Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/915021
8 UCW DECEMBER 13 - 19, 2017 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM BIBLICALLY SPEAKING When you think of essential, what comes to mind? I think about oxygen. You take that away, and you are dead. I just left the hospital after visit- ing a lady who was attached to an oxygen tank. For her, if she doesn't get oxygen, it's a bad thing. For her, oxygen is essential. Essential is defined as "of the utmost impor- tance." Synonyms might include basic, indispens- able and necessary. We live in such a dispensable world. Anything that is dispensable is thrown out. Anything that is essential is kept. One of our boys had a favorite Winnie the Pooh stuffed animal and a special blanket that tended to follow him every where. When we left the house, we had to have Pooh and blankie. When he went to bed, he had to have Pooh and blankie. For him, Pooh and blankie were essential (so essential that mom bought another identical pair). But here's the question: As we begin to focus on the Christmas season, how essential is Christ to Christmas? Is Christ something we can just throw out? Or something that must be kept? In recent years, our culture has all but removed Christ from Christmas. It's holiday celebrations. It's holiday trees. It's holiday parades. It's everything but Christ-mas. But can you really remove Christ and still have Christmas? Sure, you can celebrate Saint Nicholas and his generous giving spirit. In fact, Dec. 6 is the official Saint Nicholas Day. It's interesting that we focus more on Saint Nick than we do on Jesus Christ. Did you know that there is very little historical docu- mentation about Saint Nicholas? But the legends of Saint Nick have flourished. Somewhere along the way, people began giving gifts in his honor. In Germany, he became known as Christkindl (Christ-child), which evolved into Kriss Kringle. Yet, most of it is all legend. Essential is something of utmost importance. Instead of focusing all of our attention on the leg- endary stories of Saint Nick, why not focus on the real person of Jesus Christ? Christmas is more than giving gifts and singing carols. Christmas is the birth of the Jesus Christ. God became flesh and dwelt among us. is is the essential truth of Christmas. He is the one who should be celebrated and worshipped. e holi- day is even named after him. is season, why not remember the essential truth of who Jesus is and what Jesus did for you? Pick up a Bible and read the story of Christ. Begin with the familiar birth narrative in Luke 2. But then go and read the Gospel of John. See the won- der, experience the awe, and remember the Christ. How essential is Christ to Christmas? Indispensable. Is Christ essential to Christmas? by DR. CHRIS DICKERSON It's interesting that we focus more on Saint Nick than we do on Jesus Christ. DR. CHRIS DICKERSON, Carolina College of Biblical Studies. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. (910) 484-6200. Thank you to everyone who helped to make the 12th Annual Ryan's Reindeer Run a tremendous success! And a special thank you to the Reindeer Run Planning Committee and volunteers. Thank you to everyone who helped to make the 12th Annual Ryan's Reindeer Run a tremendous success! R Y A N ' S R E I N DE E R R U N 2017 Gold Sponsors Heather and Rich Barbaro • Cross Creek Pediatrics, PA Dave, Janice, Reese and John Dickerhoff • Timothy D. Edwards, Attorney at Law • David and Theresa Evans • Kids First Pediatrics of Raeford and Fayetteville • Kimrey Law, PLLC • The Melton Family • Systel Business Equipment • Up and Coming Weekly • Valley Auto World BMW & VW • Valley Regional Imaging Silver Sponsors Cape Fear Rehab • Fayetteville Academy • JEB Designs, Inc. • Joel S. Jenkins, Jr. Attorney/ The Real Estate Law Firm Bronze Sponsors Boles Supply, Inc. • Callahan and Rice Insurance Group, Inc. Cape Fear Cardiology Associates, P.A. • Cape Fear Discount Drugs Cashwell Appliance Parts, Inc. • Hematology & Oncology Associates of Fayetteville, P.A. Highland Pediatric Dental • The John Holmes Family • Pryzgoda Family Dental Care Medical Arts Family Practice, P.A • Robert Maughan • Terry and Jan Smith • Valley Radiology • Tommy King • The Coffee Scene • Fayetteville Public Works Commission www.ryansreindeerrun.com Proceeds from the run benefit The Ryan P. Kishbaugh Memorial Foundation, Friends of the Cancer Center of CFVHS, Duke Pediatric Bone Marrow Unit, The Child Advocacy Center and other local charities. "So do a favor for me, and whatever you're doing today, just go out and RUN, somewhere, anywhere, just ." Ryan P. Kishbaugh.