baidoa, the seat of the transitional government.

I am excited to announce that zionist.com is once more in the fold, as is DanielPipes.org and HotAir.com. Please use these resources as they do have my stamp of approval. If I don't post again before the 25th, I'd like to wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas. I've got the next week off so I intend to do a fair bit of posting before I go back to work on the 2nd of January. We've got lots of stuff to cover and 2007 is already shaping up to be a year of destiny.

Johnny Cash