Pastor's Corner; Rev. Bill Cox

Well here we are again, fast approaching the day that we celebrate the birth of our Lord and savior, Jesus. As we do, I know that most of us know and understand the true meaning of the season. I say "most of us" because there are some of our younger children that are still caught up in the picture of Christmas that the world would paint for us. All the hustle and bustle of the shopping in the malls, the excitement of going to grandma's house for dinner, the family traditions that we so look forward to each year. As I even look at my own family I see changes in our traditions, new ones are started and old ones fall by the wayside. The shopping gets started earlier and earlier each year; the children are going to their spouses’ families leaving us to make changes in our family that, I must admit, were not easy at first but now I am excited to share our children and for the time we do get to spend with them.

I hope and pray that in the midst of all the changes going on in the world around us that we don't forget to pass on the greatest gift of all. Our love for the reason for the season is Jesus. Christmas is more than what we see at the mall or in the stores or even than some of our traditions. I'm not saying that all of that is bad or we should stop doing any of it. I just want us to pass on the gift that God the Father sent us, His son Jesus. Don't let Jesus get lost in the excitement of the season; keep him up front in your life and in your mind. Let him be the reason we give the gifts, sing the songs, travel the miles to see the family and just go the extra mile for those we love. Jesus is the true gift that we can give away and he only becomes bigger in our life; he truly is the gift that keeps on giving. Have a Christ-filled Christmas.