“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!” (Luke 2:14)

Remember Lucy and Charlie Brown? Lucy says, “Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown. Since it’s this time of the season, I think we ought to bury past differences and try to be kind.” Charlie asks, “Why does it just have to be this time of the season? Why can’t it be all year long?” Lucy looks at him and exclaims, “What are you, some kind of a fanatic?” On another occasion, Lucy has a score to settle with Charlie. She chases him, shouting, “I’ll get you, Charlie Brown! I’ll get you, I’ll knock your block off!” Charlie Brown, who has been running full speed, stops, turns around and says, “Wait a minute! Hold everything!

We can’t carry on like this! We have no right to act this way. The world is filled with problems. People hurting other people. People not understanding other people. Now, if we as children can’t solve what are relatively minor problems, how can we ever expect to . . . “Whereupon, Lucy hits Charlie with a left to the jaw, knocking him out. Says Lucy, “I had to hit him QUICK! He was beginning to make sense.”

Surely, we all would rather have peace than strife. Surely, that makes sense! But where must the peace begin? It will not begin at the peace conference tables of this world, or through legislation. It must begin with ME. With YOU. We AS CHRISTIANS, ARE CALLED TO BE PEACEMAKERES. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9). Paul tells us, “All things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18). This is our task. Why, then, do we become upset over such petty things so often and create strife, instead of peace? There are so many truly big issues out there to be concerned with, what a pity it is to be petty.

LET US STRIVE AFTER “PEACE ON EARTH, GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN.”

WISHES FOR THE COMING YEAR

Happy and Safe Holidays to all and Best wishes for a Healthy and Blessed 2019

From the elders, their spouses and the staff of the Highland Lakes church of Christ

Ken & Gail Darnell

Troy & Leana Futrell

  Cary & Brenda Miller

                                                                    Joe & Teri Winnett

                                                                   Helga Blackstone

                                                                      Vicky Williams