THE LOGOS

'Making Room For Jesus'- a message from the president

There is a kind of pathos which surrounds the words of this text as we think about our Lord and Savior being born in a stable because there was no room in the inn to receive him.

The context, circumstances, and the characters differ, but the malady of overcrowded and unconcern lives remains even to this day. It is easy to accuse the innkeeper of all kinds of gross negligence and put the total responsibility upon him for the mean circumstances in which Jesus was born. It is easy to debate whether or not the innkeeper did all that he possibly could to provide Mary and Joseph with lodging within the inn. Jesus, however, faces the same problem today--no room.

Maybe one of the reasons we are inclined to come down hard on the Bethlehem innkeeper is because we feel guilty about doing the same thing to Jesus--not leaving sufficient room in our hearts and lives to receive him wholly when He comes.

It should be observed that the innkeeper displayed no hostility towards Mary and Joseph. It cannot be proven that he withheld any extra rooms from them; the account simply tells us that he just didn't have any room. There was no room because others had arrived before Joseph and Mary. If they had arrived earlier, they no doubt would have been accommodated. However, earlier arrivals had taken up all the space. Furthermore, with his inn being so overcrowded and with so many requests and demands, the innkeeper could give some attention to everybody, but didn't have the time to give anybody the kind of specialized attention he deserved or might have desired.

It is good to be busy and productive, but sometimes our lives can be overcrowded to the point that we don't do much of anything well. One of the hard realities that some of us need to face is the truth that we cannot do everything we want to do without something being crowded out. We are only built to accommodate so much. Better to do few things well than a lot of things sloppily. At some point we really need to decide what is necessary and what is optional, what really must be done and what we simply would like to do. Otherwise we will find ourselves neglecting what we should not neglect and giving out time and attention to what we really could neglect.

Many times, as out text demonstrates, when life gets overcrowded, Jesus is often pushed out. The Church and Jesus, not social commitments or some spur-of- the-moment item we bought, are considered to be expendable items on our overcrowded dockets. When money gets tight, for some of us, tithes and offerings become expendable.

We don't intend to crowd the Savior out; other things have simply gotten a hold on our lives. Our lives have a number of early arrivals---sins which give us pleasure, habits that we support and maintain, routines that we have established (we do certain things with certain people at certain times), grudges that we nurse, bad feelings that we cling to--and we can't let anything interfere with them. Consequently, we have no room--no energy, no time, no money--left for Jesus.

It's dangerous when we allow our hearts and lives to become too crowded with the things and cares of this world. The word of God is clear: If we have been too busy to answer when he came knocking on the door of our lives, then we will not be invited to the party when he comes again, when those who have allowed him to be born in their lives are caught up to meet him and are changed from mortality to immortality in the twinkling of an eye.

Jesus has promised that if we make room for Him, then He will make room for us. He told His disciples one day: "Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house they are many rooms, if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also." (John 14:1-3).

On behalf of my family, the officers and staff at the Conference headquarters, I would like to wish for you a personal and vibrant relationship with Christ as you celebrate this Christmas season. May you, indeed, experience the lasting peace and joy that only He can give. K. D. Albury

The ABC Is Open!

As of Monday, December 13^th, the ABC re-opened its doors for business at the new extension to the Home Economics Department at BA Secondary. Devotional Books are on sale.

New Millennium Activities and Services

Next week will be a very active week in the life of our Conference as we get ready to welcome the new millennium.

Wednesday, December 29^th --All of our churches will commence special meetings of Revival and Consecration.

Thursday, December 30^th --National Millennium service at Clifford Park. At 3 p.m. the Pathfinder Band and Pathfinders in uniform have been asked to participate. Pastor K. D.. Albury, Conference President, will pray on behalf of the nation.

Friday, December 31^st ---New Year's Services will be held in all of our churches. Pastor K. D. Albury, president of the Conference, will deliver his message to our members and to the nation at the Grant's Town Church. This service will be taped and broadcast on ZNS 1540 at 8 p.m.

Sabbath a.m., January 1, 2000 --Home-Coming celebrations. Let us make a special effort to invite former and back-slidden members to join in for this historic day. The service from the New Providence Church featuring Pastor as speaker will be carried live over ZNS 1540.

Sabbath p.m., January 1, 2000, --Beginning at 3 p.m., the Pathfinders and Youth Federations will march from the Town Center Mall to the Hillview Church. At 4:45 p.m., a Festival of Praise entitled "Celebrate" will commence with the Governor-General and Lady Turnquest in attendance. It is going to be an event that you cannot afford to miss.

Educationally Speaking

Why Adventist Education?

Adventist education is designed to inculcate in the student an abiding faith in God and His Word. This Bible-based approach to education is used to help children shape their lives. Adventist Christian teachers, in a relatively safe environment, help students fortify their minds with the best materials to build characters for eternity. Therefore, to continue to make Adventist Education available to our children, your SUPPORT is needed. You may SUPPORT Adventist education by sending you child, sponsoring a needy student, making a donation to our school, and by participating in fund raising drives for the schools. As you go into the year 2000 and a new millennium, make your SUPPORT for Adventist education a priority.

Family Fun Walk/Run

January 2, 2000, beginning at 7 a.m. at the New Englerston Church, East Street, and ending at Goodman's Bay with breakfast. Open to all young people.

Town Meeting

New Englerston Church presents A Town Meeting, Wednesday, December 29, 1999 at 7:30 p.m. "The Seventh Millennium from a Biblical Perspective." Carried live by Love '97 from the Englerston Church. All are invited to share in this programme.

Johnson Park Invites...

Attend Johnson Park, December 31, 1999 from 11:30 p.m. - 3:30 a.m. for a live performance of Genesis 2000 via satellite. Refreshments will be served.

Youth Rehearsal

Brother Tony Russell invites the Philadelphia, Maranatha and New Providence Youth Choirs as well as the SDA Youth Chorale and Harmonious Praise to a special rehearsal in preparation of next week's Festival of Praise at Hillview today at 6 p.m.

Concert

The Bethany Church presents a Musical Concert entitled "The Spirit of Christmas" by the Bethany Sunshine Choir 7:30 p.m., January 2 at BA Auditorium.

BAHAMAS ACADEMY ELEMENTARY

Registration is in progress for new students for the Easter Term at Bahamas Academy Elementary. Spaces are available in K2 - K4 at the Early Learning Centre and K5 - Grade 5 at the Elementary Division. Entrance exams will be held Tuesday, January 4, 2000, at 9:00 a.m.

**All Children Ministries Leaders for 2000 are requested to meet with Director Rowena Smith, Tuesday, December 28, at 6:30 p.m. at the Hillview Church.

"20/24"(Watch for details)

**The Bahamas Conference Office which closed for the holiday season December 23 will reopen December 28. The New Year's holiday closing will be from December 31 to January 6, 2000.

**The Philadelphia S.D.A. Church will be dedicated January 16, 2000, at 2:00 p.m.

**Bahamas Conference Workers Meeting will be held Jan. 4 to 5, 2000, at the Hillview Church, Harrold Road. All Family Island workers should make necessary arrangements to be present.

NEW MILLENNIUM CELEBRATION CHOIR REHEARSAL

A Special invitation is extended to ALL CHOIR MEMBERS to join us for the up-coming Convention 2000. Practice will be held tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. at the Centreville Choir Room. Please be on time!

Congratulations

Congratulations to Sister Maggie Turner on her recent promotion to senior lecturer at the College of the Bahamas in the Nursing Division. May God continue to bless her as she strives for excellence.

YOUTH

ALL Pathfinders, Adventurers and Masterguides are requested to assemble at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre, by 2:30 p.m. fully uniformed to participate in the Millennium Parade scheduled for Thursday, 30^th December, 1999.

Sun sets today at 5:25 p.m. Sun sets next Sabbath at 5:30 p.m.