Calvin Synod Herald, 2004 (105. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2004-11-01 / 11-12. szám
11 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD How are we saved? By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast is the biblical answer. It doesn’t need debate it needs believing and the active living of the holy life the believer is called to. God has spoken and so it is. As Paul writes in Romans 3:4, “Let God be true and all men liars.” It is only then we are justified in our words and found righteous when judged. It is God who elects, calls, justifies, sanctifies and glorifies. The effort of any to prove otherwise is pure vanity and an affront to the sovereignty of God and the Reformed faith. Dr. Chuck Baynard Clover, South Carolina The First Christmas (Continued from page 7) us all in some way, that just as Jesus loved the whole world, he loved each of us individually. Why were those Christmases different? How could a Christmas in a refugee camp, in the midst of abject poverty, in a strange land, be better than Christmas in millions of homes today? Because Christmas was a time of celebration of what we had; family, love, sharing. A time of celebration for the loving God who provided all this for us - a time set aside for Him who was part of our family, our everyday lives. And Christmas was a time of thanks, a time of gratefulness for the generosity and blessings of God, both directly from HIM and through our families. Christmas was the CELEBRATION of the coming of Him with whom we lived all year. The myth of Santa does none of these things; its effect “ungrateful” because of what we want but don’t get. Love becomes “love of things,” not Christian love for one another. Celebration means a party, with gifts, guests, and alcohol. Grateful is what we feel when everyone has finally gone home. These are the adopted customs of our Babylon. And we wonder why Christmas is different. Seated around the Christmas tree, this year our Christmas will again start with the second chapter of Luke’s gospel, and then we’ll sing about the angels coming, and of that “silent night” of so many years ago. And then we’ll give thanks to Jesus for being with us in those refugee camps with our parents, and for all the years in between, and ask him to stay with us while we are on our pilgrimage in this world. And we’ll turn to the tree, decorated with the shining stars of Christmas Past and Christmas Present, and celebrate His presence by sharing with each other little gifts He gave us. And hope that these moments will be the “stars” that our children will see on their trees in their Christmas yet to come. Rt. Rev. Karl Ludwig Hungarian Reformed Church Whiting, Indiana JessicaD. Molnár wrote the poem, “I am a Dream”. She is 13years old and attends Crossroads-North School in South Brunswick, NJ. Her parents are John and Karen Molnár. Jessica also is the granddaughter of Professor August J. Molnár, president of the American Hungarian Foundation. Jessica Molnár I Am A Dream I am a Dream Your innermost thoughts are expressed in me. I am the one That when you wake up in the mornig, You hope that what you Have dreamed about Will come true. I am a dream. That Slowly Painlessly Will leave you at times. I am the only one That knows your Wonderful Secrets. I am a dream. Who will cry with you When something happens. 1 can be evil But I am mostly Lovely. Sometimes when you are lonely, You think of me. I am a dream. If only I could express My feelings and emotions to you As you express yours to me. When you get into bed at night, I say, “Go ahead, express away. ” I ama dream. I am the one Who wishes you luck, Or love to come your way, Or even a nightmare. Or even your true wishes. I am a dream. At night I let you drift away. When you are sleeping, You fall into the hands of me. I am a dream With one goal, To make whatever you wish for come True. r
