Merry Christmas! Or is it???

Twas the month before Christmas*

*When all through our land,*

*Not a Christian was praying*

*Nor taking a stand.*

*See the PC Police had taken away,*

*The reason for Christmas - no one could say.*

*The children were told by their schools not to sing,*

*About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.*

*It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say*

* December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.*

*Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit*

*Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!*

*CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod*

*Something was changing, something quite odd! *

*Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa*

*In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.*

*As Targets were hanging their trees upside down*

* At Lowe's the word Christmas - was nowhere to be found.*

*At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears*

*You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.*

*Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty*

*Are words that were used to intimidate me.*

*Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen*

*On Boxer, on Rather, on Obama & Biden!*

*At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter*

*To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.*

*And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith*

* Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace*

*The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded*

*The reason for the season, stopped before it started.*

*So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'*

*Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.*

*Choose your words carefully, choose what you say*

*Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS ,

not Happy Holiday !*

Please, all Christians join together and

wish everyone you meet during the

holidays a

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christ is The Reason for the Christ-mas Season!

A True Story for Veterans Day

PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THIS ON VETERANS DAY ---Something to Believe In---A True Story--- D. Doan

I wrote this in hope to help at least one person struggling with their faith. I experienced a true miracle several years ago and have NEVER questioned my faith since. It was a beautiful fall day outside, but I was feeling anything but beautiful on the inside. I was severely depressed at the time with my world crumbling before me.

So I went to visit my Grandfathers grave who fought in WW II. He always told my Grandmother that I was going to be someone special and we shared a special bond for the 4 years I knew him. When I first arrived at the cemetary, I struggled to locate his grave. Five years had passed since my last visit. I scanned the entire area where I new he was buried, sweeping away the leaves from headstone to headstone for at least an hour with no luck. Right when I was about to give up and go home, I glanced down at my feet and read the headstone---EARL DOAN PVT US ARMY WW II JUL 6 1924 - DEC 13 1979---.

So I kneeled down and began to pray. I told him of all the hardships in my life and that I didn't know if I cou...ld continue on living the way I was. I began sobbing uncontrollably as I spilled my guts to him, telling him everything that had brought me to this state. Then I began to tell him that I was losing my faith in God.

At that point my conversation shifted to God. I asked God how I was supposed to pick myself up yet again and continue on with my life being so miserable. I told God that my entire faith in him was almost completely lost. I so badly wanted to believe and wanted to know in my heart without question that God, Jesus and heaven were real. So I began to ask for a sign or a miracle.

The entire cemetary was covered with an abundance of leaves. I then fixed my eyes upon ONE SINGLE LEAF that was a couple feet away. I said "God if you are real and there is more to this life than my eyes can see, move this leaf for me". I waited for a couple of seconds and then I said "on the count of three". I began to count aloud "1....2...." and before I could get to three and say I didn't think so, that one single leaf my eyes were fixated upon, lifted up and floated very slowly by my face and softly landed right next to me. While every other leaf within my sight did not so much as even budge.

When that happened a tremendous feeling suddenly came over me, goosebumps and a feeling of complete happiness, bringing me instantly to tears of joy. Ever since that day, I have not and WILL NOT ever question my belief again. I hope this story can help at least one person out there. It is a true story and I felt selfish keeping it to myself. God bless all of you on this Veterans Day. Especially those who are or were in service for this great country we live in.

A John 3:16 story

A little boy was selling newspapers on the corner, the people were in and out of the cold.

The little boy was so cold that he wasn't trying to sell many papers.

He walked up to a policeman and said, 'Mister, you wouldn't happen to know where a poor boy could find a warm place to sleep tonight would you?

You see, I sleep in a box up around the corner there and down the alley and it's awful cold in there for tonight.

Sure would be nice to have a warm place to stay.'

The policeman looked down at the little boy and said, 'You go down the street to that big white house and you knock on the door. When they come out the door you just say John 3:16, and they will let you in.'

So he did. He walked up the steps and knocked on the door, and a lady answered. He looked up and said, 'John 3:16 .' The lady said, 'Come on in, Son.'

She took him in and she sat him down in a split bottom rocker in front of a great big old fireplace, and she went off.. The boy sat there for a while and thought to himself: John 3:16 ...I don't understand it, but it sure makes a cold boy warm.

Later she came back and asked him 'Are you hungry? ' He said, 'Well, just a little. I haven't eaten in a couple of days, and I guess I could stand a little bit of food,'

The lady took him in the kitchen and sat him down to a table full of wonderful food. He ate and ate until he couldn't eat any more. Then he thought to himself:
John 3:16 ....Boy, I sure don't understand it but it sure makes a hungry boy full.

She took him upstairs to a bathroom to a huge bathtub filled with warm water, and he sat there and soaked for a while. As he soaked, he thought to himself: John 3:16 ... I sure don't understand it, but it sure makes a dirty boy clean... You know, I've not had a bath, a real bath, in my whole life. The only bath I ever had was when I stood in front of that big old fire hydrant as they flushed it out.

The lady came in and got him. She took him to a room, tucked him into a big old feather bed, pulled the covers up around his neck, kissed him goodnight and turned out the lights. As he lay in the darkness and looked out the window at the snow coming down on that cold night, he thought to himself: John 3:16 .....I don't understand it but it sure makes a tired boy rested.

The next morning the lady came back up and took him down again to that same big table full of food. After he ate, she took him back to that same big old split bottom rocker in front of the fireplace and picked up a big old Bible.

She sat down in front of him and looked into his young face. Do you understand John 3:16? ' she asked gently.
He replied, 'No, Ma'am, I don't. The first time I ever heard it was last night when the policeman told me to use it,'
She opened the Bible to John 3:16 and began to explain to him about Jesus. Right there, in front of that big old fireplace, he gave his heart and life to Jesus. He sat there and thought: John 3:16 -- don't understand it, but it sure makes a lost boy feel safe.

You know, I have to confess I don't understand it either, how God was willing to send His Son to die for me, and how Jesus would agree to do such a thing. I don't understand the agony of the Father and every angel in heaven as they watched Jesus suffer and d ie. I don't understand the intense love for ME that kept Jesus on the cross till the end. I don't understand it, but it sure does make life worth living.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life....

God, WHY ME????????

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island.
He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions.

One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little
Hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the
worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned
with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, 'God! How could you do
this to me?'

Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! 'How did you know I was here?' asked the weary man of his rescuers. 'We saw your smoke signal,' they
replied.

The Moral of This Story:
It's easy to get discouraged when things
are going badly, but we shouldn't lose heart, because
God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain
and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut
seems to be burning to the ground, it just may be a smoke
signal that summons the Grace of God.

P.S. You may want to consider passing this on, because you never know who feels as if their hut is on fire today.

If you can't be grateful for what God has given you, look around you
and be grateful for what He's protected you from......

Nice poem / hymn for a hard day

I was at the Saddleback Women's study this evening, and really liked this poem / hymn Chaundel read to the group. Not sure when or who wrote it, but maybe it will brighten your day, too :)

God hath not promised skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

God hath not promised we shall not know
Toil and temptation, trouble and woe;
He hath not told us we shall not bear
Many a burden, many a care.

But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

God hath not promised smooth roads and wide,
Swift, easy travel, needing no guide;
Never a mountain, rocky and steep,
Never a river, turbid and deep.

But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.

Back To School Donations Desperately Needed

Hi all! Its back to school time in South Cali and there are so many kids, schools & organizations that need our help in order to provide local children the resources for making a better tomorrow. Help us empower the future by donation a filled backpack, just supplies or even a cash donation.

Back to school means school supplies and book bag purchases. For many families this is an added burden on top of school shoes, clothes and registration fees. We at San Felipe want to help ease that stress. We are collecting supplies and backpacks for deserving families in our area by partnering with local homeless shelters and community outreach groups. Our goal is to have 30
supply laden backpacks by the start of school. Please help us as we assist those in greatest need. You can purchase supplies and mail them to us, or make a donation on our website. Thank you for your continued support!

Click HERE for our flier to see just what kinds of items we need for our backpacks!

Orange County Food Donations - Donate to Saddleback's Food Pantry Please!

Hi everyone, I received this email as a small group host and wanted to pass the word along. If you have any of the items below to donate, Saddleback Church is constantly feeding hungry families and could use your help..............................

The need is still great and we are running out of some essential items. We need your help by replenishing the following items:

• Powdered milk
• Instant potatoes
• Rice
• Canned fruit
• Jelly
• Spaghetti sauce
• Hamburger and tuna helper
• Pop Tarts
• Granola bars
• Breakfast bars
• Pancake/Bisquick mix
• Syrup
• Hot cereal
• Crackers
• Dried fruit
• Boxed and canned fruit juice
• Boxed jello/pudding mix
• Cake or muffin mix
• Condiments
• Baby formula
• Diapers of all sizes
• General merchandising items
• Canned meat (not tuna)

You can drop the items off at the church office during the week or put them in the blue barrels on the weekend.

Thank you for caring for those who are struggling. If you are one who is struggling, may you be blessed by this ministry.

Serving you in Christ,

Tom Atkins
Your Small Group Pastor