A look back and ahead – “I Heard the Bells”

By: American Decency Staff

 

I “Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” – a look back and a look in the future.

Are you familiar with that great old poem? 

It was written during the Civil War by a father of a soldier who upon hearing that his son was shot (and yet not knowing if he survived).

It goes like this.

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,Of peace on earth, good will to men!

My father-in-law in the last years of his life read it aloud at a family gathering.  It was solemnly and thoughtfully read. Now the years have passed by, and my family has carried it on and  read it as we gather as a family on Christmas to deepen our children and their children’s perspective upon darkness and light and despair and hope in our world and in our lives!

We may not be in a Civil War per se (but we are of sorts), but there certainly is “no peace on earth” – verse 3. 

We talked about this.  There is no peace in so many issues in our world: Islamists, beheadings, the advancement of illegal immigration, corruption and wickedness in high places, the intentional disrespect and even attacks on our police officers in New York City, Ferguson and beyond, the push and shoving down our throats of anti-biblical marriage, etc., etc.

We know that true peace IS discoverable.  Christ IS here and with those who know Him as their only hope. 

BEHIND ALL clouds is the clear pure ether of God's love. We are not dismayed by the storms that sweep the earth's surface, for beneath them are unfathomed depths of stillness. God sees His way through them, and is using them to fulfill His great purpose. Difficulties are nothing to Him. He weighs the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance. He is our Father, and we need not fear. The children who are snugly ensconced in the car which their father is driving are not afraid of the hail-storm that rattles on the window and the wild winds that sweep the earth. It is enough for them that their father is with them, and knows his way, and is making swiftly for home. And if we are following hard after God, then His right hand will uphold us, and we can leave all the rest with Him.  ….
F.B. Meyer, Our Daily Walk

As you prayerfully consider your support of American Decency Association, we remind you not to neglect first your tithe to your local church. 

Secondly, we seek new and old supporters who would strengthen us financially as God leads.

Some of you reading this have been blessed and strengthened by ADA but as yet have not supported our work.  May I encourage you in the following way?  If you have been blessed and strengthened by ADA  through emails, DVDs, bulletin inserts, newsletters, speakers, movies, and/or our radio broadcasts heard locally, in the Washington, DC area, or on the web, would you be one that would stand with us financially now and in the coming year? 

In closing, I urge you to prayerfully give as generously as you are able. Having been members of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) since 1993, I want you to know that we are audited or reviewed every year and have always been members in good standing.

On behalf of the staff and board of the ADA, I want to extend a very warm thanks to the many of you who have stood with us and to thank you in advance for choosing to stand with us in prayer and support in the days ahead.

Please help us finish 2014 on strong financial footing.  Thanks for whatever you can do, that God would be glorified.

Thank you, dear friend.

To support our efforts please click here or mail your gift to American Decency Association (ADA), PO Box 202, Fremont, MI 49412.  

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