I pray that this Christmas is the BEST EVER

The Night Before Jesus Came


Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house
Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.
Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care
In hopes that Jesus would not come in there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And Mom in her rocker with babe on her lap
Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the East there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!

When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here!
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray
I knew in a moment this must be The Day!

The light of His face made me cover my head
It was Jesus! returning just like He’d said.
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.

In the Book of Life which He held in His hand
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;
When He said "It's not here" my head hung in shame.

The people whose names had been written with love
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He rose without sound
While all the rest were left standing around.

I fell to my knees, but it was too late;
I had waited too long and this sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;
Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.

In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;
The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
There's only one life and when comes the last call
We'll find that the Bible was true after all!

Just a note about some trees

Three Little Trees
Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: "I want to hold treasure. It want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!" The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on it's way to the ocean. "I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the world!" The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. "I don't want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they'll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world."

********* Years passed. The rain came, the sun shone, and the little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain... The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, "This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining axe, the first tree fell. "Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!" The first tree said. The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, "This tree is strong. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining axe, the second tree fell. "Now I shall sail mighty waters!" thought the second tree. "I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!" The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the woodcutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me." He muttered. With a swoop of his shining axe, the third tree fell.

The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter's shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feedbox for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, or treasure. She was coated with saw dust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals.

The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead, the once strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail on an ocean, or even a river; instead she was taken to a little lake.
The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. "What happened?" The once tall tree wondered. "All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God..."
Many many days and night passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams.

But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feedbox. "I wish I could make a cradle for him." her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and the sturdy wood. "This manger is beautiful," she said. And suddenly the first tree knew she was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through the wind and the rain. The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, "Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew she was carrying the king of heaven and earth.

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hands to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God's love had changed everything. It had made the third tree strong. And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God. That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.

Yes I look very foolness. Please don't show my wife this one. Oh that is right I am not married. Now you know why. 

It is that time of the year.
CHRISTMAS

I am so happy to be able to say MERRY CHRISTMAS. I know is some parts of this world that is not a thing to do. But we still live in a free country and I feel we should all take this time to wish everyone we know and even some we don’t.
There is a picture above of me, during a Christmas party for our Home Bible Study. That night we ate and sang Christmas Carols and ate some more, plus played a couple of games. We broke up in small groups and we had to fill up this stocking with balloons and then we were judged.Sorry to say I didn’t win, but it was still a lot of fun.
I will be in Fort Lauderdale, Dec. 18 to Jan. 2. So if you would like to contact me or what ever. Please e mail me (toms@alcbahamas.org)and when I get in town I will give you my phone number. Sorry to say I have phone for over there but I am not sure of the number. I will not be sending out cards this year.
Well at this time I just want to wish ALL of you MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

This is the Upper Room, of the barn facing north. 

This is the Upper Room,of the barn, facing south 

Hello, My Family In Christ

Hey, it is me again!

This time, I am writing to you about our classroom above the Barn. This is going to be the student’s Sanctuary, away from the rest of Centre. This room will have computers, desks and sofas so that the atmosphere is perfect for relaxing and studying the Word of God. There is still some work that needs to be completed here. The picture you are looking at is where we stand now. By seeing this, you can see the potential. We are still in need of about $20,000 to finish this room. The Patmos students will be here on January 21, 2007. There is a lot to do by then! For the bathhouse, we have received about 5% ($2,500) of the funds needed for completion. So, there are still some funds needed for that as well.

I am so proud to call you all my family in Christ. By looking at the world’s standards, we as believers have so much to be happy about. Just think about how we all know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savor. Simply knowing that when we leave this earth we will be in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ is mind boggling! I love these verses that are in Book of John. Chapter 3 verses 16-17 say, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” Isn’t that just so neat to know and to be able to go to the bank with that?

Fellow believers, please take this time to thank Him for what He has done for you. Plus, remember that this Christmas is all about Him. Please don’t go through this year not giving thanks and praise for what He has done for us. Thank you for your prayers and time.

Bye for now,
Tom
Phil 4:5-6


P.S. Would you like to write to me, E Mail address is
toms@alcbahamas.org
Plus if you would like to see my blog
http://tombahamas.blogspot.com