Pastors' Corner

HO, HO, HO,

Ho, Ho, Ho, we hear this a lot this time of the year and we all know where it comes from, Santa Clause, right. Every time we hear the words Ho, Ho, Ho, joy begins to rise in our mind. For some people this is the happiest time of the year but for others it is filled with stress, depression, high blood pressure, that we shouldn’t have.

In the book “The God Prescription” Dr. Avery M. Jackson III who is a neurosurgeon writes about the treatment of Laughter for Patients and he writes that Laughter will Lower your stress levels, lower your blood pressure, lower depression and much more. Laughter is a powerful thing and we don’t use it enough. One thing that Dr. Avery Jackson says I think is amazing about laughter and our brain, is that our brain can’t tell the difference between a real laugh and a fake laugh.

There are some Hospitals that have begun to tap into this treatment with things like, Laughter Yoga, 24 hours a day comedy channel on the TV and laughing classes.

All this to say, that when we say Ho, Ho, Ho this year there is more than just smiles filling the room, there is much more happening in your body. The Bible says that Laughter is a good medicine and that the Joy of the Lord is our strength. God knew the power of laughter long before our doctors today have discovered this power of Laughter.

This year as we celebrate Christmas let’s do this with great joy, like the angels told the shepherds. “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people” the story of Jesus’ birth should bring great joy to all people. Have we let the worries and cares of this world rob us of our joy? I agree that in these last couple of years there are a lot of things that could take our joy and replace it with stress, anxiety, depression or maybe higher blood pressure for some.

Let’s fight back with a good laugh, make it a point to bring laughter to each room you enter this year. Even if it is just saying Ho, Ho, Ho, when you enter or you could change it up and use something like Hah, Hah, Hah or Heh, Heh, Heh, or maybe all three. Don’t let the threats of lack of this or lack of that bring a lack of joy to your family. Let’s keep our eyes on the one thing that will never change and that is Jesus. Have a Joy filled time together with your family and friends as you remember the reason we gather together this year.

Pastor Bill Cox

LightTheWorld

The birth of Jesus Christ, one of the most miraculous events in history, took place in a humble stable. A few people saw angels and a guiding star, but most were unaware of it or saw it as just another baby’s birth. As you study these events, you can come to know for yourself that this baby wrapped in swaddling clothes was and is the Son of God, our Savior.

“And she brought forth her firstborn son, wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7).

I think that sometimes we must decide if there is room for the Savior in our lives. I think it is important to know that our Savior, Jesus Christ is indeed, “The Light of the World”.

“I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12)

This Christmas season is a time to reflect and act upon the blessings and opportunities we have because of the His birth, His Light, His life, His Atonement, and Resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. As our Heavenly Father “so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16), we express our love toward one another and toward God and His precious Son by giving of ourselves.

This is done by serving one another, by being a Christmas angel in the lives of others.

The Savior’s life was the perfect example of love and goodwill toward men. As we turn our hearts toward the Savior’s example, we can experience the true meaning of Christmas. As we do so, we will find many opportunities to give of ourselves quietly and express kindness to people who need us. We will get to know the Savior better and find ourselves peace on earth and goodwill toward men.

As we search for the Savior in all that we do, Christmas won’t be just a day or a season but will be a condition of heart and mind, and the joy and love felt at Christmas will always be near.

Jesus Christ, the infant born in Bethlehem, is in fact the Savior and Redeemer of the world.

Let us show our light toward others as in Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Thank you and Merry Christmas to all of you.

President Dean T. Burt

Ritzville Branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Blessings to all for the year to come!

Recently in church we enjoyed our yearly Children Christmas Program. It was delightful as usual!

Following the presentation, we watched a short video of a child telling the Christmas story in their own words as adults acted it out. Again, a child’s words and perspective charmed us and made the story fresh in new ways.

It is my prayer that all may here the Christmas nativity story in a new and refreshing way this year. My fear is that like previous years, most people will hear the story only as part of the greater traditions that Christmas has become in our secular, consumer-focused world.

Many of us, myself included, have the favorite decorations, movies, parties, and people we look forward to being over the holidays. The problem is when these things become the meaning of Christmas for us. You see, Christmas only exists because it was a time to honor and remember Christ’s birth. The levels to which Christmas has been emptied of its meaning, distorted, and even corrupted only points to again the need of and purpose of why we celebrate Christmas.

The question that begs to be asked is, will this year be like every other? Will the story of God coming down to meet us, live with us, to heal and empower us, and to save us be relegated back to the shelf alongside Frosty and Rudolph? Only to be pulled down and dusted off next December?

If the answer is yes than you have missed the whole point of Christmas. When we celebrate Christmas, we are celebrating the point in time when God came to BE WITH us. Hopes, dreams, promises are fulfilled in Christ’s birth. Yet his birth is only significant because of his life and death. Jesus’ birth was not just another birth. When Mary laid Christ in the manger it was the beginning of God’s plan for redeeming us in our world of dysfunction, despair, evil, false hopes, as well as our quest for something to kill our pain and fill our voids. To come to us was not something God had to do, rather God chose to come out of love.

Jesus was born and is alive to bring light into the darkness; peace where there is no peace, to bind up the brokenhearted and comfort those who mourn. He desires to heal us, to set captives free and release prisoners from darkness. He offers his Holy Spirit to bring love, joy, steadfast faith and so much more. These are the gifts of Christmas that don’t breakdown or lose their shine over time.

I pray that for you and yours the fullness of CHRISTmas is received, celebrated, and cherished.

Grace and peace be yours.

Pastor Kriss Bottino

From the momentary to the eternal

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await

a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 3:20 (ESV)

As a little boy, Christmas was my favorite time of year. Something about the lights and shiny wrappings made my heart beat just a little faster. I remember counting down the days with great anticipation. I could hardly wait to find out what was under the tree. And I must confess that like most children, I wasn’t very good at waiting.

Now that I am older, I am thankful that my heart has shifted from the shimmer to my Savior. From the momentary to the eternal. From the baby who was born in Bethlehem to the King that will reign forever. Because of this, I am choosing to focus on what God has done and what He is going to do. I am praying, hoping, trusting, and worshipping. Not that these things haven’t already been part of my life; but this season I am experiencing them in a whole new way.

You see, before the earth was created, God had a plan—a plan that involves you, me and eternity. It is being worked out day by day, but it takes time; and that means that we have to wait. So instead of becoming impatient with life’s circumstances, frustrated at what we cannot control, or creating some sort of busyness that acts as a distraction, we can use the “wait time” to prepare.

May this season find us praying for God’s will, living each day with hope, trusting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and worshipping Him with our whole hearts. It is then that the Prince of Peace will fill us with the joy that can only come from Him – and the waiting will be easier too! Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Sunday, December 26th – No Sunday School, Sunday Morning Worship @ 10:30 a.m.

Friday, December 24th – 6 p.m.Candlelight Christmas Eve Service

Pastor Ryo Olson

Ritzville Nazarene Church

His grip don’t slip

Greetings and Merry Christmas from Benge country, “Home of The easy keepers”!

What a year this has been, covid pandemic concerns, and the worst drought in history, for the farmers and ranchers of Adams County. Whenever have seen such big tumbleweeds, some like small trees. We need to pray for adequate rains and snow this winter and spring, and we will.

You know, this birth of Jesus we celebrate each christmas is the most important eventin time, bar none. In ii corinthians 9:15 it says, “Thanks betogod for his indescribable gift”. This wasan act of God sending his own son into humanity!

This plan, ofgod thefather, was to provide a way for all humanity, through Jesus’ life and sacrifice on the cross, to be eligible for eternal life if we but believe in him.

As a farmer and shepherd myself, the tenth chapter of John has always been a favorite where jesus isknown as the ‘good shepherd’. In verses 27 and 28, jesus says, “Mysheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. And, I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyonesnatch them out ofmyhand”. There isa longtime preacher and sheepman, I know of, in South Dakota who said: “His grip don’t slip”!

Now, there is a promise of god we can count on, as we celebrate this Christmas.

Merry christmas and happy trails!

By Roy Clinesmith

God’s Servant, Benge Community Church