Ironworks

         Can a Christian celebrate a secular Christmas? This is a good question and one that deserves an honest answer. This week I read the following, “If you don’t talk about Jesus at Christmas time, you miss Jesus. If you do not sing those scriptural songs focusing on Jesus, you miss Jesus. You might have grown up in a church where “Christmas” was a “Jesus-free” day.” These were some accusations leveled against some brethren by a well-known preacher in our brotherhood. In this article, I wish to set the record straight on how it is rather simple to celebrate a secular Christmas and it not be a “Jesus-free” day. I contend that no day is “Jesus free” for a New Testament Christian.            First, this brother accuses the church “of not knowing what to do with Christmas. They celebrate it in their homes, but avoid it at all costs in church.” I contend that the preachers who preach the whole counsel of God know what to do with...

  “And Jesus answering said, Were not the ten cleansed? but where are the nine?  Were there none found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger?  And he said unto him, Arise, and go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. “  Luke 17:17-19      I am so very thankful for the good Christians here in Grove. There are many faithful, kind, giving, and encouraging servants who work diligently for the Lord here, and we are truly blessed. Showing gratitude is something we all want to do because we have so much for which to be thankful. In Luke 17:11-19, Jesus healed 10 lepers, and, upon that healing, they were sent to show themselves to the priest. Only one of the ten turned and showed gratitude. He just so happened to be a Samaritan. How can we show the same thankfulness of this Samaritan? Thankful Children      Children can show thankfulness for their parents by honoring them (Eph 6:1-3). When we recognize how much our parents gi...