> Hello dear friend!
> Well as you know, it's time for my birthday
> again. Last year, they had a really big party for me and it
> seems like they will again this year. After all they've been
> shopping and preparing for it for months now, and there
> have been announcements and advertisements almost
> every day about how soon it's coming! They really do go
> overboard about it, but it's nice to know that at least on one
> day of the year some people are thinking about me a little.
>
> You know, it's been many years now since they first started
> celebrating my birthday. Back then they seemed to realize
> and appreciate how much fun it is for the little children. Just
> the same, it seems that most folks are missing the point of
> it all
> Like last year, for example, when my birthday came around,
> they threw a big party, but can you believe it? I wasn't even
> invited! Imagine! The guest of honor, and they forgot all
> about me? Here they had begun preparing for the festivities
> months in advance, but when the big day came, I was left
> out in the cold? Well, it happened so many times in recent
> years, I wasn't even surprised. Even though I wasn't invited,
> I thought I'd just quietly slip in anyway. So I came in and
> stood off to the side.
>
> Everyone was drinking, laughing and having a grand time,
> when all of a sudden in came this fat fellow in a bright red
> suit, wearing a phony white beard and shouting, "Ho Ho Ho!".
> He looked like he had more than enough to drink. When he
> collapsed into a big armchair, all the little children went
> running over to him excitedly yelling, "Santa! Santa!". I
> mean, you'd have thought he was the guest of honor and
> the whole holiday was just for him.
>
> Finally I just had to leave. I walked out the door. It was no
> surprise that no one even noticed that I had gone As I
> walked down the street afterward, I felt about as lonely
> and forlorn as a stray dog? I could not remember the last
> time I'd felt that low. Maybe you don't think I cry??
>
> The little manger scene you put in the corner of your living
> room is really touching! It's good that people commemorate
> my birthday like that. Did you know that nowadays, in some
> countries, the authorities won't even allow manger scenes to
> be placed in parks, streets, or public place anymore! Not to
> mention their schools! I'm not talking about Communist
> countries! I'm talking about the good, old USA. Imagine!
> What could be more innocent than a manger scene to
> remind people of my birthday? Yet it is banned! They've
> actually passed laws against it and made it illegal! What's
> this world coming to?
>
> Another thing that amazes me is how, on my birthday,
> instead of giving me presents, most people give gifts to
> each other! And to top it all off, it's usually all kinds of stuff
> they don't even need! Let me ask you, wouldn't you find it
> odd if when your birthday came along, all your friends
> decided to celebrate it by giving each other presents and
> never gave you a thing?
>
> Someone once told me, "Well, it's because you're not
> around like other people are, so how can we give you a
> present??. You know my answer to that one: Then give
> gifts of food and clothing to the poor, help those who need
> it. Go visit the lonely! Any gift you give to your needy fellow
> man, I'll count as if you gave it to me personally! (See
> Matthew 25:34-40)
>
> It reminds me of what happened recently to a friend of mine,
> a sweet elderly fellow. He's from the poorer side of town, and
> he's been trying unsuccessfully for years to join the church.
> It was a very exclusive church for the proper kind of folks,
> and they just did not think he was good enough to be a
> member. I found him one day sitting by the church steps
> with his head on his hands bowed. I asked him what was
> wrong. He told me about it. I put my arm around his shoulder
> and told him I knew just how he felt. I've been wanting to
> enter that same church for twenty years and they've never
> let me in either!
>
> Well there is an end even to my patience. So I'm going to
> let you in on a secret. Now this is something I've been
> planning on doing for quite sometime. I'll have my own party!
> How about that? It's going to be the most fantastic feast
> you could possibly imagine! It might not happen this year,
> but I'm sending out the invitations now. I know you'll want
> to come. There is going to be room for billions, for everyone
> who wants to come! Some really famous old timers and
> celebrities are going to be there and I'll reserve you a seat of
> honor right with them! (Mat. 8:11)
>
> So hold on to your hat because when everything is ready, I'm
> going to spring it as a big surprise! Many people are going to
> be left out in the cold because they did not answer my invitation.
> Let me know right away if you'd like to come. I'll reserve you a
> place and write your name in large golden letters in my great
> big Guest Book!
> Much Love,
> Jesus
Dennis
