Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

    
    May the Heart of God touch all of you.
    
    Love,
    Carole

    And out of the darkness came a great Light.
    
    Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
    
    Let us share in the shining, now and forever more.
    
    	Shalom,
    
    	Ron
    

    
	       "For Unto You is Born a Savior" (Luke 2:11)
    
    A child, a child shivers in the night;
    he will bring us goodness and light.
    
    Richard

My Christmas Gift...

This story is the gift I'm sending out this Christmas.  I like to give 
something personal when I can, although this gift is a bit unusual, even 
coming from me .-)

Peace,

Jim


                             A Story
 
"A true story?  I have no true stories to tell," he laughed, "but if you ask
me about love..." as he pulled me towards him.

"Not now," I reminded him, and he relaxed, letting his arms fall aside, his
head reclining more deeply into the pillow.  He sighed.

"I could sing you a song, or write you a poem," he ventured, grasping.

"A story.  A TRUE story," I insisted, locking his eyes with mine, acutely
aware of the whole length of his warm bodily embrace.

Not without some effort he disengaged his eyes from mine, rolling those
smiling orbs as if still half seeking escape from my request, and exhaling,
silently shut their green and golden sparkle away from the mundane world.  In
the new-born stillness I could feel his heart's rhythmic beat, modulated by
our deep, conspiratorial breathing.


"It began--" he paused dramatically, "on the day of your birth.  And while I
was not there to witness it, I am told that on that cold and dreary autumn day
the sun broke through, bright and cheerful for an hour or so, warming the
ground as the heart of God.

"It is mere coincidence that this tale starts then, and that is the extent of
the facts therein.  Knowing this, shall I continue?"  His warm breath tickled
my ear with his question.

"I want truth, not mere facts.  Must the truth always be rooted in facts?
Tell me a story!"


"All right then, I will tell you.  On that day, in that hour of the sun, a man
was born, lived his entire life, and died.  He was born, not of a womb, but of
darkness into light.  He was very old when he was born, sitting on a bench in
a park, and his life--while it lasted--was no worse than many others, and
perhaps a bit happier than some.

"He had no name, for no one knew him.  He was not human, for no one loved him,
and it is love that extends to us our humanity.  Indeed he was little
different from everyone else in that park on that day, yet, when the sun broke
through, he felt the warmth on his cheek, and looked to the sky."


My own cheeks flushed as his radiant warmth imposed itself on my senses.  "He
was not alive before that?"

"No, not really.  But he became alive when he first saw the sun.  A fledgling
human sitting on a bench in a park, staring at the sun until his eyes ached.
Realizing his pain, he closed his eyes, reveling in the afterimage.  He found
that even within this phantom sun there were colors and details of which he
had never dreamed.  Finally he reopened his eyes, releasing this vibrant new
darkness and began to explore his world.

"His bench bordered a pond, and reflected in its waters he discovered trees,
bare and old, their silhouettes scarring the sky, their shadows dissecting the
ground.  Occasionally this image broke and rippled, and here and there a
shadow flickered so quickly he could barely see it; there was movement in his
world, fish and birds.

"He scanned for more movement, and found it:  squirrels gathering for winter,
worried by the dogs romping in the park.  He heard their barking and became
aware of an entire new universe parallel to his sight, a world of sound, and
even more; smell, taste, all manner of sensation.  The very air revealed
itself to all his senses."


"You stole this," I accused.  "I've heard this story before."

"Have you now?" he chided.  "And what comes next?"

"Light and dark.  Water.  Plants, animals, people.  The people, you have to 
introduce the people."  I tickled the bottoms of his feet with my toes, curled 
up with anticipation.

"Indeed I do, though you have already met one.  But I admit, you are right.
This is an old, old story, and one of the best, told many times in many ways.
Do you begrudge me that?"

I considered momentarily, while he tried to avoid my toes.  "Continue."

"Please?"

"Please."


"There were other shadows, trudging along stone pathways.  Shadows that
mimicked the slow, deliberate movements of the grey old men and women 
camouflaged in their sweaters and scarves on their daily tour of the park.
Shadows he had never noticed before, and yet even in his present awareness, he
was scarcely able to perceive them.

"Across the pond he spied a commotion that stood out from the background.
Colors bright and gay clothed a young woman and a child.  He heard faint
shouting, and amid a flurry of arm waving, the child broke and ran.

"Watching the woman eye the child, hesitating, and finally following after,
the man got up from his bench and started along the path that encircled the
pond.  The world and all its detail reeled about him unnoticed as he hurried
along, focusing on what he now recognized as a little girl rushing towards him.

"The young girl stopped short, inches from the man.  In her blindness she saw
no way around him.  Panting, she stood as if transfixed while the woman
approached.


"But that's not--"

"Not what?"

"The story, it's different."

"It's my story, remember?"

"Oh, yes."


    "`Hello, I couldn't help but notice...' he began, as the woman put her arm
    around the child's shoulder.

    "`I suppose we were quite a spectacle' she admitted.  `My daughter, she--' 
    the woman searched for words.  `We were, we were going somewhere, and--'

    "`Would you join me on my bench?' the man offered, gesturing along the path,
    `Perhaps we may sort this out.'

    "`I could use a rest, thank you.  Come along dear, we're going to sit a 
    while.'

    "Arranging herself on the bench, the woman began.  `My father, he's very 
    old, in a rest home.  We were going to see him this afternoon, but my 
    daughter, well, old age is sometimes very boring to youth.'

    "`Your daughter doesn't want see her grandfather?'

    "`No, well, she loves him, and all that.  It's just that seeing him, or
    talking to him, his mind wanders, and she's impatient.'

    "`I see...', said the man.

    "`And the smells and the nurses and all.  I suppose it must be very scary 
    for a little girl.'

    "`And for you?'

    "`I suppose.  I try to be strong, cheerful.  But I keep thinking he might 
    die while I'm there, I don't think I could take that.  I don't know which 
    would be worse, finding out he was dead when I got there, or being there 
    when he, you know, died...'

    "`They're both hard, I imagine.  So many of my friends have died, alone, 
    or with family, they're both hard, I suppose.'  But he lacked conviction.

    "`I'm sorry to hear that.  I wouldn't want to die alone.  I suppose that's 
    why I do visit him.  It's hard, but I wouldn't want him to go alone.'"


"What about the little girl?  You haven't mentioned her.  She hasn't said
anything.  What's she doing?"

"She's figeting, as children often do when exposed to grown up things.  Have
patience, I haven't forgotten her, she's very important."


    "`Alone isn't too bad,' he replied, `it's the loneliness that's so awful.'

    "The woman said nothing, while a tear came to her eye.  `I know,' softly as
    words can fall.

    "The man gazed at the little girl staring off into space.  `What's your 
    name, child?'

    "`Anna.  My name is Anna.'

    "`A lovely name, Anna.  Do you enjoy the park?'

    "`Uh-huh.  We come here when we go see granpa.  Sometimes I get to play on
    the swings when we're done.'

    "`Would you like to play on the swings now?'

    "`If it's okay with my mother,' Anna hesitated.  From her silence, the
    woman nodded her head ever so slightly.

    "`We won't be gone long,' the man assured her, gently brushing her 
    shoulder.

    "`Where are the swings, Anna?'  The old man followed to her favorite swing.

    "`Push me?  Please?'  Anna crawled onto the seat.

    "The man moved behind the swing and began pushing the swing in a slow and
    steady rhythm.  `Higher, higher!' Anna shouted in glee.  The sun showered 
    down its warmth.  `High enough,' Anna called out.  `Let me stop, and then 
    it's your turn.'

    "The swing gradually slowed, and Anna jumped out with a flourish.  `Your
    turn,' she presented the seat.

    "The old man sat down, and Anna started pushing with all her feeble might.
    `Slowly, gently,' guided the old man.  `There's a method to these things.
    Back and forth, back and forth,' and soon Anna had the swing so high she 
    had to move aside.

    "Turning his head to look at Anna, he commended her.  `Very good!  A smart
    young girl!'  And they smiled at each other until the swing came to a
    stop. 

    "`What's your name?' Anna asked, not noticing that the man no longer
    smiled. 

    "`It's--' he gasped as he fell out of the swing to the sand.  Anna stared 
    at him, not knowing what to do.  She turned and ran to her mother.

    "`Mommy, MOMMY!' she called ahead, and her mother looked up.

    "`What is it, dear?  What's the matter?'

    "`The man, the MAN!  Come quick!' and Anna dragged her to the swings.

    "`Oh, my, oh, no.'  She knelt by the man.  `Are you okay?  Is there
    anything we can do?'  She lifted his head gently.

    "`This is quite enough, thank you.'  He beckoned to Anna.  `Remember me to
    your granpa,' he smiled, hugging her to his breast as he died.

    "`Look, Anna.  The sun is gone again, it will be getting chilly soon. 
    Let's go visit Father and then we can eat.'"


He kissed me on the neck, "What do you think?"

"That's IT?  That's your story?"  Tears ran down my cheeks and onto his.

"That is my story.  You asked to hear it.  What did you think?"

"I never even knew his name."

"Anna knew his name," he countered.  "And he lived a life of love.  What more
is there?"

"I was just hoping that, well, that it would have a happy ending, that's
all."

"Maybe it had a happy beginning, consider that."  He wiped a tear from my eye,
and I hugged him tightly, desperate for his warmth.

"Let's go to sleep now," I murmured.


		Jim Kirk  December-1991

DURING THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON...

                                 MEND A QUARREL

                          SEEK OUT A FORGOTTEN FRIEND

                  DISMISS SUSPICION, AND REPLACE IT WITH TRUST

                              WRITE A LOVE LETTER

                              SHARE SOME TREASURE

                               GIVE A SOFT ANSWER

                                ENCOURAGE YOUTH

                     MANIFEST YOUR LOYALTY IN WORD AND DEED

                                 KEEP A PROMISE

                                 FIND THE TIME

                                FOREGO A GRUDGE

                                FORGIVE AN ENEMY

                                     LISTEN

                           APOLOGIZE IF YOU ARE WRONG

                               TRY TO UNDERSTAND

                                   FLOUT ENVY

                          THINK OF YOUR NEIGHBOR FIRST

                                BE APPRECIATIVE

                               BE KIND AND GENTLE

                                 LAUGH A LITTLE

                              LAUGH A LITTLE MORE

                    BE DESERVING OF THE CONFIDENCE OF OTHERS

                        EXTEND YOUR HAND TO A STRANGER,

                    AND THE WARMTH OF YOUR HEART TO A CHILD

                     FIND BEAUTY IN ALL THAT SURROUNDS YOU

                                SPEAK YOUR LOVE

                                 SPEAK IT AGAIN

                           SPEAK IT STILL ONCE AGAIN


				   * * * * *

                       MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

                                   * * * * *

	"The Glory of the Lord Shone Round About Them"  (Luke 2:9)

To Karen, Cindy, Deb, Bob F, Dave, Mike V, Bob M, Ro, Carole, Nanci, Nancy,
Ray, Bonnie, Mary, E, Collis, -ed_, Playtoe, Paul, Mary, Marc, Robin, Jeff W,
Jeff H, Jeff L, Pete, Joe, Judy, Glen, Darlene, Alison, Sam, Joan, Jack, John,
Lisa, Ron & spouse, peter, Eileen, Jim R, Jim K, Ann, Mike S, Alfred, Mark,
Jody, Patrick, Pat, Charles, ktlam, Mel, Simon, Debby, Phil, Ace, and all you
browsers and drop-ins:

		          HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

	     "Glory to God in the Highest" (Luke 2:14)


Shalom, Salaam, Pax, Peace,
Richard

     
        I would like to take this opportunity to wish all 
       of you in this conference a peaceful and happy
       Christmas.
        I would like to thank all of you for the gifts that
       you give me every day in this conference in sharing
       your faith, your thoughts and your feelings.
        May all of you and your loved ones have a joyous holiday
       season.


                                                               Mike

                                                   

The last candle of Advent has been lit.  But there's still time.

There's still time to find the Christ of Christmas and to know first-hand
the Good News of Emanuel -- God with us.

Merry Christmas!  God bless us, everyone!

Peace,
Richard

    And God bless you, Richard!
    
    	Shalom,
    
    	Ron
    

Mother Teresa said, "God loves the world through us."

So let us show  Courage - as we are faced with new possibilities.
		^
Let us be	Hopeful - in this changing world.
		^
Let us		Rejoice - in the circumstances and challenges God allows in
		^         our lives and learn from them and build upon them.
Let us
consider what's Important - from the perspective of eternity.
		^
Let us		Seek - justice for those who've seen so little of it.
		^
Let us open
our
hearts to the	Truth - of Christ's love of all creation.
		^
Let us be	Mediators - for those who find themselves in conflict.
		^
Let us pray
that in time	All - of God's children will recognize each other
		^
		So - that all God's children will feel safe, valued and loved.
		^

From the inside of one of my most favorite Christmas cards ... the front
is a weathered and worn cowboy sittin' on a hoss out in the middle
of the snow covered plains ... late in the evening with that magical
star heralding the birth of Christ in the sky.

This means more to me than a lot of you will ever know ... the words
are particularly applicable to this old' dirt farmer's son:




           A Cowboy's Prayer

Oh Lord, I've never lived where churches grow.
I love creation better as it stood
That day You finished it so long ago
And looked upon Your work and called it good.
I know that others find you in the light
That's sifted down through tinted window panes,
And yet I seem to feel You near tonight
In this dim, quiet starlight on the plains.

I thank You, Lord, that I am placed so well,
That You have made my freedom so complete;
That I'm no slave of whistle, clock or bell,
Nor weak-eyed prisoner of wall and street.
Just let me live my life as I've begun
And give me work that's open to the sky;
Make me a pardner of the wind and sun,
And I won't ask a life that's soft or high.

Let me be easy on the man that's down;
Let me be square and generous with all.
I'm careless sometimes, Lord, when I'm in town,
But never let 'em say I'm mean or small!
Make me as big and open as the plains,
As honest as the hoss between my knees,
Clean as the wind that blows behind the rains,
Free as the hawk that circles down the breeze!

Forgive me, Lord, if sometimes I forget.
You know about the reasons that are hid.
You understand the things that gall and fret;
You know me better than my mother did.
Just keep an eye on all that's done and said
And right me, sometimes when I turn aside,
And guide me on the long, dim trail ahead
That stretches upward toward the Great Divide.

Dear noters,
    

		I wish all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 
'93 has not been a very kind year for me personally but I have high hopes
for the coming year.  New friends and different possibilities....but I truly
miss my old friends that are no longer here.  During this time I cannot help
but reflect on what Jesus has done in my life and hope that all of you may
experience the same love and kindness I know.  From Pat Sweeney to Jerry
Beeler including Karen Berggren and Carole Fretts and on and on....I 
remember.  I often wonder where Allison Parant is today.  She truly taught
me a lot.  So I can thank God for these people during this last year and
look forward to the ones that are still here and new ones coming in every
day.  God Bless you all.


Dave Dawson 

    "Christ rules the world with truth and grace...."
    
    I would like to add my sentiments to Dave's.  I pray for the good of
    all who prod us and and poke us and help us grow here in this
    conference.  I pray that the light might break forth in all our lives.
    I pray for health, wisdom, and lives worthy of living.
    
    I, too, miss the people who're gone, some who were given no choice, at least
    one who answered a calling, and some who chose to leave because they
    felt their spiritual needs were being met with more noise than nourishment.
    I miss them all.

    
    Shalom,
    Richard

        I will be away from any terminal from Tuesday, Dec 28,
        through Sunday, Jan 2.

        My wish for all is a holiday blessed with your favorite
        mixture of fun, friendship, affection, love, diversion,
        reverence, and reflection.

        Bob

	I would like to wish you all, together with your families and loved ones, 
	a very happy Christmas and peace, health and an above average
	bundle of luck in 1994.

	I'll be back around 8 Jan.

	Greetings & love, Derek.

    Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all !
    
    I'm out of here til 1994 !
    
    Jim

    Gracious God,
    
    Grant each of us peace and serenity throughout this holiday season
    and through the New Year.
    
    For those who are in good places this season, Bless them and let them
    feel the full warmth and joy of family and loved ones and happiness.
    
    For those who are in dark place, guide them, and love them, wrap your
    arms around them and sustain them through this time of year which can
    be difficult.  Let them find hope in the image of the Babe in the
    Manger, bringing forth new life to an often difficult world.
    
    Let each of us find peace, and joy, and serenity, and love,
    
    Amen

                                                                         
    See you all after January 4th.
    
    Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - Sanskrit for:  The Whole World Is One Family.
    
    Namaste,
    
    Cindy

May the true meaning of Christmas give you life
everlasting and peace in all circumstances.

Collis

    
    
    May you dream a childs favorite dream and wake up to the sounds of
    children laughing....
    
    
    David

    Before I forget, Ro Reinke (formerly Flaherty) and Reverend Ron
    Francey both sent cards at Christmas and enclosed a note remembering
    fondly folks in C-P.
    
    I also received a very nice note from Marc Hildebrandt (Hope you
    don't mind me revealing that) and an outrageously funny card from
    Cindy Painter.
    
    Peace,
    Richard
    

    re: .21
    
    No problem Richard. 
    
    Marc H.

    
    Glad you liked the picture of Santa using the bungee cord to 
    deliver gifts this year, Richard.  (;^}
    
    Cindy

To our moderators:

    Bob Fleischer, Debby Haeck, Patricia Flanagan, Derek Button

And to our current readership and participants:


    I pray you Christmas blessings and Epiphany grace.

Shalom,
Richard

Many blessings this holiday to those who've profoundly influenced my life
this year:

Peter Andrews
Tony Barbieri
Steve Bittrolff
Dorian Brooks
Derek Button
John Covert
Meg Evans
Patricia Flanagan
Bob Fleischer
Jacqui Gardner
Dave Gauthier
Andreas Gutzwiller
Tom Haas
Debbie Haeck
Mike Heiser
Jim Henderson
Mary Jo Hoepner
Leslie Johnson
Steve Leech
Jack Martin
Jay McCanta
Joe McClain
Bob Messenger
Eric Myers
Joe Oppelt
Cindy Painter
Ray Rosch
Greg Schuler
Glen Silva
Phil Yerkess

(If I've overlooked anyone, I'm sorry)

Shalom,
Richard

	Thanks, Richard! 

    Yes, thanksvery much and God's best to you and your family!
    
    Warmest Rgds.,
    
    -Jack