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December 2006

Dear Friends:

Greetings in Jesus’ mighty name!

I am sorry this is a little late but I was waiting for the Lord to “give” me something to write. You would not want to waste your time reading something that came from me. Yesterday, I noticed that something was wrong and the Lord showed me what it was.

Have you also noticed that it is the Christmas season and something just is not right? Yes, I am old and love the memories of long ago Christmas times but this is more than longing for the past. I am wondering what happened to the “Christmas spirit.” I remember, only a few years ago that people were happy and smiling at this time of year. Yes shopping was crowded and rushed but no one was cursing and shoving. People were smiling not frowning. I have seen so few smiles it is frightening. What happened?

In the town where I live four people have been killed in car accidents on the main road of the town. The accidents were attributed to excess speed, alcohol and road rage. A car forced a small motorcycle off the road and the young rider was killed. A elderly woman crossing the road was run down. Someone driving DUI in broad daylight hit four cars stopped at a red light and killed a grandmother on her way home with presents for her grandchildren. Now the city is thinking about widening the road but I don’t think the problem is with the road –it is with the people driving on the road. What happened? Why are they all angry?

I think I have an answer—the Christmas spirit left when Christ left. We have finally succeeded in taking Christ out of Christmas. The stores are decorated but there are no signs that say “Merry Christmas,” only “Happy holidays.” The manger scenes that once were in the store windows and at public buildings are all gone. The Christ, “reason for the season” is missing!

Many years ago the early church took back the December holiday from Satan and turned it into a time when we remember:

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 NAS

Some people have a problem with the December date for remembering the birth of Christ—the birth that gave us life. I don’t! The early church overcame the darkness. They took that December holiday from Satan and now we are giving it back. The Lord said to the churches of Asia:

He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Revelation 3:21-22 NAS

When we took God out of our schools, guns and drugs moved in. When we took God out of our courts, injustice and judicial tyranny moved in. Now that we are busy removing Christ from Christmas, greed and violence are moving in.

We say that Christmas is a time of joy love and peace and hang these words on our trees and in the store windows but we have failed to realize that without Christ there can be no joy, love or peace. He is love - He is joy - He is peace!. There can be no joy love or peace without Him. We, are making Christmas politically correct and giving back to Satan what Christians in the early centuries died to win. We are snatching defeat out of the mouth of victory! The early Church overcame. Why are we not fighting this? Have we bought the lie that there is a Christmas spirit apart from Christ? The letters to the churches in Asia (Revelation 2&3) warn of the dangers of buying the lies of the world and encourage them to be overcomers.

We cannot let Satan turn Christmas back into a winter holiday full of debauchery and sin. We cannot concede the fact that this is the time we remember that Jesus, the maker of the universe, came to earth to bring us life!

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:6 NAS

A mother who turns away from an abortion mill gives her child the greatest gift—life. The sidewalk counselor who pleads with women to choose life gives the gift of life. The church who chooses to pray for lives of children right at the gates of hell where the babies are dying is giving the gift of life. The pro-lifer, who stands on the sidewalk in blistering sun and bitter cold, states by his or her presence that life is valuable and worth the inconvenience of standing there. The pro-lifer who supports a pro-life ministry even when it is not popular to do so also gives the gift of life. They all give the perfect gift– the gift of life. Children are alive because people like you care. You are overcomers!

The Lord is coming back for His church, His pure and spotless bride, the overcoming Church not a politically correct church group. Will you join me in overcoming this Christmas season—in taking back what the devil stole. We can put a nativity scene in front of our houses. We can wish people Merry Christmas not Happy Holidays and witness in lines at stores about the “reason for the season.” We can witness life to women in the eleventh hour at abortion clinics. This is not a battle we have to concede. We can win this one by just “showing up!”

We at LCI are thanking the Lord for the gift life and for you. You have chosen to support Life Coalition International with your donations and prayers when you have many worthy causes and ministries to choose from. Thank you!!

A servant,

Pat McEwen

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment

and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. Isaiah 9:6,7