Redemption is in Jesus Christ, Not Santa Claus

Unfortunately, even Christians in America often teach their children more about the mythical and magical Santa Claus than they do about the true and living Jesus Christ who really loves them and can really answer their prayers, and who is able to save to the uttermost them that come unto God by Him.

It breaks my heart to see how the mythical Santa has stolen so much glory and worship from our Saviour, and how he has managed to steal the hearts and imaginations of the children in America.

It breaks my heart to know that the manger scene has been outlawed in many places because it "infringes" on the rights of others, but the mythical Santa is welcome everywhere.

It breaks my heart to consider that teaching children the lie of Santa Claus can often inhibit their ability to trust in the True and Living One. How much damage is done to the faith of a child when that child realizes his faith has been misplaced and his parents have deceived him?

If a survey were to be done, I would imagine that many more children in America would be able to answer a series of questions about the myth of Santa than could answer a similar series of questions about Jesus Christ. Kids in America memorize rhymes and songs and lists having to do with the mythical Santa at an early age.

Children are taught the song,

He knows when you are sleeping
He knows when you're awake
He knows when you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake

Are they also taught the Scripture? Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

Who is Santa trying to imitate? Whose invention is he? I remember the Scripture where one who was lifted up with pride declared, "I will be like the most High".

Children learn of Santa, who sees everything, goes everywhere, was not born and never dies, hears their requests, knows their behaviour, rewards good, punishes evil, lives in the north, and has an endless supply of whatever they need. That sounds like characteristics possessed by only one who is real - the Most High.

Santa has effectively replaced our God and Saviour in America and has done so with all subtlety, where even Bible-believing Christians think articles like this one are ridiculous.

Consider that the early years of life are a time when a young mind can be led to Christ in simple, child-like faith, but instead we make the mistake of deceiving them and leading them to Santa. What a tragedy.

For as long as I have breath, I will sing praises to the One who loved me and gave Himself for me. Santa will not get an ounce of the Lord's glory from me.
Christmas is about Christ and no one else. He is the one who came that we might have life.

Let us remember that glorious night:

Luke 2:8-14
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Let's sing praises to the One who alone is Worthy

Oh come all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
Oh come ye, oh come
ye to Bethlehem

Come and behold Him
Born the king of angels
Oh come let us adore Him
Oh come let us adore Him
Oh come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord

Sing choir of angels
Sing in exultation
Oh sing all ye bright hosts
Of heaven above
Glory to God all glory
in the highest

Oh come let us adore Him
Oh come let us adore Him
Oh come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord

Ye Lord we greet Thee
Born this happy morning
To Jesus to Thee
be all glory giv'n

Word of the Father
Now the flesh appearing
Oh come let us adore Him
Oh come let us adore Him
Oh come let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord

Let us give ALL the glory to the One in Whom we have redemption.

Soulwinner Spotlight - Johnny Leslie

Today's Soulwinner Spotlight is on my friend, Johnny Wayne Leslie. He is a missionary to the nation of Croatia and has a huge heart for God and a great burden for souls. Having only known him since December of 2005, I have had the privilege to go soulwinning with him on many occasions. I have personally seen him stand in the streets of Croatia for hours and hours day after day tirelessly witnessing for Christ. When home on furlough, he does the same thing. He's very consistent and very energetic for the Lord.

I have also had the opportunity to hear him preach numerous times. His preaching is Spirit-filled and powerful. My friend Johnny tells it like it is - the way we all need to hear it.

He is an encouragement and blessing to me, and it is a great comfort to know that Croatia has such a missionary in their midst. Bro. Johnny was called of God to go halfway around the world, learn a new language, and start churches by witnessing for Jesus. When that call came, his answer was, "Here am I, send me."

So far, two churches have been started in Croatia, one in Cakovec and one in Varazdin. Praise the Lord for that. The pastorate of the church in Cakovec, Tree of Life Independent Baptist Church, was turned over to Bro RajkoTelebar in 2006 and is doing well. The new church in Varazdin, Victors Baptist Church, just started in August 2008.

Croatia needs more missionaries. There are about 5.5 million people there, and so far, just one Independent Baptist Missionary - Johnny Wayne Leslie. What a blessing to know know him! What a privilege to call him my friend!

Answer to Prayer - Glory to God

A recent business trip to the Northeast enabled me to travel to Williamsport, PA to visit with Quinn and Liz Fugate and their precious little ones, Bailee and Rylee (my little people).
Seeing them was a great blessing to me and going soulwinning with Quinn and Bailee was something I had looked forward to for several weeks. In particular, I had prayed that I might somehow be an encouragement to the people of Quinn's new church for soulwinning, even though I was only going to be there Saturday and Sunday. Having no idea what God might do to answer my prayer we set out on Saturday afternoon for a couple of hours of standing up for Jesus to fulfill the great commission.

As little 7 year old Bailee and I stood on the street corner waiting for Quinn to pull the car around so we could go, two young men walked by. Anxious to get started, I stopped them and began to witness using one of the tracts from Quinn's church which has a distinctive appearance. I spoke to the men for probably 20 minutes and ended up inviting them to church to hear more. Then Bailee said, "I saw the preacher drive by". Not thinking much of it, we got into the car and left. God blessed Quinn that day by allowing him to lead 3 souls to Christ - Praise the Lord! As for me, I was blessed to be "farming for Jesus", planting a lot of seed.

The next morning we were in Sunday School and the preacher pointed at me and asked me to stand up. I had not yet been introduced to him, so it really surprised me, but I stood up. Then he told his whole congregation that he saw me with one of their tracts yesterday and didn't know who I was, but figured out that I was the visitor Quinn had told him about when he saw Bailee beside me. He then proceeded to strongly challenge his entire congregation to win souls and be willing to stand on a street corner and talk to anyone about Jesus. He said, "Oh!, We do "visitation" around here because its less threatening, but we need to get serious about "soulwinning"!!! He talked about what a blessing and encouragement to him it was to see a man a thousand miles from home who could have been doing anything else, but was standing up for Christ. The fire in his heart was apparent, and it was thrilling. Sunday night, he was talking about it again.

I am so humbled and blessed that God would use me to encourage a pastor and an entire church for soulwinning. All I did was pray and show up. HIS ears ARE open unto our prayers. For a man who was almost completely incapacitated by my illness just 8 years ago, I am in awe of the greatness, power, grace, and mercy of MY HOLY GOD. I stand amazed.

Soulwinner Spotlight - Kevin DeAngelo

Kevin DeAngelo is a Bible believing, soul-winning, church planting missionary to the state of New Jersey, and God enabled me to meet him during a recent business trip, in what I believe is a miraculous manner. Just a guy from Texas wandering around in New Jersey seeing customers and God put me together with him. What a blessing!
During a two week sales trip through New york, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, I drove through a neighborhood going from one highway to another when I noticed an old Reformed Faith church building. What caught my eye was the temporary signs out on the lawn near the curb that said, Zion Independent Baptist Thursdays 7:30. Since it was on a Thursday, that really got my attention.
Being only mid-afternoon, I had many other sales calls to make which would take me rather far away and I did not know the address of the church. I finished my sales calls about 30+ miles away at 5:30 and could not get those temporary signs out of my mind.

I said, Well Lord, if you want me to make it there tonight, please help me find it. Lo and behold, I backtracked straight to it without a single wrong turn. Praise the Lord.
When Kevin arrived, I asked what Bible he used and he said, "There's only one, the King James of course." I knew God was up to something.

Kevin's life has taken him to military service (where he was gloriously saved after a commanding officer witnessed to him), then on to Bible College, then to the pastorate of a church in Martinsville, Indiana for 22 years.
Being a native of New Jersey, he and his wife Tina would return there for family gatherings, etc. every year. While there, they would always pray that God would send "someone" to be a church planter for his home state. His burden was heavy. Tina told me that the Holy Spirit would ask Kevin each time, "What's the matter with you? Are your legs broke?" Finally, the realization set in to Kevin that it was him that God would use to plant churches in NJ. Last year he resigned the pastorate he had held for 22 years and began deputation. The church service we were in that Thursday night had a total of nine people present, including the Holy Spirit. It was a wonderful time, singing praises to the Lord and hearing the preaching on (would you believe?) the King James Bible. That little church just had its first service on Sept 7th of this year.

After a year using Sunday nights for deputation, Kevin is up to 50% of his needed support. They live on a meager budget and he takes odd jobs when he can to put food on the table. His heart's desire is to be witnessing all the time and seeing souls saved. He has a great burden for the people of New Jersey and a great heart for God.

His wife Tina is a blessing, and a tremendous support for him. Pray for her, as she suffers from severe arthritis and has had a total of 17 joint replacements. (In our weakness, HIS strength is made perfect.) Her joy and fervor is not diminished. She is a trooper. Thank God for her.

Please email him a note of encouragement: zbpreacher@yahoo.com .

If you care to drop him a line of encouragement, write to:

Kevin DeAngelo
365 Carr Avenue Apt C
Keansburg NJ 07734

See the sending church's website: www.zionbaptistfellowshipchurch.org

Thank God for Kevin DeAngelo, getting it done for God in the state of New Jersey.