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♦ SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2007 6A Walk Through Bethlehem continues today and tomorrow From Staff Reports Shirley Hills Baptist Church on Corder Road in Warner Robins is once more giving a gift of Christmas joy to the people of Middle Georgia. The annual “Walk Through Bethlehem,” which attracts thousands each year, is a complete re-creation of the city of Christ’s birth, with costumed townspeople, including armed Roman Centurions, shopkeep ers and, of course, Mary and Joseph, who have come there to pay taxes. You will find the stable and the manger - always with a live “Baby Jesus” cared for by his real par ents. The walk, which is open to all at no charge, is a year-round labor of love for the Rev. Andy Cook and his congregation. It takes about half an hour to complete, and those who are waiting for their turn on the tour enjoy music and fellowship. Hours are 4 p.m. through 10 p.m. tonight and Ttomorrow. To larn more, visit www.shirleyhills.com. Christmas should be a year-round attitude “Shut Up!” a young store clerk called out to another. “Shut Up! The co-work er responded. The unpleasant words were not angrily spoken, just a little cross talk between two friends, each attempting to give the last command. After the harsh words were exchanged three executive times each. I chimed in with a “Merry Christmas.” Earline Cole Reflections ‘Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus 5 This treasured letter first appeared in the Chicago Sun, in sresponse to a letter from a child named Virginia O’Hanlon. Virginia wrote: “DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old. “Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. “Papa says, ‘lf you see it in THE SUN it’s so.’ “Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus? The Editor wrote back: VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepti cism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge. Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and gener osity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its high est beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no child like faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eter nal light with which child hood fills the world would be extinguished. Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus com ing down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that nei ther children nor men can This brought another clerk into the conversation. “Christmas,” he said with the atti tude of old Ebenezer Scrooge,” “I’m tired of Christmas; we’ve been having Christmas ever since October. “Tired of Christmas and it’s not even here, yet?” I asked. Quickly, the first clerk called my attention to a major mistake. “Christmas IS here,” he said. “Christmas is giving and we can give anytime we want to. We don’t have to wait until December 25th.” Convinced that someone started the tradition for financial gain, the young *, ./Jr Im ■KjWPhK w,. » i| D * Jm ■|ippx ■ WsL s.a, % if Wkk * h WF p Mwa lapijk. _ v r dHBBjf " i&V 1/ > K 1 Ik / 111 4.M Santa C/aus was a reality for these children at the Perry Volunteer Outreach Christmas Dinner. All of the children received gifts and enjoyed a turkey dinner. see. Did you ever see fair ies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unsee able in the world. You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty DAVID OVERTON JEWELERS < %j^ > 905 Carroll St. Perry, GA 31069 478-987-1392 IfIVE and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years 1812 D.S. 41N. Perry, GA 987-1112 Qt&Ceks FIoonngAMHHGA S**t6>uUdrnf 9 7toM6yuuH#U*s 9 /4ttVUXtiA*A 478-988-2448 740 Main Street Perry G A 31069 *t/Criit Online 56849 www.sewingbees.com man suggested the date should be removed from the calendar and every day be looked upon as Christmas. Christmas is in the heart. Christmas is in the mind. The “Merry Christmas” attitude should be an everyday one. It should not start in October and end on December 25. When the spirit of Christ dwells within, the spirit of Christmas lives, the glow o the flickering candle within the heart’s window will generate the warmth of His love from one to anoth er .. . before and after December 25. “And the work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteous- from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood. LONGHORN BUTCHER SHOP Your hometown butcher Since 1976 1207 Sunset Avt. • Perry Plaza Perry, GA .11069 Lee Lassiter 478-987-5711 Greer Lassiter 156857 * ’ s (/PERRY FLORIST 734 Main Street Perry, Georgia 31069 987-1656 800-516-10041 sC in [5685^ "Let the spirit move you" Isaiah and John got a glimpse of heaven Were a national poll taken of Billy Powell Columnist what do you think it would be? I would cast my vote for God’s throne room in heaven. Two men of the Bible were allowed a glimpse into heaven. Isaiah saw the Lord sitting high upon a throne sur rounded by a host of sera phim singing, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts.” John also witnessed the glo ries of heaven. The first thing that John saw was an open door leading into heaven. This door is never closed to those who genuinely seek God, and is always open to those who have accepted Christ as their savior. A voice that sounded like a trumpet said to John, “Come up hither.” As John passed through heaven’s door, his eyes feasted upon the majestic sight of God’s throne. God’s countenance reflected the scintillating brilliance of jasper and camelian. These precious stones, which sparkle and flash with luminous splen dor, symbolize the holiness and glory of God. Circling above the throne was a rainbow, which repre sented God’s everlasting cov enant with His people. It is a covenant in which God has no favorites. His love and mercy are available to all men Roundabout the throne were 24 thrones, and seated on the thrones were 24 elders, clad in white garments, with golden crowns upon their ... What you%re got goingJ on. Send us ||pur churcfrl bulletin. andme’ll help. RjjjMail to: Houston Home jifw 1210 Washington St. Perry, GA 31065* Perry Brake & Muffler ®1202 Main St. Perry, GA 31069 Complete Car Maintenance NAPA Auto Care 56858 478-987-3813 Rk'THE BANK i|M OF PERRY Please worship at the church of your choice 1006 Main St. • Ferry 987-2552 Member FDIC HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL heads. These elders are sym bolic of the twelve patriarchs of the Old Testament and the twelve Apostles of the New Testament. Their white gar ments indicate they had been washed clean by the blood of Jesus. Their crowns signify rewards bestowed upon them for overcoming the world and remaining true to God. Coming from the throne were flashes of lightening and peals of thunder, which are reminiscent of the sensory and auditory manifestations of God’s presence at Mount Sinai where the frightened Israelites quaked with terror. Between John and the throne was a “sea of glass, like crys tal.” This expanse of sea is fig urative of the vast and impass able distance between a holy God and sinful man. On each side of the throne were four living creatures, the most powerful beings imagin able. Each had six wings; their bodies being full of eyes. The face of the first creature was a lion, the second a bull, the third a human, and the fourth an eagle. Day and night the crea tures sing, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God almighty, who was, and is and is to come. ” The scene concludes as the 24 elders fall down to worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast down their vic tor’s crowns in homage before the throne, singing, “Worthy art thou, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for thou didst create all things, and by thy will they existed and were created.” Since our bodies, our souls, our very existence come from God, should we not bow down as the elders did and worship Him too? God-fear ing believ ers on what . was considered the most stunning and breath taking spectacle the human eye could behold, Serving Houston County Perry • Warner Robins Member FDIC CB&T Bank of Middle Georgia Lms6. Perry Drug Comnany Friendly. Professional Sendee > ■' " '■ *■■ ' '*•*? ' Ben Bartlett St Hubert Bennett, Rt (.ISTERED PHARMACISTS M*st hisiuwMt ActtpttS _ 1036 MAC ON RD.» PERRY, GA [56861^ _ 988-1144 56862