December Bulletin Page 4

ONE SOLITARY LIFE

He was born in a stable the child of a peasnat woman; grew up in an obscure village; worked as a carpenter until He was 30; and then became an intinerant preacher for 3 years. He never went to college; He neve wrote a book; He never held an office; He never owned a home; He never had a family; He never had a lot of money; He never traveled more than 200 miles from His birthplace; He never accomplished anything that usually mark greatness; He had no credentials, but Himself.

Although He spoke with great authority, taught with unusual wisdom and was widely accepted by the people, the religious leaders of His day opposed Him. While He was still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned on Him. He was betrayed by a friend; abandoned by His associates; and turned over to His enemies. He was falsely accused; endured the mockery of a trial and was unjustly condemned to die.

He was crucified between two thieves; while He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth, and that was His clothing. When He was dead, He was buried in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.

Nineteen centuries have come and gone and today He is the central figure of the human race, and the cornerstone of world progress. And all the armies that ever marched; and all the navies that ever sailed; and all the parliaments that ever sat; and all the kings that ever reigned, all put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as has the ONE SOLITARY LIFE.

GOD'S GIFTS

By Garnett Ann Schultz

Nobody owns a mountain, nobody owns the sea, none can possess the sunshine, a bright reaching sumertime tree. Nature is all around us lending her special charms, touching God's world with her magic and holding it fast in her arms.

No one can hold to a snowflake so quickly it melts fast away, we can't bid the twilight to linger when we come to the end of the day. Rainbows are but for a moment there in the blue of the sky, bright colored leaves of the Autumn are gone in the blink of an eye.

Winter soon changes to Springtime then quickly a soft Summer day fades to the magic of Autumn, then white Winter snowflakes at play. A world filled with wonder and magic, miracles loaned from above, yet no one ever can own them, they're God's gifts of heavenly love.