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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Sermons for
Advent 4</SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Matthew 1:18-25
- "The Christmas Promise: God with Us"</SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Matthew 1:18-25
- "Have a Jolly Imperfect Christmas This Year!" by Leonard Sweet</SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Matthew 1, the
sermon titled "The Christmas Promise: God with Us" </SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">G. K.
Chesterton, the noted British poet and theologian, was a brilliant man who could
think deep thoughts and express them well.<SPAN> </SPAN>However, he was
also extremely absent-minded and over the years he became rather notorious for
getting lost.<SPAN> </SPAN>He would just absolutely forget where he was
supposed to be and what he was supposed to be doing. On one such occasion, he
sent a telegram to his wife which carried these words: "Honey, seems I'm lost
again.<SPAN> </SPAN>Presently, I am at Market Harborough.<SPAN>
</SPAN>Where ought I to be?"<SPAN> </SPAN>As only a spouse could say it,
she telegraphed back a one-word reply "HOME!"</SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">This is
precisely what this classic passage in the first chapter of Matthew does for
us... it brings us home... </SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">-- Home to the
real meaning of Christmas </SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">-- Home to the
most magnificent truth in the entire Bible</SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">-- Home to our
Lord's greatest promise </SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">-- Home to the
reason we celebrate Christmas<SPAN> </SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Namely this:
"GOD IS WITH US!" When we accept Christ into our lives, nothing, not even death,
can separate us from God and His love.<SPAN> </SPAN>It is what Christmas
is about.<SPAN> </SPAN>God is with us. The great people of faith have
always claimed that promise.<SPAN> </SPAN>Just think of it: </SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">-- Moses caught
between the Pharaoh and the deep Red Sea in a seemingly hopeless situation
believed that God was with him and he went forward and trusted God to open a way
and He did! </SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">-- Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego went into the fiery furnace into a seemingly hopeless
situation and they trusted God to be with them and He was!</SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">-- Little David
stood before Goliath.<SPAN> </SPAN>What chance could a small boy with a
slingshot have against this giant of a warrior?<SPAN> </SPAN>But David
believed that God was with him and it made all the difference!</SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Now, it's
interesting to note that when the writer of Matthew's gospel wanted to capture
the meaning of Christmas, the meaning of the Christ event, the meaning of Jesus
in a single word, he did a very wise thing.<SPAN> </SPAN>He reached back
into the Old Testament, pulled out an old word, dusted it off, and used it to
convey the message.<SPAN> </SPAN>The word was Emmanuel.<SPAN>
</SPAN>That's what Jesus is about "His name shall be called Emmanuel" which
means, "God is with us."</SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The impact of
that Christmas promise is incredible.<SPAN> </SPAN>When you believe that,
when you accept that, when you claim that promise it will absolutely change your
life.<SPAN> </SPAN>Let me show you what I mean by bringing this closer to
home.<SPAN> </SPAN>Let me underscore three ideas relating to this great
promise of God's presence.<SPAN> </SPAN>I'm sure you will think of others,
but for now please consider these. We can claim the great Christmas promise God
with us...</SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">1. When We Are
Frightened. </SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">2. When We Are
Lonely.</SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">3. When We Are
in Sorrow.</SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The rest of
this sermon following the outline above can be obtained by joining
www.eSermons.com.</SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">_______________________</SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Matthew
1:18-25, the sermon titled "Have a Jolly Imperfect Christmas This Year!" by
Leonard Sweet </SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Some
Christmas's stay forever in our hearts and minds because they were so beautiful,
so magical, so perfect. </SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">*You got your
Red Ryder BB gun or Malibu Barbie. </SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">*The time the
Christmas pageant went off without a hitch. </SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">*The year when
everyone got to come home. </SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">*A blanket of
snow on Christmas Eve draped everything in white and wonder.</SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">But other
Christmas's are forever etched in our memories because they were so IMPERFECT.
</SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">*The year it
flooded and Christmas was spent at the neighbors who lived on higher ground.
</SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">*The year no
one noticed the oven turned off and the turkey ran with blood-red juice when
carved. </SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">*The year it
snowed TWO FEET and a family of happy relatives became a snarling, surly captive
audience for a full week. </SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Christmas
disasters! </SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Maybe. Maybe
not. Sometimes it may be those Christmas's where everything seems to go wrong
that we find the most authentic of our Christmas experiences, where we discover
the Christ child most firmly in our midst.</SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The first
Christmas would never make it into anyone's family photo album of perfect
holiday moments. In Luke's gospel there are a lot of details about everything
that went wrong when Jesus was born. Joseph and Mary had to hit the road for
Bethlehem. There was no room at the inn. The baby was born in a barn. Some
random bunch of smelly shepherds horn in on the new family. </SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">In this week's
reading of Matthew's gospel we learn that things were "messed up" way before
Jesus was even born...</SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The rest of
Leonard Sweet's sermon can be obtained by joining www.Sermons.com </SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">__________________</SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">His Name Says
It All</SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Matthew doesn't
want Joseph or any of us to get stuck in the dream. Matthew wants to bring us
back down to earth, back to our waking reality, by invoking the name of
Immanuel. Because if the Jesus, whose name was given to Joseph in a dream, is to
do us any good, he'd better meet us and be with us in all those times when
dreams end and when the crushing weight of a miserable world comes crashing down
around our shoulders again. If he is only Jesus, the one who saves us from our
sins, it would still be too easy to turn him into the one who also saves us out
of the real world. But if he is Immanuel, then we realize we don't have to go
anywhere to meet him other than the hurly-burly reality of our Monday mornings
and our Thursday afternoons. We don't have to go find him in some other realm
because he has already found us in exactly this realm and this
world.<BR><BR>Immanuel is God-with-us in the cancer clinic and in the
Alzheimer's ward at the local nursing home. Immanuel is God-with-us when the
pink slip comes and when the beloved child sneers, "I hate you!" Immanuel is
God-with-us when you pack the Christmas decorations away and, with an aching
heart, you realize afresh that your one son never did call over the holidays.
Not once. Immanuel is God-with-us when your dear wife or mother stares at you
with an Alzheimer's glaze and absently asks, "What was your name
again?"<BR><BR>Ever and always Jesus stares straight into you with his two good
eyes and he does so not only when you can smile back but most certainly also
when your own eyes are full of tears. In fact, Jesus is Immanuel, "God with you"
even in those times when you are so angry with God that you refuse to meet his
eyes. But even when you feel like you can't look at him, he never looks away
from you. He can't. His name says it all.<BR><BR>Scott Hoezee, Comments and
Observations<BR>____________________________<BR><BR></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">God Does Not
Desert Us</SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">I find it
strange that God has never deserted me. I don't understand that kind of grace
frankly. I do not deserve his eternal presence, nor do you. Yet, God has forever
identified with the human dilemma. There may not be a soul in the world who
truly understands your feelings. God understands. All in your life may fall
away. God will never fall away.</SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">In Tom Brokaw's
book The Greatest Generation, a story is told of Mary Wilson, presently of
Dallas, Texas. You would never know by looking at this modest woman that she was
the recipient of the Silver Star and she bore the nickname "The Angel of Anzio."
You will recall that when the Allies got bogged down in the boot of Italy during
World War II, they attempted a daring breakout by launching an amphibious
landing on the Anzio Beach. Unfortunately, the Allies got pinned down at the
landing site and came dangerously close to being driven back into the ocean. It
looked like another Dunkirk was in the making.</SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Mary Wilson was
the head of the fifty-one army nurses who went ashore at Anzio. Things got so
bad that bullets zipped through her tent as she assisted the surgeon in surgery.
When the situation continued to deteriorate arrangements were made to get all of
the nurses out. But Mary Wilson would have none of it. She refused to leave at
the gravest hour. As she related her story years later, she said: "How could I
possibly leave them. I was a part of them."</SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Our God is a
good God. He does not desert us in our hour of need. He hears the cries of
Israel. He hears the cries of the church. He hears the cries of His children.
Christmas is about God's eternal identification with the human
dilemma.</SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Staff, <A
style="COLOR: #0000ff"
href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=aelnpceab&et=1104073264550&s=45429&e=001z4xCK9SYHyWfzSalvzJYFcpwmjxJPMKoeFbdUselrCaRYBkZmtxAF2bpSUorQOZru1HIV5fFTZjCoJTEVtbcsLmWFaokmVqNLmAm9DqP0Jx8kA3rj-ugvw=="
shape=rect target=_blank>www.eSermons.com</A> </SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">____________________</SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">A Tough
Question</SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">When I meet
with a couple in preparation for their baby's baptism, I always ask this
question: Have you prepared a will and have you specified in it who would rear
your child if you were removed from the picture? Young parents don't like to
even think about such a possibility, but life's uncertainties make it necessary.
It's a tough question. Whom do you trust enough to rear your precious child? God
had to answer that question when he decided to send his son Jesus to planet
earth. God had to select a mother and a stepfather for his son.</SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Bill Bouknight,
Collected Sermons, <A
href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=aelnpceab&et=1104073264550&s=45429&e=001z4xCK9SYHyUdxobrT5RYWHol0RsLqepYL4oq1IkiuwmHObUziQYOPGS8mkz2OGDGrxIS99MNx6lstpwK7i693BxrflhkMFvPQzUubge5dOjQxy0VTK8krQ=="
shape=rect target=_blank>www.Sermons.com</A> </SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">____________________________________</SPAN></P></BODY></HTML>