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Volume 97 No. 36
z
HINTON NE IVS
(Continuing the Hlnton Daily News & The Weekend Leader)
Home of the W. Va. Water Festival
" Hinton, West Virginia Tuesday Dec. 21, 1999
40 Cents
0.
A True Christmas
By Rev. Glen A. Kuhn
Guest Columnist
My friends, in a recent newspaper
editorial that I read it was the
opinion of someone that, "Christmas
is a lie" that in fact we who love the
Lord Jesus Christ have no right or
reason to commemorate His birth.
As I thought upon this statement,
."to commemorate His birth is non-
scriptural whether you choose any
day or the day December 25th" it
moved me to ask, "Is this person
right?" The answer I found for
myself is, '2o!" I now will defend
this position.
In the Random House College
Dictionary the word "commemorate"
means: to serve as a memento or
reminder of. (2) to honoi, the memory
afby someatmervau oreelehraton.
Charles H. Spurgeon in his
sermon titled: Good Cheer for
Christmas said this: "We have
nearly arrived at the great merry-
making season of the year. On
Christmas-day we shall find all the
world in England enjoying
themselves with all the good cheer
which they can afford. Servants of
God, you who have tlm largest share
in the person of Him who was born
at Bethlehem, I invite you to the best
of all Christmas fare--to nobler food,
that makes the table groan--bread
from heaven, food for your spirit.
Behold, how rich and how abundant
are the provisions which God has
made for the high festival which he
would have His servants keep, not
now and then, but all the days of
their lives!"
First: The Birth of Jesus Christ
is truly one of the greatest events in
all of human history! What if Christ
had not come, not been born? There
would be no Cross--, apart from His
birth. The Apostle Paul said this,
"God sent forth His Son, bern of a
woman." (Gal. 4:4-5) God the father
sent forth His Son, born of a woman
to "redeem those who were under the
law."
This alone tells me that I have
a very great reason and a real
reason to think upon, to study
upon, to rejoice in and
commemorate His birth. Thank
God that I can look back to a time"
when Jesus Christ was born. He
came to dwell among us. He did not
merely visit his people He took up
His abode among them! Also, as I
read the New Testament, I find that
the birth of Jesus Christ was by
heavenly announcements made
know toat least eight individuals or
groups. It must have been important
to God for Him to do this!
A. Zacharias (Luke 1:17,76).
B. To Mary (Luke 1:31,35)
C. To Joseph (Matt 1:20-21)
D. To Elisabeth (Luke 1:42-45)
E. TO the shepherds (Luke 2:10-
12)
F. To the wise men (Matt 2:1-2)
G. TO Simeon(Luke 2:25-32)
H. To Anna (Luke 2:36-38)
Second: God the Father foretold
of His birth so that a world lost in
sin could have hope and the sure
knowledge that He had made a way
that lost, sinful man could be saved,
by this most wonderful Saviour! In
the gospel of John he tells us this.
(John 1:1-14)
It is important that this lost world
and I know that "And the Word
became flesh, and dwelt among us,
and we beheld His glory as of the
only begotten from the father, full of"
grace and truth."
It has been said, Long before
Jesus was born it was prophesied
that He would come. (Gen 3:15)
Jesus did not come to earth
unannounced. He came in the
"fullness of the time." A study of the
fulfillment of the minute details
encourages our faith in a God that
not only draws up master plans but
the intricate details of the
blueprints.
1. Christ would come out of Israel.
(Num. 24:17-19) Christ was born a
descendant of Abraham, Isaac,
Jacob and David. (Matt• 1:1-17)
2. Christ would be born of the
family of David and of the tribe of
Judah. (Gen. 49:10 Isa. 11:1 ) Look
at what the angel of GOd said ! (Luke
1:31-33)
3. Christ woulc} be born in
Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2)
4, Clrist would be born of a
virgin. (lee. 7:14)
5. Christ's coming was announced
by a forerunner. (Isa. 40:3) This was
fulfilled in John the Baptist. (Matt.
3:3)
6. That the Messiah would be
GOd. (Isa.'9:6)
I value this time of the year, each,
Christmas season, when I as a
Preacher of the gospel can tell to all
who will hear that Christ Jesus the
Lord'has come! I commemorate His
birth in this season as in all seasons
that the lost might know he has
come I am sure that this is pleasing
unto the Father!
Third: The teaching of the Virgin
Birth of Christ is a most important
doctrine. In this editorial he wrote,
"Dear friends, we find no salvation
in His birth, for salvation was only
made possible through His death."
For anyone to not place great
importance upon the "Virgin birth"
is to down-play it and attacks the
doctrine of the Deity of Christ and
His sinless life ! Without this truth
there can be no savior.
In Christ birth we find that God
goes into great detail to present His
Son as the sinless Son. The Bible
teaches that since the fall, since
Adam sinned all born thereafter
inherit a sin nature from him. (Rom.
5:12-21) But our Lord was born
without sin. How? The Virgin Birth!
The mystery of the virgin birth is to
be believed, adored and accepted by
Christians. (Heb. 4:15 Heb. 5:5-9
Heb. 10;5 14)
In the gospel of Matthew we have
this most wonderful account of
Christ's birth. (Matt. 1:18-25)As we
can see Mary was engaged to Joseph
but they were not as yet married.
But before they came together she
was found to be with child. Joseph
was going to "put her away secretly
but behold the angel came to him
from God and told Joseph that the
baby in Mary was conceived of the
"Holy Spirit." The Bible goes on to
toll us that Joseph kept her (Mary a
virgin) until she gave birth.
It' has been said, "God takes
special care to insert this verse with
this intimate detail to show us that
the unborn child could not possibly
be contaminated by a human father.
Since man is a sinner, totally
depraved, then he needs a Saviour
to redeem him. This Saviour must
be pure and capable. Jesus Christ is
the only Saviour of the World. (Acts
4:12)
So then this being rue, salvation
is closely linked with this doctrine.
If Jesus Christ was not bern of the
virgin I am a lost sinner and so is
everyone!
But praise to our God He did send
forth His only begotten Son! What
was the reason? Why do I with great
joy and exultation worship and exult
in the Christmas message!
The Apostle Paul wrote this to
Timothy. (1Tim. 3:16)
Christ has come, yes he was born
to the Virgin Mary, and He was
revealed in the flesh. Thus to Paul
the incarnation was of utmost
importance. Dr. H. L. Willmington
in his book, Willmington's Guide
to the Bible, writes the following:
A. Christ came and revealed the
invisible God. (John 1:18) In Jesus
Christ I can come to know the
Father. (John 14:6-24)
B. Christ came to make a sacrifice
for our sins. (Heb. 2:9 Heb. 10:5-141
John 3:5 Mark 10:45) Again it is
plain that Jesus had to come in the
flesh, His body was prepared by God
and upon the cross of Calvary Jesus
offered Himself as our sacrifice for
Parkways Authority Donates $!,000
sine, ............ Graham House"Prercation Sdciety is
C. JesusChrist came to reconcile
$1, richer thanks to a mini.grant from the
W. Va. Parkways Economic Development and
Tourism Authority. Alan Susman, second
from the left and Vice Chairman of the
Authority is shown presenting the check
man to God. (2 Cor. 5:19, Heb. 2:17,
1 Tim. 2:5-6)
D. Jesus Christ came to destroy
the devil and his works. (Heb. 2:14,
1John 3:8)
E. Jesus Christ came to heal the
broken hearted. (Luke 4:18)
F. Jesus Christ came to give life,
abundant life. (Jdhn 3:36, John
10:10)
In the book, The Fundamentals
Professor James Orr, D. D. wrote
this, "the belief in the virgin birth of
Christ is of the highest value for the
right apprehension of Christ's
unique and sinless personality. Here
is one, Paul brings out in Romans
5:12 ft., who, free from sin himself,
and not involved in the Adamic
liabilities of the race, reverses the
curse of sin and death brought in by
the first Adam, and establishes the
reign of righteousness and life.
Had Christ been naturally born,
not one of these things could be
affirmed of him. As one of Adam's
race, not an entrant from a higher
sphere, he would have shared in
Adam's corruption and doom
would himself have required to be
redeemed. Through God's infinite
mercy he came from above, inherited
no guilt, needed noregeneration or
sanctification, but became himself
the Redeemer, Regenerator,
Sanctifier, for all @ho receive him.
(2Cor. 9:15)
So for me, Christmas is truly true!
In fact everyday is Christmas for me
because like Job of old, "I know that
my Redeemer lives!" (Job 19:25-27)
Right now this Christmas season I
am looking for His coming again.
Hail, thou long expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free: From
our sins and fear release us, Lot us
find our rest in Thee. Israel's
strength and consolation, Hope of.all
the saints Thou art; Long desired of
every nation, Joy of every waiting
heart.
Born Thy people to deliver, Born
a child, and yet a King. Born to reign
in us forever. Now Thy gracious
kingdom bring. By Thine own
eternal Spirit Rule in all our hearts
alone, By thine all sufficient merit
Raises us to Thy glorious throne. A-
Men.
Charles.Wesley, 1707-1788
Yes He has come! Born of the
Virgin Mary, hope of all that trust
in Him. This Christmas Season
reminds me once again and so too
the world that God has intervened!
That there is hope for every soul in
sin's grasp, that forgiveness is set
forth in God's beloved Son. (John
3:16)
Friday to Wilma Morgan, President of the
Society. Wilma said the money would be used
to make improvements to the kitchen. Also
shown (L to R) are State Delegates Sally
Susman and Ron Thompson and State
Senator Homer Ball.
Some of the 315 people that enjoyed the free Restaurant in Downtown Hinton. Photo by
Holiday dinner, Saturday afternoon, at Kings Everett Crawford.
315 Served King's Holiday Dinner
The doors to Kings restaurant in
Downtown Hinton are normally
closed on Saturday, it's not a
business day. But every year, since
they relocated here from Tampa,
Florida three years ago, at
Christmas time, they have opened
their doors to everyone for a free
Holiday dinner.
Saturday the doors opened at 3:00
pm and for the next three hours
people from all walks of life feasted
on ham, turkey, sweet p*otatoes,
mashed potatoes, green beans, corn,
apple sauce, all cooked to perfection
earlier when the day started for
them, and several volunteers, at
8:00 am when some are still
sleeping.
Before the doors closed at 7:00 pm
all of the meat and most of the side
dishes were gone; and for those that
came in late the only food remaining
was an assortment of pies and cakes.
"We served about 315 people,"
said Shirley Stone, co-owner.
"That's about the same number as volunteered their time, talents and
we served last year." monies said Al Stone.
She said they started peeling , "I'd like to publicly thank
potatoes, 100 pounds of them, at
8:00 am and throughout the day
others brought in food that they had
prepared for the dinner.
"At 3:00 pm we opened the door
and had a steady stream of people
from then on," she said. "Santa,
Mrs. Claus and one of their elves
were here to meet the children and
give them gifts. Everyone seemed
to have a good time, including the
many volunteers who began arriving
in time for the potato peeling:
Shirley and Al Stone, owners of
King's restaurant in downtown
Hinton, served their first free
Holiday dinner in 1997. The event
has since become an annual event
and draws many volunteers who
express a desire to give back to the
community.
"This wodn't happen if it
weren't for the wonderful people who
Richard Pfliederer, Izzy Neal, Louise
Gibbs, Fred Long, Willianna Long,
the Lightner family, Amanda Cales,
James Burdett, Nancy Hopps,
Everett Crawford, Mary Fraser,
Marie Seitz, Jack Smith, Mark
Bolinger, Emma Kulesar, Jack Lilly,
John Parfitt, Carolyn Conner,
Yesterday's Best, The Trading Post,
Vivian Lilly, Diania Price, Pare Fox,
Tony Sferlaza, Martha Gilbert,
Teresa Sea, Amber Persinger,
Brenda Cooper, Sarah Redes, Ed
and Danette Frye, Gary Allen, John
Lewis Michael Platt and Jay Vogel;
additionally, we'd like to thank the
many who helped and expressed a
desire to remain anonym6us. From
the bottom of our hearts, Shirley and
I thank each of you and wish you and
everyone a Happy Holiday season
and a prosperous New Year."
Talcott Man Charged with Beckley Teenage Rape
A Talcott man, self-employed in Charles Nathaniel "Chip" Mann, According to police, the 16-year
Beckley as a nail technician, 27, is facing charges of second degree old was having her nails manicured
allegedly assaulted a 16-year old girl sexual assault, or forcible rape, and when he asked her to step into a
after coaxing her into a back room is being held in the Southern back room where, after the doors
of his residence, according to Raleigh Regional Jail in lieu of $25,000 bend, were closed they would not reopen
County police. Detective Cpl. Jeff Shumate said. from the inside.
Ed Note: Rev. Glen A. Kuhn is
the pastor for the Central
Baptist Church, Hinton.