Merry Christmas from Scott, Shirin, and Jasmine : -)

We trust that this holiday season will see many of your relatives entering into an eternal relationship with Jesus Christ as "there is none other Name given under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." -Acts 4:12

For those of you with access to "TechTV," I encourage you to tune in Thursday for an 18-hour "Call For Help-A-Thon"

http://www.techtv.com/callforhelp/aboutus/story/0,24330,3411091,00.html

Tell me what I miss ;-)

Last week...

(1) From a fellow believer in Bethlehem...

"It is the Christmas season and many of you will be singing this beautiful and timeless carol:

'O Little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie'

As all of you turn your attention to Bethlehem these days, please remember Our Little Town in your prayers. Bethlehem now is very sad. All its people are struggling under very strict curfew since the 22nd of November. It may be hard to imagine being under curfew. It is very cruel, because no one is allowed to leave his or her home for any reason. All shops and schools are closed, as well as pharmacies and work places. There is no possibility for Christmas shopping, there are no decorations, and one cannot go to church. Being a closed military area we are even denied the usual flood of Christian pilgrims.

I pray that you will sing this beautiful song and that its meaning will bless you Christmas, but before you do please think of the suffering Church in Bethlehem and say a prayer that the curfew will be lifted and the siege on Bethlehem will end. You may want to also write to your nearest Israeli representative and your own government officials about these cruel acts done against the people of Bethlehem by the Israeli army.

May Immanuel Bless You This Christmas.

In His Name,

Bishara Awad

President, Bethlehem Bible College"

(2) In faith, you began to rejoice with us over the acquisition of an extended visa : -)

* By now you know that I sent an urgent update from the day I went... I go back in another week : -(

(3) You prayed with me over the learning of how to set up a network sharing a high-speed Internet connection... I've gained some insight, and I can't bear to imagine *what* it would have been like apart from your intercession!

(4) Finally, you continued praying for neighbors as they seem more "interested" as Christmas approaches... one of the merchants from whom I buy vegetables wanted to know more about why I say "I was born the first time..." Pray with me that the words he read from John 3 will bear fruit.

This week...

(1) Pray over the renewal of our visa as yet another visit comes this Tuesday.

(2) Ask God to end the current conflict.

(3) As Jasmine continues to enjoy playgroup on Tue/Thur, ask God to give her the extra measure of development she needs - she's growing *so fast!

May God find us listening more attentively to His voice this week as I am,

Yours because His,

Scott

< scoterry31684@bigfoot.com ><

PHILADELPHIA--FIRST-PERSON: PBS recruiting for Islam.

http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=14910

VIRGINIA--Top Lottie Moon givers honored; IMB poses million-dollar question.

http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=14901

(excerpt follows)

PER CAPITA GIVING

South Carolina Baptists led the nation in per capita giving for the 2001 offering. South Carolina's 737,394 church members gave $7,881,895 for a per capita gift of $10.69.

The top 10 state conventions in the per capita ranking gave more than $68.3 million. While they gave 60 percent of the total offering, they account for only 47 percent of the SBC's 16.1 million members. The other state conventions that ranked in the top 10 per capita givers were Mississippi, $10.05; North Carolina, $9.55; Virginia, $9.20; Tennessee, $8.29; Alabama, $8.27; Arkansas, $8.17; Georgia, $8.16; Maryland-Delaware, $7.80; and Colorado, $7.49.

Southern Baptists give an average of $7.05 to their international missions offering.

"Why Jesus is better than Santa" (thanks, Awkie!)

Santa lives at the North Pole, Jesus is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh ...

JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year ...

JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies ...

JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited .

JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invited.

You have to wait in line to see Santa ...

JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap ...

JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, what's your name?" ...

JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly ...

JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO ...

JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry" ...

JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you."

Santa's little helpers make toys ...

JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but ...

JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree ...

JESUS became our gift and died on a tree.

It's obvious there is really no comparison.

We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about. We need to put Christ back in CHRISTmas. Yes, Jesus is much better than Santa Claus.

Merry CHRISTmas!!!

* CALENDAR UPDATES *

18, open to God’s appointments

* Wow, what a day... today was the day we were turned away *again* for an extended visa. Wonder what I missed?

19, no attacks at all

* Thanks to your intercessory prayer, things have quitted down.

20, more people to hear God’s word

* I see in the eyes of people an openness to hearing His message and, I believe, it's due to your praying : -)

21, Ask God to draw Jews to Himself.

* An ongoing need in this part of the world is bearing slow fruit.

22, Ali’s salvation

* Not yet, so keep praying!

23, safe food

* The more natural food we eat, the healthier we are!

24, Ask for the local conflict to end.