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ee
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LIVE NATIVITY SCENE - A highlight of the Grace United Methodist Church congregation's celebra-
tion of Christmas was a live nativity scene which will become an annual event. Rev. Patricia Stone, pas-
tor. said that members portrayed in costume a nativity scene December 21,1995 on Cleveland Avenue.
God's ear is open
to all His children
From the mouths of babes come words of wisdom.
Never was a truer word spoken.
And to take the statement one step further, for those
who ‘are open to listening to the religious thoughts and
wonders of children, from the mouths of babes come
incredible, tender and even amazing words of wisdom
about God.
For instance, I remember well listening to a child in
Louisiana one Sunday. morning speaking about the im-
_ portance of cleaning up his room. When asked why
this cleaning was so.important, he responded with an
answer which went soniething like this:
"Half-way through the football season, he had heard
his father say in disgust that the New Orleans Saints (a
traditional loser) would make it to the Super Bowl on-
ly when God himself came to Louisiana. (Probably not
the most appropriate comment near the ears of a young
child). And with the Saints having had a remarkable
second half of their season, including a berth in the
playoffs, the boy was making sure his room was tidy
just in case.
Yet mixed in with the wild and wacky are serious,
tender thoughts as well. A former seminary professor
told me once of a conversation he stumbled upon with
his 14-year-old son while sitting in the front yard of
their home. His son began to open up with some in-
credible thoughts about who God is, and what God is
like, and what that meant for human life. It was a real
moment of revelation. And not knowing what else to
say, the father asked, "Have you ever told anyone else
about these thoughts?" To which the boy responded,
"Dad, no one ever asked."
That children having something deep and important
to speak about their faith is an important lesson for us
adults. It is important because their conversations
serve them well. But it is also important because they
benefit all of us who are privileged to hear.
I mention that fact. particularly at this point in the
new year because: ene ofthe most complex issues with
which children wrestle is the concept of time - what
"time" means for us, and what it means for God. As
REFLECTIONS
on Religion and Life
Rev. Dick Newsome
Pastor
First Presbyterian Church
each of us has no doubt noticed, the issue of time rises
to the surface of our thoughts in early January. We are
aware that time waits for none of us and continues to
roll along. And so in the heat of the moment, we make
a great many resolutions to improve life and to try
harder in important endeavors. "If I don't lose weight
now," we might say, "I will never lose it. The moment
is now or never." And much like children (because in
reality, our religious thoughts are fairly much the
same), we transfer our concept of time to the Creator.
To a certain extent, this is helpful. After all, any ur-
gency to make a commitment to God or to strengthen
our response to his love can be purely beneficial. But
at the same time, we must remember that God lives
within a freedom from the constraints of time which
we do not know: Time might rol along, but not toward
an end as we know it. And while the window of oppor-
tunity for losing weight or making money or fixing up
the house might be narrow and tight, the window of
God's love never closes. It is never out of season to
know his grace. It is never out of season to take to
heart his incredible love. It is never an inappropriate
time to respond to his goodness with lives of commit-
ment and faith.
So enjoy the moment, and commit yourself boldly
to great new things. But after the newness of the year
has become well worn and settled, and life returns to
its routine, remember that God's tender ear. remains
available to every voice. Even the wonderful, childlike
thoughts of you and me.
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1995 EAGLE VISION
V6,:Power Windows & Locks, Tilt, Cruise, AM/FM Cassette
Only 14, 988 or $299 per month
1992 CHEVROLET CORSICA
V-6, Auto, Air, Power Locks,
1993 MAZDA MPV
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The New year brings some new
laws in North Carolina.
Starting January 1, convicted sex
offenders in this state are required
to register with local authorities as
part of Gov. Jim Hunt's effort to
make communities-safer. =
The new law, proposed by the
Governor in the 1995 legislative
session, will give communities ac-
cess to information about people in
their neighborhoods or those who
.are working with children.
Convicted sex offenders will be
required to register with the local
sheriff's office of the county in
which they live and the informa-
tion will be made available to the
public. Schools, day care
providers, parents and others
would then be able to to to the
_ sheriff's office and review informa-
tion on convicted sex offenders in
that county, ‘including the type of
offense, personal information and a
photograph of the offender.
Another component of Hunt's
1995 legislative agenda that took
effect Monday is the repeal of the
prison cap, which will keep more
than 5,000 prisoners behind bars
next year who would have other-
wise been paroled.
Hunt's other crime fighting ini-
tiatives passed by the General
Assembly in 1995 include a new
law requiring criminal background
checks for day care providers and
foster parents, and a victim's rights
amendment to the state constitution
to guarantee victims the right to be
heard in court and the right to be
informed of and involved in court
proceedings related to their case.
Signs have already been posted
by Chief of Police Bob Hayes pro-
hibiting weapons in public build-
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DSS seats
David Neisler
David Neisler of Kings
Mountain was seated recently on
_.the-Cleveland County Board of
Social Services. :
He replaces Robert A. Williams
on the five-member panel and was
appointed by the Cleveland County
Board of Commissioners.
Neisler, 36, is an officer of
Dicey Fabrics of Shelby, a family-
owned and operated upholstery
fabric manufacturer.
He recently completed terms on
the Kings Mountain Hospital
Board of Directors and continues
to serve on the board of directors
of Adventure House.
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Sparks charged
| In rape attempt
A 21-year-old Kings Mountain
man was charged New Year's Day
with the attempted rape of a 16-
year-old girl.
Roger Dean Sparks of
Chesterfield Apartments is under
$10,000 secured bond in connec-
tion with the incident which report-
edly happened in the girl's home,
also at Chesterfield Apartments.
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