Christmas Greetings from Darlene Zschech, John Piper, Jean Watson & Rick Warren

As the world wakes up to Christmas this morning, we have a few leaders of the Christian church who bring their Christmas greetings as they speak about the truth of Christmas in various measures and ways.

Worship leader and pioneer of Hillsong Worship, Darlene Zschech offers a down home Australian Christmas greeting when she writes: "Merry Christmas to all. I love this time of year, it truly is one of my favourite. I love the sights, the sounds and all things Christmas. I am busy preparing for a great day with family and friends, the tree is decorated, gifts are bought, carols are echoing through our home and it really is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. That being said, I have my Christmas cakes yet to bake and I love making them." 

In an exclusive interview with Hallels, Jean Watson tells a testimony of a life changing Chistmas as she shares, "Christmas holds a special place in my heart because my ministry really was born at Christmastime back in 2002. My kids and I had gone through divorce, and it was a hard time for us. I was struggling with depression and hopelessness at that time, and my landlord came one night and brought us a beautiful Christmas tree. As he walked into the house, he heard a recording of Christmas carols I had made as a gift for a friend. He was deeply touched by the sound of my voice and sat on the couch and cried! He looked up and said, "I don't know what you are doing with your life, but that is what you are supposed to be doing!" He allowed me to keep my rent money and told me to give it to a recording studio and make a CD. That money and his words gave me the courage to record. I went on to make six more CD's and travel around the world telling people that no one's life is too far from redemption. So Christmas reminds me that sometimes God's love appears in the times and places we least expect!" 

Going back to the Scriptures, Rick Warren preaches: "It's easy to forget the purpose of Christmas. This time of year we have so many things that can get in the way: commercialism, traditions, even family and church commitments. To find the real purpose of Christmas, you have to fast forward from the shepherds, the wise men, and the dirty stable. We have to go to a statement Jesus made during his adult years about why he came: "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10 NIV). The reason we celebrate Christmas is because Jesus came to Earth to seek and save the lost."

Retired pastor and author, John Piper gives a Christ-besotted Christmas greeting: "Call it Christmas Hedonism, if you will. The Joy he came to bring in his own person as the God-man is the joy that aligns with, and fulfills, the great purpose of all creation. Christmas brings the electricity of joy that runs along the grid of all reality. This child of Christmas is more than Lord. He is even more than Savior. He is our great Treasure, and in "our eternal enjoyment of him" is his glory and the end for which God created the world. Christmas is not finally about his birth for our salvation, but our existence for his glory."

 

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