The Cordova daily times., 1918-12-24

SPIRIT PORTRAYED
 IN SERMON

NN 'hi ii9til"S SelllIpl DiSeu OH tOI' 9:15. Read Luke 3:1-20. Written
 by Rev. A. G. Shriver. pastor Pres byterian church.)
 Thanks be unto God for his un- speakable gift" Gods great gift to the world was his Son, Jesus Christ, whose birthday we celebrate on Dec. 25 It is the greatest event in all history. Individuals and natio?s vie with each other to do 1t homage and all ranks and clasSes of men hold it in loving remembrance. It's anni- vcrsary has made childhood happier, manhood stronger in the added joys of the family. and old age brighter with i;s setting sun.
 It will be the first Christmas for four years that the peal of the Christ mas bells has not been drowned by the roar of cannon and the moaning of the dying. We may truly say Peace on earth and good will to man." Never were we more in love with the spirit Of Christmas than now; never was it more welcomed than this season. Christmas and unselfishness are sy- nonymous. Thougthfulness of others comfort and joy is the seasons key note. This year our thoughts must go beyond our own firesidc to the men in uniform, who are away from home, many for the first time. Christmas cheer they must have and in abun- dance. In times past we gave small gifts and within limited area. This year finds us giving large gifts to our allies. to our country and to God. The Red Cross kept the Christmas Now let us put the Christian spirit into the Red Cross for another year.
 This beautiful Christmas spirit came to us from God, who t2ught us the joy and beauty of giving of pre- and only gift-his Son-to save men from their sins. The wise men from the East caught the spirit and brought gold, frankinCense and myrrh to the Chrst-child, When Christ gave Himself in service to man He taught ns how to enhance the value of our gifts. God gave his best gift his Son. The magi gave gold. which represented the wealth Of the world. and that should be given to Christ by all of us; they offered franklin cense, which represented worship, and that should be given to Christ by all of us; and they brought myrrh to Christ. which represented the sor- rows and these should be brought to Christ by all of us in order that He may comfort and strengthen us in our trials.
 Gods unspeakable gift called for n sacrifice In thousands of our homes gold stars will mark the sacrifice made for a just cause. The history
 
 sand years old Recently on moon light evening a small boy was walk ing with his father and observing but one star in the sky. He remarked: God has hung ont his service flag; he must have son in this war" Do We fully realize 1t that God had q Son in the war for righteousness? "God so loved that he gave" Today we have peace because fathers gave their sons. Of all the stars, the Star of Bethlehem is the fairest and dear est
 Gods wonderful gift is a gift of hope. If Christ had not been born | and had not worked and lived in this 1 old world of sin. what a dark and dis | maj place it woul be, It would be a Christless, a Goddess world. It would | be heathenism pure and simple, a worl without Bibles. churches, Sun day schools and educational institu- tiors. IL would be a world without hospitals nsylums, homes for the in, digcnt. Blot Christmas and take from mankind the song of joy, salvation from sin, comfort in sorrow and the nope of eternity. \ world without hope is one in which men cease to act, hence ours would be a paralyzed world
 Nothing else than Christ being in the world could make possible Christ mas with all its joys and blessings. Thanks be unto God for his unspeak- able gift" Man proposes,
 God disposes.
 Yet my faith in Him repOses
 Who in wartime
 I,tn nol.ag rosns"-DDd Christmas. |