Rod Skelton Echo Chaplain

CHAPLAINS CORNER

MASS FOR THE FALLEN

                 A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

WE ARE LIVING IN A TIME WHEN MANY SEEM TO HAVE LOST THE REAL MEANING OF CHRISTMAS. MANY PLACES,SCHOOLS ETC., AND EVEN MANY IN OUR OWN GOVERNMENT FAIL TO RECOGNIZE CHRISTMAS FOR THE CHRISTIAN CELEBRATION IT IS.  WE ARE UNDER ATTACK. BECAUSE OF THIS WE SHOULD STAND TALL AND EXPRESS OUR CHRISTIAN BELIEF'S AND VALUES AND CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS BECAUSE IT IS  A TIME TO CELEBRATE OUR SAVIOUR'S BIRTH.

IF CHRISTMAS IS ONLY A TIME FOR DECORATION AND FESTIVITY, IT'S SIGNIFICANCE IS LOST.

1. JESUS CAME TO BE THE CHRIST.IF HE IS THE POWER OF HEAVEN LIVING IN YOUR HEART, IF HE IS GOD ALIVE IN YOU. THEN HE IS THE CHRIST.

2.THE BIBLE SAYS, "ALL HAVE SINNED, AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD" (ROMANS 3:23).

"NONE IS RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE; NO ONE UNDERSTANDS, NO ONE SEEKS GOD;...NO ONE DOES GOOD, NOT EVEN ONE" (ROMANS 3:10-12 RSV). THAT DESCRIBES US NATURALLY. WE ARE NOT GOOD PEOPLE, WE ARE SINNERS. WE ARE NOT SEARCHERS FOR GOD; WE RETREAT FROM HIM CONSTANTLY. WE ARE HOPELESS, BUT JESUS CAME TO BRING HOPE. PAUL SAYS OF HIM, " GOD COMMENDETH HIS LOVE TOWARD US , IN THAT, WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US "( ROM. 5:8). BECAUSE NOTHING ELSE COULD PAY THE PRICE FOR OUR GUILT, THE SON PAID IT.

OFTEN PEOPLE SPEAK OF THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS AS  THOUGH IT IS SOMETHING TO BE CAUGHT WHILE SHOPPING. A COUPLE RECENTLY WENT SHOPPING AND FOUND THEMSELVES AND OTHERS IN SUCH A RUSH THAT PUSHING AND SHOVING, AND STEPPING ON OTHERS, WERE COMMON PLACE. THEY STOOD IN LINE FOR HOURS WAITING TO PAY FOR THEIR PURCHASES. THEY SPENT MORE MONEY THAN THEY INTENDED TO. IF THAT IS THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT, WE ARE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE.

I THING WHAT MOST MEAN WHEN THEY SPEAK OF CATCHING THE SPRIT OF CHRISTMAS IS THAT THEY WANT THE WARM FEELING OF LOVE. THEY WANT TO FEEL LOVE FOR OTHERS, THAT INSIDE WARMTH THAT SAYS, " I WANT TO GIVE OF MYSELF TO SOMEONE ELSE." I HOPE THIS IS WHAT YOU MEAN, BECAUSE THIS IS THE KIND OF SPRIT THAT COMES FROM GOD.

THE REAL SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS BEGINS WHEN WE ACCEPT THE BEST GIFT OF ALL, THE GIFT WHO WAS BORN IN A MANGER, THE SON OF GOD. WHEN WE ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST, WE ACCEPT THE GIFT OF SALVATION, THE GIFT OF FORGIVENESS. BUT THAT IS NOT ALL. WE ALSO RECEIVE THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHO COME TO LIVE WITHIN US AND GUIDES OUR STEPS.

IF YOU REALLY WANT THE  "SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS " TO LIVE IN YOU, AND THEREFORE THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS, YOU MUST BE HIS SERVANT; AND YOU ARE HIS SERVANT BY GIVING YOURSELVES IN SERVICE TO OTHERS.  THIS CHRISTMAS LET'S ALL CONCENTRATE ON THE BIRTH OUR OF JESUS, THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL. LET US ALL GIVE IN THE TRUE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT.

MAY YOU AND YOURS HAVE A GLORIOUS, WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION THIS YEAR. MAY GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU. SEMPER FI, GOD, COUNTRY, CORPS. CHAPLAIN ROD SKELTON