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That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. (Psalm 26:7)
Year 23 - Issue 12
December is the month we set aside to celebrate Him into our life, there to be at the center of our
the human birth arrival of Christ Jesus. Around planning.
the world, those who have put their faith in Him
will assemble to praise Him and honor all His For those of us who are now up in years, the
wondrous works. Amid so many distractions, days, years, and decades we have lived through
even among the persecutions for their faith in may seem like a lot. But in comparison to
Him, they will find a way to offer praises to Him. eternity, it is almost nothing. So, to plan ahead
for eternal life makes perfect sense.
As we travel over this event-filled bridge of life,
it is good to keep the daily perspective centered But how do we plan for eternal life? Jesus gave
about the bigger picture…which is the eternal us directions to the starting point. He said, For
life up ahead. It is our hoped-for destination at God so loved the world, that he gave his
the end of the bridge. only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but
Preachers sometimes have everlasting life.
illustrate eternal life this
way: With a very long After a person has placed
rope, and with the their faith and trust in
trailing part hidden out Jesus, what happens
of sight, he places an next? Throughout our
end in his hand, calling chapter-by-chapter, and
it the beginning of the verse-by-verse Bible
earth’s creation. Then studies, we have
moving up the rope a observed the phrase
short distance, he “believeth in him”
marks on the rope in ink through the lens of the
to represent a lifespan. early church. In it we see
Then, as he moves the the important role that
seemingly endless rope through his hands, he faith plays in the life of a follower of Christ
says it is just “the beginnings of eternity”. Many Jesus. There is no better way to get close to
feet of rope will pass through his hands, but the God than to build faith in God. And there is no
end is never reached. This visual illustration better way to build faith in God than to regularly
describes in part what it means for us to have study His Word…and talk to Him through prayer.
eternal life.
Someone asked why there are so many different
Many years ago, there was a wise man who church organizations. The Holy Bible has an
penned this slogan: answer to that question…and, also, to an infinite
number of other questions.
“Fail to Plan Plan to Fail.”
The Holy Bible defines “sin” as the forsaking or
In our brief, by comparison, lifetime, this slogan rejection of God and His Way. Unfortunately,
has been proven to be true, again and again. people will tend to create their own definition of
Through study and observation, we find it to be “sin”. The definition they apply to “sin” then
irrefutably true in the spiritual realm. We leads into the organizations they have built,
cannot expect to have eternal life with Jesus theologically speaking, around their idea of what
unless and until we have accepted Him into our “sin” is…or what it should be.
life. We plan for eternal life with Him by letting
Bill & Linda Prior – 76 Pindo Palm Street East – Largo, FL 33770 - (740) 334-2825 or (740)334-2824
[email protected] https://thebridgenews.weebly.com
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Year 23 – Issue 12

December is also the month of many gatherings By the middle years, through a job transfer we
of all types. Our hope is that your gatherings now found ourselves living in an unfamiliar
this December will have joyous times that you environment. Though less frequent, family
will remember for the rest of your years. visits continued…and we had many joyous
occasions. Much of our family learned to ski
Looking back over the years, we have made nearly. But we really missed having the kind of
such a variety of very special Christmastime church family we had always had around us.
memories. Isn’t it Also, our older sons were now active in careers
funny how life will and families of their own...leaving the nest.
continue to change
our Decembers in Through most of the next couple decades,
some ways…but not business travel was our lot. It did let us spend
altogether? our Decembers in travel places of renown, such
as New York city and New Orleans. But we
In early youth, we missed the rich closeness of the church family
both enjoyed being and the simplicity we had before. And we also
outdoors. So many missed the ease of family visitations that had
fond memories of December are outdoor events. been so much an integral part of our past.
The youth group went caroling. We rode sleds,
played in the snow, and even ice-skated a bit. Retirement gave us the freedom to be wherever
We made snowmen and other snow sculptures. we chose to be. We chose to move close to our
We built forts and had parents, to be their caregivers
snowball battles. And we had as needed. Also, during the first
special church services. decade in retirement, we were
able to reconnect with many we
Once married, we added the had known most of our life.
game nights and other friend
visits. We made Christmas Health issues began to turn the
cookies together. We “fun of living through the
assembled fruit baskets and northern winters” into
took those to the shut-ins. We unfamiliar aches and pains we
went toboggan and sled riding with others in our have never experienced before. Through
neighborhood and church family. Hot chocolate friends we discovered a way to winter in Florida
was a favorite to warm up after an evening of at low cost and, also, be with a wonderful church
being outdoors in snow. Much of what we did family. After six years of split living between
centered about church and our church family. Ohio and Florida, we are full-time Floridians.

As the children grew, we continued with games Although our Decembers now are mostly void of
and friend visits. Shopping and gift-giving family and church friends from up north, we
became more of have the joy in our heart that only God gives.
a priority. We And He has lovingly given a new group of
heated our friends…with new hills to conquer. Our desire is
home through to serve Him faithfully all the days He gives us.
wintertime with
wood, so as a We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy
family we found New Year!
trees to cut,
split, store for Our Love,
curing, and utilize. It seemed as though our Bill & Linda Prior
activities through December were endless.
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Year 23 – Issue 12

This is the Covenant which the Lord gave to

Abraham, as recorded in Genesis, Chapter 12:

1Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee

out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and
from thy father's house, unto a land that I will
shew thee:

Throughout ancient history it was normal for the

families to stay together. The oldest living male
would be patriarch and owner of all the family
Last month we coninued a faith examples
had. It was quite unusual in that era for children
study, beginning at the beginning of history. Now to move away…but it is quite common today.
we continue in Hebrews, Chapter 11 to examine
the faith of a major faith patriarch, Abraham. The covenant God made with Abraham included
the need for Abraham to leave his birth family
and go to where the LORD would send him. It
“Faithful Abraham” would require full separation from his earthy
father, and a full faith in his heavenly father.
8By faith Abraham, when he was called to go
out into a place which he should after receive Continuing with His Covenant promise, the
for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not LORD said to Abraham, 2and I will make of thee
knowing whither he went. a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make
thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
After the Flood, and with only eight humans to
repopulate it, a son of Noah, Shem, became the In return for obedience, the LORD would begin
lineage line leading to patriarch Abraham. Ten a family, through Abraham, that would become
generations, and two hundred ninety-two years a great nation. The LORD did that! It happened
after the flood, Abram (Abraham) was born. in a miraculous way, outside the realm of human
understanding. It is recorded in the eighteenth
Abraham was born in Ur (now Iraq). As an adult chapter of Genesis. Son Isaac became the son
his father had moved the family to Haran. (The of Covenant promise…beginning the lineage that
exact geographical location of Haran is not would carry through to the birth of Jesus Christ.
known today, but assumed to be somewhere in
modern day Turkey). Abraham’s family stayed In return for obedience, the LORD has made of
in Haran until he was seventy-five…which also is Abraham’s seed a great nation…one that exists
three hundred and sixty-seven years after the to this day! Abraham’s grandson Jacob, whose
flood. Then God made His everlasting covenant name was changed by God to Israel, is at the
with Abraham. It ensued that the remaining life beginning of the nation of Israel…a nation that
of Abraham is completely changed from before! is ever protected by God’s promise…but is also
suffering the outcome of their sins against Him.
Tracking along with the workings of God from
the beginnings of creation until now, we see that In return form his obedience, the LORD blessed
God has had children on the earth whom He Abraham in a multitude of ways. He protected
specially blessed. From Adam to Noah to him from harm. He increased his wealth. He
Abraham, a common theme noted is that those blessed him with “the son of promise”. He gave
who put their faith in God are in turn rewarded him long life. The LORD was an ever faithful
for their faith in Him. Like good fathers do, father and God to Abraham.
those who honor God are rewarded.
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Year 23 – Issue 12

In return for his obedience, the LORD made Abraham’s faith in God led him to seek for a
Abraham into a person who is known and future, finely constructed city built by God.
revered today by many. Some even idolize him. Although in his lifetime he did not find such a
city on earth, his faith in God continued strong.
In return for his obedience, the LORD made
Abraham to be a continual blessing to others. 11Through faith also Sara herself received
strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of
This the LORD did for Abraham. But what about
a child when she was past age, because she
the others who are the friends of God? The
Covenant reached beyond Abraham in this way: judged him faithful who had promised.
3and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse
Is there anything too hard for the Lord?
him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all
Abraham and his wife, Sarah, were about to
families of the earth be blessed. answer that. Twenty-five years after Abraham
followed after the LORD’s guidance, they would
The LORD promised to bless those who blessed have a miracle beyond human understanding.
Abraham. In its original context, “bless” meant
to praise or worship. The LORD promised to be Sarah was physically unable to have children.
favorable to those who would follow the Both are well past their age of childbearing. Life
example of Abraham in a relationship with God. is continuing with the acceptance of Sarah’s
barrenness…that is, until God moved. This is
The LORD promised to curse those who cursed how it happened:
Abraham. In its original context, “curse” meant
to make powerless, resist, or bind. The LORD Abraham is visited by three angels sent from
promised to restrain those who opposed God. They explain how God will roll back the
Abraham’s relationship with the LORD. aging process, fix Sarah’s barrenness, and give
them the son of promise. Their faith in God
The LORD promised that, in Abraham, “all the would be rewarded. After the angels left, Sarah
families of the earth be blessed”. conceived a child, a son they named Isaac.
9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, 12Therefore sprang there even of one, and him
as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky
with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea
same promise: shore innumerable.
Believing in the LORD, Abraham left the The descendants of aged Abraham and Sarah
protection of his earthly father to pursue the are innumerable. Today we look to see how
promise he had received of his heavenly father. thoroughly the LORD fulfilled His promise to
He entered into Canaan (the land of Abraham…honoring his faith. And we can also
promise…the land where God would raise a assuredly know that it of Abraham’s lineage that
great nation from Abraham’s seed). His son we have our Savior was sent by God to bless us
Isaac and grandson Jacob would be born there, with the promise of an eternal life with Him. It
being children inheriting the Covenant promise. is a never-ending promise, given to everyone
who will put their faith and trust in Him.
On the stops as Abraham and his family
journeyed into the land of promise, Abraham Our love,
took the time to build an altar of worship to the
LORD.
Bill & Linda Prior

10for he looked for a city which hath

foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
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Year 23 – Issue 12

EDITOR’S MUSINGS of all the carols that are written. Written in the
Old Testament, and many years before Christ,
It is December…again! Yay! And a most Psalm 98, and thus, “Joy to the World”, looks
exciting month! The song “Joy to the World” ahead to the day when God will come and
describes my December feelings to a tee! establish His rule over all the earth. People will
respond with shouts of joy as that happens!
Born into a pastor’s extended family, my
memory of Decembers past have always Ultimately, it is the coming of Christ Jesus that
included the birth of Jesus. It has been a “Joy will establish His complete rule over sin and
to the World” experience from the beginning. death. But for there to be His second coming,
there must be a first…and the joyful birth of
Recently we discovered that this highly popular Jesus is that first. So, we will sing “Joy to the
song was not written as a hymn. Instead, it was World”, as Jesus is born! His birth fulfills part of
part of a book of verses that prolific writer Isaac God’s Plan for redeeming the world to Him!
Watts published in 1719. What Mr. Watts did
back then was to poetically This is why it is okay to sing
paraphrase numerous Old “Joy to the World”
Testament Psalms. throughout the year, not
just in December.
“Joy to the World” was his
poetic paraphrase of Psalm As the poetic paraphrase of
98, verses 4 through 9. Isaac Watts Psalm 98
Psalm 98 is a song of writings began to be sung in
praise to the Lord for His churches, it was initially
salvation and judgment. sung to a variety of tunes.
The Psalm was written In 1848, an arrangement by
hundreds of years before a well-known American
Jesus was born. musician was published…
and that version stuck.
Many Christians today own
a Message Bible. Similar Beloved songs have a way
to what Isaac Watts did in of staying with us. Here is a
his day, the Message Bible summary of how this song
attempts to paraphrase became both a favorite of
God’s Word into simpler mine and a reality in my life.
thoughts…and in an easier
to read manner in today’s Verse One: At the age of
world. An obvious intent of paraphrasing is to eight, I accepted Jesus as my Lord and King. I
capture the thought in fewer or more attention- committed to make Him first and foremost in my
getting words…which is what Mr. Watts did life. His joy now lived within me.
throughout his poetic writings.
We all live in a body of earth, one that will one
Interestingly, Psalm 98 is not prophecy of day decay and return to dust, unless Jesus
Christmas or the birth of the Messiah. Instead, returns before that day. The soul set within us
it is a call for all to rejoice and to celebrate the is eternal. So, the struggle between the day of
righteous reign of God. It is an endless call commitment, today, and the next is to keep the
written by the Psalmist to extend to soul fixed on Jesus, living for Him.
everyone…and in every age of time.
Mr. Watts wrote that, as earth’s reigning King,
Although never intended to be a Christmas all heaven and nature sing His praises. All. His
carol, “Joy to the World” is the most recognized praises are heard in the wind and waves. His
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Year 23 – Issue 12

praises are heard in the warbling of the birds.

His praises are heard in the rustling of trees. Verse Four: Verse four reminds us of the extent
Because the sound is not in our learned and of the rule of our Lord and Savior. He rules the
spoken language, we discount the continual entire world with truth and grace. Today His
singing to God. We should not do that. We rule may be invisible to many, but, nonetheless,
should sing to Him…as we are His creation. He is ever ruling. The Bible and common sense
tell us so. So, whenever we find the lies and/or
Verse Two: Verse two reminds us that the lack of mercy, we can assuredly know that such
Savior’s reigns is now…and is forevermore! actions are not actions coming from our Lord.
According to God’s Word, joy is everywhere
because of God’s love together with the victory Jesus makes the nations prove that His
of Jesus over death! Death is the beginning of righteousness is far better than any living with
eternal life for those who put their faith and trust unrighteousness. Analyze any nation’s history.
in God’s Son…who is now reigning next to God In those times when the nations acknowledged
the Father. It is “Joy to the World”! He reigns! and pursued after the glories which result from
His righteousness through every way led, they
But letting the Savior fully reign within us is a were a prosperous, blessed nation.
constant battle. The world has so many
attractions… which all are distractions. The “wonders of His love” are well beyond our
comprehension. Why did He allow His creation
Throughout my life there are seasons where His to disparage Him, even to that cruel death He
reign is recognized stronger than at other times. suffered on the cross? Why is He so patient with
For me, a solution to the shortfall is to stay us, continually giving us so many opportunities
actively joined together with a worship group to become a member of His family? Why does
where the Trinity is celebrated beyond persons, He discipline rather than wipe out? It is surely
theology, organization, and/or such other. To through His love, a love that is far greater than
God there is only one church…His church…a our human understanding can comprehend.
church reigning eternal through Jesus His Son.
A day is coming when Jesus will rule over the
Because He reigns, we will sing His praises. And earth…perfectly. Satan will be defeated. All will
in so doing, we are in concert with the sounds be just as God had intended it to be in the very
of joy that radiate forth from nature. beginning. Verse four recognizes that truth.
When that day comes, every nation on the earth
Verse Three: Verse three reminds us of the will recognize Jesus as King of kings and Lord of
confidence we can have within us to battle the lords. His rule will be endless.
enemy. The enemy is all sin against God. We
are to do what we can to prevent sin and sorrow My hope and prayer is that we will sing “Joy to
from overtaking and growing in our heart and the World” often this Christmas season. And
life. No more are we to let the thorns and that we continue to sing it throughout the year,
thistles of an ungodly life thwart our joy, knowing it is not just a Christmastime song.

Jesus came to make His blessings flow Joy brings happiness. Joy brings contentment.
throughout all the earth “…far as the curse is Joy is a joy everlasting, through Jesus. His
found…” The “curse” referred to here is the name means “God with Us”. Being close to Him
curse recorded in Genesis, chapter 3, verses 17- gives us hope and love. My closing hope and
19. It is a curse that will not be lifted from the prayer is that God is with you today and is yours
earth until Jesus comes again…making His throughout this time of remembering how our
second coming…just as promised. opportunity for salvation began. It began
through His birth!
Indeed, there is no limit to the depth of the joy
that Jesus desires to give to mankind.