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December, 2005
Thanksgiving came and went. I hope that you had a great time getting together with family members who you haven’t seen for awhile or just hanging out with friends over a warm dinner. By the time you read this newsletter, “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday” would have been in the past, but shopping no doubt will continue until Christmas Eve. While shopping helps economy, it must be done with sensibility.
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused many houses to be destroyed, but in these few months, we have also heard a lot of amazing stories about homes and friendships being built because of this tribulation. There was an article in the newspaper last Sunday, entitled “What Makes A Place A Home,” about a few cars leaving
The hurricanes were in the summer, and now is winter. It is Thanksgiving and Christmas season. Maybe it is also a good time to think about our homes. What makes a place a home? Is it the structure that houses the three or four bedrooms? Is it the familiar landscape we are accustomed to seeing? Is it the kitchen where we can cook our Thanksgiving dinner? Or is it having someone or something to be thankful for? Home isn’t the decorations that make it warm and beautiful—it is the warmth of the people living inside, who have an attitude of gratitude to be members of their families. A warm home isn’t just to move up the dial on the thermostat; it is having love and care that radiate not only within the household, but to our relatives and friends who may not be as privileged as us.
It is estimated that Americans are going to spend an estimated $18 billion, just on “on-line” shopping this Christmas season. With the pressure of shopping for gifts during Christmas season, let us think also about those who have not the luxury. Giving to church is a duty, and giving to the needy is love that pleases God.
Before I sign off, I would like to remind all of us that we should remember Christmas isn’t really about giving gifts to other, though it is a good gesture. It is about receiving the Gift of Salvation from God. The Bible says, “ . . . the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (
Pastor Larry
感恩節來也怱怱、去也怱怱，我期望你無論是與多時不見的家人相聚，或只是和朋友共進晚餐都有一段愉快的時光。當你收到這份通訊的時候，〝黑色星期五〞和〝星期一上網〞的購物高潮都已經過去，但毫無疑問的是購物熱潮將會持續到聖前夕。雖然購物熱潮可以助長經濟，但還是需要極有理智地進行。
颶風Katrina和Rita使到很多家園被毁，但在這幾個月中，我們亦聽見很多有關家園和友誼因為這些苦難而被建立的感人故事。在上星期天，有一篇提目為〝是什麼使一個地方成為一個家〞的文章，講述有幾輛車離開新奧爾良市到其他地方去，但途中有些車子用完汽油或壞車，有一輛運動型車子載了十二人向抵特律市進發。報導說：「他們充塞在這輛運動型車子裏；他們重重叠叠的；他們嘗試睡覺；他們發明一些遊戲給小孩子們玩；他們沒有一個人帶著多過一套更換的衣服。」他們駛到一間在抵特律市的Best Western旅店。長話短說，旅店經理開門迎接他們，在跟著的數天，這些〝難民〞被送來的衣物、金錢、禮劵、汽油咭、球賽和教會活動入塲券等所感動。那可怕的旋風把他們摧毁，但是其他人的好行為將他們重新建立到新希望中。不錯，在風暴過後是有彩虹的！
颶風是在夏天發生，而現在是冬天了。這是感恩節和聖節的節期，或許這也是一個去思想關於我們的家的好時刻。是什麼使一個地方成為一個家呢？是否那個有三間或四間睡房的建築物呢？是否那習慣看見而熟識的環境呢？是否那個我們用來預備感恩節晚餐的廚房呢？還是我們可以為一些人或事物而感恩的呢？〝家〞不是靠著裝飾可以使到它温暖和漂亮 ─ 應該是居住在其中的人温馨的親情、並有著能成為家的一員而感激的態度。一個溫暖的家並不只是將溫度調節器撥高；它應該擁有不單只在家裏面散發出的愛和關懷，並且要延申至那些沒有我們那麼幸福的親友當中。
估計美國人在今年的聖誕節期間，單在〝網上購物〞的化費就高達180億美元。在這個充滿購物壓力的聖誕節節期中， 讓我們也思想到那些沒有能力來奢侈的人。奉獻給教會是責任，而施與給有需要的人卻是討神喜悅的愛心。
在我擱筆前，讓我提醒我們，雖然送禮物是很好的行動，但我們不應該只用送禮物來記念聖誕節。聖誕節最終的意義應該是接受從神而來救恩的禮物。羅馬書六章23節下半節說〝........惟有神的恩賜，在我們的主耶穌基督裏，乃是永生。〞我希望你們都有一個平安、喜樂和有意義的聖誕節。
唐若愚牧師
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