SIFT THE GRAIN FROM THE CHAFF

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful." - Norman Vincent Peale

Christmas is an annual celebration commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, it is observed most commonly on December 25th yearly, as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people today. While the birth year of Jesus is estimated amongst many scholars to be between the 7th and 2nd BC, the exact date of his birth is unknown, and this controversy is the focus for many antagonists, but for the Church, that's not important.
Very many people today have succeeded in misinterpreting and misrepresenting the whole idea of Christmas, which is to celebrate the gift of redemption for mankind. Many have replaced it with unwholesome and destructive ideas. We should realize that, the presence of an inferior is a proof that there is a superior. The chaff is the inferior, the grain is the superior. The grain is the gift of salvation through Christ. Whether we chose to debate the date of Christ's birth or celebrate the work of salvation, the fact cannot be broken, Christ was born to redeem us, and He's alive today. For Christians this is the reason we're bold to declare our deliverance from the devil's bondage and pledge our allegiance to our Lord.

NEED FOR REPENTANCE

“True repentance has a double aspect; it looks upon things past with a weeping eye, and upon the future with a watchful eye.” – Robert Smith

Many understand the term repentance to mean “turning from sin.” In the Bible, the word ‘repent’ means “to change one’s mind.” The Bible also tells us that true repentance will result in a change of actions.

Annette Yancey knew from the time her son Albert was a child that he had a special anointing on his life. "There was always a calling on him," Annette said. "But if a mother doesn't know how to protect that spiritual calling, it can really hurt." Albert started to drift as an eleven year old and by the time he was 17 years old he was a gang leader. Then on the night of September 7, 1991, Albert committed a murder. He was sentenced to life in prison. The long days in prison brought him to repentance. "On April 6, 1994, I gave my life to Christ," said Albert. "At first I was afraid to embrace it. I was afraid to walk away from the life I had succumbed to." Today, Yancey serves as a praise and worship leader at the Jester Unit where he occasionally preaches sermons. He also shares his testimony about his path to destruction with others through his organization, Prisoners Making Changes, a faith-based program designed by inmates to prevent youth from engaging in violence, drug abuse, gang involvement and other actions that could lead to prison. "I can't even identify with the person I used to be," he said. "I was on the path to