December 2021
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made, without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." (John 1:1-5)
These short and clear statements are some of the most striking and meaningful that have ever been written. I read over them once, many years ago and missed the meaning, but a few days later I read them a second time and my life was changed forever!
In 1967, through the generosity of my Young Life leaders (a businessman and a medical doctor), I was able to attend a Young Life camp in Colorado and while having the most exciting and amazing experience of my young life, I heard about Jesus for the first time. I was encouraged to "accept Jesus", but I told them I hadn't read "the Book" yet. I needed to read "the Book" to determine if I really believed it. Before the bus trip home, I went to the camp store and asked for a copy of "the Book" that the camp speaker had been reading from. That turned out to be a JB Phillips translation of the New Testament Bible.
On the sixteen-hour bus trip home to Richardson, Texas (just north of Dallas) I started reading the New Testament for the first time. When the bus stopped for breakfast, I saw a newspaper headline saying, "USS Forrestal Blows Up Off the Coast of Viet Nam". My brother, who was one of the most important people in my life, was on the USS Forrestal working on the flight deck. It was three more days before we heard from my brother and confirmed that he was alive. During those days of waiting, I read through the New Testament and prayed for my brother's safe return. I remember that after reading the last page, I thought this was a really important book and there was so much that I didn't understand. So, I started reading again from page one, and over a few days I read Matthew, Mark and Luke for the second time. When I started through The Gospel of John again, I was very impacted by the statement about Jesus quoted above! I read a few more chapters and then I remember getting on my knees and saying something like, "Jesus, I believe You are the expression of God, the Word of God, God in the flesh. I believe You, I believe in You, and I sign on to Your revolution. I will follow You and serve You for the rest of my life." Then I got up and kept reading and seeking and following Him.
During this Christmas season I write all of this just to remind us of how important it is to keep believing and following, to keep seeking, to keep being awed by the Christ Child, by Jesus on the Cross and by the King of Kings who is alive and Present! Let us celebrate Him by becoming like Him!
With blessings, love and gratitude!
Stan and Debbie Holmes