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----- Forwarded Message -----
Hello dear friend!
Well as you know, it's time for my birthday again.
Last year, they had a really big party for me and it seems like they will again
this year. After all they've been shopping and preparing for it for months now,
and there have been announcements and advertisements almost every day about how
soon it's coming! They really do go overboard about it, but it's nice to know
that at least on one day of the year some people are thinking about me a little.
You know, it's been many years now since they first
started celebrating my birthday. Back then they seemed to realize and appreciate
how much fun it is for the little children. Just the same, it seems that most
folks are missing the point of it all.
Like last year, for example, when my birthday came
around, they threw a big party, but can you believe it? I wasn't even invited!
Imagine! The guest of honor, and they forgot all about me? Here they had begun
preparing for the festivities months in advance, but when the big day came, I
was left out in the cold? Well, it happened so many times in recent years, I
wasn't even surprised. Even though I wasn't invited, I thought I'd just quietly
slip in anyway. So I came in and stood off to the side.
Everyone was drinking, laughing and having a grand
time, when all of a sudden in came this fat fellow in a bright red suit, wearing
a phony white beard and shouting, "Ho Ho Ho!". He looked like he had more than
enough to drink. When he collapsed into a big armchair, all the little children
went running over to him excitedly yelling, "Santa! Santa!". I mean, you'd have
thought he was the guest of honor and the whole holiday was just for him.
Finally I just had to leave. I walked out the door.
It was no surprise that no one even noticed that I had gone. As I walked down
the street afterward, I felt about as lonely and forlorn as a stray dog. I could
not remember the last time I'd felt that low. Maybe you don't think I cry??
The little manger scene you put in the corner of
your living room is really touching! It's good that people commemorate my
birthday like that. Did you know that nowadays, in some countries, the
authorities won't even allow manger scenes to be placed in parks, streets, or
public place anymore! Not to mention their schools! I'm not talking about
Communist countries! I'm talking about the good, old USA. Imagine! What
could be more innocent than a manger scene to remind people of my birthday? Yet
it is banned! They've actually passed laws against it and made it illegal!
What's this world coming to?
Another thing that amazes me is how, on my
birthday, instead of giving me presents, most people give gifts to each other!
And to top it all off, it's usually all kinds of stuff they don't even need! Let
me ask you, wouldn't you find it odd if when your birthday came along, all your
friends decided to celebrate it by giving each other presents and never gave you
a thing?
Someone once told me, "Well, it's because you're
not around like other people are, so how can we give you a present??. You know
my answer to that one: Then give gifts of food and clothing to the poor, help
those who need it. Go visit the lonely! Any gift you give to your needy fellow
man, I'll count as if you gave it to me personally! (See Matthew 25:34-40)
It reminds me of what happened recently to a friend
of mine, a sweet elderly fellow. He's from the poorer side of town, and he's
been trying unsuccessfully for years to join the church. It was a very exclusive
church for the proper kind of folks, and they just did not think he was good
enough to be a member. I found him one day sitting by the church steps with his
head on his hands bowed. I asked him what was wrong. He told me about it. I put
my arm around his shoulder and told him I knew just how he felt. I've been
wanting to enter that same church for twenty years and they've never let me in
either!
Well there is an end even to my patience. So I'm
going to let you in on a secret. Now this is something I've been planning on
doing for quite sometime. I'll have my own party! How about that? It's going to
be the most fantastic feast you could possibly imagine! It might not happen this
year, but I'm sending out the invitations now. I know you'll want to come. There
is going to be room for billions, for everyone who wants to come! Some really
famous old timers and celebrities are going to be there and I'll reserve you a
seat of honor right with them! (Mat. 8:11)
So hold on to your hat because when everything is
ready, I'm going to spring it as a big surprise! Many people are going to be
left out in the cold because they did not answer my invitation. Let me know
right away if you'd like to come. I'll reserve you a place and write your name
in large golden letters in my great big Guest Book!
Much Love,
Jesus
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