really gone. Now he thinks he’s the mayor of Boston.” But as he thought on it the more, his curiosity got the better of him. The next day he went to the mayor’s office and presented himself to the receptionist. She in turn quickly showed him into the private office. There he met a clean-shaven and well-dressed business man; the one he "CHR ISTMAS IN AFRICA" Hark the Herald Nationalists sing Their own praise— none for the King. Silent night— waiting night Where the calm for terror's fright? While shepherds here watch bovine herds, Propaganda grinds out words. It came upon the midnight clear, Not harps of gold, but cry of fear. Oh little town of Bush and Veld, Distorted paraphrase you say? Yet that's our continent today. Excited, terrorized; ignited, Caught in a frenzy and excited. Expecting, seeking, wildly hoping, Wanting Light, but still in groping. Joy to the world, the Lord IS nigh His ear is tuned to human' cry. Oh come then all, ye dark-skinned faithful. Retain your joy and glad triumph! For Christ the Lord was born and lives, And for each wound sure healing gives. If dusty knees bow low to Him Dark eyes can shine with glory's glim. And Africa's stalwarts join Christ's throng, Their rhythmic chants can swell His song. From Devastation: Life anew With proof again: Christmas is true! "So Jesus had compassion on them . . ." by Thais Good Biola '49 had helped was indeed the mayor of Boston. The civic leader kept his prom ise, although he cautioned the young man not to tell anyone what had hap pened. But he could not keep silent. He began telling friends and soon the word got to the local newspaper. On Christ mas Eve the paper carried the banner headline about the mayor’s visit to the
depressed area and titled it “Greatest Social Stoop in History.” But the bend ing down of the mayor pales into in significance when we consider what our Lord Jesus Christ did for us. He who was in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and be came obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. God’s good gift is His beneficient love poured forth upon a bankrupt world. But we are reminded here that God also gives us His perfect gift. Have you ever known of a perfect gift that some one has given to you? I doubt it, be cause all of us are imperfect people. I read an article in the newspaper the other day about a woman and a man who were-getting a divorce; they called it “incompatibility.” The wife declared that her husband had no gumption. He on the other hand complained that his wife would do such things as squeeze the toothpaste from the cen ter of the tube rather than from the end. Imperfect people give imperfect or corruptible gifts. That tie you may receive will get dirty, or stained with food. Perhaps before next year, it will be of little or no value. Toys, given to the children, soon fall into a shambles. The whole world bears the curse of man’s sin. But God’s gift is perfect and complete; it never deteriorates. Whenever something lovely is given to us the first thing we ask is, “'Who is it from?” So we realize that these good and perfect gifts come from God above. Did you ever ask yourself, “Why didn’t He give us something from this earth; something from about us?” Simply be cause all about us bears the marks of sin. So, from the eternal council chambers of heaven itself, God sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to be our Saviour. That’s why the Saviour told Nicodemus of old, “Ye must be bom again” not from this earth but from above. These gifts, of course, come down (continued on next page) 23
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