A CHRISTIAN MISSION
December 2023 Newsletter
Prayer request: Over the upcoming month, kindly keep in your prayers those family members who are currently lost, hoping that they may find Jesus. The Christmas season often creates an openness to receiving the Gospel, and it's a
reminder that Jesus is the true reason for the season.
Please call us if you have any questions about the Mission or how you can help. 432-337-8294
A Word From Our Director ~ Pastor Andrew Pistone
Paul Harvey's Yearly Christmas Story
Paul Harvey Aurandt (September 4, 1918 – February 28, 2009) was better known to the American public - simply as Paul Harvey. He was a Christian, conservative radio broadcaster for the ABC Radio networks. During the week, Paul Harvey provided news and comment during the mornings, and was heard at noon on Saturdays. He's probably most widely known and best remembered for “The Rest of the Story” segments. At the peak of his career, he reached an audience of 24 million people every week, and his commentary was carried on 1,200 radio stations, 400 Armed Forces Network stations, and in 300 newspapers. Only a few people have enjoyed as much notoriety in the radio industry as Mr. Harvey. He received many awards – including the Radio Hall of Fame, Gallup poll of America's most admired men, Freedom Foundation Award, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom – among many others.
“Thank You,” to Paul Harvey, who retold the following parable every year - for decades - on his Christmas radio broadcast. Hearing this story became a special Christmas tradition for many of his listeners.
According to Mr. Harvey, “The story was originally published by United Press International by Louis Cassels, a longtime friend and colleague of mine. He and I tried for many years to trace the author of these words. We never could, and it occurs to me that maybe some things are supposed to be written without credit to any particular individual.”
The Man and the Birds
Author Unknown – As told by Paul Harvey
The man I'm going to tell you about was not a scrooge. He was a kind, decent – mostly good man. He was generous to his family, and upright in his dealings with other men. But, he just didn't believe in all that “incarnation stuff that the churches proclaim at Christmastime.” It didn't make sense to him, and he was too honest to pretend otherwise. He just couldn't swallow the Jesus story – about God coming to earth as a man.
On Christmas Eve, he told his wife that he was sorry – but, he wasn't going to join her and the family at the Christmas Eve church service this year. He said he would feel like a hypocrite, and that he would much rather just stay home…but, he said that he would wait up for them. So, he stayed home, and the rest of his family went to the midnight service.
Shortly after the family drove away, snow began to fall. He went to the window to watch the snow flurries as they became heavier and heavier, and then, he went back to his chair near the fireplace and began to read his newspaper.
A few minutes later, he was startled by a thudding sound…then another…and then another. At first, he thought someone must be throwing snowballs against the living room window. But, when he went to the front door to investigate, he found a flock of birds huddled outside – miserably cold in the snow. They'd been caught in the storm and - in a desperate search for shelter - they had tried to fly through his large, landscape window. That's what was causing the thudding sounds.
Well…He couldn't let the poor creatures just lie there and freeze, so he thought about the barn where his children stabled their pony. That would provide a warm shelter for the birds. All he needed to do – was to direct them into the barn.
Quickly, he put on a coat and boots, and trudged through the deepening snow – to the barn. He opened the doors wide, and turned on a light - so they could find their way inside, but…the birds did not go in.
So, he figured that food would entice them. He hurried back to the house and got some bread crumbs. He sprinkled the crumbs on the snow – making a trail to the yellow-lighted, wide open doorway of the stable. But, the birds ignored the bread crumbs.
They continued to flap around helplessly in the snow. He tried catching them, but he couldn't. He tried shooing them into the barn by walking around and waving his arms. Instead, they scattered in every direction…every direction except into the warm, lighted barn.
That's when he realized that they were afraid of him. “To them,” he reasoned, “I am a strange and terrifying creature. If only I could think of some way to let them know that they can trust me, and that I'm trying to help them – not hurt them. But how?”
Any move he made, tended to frighten them and confuse them. They just would not follow him. They would not be led or shooed because they feared him.
He thought to himself, “If only I could be a bird and mingle with them and speak their language…then, I could tell them not to be afraid. Then, I could show them the way to the safe, warm barn. But, I would have to be one of them, so they could see…and hear…and understand.”
At that moment, the church bells began to ring. The sound reached his ears above the sounds of the wind.
He stood there listening to the bells, “Adeste Fidelis – O Come All Ye Faithful.” The church bells were proclaiming the glad tidings of Christmas!
…And he sank to his knees in the snow.
Pastor Charles Swindoll Has a Christmas Suggestion
During this month of December, it might be nice to have a Christmas project…daily gifts that we give to ourselves and to others…maybe one each day during the days leading up to the celebration of our Savior's birth. You might want to choose some of these:
Mend a quarrel.
Forgive an enemy.
Be gentle and patient with an angry person.
Release a grudge.
Speak kindly to a stranger.
Encourage an older person.
Smile. Laugh a little. Laugh a little more.
Play some beautiful music during a meal…and sing.
Listen.
Express appreciation.
Spend an evening reading your Bible instead of watching television.
We are thankful for God's ultimate gift to us…a Savior who offers forgiveness of our sins, a life of joy on this earth, and eternity with Him. I hope your Christmas celebrations are intentional, and especially meaningful this year.
Pastor Andrew
Thrift Store
If you haven't had a chance to shop at our Thrift Store, we hope you will do that very soon. The proceeds from the store are a major source of our support. You will find thousands of quality items at incredible prices, and you can shop with confidence that your dollars are helping to change lives.
We are located at 1515 E. 8th Street, Odessa, TX Our hours for shopping are: Monday - Saturday from 9:00 am – 7:00 pm.
We continue to take ALL donations with grateful hearts. We could not do this without your help.
We will come to PICK UP any and all donations – just give us a call at 432-337-8294 to schedule a pickup. You can also drop off your donation at the Thrift Store,
Funds / Donations Needed
Your financial support will help us provide hot meals, a safe place to sleep and shower, and exposure to the truth of God's Word through Bible study and counseling to those who struggle with addictions. Many come to know Jesus as Savior because of the work God is doing here at the Mission.
There are a few ways you can give:
#1: PayPal Giving Fund:100% of what you give goes to the Mission. Paypal does not keep a processing fee when you use this service. If you would like to make a direct financial donation you can go to PayPal at the link below.
https://www.paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/2432315
#2: Use our Website http://www.doorofhopemission.com/donate.html
#3: Mail a Check to Door of Hope Mission PO Box 1789, Odessa, TX 79760
#4: When you Shop at Amazon or Ebay, just add us as your preferred charity, and a portion of your purchase will go to the Door Of Hope Mission.
With Amazon: Visit Amazon Smile www.smile.amazon.com, then login to your account then you need to select Door Of Hope Mission Odessa TX so we will receive donations from eligible purchases when you shop.
With Ebay: You just need to add the Door Of Hope Mission to your favorites. Click the link this link to add us.
https://charity.ebay.com/charity/charity-name/2432315
If you have any questions please call us 432-337-8294.
The Door of Hope Mission is supported 100% by DONATIONS and our thrift store. We do not take money from the government because they would restrict us from preaching about the freeing power of Jesus to those we help.
All donations are tax-deductible.
DOOR OF HOPE THRIFT STORE UPDATE
We are in need of good furniture and antiques that you might want to donate to our ministry, and of course - we continue to take ALL donations with grateful hearts. We could not do this without your help.
We can also accept cars, trucks, RVs and boats.
If you have items you wish to donate, please drop them off at the store. If you need us to pick them up, please call the Mission at 432-337-8294.
We invite you to come and visit the Door of Hope Thrift Store. We are located at 1611 E. 8th Street, Odessa, TX 79761.
Our hours for shopping are Monday - Saturday from 9:00 am – 7:00 pm.
Please visit us on Facebook : www.Facebook.com/DoorOfHopeThriftStore
All donations are tax deductible.
Please check out our latest post and like our page at https://www.facebook.com/DoorOfHopeMissionTX