HERE WE ARE AGAIN IN DECEMBER. We are only now beginning to re-visit Christmas and all that it means to us relative to JESUS - and that is certainly not what the media and the world is out to celebrate. JESUS will probably largely be forgotten in the drinking, eating, and spending binges around the globe generally set to make some rich and the majority poorer. And, for the sake of political - or is it religious - correctness the least said about JESUS the better it will all be.

IN ELDORET since mid November, a lonely plastic pre-fabricated Christmas Tree has adorned the entrance to our Supermarket - undecorated, and with a price tag. NOTHING else to be seen here concerning this Festive Season. No Christmas music, no decorations anywhere, and nothing to suggest that a Special Season of Everlasting Joy is soon to break upon us. You can tell that here, at least, the universal rat race to make money is a little slow to take off - or is it that people just are not that interested, or financially motivated to spend?

As I have often shared, children here generally do not receive presents at Christmas. Slightly more middle class rich might now be beginning to observe such extravagances. Money is scarce, with a 60% unemployment rate, and soaring food prices. Most parents have to consider their daily bread before anything, and after that it will be School Fees and the need to provide and buy school uniform, books, and other incidental necessities. This year, before January, Testimony Faith Homes will expect to spend in the region of at least Khs.150,000 on school uniform alone. This usually comprises of leather shoes, socks, shirts / dress for girls, shorts or trousers, sweater (yes they ARE worn through the year!), ties, and games kit for each child. ALL children MUST attend school in full uniform. This puts a toy car or doll or some other attractive gift quite unable to be thought about. BUT most children are VERY happy even with a new pair of socks - I talk of the poorer majority of our nation. The minority middle and upper class tends to follow a world trend and provide mobile phones, computers, digital watches and cameras plus whatever other trendy electrical gadget may be being advertised and lusted after by their children. Their children are less thankful than those getting a pair of new or sometimes second hand shoes, and less conscientious in looking after what they receive. Certainly we have not noticed discontent or disappointment on the faces of our kids during Christmas time. They are mostly excited to remember the amazing and wonderful story of the Birth of JESUS, Saviour of the World, and to enter into the JOY of it, and the Thanksgiving for it, and the realisation that the LOVE of God is more to be desired than anything else. At least it has been so in the past, although NOW we do begin to see the affect of hearing and seeing what the RICHER families look forward to (from their School acquaintances). BUT still we have not found ourselves wanting to yield to this kind of pressure.
In the words of the Oliver Twist song 'Food, glorious food...' we have given in just a little to our normal staple diets constrictions, and at Christmas there is turkey for everyone, and if we are lucky even some Ice Cream just to emphasise the enrichment of the inner man that JESUS was born to offer each and every one. We shall watch various portrayals of His Birth on video and worship Him on Christmas Day, and spend a lot of time just enjoying each other's fellowship. There will be laughter, fun, and happiness. AMAZINGLY this still was the case in 2007 through into the New Year, when it looked as if blood and violence might engulf us all. We ARE Blessed.

SO FAR, this year, we have not heard of any 'guests' coming for Christmas - but that does not mean we shall not receive some! We live an Open House life, and rejoice to see visitors. Esther and I will miss our three children living in the UK, but we shall no doubt be talking to them on the Phone lines. We will be sure to have Daryl, Carol and their little family with us part of the time, and of course Manu and Helen our two youngest adopted children will be with us too.

We hope to catch sight - at the very least - of Joshua and Miriam Mbithi as well. Joshua has continued to be unwell and discomforted by his back. He needs prayer very much for his total recovery. He and Miriam remain very caught up in the ministry of caring for the 30 or so AIDS babies and infants that they look after. They continue to walk in Faith with the Lord, and we believe He will provide for them as He has done for us. I know that we together raise our continual Ebenezer for the Moving of His Spirit upon the hearts of so many that respond to His call to make a way for us here to LIVE.

I have just put on some Carols played and sung by members of the Salvation Army. A very beautiful recording. No decorations yet even in Green Cottage. We usually all put up a Christmas Tree in our homes on the 18th December and dress our sitting rooms up to look a little festive and jolly. Some days to go yet......but good to have words and music to begin to direct our thoughts and spirits towards once more looking for His Coming.

I was reading in Matthew 1, and noticed especially verse 17 once again -

'All the generations from Abraham to David

are fourteen generations,

From David to the Babylonian Exile,

are fourteen generations,

And from the Babylonian Exile to the Christ,

are fourteen generations.'

I have discovered that many eminent Christians have sought to forecast the Coming of Christ the Second Time by concluding that a further 14 generation would elapse from his Birth until 'NOW'.

Of course, the 'NOW' factor has varied with different mathematical calculations based on different ideas of exactly when the commencement of the 14 generations began. And of course also how long a 'generation' might be. BUT at least we seem to have most of them agreeing that if would bring us to the late 1900s or early to mid 2000s. During my investigations I also discovered just how many have been proved WRONG in their predictions - ALL of them so far!

Yes you are right, I am not going to make the same mistake - but I must say that it has underlined to my heart the fact that we should all BE expectant AND ready - for truly we know not WHEN He will come this time - BUT it really COULD be SOON. All my Christian Life I have looked for Him to COME, wanted and needed Him to come, and NOW in my elder days I am the more exhorted from within myself to pray and long for His Coming; not because I am, old, but because the world around me is worse, and failing fast. Many might label me as a pessimist, but I am more likely to be a realist, than an ostrich. The world would rather see nothing wrong; and those living in these last days the more willing to drug themselves into a state of false euphoria with sport, pleasures, and riotous living - is that why the world is plagued with drug and substances abuse, as well as sexual and other violence world wide - blind and deaf in the midst of all their activities to the inevitable End of All things coming upon this Generation? NOW more than ever, THIS CHRISTMAS more than any other that has past, we need to Watch and Pray that we are not caught out - UNREADY when He come. I want to be READY, wide awake, on the look-out, for the One who rescued ME from sin and sadness. I want to SEE Him Who died for me......... And I want my Family, all the children He has allowed us to find shelter with us, all our loved and dear friends far and wide - to BE WITH me on that Day not one lost, or found to be condemned. So I continue to testify to His Goodness, to His Everlasting Love, and to His present reality and to His sure coming to meet with us all in the Air. Be Excited! Let the Spirit of God thrill you.

This is obviously not the last Saturday before Christmas. I SHALL be writing again, and I merely ask you to join us in prayer together all and to WAIT upon the Lord. God richly Bless and Keep you in perfect Peace..

Lovingly in Him

John and Esther