Words From Two Fronts

The Bible says we pray at times with “sighs and groans too deep for words” (Romans 8). Here is my Christmas Eve prayer in the words of an ancient Christian hymn. It is mingled with the evening news from around the world.

O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL

“2015 is a year of the refugee. At no time since World War 2 have so many people been on the move to avoid war and famine.”

AND RANSOM
CAPTIVE ISRAEL

“An Islamic jihadist detonated his explosive-filled vest in a busy market today in a Near Eastern city, killing 81 and wounding dozens more.”

THAT MOURNS IN LONELY EXILE HERE

“Psychologists warn of a suicide spike in the Christmas season, especially among the lonely…”

UNTIL THE SON OF GOD APPEAR

“With the run-up to the 2016 November Presidential elections looming, candidates are on the stump promising they have solutions.”

REJOICE! REJOICE!

“Meanwhile, mall merchants report a 4% uptick in sales compared to last year…”

EMMANUEL

“The religion department head at a nearby university has cited the Christmas story to be a myth and nothing more.”

SHALL  COME TO THEE, O ISRAEL 

“The verdict is in. And it is a hung jury in the case of a Baltimore police officer accused in the death of an African American detainee accused of larceny and….”

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2).

“And you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

LET EVERY HEART PREPARE HIM ROOM…

The Reverend Stephen Crotts is pastor of Village Presbyterian Church in Charlotte Court House, VA. He is also the director of the Carolina Study Center, Inc., a campus ministry, located in Chapel Hill, NC. Pastor Crotts may be reached at carolinastudycenter@msn.com.