Hope for the Holidays

For most of us, the holiday season is a time of joy and celebration. Yet for some, it can be one of the most difficult and lonely times of the year. Especially for those who come from broken homes, have lost loved ones, or may be experiencing financial hardships.

For those of you who may be struggling through this Christmas season, please remember that God loves you. In fact, God loves you so much that He literally came to earth, died for your sins, was buried and rose again the third day. Searching the world over, there is absolutely no greater love than that. And because God loves us so much, He wants the absolute best for our lives. However, only He knows exactly what that "best" is and only He knows what it will take to implement it in our lives. Consequently, we need to trust Him.

Why Do Christians Have Trials?

There are two major errors we can make regarding trials: The first mistake is the failure to anticipate trials. Jesus suffered trials. Jesus promised us trials (John 16:33). All the apostles suffered trials. Trials are an expected part of the Christian life. And, like all storms, preparation can be critical in successfully enduring them. A second mistake is to harbor a morbid fear of trials. Remember 1 Corinthians 10:13: "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."The Apostle Paul certainly knew sufferings (2 Corinthians 4:7-11, 16-18; 2 Corinthians 11:23-28; Hebrews 11:32-40). And he regarded them as opportunities. There are many reasons why we face trials. Here are just a few:

* To glorify God (Daniel 3:16-18, 24-25)
* Discipline for known sin (Hebrews 12:5-11; James 4:17; Romans 14:23; 1 John 1:9)
* To prevent us from falling into sin (1 Peter 4:1-2)
* To keep us from pride. Paul was kept from pride by his "thorn in the flesh"
(2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
* To build faith (1 Peter 1:6-7)
* To cause growth (Romans 5:3-5)
* To teach obedience and discipline (Acts 9:15-16; Philippians 4:11-13)
* To equip us to comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
* To prove the reality of Christ in us (2 Corinthians 4:7-11)
* For testimony to the angels (Job 1:8; Ephesians 3:8-11; 1 Peter 1:12)

When faced with times of trouble remember that God loves you, He knows what is best for you, and He has a plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11). The Bible says: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ... I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35, 38-39)."

This Christmas, please reach out to those around you, at work, in church, and throughout your neighborhood. Watch for those who may be lonely, hurting, hungry or searching for answers, and take the opportunity to share God's love with them. Share your blessings with those in need. Encourage your fellow believers. Most importantly, be sure to glorify God for the gift of his son, Jesus Christ.

A Cappella Music

Probably no other single issue has divided the Restoration Movement in America the way this issue has in the past century. In 1906 the U.S. Census for the first time acknowledged a split in those believers who came out of the Stone-Campbell unity movement. The movement spun off three groups; the Disciples of Christ, the Christian Church and the Churches of Christ. For a movement that began with the motto: "Christians only; but, not the only Christians" the divisions solidified issues between the three groups. One of the litmus tests of fellowship was whether a church used instrumental music in its worship services? The Disciples and the Christian churches, which tended to be located in the northern more urban parts of the United States, adopted the use of pianos and organs in worship. The churches of Christ, which were primarily rural and southern, insisted that the only acceptable practice in worship was to sing "a Cappella", i.e. with only the human voice. This was not universal as there are to this day churches of Christ in states like Indiana who do use instrumental music. But, in the largest part of the Bible belt, i.e. TN, AR, OK , TX and most of the south, the churches of Christ became solely acappella.

The truth is that those divisions started long before 1906. In fact, I believe the seeds of the division of the unity movement had it roots in the Civil War. Rather than treating instrumental music as an issue of conscience for the individual believer like the apostle Paul does with the issue of "eating meat" in the 14th Chapter of the book of Romans, it instead became a matter of judgment regarding who could fellowship one another.

Some would be shocked to learn that the in the original Articles of Incorporation of the Glendale Church of Christ (the predecessor to the McKnight Road Church of Christ ) a creed was set forth stating that any member who professes the use of mechanical instruments in worship "shall not be entitled to vote". Fortunately, that provision was stricken by an amendment in November of 1973.

For many of us, the use of acappella music is a tradition that we have enjoyed in the churches of Christ; but, we do not make it a part of the gospel message. Recently, some congregations in the churches of Christ have begun to offer alternative instrumental services. Mike Cope recently posted an interesting blog at: http://www.preachermike.com/2006/12/03/leroy-richland-hills-and-instrumental-music

What do you think about the use of acappella music in worship?

Holidays and the Kingdom

Josh Graves is a minister at the Rochester Church of Christ in Rochester Hills, Michigan whom I met through son-in-law, Klint Pleasant. Josh published an article in Wineskins magazine that I thought was worth sharing with you at: http://www.wineskins.org/filter.asp?SID=2&fi_key=109&co_key=1251 I highly recommend his article "Wrestling with Jesus".

At this time of year, we tend to focus on Christmas as our holiday tradition. But, I think we can also benefit from an understanding of the origin of other celebrations. This week Jewish families around the globe are celebrating Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights. Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev and lasts eight days. The word Hanukkah means "dedication" and the holiday commemorates the rededication of the Temple in 165 BC. Because of its Biblical and prophetic importance, I thought it would be appropriate to explore the origin and history of Hanukkah.

Many scholars refer to the 400 years between the Old Testament and the New Testament as "the silent years." However, much of this history was written about in advance by the prophet Daniel. Chapter 11 of the book of Daniel details the breakup of the Greek Empire after the death of Alexander the Great. Alexander's four generals divided up the empire. Cassander took Macedonia and Greece; Lysimachus took Asia Minor and Thrace; Seleucus took over Syria, Babylon and the east; and, Ptolemy took over Egypt. Since Israel was caught between the territories of Seleucus and Ptolemy, it subsequently was a buffer zone between these two rivals. Daniel also describes the struggles between the Seleucid Empire ("the king of the north") and the Ptolemies ("the king of the south"). After Antiochus IV Epiphanies took over the Seleucid throne he outlawed the keeping of the Torah, persecuted the Jews, and looted the Temple in Jerusalem. In the ultimate act of profanity he then slaughtered a sow on the altar and sprinkled its blood in front of an idol of Zeus in the Holy Place. This desecration of the Temple is referred to in Daniel 11:31 as the "abomination of desolation." The consequent outrage led to the famed Maccabbean revolt, which successively threw off the yoke of the Greek rulers and ushered in the Hasmonean period of Israel's history. On the third anniversary of the desecration of the Temple, on the 25th of Kislev, 165 BC, the Temple was rededicated. This rededication is celebrated to this very day as Hanukkah.Hanukkah is mentioned only once in the Bible, John 10:22 simply acknowledges that "...it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter."

Most of what we know about Hanukkah comes from the books of 1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees as well as other rabbinical writings and traditions. Many historians believe that the first Hanukkah lasted eight days because it was a delayed celebration of Sukkot, often called the Feast of Tabernacles, which also lasts for eight days and at the time would have prominently featured the lighting of lamps. However, according to the Talmud, a miracle took place during the rededication of the Temple that accounts for the eight day duration of the feast. The Temple Priests had only one day's supply of oil, yet the lamps burned for eight days, giving the Priests time to prepare more (this remarkable event is referred to as the miracle of Hanukkah).

Perhaps the most recognizable aspect of Hanukkah is the Menorah. The traditional Hanukkah Menorah has nine branches (it is different from the seven-branch candelabrum found in most synagogues, of which the seven branches are symbolic of the seven days of creation). One candle is lit on each of the eight days of Hanukkah, the ninth candle (called a "shamash" or "servant candle") is used to light the others. Menorahs are traditionally displayed in a window so they can be seen from the outside.Historically, Hanukkah is considered a minor holiday, primarily because it is not one of the seven feasts described in the Torah (the five books of Moses). However it has been emphasized more in recent years. Hanukkah symbolizes the restoration of Jewish sovereignty, and that idea has taken on new significance with the establishment of the modern state of Israel. Also, because Hanukkah usually occurs in late December, it is sometimes viewed as an alternative to Christmas (especially among Jewish families in the United States and other predominately Christian nations). This trend has been encouraged by retailers who have profited from the sale of greeting cards, wrapping paper, games, music, and other Hanukkah related items.Perhaps one of the more interesting aspects of Hanukkah is its roots in Biblical prophecy. The "abomination of desolation," which lead to the Maccabean Revolt and subsequently the first Hanukkah, was foretold by Daniel. This historical event took on additional prophetic significance two centuries later, when four disciples received a private briefing by Jesus Himself on the Second Coming, in which Jesus alluded to a future reoccurrence of a similar desecration as the key to all end-time prophecy (Matthew 24:15). This repetition of the "abomination of desolation" is the central milestone in the middle of the climactic seven-year period comprising the "70th Week" of Daniel 9. This prophetic event requires the rebuilding of the Temple, the preparations for which have already begun.

Person of the Year

I have tried to resist, but I have to make a comment about the Time Magazine “Person of the Year.” Well, if you haven’t heard, it is, “You.” Me included, as in us! Have you seen the magazine cover – a piece of foil shows the reflection of “You” as the winner? I feel I should be breaking into a speech about how I want to thank my agent and my producer and everyone that has help me win this prestigious award. And yet, I feel like saying, “Wrong, what a copout!” That’s not a quality selection. I mean, I have disagreed with your selections before, but this is not even a selection. Did you just give up and decide you were tired of counting votes? This is worse than the year you chose the Computer as the person of the year!

And yet, the fact that I can voice this opinion on a blog (a word that is still not in my computer’s vocabulary spell check!) is part of the reason the choice was made. The fact that the general public is actively participating in the tools available to them through the internet to communicate, and even change the world, makes the people, the you, the most impacting person of the year. That I can sit at my keyboard and voice my opinion about this and an endless number of things and get your feedback on the topic is absolutely amazing. We have the opportunity to exchange information, and views of that information, and applications of that information in ways never before available to our society. The internet is changing the world. It is influencing our thinking. It has become a vital part of our communication in the world. It has become the classroom for millions of students. It has become a tool for teaching the Gospel to places we could have never traveled or sent missionaries. It has impacted our economy and for many it has become the only place to shop. It has changed the direction of elections, public opinion and become a measuring tool for the voice of the people. It is a place for the fans to say what they think about the teams they cheer and to rebuke the athletes that are out of control. It has become the anti-war demonstration of this generation while also being the sending agency for holiday well wishes and support to our troops on foreign soil. It has become the place to sound off and give your view, and the place to sound off at those who sound off.

Oh yes, it has its ugly side, too. Pornography! The Stalker! The Con Artist! Need I say more of the dangers that lurk out there? For the evil side, another tool has been found, as well! And there is the more innocent, but devastating, misuse of time, talent and heart by sitting for hours at the screen rather than interacting with real people and real life. And true, billions of dollars have been lost through internet gambling. But for all the negatives, it comes down to the same issue that we had before the internet, “sin and a fallen world, and freedom of choice.” Those who will choose to use the internet for evil, will; and those who choose to use it for good, will.

I know, you may read this and want to comment, most won’t, because you are like me. You are reluctant to put what you think in public view. What if you don’t write it correctly? What if you are misunderstood? What if you flat get it wrong and later you change your mind, but they read it and that is the view you are stuck with from now on because you put it out there? But whether you choose to click that comment tab, or not, the fact that you can and that you thought about it makes us a part of the “you” that has just been named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year!

The Deity of Christ

Why is Jesus Christ so special? Why do billions of people celebrate his birth? Why do we believe that Jesus was the Messiah? What if he was just a man? Does it really make a difference? If you have ever asked yourself these same questions, be assured that the Bible does have the answers. For the greater part of the last 2,000 years the historical existence of Jesus has not been questioned. However, in the last two centuries an increasing number of skeptics have claimed that Jesus never existed, even though a cursory review of ancient Roman and Rabbinical writings reveals that Jesus was indeed a historical figure. The Babylonian Talmud, an ancient rabbinical commentary, makes a number of references to Jesus of Nazareth. The first century Jewish historian Josephus also made references to Jesus: "Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man. If it be lawful to call Him a man, for He was a doer of wonderful works. He was the Christ. And the tribe of Christians so named from Him are not extinct to this day... (The Antiquities of the Jews, book 18, chapter 3.)"

Throughout its text the Bible clearly teaches that there is but one God. However, the mystery of the Godhead is that this one God manifests Himself in three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. This fact has led to the Christian doctrine of the Trinity. In fact, the attributes of God, the works of God and the names of God are applied to all three persons of the trinity. Throughout the Old Testament we are given a glimpse of the deity and majesty of the Messiah (also called the Anointed One). Furthermore, the fact that God is a plural being, eternally existent in more than one person, is also found throughout the Old Testament. Elohim, the plural form of El, one of the names of God, is seen throughout the Old Testament (see Genesis 1:1) and in Genesis 1:26 God states, "Let us make man in our image..."

In the New Testament the disciples clearly spoke of the preeminence and deity of Jesus Christ. He is identified as the creator of the universe (Jn 1:1-14, Col 1:16), God manifest in the flesh (1 Tim 3:16), and our Lord and Savior (Titus 1:1-4). This is only a small sample of their claims about the nature and identity of Christ. By healing the sick, resurrecting the dead, creating food out of nothing and by defying the laws of gravity, Jesus demonstrated His authority over the laws of physics and thereby revealed His divine nature. Jesus’ resume is impeccable. All the necessary attributes of the Creator are applied to Him within the Biblical text – he is independent of space and time, transcendent, distinct from his creation, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and has authority over the laws of nature. Jesus himself claimed to be the Son of God and the only way to eternal life (John 4:25; 9:35-37; 10:30-3; 14:6-9).

Jesus Christ made the ultimate sacrifice for us. It will take an eternity for us to understand what it cost Him that we might live. He "made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is

Happy Birthday!

Another birthday! Yes, in view of the upcoming event I opted to not play basketball and watched the Rams get beat by the Bears, which turned out to be another analogy on aging, in itself. And, no, I don’t play as well as I did in my younger years and I do hurt more the next day! But I try, for it is fun to be referred to as the old man as the young bucks argue over who will have the easy job of guarding me! But I have grown wiser, and while they work so hard to win, I have nurtured higher priorities, like getting my wind after each trip down the floor! I think that is why they look at me and laugh when they announce, “Oh good, we have enough to play full court!” All I know is that my nagging Achilles and screaming knee keeps me from laughing with them.

But birthdays are fun, and with them come a certain sense of wisdom….

Wisdom to know that “old” seems to start a lot later in life than it used to…
Wisdom to know that what you eat is not as much fun when you think about your age and weight….
Wisdom to know that with age you eventually realize your arms aren’t long enough …
Wisdom to know you hurt more, get injured more, and heal slower…
Wisdom to know that when you sneeze and hear, “Bless you,” you might need it…
Wisdom to know that the youth group thinks you’re old, and you begin to understand why…
Wisdom to know that more of what you know that makes sense is what you have experienced, and what you don’t know is also more of what you have experienced…
Wisdom to know that friends and family are worth the time, and the time is worth making…
Wisdom to know that grace is not earned, and you appreciate that even more…
Wisdom to know that those who are ahead of you are wiser than you thought and deserve to hear it from you…
Wisdom to know that more your age have passed…
Wisdom to know that you are running out of time to accomplish…
Wisdom to know that you are living for a time beyond time…

But today, I started with riding my bicycle, up hill, both ways, against the wind, at least it seems that way at 51. Happy Birthday!

David Bearden

Without Power

The St. Louis Area recently experienced one of its worst winter storms in history, and it wasn’t even winter yet. The ice and snow caused power outages for around 500,000 people while experiencing temperatures that dipped into the single digits. Our home happened to be one without power. The first night we lost power in the early evening and we broke out the candles and flashlights, went to bed feeling confident we could cope with this adventure. The second night we brought in wood for the fire place, piled on the covers and woke up the next morning to a very cold house convinced that we needed to make other arrangements for the next night. We packed up our stuff and moved to warmer lodging for the next two nights until our power was restored. We were more fortunate than many who returned home to remove limbs from damaged roofs and repair broken pipes in a flooded house.

Paul prayed for the Ephesians to be empowered by the Holy Spirit, but he also warned them not to grieve the Holy Spirit. As great as it is to have this great power, how devastating it must be to stop experiencing that strengthening within. What is it like to lose that power? It may be similar to our going four nights without electricity. It starts with confidence that you can make it on your own, and then you begin to realize that your house is no longer retaining the heat. And finally without power your house becomes so cold that you can no longer stay where you are. And what causes that power outage? The storm of sin separates us from the power source. The solution, of course, is to restore power.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Eph 3:16-19 NIV)

David Bearden

The Return of the Lost Tribe

An Indian tribe called the Bnei Menashe, which means "children of Manasseh," have for many years claimed to be one of the "lost tribes" of Israel. They say they are the descendants of the tribe of Manasseh, who fled Israel on trade routes to India after the destruction of the Northern Kingdom. Recently, however, their claims have renewed debate concerning the ubiquitous myth of the ten so-called "lost tribes" of Israel.

In March of last year, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that all conversions performed outside of Israel would be recognized by the authorities under the Law of Return. Since then, hundreds of members of India's Bnei Menashe community have officially converted to Orthodox Judaism. By converting, the Bnei Menashe will then be able to immigrate to Israel and obtain citizenship under the Law of Return. The Law of Return was passed five years after the end of World War II to facilitate the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Israel. It is controversial because critics claim it discriminates against Arabs and other non-Jews.

Last year's Supreme Court decision paved the way for the current wave of immigration to Israel. This past week 51 members of the Bnei Menashe tribe arrived in Israel. More than 200 Bnei Menashe are expected to move to Israel in the coming weeks. There are approximately 7,000 Bnei Menashe who still live in India, but who could eventually immigrate to Israel.There are many groups that believe the northern tribes, separated during the rift between Rehoboam and Jeroboam after the death of Solomon (and subsequently taken captive by Assyria in 722 BC), later migrated to Europe and elsewhere. The myth of the ten lost tribes is the basis for British-Israelism and other colorful legends, but these stories have no real Biblical basis. They are based upon misconceptions derived from the misreading of various Bible passages (2 Kings 17:7-23, 2 Chronicles 6:6-11).

The "tribe of Judah" (2 Kings 17:18) is used idiomatically for the Southern Kingdom. When encountering the tribal designations, it is important to distinguish between the territories allocated to the tribes and the people themselves. Before the Assyrian captivity, substantial numbers from the northern tribes had identified themselves with the house of David. The rebellion of Jeroboam and subsequent crises caused many to repudiate the Northern Kingdom and unite with the Southern Kingdom in a common alliance to the house of David and a desire to worship the Lord in Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 36 and 37 declares that Judah and Israel shall be joined as one in the regathering. This is true today. Ezekiel's famed vision of the Valley of the Dry Bones is unquestionably the monumental Biblical fulfillment of the 20th century. Beginning in the last half of the 19th century, the regathering, which climaxed in the establishment of the State of Israel, is one of the most irrefutable evidences that we are on threshold of God's climax for the nations.

In Awe of Winter

Right now as winter has slammed the St. Louis area leaving many without electrical power, it is with awe we approach the power of nature. Yet, even in the midst of the struggle for survival in the cold of winter, God's hand is at work.

Have you ever noticed that ice floats?

Why? Virtually every material substance contracts when it cools. As it gets warmer, the molecules increase their vibrational energy and require more room: the substance therefore expands as it warms. And, conversely, it contracts as it cools. Materials decrease in volume as they get colder. Water is the astonishing exception. It expands when it freezes into a solid. Why does water violate this general rule? Why does water expand when freezing? The water molecule is a (not-so-simple) combination of two atoms of hydrogen bonded to one of oxygen. Yet this particular combination possesses an amazing array of unique characteristics that distinguish it from any other material known!

The Freezing Process

Although almost all materials decrease in volume as they get colder, water has an astonishing characteristic. As it drops toward its freezing point of 0oC (32o F), its volume also reduces until it reaches 4oC, after which it actually increases. In a pond or lake, for example, this "inverse convection" has the salutary effect of bringing oxygen dissolved at the surface down to the lower depths for use by fish and other organisms. This process continues until the entire area has reached 4oC. As the water cools below this temperature, it dramatically increases in volume, making it lighter than the water below. This ultimately causes the top layer to freeze, which then actually acts as an insulation layer against the very low temperature of the air above. If water did not have this strange property, the entire pond or lake would freeze solid and fish and other living creatures would be killed. This expansion can have disastrous effects on uninsulated water pipes in winter. However, this expansion effect has essential functions in nature. The rain or dew penetrates the soil, and when it freezes, the soil is shattered into small particles, breaking up the hard earth into suitable conditions in which seeds can germinate.

Why This Exceptional Behavior?

This strange behavior derives from the unusual bonding relationship between the two hydrogen atoms and the one oxygen atom that make up a molecule of water, H2O. The oxygen atom strongly attracts the single electrons of the two hydrogen atoms, leaving the two positively charged hydrogen nuclei rather free to attract other negative atoms. This attracts the oxygen molecules in other water molecules to form rather large, but loosely coupled, frameworks. These atoms are not in a straight line, however, and the hydrogen atoms are bent toward each other, forming an unsymmetrical three-dimensional structure. The angle formed between the two hydrogen and the central oxygen atom is 104.5o, almost precisely that of a hexagonal tetrahedron shape (109.5o), so it can take up this shape (slightly warped three-dimensionally) with little stress on the bonds. Opposite the hydrogen atoms, the clouds of resulting negative electrification attract the hydrogen nucleus of an adjacent water molecule to form what is called a hydrogen bond - the key to water's peculiar behavior. These tenacious hydrogen bond frameworks give water many astonishing characteristics, including anomalously high values for viscosity, surface tension, and the temperature and heats of melting and boiling. This results in its ubiquitous role as a solvent, its remarkable thermal properties, its surface tension and capillary action, and virtually innumerable chemical properties that are essential for life. One would expect that these unique properties would make it a very rare molecule, produced only with great difficulty under laboratory conditions. The reality is, of course, quite the opposite: it is the most prevalent material on the planet, covering three-fourths of its surface, diffused extensively in the atmosphere, and - to the surprise of geologists - also found at astonishing depths in the earth. That such a unique substance should be in such abundance is in contradiction to any expectation of random chance alone.

Snow

Water vapor is a clear gas, which, as it cools under normal conditions, condenses and forms into water droplets. At high altitudes, water vapor can cool to below freezing, but in the absence of an impurity such as dust, around which it can collect, it will remain in this state. When ice crystals form, the molecules of water arrange themselves in a specific pattern that is determined by the tetrahedral shape of the molecule in the frozen state described above. As further molecules join those already frozen, they give up their high latent heat of freezing, and melt the adjacent molecules, which reform to a shape dependent upon the local conditions of air temperature, wind currents, humidity, etc. Each snowflake pattern is unique to itself, but is always based upon the hexagonal bonding pattern of the ice crystals familiar to us all. Snow also has a constructive role in the ecological cycle. It filters dust out of the air, absorbs nitrogen which then enters the soil, and acts as an insulating blanket to the plants and roots in the ground. The difference in temperature between the air and the ground covered by two feet of snow can be as much as 40oC. When snow melts, it requires considerable heat to effect this, and therefore melts slowly, lowering the rate of melt water and reducing the flooding that could occur if the latent heat of freezing were lower. In addition to all these unique properties, snow also has the added ability of reflecting all the colors of the spectrum to yield pure white. Is no wonder that we often find ourselves in awe of the sheer beauty of a layer of freshly fallen snow.

May the tell-tale signs of winter throughout the coming months serve to remind you of the wonderful works of our Lord.