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Dixie Gtocetu
MARSHALL, N. C.
International 9
Sunday School 9
Lesson
DECEMBER 23, 1962
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GOD COMES TO US
Memory Selection: "And the
Word became flesh and dwelt a-.
ong ns, full of (race and truth;
we have beheld his (lory, glory as
of the only Soa from the Fa
ther." (John 1:14)
Lesson Text: Isaiah S; 9:6-7;
Hebrews 1:1-4; John 1:1-18.
Today we seek to understand
how God came to us in the Incar
nation and what his coming
means to us in our personal living
and social relationships.
All religions stress man's search
for God. Christianity alone makes
central the greatest of all truths,
that God is searching for man,
that God is taking the initiative
for the redemption of his chil
dren. As Christians we believe
that God came to us by embody
ing himself in human form, Jesus
of Naaareth, through Lo-i ;
disclosed his nature, his vf "!, i
his purpose for his children. 1 i
Incarnation is an event unique to
the Christian revelation. God took
the initiative and came to live
with men. "The Word became
flesh and dwelt among us." (John
1:14). Throughout history, as
serts the writer of Hebrews, God
spoke to his people in a variety of
ways. However, all these ap
proaches wera fragmentary 'and
were not the final and complete
revelation of God to man. This
was accomplished when, in Jesus
Christ, God made a final and
complete revelation of his nature
and purpose, Ha did so by com
ing in person right into the midst
of the struggle, sin and tumult of
this world.
The Incarnation asserts both
the divinity and the humanity of
Jesus Christ The highest com
plhnent God ever paid to hia hu
man creatures was in becoming
flesh and living with us. Ha not
only disclosed his own nature, but,
also revealed human nature in its
highest dignity and jrortfc
"Jesus Christ through whom God
made a complete and final disclo
sure of himself, has a unique
place in relation both to God and
to man. He was Gbd's agent in
creation. The will and purpose of
God are mirrored in the teachings
and in the life, death, and Resur
Taction of Jesus. He sustains all
living things, and in his life we
aee the light by which we are to
walk in' obedience to God. The
light is so clear and so steady
that "the darkness has not over
come it" (John 1:6). When we
acknowledge that he is the Son
of God and accept him as our
Lord, he gives us power to be
come the children of God. God
became as we are that he might
make us as he is. God came in
human form to redeem us from
our sins and to enlist our love and
life for his fellowship and service.
What the Incarnation means to
each of us personally will depend
upon our response in laitn ana
love. It depends on our willing
ness to receive what God- so gen
erously offers. God came, not to
compel, but to win our devotion.
r.S. ERNEST BALL.
; and Mrs. Arvine Hampton
a J the Rev. Jonah Reece were
vi ; j, g Mr. and, Mrs. Burns Hunt
er recently.
and Mrs. lather Ball were
vibiUng Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ball
and family of Candler for a few
days last week.
Bliss Marie Ball and Mrs. Les
ter Lewis were in AsheviHe shop
ping Saturday.
Mr. .Vincent Hunter spent Fri
day night with Mr. and Mrs. Co
ble Ball
Miss Deana and Donna Ball
spent last week with Mr. and
Mrs, Clyde Ball
Those Visiting Mr. and Mrs.
Burns Hunter Sunday were Mr,
and Mrs, Lester Lewis and An
nette, Mr. and Mrs. Scott Warren
and Gregory, Mr. and Mrs. Wade
Hunter and family, Mr. and Mrs.
Clay Rice.
Mr. Commodore Ball had Sunday
dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Ernest
BalL
A Merry Christmas Te All
PEACE Hf EAKXH ... Haste
Is an Important part at Christmas
eeaervaaoes everywhere anal
there is something abent the
spirit at Christmas that
clear, wife heart fan efjey.
O
Schedule of Home
, Demonstration
Clubs In County
Friday, Dec 28 Little Pine
HD Club meets at 7:00 p. m.
our hearts today can only be a
declaration of our faith. And in
the continuous and widening and
deepening entrance of the spirit
of Christ into human life the
purpose of the Incarnation is ful
filled. Let us, then, pray: "Our Fa
ther;" we are grateful that thou
hast come into the life of our
world in the person of Jesus
Christ to reveal thyself to us and
to show us the dignity of our own
nature. "Help us respond to thy
loutreach toward us in faith and
love. May we strive to fulfill the
This is where our act of faith purpose of thy coming by widen-
becomes necessary. That Jesus ing and deepening the entrance of
was born in Bethlehem is a declar- the spirit of Christ into our lives
ation of history; that he is born in . . . Amen." ;t
The aid Joke about Dad "monop-
ellsmg Junior's train is ceasing
to be a Joke, stcordmg to some
toy producers, who contend that
this year there will be toys for
adults under same Christmas
trees.
Mr. Jay V. Zimmerman, presi
dent of the largest band puppet
makers ta the world, recently told
toy buyers and salesmen that "toys
made specifically for adults to
play with win eventually exceed
the present popularity of children's
toys." e
This may sound a little unbe
lievable and optimistic (for the
toy industry), but Mr. Zimmerman
says the theory is neither radical
or new. "For centuries," he says,
"man has been playing with bis
children's toys under the guise it
was for Junior's sake, but that's a
lot of toywash. They enjoy playing
with their kid's toys, but they're
too ashamed to admit it"
Right or wrong, several major
toy companies are producing spe
cific adult toys this year. Well
just have to wait and see how
many Dads receive some of them
as presents from Santa.
. . . and good-will toward all men!
May the peace and great joys of
Christmas he yours now and
always.
Penland and Dotn
MARSHALL, N.C
DONT WASTE
UOKEYOX
IMITATION
ADVERTISING
Ic Observing It
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Madison County
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