by Randy Harp
Merry Christmas! Okay, I will admit that is hard for me to say. Not because I don’t want you to have a merry Christmas, but because I am writing this the first of November. I am the type that teases my wife about watching Hallmark Christmas shows the day after Halloween. I am still adjusting to the schedule of the Tribune.
Like many of you, Christmas is one of my favorite seasons of the year. Yes, I love watching classic Christmas movies. Yes, I love all the decorations and festive spirit. Yes, I love children’s Christmas musicals at church. And yes, I love the giddiness of my children as they anticipate opening presents. But most of all, I love that we can celebrate the greatest miracle in the history of the world.
There are many ways we celebrate that miracle. For some it is through a candlelight Christmas Eve service. For others it is reading the Christmas story out of the Gospel of Luke on Christmas morning. And still for others it might be singing happy birthday to Jesus on Christmas day. What is important is that we each take time to celebrate that miracle. My prayer for my family as well as yours is that we would each remember what is the true meaning of Christmas. That we would take notice, as Steve Van Winkle writes this month, of the gift we have each been given, a gift that could only be given to us by a loving God.
This issue of the Tribune also marks the end of an era as Keith Bassham provides his final contributions as executive editor. He shares both an intensely personal feature on the “wind of God” as well as the Afterwords. It is important to note that only founding editor, Noel Smith, served as editor longer.
Without Keith knowing, we assembled a special feature highlighting his 20 years of service to the Baptist Bible Tribune. Keith’s influence and ministry is evident by the testimonials written by those who have known him best. Keith, I believe I can speak on behalf of an entire fellowship of pastors, missionaries, church members, and friends when I say, “Thank you.”
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As we go to print for this issue of the magazine, I have begun my travels on behalf of the BBFI and the Tribune. My goal over the next several months is to be in as many churches and state fellowship meetings as possible. If I can serve you, your church, or your state fellowship in any way, please let me know. One goal as I travel is simply to listen. I hope to hear how the BBFI and/or the Tribune can add the most value to you and your ministry.
One immediate way I can hear from you is for you to take a few minutes to complete the brief online survey found at www.tribune.org/surveys or by scanning the QR code at right. The questions will provide insight on how readers interact with the Tribune.
Thanks again for allowing me to serve Christ as I serve you.