Hello There, 

My son-in-law in Michigan and I were on instant message, talking by computer. 
He remarked that this season was full of ideas for THOUGHTs.

Yes, Mike, the difficulty is in determining what is worthy of my efforts and 
your time. Please pray for me that these notes may serve as a sweet odor of 
heavenly perfume that will pervade all of your week.

Phillips Brooks is regarded by many as the finest American preacher of the 
nineteenth century. His design of Trinity Episcopal Church in Boston marks 
the skyline of the famous Back Bay area. His sermons and music, especially 
on holidays, mark the hearts of all believers.

His, O Little Town of Bethlehem is probably the best known of his 
compositions. It was written after his horseback ride to Bethlehem from 
Jerusalem to conduct a midnight Christmas Eve service.

The song for today was written as an ode to the miracle of Easter.
GOD HATH SENT HIS ANGELS
GOD HATH SENT HIS ANGELS TO THE EARTH AGAIN,
BRINGING JOYFUL TIDINGS TO THE SONS OF MEN;
THEY WHO FIRST AT CHRISTMAS THRONGED THE HEAVENLY WAY,
NOW BESIDE THE TOMB DOOR SIT ON EASTER DAY.

Refrain
ANGELS, SING HIS TRIUMPH AS YOU SANG HIS BIRTH,
"CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN, PEACE, GOODWILL ON EARTH!"

IN THE DREADFUL DESERT, WHERE THE LORD WAS TRIED,
THERE THE FAITHFUL ANGELS GATHERED AT HIS SIDE;
AND WHEN, IN THE GARDEN, GRIEF AND PAIN AND CARE
BOWED HIM DOWN WITH ANGUISH, THEY WERE WITH HIM THERE.

YET THE CHRIST THEY HONOR IS THE SAME CHRIST STILL
WHO, IN LIGHT AND DARKNESS, DID HIS FATHER'S WILL;
AND THE TOMB DESERTED, SHINETH LIKE THE SKY,
SINCE HE PASSED FROM OUT IT, INTO VICTORY.

GOD HAS STILL HIS ANGELS, HELPING AT HIS WORD,
ALL HIS FAITHFUL CHILDREN, LIKE THEIR FAITHFUL LORD;
SOOTHING THEM IN SORROW,ARMING THEM IN STRIFE,
OPENING WIDE THE TOMB DOORS, LEADING INTO LIFE.

HOW ABOUT======TEN THOUSAND MORE HALLELUJAHS!

GOD'S GIFTS TO ME-Are many. At each special season, I ask Him for a new song 
and to underline a certain scripture in my spirit. You have just read my new 
song. It seems that any direction that I turn, I "bump into" Acts 4:12.

"Neither is their salvation in any other; for there is none other name under 
heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" Acts 4:12

BAH!---HUMBUG!!!Some of my notes about this season may sound highly negative. 
Sorry about that. I really love the season. My father was a first 
generation American and taught us the deep German appreciation of the season. 
The Latin influence adds so much here in Texas-luminarios, tamales (I 
ordered mine this week). Try to not miss the reality of this season as 
expressed by your friends in all cultures.

REMEMBERING DATES-At this season. Does December 7, 1941 ring a bell? Our 
lives, and the life of our nation, were drastically altered on this "day of 
infamy" as cited by then President Roosevelt. September 11, 2001 may well 
live for the darik lessons learned.

HOW IS IT GOING?-Several of you have been kind enough to ask concerning my 
bus and gym schedule. A one word answer-great. I meet and deal with persons 
on a good level of life. Let me cite one example--Mike Haines the gym 
supervisor, is a wheelchair tenant as a result of a random shooting accident 
in a convenience store robbery. Mike finished university at UT, plays 
basketball and softball, is an avid kayaker and plays a little tennis. This 
weekend he is in Miami, FL playing an exhibition with Andre Agasse. In case 
you don't recognize the name-he is the number one tennis player in the USA.

GRACIOUS WORDS- These letters go to many (100+) directly from me, as well as 
the copies passed on by you and the posting to the web. So, I receive 
responses from everywhere in the world. After my words last week that 
expressed the fact that I no longer filled a pastoral role, I got response to 
make me realize that you perceive me as your electronic "pastor". Thanks. 
The gifts and expressions of love are apppreciatied.

WHAT GOD HATH PROMISED-That is what the name Eliana Grace means. Remember 
some months ago when you prayed for the couple who had medical advice to 
begin fertility drugs. No drugs were ever needed, and the baby came on 
11/29. Grandma wrote to tell me that she is a perfect and beautiful baby. 
P. S. I got a picture by e-mail from a proud father. The baby is cute!!

I CONFESS-To beginning my remarks today by using a scripture that is on the 
face of one of the cards I spoke to you about last week. It is Isaiah 64:1 
from the New Revised Standard Version "O that you would tear open the 
heavens and come down!" Thought number one is this PLEA. The entire message 
of Christmas is----HE HAS. The heart of God reached toward man and answered 
this need so desperate and deep in the heart of man that he could not even 
think it.

Thought number two is the PLAN. Galatians 4:4 has been a fertile field of 
harvest for my mind. "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent 
forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law," I am sorely tempted to 
continue in this "wow" (words of wonder) passage. You go ahead.

God carefully provided the demands of the Law to satisfy the justice of God. 
He also carefully provided the delights of Grace to satisfy the weakness of 
man. Long before Jesus was conceived in the womb of Mary, this perfect plan 
was born in the heart of God.

Thought number three is the PLACE. Now is a good time for you to read the 23 
verses of Matthew, chapter two. This is a rather dark and mysterious chapter 
in this bright story of the season of Nativity. 

The discovery is marvelous as the journey of all who are worthy of the term 
"wise" will always lead to Christ. I guess it is not the "place", it is the 
"person" that is truly important. The display of regal and proper gifts is 
magnificent as these visitors acknowledge that they have found the one "born" 
King. The disappointment covers the segment of the account as they choose to 
follow the path of barren intellect and abandon the hope of life.

You must glance at the PLOT. An evil plot has been Satanically apparent 
whether in the deception in Eden or in the destruction in Bethlehem. Jesus 
spoke in John 10:10 of the threefold nature (steal,kill,destroy) of the plot. 
God's plan had a single focus-LIFE.

My next thought is PLAGUE An insidious disease now affects the entire human 
race. The Apostle Paul talks at length about the curse and the consequence 
in Romans, chapter five. The curse of sin and the consequence of death is 
passed into the human makeup to the extent that " All have sinned", -Romans 
3:23. I need to read and heed the gracious words of I John 3:8, "......For 
this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works 
of the devil. The cure.

I am thinking of PLOY . Any effort to try to delay the obvious. I viewed an 
athletic contest a few days ago where the underdog had gained great advantage 
by superb effort early in the game. As the upset possibility loomed, the 
stronger team used every available concept to win over the foe. One enemy 
was unconquerable--the clock. I pray that no reader is tempted to "tinker 
with time". Come to Jesus now.

Any good gospel preacher leaves on an "up" thought. PLEDGE " I will come 
again", are words of Jesus in John 14:3. Hope in today's bleak headlines. 
Triumph in the face of terror. A truth that must be proclaimed as we joy in 
the songs of the season.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!-I received an e-mail in the form of an invitation to a party. 
A birthday party for Jesus that would take place in the life of any person 
who heard a knock at the door of their heart.--------LISTEN (Revelation 3:20).

His,
Ron Krantz