CYPRESSWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST

December 7, 2003

PLEASE KEEP THESE IN YOUR PRAYERS:

Our congregation                                                     The Stolte’s in Germany

Our college students                                                Our nation, leaders and military

Holiday travelers                                                     David and Leon in the Navy

Keith’s mother and family                                      various friends and co-workers

Our sympathy to Mick at the death of his dad this past week

COMING UP:

We will not meet on Wednesday the 24^th.

WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT?

“Make the most of every opportunity” (Colossians 4:5).

“It’s a beautiful, sunny, Sunday morning.  It’s warm.  Christmas is coming.  I wonder if the gifts will make it home in time?  I need to mail Christmas cards tomorrow.  I hope we’ll sing some of those Christmas carols that remind me of home.  I wonder how long I’ll be here in Paradise?  I need to get ready for church services and get to breakfast as well.  I think I’ll sign up for some sightseeing tomorrow.  Time to get up.  It sure is a beautiful, Sunday morning.” 

Life is going along at a peaceful and easy pace.  Life is good, or so we think.  I wonder if some sailor or Marines were thinking the above thoughts sixty two years ago on December 7, 1941.  At 8 a.m. their lives were changed forever.  The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and the United States was thrown into a World War.  Over 2000 people died that beautiful, sunny, Sunday morning. 

We like our lives to be orderly and we like to be in control.  We want things to go our way with no problems.  Everything is suppose to be perfect.  No troubles.  No issues.  Peace and quiet at home, work, school and church.  That’s the way it is suppose to be!

But it isn’t.  For “The Greatest Generation,” Pearl Harbor changed their quietness to war, anger and hate.  For us, it was 9/11.  In sight of a holiday that praises the Prince of Peace, the world is at war and people are dying.  A hundred years ago technology and science were the answers to humanities problems.  For us it was the end of the Cold War and peace treaties, mankind keeping its word.  Lessons learned and lessons lost because of all the good things that man has done and sought, sin still enters into the equation and disrupts our world. 

Then there is that thing call a cultural war.  Marriage is being challenged from a man/woman to anyone and anything.  Tolerance has become the national civic religion and Christianity the great evil of the day.  People fiaunt sin and think it’s funny.  Television uses more of those four letter words than ever before and Hollywood keeps telling us it is just reflecting society.  A movie that shows the death of Christ is criticized because of the supposed prejudice it might stir up, but the message is ignored.  Families are falling apart.

Then there is the church.  A place where we should be able to find rest and peace.  No, we are in what some call “worship wars.”  Traditions are being challenged and brethren are tagged with labels.  Elders seek control and the weak are struggling alone.  We want our way without thinking about others and if they are not happy here they can go somewhere else.  We express allegiance to Jesus but do it our way because His life is too hard to live.

And God weeps.

So what were you thinking about this morning?  “I need to get those Christmas cards mailed.  I hope everyone likes the presents I got them.  Did I forget anyone?  What will I wear to the Christmas party next week?  I’m looking forward to the New Year.  I hope the sermon isn’t too long today.  It sure is a beautiful morning.”  Life goes on.  People live and people die.  “Just as long as I’m not uprooted in some way, then I’ll be happy.”

Will we make the most of the opportunities God has given us?  Out of the horror of World War II came the opportunities for the gospel to go to places it had not gone before.  There were the stories of heroes not just in war, but as prisoners and citizens who risked their lives to save others.  A new world was born out of the ashes that sought peace.  So today we face terrorists who seek to destroy us.  But what can be?  We need to make the most of our opportunities.

There is a song we sing at this time of the year.  It’s for those who keep on keeping on in the difficulties of life.

        “O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant

         O come, ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!

         Come and behold Him, Born the King of angels!

        O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

Bethlehem is an example of opportunity.  People left their comfort and sought the King of the Jews.  And as a full-grown Man, Jesus challenged people to change their thinking about themselves to others.  And many took up the opportunity, keeping their eyes on Jesus, to change their thinking and the thinking of others.  Through ease and difficulty, they challenged traditions and authorities.  They saw life as worthy to live because there was something worth living for.  We are heirs to this attitude.  Will we make the most of the opportunities God has given us, no matter what the day looks like?

                                                                                          George B. Mearns